Diversity Hhhmmmm?

I'd like for you to take just a moment and get a sampling of the phenomena that is reality television in this great melting pot, that is the land of the free, and the home of the brave. Okay, I'm talking about America (although I know what I just said can be confusing!) Try flicking through the thousands of channels, and you really can get a sampling of this great American life. From guys who fish with their bare hands, to Cajun Alligator hunters, Gypsy sisters raising hell getting drunk as cooter brown, Moonshiners thumbing their noses at the law, tough talking guys from South Boston,( Southie Rules), LA Ink, Amish Mafia, Mobster Wives, LA Wives, I mean the list goes on and on. A little garbage ass Hill Billy (whom the Old Folks would say "needs her ass whipped") is even getting her 10 minutes (and a chunk of change to go with it) in the personage of a Honey Boo-Boo, and the hits just keep on coming. Now if you're paying attention, I purposely left out The few black shows that are demeaning to most blacks who have attained a certain socio-economic status (believe me money definitely doesn't get you there) their mindless arguments concerning whose ass is the biggest, or a silly mother in Atlanta who promotes inane foolishness from her one hit wonder gold grilled son, or some ex-wife wannabes being exploited by one of their own, while she sits through the insanity with a somber face. It all takes me back to the time when Blacks cried foul because of their bug-eyed, buck dancing depictions on the television, but that's for another conversation. My point today is the plethora of depictions of these other people on the boob-tube, and while they may be lacking in the social graces, they are by no means anything other than how these people live, (which is different) but by no means negative, or demeaning, even if they're from from the most racially divisive city in the United States. Surely the one thing they don't have is coloring in their mix (although J-Paul got flava). So the question of the day is "Do you by any stretch of the imagination think its coincidental that you get a sampling of so-called America without the bad, good, or whatever, but definitely without people of color. Takes me back to the Seinfeld show when at the height of it's success, the question rang out, that apparently there were no blacks in New York City? because you never saw them, (for the most part), but what I pose to you is something different, and that is, do you think this is all done by accident? No matter how negative their lives and depictions, non of it ever falls to the level of "those other shows" shall we say. When the same thing keeps happening over, and over it ceases to be "by accident, or an oversight", that my friend is what you call a pattern. Think it over, right now I gotta go practice my shuffling, and buck dancing!
                                                                                                                 Da Bad Guy!
                                                                                                                             

Follow your own compass

Think about it for a minute,..... How is it possible to appease everyone? Mind you my first inclination was to say "how is it possible to make everyone happy?, but that is a conundrum without finality so, I think it's better put that way.  Is it possible to find a medium whereas all parties can find solace? Politics, and Rreligion are so-called definitely out of bounds, but so is almost every other subject on the map. For instance Gay Marriage, how is it possible that someone outside the confines of the relationship itself can have an opinion one way or the other? Think of the audaciousness of an individual who chooses to relate publically his/her opinion regarding the status of two people that will in all likihood never impact their lives. Quite naturally we all have private opinions regarding almost anything, but once one takes the step of publically taking one side or the other, the die has been cast, so to speak. What gives us the right to assemble teams, (the shirts, against the skins) pro, or con regarding other people's lives. There are innumerable subjects out there i.e., Abortion, Voting Rights (and all that surrounds it), Unionization, etc,etc. but one that doesn't fall in that catagory because it directly affects peoples lives (or death) is Gun Control and/or the lack thereof it. While my personal feelings are of no consequence (and neither are yours), its these teams that get assembled to sway opinion either way that cause so much of the confusion. A popular ploy regarding this subject is to throw the amendment issue in, but in actuality how many of these people have taken the time to read it (the actual document) for themselves and ponder the true meaning of what it says? I suspect not many. Its probably like people telling you what the Bible says and they got most of their information through word of mouth, handed down from where, they couldn't tell you if their survival depended on it. I'm not trying to be devisive, but if you didn't read it for yourself and truly (and I reinterate) truly gain an understanding of it, how on earth could you form an opinion one way or the other. But of course people do....all day every day, So basically you're leaving your hall pass to heaven in the hands of Joe Schmo. While that sounds crude, its exactly what you're doing if you have'nt read, understood, and came to a conclusion on the information for yourself...even, no especially if it's the Bible that's important in your life. We all would do good to remember the story of Chicken Little and the moral of it. If you are one of the fortunate one's to have control of that thing we call a brain take the opportunity to use it and stop just jumping on others bandwagon because it sounds good, or is the politically correct thing to do. You were given tha wondrous organ for a reason. Stay in your lane, you'll find it can be enlightening.
                                                                                                                            Da Bad Guy!

Taking the Bull by the Horns

Take just a moment if you will, to think of this creature that considers himself to be a superior being. In general conversation of course he will deny this but consider his actions, mannerisms, and ideology. During the course of any normal day I am literally astounded by the things that he does, and is able to get away with, all I think because most people aren't paying attention, aren't intellectually sound enough to know when they're being hornswaggled, or they're just plain afraid to rock the boat. How many times have you been standing in line at (lets just say) Walmart and the person in front of you has a buggy full of items, the cashier checks them through, gives them the total, and the person in question hands her their credit card, she slides it through, thanks them for their purchase, and they're merrily on their way. You, in turn place 3 items on the counter, reach into your wallet, or purse for your credit card, and out of the cashier's mouth is "May I see your driver's license or I.D. please?". You give her this look that says "Why didn't you ask the person in front of me for their I.D. and they had a basketful of shit?", but you give a sigh, fork over the license in compliance, take your purchases, and quietly exit, stage left. Now if you're anything like me, or the people that I've talked to, this makes you feel violated, because apparently this person, or these people are accorded privileges that aren't accorded you. Why?, you ask yourself over, and over again. This has happened to marginalized people for so many years that many have become psychologically deadened, and they automatically acquiesce to the whims of the establishment without question, whereas others of us, our antenna goes up at the slightest sign of preferential treatment that isn't accorded us. When a peoples have instituted a caste system (which is in full swing in these United States) those on the lower rungs of the ladder are subjected to unspeakable slights, and injustices on a wholesale basis, and until they choose to lift themselves out of the "coach" section, the offending class will trudge along "status quo" so to speak. Whether or not they know their actions are offensive is inmaterial because the offender rarely has a barometer for measuring the amount of mud that he slings or has slung. (Remember the Flag flap or the Schools having derogatory Indian names and the offender's indifference) "What difference can it make they're just..." (I think you get the picture!). whenever any person feels he has been slighted in any way shape or form it is his/her duty to address the situation until a resolution is reached to that person's satisfaction. In other words if you don't ask for the order, you can't get it! Stop thinking like you're in the coach section, or better put, a second class citizen, because confidence and self esteem shine thru in the darkest of nights. You are entitled to anything and any service that any other American is, the only limitation is whats in your wallet. There aren't any second class citizens in America, only in the minds of fools!
                                                                                                                       Da Bad Guy!

These people oughta stop!

There's a new catch phrase making the rounds if you're paying attention. I would guess its an attempt to sway feelings about the status of certain Americans and the hierarchy in which they assume they occupy on this Countrys' soil. As I talked to Greg Knapp the other morning (about some of the ridiculousness he and his cohorts utter on the airwaves) he quickly let me know his status (or so he thought) by asserting himself with this popular utterance, "I am a first generation American" there was a pause ( in which I assume he expected to hear my bones creak, and shutter ) but what he didn't understand was, with me being the INFORMED Bad guy that I am, I was aghast, as I am every time that I hear this certain group of Americans assert this, what I assume is supposed to be a title and privilege. Firstly if your name isn't Running cloud, White Feather, Screaming Wolf, or any of the other names Native Americans call themselves, you are the descendant of an OCCUPIER  of this land. Your people came here and decimated the inhabitants of this country, cut off their heads, scalps, and the like, for souvenirs, and actually gave them value at your trading posts, mocking them all along the way, while literally running them off to the far reaches of this country (deserts, the freezing mountains, etc) where their survival was tenuous at best. This other cry you have of  "I'm 70% Cherokee, Apache or what ever tribe you choose to affix yourself to, "here's a little secret...shhhh, I want you to listen real close, Your ancestors raped, and fucked every race of women that have come into his proximity, at his whim, with impunity, fathered children and left them to fend for themselves (remember that guy named Tommy Jefferson and his so-called winch named Sally Hemmings that you so vehemently denied fathered children until DNA proved you wrong) while his partners in crime (others of his race) reviled, rebuked, and marginalized these same children by calling them names like halfbreed, red niggers, and the like, ( you know it was far from an isolated incident)  so you inserting yourselves into races that these people still mangle, and brutalize is nowhere near the honor you feel it is when you blurt out your supposed lineage. You native American mixed races are just fallout (from a rape session or a night out on the town like they prefer to imagine it to be) like the rest of us minorities, and it just happens that you can hide in plain sight because by the magic of genetics, you happen to look more like "them than the Native Americans". The atrocities that your forefathers committed are no less than those in Europe, Asia, or anywhere else, only you use the magic of sound bytes, history books, media outlets, and any other sources at your disposal to make yourselves look like Knights in shining armor, when you're anything but. These people brought disease, pestilence, cowardice and newfangled weaponry to this country, conquered the inhabitants (who without; they would have died from not being able to adapt...remember why we celebrate Thanksgiving?, if its a lie they told it!) and assumed the role of the chivalrous hero that he assumes himself to be, no matter the circumstances!       
If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything!                                   Da Bad Guy!

Whats in a name?

Pick a Ninny, Jigaboo, Spade,Coon, Porch Monkey, Mulani, Kaffir, Sambo, Darkie, Swarza, etc, etc, many of the derogatory names assigned people of color were in fashion and used in major American publications, such as Look Magazine, Newsweek, and Time (just to name a few) until the mid 60's. Now they're just used on the DL (down low) and when folk aren't in mixed (racially) company. Although this may seem unimportant the name you are known as conjures up  images in the mind that ultimately causes action or non-action on the behalf of others. Face it, a nigger by any other name is still a nigger!

Marching to the beat of your own drummer

Think back for a moment and try to remember the first time you tried to use "they, them. or everybody else" as an excuse to do what it was that you knew you shouldn't do, but did anyway, just because you wanted to do it. When it came to light, the conversation you had probably went something like, "but mom, everybody's doing it!" Then you stood there in earnest waiting for confirmation because you just knew mom and dad would understand, and they would acknowledge that you had done the right thing, that you in all your narcissistic exuberance had made the right decision, and were coming into your own, in that ever changing world that was so different than the one they had grown up in, and following everyone else's lead was a symbol of maturation and growth, they were proud because you showed moxy and the balls to make that decision, or so you thought. There you were chest puffed out, heart beating fast, and eyes wide as silver dollars....that was until the hammer dropped! So many of the problems that exist in our society, and the world today stems from the fact that so many of us refuse to use our own judgement in matters that affect our daily lives. Pack mentality, we just have to do what it is we see others are doing. Emulate our friends, neighbors, heroes, icons, and idols. Just gotta get like or even one up John Q. Citizen next door to us. From the flavor of toothpaste we use, foods we eat, cars we drive, our homes and just about everything else we get involved in, (for the most part) its not our own independent decision. Along with this need to follow we're constantly being pelted with subliminal images that lead us exactly where "the theys" want us to go. We're propagandized from the time our eyes open in the morning until well after they're closed at night. These were Hitler's and the Nazi party's tactic, but we embrace them because we gave it that politically correct name called a Marketing Tool, so off to the races we go! Pack Mentality: attributed to animals of lesser intelligence as a means of survival, thats what it is we do. How many of us truly know even what soap we like, or if we like the particular brand that we use, other than thats what we are told we should like? Look around for a minute if you doubt what I'm saying. All the same shoes, shirts emboldened with the same lettering (mostly somebody else's name), and the list goes on and on. We look like something from an episode of the Outer Limits. Don't get me wrong, there are times when grouping together is essential, like rooting for your team, or trying to pass legislation , but in every facet of our lives?....stop being ridiculous. Its time that that same hammer dropped on us as kids (that our parents dropped so long ago) when they said "if everybody jumps off a cliff are you going to!
Remember most of us don't have parachutes or even know how to use them.........Think About it!

                                                                                                           Da Bad Guy!

The Informed Bad Guy: imagine

The Informed Bad Guy: imagine: Try to imagine if you will that people set aside their pettiness and actually gave a damn about their fellow comrades in this thing called l...