Black Women Need Abortion Rights
Black women would be the biggest losers of all if Roe v. Wade were to be over turned. In this week's Black Agenda Report, I make the case that black people must stop being shy about sex, and afraid of religiosity. Abortion and reproductive rights are an essential part of American civil rights law, and we shouldn't be squeamish about saying so.
Also, we need to stop paying attention to people like Alveda King, a recipient of right wing think tank money. She is Dr. King's niece, and she uses her family name to advocate for the bad old days when abortion was illegal. The Christian right are now setting up "pregnancy crisis" centers in black neighborhoods, despite the fact that abortion doesn't rank very highly on the list of black Americans' concerns.
Unfortunately, that lack of concern is bad news. It means that the continuing onslaught against abortion rights does not get the approprite response from the people who would be most affected if Roe is overturned. Silence will be seen as consent and the days of the coat hanger will return.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
"I Miss Iraq, I Miss My War, I Miss My Gun"
When I got up this morning I had never heard of Brian Mockenhaupt. I was better off that way. He is a pathetic loser and a sadistic SOB.
In an awful tome entitled, "I Miss Iraq, I Miss My War, I Miss My Gun," Mockenhaupt waxes sentimental about having the power to kill people. That is the long and the short of it, but he covers his bloody urges with nonsense about missing the adrenaline rush. If all he wanted was a rush he could take up sky diving.
I will do my best to translate through Mockenhaupt's BS. It is a tough job but someone has to do it.
But war twists and shifts the landmarks by which we navigate our lives, casting light on darkened areas that for many people remain forever unexplored. And once those darkened spaces are lit, they become part of us.
Translation: I was an ordinary asshole before, but in Iraq I had the power to make good on my secret desire to be a killer.
War is exciting. Sometimes I was in awe of this, and sometimes I felt low and mean for loving it, but I loved it still. Even in its quiet moments, war is brighter, louder, brasher, more fun, more tragic, more wasteful. More. More of everything. And even then I knew I would someday miss it, this life so strange.
Translation: I am such a loser. I have no clue how to bring joy or excitement to my life, so having the power to kill filled up my worthless life.
We often raided houses late at night, so people awakened to soldiers bursting through their bedroom doors. Women and children wailed, terrified. Taking this in, I imagined what it would feel like if soldiers kicked down my door at midnight, if I could do nothing to protect my family. I would hate those soldiers. Yet I still reveled in the raids, their intensity and uncertainty.
Translation: I don't give a fuck about other people, especially if they are not white. I know what I do is wrong, but I couldn't care less.
I didn't have any Iraqi friends, save for our few translators, and I'd rarely been invited into anyone's home.
Translation: I am so stupid. I actually think an occupier would be welcome.
Leaving the war behind can be a letdown, regardless of opportunity or education or the luxuries waiting at home. People I'd never met sent me boxes of cookies and candy throughout my tours. When I left for two weeks of leave, I was cheered at airports and hugged by strangers. At dinner with my family one night, a man from the next table bought me a $400 bottle of wine. I was never quite comfortable with any of this, but they were heady moments nonetheless.
Translation: I was an ordinary guy and then I was important and got attention I didn't deserve. I still want the attention I had when I walked around with a big dick, um, gun.
There are no electric bills or car payments or chores around the house. Just go to work, come home alive, and do it again tomorrow. McCarthy calls it pure and serene. Indeed. Life at home can be much more trying.
Translation: I hate my life. It is filled with quiet desperation, so much desperation that I find serenity in terrifying women and children.
I'm glad Mockenhaupt took the time to tell the world what an awful piece of crap he is. He didn't tell me anything I didn't know already, but if I had written the same thing, I would have been dismissed out of hand. We should give him credit for telling the truth about why some men love war. That truth is ugly and Mockenhaupt thankfully let the cat out of the bag.
When I got up this morning I had never heard of Brian Mockenhaupt. I was better off that way. He is a pathetic loser and a sadistic SOB.
In an awful tome entitled, "I Miss Iraq, I Miss My War, I Miss My Gun," Mockenhaupt waxes sentimental about having the power to kill people. That is the long and the short of it, but he covers his bloody urges with nonsense about missing the adrenaline rush. If all he wanted was a rush he could take up sky diving.
I will do my best to translate through Mockenhaupt's BS. It is a tough job but someone has to do it.
But war twists and shifts the landmarks by which we navigate our lives, casting light on darkened areas that for many people remain forever unexplored. And once those darkened spaces are lit, they become part of us.
Translation: I was an ordinary asshole before, but in Iraq I had the power to make good on my secret desire to be a killer.
War is exciting. Sometimes I was in awe of this, and sometimes I felt low and mean for loving it, but I loved it still. Even in its quiet moments, war is brighter, louder, brasher, more fun, more tragic, more wasteful. More. More of everything. And even then I knew I would someday miss it, this life so strange.
Translation: I am such a loser. I have no clue how to bring joy or excitement to my life, so having the power to kill filled up my worthless life.
We often raided houses late at night, so people awakened to soldiers bursting through their bedroom doors. Women and children wailed, terrified. Taking this in, I imagined what it would feel like if soldiers kicked down my door at midnight, if I could do nothing to protect my family. I would hate those soldiers. Yet I still reveled in the raids, their intensity and uncertainty.
Translation: I don't give a fuck about other people, especially if they are not white. I know what I do is wrong, but I couldn't care less.
I didn't have any Iraqi friends, save for our few translators, and I'd rarely been invited into anyone's home.
Translation: I am so stupid. I actually think an occupier would be welcome.
Leaving the war behind can be a letdown, regardless of opportunity or education or the luxuries waiting at home. People I'd never met sent me boxes of cookies and candy throughout my tours. When I left for two weeks of leave, I was cheered at airports and hugged by strangers. At dinner with my family one night, a man from the next table bought me a $400 bottle of wine. I was never quite comfortable with any of this, but they were heady moments nonetheless.
Translation: I was an ordinary guy and then I was important and got attention I didn't deserve. I still want the attention I had when I walked around with a big dick, um, gun.
There are no electric bills or car payments or chores around the house. Just go to work, come home alive, and do it again tomorrow. McCarthy calls it pure and serene. Indeed. Life at home can be much more trying.
Translation: I hate my life. It is filled with quiet desperation, so much desperation that I find serenity in terrifying women and children.
I'm glad Mockenhaupt took the time to tell the world what an awful piece of crap he is. He didn't tell me anything I didn't know already, but if I had written the same thing, I would have been dismissed out of hand. We should give him credit for telling the truth about why some men love war. That truth is ugly and Mockenhaupt thankfully let the cat out of the bag.
Lies, More Lies and Iraq
Did an Iraqi suicide bomber use two children to get through a check point and then kill the children in the detonation? So the headlines say.
My first reaction was that this was truly awful. The Iraqis have actually sunk to the level of the Israelis, who routinely use minors as human shields. Yes, the Geneva Conventions frown on that sort of thing but what do Israelis have to worry about when Uncle Sam lets them do whatever they want.
But seriously, I thought it was just horrible and unbelievable. After thinking about it for a few moments, it became less and less believable. In fact, I didn't believe it at all.
When I looked for the story in the New York Times, my reaction was somewhat vindicated.
"Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a top American military spokesman in Baghdad, said late Tuesday that his office had no record of the bombing but that it was researching it. 'I don’t know what event he’s talking about,”'Colonel Garver said."
It seems that Sears doesn't talk to Roebucks before spinning tall tales. I don't think anyone should believe this report unless it is verified by an independent source.
Did an Iraqi suicide bomber use two children to get through a check point and then kill the children in the detonation? So the headlines say.
My first reaction was that this was truly awful. The Iraqis have actually sunk to the level of the Israelis, who routinely use minors as human shields. Yes, the Geneva Conventions frown on that sort of thing but what do Israelis have to worry about when Uncle Sam lets them do whatever they want.
But seriously, I thought it was just horrible and unbelievable. After thinking about it for a few moments, it became less and less believable. In fact, I didn't believe it at all.
When I looked for the story in the New York Times, my reaction was somewhat vindicated.
"Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a top American military spokesman in Baghdad, said late Tuesday that his office had no record of the bombing but that it was researching it. 'I don’t know what event he’s talking about,”'Colonel Garver said."
It seems that Sears doesn't talk to Roebucks before spinning tall tales. I don't think anyone should believe this report unless it is verified by an independent source.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Martin Luther King and Israel
Did King equate criticism of Israe with anti-Semitism? Contrary to often cited quote, he did not. There is no evidence that he ever made the the statement. The story is here in an essay entitled, "The Use and Abuse of Martin Luther King Jr. by Israel's Apologists." It is well worth reading.
Did King equate criticism of Israe with anti-Semitism? Contrary to often cited quote, he did not. There is no evidence that he ever made the the statement. The story is here in an essay entitled, "The Use and Abuse of Martin Luther King Jr. by Israel's Apologists." It is well worth reading.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Michelle Malkin Sucks
That is my Black Agenda Report column in a nutshell. Dinesh D'Souza sucks too. My thanks to Counter Punch and Smirking Chimp for reprinting.
Malkin and D'Souza are "people of color" who make a living bashing other people of color whenever it is convenient and profitable. For D'Souza that means , black Americans are always responsible for the discrimination that continues to be practiced against them. Malkin also makes the case that Japanese American internment was right and righteous. Of course she is in favor of interning Arabs and Muslims now. What a coincidence. The two of them are part of the vast right wing conspiracy who make a fortune spreading vicious, hateful ideology. It is time they were called out.
That is my Black Agenda Report column in a nutshell. Dinesh D'Souza sucks too. My thanks to Counter Punch and Smirking Chimp for reprinting.
Malkin and D'Souza are "people of color" who make a living bashing other people of color whenever it is convenient and profitable. For D'Souza that means , black Americans are always responsible for the discrimination that continues to be practiced against them. Malkin also makes the case that Japanese American internment was right and righteous. Of course she is in favor of interning Arabs and Muslims now. What a coincidence. The two of them are part of the vast right wing conspiracy who make a fortune spreading vicious, hateful ideology. It is time they were called out.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Congress Will Approve an Attack on Iran
". . . advocates of Israel's interests have prevailed on the Democratic leadership to strip any prohibition on the President taking military action against Iran without prior congressional approval. . ."
The United States is heading towards war with Iran. I'm afraid there is no other conclusion to reach. There is another inescapable conclusion. AIPAC and the rest of the pro-Israel lobby are behind it all. Why else would members of Congress with few or no Jewish constituents jump onto the bandwagon of nuking Iran?
It is a disgrace that the new Democratic majority in Congress can't put together a decent bill, even if vetoed, that will end the occupation of Iraq. Now they have completely chickened out and given Bush permission to attack Iran.
Mark my words. They will all line up and vote to approve attacking Iran, just like they did back in 2002 when they voted to attack Iraq. Hillary and Obama will be very eloquent, but when the rubber meets the road, they will say yes to killing thousands of Iranians.
Speaking of AIPAC, they have reached such a low point that they will promote a crazy Christianfascist preacher who wants to see Israel destroyed in a nuclear war. John Hagee gets invited to the annual AIPAC conference and gets applause. Why?
"What matters more to AIPAC and its allies -- all that matters perhaps -- is that you back the hardline Israeli government without reservation, support the institutionalized dehumanization of Palestinians and offer crucial moral support for the illegal usurpation of Palestinian land. "
Any more questions?
". . . advocates of Israel's interests have prevailed on the Democratic leadership to strip any prohibition on the President taking military action against Iran without prior congressional approval. . ."
The United States is heading towards war with Iran. I'm afraid there is no other conclusion to reach. There is another inescapable conclusion. AIPAC and the rest of the pro-Israel lobby are behind it all. Why else would members of Congress with few or no Jewish constituents jump onto the bandwagon of nuking Iran?
It is a disgrace that the new Democratic majority in Congress can't put together a decent bill, even if vetoed, that will end the occupation of Iraq. Now they have completely chickened out and given Bush permission to attack Iran.
Mark my words. They will all line up and vote to approve attacking Iran, just like they did back in 2002 when they voted to attack Iraq. Hillary and Obama will be very eloquent, but when the rubber meets the road, they will say yes to killing thousands of Iranians.
Speaking of AIPAC, they have reached such a low point that they will promote a crazy Christianfascist preacher who wants to see Israel destroyed in a nuclear war. John Hagee gets invited to the annual AIPAC conference and gets applause. Why?
"What matters more to AIPAC and its allies -- all that matters perhaps -- is that you back the hardline Israeli government without reservation, support the institutionalized dehumanization of Palestinians and offer crucial moral support for the illegal usurpation of Palestinian land. "
Any more questions?
Friday, March 09, 2007
Mayans Say "Bush Has Cooties"
"That a person like (Bush), with the persecution of our migrant brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked, is going to walk in our sacred lands, is an offense for the Mayan people and their culture."
Juan Tiney
I had intended to take Friday off but sometimes a good story changes my plans. It seems that Mayan Indians in Guatemala have better sense than Christians. They are galled, offended and just plain pissed off that George W. Bush has the nerve to set foot on their sacred ground.
After Bush pays a visit to an archaeological site at Iximche, Mayan priests will cleanse the area of Bush's "bad spirits." Are you listening Christians? Get a clue.
Don't let Bush into your sanctuary in the first place. If you do, get busy with reconsecration. Remember what the bible says. Don't give a place to the devil.
"That a person like (Bush), with the persecution of our migrant brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked, is going to walk in our sacred lands, is an offense for the Mayan people and their culture."
Juan Tiney
I had intended to take Friday off but sometimes a good story changes my plans. It seems that Mayan Indians in Guatemala have better sense than Christians. They are galled, offended and just plain pissed off that George W. Bush has the nerve to set foot on their sacred ground.
After Bush pays a visit to an archaeological site at Iximche, Mayan priests will cleanse the area of Bush's "bad spirits." Are you listening Christians? Get a clue.
Don't let Bush into your sanctuary in the first place. If you do, get busy with reconsecration. Remember what the bible says. Don't give a place to the devil.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Porn Free
There are so many Republicans in the closet, their symbol shouldn't be an elephant; it should be a moth!
Bill Maher
Why do gay porn stars and/or prostitutes gravitate to the Republicans? Damned if I know. The latest conservative porn king is Matt Sanchez.
Sanchez is a former Marine. Come to think of it, so was Jeff Gannon, another conservative former escort and pin up. Gannon had a friend in the White House who helped get him press credentials with the phony Talon News Service, which no longer exists. Those leather necks are certainly into leather, or so it would seem.
I digress. Last week Sanchez was honored at the CPAC convention. Of course, no one ever forgets their favorite porn star, so Sanchez was immediately outed as a gay man who made money by filming sex acts.
Sanchez explains himself, sort of, in Salon. He whines as the right wing always do. He is Latino so liberals should like him, he is a student at an Ivy League school, so liberals should like him. Porn was just a summer job and oh so long ago, everyone should just forget about it.
Of course the self-hatred and love for white supremacy is right below the surface. Anyone who shows up at a CPAC convention is automatically suspect in that regard. I do give Sanchez credit for actually having served in the military, unlike the rest of the flag wavers, but that is all.
No where does Sanchez mention that the CPAC conventioneers are opposed to him getting married to a man he loved. Actually, Sanchez doesn't have anything to say about being gay, about gays serving in the military, or why conservatives mobilize voters by demonizing him and people like him. What an opportunistic hypocrite.
If Sanchez won't support gay marriage rights as much as supports the right of the American military to kill, he should just shut up and disappear.
There are so many Republicans in the closet, their symbol shouldn't be an elephant; it should be a moth!
Bill Maher
Why do gay porn stars and/or prostitutes gravitate to the Republicans? Damned if I know. The latest conservative porn king is Matt Sanchez.
Sanchez is a former Marine. Come to think of it, so was Jeff Gannon, another conservative former escort and pin up. Gannon had a friend in the White House who helped get him press credentials with the phony Talon News Service, which no longer exists. Those leather necks are certainly into leather, or so it would seem.
I digress. Last week Sanchez was honored at the CPAC convention. Of course, no one ever forgets their favorite porn star, so Sanchez was immediately outed as a gay man who made money by filming sex acts.
Sanchez explains himself, sort of, in Salon. He whines as the right wing always do. He is Latino so liberals should like him, he is a student at an Ivy League school, so liberals should like him. Porn was just a summer job and oh so long ago, everyone should just forget about it.
Of course the self-hatred and love for white supremacy is right below the surface. Anyone who shows up at a CPAC convention is automatically suspect in that regard. I do give Sanchez credit for actually having served in the military, unlike the rest of the flag wavers, but that is all.
No where does Sanchez mention that the CPAC conventioneers are opposed to him getting married to a man he loved. Actually, Sanchez doesn't have anything to say about being gay, about gays serving in the military, or why conservatives mobilize voters by demonizing him and people like him. What an opportunistic hypocrite.
If Sanchez won't support gay marriage rights as much as supports the right of the American military to kill, he should just shut up and disappear.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Love Letter to Eric Oemig
Eric Oemig is a Washington state Democrat, a freshman state senator. Oemig is sponsoring a bill, S8016, which would call on the United States Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Bush. It turns out that some of the founding fathers were thinking about something useful after all. They gave state legislatures the authority to begin impeachment proceedings if Congress refused to do the job.
Sounds good, but D.C. insiders, Democratic insiders, are standing in the way. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has already said that impeachment is "off the table." Now U.S. Senator Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee are telling their fellow Washingtonians in that state's legislature to kill Oemig's bill. They are worried about "divisiveness" that would "impede" the Dems agenda.
The Democratic party is truly corrupt. The same people who could have gotten rid of Joe Lieberman are now showing us why they didn't. They didn't want to. They have no interest in fighting the Republicans, none what so ever. Now they are working to squelch any efforts by anyone else who isn't afraid of the Republicans.
It seems there is "zero chance" that the full Washington state senate will vote on the measure. That is truly criminal.
In the meantime tell Eric how much you love him. You can email him at oemig.eric@leg.wa.gov. Keep it tasteful please.
Eric Oemig is a Washington state Democrat, a freshman state senator. Oemig is sponsoring a bill, S8016, which would call on the United States Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Bush. It turns out that some of the founding fathers were thinking about something useful after all. They gave state legislatures the authority to begin impeachment proceedings if Congress refused to do the job.
Sounds good, but D.C. insiders, Democratic insiders, are standing in the way. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has already said that impeachment is "off the table." Now U.S. Senator Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee are telling their fellow Washingtonians in that state's legislature to kill Oemig's bill. They are worried about "divisiveness" that would "impede" the Dems agenda.
The Democratic party is truly corrupt. The same people who could have gotten rid of Joe Lieberman are now showing us why they didn't. They didn't want to. They have no interest in fighting the Republicans, none what so ever. Now they are working to squelch any efforts by anyone else who isn't afraid of the Republicans.
It seems there is "zero chance" that the full Washington state senate will vote on the measure. That is truly criminal.
In the meantime tell Eric how much you love him. You can email him at oemig.eric@leg.wa.gov. Keep it tasteful please.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Praise the Lord
You can't fool all of the people all of the time. Praise God! Ted Haggard's New Life Church has lost members and money ever since his relationship with a gay prostitute was made public.
I have no desire to join a church with 14,000 other people, so I never understood the megachurch appeal. I do understand not wanting to be treated like a sucker. It is good to know that megachurch fundies, or a healthy percentage anyway, don't either.
New Life has had to lay off some of its staff because of the defections. I do wonder if the lost members have thought about the real Haggard story. Have they considered that their homophobic rhetoric is a sham? Have they thought that they need to stop bashing gays? Have they realized that gay people are also Christians and that demonizing them is wrong? Probably not but I can hope.
I hope they have also realized that megachurches are all about the money. They are businesses and the Haggards among them are the CEOs. Haggard was all about getting rich and I hope they realized it.
Now that is too much to ask.
You can't fool all of the people all of the time. Praise God! Ted Haggard's New Life Church has lost members and money ever since his relationship with a gay prostitute was made public.
I have no desire to join a church with 14,000 other people, so I never understood the megachurch appeal. I do understand not wanting to be treated like a sucker. It is good to know that megachurch fundies, or a healthy percentage anyway, don't either.
New Life has had to lay off some of its staff because of the defections. I do wonder if the lost members have thought about the real Haggard story. Have they considered that their homophobic rhetoric is a sham? Have they thought that they need to stop bashing gays? Have they realized that gay people are also Christians and that demonizing them is wrong? Probably not but I can hope.
I hope they have also realized that megachurches are all about the money. They are businesses and the Haggards among them are the CEOs. Haggard was all about getting rich and I hope they realized it.
Now that is too much to ask.
Hillary's Fake, Black, Southern, Preacher Accent
Someone must tell her that she must never, ever, ever speak like this again. She just sounds like an idiot.
I do feel for her in a way. Her husband could pull this sort of thing off very easily. But she does not have his charisma, so she shouldn't try it. Ever.
Someone must tell her that she must never, ever, ever speak like this again. She just sounds like an idiot.
I do feel for her in a way. Her husband could pull this sort of thing off very easily. But she does not have his charisma, so she shouldn't try it. Ever.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Another Thing About Oprah
I am not a fan of Oprah Winfrey. In fact I am always glad when her efforts to market nonsense to gullible people are exposed.
Today we have to thank Salon for revealing the latest insanity from Oprahland. It is a land ruled by a cult leader. She rules by entertaining people and using the resulting happy feeling to sell stuff that no one really needs. That is pretty much what every other CEO does.
She differs because she is selling the intangible. If you buy a car that turns out to be a lemon, you swear not to buy from that manufacturer again. If you buy an idiotic idea that is perceived as being positive, the lemon qualities are a little harder to discover.
Change is easy in Oprahland. Just change your thoughts and presto, you have more money, love, or muscle mass. Of course everyone's experience is just the opposite. If change were easy we wouldn't need rehab, AA or Weight Watchers. Thank goodness we have them but unfortunately their very existence inspires stupid people to think that every issue in life can be resolved with a few positive thoughts.
Books like The Secret, the current cult leader favorite, are extremely dangerous. They teach that misfortune is our fault. Poverty, illness, and family problems only exist because we don't have the right thoughts. These are especially dangerous ideas to sell to black people. We have less because our ancestors were never compensated for their labor and because racism hasn't disappeared.
White people aren't buying property more often because their thoughts are positive. They buy property because their families have more wealth. If mom and dad hand you money for a down payment, it doesn't really matter if your thoughts are positive, negative or in between.
The Secret even lies about the bible, telling us that it promotes prosperity.
Mat 19:16
And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
Mat 19:17
And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
Mat 19:18
He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19
Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Mat 19:20
The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?"
Mat 19:21
Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Mat 19:22
When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23
And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Oh well, so much for The Secret. Oprah couldn't do the damage she does if American weren't so stupid. Any practicing Christian should know the story of the rich young man. Jesus didn't tell him to think positive and get more cash. He told him to give it all away and follow Him.
I'm guessing that The Secret doesn't mention this story.
I am not a fan of Oprah Winfrey. In fact I am always glad when her efforts to market nonsense to gullible people are exposed.
Today we have to thank Salon for revealing the latest insanity from Oprahland. It is a land ruled by a cult leader. She rules by entertaining people and using the resulting happy feeling to sell stuff that no one really needs. That is pretty much what every other CEO does.
She differs because she is selling the intangible. If you buy a car that turns out to be a lemon, you swear not to buy from that manufacturer again. If you buy an idiotic idea that is perceived as being positive, the lemon qualities are a little harder to discover.
Change is easy in Oprahland. Just change your thoughts and presto, you have more money, love, or muscle mass. Of course everyone's experience is just the opposite. If change were easy we wouldn't need rehab, AA or Weight Watchers. Thank goodness we have them but unfortunately their very existence inspires stupid people to think that every issue in life can be resolved with a few positive thoughts.
Books like The Secret, the current cult leader favorite, are extremely dangerous. They teach that misfortune is our fault. Poverty, illness, and family problems only exist because we don't have the right thoughts. These are especially dangerous ideas to sell to black people. We have less because our ancestors were never compensated for their labor and because racism hasn't disappeared.
White people aren't buying property more often because their thoughts are positive. They buy property because their families have more wealth. If mom and dad hand you money for a down payment, it doesn't really matter if your thoughts are positive, negative or in between.
The Secret even lies about the bible, telling us that it promotes prosperity.
Mat 19:16
And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
Mat 19:17
And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
Mat 19:18
He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19
Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Mat 19:20
The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?"
Mat 19:21
Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Mat 19:22
When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23
And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Oh well, so much for The Secret. Oprah couldn't do the damage she does if American weren't so stupid. Any practicing Christian should know the story of the rich young man. Jesus didn't tell him to think positive and get more cash. He told him to give it all away and follow Him.
I'm guessing that The Secret doesn't mention this story.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Thanks Tom Paine
I just noticed that Tom Paine reprinted my latest Black Agenda Report column. Thanks.
I just noticed that Tom Paine reprinted my latest Black Agenda Report column. Thanks.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Kill Liberals
While he never comes right out and says that Americans should kill liberals, D'Souza's book shuttles his reader swiftly to that conclusion. By defining liberals as a "hidden" second front of terrorism, D'Souza's book invokes a very simple, widely held idea in America: that "War on Terror" means first and foremost, "kill terrorists." Thus, The Enemy at Home gives intellectual legitimacy to a widely accepted, rapidly growing Republican tendency to frame national security in terms of killing Democrats.
Jeffrey Feldman
Sorry for the short post, but time is at a premium these days. Instead I will take the easy way out and quote someone else. Jeffrey Feldman tells us why Dinesh D'Souza and the right wing are so dangerous. It is because they want to kill you if you are not on the right wing.
There is no mystery here. They keep saying the same thing over and over again. They want to eliminate anyone who stands in their way. Words should not be minced any longer. These are very dangerous people and we should be very afraid of them.
The right wing is on a mission, a mission to kill anyone who dares disagree with them.
While he never comes right out and says that Americans should kill liberals, D'Souza's book shuttles his reader swiftly to that conclusion. By defining liberals as a "hidden" second front of terrorism, D'Souza's book invokes a very simple, widely held idea in America: that "War on Terror" means first and foremost, "kill terrorists." Thus, The Enemy at Home gives intellectual legitimacy to a widely accepted, rapidly growing Republican tendency to frame national security in terms of killing Democrats.
Jeffrey Feldman
Sorry for the short post, but time is at a premium these days. Instead I will take the easy way out and quote someone else. Jeffrey Feldman tells us why Dinesh D'Souza and the right wing are so dangerous. It is because they want to kill you if you are not on the right wing.
There is no mystery here. They keep saying the same thing over and over again. They want to eliminate anyone who stands in their way. Words should not be minced any longer. These are very dangerous people and we should be very afraid of them.
The right wing is on a mission, a mission to kill anyone who dares disagree with them.
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