!!!HAPPY JUNETEENTH 2009!!!/Senate apologies to Blacks

Juneteenth, June 19th, is one of my favorite occasions. I look forward to it every year. I keep thinking, maybe next year, Google or Yahoo! will have a special design for their logo to spotlight Juneteenth… One day…

For anyone oblivious to the occasion, it marks the most recognized end to slavery. The story goes thus:

The Emancipation Proclamation (Lincoln) was a law abolishing slavery and freeing ALL slaves in ALL of the United States. It was issued on September 22, 1862, and was supposed to be effective as of January 1, 1863. However, that news (and enforcement) didn’t quite make it to the poor slaves in Galveston, Texas (and other Eastern Texan localities) until June 19, 1865. Yeah… a whole flippin’ 2 and a half years after the law was active. (Those law-breaking, self-righteous, Eastern Texan slave-holders really burn me up!!!) On that day, as the story goes, Union General Granger and troops arrived in Galveston not only to enforce the emancipation of the slaves (I bet they didn’t get 2.5 years of back pay… I know!!… efforts should be dedicated to getting their back pay to their ancestors!! I think there’s a word for that…..) but to also take over possession of Texas. Juneteenth started being celebrated in Galveston the VERY NEXT YEAR. Strawberry pop anyone…….?

It’s interesting that recently the Senate apologized for the first time to United State’s African-American descendants for the atrocities of slavery. (They really need to apologize to Africa for the atrocities of the American Slave trade… what? You think pilfering millions of Africa’s strongest men and women didn’t adversely effect their lives for centuries?) Among the apologizers where Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Sen. Brownback of Kansas.

Oh well, it just a twisted ritual of America. The apology means little to me (it does little except assuage some people’s guilt, and give others ammunition to rationalize deplorable points of view), but I know it means something to some people, and for that, I smile at it.

!!!!!!!!!!HAPPY JUNETEENTH 2009!!!!!!!!!
RBG UP!
UHURU
HOTEP!!!
PEACE

Why wouldn’t the US aide Iran?

The Iranian people are obviously speaking. And not only in Iran, but also with protests near to me in Toronto, Canada.

I love protestors. I was happy to see the people raising awareness of the people, the Tamils, and the military in Sri Lanka. I was even pleasantly surprised when several people walked on to the Gardiner Expressway and shut down traffic. What power protestors have!

Will it just take time for Obama to step up more than just feeling remorse over what happened with the recent Iranian election? John McCain spoke to Congress recently about his dismay with the Obama Admin’s stance of inaction. Of not wanting to meddle.

Elections are supposed to represent the voice of the people. But often that is not the case. Where are the groups of equal size, marching for their satisfaction with the President?

The US should begin aide of Iran by giving an ear to the Iranian people. By getting them chance for a collective international voice. The media is so restricted there right now, save images of the Ayatollah. What are the people to do?

When the people do something they have never done before, its because they want change.

change…

‘Get your ASS OUT the car, and WALK HOME’

I really feel for mothers and fathers like Madeline Primoff, Darlene Ong [1], or even mai Mom and Dad who have felt the need to put an underage child out the car to walk home for misbehavior. I feel for mothers like Primoff who have been JAILED for such action.

First and foremost, DONT MAKE EMPTY THREATS. Do what you say you are going to do, or don’t say it. This is the only way threats like “Don’t make me pull this car over” are ever actually going to be effective. If you’ve set a history with other things that you do what you say.

This issue has come to light in the news recently because Primoff and her mother were in the car when they put out her 10 and 12 year old daughters for ‘acting out’. The mother was trying to teach the girls that if they behave badly, then they will have to suffer in a way that they wont like. Primoff (or her lawyer rather) said that she and her mother dropped the girls off on the street, drove around the block, and when they came back to retrieve them, the older girl was there, but the 10 year old was missing! Apparently, a passerby took the 10 yr old for ice cream and then dropped her off with a police officer. (Thank you passerby for not being a crazy person. I hope Primoff is thanking God for that.) Primoff called to report her daughter missing and when she arrived at the precinct to pick her up, Primoff was arrested and jailed overnight for abandoning the child.

Ok, wow this is ‘Get your ass out the car’ gone WRONG, terribly, terribly wrong. Could I ever image making my child walk home for bad behavior? HELL YEAH! Would I ever make mai child think that I was going to leave them somewhere they didn’t know and where they couldn’t get home from… NO! Inducing abandonment issues shouldn’t be the goal Mom. ABC News didn’t make it clear as to if the girls were dropped off at a place they knew and could possibly get home from.

Factors have to be taken in to consideration to effectively enact ‘Get your ass out the car’. (This tactic was supported by the ‘expert’ on ABC News though she said you should drive alongside the child as they walked.) If you think there’s a possibility you would enact this sort of disciplinary action on your child, why wouldn’t you have a premeditated game plan?

Factor Q: Number of offending children? There is strength in numbers. I’d be more likely to drop off 4 children than 2.

Factor X: Will the children stay with each other if I drop them off? ‘Get your ass out the car and you better not come home without your baby sister or this will seem like a walk in the park!” Obviously Primoff didn’t think that one thru. I can’t believe her 12 year old let the 10 year old go off on her own. I know families, where even if you are fighting, the parents have set up a system whereas the older siblings know they are responsible for the younger ones. I mean lets keep in mind, 12 is babysitting age!

Factor Y: What’s the weather like? What time of day is it? Are the children dressed appropriately?

Factor Z: Do the kids know the area? Do you as a parent know the area? How long will it take them to get home or to their destination? In mai childhood neighborhood I could ride mai bike to the park that was 15min away. I could’ve walked from there if I was interested in exercising. So dropping a 12 yr old there in daylight to walk home could be totally appropriate behavior. Also, I grew up in a rural country community, I wouldn’t drop a kid off on Skid Row in LA even if it was a short 45min walk to mai front door.

I think making children walk home can be a useful tool if it’s not used in the heat of the moment. That’s where this situation went wrong. If Primoff would have thought out the situation she probably wouldn’t be in such hot water. I dont disagree with the practice totally, but I do think the way Primoff went about it was irresponsible. I mean, a passerby picked her child up! Thank God the ice cream wasn’t drugged and she was delivered to an officer… but it could have just as easily gone another way. ‘Get your ass out the car and walk home’ can only be enacted when the risks have been calculated and its used as a teaching and discipline method not as an unthought about whim the parent goes on. Each situation is different, so assess your situation before you enact this, but there IS a place for it. If they piss you off 25 miles from home, wait till you are 4 miles from home, and make em walk if the factors line up. ‘That’s right Billy, you’re ass was made for walkin’, so that just what your bad ass is gonna do. I love you, see you when you get home’

1. ABC News

‘Not to offend anybody, but I just don’t think gays should be getting married’

Yikes, touchy subject right? This issue is on the minds of millions. But this is essentially the response that Miss America first runner-up California’s Carrie Prejean gave last night on the Miss America Pageant contest. Infamous online celebrity gossiper, and totally gay dude Perez Hilton asked Prejean the tough question. (I felt sorry for the girl when she got it. I mean Miss Arizona had to answer a question about how she got her childhood nickname- lame.) Hilton was obviously not excited by her answer. Though it was neck in neck all night between the top two, Miss North Carolina’s Kristen Dalton (gorgeous blue gown btw) won the title. So did that question cause the title for California? And would that be ‘just’?

Its funny that Prejean is from California because I tend to think of Cali as a liberal, (somewhat hedonistic), live and let live, anything goes sort of atmosphere, though of course you get all types everywhere… (I mean I don’t think fiery Miss Utah was Mormon but I don’t know…)

There is never going to be a time where everyone in the country supports marriage equality. There’s never going to be a time where we all agree on everything. Keeping that in mind, should Perez Hilton ‘hold that against’ Prejean? Can a Miss America who doesn’t support marriage equality accurately represent this increasingly diverse nation?

I too was brought up with a religious background that doesn’t support gay lifestyle. That shouldn’t be a big surprise, I dont think most people are. However, I was also brought up not to pass judgement on people. You can still like people and recognize that people are good people without agreeing with everything they do, basically. I also happen to be pretty liberal. And I think that politics and laws are not currently governed by religious morals (beautiful wicked world)…. so therefore, its not just (by law/politics/etc) to have unequal marriage rights, en mon avis…

I say all that to say, thought I dont agree with Prejean ‘per se’ it had to be pretty difficult for her to answer Hilton as she did. And there’s a lot to be said for standing your ground. I’m proud of that in her, and I’d like to be proud of Miss America.

Dispelling Ozone Myths: the science of it

Legend Carlos Santana recently made a public statement that he wished President Obama would seriously consider legalizing marijuana (boy would the prices rise!) because the revenue could potentially pull us out of a recession (true). He said this is overdue, and likened it to the end of prohibition on alcohol. I see the progressive medical potential in the USA with the more liberal tone, favoring states to rule on medical marijuana. I hope this same progress will extend to the research of Ozone therapy sooner than later.

Ozone is a misunderstood disinfectant, swarming with myths. Ozone therapy is a neglected treatment that can effectively fight cancer. Ozone is an effective immunoregulator that kills pathogens, mitigates infection, detoxifies the body, increases circulation and oxygen levels, combats fatigue. These are made possible by it’s unique chemical properties, high energy state, instability, and rate of reaction.

Ozone is an unappreciated disinfectant. Ozone is created naturally as well as by man-made ozone generators. It is formed by sunlight, lightening, or electricity and oxygen atoms. In the stratosphere, 6 to 31 miles up, ozone is a layer of protective gas that filters harmful ultraviolet radiation rays from the Sun. However it allows energy rich, life dependent sunlight to pass to all organic life-forms, while filtering the invisible UV light. In this sense, ozone is like a layer of sunblock on the earth that protects all organic life-forms. It is known to kill bacteria, fungus, yeast, and other pathogens to stop infection. Ozone can be very beneficial in the fight against cancer to clean out all the toxins that accumulate as waste from cancer cells, and dead cancer cells. Prominent sources including the International Ozone Association (IOA) and Dr. Andrew Weil founder of the Integrative Medicine program at the University of Arizona site ozone as being the most effective method for water treating facilities to make water fit for human consumption, making ozone even more effective than chlorine water treatment. The IOA said, “Ozone is the most powerful oxidant available to man. It is an effective bleaching agent and a powerful disinfectant, killing bacteria and funguses more rapidly than chlorine. Viruses and carcinogenic substances, which are generally not affected by the other conventional chemicals used in water treatment, are also oxidized by ozone” (1). Ozone is also a successful method for treating sewage. However, many know ozone in relationship to smog, the dark clouds often seen in large metropolises. Smog is a gaseous mixture which may include nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. Though ozone is found in the composition of smog, ozone is attempting to clean up these toxic elements. Scientists measure the amount of ozone in a given area to signify how much smog is present. However this can be misleading to the general public when in fact the ozone present is an indication of how much ozone is available and thus how quickly the smog is being broken down. In The Use of Ozone in Medicine co-authors Rilling and Viebahn say, “…ozone is used to measure the degree of pollution (in smog), but not the cause, which is often erratically assumed” (1). It’s therefore often misunderstood that ozone will cause the body to be consumed with free radicals. Free radicals are any molecules that have one unpaired electron. Our bodies naturally produce free radicals which destroy bacteria and fungus and fight infection when they are in natural harmony with the antioxidants that the body produces. In Oxygen Healing Therapies author Nathanial Altman says, “Free radicals are produced by the body to deliver energy to the body’s cells…also play an important role in regulating the chemicals the body needs for its survival, such as hormones” (2). However, if they become disproportionate, they can cause problems. This is why healthy bodies produce antioxidants to combat the free radicals by donating the election they need to become stable. “Antioxidants are enzymes that protect cells from free radicals by chemically changing them into harmless compounds like oxygen and water” (2). When antioxidant levels are low in the body free radicals can run wild. Often times antioxidant supplements are suggested to help fight free radicals.

The discoveries of Otto Warburg, James D. Watson, and Joaquim Varro were integral to developing a regime for ozone to fight cancer.

View opposing viewpoints, as I did. They are truly easy to find. Check out comments on mai other blogs in this series. What works for some, doesn’t work for all, and vice versa. If you or someone you love are in need, and knowledge of this underrated treatment could help you, I’m fully justified and proud to shed more light. This is NOT the first medical care that people have villianized only to later tout as advanced.

“EDUCATION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN IGNORANCE- dont be shamed into not knowing. Its always ethical to be well informed.” – mai

TAKE NOTE: Anyone interested in any therapies mentioned in this essay must seek professional guidance before proceeding with any form of treatment. This is one part of a series of Ozone related essays, sources located at http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/51624-ozone-therapy-key-foundation pertain to whole the series.

Ozone Therapy: The Key Foundation

Well since the government are lifting limitations (stem cell), and select states are growing more liberal with their medical marijuana regulations, lets keep progressing by taking a closer look at ozone therapy.

There are three key discoveries that explain why ozone helps to fight cancer. First, cancer arises because of a lack of oxygen to the cells. Second, cancer has a viral component. Third, the growth of select tumors is inhibited by ozone.

In the 1930s, Dr. Otto Warburg of Germany hypothesized that the predominate precondition for cancer is lack of oxygen to the cells. He came to this conclusion because he noticed that cancer cells had decreased respiration in comparison to healthy cells, and that the mitochondria of the cancer cells had decreased energy production (2). For this he won the Nobel Prize in 1931. Dr. Max Gerson author of A Cancer Therapy: Results of Fifty Cases and the Cure of Advanced Cancer supports Warburg by stating that “the ideal task of cancer therapy is to restore the function of oxidizing systems in the entire organism.” Online author, mathematician and accountant Webster Kehr contests that “cancer cells die when exposed to oxygen…” (3). This belief means cancer cells are anaerobic or thriving in low oxygen conditions and destroyed in contact with oxygen. If cancer is predominately caused by a lack of oxygen to the cells, then oxidizing the cells should restore some sort of balance. Warburg believed that lack of oxygen was the primary cause for cancer, and though he acknowledged other factors, he believed there was little need to focus on them, because they would distract from the primary cause which was lack of oxygen. Warburg discovered that once healthy cells are in low oxygen levels they are forced to ferment. The byproducts of fermentation thus causes the mutation of the cell. This is the number one reason why ozone is thought to help fight cancer. Author of Flood Your Body with Oxygen, Ed McCabe explains that oxygen causes diseased cells to oxidize and be “burnt up in oxygen”. However, healthy cells produce a protective antioxidant shield that diseased cells can not produce because they are consumed with toxins. Therefore, when the body is flooded with oxygen in ozone therapy, only the diseased cells waste away. Our bodies as well as our antibodies produce low levels of ozone (4). Compounding ozone’s likelihood to fight cancer are the discoveries of Noble Prize winner Dr. James Watson and Dr. Joaquim Varro. Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, discovered that a component of cancer is viral, “among the most useful carcinogenic agents know at present are several viruses” (2). Therefore, ozone kills virus, a component of cancer is viral, and some cancers are caused by viruses such as Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Human papillomavirus (HPV). Varro discovered that ozone as well as oxygen and hydrogen peroxide have the ability to inhibit the growth of select cancer tumors. Studies at the University of California-Irvine have supported this discovery in finding that ozone therapy specifically helps patients with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (5).

The discoveries of Warburg, Watson, and Varro were integral to developing a regime for ozone to fight cancer. Ozone is a misunderstood disinfectant. Ozone therapy is a neglected treatment that can effectively fight cancer. Ozone is an effective immunoregulator that kills pathogens, mitigates infection, detoxifies the body, increases circulation and oxygen levels, combats fatigue. These are made possible by it’s unique chemical properties, high energy state, instability, and rate of reaction.

TAKE NOTE: Anyone interested in any therapies mentioned in this essay must seek professional guidance before proceeding with any form of treatment. This is one part of a series of Ozone related essays, sources pertain to whole series.

REFERENCES

1. Rilling, Siegfried and Renate Viebahn. The Use of Ozone in Medicine. Second Revised Edition. First English Edition. Germany: Haug Publishers, 1987.

2. Altman, Nathaniel. Oxygen Healing Therapies: For Optimum Health & Vitality. Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 1998.

3. Kehr, R. Webster. “Ozone Cancer Treatments.” Cancer Tutor: Alternative Cancer Treatments Information Center. 26 March 2009. <http://    cancertutor.com/Cancer/Ozone.html>.

4. McCabe, Ed. Flood Your Body with Oxygen: Therapy for Our Polluted World. 6th Edition. Florida: Energy Publications, 2003.

5. Sorge, Robert H. “Ozone Therapy.” Abundalife. 2000. 29 March 2009. <http://www.abundalife.com/ozone.asp&gt;

6. Schadde, Anne. O3zone: a Homeopathic Proving. Seattle: Alethea Book Company, 1997.

7. Oxford Journals. “Adjuvant Ozonetherapy in Advanced Head and Neck Tumors: A Comparative Study”.  28 March 2009. <http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org&gt;.

8. Karim, Steve. “Re: Ozone Therapy.” E-mail to Mai. 20 March 2003.

9. Ozone Therapy. Videotape. Author. Channeler, Trance. Vision Quest Video, 1998.

10. Null, Gary. “Ozone Therapy.” Listen to Progressive Radio Network. PRN, New York. 24 March 2009.
“http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/listen.html&gt;.

11. McKinney, Neil. “Creating Healing for Cancer Patients.” VitalLink: The professional journal of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors 16.1 (2009): 47-50.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

12. Edelson, Edward. The Encyclopedia of Health: The Healthy Body, The Immune System. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1989.

13. Murphy, Gerald P. et al. American Cancer Society. Informed Decisions: The complete book of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. New York: Viking, 1997.

14. Labriola, Dan. Complementary Cancer Therapies: Combining Tradition and Alternative Approaches for the Best Possible Outcome. Roseville: Prima Health Publishing, 2000.

15. “Otto Warburg.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Thomson Gale. 2004. Encyclopedia.com.
30 March 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com&gt;.

16. “Treating Cancer with Ozone, Oxygen & Hydrogen Peroxide (l).” Healing Cancer via O2, O3, & H2O2. March 20 2009″. <http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/ozone-cancer-treatment.html&gt;. 2007

17. “Ozone Therapy.” Wikipedia. 28 March 2009. <“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_therapy&gt;.

18. “Ozone.” Wikipedia. 25 March 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone&gt;.

19. “Gary Null.” Wikipedia. 27 March 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Null&gt;.

20. Weil, Andrew. “Your Trusted Health Advisor.” <http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA322213&gt;.
5 January 2004

21. “Providing Alternative Comprehensive Cancer Treatment.”  New Hope Medical Center.
23 March 2009. <http://www.newhopemedicalcenter.com/cancer-treatments.aspx&gt;.

22. “Alternative Medicine Anti-Aging Medicine Carson City Ozone Therapy.” The Nevada Center.
23 March 2009. <http://www.antiagingmedicine.com/procedures_ozone.htm#ozone&gt;.

23. “Dr. Otto Warburg-On the Origin of Cancer Cells.” Ozone Therapy. 23 March 2009.
<http://www.anti-aging-today.org/oxygen/ozone/cancer-origin-warburg.htm&gt;. 2009

USA behind Cuba and Europe in progressive healthcare- and nobody cares-OZONE THERAPY

So the funding limitations on stem cell research have been “lifted”… Well what about another proven viable medical practice? Ozone Therapy.

Hospitals and clinics in Europe and Cuba liberally make use of ozone therapy. Yet this medical advancement is being underrated in the United States and much of North America. Many doctors recommend ozone therapy for preventative care (9). Ozone has been used for decades to combat a myriad of illnesses, (many chronic) some include glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, AIDS, chronic fatigue, acne, hepatitis, allergies, and poor circulation to name a few. It is important to note that ozone therapy is just one part under the umbrella of oxidative therapies which also contain hydrogen peroxide and oxygen therapies. On March 24, 2009 a patient of Dr. Howard Robbins gave testimonial on Progressive Radio Network (PRN) radio hosted by Dr. Gary Null (New York) to the positive effects ozone therapy has had on his multiple sclerosis. The patient listed “improved vertigo, less dizziness, weight loss, decreased fatigue.” Dr. Howard Robbins said that ozone “acts like a glue attaches to bad things fungus, yeasts” and deactivates them (10). The New Hope Medical Center in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Nevada Center of Alternative & Anti-Aging Medicine in Carson City are leading ozone therapy facilities in the United States.

Chemo might deplete your strength, Ozone may make you strong

Ozone therapy does not threaten the immune system as chemotherapy and radiotherapy do. However, if these therapies are required, ozone therapy may be used in conjunction and often mitigate their adverse side-effects (11). Such combination proved useful with the ozone therapy/radiotherapy trials in Spain (7). Dr. Neil McKinney says, “Radiation disrupts tissue organization by removing vital immune and stem cells” (11). It’s important to strengthen the immune system in cancer patients because this will enable the immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells most effectively. McKinney says, “There is clearly a need to improve on the therapies that are currently considered the medical standard of care. What little progress that is seen in cancer care by conventional medical oncology is coming at an unsustainable price” (11). It is abhorrent that this potentially life saving procedure is being neglected in study and practice, especially when it has been shown to have positive effects on patients. Rilling and Viebahn, Kehr, and McCabe all site a popular January 1980 trial by the German Medical Society for Ozone Therapy in which 644 therapists were surveyed regarding 384,775 patients, totaling administration of 5,579,238 ozone treatments. There were less than 40 cases of side effects cited out of over 5.5 million representing a low rate of .000007% adverse incidents and four deaths. This study is perhaps one of the most well known and cited of ozone studies. Ozone clearly has potential to be a wildly successful and safe medical therapy.

There are three key discoveries that explain why ozone helps to fight cancer. First, cancer arises because of a lack of oxygen to the cells (Warburg). Second, cancer has a viral component (Watson). Third, the growth of select tumors is inhibited by ozone (Varro). It’s abilities to successfully regulate the immune system, kill pathogens, mitigate infection, detoxify the body, increase circulation and oxygen levels, and combat fatigue is due to it’s unique chemical properties, high energy state, instability, and rate of reaction. Ozone is a misunderstood disinfectant. Ozone therapy continues to be among several neglected, yet effective therapies.

TAKE NOTE: Anyone interested in any therapies mentioned in this essay must seek professional guidance before proceeding with any form of treatment. This is one part of a series of Ozone related essays (sources available upon request).

Additional Notes of Interest:
Some experts define ozone as a molecule having anywhere from 3 atoms of oxygen to 5, 6 or even as much as 21 atoms of oxygen. If this is the case, then that would even boost ozone’s ability to effectively distribute oxygen in the body.
Ozone is sometimes used at about .1ppm in therapy. Some facilities practice such treatment, but many doctors are forced to stay “underground” for fear of loosing their licensing. Several prominent people have been suspected of using ozone therapy such as Irvin Magic Johnson and Rupert Murdoch.
These test would also help to answer lingering questions such as does ozone kill cancer or the viruses that cause cancer? Is it possible for fungus, bacteria, or pathogens to cause cancer?
Ozone should definitely be studied more extensively as it has proven potential. What’s the fear of study?
Sometimes ozone is injected directly into the cancer patient as in with intravenous injections.

Why the Constitution can kiss Mai ass

The constitution (or the people charged with exercising it) has failed to recognize and practice many of its statues since its inception, making it untrustworthy. I don’t believe that since something is written down, I’m protected, because that hasn’t been the case.

IT’S JUST A PIECE OF TEXT. It’s just a set of laws (some which permit individual states to do horrible things) that a group of people (majority of whom just happen to have been notorious bigots) made up. It also allows great injustices to prevail, like how, when, and where people are allowed to engage in adult activities.

People want to denigrate the Bible because they think its fictional, irrelevant, or can’t be proven. I think that the constitution is fictional, and hypocritical. People act like I can’t look upon the constitution unfavorably. Telling me to leave the country because I voice disapproval of the constitution (or don’t choose to participate in the judicial system in a conventional manner) is like that “Christian” pastor going online perpetrating an ignorant atheist, then coming back to minister to his alter ego. Its hypocritical. If you put all your faith in something (other than spiritual) that’s wrong, and its warping your view of life.

People worship the constitution and make it seem like I must too. People hold the constitution to be some infallible text. The constitution did not invent freedom or even grant freedom. People act as if you are going against the word of freedom if you question it. My freedom comes from my humanity, ultimately people’s worship of the constitution seems to justify the idea the U.S. is better than other countries because the U.S. has the constitution. People, people, people make the constitution untrustworthy and corrupt. And there has never been a time when they haven’t.

NY Post: Power to the Protest

I am in awe every time I see the power of the people manifested in demonstrations as it has been for the past few days with the protestors of the New York Post.

Longtime political cartoonist Sean Delonas drew a picture that was published in the Post this Wednesday. Many feel this cartoon played on the racist history of Blacks being compared to primates.*

The strength, tenacity, courage, and determination of protesters is often times inspiring. How awesome that this group of people got together to make a change, and they saw results from it.

The New York Post issued an apology today to those they offended with the cartoon. The apology was a bit back-handed because they refused to apologize to those they believe initiated the opposition. They felt those with long time grievances used this cartoon as an opportunity to enact revenge on the controversial and conservative newspaper. (Though they didn’t name names, the main opponent has been Rev. Al Sharpton, and I think we can infer they are talking about him.)

It is very possible that the Post and Delonas didn’t intended any racial slur with the cartoon. I am willing to take them at their word that the chimp is a parody of Travis the chimp that was shot on Monday by police officers paired with a mock of the economic stimulus bill. However, there is NO WAY they didn’t anticipate the implications that would be felt by comparing the author of the current stimulus bill (not only President Obama, but he IS the face of the bill) to a violent chimpanzee. In addition, they shot the chimp= they shot the author of the stimulus bill= they shot the President!!?? That’s funny?

Many people want to site that President Bush was at times compared to monkeys as well. However, there is no history of whites being compared to primates in a racial defamation. If Bush had been compared to a Ritz of something with a comparative history, then (I would be outraged) a comparison could be made.

The Post shouldn’t be surprised by the public backlash. I didn’t even know about Travis until after I saw the bru-ha-ha over the cartoon. I’m sure many around the world will see this cartoon, know nothing of Travis, and instantly see it as a racial slur.

I am delighted the protestors got a semblance of an apology. We must stay on offensive people/media. We must never give up. Protest reminds us that there is much more that we can/must do for our communities than simply casting a ballot every 4 years.

I want to dedicate this to all the demonstrators (many of whom were college students) in 2003 that were jailed just for protesting the Iraqi War on the streets of Chicago, and to those who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Frankfort, KY in 1965.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!! UHURU!! HOTEP!!

* You can see the original cartoon here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/18/national/main4809291.shtml

** You can see an altered version of the cartoon (not by Delonas) here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-camp/how-the-new-york-post-mon_b_168199.html

Happy Black History Month 365

I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but if I see one more image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the misty, air-brushed, reminiscent background of a Photoshopped Barack Obama image as the “Dream” depiction I will scream.

[Oh there’s one.]

“AHHHHHHHHH…”

What the hell people? At what point in the “I Have a Dream” speech did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. say anything about his dream or the dream being to have a Black president? Was it implied? Maybe, but the dream is specifically about achieving equality and if you think that President Obama automatically garnered equality for people of color in America you are turning a blind eye and deceiving yourself. WAKE UP!!! and notice I said people of color, Dr. King speaks of equality for all, does that mean if we had a Latino or Asian president that these images would still surface, I don’t know but I hope that’s not seen as unrelated.

I didn’t want to say anything because I think of people like my mother, father, my aunts and uncles. Who marched and protested with King. Those people who cry out of happiness for Obama’s win (I’m happy but I never cried!). Because they never dreamed they would see an African American President in their lifetime.

I love what Dr. King did, and I love what Barack did and is doing*, but these images are really agitating me. They marginalize both men and more importantly, they marginalize The Struggle. Just the notion that we are done or have even reached the Promised Land is utterly false. When I see this depiction I feel cheated, I feel like we are resting and being lazy America.

It is apparent that society still needs to reach for Dr. King’s dream of equality when we have Latino-Americans (or even Latinos for that matter) in our country being murdered for just that, being brown (Ecuadoran Marcello Lucero to name one). Or when you hear (as I have heard from friend, foe, and family) that Latino’s are “overrunning” America with their numbers. RACISM! INFURIATING!!! Why are people so concerned with their numbers? Some Black Americans have dismay when the speak of the growing number of Latinos in America. Some worry the census is inaccurately portraying the numbers of each ethnic group. The reason why this is an issue is because White America is somehow seen (and this is actually put into practice) as entitled to more of a voice and representation in this country because they supposedly make up the majority. WHY?

In high school I can remember debating the validity of the existence of affirmative action and Black History Month. In the case of Black History Month some actually argued that we should not celebrate it in protest it marginalizing Black history**. How stupid! I haven’t encountered anyone in a long time that has tried to support this argument, but my gut makes me think they are still out there. After all, I am not the only one that has encountered people who think like this. (My predominantly white, conservative, affluent, township school in Indiana refused to even make mention of Black History Month on the morning announcements. When I asked them to do so, they refused. When I asked why, they said it wasn’t necessary. Haters.) Even still, why would I give up the little bit of acknowledgment that Black History month affords because in truth MORE is warranted? I wouldn’t. That’s not even logical (there’s an adage about baby and bathwater that fits well). If I want a slice of pie, but I can only manage to take a forkful of it on Monday, I take a forkful, then on Tuesday I try to take another forkful, however thwarted I am or how much obstacle is in the way of me and my pie, I still got a forkful and that’s one less forkful I need to attain to get my whole slice. You have to chip away at prejudice, and racism, and sexism, and classism, and inequality. Chip chip chip, its an elephant and you eat an elephant one bite at a time.

Mai President is Black [* why I “love” OB]

So far, so good. I am thrilled that President Obama will be keeping his Blackberry. This device has often be uncouthly referred to as the Crackberry (implications are obvious). As a lover of gadgets, I’m thrilled to think of the president as a tech savvy, PDA toting, genius. Bravo for shutting down Guantanimo bay in a year. This sends an anti-bully image to others around the world.

First sitting Prez to have a Blackberry, down with Gitmo (recently Iraqi prisoners were handed over to Iraqi officials), not wearing his suit jacket in the oval office, “there are white people, and then there are motherfuckers like you”- OB on confronting racism in his Hawaiian youth, his acceptance of non-believers, the list goes on and one, – Fox News is right, OB is radical, the best, grassroots, up from down, kind of radial anyone could hope to be 🙂

**(No doubt Black History Month is underplayed, however many don’t even know there is a national Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15- October15.)

(My President is Black is an allusion to a Young Jeezy song, if you haven’t hear/read it Google/Youtube it.)

“Black History is Everyone’s History. Enjoy… Uhuru! Hotep!” – mrs.Mai