On September 11, 2001, 2,977 innocent people were murdered. I remember everything like it was yesterday. The attacks were evil actions of terrorism and murder. I was 17 years old and a freshman in college during September 11, 2001. The day began just like any other ordinary day. I finished taking a math class on Tuesday. I came into an university library. I used Yahoo chat and people talked about the Twin Towers burning. I didn't believe it at first. I thought it was a hoax. Soon, I left the library. I came home and turned on the TV and there it was. I witnessed the Towers burning, I saw people screaming, and I saw the Towers fall down on national TV. Schools in my area were let out early in secondary schools and I ate lunch. People freaked out and some people vandalized Muslim mosques, which was wrong. During the day, I talked with my relatives about the destruction, about the various views on 9/11, and about how the world would be changed forever as a result of the horrendous attacks. News coverage of 9/11 happened non stop during that day. Peter Jennings and others did their coverages of the tragedy. Later in the day, Building Number Seven fell down and no plane hit it. Flight 93 crashed in Shanskville, PA. The Pentagon was hit with a plane in Arlington, Virginia. People in the streets were in a dazed, shocked look for weeks after 9/11. I always think about 9/11 every day. The events validated my views more. We know that there were specific warnings from U.S. allies about 9/11 style attacks which were sent to the U.S. intelligence community. On September 11, 2001, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was involved in an ongoing operation which involved deploying fighter aircraft to northwestern North America. The US Military and NORAD had also planned to conduct several military exercises and a drill was being held by the National Reconnaissance Office, a Department of Defense agency. The operations, exercises and drills were all canceled following the September 11 attacks. I was a civil libertarian before 9/11, but afterwards I was even more in favor of promoting civil liberties.
I take life more seriously since 9/11 and I am a more progressive person since the attacks too. The Patriot Act and other anti-liberty laws came after the attacks. After the destruction of the Twin Towers, rescue workers, local residents, and those who worked on the site to remove debris suffered many respiratory illnesses. One of which was called “World Trade Center Cough.” The EPA initially did a terrible job in helping the victims and telling the truth about the seriousness of the illnesses. The EPA downplayed the legitimate concerns of people. Since 9/11, thousands of people have died from asbestos and a cocktail of other contaminants. Many rescue workers for years have been denied the basic health care assistance. Many people are dying now because of a lung related illnesses. These human beings deserve better than this. The neo cons exploited this tragedy as a way for them to promote Empire instead of real democratic rights. We see a more militarized society in America. The war on terror has been promoted before 9/11. One example is how the Project for a New American Century called for "some catastrophic and catalyzing event, like a new Pearl Harbor," which would serve to galvanize US public opinion in support of a war agenda. The drone attacks and other imperial policies didn't end with Bush. These policies continue today. We know who did 9/11 and it wasn't one person alone. As time went on, evil wars existed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, etc. These wars caused millions of Muslims and others to be maimed, tortured, murdered, and displaced. Also, Osama bin Laden was an ally of the CIA in Operation Cyclone. We know that Al-Qaeda in its origins came from the Mujahedeen and the CIA during the Soviet-Afghan War. The Afghan Mujahedeen commanders met in the White House in 1985 to discuss about their actions in Afghanistan too. On the morning of 9/11 Graham and Goss were having breakfast with Pakistani intelligence (ISI) chief General Mahmud Ahmed, an alleged financier of 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta. So, the Western establishment not only wanted the oil resources of the Middle East. They wanted to have a hegemonic advantage above China and Russia. Intelligence agencies like the CIA, the MI5, the Mossad are not only allies, but they have been complicit in terrorism, illegal spying, vote rigging, and other crimes. The heroes of 9.11 were the firefighters and other rescuers who saved lives. 9/11 was an emotional day. Today, we have the One World Trade Center. Today in 2015, it is open for the first time. We are inspired to fight for human rights and to stand up against any injustice for real.
#Never Forget.
There is no need for political correctness on this issue. There are many issues that should be outlined. First, the cops in this situation acted as brutish barbarians. They overtly violated the human rights of the biracial ex-tennis player Mr. Blake. This story refutes respectability politics and it refutes the lie that if someone just acts passive and follows orders, then you will never be mistreated by the police. Obviously, James Blake did nothing wrong. The cops could have easily asked him peacefully about his identity for the purposes of investigating the whereabouts of a criminal. The cops never did that initially. They violently threw James Blake to the ground. Crooked cops are nothing more than evil pieces of work. Unfortunately, this is not new. Countless stories abound of black people being harassed, abused and murdered by many cops. The police institution is an agent of the establishment. We know how many slave patrols acted as cops used to fight legitimate black resistance to oppression. We know that many police along with the FBI has illegally monitored, Malcolm X, Dr. King, the Black Panthers, and other progressive forces for social change. The cops involved in this incident not only owe James Blake an apology. They should be punished (for real) for their abhorrent behavior. Today, the NYPD occupies the boroughs of NYC. We know that many NYPD agents act as spies, but we won’t back down. We are in opposition to fascist tactics and fascist institutions of oppression. There should be empowerment of the poor (via a radical redistribution of economic and political power) and the oppressed, so liberty can reign in the world. We are here and we will not be intimidated by the FBI, by the DHS, or by the NYPD. We are strong; we are BLACK, AND WE ARE BEAUTIFUL. We will fight and resist oppression straight up. Strong conscious Brothers and Sisters live in New York City too. During the summer of this year, I have studied NYC’s history a lot as it pertains to our people especially. From Sister Afeni Shakur to the BLM protesters, NYC activists have a strong legacy.
Grace Jones a’int lying. I think a lot of people know who Doris is. Grace Jones is an innovator in not only showing musical expression which was ahead of its time, but in outlining great creativity in general. She is just keeping it real that many of the artists today from Madonna to Lady Gaga have mimicked or copied her own original style. Grace Jones is a Sister who marches to her own beat and she has the right to outline an evaluation of modern day artists in the early 21st century. As she has said, many artists wearing clothing now are acting in a certain middle of the road way since they are following trends instead of being the trend themselves. A great artist is someone who not only expresses creativity, but who changes the dynamics of the culture (so, the envelope can be pushed and inspiring others in a progressive way is a pronounced result). Unfortunately, the views of people like Nicole Arbour are common in America. There is a certain segment of Americans who want to mock people (in various memes in IG accounts) and make it their duty to try to be the center of attention (when that masks their own insecure personalities). This comedian Nicole Arbour is arrogant and wrong on many levels. First, just because someone is bigger doesn’t mean that someone is unhealthy. There are very healthy people in a diversity of phenotypes. Her words don’t inspire people in a positive way. Her ways are about to show stereotypes about plus sized human beings when obesity have existed because of many complex factors. Not to mention that many plus sized people are very confident. Her slick words of “big sassy black women in church” represent misogynoir. Her words are precisely why many black women don’t trust some white feminists who use racist rhetoric which is antithetical to the cause of black women and women in general. Building people up is about motivating people, showing the truth that human beings have value, and shaming people in a vulgar way has nothing to do with progressive thinking. Her words represent her insecurity as a person plainly speaking. If she was secure in herself, she would have never resorted in such a despicable, racist, and stereotypical rant. When it is all said and done, rants from Nicole don’t matter. Those black women in church (that she disrespects) certainly have greater character and beauty (inside and out) than Nicole. There are plenty of beautiful, smart plus sized Sisters who are living their lives on their own terms and promote uprightness and human dignity.
It is a serious problem where many Americans know so little about Africa. Africa has a myriad of languages, cultures, fauna, flora, and other forms of aspects of technological development. I was taught a lot of African American history since elementary school. In middle school and in high school, I was taught about African history and its civilizations. We should learn about African history and Africa in general not just in February, but yearlong. There are a massive amount of political thinkers, social activists, and other courageous Africans then and now. In school, I have learned about how Africa has experienced massive changes from the events of Berlin Conference to the anti-colonial movements with leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba who desired real social changes in the Motherland. Learning about Africa is also to learn about its people from the Bantu human beings to the Swahili people. Many Black Americans have to learn about Africa too. Many of us African Americans know about Beowulf, King George, Czar Nicholas, and the whole nine yards, but learning about the beautiful land of Africa is extremely important. We, who are African-Americans, should always reject a superiority complex, be humble, and understand the accurate facts about Africa in a progressive way. The more that we learn about Africa, the more that we understand about ourselves since our ancestry comes from Africa literally. Certainly, this treatment of the late Sister Natasha McKenna was so evil. Natasha McKenna never deserved this treatment at all. She was tasered 4 times and no specialist for mental illness came to help her. In other incidents where white people are armed and threatened the police, officers have treated them with more respect than what they have treated Natasha. How dare the officers say that this Sister had "superhuman" strength and she had to be treated in such an evil fashion. How dare the officers justify this murder of a woman. You will noticed that the cop-worshipers aren't here. Real folks are here. I'm glad that Clutch is showing this story, because we need to understand that there is an epidemic of the mistreatment of black women and those who have mental illness. I send my condolences to the family and friends of Natasha McKenna.
RIP Sister Natasha McKenna
#Say Her Name
By Timothy
No comments:
Post a Comment