Sunday, November 30, 2014
Savant on Ferguson, South Africa, etc.
Yawn is my response to the ridiculously low intelligence of you racists and fascists. Your stupidity is boring. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Mandela's movement EXPANDED freedom in South Africa, even for the privileged whites. Hitler's movement and regime ABOLISHED freedom in Germany and in most of Europe, even for the so-called Aryans. Nelson Mandela didn't place burning necklaces on anyone. But your hero Hitler did burn MILLIONS of people in gas ovens simply because of their race . And had it not been for men like my Uncle Oscar who fought at Normandy to liberate your stupid asses, you reactionaries would still be in a totalitarian prison created not by Blacks, Muslims, Jews and others whom you hate. You'd be the prisoners of your own "heroes."
-Savant
_____________________________
C'est vrai. In Black communities across the nation many insist that the problem is deeper than a Darren Wilson, or individual atrocities such as the killing of Mike Brown. The wrongs are not reducible to individual transgressions by a few bad cops. There is a pattern of institutionalized racism and repression without which we wouldn't keep encountering the likes of a Wilson. And the problem isn't just the police, though the police manifest the problem of racism and repression in its most blatant and lethal forms. -Savant
______________________________
Frankly, I believe that American racism cuts across the entire spectrum of American politics and culture, right to left and everything in between. But he most constant, adamant, aggressive, obstinate and militant forms of American racism comes from the Right, and probably always have. I'm not sure about Europe, but in American racism is overwhelmingly (not exclusively) right wing. You may be familiar with a book entitled, CONSERVATISM AND RACISM, AND WHY IN AMERICA THEY ARE THE SAME. The title may exaggerate, but it doesn't lie. We were never lynched by members of the Industrial Workers of the World, by Socialist or Communist parties, or by liberal Democrats or Republicans (We forget that there once were liberal Republicans, even socialist one). Liberals and socialists didn't bomb our churches or HOMES IN the deep South. Both my mother and deceased father loss a brother to lynching in North Carolina. The lynchers were not liberals, socialists, trade unionists, feminists, immigrants, intellectuals, Jews and others whom the Right loves to hate. Liberals and others aren't innocent of racism. But the most ardent promoters of racism are from the Right; and in America probably always has been. -Savant
__________________________
C'est vrai. In Black communities across the nation many insist that the problem is deeper than a Darren Wilson, or individual atrocities such as the killing of Mike Brown. The wrongs are not reducible to individual transgressions by a few bad cops. There is a pattern of institutionalized racism and repression without which we wouldn't keep encountering the likes of a Wilson. And the problem isn't just the police, though the police manifest the problem of racism and repression in its most blatant and lethal forms. -Savant
______________________________
Frankly, I believe that American racism cuts across the entire spectrum of American politics and culture, right to left and everything in between. But he most constant, adamant, aggressive, obstinate and militant forms of American racism comes from the Right, and probably always have. I'm not sure about Europe, but in American racism is overwhelmingly (not exclusively) right wing. You may be familiar with a book entitled, CONSERVATISM AND RACISM, AND WHY IN AMERICA THEY ARE THE SAME. The title may exaggerate, but it doesn't lie. We were never lynched by members of the Industrial Workers of the World, by Socialist or Communist parties, or by liberal Democrats or Republicans (We forget that there once were liberal Republicans, even socialist one). Liberals and socialists didn't bomb our churches or HOMES IN the deep South. Both my mother and deceased father loss a brother to lynching in North Carolina. The lynchers were not liberals, socialists, trade unionists, feminists, immigrants, intellectuals, Jews and others whom the Right loves to hate. Liberals and others aren't innocent of racism. But the most ardent promoters of racism are from the Right; and in America probably always has been. -Savant
__________________________
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Friday, November 28, 2014
Friday News on late November 2014
It has been one year since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine. On Saturday was the first anniversary of when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union. This was in the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. Now, after one year, Ukraine is still embroiled in a civil war. More than 4,000 people have died in this civil war. NATO is almost near an armed conflict with Russia. We see nuclear issues too. The Western propaganda media services want to blame Putin for everything involved in this situation. We know that the West has broken international law and the NATO axis wants to control more politically and economically Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, etc. It is clear to see that Putin is not perfect. He is a right wing nationalist who represents the interests of the Russian oligarchs. He is opposed to massive economic justice. Yet, Russia is not responsible for the escalation of the crisis at all. Even professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, John J. Mearsheimer (in the September/October issue of the journal Foreign Affairs) admitted that Putin is not the aggressor. “The United States and its European allies share most of the responsibility for the crisis. The taproot of the trouble is NATO enlargement, the central element of a larger strategy to move Ukraine out of Russia’s orbit and INTEGRATE it into the West.” Mearsheimer CONTINUES: “Putin’s pushback should have come as no surprise…. His response to events (in Ukraine) has been defensive, not offensive.” He points out that the United States would “not tolerate distant great powers deploying military forces anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, much less on its borders. Imagine the outrage in Washington if China built an impressive military alliance and tried to include Canada and Mexico in it.” He is right that the West is encircling Russia, so it can maintain itself as a world power while Germany wants to be a world power too. Yet, we have to look at the economic and social issues that are involved in the Ukraine crisis too. NATO and the EU want to turn Ukraine and even Russia into a semi colony where its labor and raw materials are exploited. Western companies want more of a stronger market in Eastern Europe. The Association Agreement protects the assets of Ukrainian oligarchs and opens up Ukraine to western corporations and banks while luring the political elite and a small layer of the middle class with bribes from the EU. Yanukovych once supported and then he opposed the agreement. Western backed forced supported the coup. US Deputy ASSISTANT Secretary of State Victoria Nuland later admitted that the US had invested over $5 billion in such forces since 1991. Reactionary groups supported the events in the Madian. Svoboda sent its followers to Kiev. The Right Sector (with many neo-Nazis and fascists) supported the coup too. Yanukovych agreed to an interim government with early elections, but he left the Ukraine. On February 22, his opponents took power. This was not a democratic revolution, but a coup. Crimea established its independence. Pro-Russian separatists took power in Donetsk and Lugansk. They are fighting the Ukrainian new government for months. Sanctions against Russia continue. So, Ukraine should be independent without being a pro-NATO puppet state. Crimea has every right to embrace its independence too.
In any movement for justice, steps are enacted. I have no problem with the Boycott Black Friday movement. Boycotts that are determined, unified, and strong have worked from the Birmingham Bus Boycott to the boycotts found in the anti-apartheid movement (where Brothers and Sisters fought against tyranny). We should extend boycotts into other areas too. Sister Tamika Mallory is exactly right in that we need to grow our own economic (as we ought to strengthen our own institutions, so we can help our people more. We need to build and grow our collective resources. Collective power is superior to selfish individualism. African cultural tradition always teaches about community awareness and collective strength) and political power as one people and as one community. Dr. King died in the midst of an economic strike (among Memphis workers who protested for human dignity and workers’ rights). Malcolm X gave a speech in NYC (back in 1962 to support the hospital workers union Local 1199) once in favor of workers’ rights too. So, we have to support economic rights as well. We have the right to not support any institution that doesn’t respect our interests or our humanity as black people. Unity is very important. Liberation can never exist without unity and solidarity. We are an international people. So, we should advance the unity of black people in America and throughout the EARTH as well. Doing something positive is better than doing nothing. A combination of actions are needed like boycotts, the growth of cooperative enterprises, and other positive solutions. Action is very necessary for us to do. Not to mention that we are an international people. We should unite not only with black Americans, but with Afro-Brazilians, black Africans, Afro-French, Afro-British, Afro-Caribbean’s, and black people globally. One thing that evil people hate is positive, constructive unity. The more that I learn about Africans and others in the African Diaspora, the more strong I feel in my mind and in my spirit. The Black in Latin America DVD and book opened my eyes on many issues. The more that I learn about the culture of our Brothers and Sisters globally, the more connected I feel to the overall humanity of black people internationally. We are in an international movement for real social change. We should embrace political independence.
South Africa is a land with revolutionary fervor. Black people in South Africa then and now are fighting for liberation. The struggle for liberation is not over in South Africa or in the Motherland in general. Africa needs to be totally free from poverty, neoliberalism, neocolonialism, and any forms of oppression including injustice. Centuries ago, our people had their lands stolen and were killed by racist, European imperialists. The stolen wealth (which was used by these European imperialist criminals to fund their societies) from Africa was exploited by the oppressors as a means to mistreat black people including others in South Africa. That is why many Brothers and Sisters did not want reform. They wanted the end of settler colonialism and the transformation of the country to benefit the masses of the people (i.e. the workers and the poor). People like Lillian Ngoyi (she was a textile worker and a mother of three), Steve Biko, Chris Dani, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe (who had a great political spirit just like Nelson Mandela), and others fought against apartheid and deserved justice. These heroes like Ngoyi protested the immoral pass laws in the 1950’s. The evil apartheid laws harmed black women not just black men. There were many groups involved in this fight like the ANC (whose many of its members unfortunately today have followed the path of neoliberalism and compromise. Even the Truth and Reconciliation Commission didn’t go far enough), the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania (or the PAC), etc. PAC organized civil disobedience campaigns to combat the Pass Law and apartheid in general. There was the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre when apartheid forced murdered innocent black men, black women, and black children (they were protesting the unjust pass law). Nelson Mandela was imprisoned in 1964. Mandela was a brave Brother. Many Brothers and Sisters were killed, jailed, placed under house arrest, and the whole nine yards. The Soweto killings were about apartheid forces killing school students. Steve Biko inspired a new generation of revolutionaries to continue on the work that he has done. Black Americans (and other people globally) supported the anti-apartheid movement as well. We have to remember this history, because we have to know the sacrifice of what our people had to do through in the Motherland as a means for our people to end apartheid. Now, we face economic inequality and we fight that too. Izwe Lethu I Afrika.
It is very important to promote political independence as a people and as a community. Malcolm X told us that we should be political independents and not have unconditional allegiance to the Republicans or the Democrats at all. We know that the mass mobilizations by the civil rights movements and the black rebellions back in the 1960’s abolished legal segregation (Jim Crow) in America. Yet, we still face economic inequality. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. promoted his Poor Peoples Campaign (which wanted to unify labor, black people, other peoples, anti-war people, the unemployed, the poor, etc. into one coalition), then he faced fierce opposition from the establishment. The War on Poverty failed to totally end poverty (Although, it did help many people to be fair), because it became extremely bureaucratic. It didn’t go far enough, and the Vietnam War took away resources from social programs, which could have been used to help people, and these resources were used to fund the military industrial complex. The legitimate parts of the Great Society to this very day are opposed by reactionaries. After 1968, things changed. More people joined the political establishment of the two party system instead of forming their own politically independent power base. The National Black Political Assembly on March 10, 1972 was one of the times when black people wanted to assert their independence politically from the capitalist two party system. The assembly included black people from across the political spectrum. Sincere black revolutionaries wanted to be free. The militants underestimated the reactionary views of some of the black officials who taken office. The original Preamble of the National Black Political Agenda was very radical. 8,000 people attended the conference. It ended in March 12, 1972. Many people wanted black people to have an unquestioned allegiance to the Democrats while others wanted to oppose imperialism, and stand up for more revolutionary aims. This conflict led to the creation of the watered down Black Bill of Rights as favored by the Congressional Black Caucus. Maynard Jackson, the mayor of Atlanta, demanded that the Georgia delegation withdraw its statement in support for an independent Black party. An attempt to discuss implementation of the 1972 Black Agenda was ruled out of order. The Democratic Party to this day has huge power in the black community. We should break free from the two party system, so we can be free for real. I do realize that many sincere, strong, and intelligent black people are in both parties. This fact doesn't mean that we bow down to these 2 parties as deities though. The truth is that we must oppose racism, imperialism, ecological harm, and other evils. We shouldn’t be sidetracked in following the Democrats or the Republicans unconditionally. The first National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana (which is a very important event in our struggle for liberation) should inspire all of us to fight for freedom and realize that our intellectual strength is important to advance. An independent Black Political voice is necessary for us to be free. We have the right to assert our independence and our self-determination.
I am happy that Brother Sekou Odinga is out of prison. The Black Panthers were courageous Brothers and Sisters who walked their talk. They were created in 1966. Their actions were similar to the actions of Robert L. Williams, and others who resisted evil. They stood up against police state terrorism and they organized to help the sick, the youth, the elderly and the community in general. The FBI have some nerve to classify certain people as “criminals” when they have illegally monitored freedom fighters, violated human rights in other ways, and did other nefarious deeds for long decades. The Black Panther Party and other pro-liberation groups showed the world that real ideals and real, revolutionary deeds have power. Yes, the FBI is still trying to capture Sister Assata Shakur. When you look at her interviews on Youtube and various clips, you can see the consciousness and the inner peace that Sister Assata Shakur possesses. She is a very intelligent Sister and she is very heroic in standing up for Black Unity and freedom for humanity. Bless you Sister Assata Shakur. Kori Dobbs needs our support. Racist comments and any form of cyberbullying should be totally condemned. White racism is a total abomination and it ought to be condemned and eradicated in the world. Those white racists are obviously jealous of the intelligence, of the integrity, and of the strength of a black high school student, who is now the Class President. The racists readily lack empathy, they lack human compassion, and they lack true honor. That is why they hate us. They hate our resilient spirit, they hate our beautiful black melanin, and they hate the truth. During this time, we will CONTINUE to handle our business, fight evil, defend our black people, and stick by our true, inspirational principles. That is why I will always support Black Love, Black Unity, and Black Solidarity. Human rights and justice are meant for all.
By Timothy
In any movement for justice, steps are enacted. I have no problem with the Boycott Black Friday movement. Boycotts that are determined, unified, and strong have worked from the Birmingham Bus Boycott to the boycotts found in the anti-apartheid movement (where Brothers and Sisters fought against tyranny). We should extend boycotts into other areas too. Sister Tamika Mallory is exactly right in that we need to grow our own economic (as we ought to strengthen our own institutions, so we can help our people more. We need to build and grow our collective resources. Collective power is superior to selfish individualism. African cultural tradition always teaches about community awareness and collective strength) and political power as one people and as one community. Dr. King died in the midst of an economic strike (among Memphis workers who protested for human dignity and workers’ rights). Malcolm X gave a speech in NYC (back in 1962 to support the hospital workers union Local 1199) once in favor of workers’ rights too. So, we have to support economic rights as well. We have the right to not support any institution that doesn’t respect our interests or our humanity as black people. Unity is very important. Liberation can never exist without unity and solidarity. We are an international people. So, we should advance the unity of black people in America and throughout the EARTH as well. Doing something positive is better than doing nothing. A combination of actions are needed like boycotts, the growth of cooperative enterprises, and other positive solutions. Action is very necessary for us to do. Not to mention that we are an international people. We should unite not only with black Americans, but with Afro-Brazilians, black Africans, Afro-French, Afro-British, Afro-Caribbean’s, and black people globally. One thing that evil people hate is positive, constructive unity. The more that I learn about Africans and others in the African Diaspora, the more strong I feel in my mind and in my spirit. The Black in Latin America DVD and book opened my eyes on many issues. The more that I learn about the culture of our Brothers and Sisters globally, the more connected I feel to the overall humanity of black people internationally. We are in an international movement for real social change. We should embrace political independence.
South Africa is a land with revolutionary fervor. Black people in South Africa then and now are fighting for liberation. The struggle for liberation is not over in South Africa or in the Motherland in general. Africa needs to be totally free from poverty, neoliberalism, neocolonialism, and any forms of oppression including injustice. Centuries ago, our people had their lands stolen and were killed by racist, European imperialists. The stolen wealth (which was used by these European imperialist criminals to fund their societies) from Africa was exploited by the oppressors as a means to mistreat black people including others in South Africa. That is why many Brothers and Sisters did not want reform. They wanted the end of settler colonialism and the transformation of the country to benefit the masses of the people (i.e. the workers and the poor). People like Lillian Ngoyi (she was a textile worker and a mother of three), Steve Biko, Chris Dani, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe (who had a great political spirit just like Nelson Mandela), and others fought against apartheid and deserved justice. These heroes like Ngoyi protested the immoral pass laws in the 1950’s. The evil apartheid laws harmed black women not just black men. There were many groups involved in this fight like the ANC (whose many of its members unfortunately today have followed the path of neoliberalism and compromise. Even the Truth and Reconciliation Commission didn’t go far enough), the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania (or the PAC), etc. PAC organized civil disobedience campaigns to combat the Pass Law and apartheid in general. There was the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre when apartheid forced murdered innocent black men, black women, and black children (they were protesting the unjust pass law). Nelson Mandela was imprisoned in 1964. Mandela was a brave Brother. Many Brothers and Sisters were killed, jailed, placed under house arrest, and the whole nine yards. The Soweto killings were about apartheid forces killing school students. Steve Biko inspired a new generation of revolutionaries to continue on the work that he has done. Black Americans (and other people globally) supported the anti-apartheid movement as well. We have to remember this history, because we have to know the sacrifice of what our people had to do through in the Motherland as a means for our people to end apartheid. Now, we face economic inequality and we fight that too. Izwe Lethu I Afrika.
It is very important to promote political independence as a people and as a community. Malcolm X told us that we should be political independents and not have unconditional allegiance to the Republicans or the Democrats at all. We know that the mass mobilizations by the civil rights movements and the black rebellions back in the 1960’s abolished legal segregation (Jim Crow) in America. Yet, we still face economic inequality. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. promoted his Poor Peoples Campaign (which wanted to unify labor, black people, other peoples, anti-war people, the unemployed, the poor, etc. into one coalition), then he faced fierce opposition from the establishment. The War on Poverty failed to totally end poverty (Although, it did help many people to be fair), because it became extremely bureaucratic. It didn’t go far enough, and the Vietnam War took away resources from social programs, which could have been used to help people, and these resources were used to fund the military industrial complex. The legitimate parts of the Great Society to this very day are opposed by reactionaries. After 1968, things changed. More people joined the political establishment of the two party system instead of forming their own politically independent power base. The National Black Political Assembly on March 10, 1972 was one of the times when black people wanted to assert their independence politically from the capitalist two party system. The assembly included black people from across the political spectrum. Sincere black revolutionaries wanted to be free. The militants underestimated the reactionary views of some of the black officials who taken office. The original Preamble of the National Black Political Agenda was very radical. 8,000 people attended the conference. It ended in March 12, 1972. Many people wanted black people to have an unquestioned allegiance to the Democrats while others wanted to oppose imperialism, and stand up for more revolutionary aims. This conflict led to the creation of the watered down Black Bill of Rights as favored by the Congressional Black Caucus. Maynard Jackson, the mayor of Atlanta, demanded that the Georgia delegation withdraw its statement in support for an independent Black party. An attempt to discuss implementation of the 1972 Black Agenda was ruled out of order. The Democratic Party to this day has huge power in the black community. We should break free from the two party system, so we can be free for real. I do realize that many sincere, strong, and intelligent black people are in both parties. This fact doesn't mean that we bow down to these 2 parties as deities though. The truth is that we must oppose racism, imperialism, ecological harm, and other evils. We shouldn’t be sidetracked in following the Democrats or the Republicans unconditionally. The first National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana (which is a very important event in our struggle for liberation) should inspire all of us to fight for freedom and realize that our intellectual strength is important to advance. An independent Black Political voice is necessary for us to be free. We have the right to assert our independence and our self-determination.
I am happy that Brother Sekou Odinga is out of prison. The Black Panthers were courageous Brothers and Sisters who walked their talk. They were created in 1966. Their actions were similar to the actions of Robert L. Williams, and others who resisted evil. They stood up against police state terrorism and they organized to help the sick, the youth, the elderly and the community in general. The FBI have some nerve to classify certain people as “criminals” when they have illegally monitored freedom fighters, violated human rights in other ways, and did other nefarious deeds for long decades. The Black Panther Party and other pro-liberation groups showed the world that real ideals and real, revolutionary deeds have power. Yes, the FBI is still trying to capture Sister Assata Shakur. When you look at her interviews on Youtube and various clips, you can see the consciousness and the inner peace that Sister Assata Shakur possesses. She is a very intelligent Sister and she is very heroic in standing up for Black Unity and freedom for humanity. Bless you Sister Assata Shakur. Kori Dobbs needs our support. Racist comments and any form of cyberbullying should be totally condemned. White racism is a total abomination and it ought to be condemned and eradicated in the world. Those white racists are obviously jealous of the intelligence, of the integrity, and of the strength of a black high school student, who is now the Class President. The racists readily lack empathy, they lack human compassion, and they lack true honor. That is why they hate us. They hate our resilient spirit, they hate our beautiful black melanin, and they hate the truth. During this time, we will CONTINUE to handle our business, fight evil, defend our black people, and stick by our true, inspirational principles. That is why I will always support Black Love, Black Unity, and Black Solidarity. Human rights and justice are meant for all.
By Timothy
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Thanksgiving 2014
Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING conjures up a lot of memories. We know the truth about Thanksgiving. Harvest celebration ceremonies have existed in the four corners of the world throughout human history. Today, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the United States of America including Canada. It is celebrated in the fourth Thursday of November in America and on the second Monday of October of Canada. Among all religions and spiritual traditions have celebrations after harvests and in other times. So, there is nothing wrong with giving Thanksgiving to God or to have celebrations about celebrating life. The problem is that the modern American Thanksgiving holiday came about via controversial means. The United States Thanksgiving holiday tradition originated with the story of the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. The Pilgrims traveled into Plymouth. The 1621 Plymouth Plantation Thanksgiving holiday is the famous celebration that people talked about. Such celebrations existed long before 1621 too. Now, Squanto or a Patuxet Native Americans resided with the Wampanoag tribe. He taught the Pilgrims on how to catch eel and grow corn. He served as an interpreter for them as Squanto could speak English too as he was once enslaved in England. Even the Wampanoag leader Massasoit donated foods stores to the fledging colony during the first winter when supplies brought from England were insufficient. The Pilgrims celebrated at Plymouth for three days after their first harvest, in 1621. The exact time is unknown, but James Baker, then Plymouth Plantation vice president of research, STATED IN 1996, "The event occurred between Sept. 21 and Nov. 11, 1621, with the most likely time being around Michaelmas (Sept. 29), the traditional time." On March 22, 1621, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony signed a peace treaty with the Massasoit of the Wampanoags. Now, we know what happened next. White supremacists before 1621 and afterwards continued to use genocide against the Native Americans. The Pilgrims wanted absolute power in the New World.
The genocide of Native Americans is unjust and wicked. Another common practice among European explorers was to give "smallpox blankets" to the Indians. Since smallpox was unknown on this continent prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Native Americans did not have any natural immunity to the disease so smallpox would effectively wipe out entire villages with very little effort required by the Europeans. John Two-Hawks wrote that the first unofficial Thanksgiving meal didn’t invite the Native Americans. Also, a few days before the feast, the Pilgrims led by Miles Standish put an 11 ft. high wall to keep the Native Americans out. Dr. Tingba Apidta in his “Black Folks’ Guide to Understanding Thanksgiving” wrote that Miles Standish pretended to be a trader and beheaded a Native American man named Wituwamat (He also had the man’s young brother hanged). The Pequot massacre of 1637 was when Pilgrims (along with their allied Native Americans) killed men, women, children, and including old people who were Native Americans. Fifty-five years after the original Thanksgiving Day, the Puritans had DESTROYED the generous Wampanoag and all other neighboring tribes. The Wampanoag chief King Philip was beheaded. His head was stuck on a pole in Plymouth, where the skull still hung on display 24 years later. Also, these same murderers and racists enslaved black Africans and sent them to the Americas as well. It is a fact that many U.S. Presidents are related to the British Royal family too (who was involved in funded and facilitating the Maafa along with other European criminals. The deal is that racist white people wanted white domination over non-white people and people have the right to defeat white supremacy and establish justice for the human race).
So, there is nothing wrong with families celebrating with each other, praying together, and growing bonds. We just need to use the love for our families and friends as motivation to keep on fighting for justice for all.
Political Realities
We live in a new political era of America with the GOP controlling most of the House and most of the Senate. The results of the 2014 Election was never about the people embracing all of the reactionary Republican policies. It was about the rejection of the status quo. Many voter initiatives involving a higher minimum wage, on issues relating to marijuana, etc. passed in numerous states. The four Republican dominated states even approved measures to increase the minimum wage like Alaska, Nebraska, Arkansas, and South Dakota. Four initiatives requiring paid sick leave also passed on November 4, making it three states and 16 cities that have now passed some kind of paid sick leave law. One of those states is Massachusetts, where voters put Republican businessman Charlie Baker in the governor's mansion. The Democrats lost since many of them refused to courageously stand up for the interests of the poor and the working class. They just want to be more centrist. We know what the Republicans are all about. They are pushing a reactionary agenda like the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline (which is about using American land to export oil globally), anti-immigration policies, cut corporate taxes, and cut Social Security. Many Republicans even support numerous measures to restrict the right to even vote. The proto-fascist reactionary Republicans want the American dream to be government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich. A true government is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Proto-fascist Republicans fear the common people including the poor and people of color. That is why we should focus on fighting for economic justice and PROSPERITY. That will grow families, help the poor, and see marriages improve. We should end the prison industrial complex (or part of the new Jim Crow which Sister Michelle Alexander has articulated greatly). Our communities need to be reconstructed to not embrace materialism or possessive individualism. We need more humanistic, cooperative or communal values to flourish. There is nothing wrong with black people embracing self-affirmation, self-respect, self-love, and black personhood (as a people and as individuals). We have to reject the deification of ego, the deification of property, and selfishness. Greed is not good. Wall Street oligarchs harming the American people have proven that fact. The overarching point is that fascism didn’t end in 1945. It is still in existence today. That is why we need more mobilization, organization, and more movement building in the world. We should embrace the vision of creating a community where universal freedom, dignity, equality, and justice are established. We don’t need propaganda from the Koch Brothers. We need the advancement of transparency, democracy, and true human dignity.
The RNC has never lied about their reactionary agenda. Many of them are proto-fascists. We live in a society where there is class and racial oppression. The RNC outright supports imperial foreign policy and neoliberal economic policies as well. Many Democrats have supported this agenda too, so this is not a one party deal. Fundamentally, we need a society where human rights and the communal essence of society are superior to the deification of property and the deification of money. The mostly GOP-led Supreme Court has gutted parts of the Voting Rights Act. If the poor can’t have economic justice, then that is cruel and unusual punishment. No government should be respected if it is a government of the rich, and for the rich. The War on Drugs should be abolished, sentencing disparities ought to be addressed (as the prison industrial complex is disgraceful as explained by George Jackson, Angela Davis, etc.), and corporate welfare should be gone. Also, I am reading the book entitled, “All Labor Has Dignity” with an introduction written by Michael K. Honey. That book reminds me that labor rights is key in the liberation of humanity. That book has shown how the Montgomery bus boycott, the Memphis sanitation strike, the Scirpto strikes, etc. involved brave workers. Workers’ rights must be respected (a living wage is important, unfair tax loopholes must be gone, and corporate corruption must end) and bourgeois policies won’t cut it. There must be a radical redistribution of political and economic power as Dr. King has said. There is nothing wrong with growing enterprises (who treat workers fairly), but that is not enough. Unjust laws must be banned. The poor deserve justice. The environment must be better and record economic inequality must be combated. Not to mention that our CRIMINAL JUSTICE system must be radically changed. So, a comprehensive approach is needed.
The midterms should not cause us to have despair. It should represent a real opportunity for the growth of independent political movements that can progressively address the needs of the people. We know that the corporate two party system in Washington doesn’t need to be worshiped. We should reject the system of white supremacy and realize that both parties have expressed contempt for Black America and all freedom loving peoples. We need revolutionary changes. Imperialism is still a serious threat in the world. Both parties in their leaderships want to privatize education, gentrify neighborhoods, privatize public resources in general, CONTINUE with the low wage economy, fund trillions in imperial war and bank bailouts, and continue with the prison industrial complex (including fund militarized and racist police forces). The working class and the poor are oppressed in the same system of oppression. There has been a low voter turnout in the Midterm election. Yet, the consciousness of the people can rise even more with the promotion of the rights of black people, immigrant rights, and the rights of all oppressed people of the world. The lesser of two evils mantra is refuted, because even some Democrats want to be like Republicans on numerous issues. We will confront educational and environmental problems too. With the Obama administration, we see the ruling class still promoting the same reactionary agenda in terms of foreign policy including other matters too. We need real collective leadership by increasing the power of oppressed people. There must be the politics of liberation. The oppressed need self-determination and the building of their own institutions without laissez faire capitalism. We are not only fighting racism and discrimination. We are fighting poverty too. We don’t need to return to business as usual. We need justice now.
The Berlin Wall
There can be no discussion about the Great Wall without understanding what happened to Eastern Europe in the aftermath of World War II. The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 began a new era in history. There was the solidarity movement years earlier in Poland and mass strikes in 1988 as well. Many Soviet- style Communist regimes collapsed in Eastern Europe. One party rule ended in Hungary. The end of Soviet-style Communism spread into Bulgaria, then Czechoslovakia, and Romania. The Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was executed, which was televised. The end of the USSR came after the decline of the USSR. These events proved the collapse of Stalinism in Eastern Europe was real not the proof that laissez faire capitalism is totally perfect. The reality is that a great society is when the workers are self-emancipated not when the state suppresses the rights of the people. The workers must have their democratic rights. We do know that the Eastern European states after WWII had nothing to do with popular power or democracy. It had to do with an agreement made by the U.S., the UK, and the USSR. These powers carved up Europe into distinct spheres of influence without much input from the masses of the people in Eastern Europe. Therefore, the creation of the Eastern bloc ultimately was not created by popular social revolutionary actions, but via agreements among Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt. Stalin had massive power in Eastern Europe and the West allowed it to happen, because the West feared the possibility of mass, independent revolutionary movements in those nations including France plus Italy. That is why Yalta and Potsdam (according to Hallas) disarmed many resistance movements, pushed no strike pledges in the trade unions, etc. The Big Three felt that Stalin could act as a bulwark against any independent movements of social change in Eastern Europe. In Bulgaria, the military enforced an authoritarian regime where soldiers’ councils were banned. Even the Russians in Romania used reactionary figures to ensure stability. Later, the Soviets pushed reactionaries out of government in Eastern Europe. Local communist parties ruled. Revolutionary socialists still opposed Joseph Stalin’s dictatorship too. That is why when sincere workers and activists used uprisings in East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Czechoslovakia to try to be free, the Soviet troops came in to suppress these uprisings.
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was one of the most important events of the Cold War. Rulers in the East and the West distorted what socialism and any democratic movement was on its head. Both sides did not want the workers to have a truly democratically run society in their own interests and to end imperialism outright. That is why people in the Eastern bloc fought back against dogmatic, Stalinist communism. Many workers set up workers’ councils, which was a legitimate, genuine working class rule system. The Revolution in Hungary came after Stalin died in 1953. His successor was Nikita Khrushchev. He allowed some political debate in order to solve economic issues. Hungary had economic stagnation and the secret police of the AVH spied on people. The AVH tortured and executed anyone who questioned the regime. These acts were wrong. In the end of October, student led demonstrations were formed in solidarity with a protest in Poland. It formed mass action that called for the removal of Russian troops and the local heads of state. People marched. The police fired on the protesters. This caused a revolutionary insurrection to develop. The AVH killed innocent people. The reformer Imre Nagy came into power. Nagy was opposed by the Rakosi regime, which used the AVH terrorists to harm the people of Hungary. Later, Russian troops entered Budapest and other major cities to regain control. Workers armed themselves and even some from the Hungarian army joined the rebellion as well. Councils of workers, soldiers, and students were formed all over the country. They took over radio stations to broadcast their views. They wanted free elections and the removal of Russian troops. The Soviets even refused to negotiate with the revolutionaries. The USSR used tanks and suppressed the Hungarian Revolution. Ironically, many Soviet troops refused to fight or joined the ranks of the revolutionaries. Nagy was ARRESTED and later executed. The Russians used artillery and air strikes. They shelled strongholds of the revolutionary working class districts. So, the Hungarian revolutionaries were heroes while the Stalinists were acting as fascists. Hungary was soon occupied by the Soviets for decades more. Yet, factory workers, workers in general, students, and other people of Hungary stood up heroically against oppression. So, the 1956 Revolution was not an anti-socialist, pro-capitalist rebellion. It was about workers and the people of Hungary standing up against injustices. Ferenc Töke, a vice-president of the Central Workers Council of Greater Budapest, later recalled: “No reactionary tendency manifested itself throughout the entire strike. There was never, at any moment, a question of the former owners eventually returning” (Jean-Jacques Marie and Balazs Nagy [eds.], Pologne-Hongrie 1956 [1966]). The Central Workers Council of Budapest declared in a 27 November 1956 appeal to workers councils throughout the country: “Faithful to this mission, we defend, even at the cost of our lives, our factories and our fatherland against any attempt to restore capitalism.” Workers seized the factories and mines and set up elected workers councils (soviets), embryonic organs of proletarian political power. For weeks the workers fought courageously—by means of strikes, demonstrations and armed struggle—before this political revolution was suppressed. The Hungary Revolution of 1956 should always be remembered.
The Berlin Wall fall begin after the events of August of 19, 1989. That was when Hungary disabled its physical border defenses with Austria. In September 1989, 13,000 East German tourists escaped through Hungary to Austria. Some of the East Germans were returned to Budapest. These East Germans flooded the West German embassy and refused to return to East Germany. Soon, mass demonstrations in East Germany came about. Erich Honecker resigned and Egon Krenz ran East Germany. Protest demonstrations broke out all over East Germany in September 1989. Initially, protesters were mostly people wanting to leave to the West, chanting "Wir wollen raus!" ("We want out!"). Then protestors began to chant "Wir bleiben hier", ("We're staying here!"). This was the start of what East GERMANS generally call the "Peaceful Revolution" of late 1989. The protest demonstrations grew considerably by early November. The movement neared its height on November 4, when half a million people gathered at the Alexanderplatz demonstration, a rally for change in East Berlin's large PUBLIC Square and transportation hub. (Henslin, 07). The fall of the Berlin Wall began on November 9, 1989. Sections of the wall being demolished were shown worldwide. West Germans and West Berliners were allowed visa travel on December 23, 1989. The wall was further demolished in 1990. This lead into East Germany adopting the West German currency and all border control ceased by July 1, 1990. By October 3, 1990, German reunification existed. It was established along the democratic lines of the West German government. This unified German government was head by West Germany’s conservative Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and then French President Francois Mitterrand did not want an unified Germany, because they felt that an unified Germany could destabilize the region (this time was less than 50 years after the end of Hitler’s reign in Europe). Celebrations came about to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and in 1990 as well. Many authoritarian (not socialist, because Eastern bloc satellite regimes were controlled by a small minority. The working majority were deprived of democratic freedoms. Also, people suffered exploitation, oppression, and alienation from real social and political control) regimes in the Eastern bloc were gone by the working class and other people. In Hungary, for example, 10,000 people gathered in March 1988 for an illegal demonstration to demand "democracy, free speech and freedom of the press." It was a stunning show of strength for dissidents. As one East GERMAN radical later recalled, "A feeling arose that things had to change." Anthony Arnove wrote in an article for the International Socialist Review, "When they sensed that repression alone could not contain the crisis, the Stalinist bureaucracies faced a decision: be pushed or jump. In the end, both took place. Under the pressure of protests, strikes and demonstrations, the regimes fell one by one." By the end of 1989, the former Stalinist rulers were out of power in all six satellite states.
Frederick Douglas
Frederick Douglas was a heroic black man. He stood up against injustice and express amazing courage in the world. He was born in 1818 as a slave in Maryland. He learned to read and write in secret as a child. Later, he defended himself against a slaveholder. Later, he escaped to freedom in 1838. He dedicated his time to the cause to end slavery. He spoke at conventions and at other meetings worldwide. He published his autobiography entitled, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.” To this very day, his autobiography is read heavily not only in America, but worldwide. The autobiography was published in 1845. He also founded the abolitionist newspaper called, “The North Star.” The abolitionist movement was very diverse and it was multiracial in its composition. Some abolitionists were conservative and just wanted to peacefully convince the South to end slavery via just a gradual process. Obviously, history teaches us that action will not work, because social change can only come when resistance and struggle against injustice are enacted. Other abolitionists were more progressive and wanted an immediate end to slavery via political and social actions. Brother David Walker was a great black abolitionist who opposed slavery. He wrote his famous “Appeal” in 1829. He supported the first black newspaper in America called “Freedom’s Journal.” Henry Highland Garnett and Martin Delany were other courageous black abolitionists who followed the Black Nationalist path of emigration (or that black people should go into Africa or other locations when American society oppresses black people so much in America). Frederick Douglas viewed the struggle of black people to have freedom as a racial and class struggle. He called out the exploitation of the workers by the elite. William Lloyd Garrison was a white abolitionist leader. He agreed with Frederick Douglas on many issues like rejecting insurrection and rejecting emigration (my view is that black people have the right to voluntarily live in America or voluntarily live in any nation of the world including the continent of Africa). Garrison and Douglas disagreed on issues too. Frederick Douglas created his own newspaper called “The North Star” when Garrison opposed such an act. Frederick Douglas rejected the notion that nonviolent resistance could totally end slavery. Garrison rejected massive political action while Douglas wanted more political action as a means to end slavery. He is very famous for his speech about the Fourth of July and how it is hypocritical for asking a salve to celebrate the Fourth of July when black people are being oppressed in America. This speech is relevant in our times as well. He gave it to the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society on July 5, 1852. He later supported the actions of John Brown and others in their Harpers Ferry rebellion in Virginia (which he disapproved of at first). John Brown and others died for the cause of freedom.
Frederick Douglas put pressure on Abraham Lincoln to act more courageous in dealing with slavery. Douglas supported black Union soldiers too. After the civil war, Frederick Douglas supported the suffrage movement. He was a great orator and scholar. He worked with the strong Ida B. Wells as well. Ida B. Wells and Frederick Douglas worked together on boycotting the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, for its failure to collaborate with the black community on exhibits representing African-American life. Frederick scarified a lot. His house was burnt down in New York and he has to move to D.C. In 1892, Douglass constructed rental housing for blacks, now known as Douglass Place, in the Fells Point area of Baltimore. The complex still exists, and in 2003 was listed on the National REGISTER of Historic Places. Frederick Douglas and Ida B. Wells also worked in anti-lynching efforts and desired freedom and justice for black people. He passed away in 1895 at 77. He suffered a heart attack after giving a speech (in a meeting of the National Council of Women in Washington, D.C.) which received a standing ovation. RIP Brother Frederick Douglas.
I have looked at his entire speech. Essentially, his executive order is exactly similar to George W. Bush’s views on immigration. It is a centrist order and other Presidents have issued executive orders before. Fines, deportation, placing more resources toward border security, and BACKGROUND CHECKS are not equated into amnesty. The President has deported more undocumented immigrant human beings than any other President in American history, so his views are more aligned with Republicans than some think. His speech is blatantly center-right. Many Tea Party Republicans don’t know what amnesty is. The big picture is how multinational corporations, bad trade deals, and massive economic problems in the global South (which has been facilitated by Western imperialism since America has funded many Latin American dictatorships for decades in stark contrast to the interests of the peoples of Latin America) has greatly contributed to the broken immigration system that we see now. That is why I can never agree with white racists who want to call immigrants racial slurs (when immigrants are among many colors. Many Haitian Immigrants were treated badly by some). I can never agree with white racists when historically the anti-immigration movement has ties to the eugenics movement decades ago (you can look this up by the way. The eugenics movement is antithetical to the interests of black people). I can never agree with white racists who refuse to see the complexities of the issue of immigration. It is hypocritical for reactionaries to lecture anyone on breaking the law when they ignore how many bankers, many CIA agents, and others have broken the law. Many of their ancestors stole land, created borders via authoritarian conquest, exploited religion as a means to promote bigotry & hatred towards people, and broke the treaties with the Native Americans in causing death including genocide. Any immigration policy should be just and fair to African Americans. Being politically independent means that we are to be compassionate, strong, and fair not xenophobic. Neoliberalism is not perfect as it has been exposed by economic scholars from across the political spectrum. Neoliberalism has harmed Chile too. Manuel Larrabure and Carlos Torchia including others have shown the truth on this issue. Books have been written about this issue. Economic indicators are diverse. Some nations have better economic indicators than other nations. You omit that Costa Rica has a strong environment, progressive policy. It bans RECREATIONAL hunting. Costa Rica has a tax on water pollution to penalize businesses and homeowners that dump sewage, agricultural chemicals, and other pollutants into waterways. So, it is heavily a green nation. So, it is not totally neoliberal in its composition. NAFTA did harm Mexico, because it caused millions of JOBS from the Americas to go overseas. Even conservatives now admit to the imperfections of NAFTA. A decade post-NAFTA, about a million US JOBS were lost. America’s Mexican trade deficit alone cost around 700,000 JOBS by 2010. Government data show nearly five million US manufacturing disappeared since 1994. NAFTA has a deplorable legacy. That is not even a debate anymore. Cuba has no trade with America, but its health services are very strong. Cuba has been harmed by huge embargoes too. It is a historical fact that Western imperialism is immoral.
We know how unjust the American injustice system is. Darren Wilson (as shown by his own TESTIMONY) disrespected the humanity of Michael Brown by calling him a “demon.” I will never say that people have no right to express indignant anger at oppression. People have the right to be angry when our Brothers and our Sisters have been mistreated by evil people. We have the right to be angry at how our communities have been occupied by police forces and how unjust laws are still in existence. We should use our anger as motivation to express self-determination, to treat each other right, and to stand up for justice. Some ignore how the police still use tear gas on innocent protesters. The vast majority of the protesters were peaceful. Developing our own infrastructure, forming boycotts, demanding unjust laws to end, and building more in our communities are great things to do. We have to BUILD. No one should be naïve. We know how the authorities have treated black people for centuries in the West. The rebellion in Ferguson was not about everyone promoting nihilism. It was about hurt people expressing outrage at white supremacy and outright at racial including economic injustices. We should use proactive, positive, and revolutionary actions to not only help the workers, but the rest of the poor as well. Black lives do matter. Passivity towards injustice is a problem. Apathy is a problem. Acceptance of the status quo is a problem. These problems combined represent the need for us to CONTINUE onward in this fight. Numerous cops have killed Brothers and Sisters for decades without being prosecuted. Eric Garner's murderers haven't even been prosecuted fully yet and those murderers violated their own police procedures. So, we know what time it is. If a cop wants to kill someone, they will try to do it regardless of how we act, what clothes we wear, or our social demeanor. That is why we have every right to reflect, to analyze problems, and to stand up for justice (which is our birthright as black people). The citizens of Ferguson have shown freedom loving people globally that it is just to stand up as human beings. We will keep on standing up. It a'int going to be easy, but we will WIN in the end.
*I believe in altruism. That means liberty is meant for all, not just for the individual millionaires, billionaires, and the wealthiest top 10 percent. That means that the economic rights of the middle class and the poor ought to be protected. Workers’ rights should never be suppressed. We should be protected of our civil liberties and health care protections are fine with me. Health care is a human right. Any human being has the right to receive health care in handling their needs. I reject the views of fascists. Fascists believe in bigotry and other prejudices. They readily demonize immigrants, people of color, and those who are in other different backgrounds. Back in the 1930's, these fascists were defeated. They should be defeated today near 2015. Human need is always better than greed. Greed is not good. Love is good. Altruism is good and justice is good. The workers have the right to be paid a living wage. Humanity is not perfect and that is why regulations exist in society. This is why we have governments, legislatures, laws, and courts. These items are part of a real civilization. We will continue to fight for economic justice as well. Corporations should not do what they want whenever they want too.
I believe in net neutrality completely. Some reactionary Tea Party members don’t know what net neutrality is. The Internet is a very important tool in the world. We see that corporate companies like Comcast refuse to treat all web traffic equally. Some Tea Partiers are defending Comcast and AT&T. Net Neutrality is about promoting a free and open Internet. Not just some corporations want to end net neutrality, but some in the FCC too. PROTECTING NET neutrality is about protecting human rights, protecting free speech, and allowing people to be heard on their own terms. So, people should have a free and unfettered access to the Internet. The telecom companies should not be allowed to monopolize the Internet for their own profit. All ideas and all enterprises ought to have equal rights to travel on the Internet.
By Timothy
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
News, Ferguson, Etc.
We know how unjust the American injustice system is. Darren Wilson (as shown by his own TESTIMONY) disrespected the humanity of Michael Brown by calling him a “demon.” I will never say that people have no right to express indignant anger at oppression. People have the right to be angry when our Brothers and our Sisters have been mistreated by evil people. We have the right to be angry at how our communities have been occupied by police forces and how unjust laws are still in existence. We should use our anger as motivation to express self-determination, to treat each other right, and to stand up for justice. Some ignore how the police still use tear gas on innocent protesters. The vast majority of the protesters were peaceful. Developing our own infrastructure, forming boycotts, demanding unjust laws to end, and building more in our communities are great things to do. We have to BUILD. No one should be naïve. We know how the authorities have treated black people for centuries in the West. The rebellion in Ferguson was not about everyone promoting nihilism. It was about hurt people expressing outrage at white supremacy and outright at racial including economic injustices. We should use proactive, positive, and revolutionary actions to not only help the workers, but the rest of the poor as well. Black lives do matter. Passivity towards injustice is a problem. Apathy is a problem. Acceptance of the status quo is a problem. These problems combined represent the need for us to CONTINUE onward in this fight. Numerous cops have killed Brothers and Sisters for decades without being prosecuted. Eric Garner's murderers haven't even been prosecuted fully yet and those murderers violated their own police procedures. So, we know what time it is. If a cop wants to kill someone, they will try to do it regardless of how we act, what clothes we wear, or our social demeanor. That is why we have every right to reflect, to analyze problems, and to stand up for justice (which is our birthright as black people). The citizens of Ferguson have shown freedom loving people globally that it is just to stand up as human beings. We will keep on standing up. It a'int going to be easy, but we will WIN in the end.
This is an interesting and great plan. The Black Friday boycott should be extensive and spread to companies that don't respect us as a community too. Also, other comments are correct to mention that we have to build wealth in our community as black people. Building wealth (which deals with growing our BONDS, preserving our inheritances, preserving our art and other forms of our culture, saving money to help others, making sure that our resources are based down to our descendants, and just using wise economic investments to help the poor too) in the right way shouldn't be about selfishness, hating on the poor, or being selfishly individualistic. Historically, boycotts have been very successful when they have been applied in a determined, focused fashion. The Birmingham Boycott was successful since it lasted for long months, there was solidarity, and people never gave up in their actions. We certainly need more solidarity, more unity, and more power. We are fighting for justice. It is about helping the poor, helping families, and growing our power into its highest potential. We are family and we have to treat each other as family. It is as simple as that. We need to accept nothing other than justice. We should never accept racial profiling against innocent, non-threatening people. We should never accept police brutality and we should never accept racism and discrimination. Laws need to be changed, the criminal justice system ought to be changed in a revolutionary fashion, etc. because we have huge problems in America that ought to be not pushed under THE RUG.
There is huge controversy with the rape allegations against Bill Cosby. Rape is totally evil. Also, Cosby is wrong for his comments bashing the poor. His comments were not about just critique, but stereotypes and old rhetoric. He said that those incarcerated are not political criminals when many of them are. He made other degrading comments about black people. He spoke many of these words ironically in the speech that celebrated the 50th anniversary celebration of the Brown V. Board of Education decision in 2004. He spoke his pound cake comment too. We now see this in the light of the death of Michael Brown. Brown didn’t have pound cake in his hand. Yet, he was shot to death by the police. A brief respite from Cosby claiming that people “with names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammad and all of that crap will end up in jail,” came in 2005 . That comment was not only ignorant and false. It was very racist and anti-black too. Black people have the right to name their name whatever name that they wish. Back in 2005, he was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting women. 18 accusers have come forward to tell similar stories. This issue deals with money, patriarchy (as the testimonies from rape victims then and now have been ignored, minimized, and disrespected in numerous other ways too), and rape. The words from the comedian Hannibal Buress caused the current discussion of Bill Cosby’s accusations to exist on another level. More women came out to tell their stories. He is losing many deals. That is why so-called “tough love” rhetoric that degrades black people only pleases white racists and white reactionary people. That is why Bill Cosby said that the killer George Zimmerman should not be accused of racism after he was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin. The truth is that stand your ground laws, Martin’s murder, and Zimmerman’s acquittal deal with the system of white supremacy. So far, Cosby has not made comments in publicly about Michael Brown or the murdering cop who was not indicted for his actions. So, we should continue onward in this struggle for justice. The ruling class hypocritically talks about the rule of law, but overseas they use repression, imperial actions, and torture overseas. Even domestically, they or the neoliberal oligrachy support programs that monitor even peaceful political organizations and suppress the rights of peaceful protesters via the arms of the police. So, we should continue to go forward.
There are many black activists now who are using CIVIL disobedience, organizing boycotts (not just the Boycott Black Friday campaign), and doing other amazing work. I will never minimize nor discount their efforts. There should be discussion and debates. No social movement in history was totally monolithic. The different diversities of people in the civil rights movement still believed in the same goal. Even Dr. King and Kwame Ture disagreed on tactics, but they wanted the same goal (which was freedom, justice, and equality for black people). Should more be done now? Yes. Are people collectively doing nothing? The answer is No. We have a long way to go, but many people are doing something. In America, there are discussions about economics. There is nothing wrong with using economics to positively help black people. Yet, there is nothing in the rule book that says we can't critique or question laissez faire, cut throat capitalism. Malcolm X (back in 1965 in an interview), Dr. King (in his 1967 SCLC Presidential Address via a speech entitled, "Where do we Go From Here"), etc. questioned mainstream capitalism outright. So, people deserve economic justice (in ending unfair tax loopholes, in forming a living wage, and in creating fairer trade deals). Unjust laws (that deal with stop and frisk, redlining, predatory lining, the Patriot Act, etc.) should be eliminated. Revolution is about the overturning of the current system and the replacement of that system with justice. It is as simple as that. Revolution readily deals with sacrifice, love, and strength. Many are correct to mention that non-blacks should respect our human rights unconditionally. People don't need the status quo since the status quo doesn't work. It WILL take work and we have a long way to go. That is why we should keep on going and keep on working in our own families and in our own communities. The struggle is never easy, but it is a struggle that we will follow through to the end.
Marion Barry has passed, but his memory lives on forever. He died on November 23, 2014 at the age of 78. He worked in Washington, D.C. all of his life. The DC medical examiner said that Marion Barry died on natural causes, because of heart problems. He died after he collapsed outside of his home. Previous mayors of Washington, D.C. were reactionary. Barry called Washington D.C. as a sleepy southern town back in the day. Even in D.C., there was segregation in public facilities like hotels, pars, department stores, etc. The gift of Marion Barry was that he explicitly was pro-African American in his rhetoric and he used policies as a means to combat poverty during his administration. Racist city council members, national political leaders, developers, etc. did not like Marion Barry’s leading call for poverty alleviation and the empowerment of African Americans. So, he was right to battle against gentrification and maintain the black control of Washington, D.C. His parents were from Mississippi in the small town Itta Bena. Apartheid in America and racist assaults against his family caused Marion Berry to do political activism. He earned a Master’s Degree in chemistry at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He worked in SNCC too. He was involved heavily in the civil rights movement. His lifelong friend and SNCC colleague Congresswoman Eleanor Homes praised him as a great activist. As mayor, he employed thousands of African Americans in D.C. He created a summer jobs program to employ the young. He expanded the government payroll. He constantly fought for the poor and disenfranchised. He made mistakes and we know about them. Yet, he opposed apartheid in South Africa. The people loved him and he loved the people. Marion Barry never forgot where he came from and he reminded society of that day every day of his life. Also, we have to maintain our political independence. In this time, we see how the capitalist two party system has not succeeded in addressing the needs and aspirations of black people. We must challenge society to change. We should not only oppose racism and discrimination. We ought to oppose militarism, poverty, unjust wars, and the current structures oppressing the masses of the people.
By Timothy
This is an interesting and great plan. The Black Friday boycott should be extensive and spread to companies that don't respect us as a community too. Also, other comments are correct to mention that we have to build wealth in our community as black people. Building wealth (which deals with growing our BONDS, preserving our inheritances, preserving our art and other forms of our culture, saving money to help others, making sure that our resources are based down to our descendants, and just using wise economic investments to help the poor too) in the right way shouldn't be about selfishness, hating on the poor, or being selfishly individualistic. Historically, boycotts have been very successful when they have been applied in a determined, focused fashion. The Birmingham Boycott was successful since it lasted for long months, there was solidarity, and people never gave up in their actions. We certainly need more solidarity, more unity, and more power. We are fighting for justice. It is about helping the poor, helping families, and growing our power into its highest potential. We are family and we have to treat each other as family. It is as simple as that. We need to accept nothing other than justice. We should never accept racial profiling against innocent, non-threatening people. We should never accept police brutality and we should never accept racism and discrimination. Laws need to be changed, the criminal justice system ought to be changed in a revolutionary fashion, etc. because we have huge problems in America that ought to be not pushed under THE RUG.
There is huge controversy with the rape allegations against Bill Cosby. Rape is totally evil. Also, Cosby is wrong for his comments bashing the poor. His comments were not about just critique, but stereotypes and old rhetoric. He said that those incarcerated are not political criminals when many of them are. He made other degrading comments about black people. He spoke many of these words ironically in the speech that celebrated the 50th anniversary celebration of the Brown V. Board of Education decision in 2004. He spoke his pound cake comment too. We now see this in the light of the death of Michael Brown. Brown didn’t have pound cake in his hand. Yet, he was shot to death by the police. A brief respite from Cosby claiming that people “with names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammad and all of that crap will end up in jail,” came in 2005 . That comment was not only ignorant and false. It was very racist and anti-black too. Black people have the right to name their name whatever name that they wish. Back in 2005, he was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting women. 18 accusers have come forward to tell similar stories. This issue deals with money, patriarchy (as the testimonies from rape victims then and now have been ignored, minimized, and disrespected in numerous other ways too), and rape. The words from the comedian Hannibal Buress caused the current discussion of Bill Cosby’s accusations to exist on another level. More women came out to tell their stories. He is losing many deals. That is why so-called “tough love” rhetoric that degrades black people only pleases white racists and white reactionary people. That is why Bill Cosby said that the killer George Zimmerman should not be accused of racism after he was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin. The truth is that stand your ground laws, Martin’s murder, and Zimmerman’s acquittal deal with the system of white supremacy. So far, Cosby has not made comments in publicly about Michael Brown or the murdering cop who was not indicted for his actions. So, we should continue onward in this struggle for justice. The ruling class hypocritically talks about the rule of law, but overseas they use repression, imperial actions, and torture overseas. Even domestically, they or the neoliberal oligrachy support programs that monitor even peaceful political organizations and suppress the rights of peaceful protesters via the arms of the police. So, we should continue to go forward.
There are many black activists now who are using CIVIL disobedience, organizing boycotts (not just the Boycott Black Friday campaign), and doing other amazing work. I will never minimize nor discount their efforts. There should be discussion and debates. No social movement in history was totally monolithic. The different diversities of people in the civil rights movement still believed in the same goal. Even Dr. King and Kwame Ture disagreed on tactics, but they wanted the same goal (which was freedom, justice, and equality for black people). Should more be done now? Yes. Are people collectively doing nothing? The answer is No. We have a long way to go, but many people are doing something. In America, there are discussions about economics. There is nothing wrong with using economics to positively help black people. Yet, there is nothing in the rule book that says we can't critique or question laissez faire, cut throat capitalism. Malcolm X (back in 1965 in an interview), Dr. King (in his 1967 SCLC Presidential Address via a speech entitled, "Where do we Go From Here"), etc. questioned mainstream capitalism outright. So, people deserve economic justice (in ending unfair tax loopholes, in forming a living wage, and in creating fairer trade deals). Unjust laws (that deal with stop and frisk, redlining, predatory lining, the Patriot Act, etc.) should be eliminated. Revolution is about the overturning of the current system and the replacement of that system with justice. It is as simple as that. Revolution readily deals with sacrifice, love, and strength. Many are correct to mention that non-blacks should respect our human rights unconditionally. People don't need the status quo since the status quo doesn't work. It WILL take work and we have a long way to go. That is why we should keep on going and keep on working in our own families and in our own communities. The struggle is never easy, but it is a struggle that we will follow through to the end.
Marion Barry has passed, but his memory lives on forever. He died on November 23, 2014 at the age of 78. He worked in Washington, D.C. all of his life. The DC medical examiner said that Marion Barry died on natural causes, because of heart problems. He died after he collapsed outside of his home. Previous mayors of Washington, D.C. were reactionary. Barry called Washington D.C. as a sleepy southern town back in the day. Even in D.C., there was segregation in public facilities like hotels, pars, department stores, etc. The gift of Marion Barry was that he explicitly was pro-African American in his rhetoric and he used policies as a means to combat poverty during his administration. Racist city council members, national political leaders, developers, etc. did not like Marion Barry’s leading call for poverty alleviation and the empowerment of African Americans. So, he was right to battle against gentrification and maintain the black control of Washington, D.C. His parents were from Mississippi in the small town Itta Bena. Apartheid in America and racist assaults against his family caused Marion Berry to do political activism. He earned a Master’s Degree in chemistry at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He worked in SNCC too. He was involved heavily in the civil rights movement. His lifelong friend and SNCC colleague Congresswoman Eleanor Homes praised him as a great activist. As mayor, he employed thousands of African Americans in D.C. He created a summer jobs program to employ the young. He expanded the government payroll. He constantly fought for the poor and disenfranchised. He made mistakes and we know about them. Yet, he opposed apartheid in South Africa. The people loved him and he loved the people. Marion Barry never forgot where he came from and he reminded society of that day every day of his life. Also, we have to maintain our political independence. In this time, we see how the capitalist two party system has not succeeded in addressing the needs and aspirations of black people. We must challenge society to change. We should not only oppose racism and discrimination. We ought to oppose militarism, poverty, unjust wars, and the current structures oppressing the masses of the people.
By Timothy
Ferguson: It is Right to Resist, By Any and All Means Necessary
http://blackagendareport.com/node/14539
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
An Important Point.
None of this should be surprising. Here the problem may be more about SEXISM than race, though race naturally plays a part. I'm an African-American man who lived in predominantly white neighborhoods while I was a student at Vanderbilt. I SAW white men behave pretty much in the same way that some think only black men behave. And I heard white women complain about this very often. My apologies for the many JERKS who are of my gender. But believe this: Jerks come in ALL colors, races, religions, ECONOMIC statuses, and nationalities.
-Savant
Monday, November 24, 2014
Late November News on Monday
Thanksgiving conjures up a lot of memories. We know the truth about Thanksgiving. Harvest celebration ceremonies have existed in the four corners of the world throughout human history. Today, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the United States of America including Canada. It is celebrated in the fourth Thursday of November in America and on the second Monday of October of Canada. Among all religions and spiritual traditions have celebrations after harvests and in other times. So, there is nothing wrong with giving Thanksgiving to God or to have celebrations about celebrating life. The problem is that the modern American Thanksgiving holiday came about via controversial means. The United States Thanksgiving holiday tradition originated with the story of the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. The Pilgrims traveled into Plymouth. The 1621 Plymouth Plantation Thanksgiving holiday is the famous celebration that people talked about. Such celebrations existed long before 1621 too. Now, Squanto or a Patuxet Native Americans resided with the Wampanoag tribe. He taught the Pilgrims on how to catch eel and grow corn. He served as an interpreter for them as Squanto could speak English too as he was once enslaved in England. Even the Wampanoag leader Massasoit donated foods stores to the fledging colony during the first winter when supplies brought from England were insufficient. The Pilgrims celebrated at Plymouth for three days after their first harvest, in 1621. The exact time is unknown, but James Baker, then Plymouth Plantation vice president of research, STATED IN 1996, "The event occurred between Sept. 21 and Nov. 11, 1621, with the most likely time being around Michaelmas (Sept. 29), the traditional time." On March 22, 1621, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony signed a peace treaty with the Massasoit of the Wampanoags. Now, we know what happened next. White supremacists before 1621 and afterwards continued to use genocide against the Native Americans. The Pilgrims wanted absolute power in the New World. The genocide of Native Americans is unjust and wicked. Another common practice among European explorers was to give "smallpox blankets" to the Indians. Since smallpox was unknown on this continent prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Native Americans did not have any natural immunity to the disease so smallpox would effectively wipe out entire villages with very little effort required by the Europeans. John Two-Hawks wrote that the first unofficial Thanksgiving meal didn’t invite the Native Americans. Also, a few days before the feast, the Pilgrims led by Miles Standish put an 11 ft. high wall to keep the Native Americans out. Dr. Tingba Apidta in his “Black Folks’ Guide to Understanding Thanksgiving” wrote that Miles Standish pretended to be a trader and beheaded a Native American man named Wituwamat (He also had the man’s young brother hanged). The Pequot massacre of 1637 was when Pilgrims (along with their allied Native Americans) killed men, women, children, and including old people who were Native Americans. Fifty-five years after the original Thanksgiving Day, the Puritans had DESTROYED the generous Wampanoag and all other neighboring tribes. The Wampanoag chief King Philip was beheaded. His head was stuck on a pole in Plymouth, where the skull still hung on display 24 years later. Also, these same murderers and racists enslaved black Africans and sent them to the Americas as well. It is a fact that many U.S. Presidents are related to the British Royal family too (who was involved in funded and facilitating the Maafa along with other European criminals. The deal is that racist white people wanted white domination over non-white people and people have the right to defeat white supremacy and establish justice for the human race).
The Berlin Wall fall begin after the events of August of 19, 1989. That was when Hungary disabled its physical border defenses with Austria. In September 1989, 13,000 East German tourists escaped through Hungary to Austria. Some of the East Germans were returned to Budapest. These East Germans flooded the West German embassy and refused to return to East Germany. Soon, mass demonstrations in East Germany came about. Erich Honecker resigned and Egon Krenz ran East Germany. Protest demonstrations broke out all over East Germany in September 1989. Initially, protesters were mostly people wanting to leave to the West, chanting "Wir wollen raus!" ("We want out!"). Then protestors began to chant "Wir bleiben hier", ("We're staying here!"). This was the start of what East GERMANS generally call the "Peaceful Revolution" of late 1989. The protest demonstrations grew considerably by early November. The movement neared its height on November 4, when half a million people gathered at the Alexanderplatz demonstration, a rally for change in East Berlin's large PUBLIC Square and transportation hub. (Henslin, 07). The fall of the Berlin Wall began on November 9, 1989. Sections of the wall being demolished were shown worldwide. West Germans and West Berliners were allowed visa travel on December 23, 1989. The wall was further demolished in 1990. This lead into East Germany adopting the West German currency and all border control ceased by July 1, 1990. By October 3, 1990, German reunification existed. It was established along the democratic lines of the West German government. This unified German government was head by West Germany’s conservative Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and then French President Francois Mitterrand did not want an unified Germany, because they felt that an unified Germany could destabilize the region (this time was less than 50 years after the end of Hitler’s reign in Europe). Celebrations came about to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and in 1990 as well. Many authoritarian (not socialist, because Eastern bloc satellite regimes were controlled by a small minority. The working majority were deprived of democratic freedoms. Also, people suffered exploitation, oppression, and alienation from real social and political control) regimes in the Eastern bloc were gone by the working class and other people. In Hungary, for example, 10,000 people gathered in March 1988 for an illegal demonstration to demand "democracy, free speech and freedom of the press." It was a stunning show of strength for dissidents. As one East GERMAN radical later recalled, "A feeling arose that things had to change." Anthony Arnove wrote in an article for the International Socialist Review, "When they sensed that repression alone could not contain the crisis, the Stalinist bureaucracies faced a decision: be pushed or jump. In the end, both took place. Under the pressure of protests, strikes and demonstrations, the regimes fell one by one." By the end of 1989, the former Stalinist rulers were out of power in all six satellite states.
Brother Emory Douglas did a great JOB in showing art (as art is beautiful and can be used in a conscious fashion) and doing political work to show the truth. The truth is that intelligence apparatus of the West used illegal, unjust tactics in harming the old school Black Panther Party. The evil man J. Edgar Hoover (who headed by the FBI for decades. He expressed anti-Communist paranoia and he has slandered revolutionaries before) did not try to destroy the BPP for nothing. The Black Panthers were helping communities, assisting the sick and elderly, and feeding children as well. In struggles, everything will not be a straight line. There will be curves, but we should continue to strive forward in progressively helping humanity. The memory of the Black Panther Party still remains and their group continues to inspire freedom movements globally. That is why I’m anti-imperialist and I believe in economic justice. The beauty of the Ten Point Program still resonates today. People want to be free. Black people want to be free and others too. Many of the activists of Ferguson, the Dream Defenders, etc. are young people. Young people are standing up and people need to be reminded about how many younger folks are continuing the work of what the previous generations have done. Also, we have to understand the events going in the nation of Burkina Faso. The reactionary leader ex-President Blaise Compaore was forced to resign by the people. The people are courageously standing up against neoliberalism and token leadership in Africa. Campaore wanted to change the constitution to extend his rule. That was the final straw. He was President for 27 years. The Burkinabe people had enough. 1 million people gathered in the streets to call for change. The country’s military appointed Lieutenant Colonel Zida to lead an interim government. This angered the people, because they wanted on a civilian transitional government. Ironically, Campaore was placed into power after the coup against Thomas Sankara came about. The coup killed Thomas Sankara. He was once the late President of Burkina Faso. He was a lot more progressive than Campaore. This revolution is supported by students, trade unions, leftists, and others. Burkina Faso has economic inequality too. Burkina Faso had its first revolution in January 1966 and the second on was in August 4, 1983 to be influenced by Thomas Sankara. Now, we have the October 2014 Revolution. There was the 1998 assassination of journalist Norbert Zongo. The youth is in this movement for social change too. Blaise Campoare betrayed the leader Thomas Sankara (just like the traitor and reactionary Joseph Desire Mobutu betrayed the progressive Brother Patrice Lumumba) and instigated a coup. So, the people of Burkina Faso deserve freedom and justice.
People have talked about Nicki Minaj’s “Only” video for a while. It was heavily created by members of the industry. The reality is that the video does show a Nazi-like dictator. The video is representative of what the elite has done in history (which is to glamorize or fund authoritarian regimes throughout human history. That is why the Nazi regime was funded by Western multinational banks). I know that Nicki Minaj rejects Nazism. So, I want to make that clear. Yet, the video does show her acolytes Lil Wayne, Drake, and Chris Brown as representative of the occult elite or parts of the ruling elite. We know that the glorification of oppressive regime is unwise since they have killed and oppressed millions, especially minorities. So, puppets are used by the elite and the elite secretly love oppressive dictatorships. We know that her alter ego Roman Zolanski is a play on words of the child molesting criminal (who was convicted) Roman Polanski. The lyrics of the video show anti-black words and misogyny. We know that musicians in the industry like Young Money show the elite’s agenda. Dictatorships have sent millions of people into concentration camps. The occult elite not only aided totalitarian criminals, but the political elite have aided the Nazis when Operation Paperclip (created by the CIA) brought about 1500 Nazi workers into America. The video shows the denial of basic rights and freedom and more police state tactics which we should all reject. In the video, Nicki Minaj is shown as the charismatic leader for dictator. She is feared. The antenna spreads propaganda in the video. The gate looks similar to the Brandenburg gate during Nazi Germany. Chris Brown represents the military using high tech devices to oppress people via a military police. Chris Brown stands in front of assault weapons in the video. Today, we have CCTV cameras all over the UK. Drake is portrayed as a religious leader like a Catholic priest (it shows how a state religion is created and controlled by the dictatorship). Lil Wayne is shown as a corporate leader. Mega-corporations are heavy influence in the world and their leaders attend Bilderberg Group and Trilateral Commission meetings. These select corporations own the means of production and own nearly all mainstream media outlets. So, the video deals with high tech surveillance, advance military weapons, mass media propaganda, and corporate control. It is a video that describes a totalitarian government. In essence, it describes the New World Order system. The video shows war, oppression, death, human suffering, and militarism. We should reject these lies and follow righteousness.
Michael Brown Sr. has every right to call for peace. At the end of the day we want peace and justice. Dr. King in 1968 was right in saying that we should pool our resources to advance our own economic and political power. Any industry that doesn't support our interests as a community, then we should withdrawal economic support from that industry. Self-determination is a legitimate function that we should always pursue. Grassroots, participatory, and democratic movements for real social change are inspirational. Not only that. We should be anti-imperialist and believe in creating solutions to solve the problem of poverty. There should be a radical redistribution of economic and political power as Dr. King has said as well. Black people have talked about black on black crime for decades and are in organizations now fighting black on black crime (as black crime rates have decreased in the past 3 decades). So, we shouldn't be reactionaries. We should be revolutionaries and build up our own institutions and defend the rights of workers too. No matter what anyone says, we should always condemn police brutality. We should love CIVIL liberties and fight for justice. I send my prayers to the FAMILY and friends of Michael Brown. LOVE among black people has stopped the Maafa. Love expressed in society has ended many injustices throughout human history. Also, there is nothing wrong with true love and Love is a powerful force since it can change a person's mind to prevent someone from executing a cruise missile for an illegitimate purpose in the first place. Love can drive out evil, because real love is not passive acceptance of evil. It is the expression of the opposition to evil. Love is action too. Some people think that love is totally inactive, but love is not about that. Love is about using just actions in helping society improve. Of course, a diversity of actions are needed to solve our own problems, but Love is one special PART of the solution too (as Black Love is Love as well. Black Love and Black Unity are key things necessary to grow and develop the black community in general).
By Timothy
The Berlin Wall fall begin after the events of August of 19, 1989. That was when Hungary disabled its physical border defenses with Austria. In September 1989, 13,000 East German tourists escaped through Hungary to Austria. Some of the East Germans were returned to Budapest. These East Germans flooded the West German embassy and refused to return to East Germany. Soon, mass demonstrations in East Germany came about. Erich Honecker resigned and Egon Krenz ran East Germany. Protest demonstrations broke out all over East Germany in September 1989. Initially, protesters were mostly people wanting to leave to the West, chanting "Wir wollen raus!" ("We want out!"). Then protestors began to chant "Wir bleiben hier", ("We're staying here!"). This was the start of what East GERMANS generally call the "Peaceful Revolution" of late 1989. The protest demonstrations grew considerably by early November. The movement neared its height on November 4, when half a million people gathered at the Alexanderplatz demonstration, a rally for change in East Berlin's large PUBLIC Square and transportation hub. (Henslin, 07). The fall of the Berlin Wall began on November 9, 1989. Sections of the wall being demolished were shown worldwide. West Germans and West Berliners were allowed visa travel on December 23, 1989. The wall was further demolished in 1990. This lead into East Germany adopting the West German currency and all border control ceased by July 1, 1990. By October 3, 1990, German reunification existed. It was established along the democratic lines of the West German government. This unified German government was head by West Germany’s conservative Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and then French President Francois Mitterrand did not want an unified Germany, because they felt that an unified Germany could destabilize the region (this time was less than 50 years after the end of Hitler’s reign in Europe). Celebrations came about to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and in 1990 as well. Many authoritarian (not socialist, because Eastern bloc satellite regimes were controlled by a small minority. The working majority were deprived of democratic freedoms. Also, people suffered exploitation, oppression, and alienation from real social and political control) regimes in the Eastern bloc were gone by the working class and other people. In Hungary, for example, 10,000 people gathered in March 1988 for an illegal demonstration to demand "democracy, free speech and freedom of the press." It was a stunning show of strength for dissidents. As one East GERMAN radical later recalled, "A feeling arose that things had to change." Anthony Arnove wrote in an article for the International Socialist Review, "When they sensed that repression alone could not contain the crisis, the Stalinist bureaucracies faced a decision: be pushed or jump. In the end, both took place. Under the pressure of protests, strikes and demonstrations, the regimes fell one by one." By the end of 1989, the former Stalinist rulers were out of power in all six satellite states.
Brother Emory Douglas did a great JOB in showing art (as art is beautiful and can be used in a conscious fashion) and doing political work to show the truth. The truth is that intelligence apparatus of the West used illegal, unjust tactics in harming the old school Black Panther Party. The evil man J. Edgar Hoover (who headed by the FBI for decades. He expressed anti-Communist paranoia and he has slandered revolutionaries before) did not try to destroy the BPP for nothing. The Black Panthers were helping communities, assisting the sick and elderly, and feeding children as well. In struggles, everything will not be a straight line. There will be curves, but we should continue to strive forward in progressively helping humanity. The memory of the Black Panther Party still remains and their group continues to inspire freedom movements globally. That is why I’m anti-imperialist and I believe in economic justice. The beauty of the Ten Point Program still resonates today. People want to be free. Black people want to be free and others too. Many of the activists of Ferguson, the Dream Defenders, etc. are young people. Young people are standing up and people need to be reminded about how many younger folks are continuing the work of what the previous generations have done. Also, we have to understand the events going in the nation of Burkina Faso. The reactionary leader ex-President Blaise Compaore was forced to resign by the people. The people are courageously standing up against neoliberalism and token leadership in Africa. Campaore wanted to change the constitution to extend his rule. That was the final straw. He was President for 27 years. The Burkinabe people had enough. 1 million people gathered in the streets to call for change. The country’s military appointed Lieutenant Colonel Zida to lead an interim government. This angered the people, because they wanted on a civilian transitional government. Ironically, Campaore was placed into power after the coup against Thomas Sankara came about. The coup killed Thomas Sankara. He was once the late President of Burkina Faso. He was a lot more progressive than Campaore. This revolution is supported by students, trade unions, leftists, and others. Burkina Faso has economic inequality too. Burkina Faso had its first revolution in January 1966 and the second on was in August 4, 1983 to be influenced by Thomas Sankara. Now, we have the October 2014 Revolution. There was the 1998 assassination of journalist Norbert Zongo. The youth is in this movement for social change too. Blaise Campoare betrayed the leader Thomas Sankara (just like the traitor and reactionary Joseph Desire Mobutu betrayed the progressive Brother Patrice Lumumba) and instigated a coup. So, the people of Burkina Faso deserve freedom and justice.
People have talked about Nicki Minaj’s “Only” video for a while. It was heavily created by members of the industry. The reality is that the video does show a Nazi-like dictator. The video is representative of what the elite has done in history (which is to glamorize or fund authoritarian regimes throughout human history. That is why the Nazi regime was funded by Western multinational banks). I know that Nicki Minaj rejects Nazism. So, I want to make that clear. Yet, the video does show her acolytes Lil Wayne, Drake, and Chris Brown as representative of the occult elite or parts of the ruling elite. We know that the glorification of oppressive regime is unwise since they have killed and oppressed millions, especially minorities. So, puppets are used by the elite and the elite secretly love oppressive dictatorships. We know that her alter ego Roman Zolanski is a play on words of the child molesting criminal (who was convicted) Roman Polanski. The lyrics of the video show anti-black words and misogyny. We know that musicians in the industry like Young Money show the elite’s agenda. Dictatorships have sent millions of people into concentration camps. The occult elite not only aided totalitarian criminals, but the political elite have aided the Nazis when Operation Paperclip (created by the CIA) brought about 1500 Nazi workers into America. The video shows the denial of basic rights and freedom and more police state tactics which we should all reject. In the video, Nicki Minaj is shown as the charismatic leader for dictator. She is feared. The antenna spreads propaganda in the video. The gate looks similar to the Brandenburg gate during Nazi Germany. Chris Brown represents the military using high tech devices to oppress people via a military police. Chris Brown stands in front of assault weapons in the video. Today, we have CCTV cameras all over the UK. Drake is portrayed as a religious leader like a Catholic priest (it shows how a state religion is created and controlled by the dictatorship). Lil Wayne is shown as a corporate leader. Mega-corporations are heavy influence in the world and their leaders attend Bilderberg Group and Trilateral Commission meetings. These select corporations own the means of production and own nearly all mainstream media outlets. So, the video deals with high tech surveillance, advance military weapons, mass media propaganda, and corporate control. It is a video that describes a totalitarian government. In essence, it describes the New World Order system. The video shows war, oppression, death, human suffering, and militarism. We should reject these lies and follow righteousness.
Michael Brown Sr. has every right to call for peace. At the end of the day we want peace and justice. Dr. King in 1968 was right in saying that we should pool our resources to advance our own economic and political power. Any industry that doesn't support our interests as a community, then we should withdrawal economic support from that industry. Self-determination is a legitimate function that we should always pursue. Grassroots, participatory, and democratic movements for real social change are inspirational. Not only that. We should be anti-imperialist and believe in creating solutions to solve the problem of poverty. There should be a radical redistribution of economic and political power as Dr. King has said as well. Black people have talked about black on black crime for decades and are in organizations now fighting black on black crime (as black crime rates have decreased in the past 3 decades). So, we shouldn't be reactionaries. We should be revolutionaries and build up our own institutions and defend the rights of workers too. No matter what anyone says, we should always condemn police brutality. We should love CIVIL liberties and fight for justice. I send my prayers to the FAMILY and friends of Michael Brown. LOVE among black people has stopped the Maafa. Love expressed in society has ended many injustices throughout human history. Also, there is nothing wrong with true love and Love is a powerful force since it can change a person's mind to prevent someone from executing a cruise missile for an illegitimate purpose in the first place. Love can drive out evil, because real love is not passive acceptance of evil. It is the expression of the opposition to evil. Love is action too. Some people think that love is totally inactive, but love is not about that. Love is about using just actions in helping society improve. Of course, a diversity of actions are needed to solve our own problems, but Love is one special PART of the solution too (as Black Love is Love as well. Black Love and Black Unity are key things necessary to grow and develop the black community in general).
By Timothy
Words from Savant
There are African AMERICANS who have negative attitudes towards Africans, and Africans who have negative attitudes towards Africans. Anyone reading just THIS THREAD can see that. But there are other African Americans and Africans who are much more PROGRESSIVE in their thinking. I count myself in the company of the latter. Hence I despise Chief Buthelezi for the same reason I despise Clarence Thomas--for being a bootlicker and a traitor. But the African people as a whole, like my fellow African Americans, I love as my Black brothers and sister.
-Savant
_____________________
Well, you will never hear these racists say that indiscriminate police violence and repression against WHITES are ok on account of white crime, In fact, white racists don't seem to worry about white crime, only black crime--despite the fact that 87% of all crimes committed against whites are committed by whites. Native Americans are the only group in which most victims of crime are victimized by somebody outside their group. Nonetheless, we don't stress white crime. We get pissed about WHITE RACISM and white privilege, which idiots like OhReallyStupid believe to be "propaganda " --immense research findings even by whites scholars to the contrary notwithstanding.
-Savant
___________________
OhReallyStupid wouldn't recognize a piece of evidence if it stood up and bit him. Strange that not only tons of evidence by scholars (black,white and other)repeatedly support my analyses, and UN committees on human rights, Amnesty International and other reports basically support the essence of my analysis, but somehow it is I, not OhSmelly, who can't discern evidence. Research REPEATEDLY supports our claims about judicial racism, racism and brutality of the police, continuing racism in the JOB market, and so forth--but it is WE who are delusional. And much of the supporting evidence actually come from WHITE scholars and researchers, both in America and Europe.,,,,,Oh, I forgot. THOSE whites (even those from the best white universities) are all commie libtard race traitors and sissies with a white guilt complex. LOL!
-Savant
__________________
Well, you will never hear these racists say that indiscriminate police violence and repression against WHITES are ok on account of white crime, In fact, white racists don't seem to worry about white crime, only black crime--despite the fact that 87% of all crimes committed against whites are committed by whites. Native Americans are the only group in which most victims of crime are victimized by somebody outside their group. Nonetheless, we don't stress white crime. We get pissed about WHITE RACISM and white privilege, which idiots like OhReallyStupid believe to be "propaganda " --immense research findings even by whites scholars to the contrary notwithstanding.
-Savant
___________________
OhReallyStupid wouldn't recognize a piece of evidence if it stood up and bit him. Strange that not only tons of evidence by scholars (black,white and other)repeatedly support my analyses, and UN committees on human rights, Amnesty International and other reports basically support the essence of my analysis, but somehow it is I, not OhSmelly, who can't discern evidence. Research REPEATEDLY supports our claims about judicial racism, racism and brutality of the police, continuing racism in the JOB market, and so forth--but it is WE who are delusional. And much of the supporting evidence actually come from WHITE scholars and researchers, both in America and Europe.,,,,,Oh, I forgot. THOSE whites (even those from the best white universities) are all commie libtard race traitors and sissies with a white guilt complex. LOL!
-Savant
__________________
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Savant on Economics
The "average white man" is not a part of the power structure. He is mainly either a powerless poor or working class man, or a somewhat better off but still powerless, middle class man. But it is correct that those at the upper echelon of the socio-economic and political power structure are MAINLY white. Actually, most whites have always belong to the oppressed classes in America and Europe. An elder tells me that while in Baltimore around about 1966 or 67, Dr. King said to some group of Black people that "The REAL DIFFERENCE between us and our white brethren is that we KNOW we're not free, but they think they are." The false consciousness of white America is one of the primary reasons why America is socially and politically backward EVEN while being technologically advanced.
-Savant
_________________
The "average white man" is not a part of the power structure. He is mainly either a powerless poor or working class man, or a somewhat better off but still powerless, middle class man. But it is correct that those at the upper echelon of the socio-economic and political power structure are MAINLY white. Actually, most whites have always belong to the oppressed classes in America and Europe. An elder tells me that while in Baltimore around about 1966 or 67, Dr. King said to some group of Black people that "The REAL DIFFERENCE between us and our white brethren is that we KNOW we're not free, but they think they are." The false consciousness of white America is one of the primary reasons why America is socially and politically backward EVEN while being technologically advanced.
-Savant
__________________
Interesting that you mention Paul Robeson. I happened to be re-READING parts of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF W.E.B. DU BOIS, and his comments therein on Robeson. And his comments on the reaction by members of the Black middle classes during the time when Robeson was persecuted by the government. Du Bois himself was in trouble with the government and notes "The intelligentsia, the "Talented Tenth", the successful business and professional men, were not, for the most part, outspoken in my defense. There were many notable exceptions, but as a group this class was either silent or actually antagonistic... Other Negroes of intelligence and PROSPERITY had become American in their acceptance of exploitation as defensible, and in their imitation of American "conspicuous expenditure." ...Their reaction to Paul Robeson was typical; they simply could not understand his surrendering a thousand dollars a night for a moral conviction." (THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF W.E.B. DU BOIS, PP. 370--71. Despite the idealism of the 1960s which affected some members of the Black elite, I fear that today they've become once more as benighted as they were in the era of McCarthyism when Du Bois and Robeson were being persecuted by right wing fanatics. -Savant
-Savant
_________________
The "average white man" is not a part of the power structure. He is mainly either a powerless poor or working class man, or a somewhat better off but still powerless, middle class man. But it is correct that those at the upper echelon of the socio-economic and political power structure are MAINLY white. Actually, most whites have always belong to the oppressed classes in America and Europe. An elder tells me that while in Baltimore around about 1966 or 67, Dr. King said to some group of Black people that "The REAL DIFFERENCE between us and our white brethren is that we KNOW we're not free, but they think they are." The false consciousness of white America is one of the primary reasons why America is socially and politically backward EVEN while being technologically advanced.
-Savant
__________________
Interesting that you mention Paul Robeson. I happened to be re-READING parts of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF W.E.B. DU BOIS, and his comments therein on Robeson. And his comments on the reaction by members of the Black middle classes during the time when Robeson was persecuted by the government. Du Bois himself was in trouble with the government and notes "The intelligentsia, the "Talented Tenth", the successful business and professional men, were not, for the most part, outspoken in my defense. There were many notable exceptions, but as a group this class was either silent or actually antagonistic... Other Negroes of intelligence and PROSPERITY had become American in their acceptance of exploitation as defensible, and in their imitation of American "conspicuous expenditure." ...Their reaction to Paul Robeson was typical; they simply could not understand his surrendering a thousand dollars a night for a moral conviction." (THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF W.E.B. DU BOIS, PP. 370--71. Despite the idealism of the 1960s which affected some members of the Black elite, I fear that today they've become once more as benighted as they were in the era of McCarthyism when Du Bois and Robeson were being persecuted by right wing fanatics. -Savant
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Weekend News
I have looked at his entire speech. Essentially, his executive order is exactly similar to George W. Bush’s views on immigration. It is a centrist order and other Presidents have issued executive orders before. Fines, deportation, placing more resources toward border security, and background checks are not equated into amnesty. The President has deported more undocumented immigrant human beings than any other President in American history, so his views are more aligned with Republicans than some think. His speech is blatantly center-right. Many Tea Party Republicans don’t know what amnesty is. The big picture is how multinational corporations, bad trade deals, and massive economic problems in the global South (which has been facilitated by Western imperialism since America has funded many Latin American dictatorships for decades in stark contrast to the interests of the peoples of Latin America) has greatly contributed to the broken immigration system that we see now. That is why I can never agree with white racists who want to call immigrants racial slurs (when immigrants are among many colors. Many Haitian Immigrants were treated badly by some). I can never agree with white racists when historically the anti-immigration movement has ties to the eugenics movement decades ago (you can look this up by the way. The eugenics movement is antithetical to the interests of black people). I can never agree with white racists who refuse to see the complexities of the issue of immigration. It is hypocritical for reactionaries to lecture anyone on breaking the law when they ignore how many bankers, many CIA agents, and others have broken the law. Many of their ancestors stole land, created borders via authoritarian conquest, exploited religion as a means to promote bigotry & hatred towards people, and broke the treaties with the Native Americans in causing death including genocide. Any immigration policy should be just and fair to African Americans. Being politically independent means that we are to be compassionate, strong, and fair not xenophobic. Neoliberalism is not perfect as it has been exposed by economic scholars from across the political spectrum. Neoliberalism has harmed Chile too. Manuel Larrabure and Carlos Torchia including others have shown the truth on this issue. Books have been written about this issue. Economic indicators are diverse. Some nations have better economic indicators than other nations. You omit that Costa Rica has a strong environment, progressive policy. It bans RECREATIONAL hunting. Costa Rica has a tax on water pollution to penalize businesses and homeowners that dump sewage, agricultural chemicals, and other pollutants into waterways. So, it is heavily a green nation. So, it is not totally neoliberal in its composition. NAFTA did harm Mexico, because it caused millions of JOBS from the Americas to go overseas. Even conservatives now admit to the imperfections of NAFTA. A decade post-NAFTA, about a million US JOBS were lost. America’s Mexican trade deficit alone cost around 700,000 JOBS by 2010. Government data show nearly five million US manufacturing disappeared since 1994. NAFTA has a deplorable legacy. That is not even a debate anymore. Cuba has no trade with America, but its health services are very strong. Cuba has been harmed by huge embargoes too. It is a historical fact that Western imperialism is immoral.
Leah Flynn is a blessed SISTER. She is showing her magnificent gift of music as a means for her to promote peace in Ferguson. Music can inspire people, grow intellect, and increase creativity. She is doing a wonderful JOB in allowing people to see the big picture. The big picture is that we are all in this together as human beings. When we fight for justice and do positive actions to enrich the lives of our neighbors, then that is a great blessing. We will not give up. Our ancestors never gave up when they were in chains centuries ago. They never gave up when they lived under Jim Crow oppression. When you never give up and continue forward to struggle for freedom, then that struggle can achieve great results. Therefore, Leah deserves great respect for her excellent contribution in assisting fellow human beings in an altruistic way. Black girls should be protected and respected as a lot of people have mentioned. Playing the violin takes skill, dedication, and true patience. She is enjoying herself and she is supporting peace. When a human being promotes peace, then that person is on the right track. She has her WHOLE LIFE ahead her and she is a genius. :) Her family is great as well. Our leaders for generations have told us what the problems are and why they exist. Malcolm X told us. Dr. King told us. Ella Baker told us. So, this COMMISSION coming months after the death of Michael Brown is truly late. Such commissions should have been in existence decades ago. Even the Kerner Commission of 1967 told American society about the socioeconomic conditions of the ghettoes and other communities. Folks want action beyond committees. Yet, I have hope. We have to have hoped if we want real change to come. The events in Ferguson make up a turning point in the black liberation struggle. People should organize, mobilize, and fight for justice. People should never give up. I have no issues with nonviolence or self-defense. Things ought to be CHANGE and people are tired of the status quo. We should not only oppose and condemn unjust crime in general. We should oppose police terrorism, racial profiling of innocent black people constantly, and economic injustice. Multiple actions are needed.
This is a new era. We as a people are after the end of the Second Reconstruction (from 1954 to 1968). Today, we see a more materialistic, militarist, and self-centered society. There is record economic inequality in the world. So, the story about Al Sharpton refusing to pay federal payroll taxes on his employees is not surprising. Al Sharpton loves capitalism. Now, this story should inspire us to keep on the revolutionary ethos that Brothers and Sisters like Septima Clark, Ella Baker, Malcolm X, Ida B. Wells, and others have. So, after the Second Reconstruction, many CIVIL RIGHTS people worshiped corporate power instead of advancing the needs of the people in a revolutionary way. Neoliberalism became in vogue among even some of our people while the glorious ideal of true liberation of black people has been suppressed by mainstream society. So, Al Sharpton is dealing with his own issues. He is right on many issues and he made errors too (which are unjustifiable. I heard of the FBI story too). Power should be fairly DISTRIBUTED and black people should have justice. Justice means that the current system must radically change. I do hope for him to wake up though.
One good thing about the situation in Ferguson is that it has changed black politics forever. The grassroots activists are rejecting not only the white supremacist power structure, but the token black bourgeois, neoliberal class (Historically, these are some of the same people who slandered Malcolm X when he was alive and these are the same ones that disrespected Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because of his courageous opposition to the Vietnam War. Many of these same ones even recently years ago supported funding for the militarization of the police) too. Now, the Governor Jay Nixon has notified the National Guard that he could call them up at any time. Also, he has described a state of emergency for the St. Louis/Ferguson area. Jay Nixon also created a 16 member commission to study the underlying social and economic cause of black discontent in Ferguson. It is obvious to see what these problem exist in the first place and it is that black people are treated as a colony and not a true, independent human beings. There must be radical changes to the economic and social conditions in Black America. That is why the people of Ferguson now are organizing and empowering themselves. We should always reject the corporate interests of the rich and the rest of the 1%. The growth of the mass movement of black people not only standing up against the military/police complex, but speaking truth to power is inspirational. Solutions are readily developed in the streets as history shows. The legacy of Michael Brown proves that the grassroots people should have power and the corporate politicians and reactionary propaganda (from both major parties) don’t hold sway. All levels of government should not only talk about this issue, but pass laws that condemn policy brutality, protect voting rights, and ensure that innocent people are not killed by the police. There are structural problems in society and people from among many backgrounds are coming together to fight for justice. There can be no true freedom for anyone unless all peoples are free. Justice is for all at the end of the day not for some. The younger generation has every right to struggle for change. Many of these struggles are youth led. Nothing changes unless people fight evil. It is as simple as that.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw has a great down to Earth vibe. She is in a great movie with a great message about how personal integrity is very important amid the world of the INDUSTRY (and that true love is so beautiful among people). So, the reality is that life will never be totally perfect. Yet, we can pray, meditate, and learn real ways to grow in the circumstances of our lives. Focused compassion and helping others are excellent ways for souls to be blessed. I saw the trailer and it looks exciting. Also, it shows how 2 people can fall in love in the midst of so much going on. It shows the complicated life of musicians and how common respect, love, and overcoming obstacles can cause relationships to last a lifetime. "Beyond the Lights" also appeals to the younger generation with the message that you can express the gift of music without compromising your convictions or your personal integrity as a human being. The movie has been praised by many critics. The industry is something that people have diverse opinions about. People have the right to go independent and create their music in a more independent fashion. The actress in the movie seems to want more than just fame and adulation. After the actor saves her life in the movie, things change. Each person appreciates their valuable qualities and love starts to flourish. A love story between a Brother and a Sister never gets old. A Sister named Gina Prince-Bythewood wrote and directed the whole. She is right that it very vitally important to see black men and black women in positive roles. In other words, Sisters like Diahann Carroll and Tichina Arnold have the right to express themselves. Brothers like Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington have the right to express themselves too. We are a diverse people.
By Timothy
Leah Flynn is a blessed SISTER. She is showing her magnificent gift of music as a means for her to promote peace in Ferguson. Music can inspire people, grow intellect, and increase creativity. She is doing a wonderful JOB in allowing people to see the big picture. The big picture is that we are all in this together as human beings. When we fight for justice and do positive actions to enrich the lives of our neighbors, then that is a great blessing. We will not give up. Our ancestors never gave up when they were in chains centuries ago. They never gave up when they lived under Jim Crow oppression. When you never give up and continue forward to struggle for freedom, then that struggle can achieve great results. Therefore, Leah deserves great respect for her excellent contribution in assisting fellow human beings in an altruistic way. Black girls should be protected and respected as a lot of people have mentioned. Playing the violin takes skill, dedication, and true patience. She is enjoying herself and she is supporting peace. When a human being promotes peace, then that person is on the right track. She has her WHOLE LIFE ahead her and she is a genius. :) Her family is great as well. Our leaders for generations have told us what the problems are and why they exist. Malcolm X told us. Dr. King told us. Ella Baker told us. So, this COMMISSION coming months after the death of Michael Brown is truly late. Such commissions should have been in existence decades ago. Even the Kerner Commission of 1967 told American society about the socioeconomic conditions of the ghettoes and other communities. Folks want action beyond committees. Yet, I have hope. We have to have hoped if we want real change to come. The events in Ferguson make up a turning point in the black liberation struggle. People should organize, mobilize, and fight for justice. People should never give up. I have no issues with nonviolence or self-defense. Things ought to be CHANGE and people are tired of the status quo. We should not only oppose and condemn unjust crime in general. We should oppose police terrorism, racial profiling of innocent black people constantly, and economic injustice. Multiple actions are needed.
This is a new era. We as a people are after the end of the Second Reconstruction (from 1954 to 1968). Today, we see a more materialistic, militarist, and self-centered society. There is record economic inequality in the world. So, the story about Al Sharpton refusing to pay federal payroll taxes on his employees is not surprising. Al Sharpton loves capitalism. Now, this story should inspire us to keep on the revolutionary ethos that Brothers and Sisters like Septima Clark, Ella Baker, Malcolm X, Ida B. Wells, and others have. So, after the Second Reconstruction, many CIVIL RIGHTS people worshiped corporate power instead of advancing the needs of the people in a revolutionary way. Neoliberalism became in vogue among even some of our people while the glorious ideal of true liberation of black people has been suppressed by mainstream society. So, Al Sharpton is dealing with his own issues. He is right on many issues and he made errors too (which are unjustifiable. I heard of the FBI story too). Power should be fairly DISTRIBUTED and black people should have justice. Justice means that the current system must radically change. I do hope for him to wake up though.
One good thing about the situation in Ferguson is that it has changed black politics forever. The grassroots activists are rejecting not only the white supremacist power structure, but the token black bourgeois, neoliberal class (Historically, these are some of the same people who slandered Malcolm X when he was alive and these are the same ones that disrespected Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because of his courageous opposition to the Vietnam War. Many of these same ones even recently years ago supported funding for the militarization of the police) too. Now, the Governor Jay Nixon has notified the National Guard that he could call them up at any time. Also, he has described a state of emergency for the St. Louis/Ferguson area. Jay Nixon also created a 16 member commission to study the underlying social and economic cause of black discontent in Ferguson. It is obvious to see what these problem exist in the first place and it is that black people are treated as a colony and not a true, independent human beings. There must be radical changes to the economic and social conditions in Black America. That is why the people of Ferguson now are organizing and empowering themselves. We should always reject the corporate interests of the rich and the rest of the 1%. The growth of the mass movement of black people not only standing up against the military/police complex, but speaking truth to power is inspirational. Solutions are readily developed in the streets as history shows. The legacy of Michael Brown proves that the grassroots people should have power and the corporate politicians and reactionary propaganda (from both major parties) don’t hold sway. All levels of government should not only talk about this issue, but pass laws that condemn policy brutality, protect voting rights, and ensure that innocent people are not killed by the police. There are structural problems in society and people from among many backgrounds are coming together to fight for justice. There can be no true freedom for anyone unless all peoples are free. Justice is for all at the end of the day not for some. The younger generation has every right to struggle for change. Many of these struggles are youth led. Nothing changes unless people fight evil. It is as simple as that.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw has a great down to Earth vibe. She is in a great movie with a great message about how personal integrity is very important amid the world of the INDUSTRY (and that true love is so beautiful among people). So, the reality is that life will never be totally perfect. Yet, we can pray, meditate, and learn real ways to grow in the circumstances of our lives. Focused compassion and helping others are excellent ways for souls to be blessed. I saw the trailer and it looks exciting. Also, it shows how 2 people can fall in love in the midst of so much going on. It shows the complicated life of musicians and how common respect, love, and overcoming obstacles can cause relationships to last a lifetime. "Beyond the Lights" also appeals to the younger generation with the message that you can express the gift of music without compromising your convictions or your personal integrity as a human being. The movie has been praised by many critics. The industry is something that people have diverse opinions about. People have the right to go independent and create their music in a more independent fashion. The actress in the movie seems to want more than just fame and adulation. After the actor saves her life in the movie, things change. Each person appreciates their valuable qualities and love starts to flourish. A love story between a Brother and a Sister never gets old. A Sister named Gina Prince-Bythewood wrote and directed the whole. She is right that it very vitally important to see black men and black women in positive roles. In other words, Sisters like Diahann Carroll and Tichina Arnold have the right to express themselves. Brothers like Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington have the right to express themselves too. We are a diverse people.
By Timothy
The Golden Raito and the Solar System
http://www.goldennumber.net/solar-system/
http://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/a-remarkable-discovery-all-solar-system-periods-fit-the-fibonacci-series-and-the-golden-ratio-why-phi/
http://www.fq.math.ca/Scanned/22-1/lombardi.pdf
http://www.goldennumber.net/category/design/
http://iopscience.iop.org/1009-1963/11/12/318
http://io9.com/5985588/15-uncanny-examples-of-the-golden-ratio-in-nature
http://heathertravis.weebly.com/golden-ratio-in-nature.html
http://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/a-remarkable-discovery-all-solar-system-periods-fit-the-fibonacci-series-and-the-golden-ratio-why-phi/
http://www.fq.math.ca/Scanned/22-1/lombardi.pdf
http://www.goldennumber.net/category/design/
http://iopscience.iop.org/1009-1963/11/12/318
http://io9.com/5985588/15-uncanny-examples-of-the-golden-ratio-in-nature
http://heathertravis.weebly.com/golden-ratio-in-nature.html
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Savant's Words
Interesting that you mention Paul Robeson. I happened to be re-reading parts of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF W.E.B. DU BOIS, and his comments therein on Robeson. And his comments on the reaction by members of the Black middle classes during the time when Robeson was persecuted by the government. Du Bois himself was in trouble with the government and notes "The intelligentsia, the "Talented Tenth", the successful business and PROFESSIONAL men, were not, for the most part, outspoken in my defense. There were many notable exceptions, but as a group this class was either silent or actually antagonistic...
Other Negroes of intelligence and PROSPERITY had become American in their acceptance of exploitation as defensible, and in their imitation of American "conspicuous expenditure."...Their reaction to Paul Robeson was typical; they simply could not understand his surrendering a thousand dollars a night for a moral conviction." (THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF W.E.B. DU BOIS, PP. 370--71. Despite the idealism of the 1960s which affected some members of the Black elite, I fear that today they've become once more as benighted as they were in the era of McCarthyism when Du Bois and Robeson were being persecuted by right wing fanatics.
-Savant
Information News in late November 2014
The midterms should not cause us to have despair. It should represent a real opportunity for the growth of independent political movements that can progressively address the needs of the people. We know that the corporate two party system in Washington doesn’t need to be worshiped. We should reject the system of white supremacy and realize that both parties have expressed contempt for Black America and all freedom loving peoples. We need revolutionary changes. Imperialism is still a serious threat in the world. Both parties in their leaderships want to privatize education, gentrify neighborhoods, privatize public resources in general, continue with the low wage economy, fund trillions in imperial war and bank bailouts, and continue with the prison industrial complex (including fund militarized and racist police forces). The working class and the poor are oppressed in the same system of oppression. There has been a low voter turnout in the Midterm election. Yet, the consciousness of the people can rise even more with the promotion of the rights of black people, immigrant rights, and the rights of all oppressed people of the world. The lesser of two evils mantra is refuted, because even some Democrats want to be like Republicans on numerous issues. We will confront educational and environmental problems too. With the Obama administration, we see the ruling class still promoting the same reactionary agenda in terms of foreign policy including other matters too. We need real collective leadership by increasing the power of oppressed people. There must be the politics of liberation. The oppressed need self-determination and the building of their own institutions without laissez faire capitalism. We are not only fighting racism and discrimination. We are fighting poverty too. We don’t need to return to business as usual. We need justice now.
There is no massive rioting in the streets and the Governor is obviously going into the extreme route by establishing a state of emergency. It is fact that the Governor should listen to the community’s concerns more thoroughly and understand the social conditions in the St. Louis/Ferguson area. He should publicly not only condemn police brutality, but he should advocate a radical change in the area. He still has not apologized to the people of Ferguson for the police using tear gas, rubber bullets, etc. against innocent protesters. He has not apologized to the public for the police indiscriminately ARRESTING protesters and journalists. The “potential" of something bad happening is being used by the Governor as a means to justify his extreme order. He is assuming someone bad will happen, and that declaration only agitates tensions. This problem involving police brutality, extrajudicial killings of black people, etc. has been occurring nationwide. Many people of many colors are protesters and expressing a need for revolutionary change. People should not worship law enforcement as infallible deities. The establishment wants the status quo and we don’t. People need justice and true respect, understanding, including compassion. Art is one of the greatest ways to express ideals. The images made by many old school Black Panthers were important in sending the message out (about how police terrorism is evil and how the power of the people can create real social change). Today, we also deal with oppression. The movement in Ferguson and in other places represents the new generation's call for freedom and justice. I have no issue with being called African American or Black. The study confirms what Brothers and Sisters have said for decades. The word Black is a powerful word. Many white people have fear when black people classify themselves as black in a strong fashion. Black is a strong word and its meaning is not only potent, but it is inspirational too. Therefore, we can’t forget about the Dream and the prize. We know about the dream. The dream is about living in a world where we are not stopped and frisked all of the time. It is about living in a society where discrimination and racism are things of the past. It is about where injustice is obliterated and justice is firmly established in the globe. There is nothing wrong with being Black either as Black is BEAUTIFUL.
The racists certainly don’t know about the wonderful, excellent sub-Saharan civilizations of Africa. I learned about it when I was young, but like many black people, I learned about it in a higher level when I was in college. John Henrik Clarke, John Hope Franklin, and other people were great black historians and scholars too. They lived their lives to not only express love for African culture, but they wanted black people to have social consciousness too. In other words, it is great to learn about our real history, but we should also create legitimate social and political change which can improve the lives of black people collectively. We should learn about these things back in elementary school as well. Many are right on that point. Numerous people was correct to refute the Horatio Alger myth. Obviously, no one is an island. No human being is without influences, connections, and experiences during their lifetimes. Also, many European immigrants received the Homestead Act and other government subsidies which caused many of them to get an incredible amount of opportunities. Our ancestors were brought into the Americas in chains and they worked in the Americas for centuries without pay, without unions, and without any form of true equality. Yet, our ancestors courageously fought back in rebellions and defended our honor and our dignity. Many black people back then became doctors, authors, scientists, engineers, politicians, activists, etc. That is an amazing achievement in it of itself. Also, many European immigrants, who came into America, had extensive networks among their people. Some of these networks (involving apprenticeships, economic powerbases, etc.) already have been established in America. Many European immigrants changed their names constantly as a means to assimilate into white mainstream society more readily. That is true. Some immigrants were discriminated against, but they never experienced the brutality that black Americans have suffered. White European immigrants still had white privilege. Other excellent points are to be mentioned too. Plentiful resources in Africa along with other factors caused many West Africans centuries ago to not massively travel into Europe or Asia. Just because a West African centuries ago may not trade to countries in Europe doesn’t mean that West Africans were inferior. They were very intelligent. Africa itself has great resources from iron to cobalt. This caused many Europeans and others to come into Africa not vice versa. King Leopold was definitely similar to Hitler in his genocidal actions. The truth about the greatness of black history and black culture ought to be known and respected.
The RNC has never lied about their reactionary agenda. Many of them are proto-fascists. We live in a society where there is class and racial oppression. The RNC outright supports imperial foreign policy and neoliberal economic policies as well. Many Democrats have supported this agenda too, so this is not a one party deal. Fundamentally, we need a society where human rights and the communal essence of society are superior to the deification of property and the deification of money. The mostly GOP-led Supreme Court has gutted parts of the Voting Rights Act. If the poor can’t have economic justice, then that is cruel and unusual punishment. No government should be respected if it is a government of the rich, and for the rich. The War on Drugs should be abolished, sentencing disparities ought to be addressed (as the prison industrial complex is disgraceful as explained by George Jackson, Angela Davis, etc.), and corporate welfare should be gone. Also, I am reading the book entitled, “All Labor Has Dignity” with an introduction written by Michael K. Honey. That book reminds me that labor rights is key in the liberation of humanity. That book has shown how the Montgomery bus boycott, the Memphis sanitation strike, the Scirpto strikes, etc. involved brave workers. Workers’ rights must be respected (a living wage is important, unfair tax loopholes must be gone, and corporate corruption must end) and bourgeois policies won’t cut it. There must be a radical redistribution of political and economic power as Dr. King has said. There is nothing wrong with growing enterprises (who treat workers fairly), but that is not enough. Unjust laws must be banned. The poor deserve justice. The environment must be better and record economic inequality must be combated. Not to mention that our CRIMINAL justice system must be radically changed. So, a comprehensive approach is needed.
Superficial ego means nothing. They get really scared when we use our minds and escape the traps of the system. They hate it when we know not only know their game plan, but when we use steps to create our own solutions with our own minds. We know how vicious the system is. We know about the racial disparities found in the judicial system and we know how black people have suffered oppression. We should CONTINUE to be wise. Those who disrespect their own people in an offensive way, those who slander, those who believe in lies about the community, etc. are easily refuted. That is why we should never give up. Our ancestors suffered a whole lot worse than what we deal with today. We blame the orchestrators of the evil system (people from across backgrounds including our black people have exposed the evil system of white supremacy for a long time) in the first place and we don't blame the victims of the system for everything under the sun. Yes, there can be more positive actions enacted. People can do better and we have a long way to go. The extremists just ignore any black person making a difference, helping the oppressed or just providing services to people in an inspirational fashion. That is why the racists have a cognitive dissonance as it relates to them to understanding reality. They want to hear what they want to hear and reject anything that refutes their retrograde ideas. The denial of truth (including the embrace of vicious bigotry) is representative of insecurity, but the embrace of wisdom is the beginning of enlightenment. That is why it is important to not judge someone unfairly. People don’t know exactly what people are going through all of the time and gracious people exist across socioeconomic backgrounds. We have to see people as people. We should appreciate people’s humanity. That action is the quantum leap, which some need to accept. Many will not highlight the great contributions done by black people daily. We know how the news is in obfuscating information or outright using deception. LOL. Operation Mockingbird shows the deceptiveness of many in the corporate media system. When we not only respect and appreciate our humanity, but respect the humanity of others (along with helping society in general), then we witness the fullness of the Universe. Accurate data from white people, etc. is important. There can be no wise assessment of any community without understanding both individual and collective parts of society. Also, the youth must be taught to reject false stereotypes too. We know that Italians are not all mobsters and the majority of black people are not CRIMINALS. We must live by example too. We should reject their traps and not fall for distractions. We have to enact compassion in society and allow altruism to be a real principle to live by. Doing these things not only will refute stereotypes, but it can guide our human souls.
By Timothy
There is no massive rioting in the streets and the Governor is obviously going into the extreme route by establishing a state of emergency. It is fact that the Governor should listen to the community’s concerns more thoroughly and understand the social conditions in the St. Louis/Ferguson area. He should publicly not only condemn police brutality, but he should advocate a radical change in the area. He still has not apologized to the people of Ferguson for the police using tear gas, rubber bullets, etc. against innocent protesters. He has not apologized to the public for the police indiscriminately ARRESTING protesters and journalists. The “potential" of something bad happening is being used by the Governor as a means to justify his extreme order. He is assuming someone bad will happen, and that declaration only agitates tensions. This problem involving police brutality, extrajudicial killings of black people, etc. has been occurring nationwide. Many people of many colors are protesters and expressing a need for revolutionary change. People should not worship law enforcement as infallible deities. The establishment wants the status quo and we don’t. People need justice and true respect, understanding, including compassion. Art is one of the greatest ways to express ideals. The images made by many old school Black Panthers were important in sending the message out (about how police terrorism is evil and how the power of the people can create real social change). Today, we also deal with oppression. The movement in Ferguson and in other places represents the new generation's call for freedom and justice. I have no issue with being called African American or Black. The study confirms what Brothers and Sisters have said for decades. The word Black is a powerful word. Many white people have fear when black people classify themselves as black in a strong fashion. Black is a strong word and its meaning is not only potent, but it is inspirational too. Therefore, we can’t forget about the Dream and the prize. We know about the dream. The dream is about living in a world where we are not stopped and frisked all of the time. It is about living in a society where discrimination and racism are things of the past. It is about where injustice is obliterated and justice is firmly established in the globe. There is nothing wrong with being Black either as Black is BEAUTIFUL.
The racists certainly don’t know about the wonderful, excellent sub-Saharan civilizations of Africa. I learned about it when I was young, but like many black people, I learned about it in a higher level when I was in college. John Henrik Clarke, John Hope Franklin, and other people were great black historians and scholars too. They lived their lives to not only express love for African culture, but they wanted black people to have social consciousness too. In other words, it is great to learn about our real history, but we should also create legitimate social and political change which can improve the lives of black people collectively. We should learn about these things back in elementary school as well. Many are right on that point. Numerous people was correct to refute the Horatio Alger myth. Obviously, no one is an island. No human being is without influences, connections, and experiences during their lifetimes. Also, many European immigrants received the Homestead Act and other government subsidies which caused many of them to get an incredible amount of opportunities. Our ancestors were brought into the Americas in chains and they worked in the Americas for centuries without pay, without unions, and without any form of true equality. Yet, our ancestors courageously fought back in rebellions and defended our honor and our dignity. Many black people back then became doctors, authors, scientists, engineers, politicians, activists, etc. That is an amazing achievement in it of itself. Also, many European immigrants, who came into America, had extensive networks among their people. Some of these networks (involving apprenticeships, economic powerbases, etc.) already have been established in America. Many European immigrants changed their names constantly as a means to assimilate into white mainstream society more readily. That is true. Some immigrants were discriminated against, but they never experienced the brutality that black Americans have suffered. White European immigrants still had white privilege. Other excellent points are to be mentioned too. Plentiful resources in Africa along with other factors caused many West Africans centuries ago to not massively travel into Europe or Asia. Just because a West African centuries ago may not trade to countries in Europe doesn’t mean that West Africans were inferior. They were very intelligent. Africa itself has great resources from iron to cobalt. This caused many Europeans and others to come into Africa not vice versa. King Leopold was definitely similar to Hitler in his genocidal actions. The truth about the greatness of black history and black culture ought to be known and respected.
The RNC has never lied about their reactionary agenda. Many of them are proto-fascists. We live in a society where there is class and racial oppression. The RNC outright supports imperial foreign policy and neoliberal economic policies as well. Many Democrats have supported this agenda too, so this is not a one party deal. Fundamentally, we need a society where human rights and the communal essence of society are superior to the deification of property and the deification of money. The mostly GOP-led Supreme Court has gutted parts of the Voting Rights Act. If the poor can’t have economic justice, then that is cruel and unusual punishment. No government should be respected if it is a government of the rich, and for the rich. The War on Drugs should be abolished, sentencing disparities ought to be addressed (as the prison industrial complex is disgraceful as explained by George Jackson, Angela Davis, etc.), and corporate welfare should be gone. Also, I am reading the book entitled, “All Labor Has Dignity” with an introduction written by Michael K. Honey. That book reminds me that labor rights is key in the liberation of humanity. That book has shown how the Montgomery bus boycott, the Memphis sanitation strike, the Scirpto strikes, etc. involved brave workers. Workers’ rights must be respected (a living wage is important, unfair tax loopholes must be gone, and corporate corruption must end) and bourgeois policies won’t cut it. There must be a radical redistribution of political and economic power as Dr. King has said. There is nothing wrong with growing enterprises (who treat workers fairly), but that is not enough. Unjust laws must be banned. The poor deserve justice. The environment must be better and record economic inequality must be combated. Not to mention that our CRIMINAL justice system must be radically changed. So, a comprehensive approach is needed.
Superficial ego means nothing. They get really scared when we use our minds and escape the traps of the system. They hate it when we know not only know their game plan, but when we use steps to create our own solutions with our own minds. We know how vicious the system is. We know about the racial disparities found in the judicial system and we know how black people have suffered oppression. We should CONTINUE to be wise. Those who disrespect their own people in an offensive way, those who slander, those who believe in lies about the community, etc. are easily refuted. That is why we should never give up. Our ancestors suffered a whole lot worse than what we deal with today. We blame the orchestrators of the evil system (people from across backgrounds including our black people have exposed the evil system of white supremacy for a long time) in the first place and we don't blame the victims of the system for everything under the sun. Yes, there can be more positive actions enacted. People can do better and we have a long way to go. The extremists just ignore any black person making a difference, helping the oppressed or just providing services to people in an inspirational fashion. That is why the racists have a cognitive dissonance as it relates to them to understanding reality. They want to hear what they want to hear and reject anything that refutes their retrograde ideas. The denial of truth (including the embrace of vicious bigotry) is representative of insecurity, but the embrace of wisdom is the beginning of enlightenment. That is why it is important to not judge someone unfairly. People don’t know exactly what people are going through all of the time and gracious people exist across socioeconomic backgrounds. We have to see people as people. We should appreciate people’s humanity. That action is the quantum leap, which some need to accept. Many will not highlight the great contributions done by black people daily. We know how the news is in obfuscating information or outright using deception. LOL. Operation Mockingbird shows the deceptiveness of many in the corporate media system. When we not only respect and appreciate our humanity, but respect the humanity of others (along with helping society in general), then we witness the fullness of the Universe. Accurate data from white people, etc. is important. There can be no wise assessment of any community without understanding both individual and collective parts of society. Also, the youth must be taught to reject false stereotypes too. We know that Italians are not all mobsters and the majority of black people are not CRIMINALS. We must live by example too. We should reject their traps and not fall for distractions. We have to enact compassion in society and allow altruism to be a real principle to live by. Doing these things not only will refute stereotypes, but it can guide our human souls.
By Timothy
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