A Blogosphere With A View

We Should Never Forget

darkchoqlit477 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:49:41 GMT

Pain We are made to forget it No one wants to feel pain It clouds our minds, saps our energy And if it persists, it robs our spirit Amnesia We give into collectively selective amnesia Choosing what we want to forget and what we want to remember But sometimes history in all her brutal honesty forces us to remember the very things we want to forget Forget We must not Everyone wants to forget Choosing what we want to forget and what we want to remember It clouds our judgment Wanting to forget saps our compassion Makes us fools of history She laughs at humanity saying, “Look at these fools, forever turning about and wallowing in their self-destruction!” I shall never forget You should never forget We should never forget

This Economic Downturn Brings New Perspective

darkchoqlit477 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:36:30 GMT

Economic downturns are never fun. Businesses and government agencies alike begin curtailing services and – in some cases – cutting back on human resources in order to keep costs low; that – in turn – leads to all sorts of ripple effects throughout the local, regional and national economies. And we all know the material implications for the regular, everyday man on Main Street – a term that economists like to use: foreclosures, slashing unnecessary items off the grocery list; cancelling vacations; cutting back on ingesting brand-name medications and the list could go on and on. But there is a larger metaphysical implication, here. I have always lived at or below my means because money has always been tight. I shop for my work clothes at Target and on clearance. I purchase shoes once every few years. I use public transportation whenever possible, as opposed to running up the gas mileage on my car. Also, I keep my car tuned and maintained, so as not to have surprise maintenance costs later on. I live with my brother to keep rent (and hopefully – soon to be – mortgage) low. I am in the process of downgrading my cell phone to one of those all-in-one monthly fee packages. I bring lunch to work and so on. I have downgraded my cable. Economic downturns happen all the time. They are a part of the cycle of life in modern societies, but there is something quite different about this one. It seems to me that citizens are a bit more pensive about their future. Not scared, now, but pensive. In other words, instead of worrying about “how will I pay for my child’s college education?” I get the impression that we are more concerned about “why the world is the way it is that is causing the economy to be this way, so that I may not be able to pay for my child’s education?” We are starting to connect the dots. Frankly, this was long overdue. For a long time we Main Streeters allowed corporations to steer the direction of our society leading – inevitably – to disaster. I am not anti-Capitalism, but it just seems to me that what we have been experiencing lately is a sort of corporatism, where corporations get to define and implement their forms Capitalism. Clearly this is not sustainable, and this recent downturn is proof of that. I, and many of my colleagues, have not been asleep at the wheel. However, many of us have, and hopefully as we awake from the darkness of selfishness, self-indulgence and shop-til-you-drop-ism, we will finally see that we are a global community and we need to start caring for each other; and that we need to get back to the basics of focusing on making our own lives and that of others better, instead of buying more stuff. It maybe that this is not so much an economic downturn, as it is simply a society getting back to the basics.

This Life

darkchoqlit477 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:18:03 GMT

An Affirmation for 2008 by Roger Williams Human life, a precious gift No gold or gem has greater worth So we should rightly value it And all of nature on this earth For life can be so short and cruel its aim and purpose lost with time So cease every moment is my rule Make every day complete, divine So what if hard times come your way and the stormy winds prevail? Batten down. Don't be dismayed, lift your thoughts up from the fray Stick your chest out and boldly say, "Life is worth EVERY storm, and I will weather them all!"

When Love Comes

darkchoqlit477 — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:31:09 GMT

By Roger Williams (2008) True love is long coming My heart won’t stop longing For the kind of romance that inspires The kind that’s consuming And won’t leave me yearning For it will have filled all desires Is there such a love? Will it hurry up and come? My longing: it has me on fire This fire that burns, Makes it so hard to learn that love will act when it desires So, here I am With no scheme, no plan To find true love here or o’er there For when love arrives, ‘twill be so sweetly divine That there will be no doubt it’s here

A Year of Introspection

darkchoqlit477 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:37:50 GMT

Well, a new year has begun. One with new beginnings and hopes and dreams. I was listening to a radio talk show on New Year's Day evening, and the guest host, who is a zodiac specialist, claims that 2008 is going to be a year where most are going to be getting "back to the basics" of paying closer attention to the pocket book, family and community. She went on to say that we, as a nation, are going to be a lot more introspective. Boy, do we need that right now. Also, according to the Chinese calendar, we are in the year of the rat. This could mean that most of us are going to be in survival mode, and will focus more on uniting around issues are primary to our survival as a species. For those of us in the U.S., it makes perfect sense, as we're in a high-stakes, election year. Though I find the astrological arts interesting, I do not give too much credence to it. However, it is perfectly believable that most people, particularly North Americans, after seeing their incomes shrink, their homes devalued and -- in some cases -- their homes taken away, their food being recalled time after time, despite the cost increasing -- most of us will be forced to really watch our spending and return to the simpler things in life, such as, family and friends. This is where our passions and our attention should have been in the first place. Sometimes it takes shifts -- economic, astrological and otherwise -- to refocus our attention where it matters most. Let's hope that this introspection is fruitful.

In Defense of Christmas

darkchoqlit477 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:33:09 GMT

It has become popular these days to dismiss Christmas as being overdone and commercialized. With the way retailers have used this time of year as a sort of prostitute, gallivanting in the malls, box marts and stores the world over, enticing customers to buy a sordid mess of unnecessary “stuff, it is no wonder many of us are beginning to embrace that sentiment. But, I must say that there is something about this time of year that is very hard to reproduce elsewhere. For example, I adore coffee. I just love the stuff. I am also a huge connoisseur of tea. I don’t really speak openly about this with everyone, but it casually comes up in conversation from time to time both at work and in other circles. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when my boss brought to my desk a basket filled with fair trade coffees and teas along with some biscotti and a ceramic mug, wrapped in a beautiful, golden bow. I was really moved by that. Of course, it wasn’t about the gift, per se, though I know that I’m going to use and enjoy every drop of it. However, it was the sentiment. This lady is the director of a department that is home 32 staff, she has a family with young children and also relatives, neighbors and friends, yet she found the time to purchase something that obviously took time to select. I wonder what went through her mind. What was the thought process that led her to the point where she purchased that gift basket for me? Just the thought of that fills me with joy. Now, the skeptic would argue that she could have purchased that gift any time during the year, but let’s face it, it would not have had the same effect. Christmas, then, is a wonderful time of year, and not all traditions are “stupid” as one of my colleagues put it. Sure, it has become commercialized and—in some ways – it has lost its meaning, but this does not mean that we should throw it all out the window. There are things we can do to make our Christmas experience more meaningful, thus keeping the tradition alive for generations to come.

Life's a Stage

darkchoqlit477 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:33:10 GMT

Lately, I've found myself re-connecting with old flames and friends, beautiful and and not-so beautiful characters, cast in the stage show of my life. For some reason, it seems that whenever this season comes around, old friends and even family members -- some of whom I have not seen in ages -- show up in my life and then, in some cases, by Valentine's Day, they disappear again. What's with that? I'm not sure, but I do intend to enjoy their company while they're around. I guess sometimes certain people come into your life for one purpose, and after that purpose is served they simply exit stage left. At that point, life moves on to the next scene. What a performance this life is!

No Expectations When Dating?

darkchoqlit477 — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:27:28 GMT

Today, I had a coffee date with a man I met online. The conversation was engaging and varied. I had a good time. And, he was good-looking to boot. He said something, however, that kind of caught me off guard. He mentioned that he doesn't have any expectations when he goes on dates. In fact, he's not the first guy I've heard say that. The thing is, I can't fathom NOT having expectations when I go on dates or encounter a new situation...Period. Expectations of all sorts magically develop in my mind when I have a job interview, go out on a date or attend a new event or whatever. It's like my mind takes on a "mind" of its own (No pun intended), and I simply can't help thinking of all sorts of outcomes and scenarios: will we hit it off? Will he be "the one"? and so on. I mean, I actually expect us to hit it off. However, I'm not devasted if we don't. I know, it's complicated. So, when I hear people say that, I simply can't fathom it. Maybe I have not transcended. Maybe I'm still too naive. I'm not sure, but it must be nice not having expectations when one goes on dates. It makes it easier to handle the nervousness and any sort of rejection if it happens.

Lower Standards to Find Love? Part I

darkchoqlit477 — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:16:38 GMT

Often times, I hear my friends complain about the dearth of good men to date in South Florida. As a matter of fact, that complaint is being echoed throughout my frienship circles all over the country and even abroad! Have things really gotten that bad for gay men? But, wait a minute, my single, hetero friends have similar complaints. So, what's really going on, here? Is this an epidemic or pandemic of sorts? People are dating, putting themselves out there, but nothing serious seems to be surfacing. Is my generation just doomed to being single with friends and the occasional sex in-between? Is this what our social existence will amount to? In my parents' day, it just seemed so much easier. You went to church or some form of civic gathering, saw someone you liked, approached them, go out on a couple of group dates; ask their parents for their hand in marriage and, Bam! The proposal, the wedding, few years later...Kids and presto-change-o, a family and years of living together and loving each other "...'til death do them part..." lol Those days are loooong gone. Frankly, they never really existed for gay men, and particularly, for gay men of color. But, now, we are a lot more open with our sexuality than, say, 30 years ago, when my parents were in their 30's. We are better educated and we have technology at our finger tips. Yet, we all seem to be single. So, the ultimate question is should we lower our standards? If the answer is no, then how do we strike the balance between retaining our standards, while not becoming bitter and unaffected? Sure, we'll have the moral satisfaction of knowing that we didn't settle, but let's face it: moral satisfaction can't really replace a warm body in the bed or someone to come home to after a long, tiring day at work or just someone to call you "honey" or "dear" once in while (with intimate affection, not casual endearment) LOL. What to do; what to do?

Religion: It's About the Human Experience

darkchoqlit477 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:24:27 GMT

Today at work, during our lunch break, a few of my colleagues were discussing some topic, and the discussion slowly drifted toward our experiences growing up in this or that religion or Christian sect. One of my colleagues reminisced about her confirmation as a patron of the Catholic Church. Another, discussed his boyhood days as part of a Baptist Church, where he met his first love, whom he eventually married. Yet another discussed his love for the lively worship that he experiences every Sunday at his local Church of God assembly. As an atheist and humanist, I was truly impressed by how civil the discussion was. No one was saying that his or her sect was better or closer to god than the other; the discussion was simply about the HUMAN experience, and that is when it occurred to me that religion really has nothing to do with a god, per se, but rather it is a living testament to how human beings interact with each other. Frankly, when we begin to see the similarities that exist between us, the less strife we will have as a species. I am confident that that day, as Dr. Martin Luther King preached, WILL come.

Why "Noah's Arc" Is Important

darkchoqlit477 — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:38:18 GMT

For the last two Friday nights, my friends (gay & straight) and I have been gathering excitedly around the television, wating for the screen to light up with "Noah's Arc's" Second Season. As Adriana's sultry voice emanates, the six of us in the tiny living room fall silent. Between episodes, all sorts of conversations and debates enthrall, from gay/straight relations to butch versus feminine peering and inter-racial dating, and the list goes on and on. By the time we snap back to reality, all the episodes on the Season Two DVD have ended, and it is 1:30 in the morning. We all would laugh and say, "Hey, where did the time go?" And, we slowly drift to the parking lot where we we chat for an hour more and everyone would go home. Coming back upstairs, I would turn to my brother and say, "that was a lovely evening," but upon deeper analysis, that wasn't all it was. You see, our Friday movie nights aren't new. In fact, excluding the last two Noah's Arc marathons, we've watched over 25 big-Hollywood, independent and foreign films, yet very few of them strike up conversations about the realities of being gay, black, straight, feminine, butch, white, hispanic, bi-racial, man, woman, religious, atheist, being on the D.L., political, apathetic, HIV+, HIV - and -- ultimately -- human like "Noah's Arc" does. Sure, the characters are very stylized and some might consider them flat, but there is some thing alluring about how important and timely themes are interwoven into the diaglogue and into the character's psyche. So, despite what some are calling it, "Noah's Arc" is more than entertainment, it is an important series that serves an important purpose and which came at the very right time. I'm proud that this show will become another thread that is woven into the fabric of what has become the zeitgeist of my generation. It's a good feeling.

The End of Gentle People

darkchoqlit477 — Mon, 07 May 2007 06:01:49 GMT

You open a door for a woman or a man, for that matter, but no “thank you” or even a glance of appreciation in exchange. You acknowledge a woman by referring to her as “Miss or Mrs. So and so”, only to be met with harsh criticism and sometimes a friendly scolding. You phone someone, and since they did not pick up, you proceed to leave a message. Days later, you see them in person and ask why they did not call back, only to hear the most inadequate excuse, “Oh, I was busy” with no apologies. Last week, I was riding my bicycle back from the grocery store. A young woman was walking with her young child. I noticed that her shopping bag was about to rip due to the weight of what she was carrying. I quickly slowed down and said to her, “Mam, you’re about to lose your groceries.” She gave me that look that young Black men often get from young, Black women. You know, the one of pursed lips and subtle annoyance. I ignored the look as I always do and proceeded to ask her if she wanted any help. She quickly refused, and the young boy was now admiring my bike and asking questions about riding and so on. I answered a few in the friendliest of tones possible. After she fixed the bag, she grabbed the boy’s hand, urging him to “Come on!” The child waved good bye, not a word of thanks from the mother. Of course, I didn’t need a word of thanks from her to validate my actions, as I often remember this quote from William Lyon Phelps: “This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him.” So, I rode home making a mental note of the situation, but it was not disconcerting for me, and neither was it ruinous to the rest of my day. I have just accepted things as they are. However, is it any wonder, then, why there are no gentlemen or ladies left, or, at the very least, they are a dying breed? Where is the motivation to be gentlemanly or lady-like when we are living in such self-centered times where everyone seems to be way too busy to care anymore? There have been countless number of books, articles and blogs written about this subject matter, namely, how the age of courtesy and empathy is fading fast. And I must concur that it certainly is. The question, then, is how did we come to this? Where have we gone wrong? Is this the natural course of things, or is there something more sinister at work? I must investigate. **Picture: "Awkward People" by Ellen Langford, a Mississippi-based artist acrylic on paper

Tarry Not With the Pessimist for Too Long

darkchoqlit477 — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 05:32:48 GMT

It seems that my pursuit of love is not a common thing. Oddly, almost everyone around has either given up on love all together and have reverted to the passive stance or they have switched their focus inward. How strange. This has not thwarted my efforts, however. Frankly, it is at the darkest hour that we should tread forth on our journey, shedding light along the way, making believers out of naysayers, bringing optimism to the pessimist. I won't tarry with them for too long; I must keep going.

Love: My New Pursuit

darkchoqlit477 — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:15:41 GMT

I am determined now to seek after love. That declaration might seem insignificant to many, but to me—it is quite the leap. You see, for a long time, I was indifferent to love. I thought that love just, simply happened. As I get older, however, I’m realizing that love is a pursuit. It is, in fact, a journey (to use the cliché). But, you see, we have to seek after it, we have to pursue it. It never ceases to amaze me, now, how people can pursue careers and financial gains and all sorts of different aspirations and dreams, but when it comes to love the attitude is, “Oh, if it happens; it happens”. Oh no. Love – any sort of love – whether it be found in a meaningful, monogamous relationship, among friends, family or whoever, it must be pursued, and once found—maintained. We cannot sit passively by and let the mythic Aphrodite wave her magic wand and “plop!” love goes falling into our laps. We have got to reach out and grasp it. This new outlook has me talking to perfect strangers on street corners, striking up conversations at events and actually asking for telephone numbers, and you know what? People DO respond. They are delighted to connect with me. I truly want to get to know them, and I truly want to feel or fall in love with them. That’s my newest pursuit. This is my newest journey, my destination: Love

The Problem is with the Current State of Journalism

darkchoqlit477 — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:09:58 GMT

We see how a complete lack of respect for journalism is, once again, coming out on the surface. Donald Imus, the famous talk show host of “Imus in the Morning” made some pretty harsh and unnecessary statements, along with his other saps…I mean, colleagues, about female, African-American, college-basketball players. The typical sides have been drawn. You have those who say that he should be fired because what he said is racially offensive and should not be tolerated, and those who do agree that he shouldn’t be fired, but he should apologize or something to that effect. Though I’m always hesitant to comment on these sensationalized events that pop-up every now and then, I had to speak out for the sake of journalism. Yes, you read right: I’m not too concerned about the racism or sexism issue even though it is worth touching upon, but many pundits and observers alike are already shedding light on those issues. My concern, once again, is with the horrendous state of journalism. I am saddened that the bastions of knowledge and information that we have come to trust, have succumbed to very bad jokes and this sort of jock-talk buffoonery to get a point across. Then again, did Imus even have a point to his sick joke about “Nappy-headed Hoes”? I doubt it. What have we become when, in order to entertain ourselves, we have to resort to name- calling and stereotyping? When has it become “okay” to do these things? Why did Imus feel comfortable enough to say what he said on OUR airwaves? Yes, though MSNBC is a privately-run network, they have to lease that “space” from the FCC. Therefore, it is our space. Now, there are those who argue that there is some bias going on, in that, if Imus had been black, there would not have been an outcry from the Black community, particularly, the elites. However, though that might be true in some respects, and though there is a lot within the communities of color that need to be dealt with, it still does not change the fact that the overarching problems lies with society in general. The problem is neither black nor white the problem is with standards. For a long time now, journalistic, educational, governmental and even other informal standards have been deteriorating. Journalists have either fallen asleep at the wheel, as it were, or many of them have gotten to the point that they just don’t care anymore, so they tell lies or untruths – as my I.R. professor would say – when they write their stories or they tell really bad and offensive jokes. Why? Because we have allowed them – the ones who are responsible for informing us – to get away with it. Finally, I’m not really surprised that Imus and others say things like that. This vulgarity among adults is rampant in our society. We see it in our movies, our popular music, or newspapers, magazines and talk shows. And it is not a black thing or a white thing. It is an American problem—a problem that speaks volumes about where our society is truly heading. Frankly, I want off this ride.

Out of Place and Drifting

darkchoqlit477 — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:39:33 GMT

I am not sure if what has been happening to me lately is on account of my getting older or maybe things are, in fact, changing. Perhaps, things are changing faster than we think they are, and because we force ourselves to fit in to routines and patterns, we believe that things are stable and all is well with the world. Lately, however, I can’t help but feel that our environment (not just the natural) is deteriorating. Our sense of understanding and connection to each other are slowly transmogrifying into something else, but I’m not sure what it is. The other day, I was at my desk and my supervisor, who sits next to me, was very busy. She casually mentioned to me that she was hungry, so I offered to wash a nectarine that she had sitting on her desk, so that she could eat it. Upon returning, I placed the fruit back on her desk; of course, I did that unconsciously, as upon my returning, my phone began to ring. Can you believe that she made quite a commotion about my washing the fruit and placing it back on the bare surface of her desk without a napkin? She did not eat the thing. It ended up in the trash. It truly bothered me because if the situation had been reversed, I would have simply thanked her, but at the same time, explain to her that I would have preferred it be placed in my hand or on a napkin (which would have been silly, as there was no evidence that the napkin was any cleaner than the surface of her desk, but I understand the whole etiquette argument--and I conceded to that) and consumed the thing anyway. However, that was not the case with her; she decided to rudely laugh about it with other colleagues and the person with whom she was conversing on the phone at the time. Very puerile behavior, but there you have it. Sometimes, I feel as though I have been transplanted here via a time machine or I'm simply drifting in strange seas with no port or harbor in sight because behaviors such as the above feel so unnecessary and new to me, that sometimes I wonder if I was meant to be here; and when I say “here” I mean this era! I know that notion seems ridiculous, but I cannot think of any other way to sum it up. The only conclusion is that maybe I’m not properly adjusted. This is one of the reasons that lately, I’ve been keeping to myself and prefer being alone, as the trivial conversations ranging from whom Beyonce Knowles is dating and what American Idol contestants will be ousted this week coupled with a sort of harsh cynicism—which has become so common place throughout people’s interactions these days— keep giving me incentive to be by myself, and that’s OK.

It All Comes Full Circle

darkchoqlit477 — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:21:22 GMT

Life is truly a funny thing, in that we spend the first 15 to 20 years of our lives after about age 5—some of us much more – trying to fit in and to conform to our peers or what the mainstream culture dictates. Subsequently, we spend the next 15 years following that undoing and trying to heal the emotional – and in some cases the physical -- scars, bruises and broken bones we suffered while trying to fit-in during the two decades or so prior. Then, after we fully heal, we might be between 35 and 40 years old, and then we spend the rest of the time we have on the planet, finally, being ourselves again; who we really and truly are supposed to be in the first place. Everything really comes full circle.

Seeking Well-Rounded Conversationalists

darkchoqlit477 — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:41:34 GMT

I do not consider myself to be overly intellectual or intelligent. I'm quite average, actually. Why is it, then, that in regular conversations I find myself having to water down my language and vocabulary so that those with whom I'm conversing can understand. My fellow conversers, in many cases--but not exclusively-- are my colleagues who claim to be educated, and some of them quite so (as far as a degree and Ivy League institutions go, I suppose) . Then again, I'm not sure if it is simply ignorance or simply an opposition to carrying conversations which use what many, I suppose, consider to be "SAT/GRE words". Quite absurd, indeed. Yes: I've been accused of using too many "GRE or SAT" words in my conversations. I've even been accused of being "fake" for using such words. How absurd, indeed. The first few instances where this happened were quaint and easily mitigated with a laugh and a giggle. However, it's constancy is beginning to frustrate me. Perhaps, I am being absurd? I have to look into this more deeply to conjur some sort of resolution to what is becoming a problem.

America's Non-Heroes

darkchoqlit477 — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 05:02:45 GMT

Whenever something is going wrong, and a new group or person – in the form of saviors – come a long to ameliorate the situation, fix the problem, right the wrongs, people begin to invest a tremendous amount of trust and hope in these “saviors”. You know how much we Americans looove heroes. We surely do. Why do you think movies like Superman, Rocky, Spiderman, and Independence Day were box office hits and series like Heroes on NBC captivate millions of viewers each week? We love when the bad guys are defeated and all becomes well with the world again. Leading up to the by-elections in November, most Americans invested tremendous amounts of hope and trust in the Democratic Party. Nancy Pelosi, the now Speaker of the House – the 1st woman to fill that coveted position – became a superstar, her rise to power dominating television, radio and newspaper headlines. Other leading Democrats, such as, Barak Obama, John Edwards and Joe Biden lead the way in providing what many Americans perceive as a fresh perspective on our future. These and others were worshipped as the gods and goddesses who have come to save the United States from the sinister and dubious claws of the Right-Wing Coventry. Unfortunately, however, my hope that I, too, have invested in the Democrats and their control (after a 12-year minority status) over Congress has been squandered, Enron-style, so far. Here’s why Just days into the Democrats' reign as Congress opens, several Dems give the nod to provide for more military spending for so-called “future” wars. I don’t get this one. So, yes, Ms. Pelosi is saying “No” to an immediate infusion of funds (As per Bush’s proposal) and personnel in an escalation or so-called troop surge, but a “Yes” to increased funding for FUTURE military spending, while our school systems stand crumbling, or bridges, highways and public transportation system and infrastructure is akin to if not worse than many so-called, developing nations. Why are the Democrats so schizophrenic? That’s it, isn’t it? The Democrats’ kryptonite is decision-making.

Beyond Beats & Rhymes

darkchoqlit477 — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 04:29:46 GMT

The Pre-release of "Beyond Beats & Rhymes: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs-in on Manhood" went very well, and the discussion that came after the screening was just amazing. The crowd was nicely mixed, in terms of ethnicity and many viewers had constructive things to say. Conversations and discussions like this need to be taking place all over the country if not the globe, especially now that Hip-Hop has become such a global sound. The documentary reveals that a lot of Hip-Hop has become rife with homophobia, Misogyny, self-hatred and hyper-masculinity, and all through the discussion, the underlying theme was that we need, as a community, to start re-socializing our children with positive things. That was definitely loud and clear. It's too late for our generation, so it is up to us to work on the children of today, so that tomorrow they'll view themselves, women, gays and their world a lot differently. This documentary was an eye-opener for me, and I commend Byron Hurt for addressing these issues. I do not want to give any more away, but when Busta Rhymes was asked about his view on homophobia and gay-bashing in Hip-Hop culture, his response, both in terms of body language and verbiage was quite telling. I can't wait for the documentary to be released on PBS in the upcoming months. I'd watch it all over again.

The Globalization Argument

darkchoqlit477 — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 04:31:38 GMT

If I hear another government official or politician complain that the United States’ lack of educational fortitude is the reason for our not being able to compete in the so-called global market place again, I’m going to scream. What’s the point of our young people majoring, for example, in engineering (supposedly, one of the areas where there aren’t enough U.S.-born, college graduates) and then having to graduate with out any real prospects of being rightly compensated for the emotional, mental, psychological and, without a doubt, financial labor that was put into obtaining the degree? Companies are shifting jobs abroad more liberally than before, which, of course, puts a tremendous pressure on wages here at home. Now, that is not to say that people in other countries don’t deserve to have decent-paying jobs with benefits and the like, but it just seems to me that the whole ‘we aren’t competing because of our crumbling education system’ isn’t the only thing going on here. I’m no economist, but it seems to me that even if our national education system were to be purged of all its ills and shortcomings tomorrow, companies will continue to move jobs off-shore. Also, most companies, particularly the huge multi-nationals, experienced obscene profits last year, thus their being able to line the pockets of their CEO’s. Did these profits trickle down to the ‘regular’ worker? Of course not. In fact, labor statistics indicate that since 1960, CEO compensation packages have been ballooning steadily while their employees’ wages have either decreased or stagnated. So, while I do agree that our education system has much to be desired, educating our children should not really have too much to do with getting a damn job, but we should have an education system that prepares our children to be upstanding, loving, caring, understanding and socially & environmentally aware human beings. Getting a so-called “good” job because of those traits should simply be a by-product of their education, not the reason for it.

Love & What it is to Be Whole

darkchoqlit477 — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 06:08:12 GMT

I still do believe that the pursuit of love is a noble pursuit. In fact, it is one of the most important journeys a human being can ever embark upon. I do operate within the paradigms of this philosophy, but sometimes it is tremendously difficult not to become jaded. But isn’t that it? The fact that it is so frustrating could be testament to its importance. Yes, it is important. In Plato’s “Symposium”, Aristophanes purports that “’love’ is the name for the desire and pursuit of wholeness.” That junction when you meet and fall in love with a person and you are conjoined to him in such away that the initial lure that pulled you to him doesn’t matter anymore, and your very desire, ambition, and focus -- in fact, your very existence becomes so entwined with his that to part would mean abject disaster. That to me is wholeness. That to me is love. The question is why is it so mythic? Can that level of wholeness ever be found? Would I want to be THAT whole? Is that kind of love healthy? I suppose that many before me, those after and my contemporaries have experienced this sort of thing. I envy them.

Class Struggles, Part I

darkchoqlit477 — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 03:58:03 GMT

I think back to my high school years, and there was this world history teacher, Mr. Garret, whom everyone referred to simply as Mr. G. I remember that he would always say that there are only three types of people on this planet: The ones at the top who don’t give a damn about what anybody else thinks of them because they can afford to live their lives that way; those at the bottom who, too, don’t care what anyone else thinks because they don’t have much choice; and finally, the vast majority in the middle who work 24-hours to not be like those at the bottom and to be more like those at the top. And, you guessed it; the middle ones got to give a damn ‘cause if they don’t they’d end up at the bottom because they can’t afford to be at the top. Now, this kind of logic seems silly, but I find myself thinking about economic class struggles lately, and I’m finding this outlook to be quite true in many ways. It’s interesting because some sociologists actually think that class conflicts or struggles don’t exist, but I believe they do. I see it in my office almost daily. I see, for example, how the park managers are treated quite differently from the “office” people in administration. It’s as if the park managers, just because most of them don’t have college degrees, are distrusted and talked-down-to like children even though what they do is so important to our department and to the city on a whole. I see the unfairness with those who are poor and how there is a growing misconception that being poor is an individual’s own fault. It’s no longer a societal problem that we should tackle collectively. It is the sole responsibility of the poor person to pull himself up. I even see it in public transportation! To illustrate, express buses that run from the Northern suburbs of Miami Gardens, Aventura, and North Miami Beach along I-95 to Downtown, Miami are patronized by mostly middle-class residents who are college educated and are the gentry who work amongst the banks, government buildings and other agencies Downtown. Those buses are almost always sparkly clean, run on time (and if not, the bus drivers apologize ad nauseam), and the bus stops are placed away from local bus routes that are mostly patronized by lower-income commuters and students. The difference, you see, is that the Downtown gentry can afford to park their cars and wave their fancy $80 bus cards upon boarding, so of course they’re going to get the star treatment…Money talks…And very loudly. On the other hand, the local bus commuters are treated like cattle. It never ceases to amaze me when I observe these differences. The list of the manifestations of this struggle goes on and on. I see some change, in that the proletariats are waking up, as they see that their fancy degrees aren’t opening up the doors to the kind of opportunities that were once lucrative. So-called Globalization has given the Western proletariat a blow to his ego, as non-White, non-Western countries are now taking the reigns. The question is will the middle class, now that it’s being squeezed to no end, finally wake up and see what’s really happening? Unfortunately, I-Pods, satellite television, real estate speculation and an indefatigable entertainment industry and media have us distracted, if not hypnotized, while the owners of capital continue to get away with murder.

Have a Merry Sustainable Christmas

darkchoqlit477 — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 16:04:38 GMT

Well, Christmas time is here again. It seems that during this time of year, people-in general-just seem a wee, bit more cheerful, helpful. There just seem to be a few more smiles going around and greetings of Yule tidings and joy. I love it. I feel great wearing my Santa hat, getting presents for my loved ones and receiving them, as well, and attending the potlucks and parties. I truly love this time of year. As someone who is working hard each day to be a better and more thoughtful human being, however, I have to be careful not to overspend or buy products that aren’t environmentally and socially sustainable. Though that is a difficult task, no one ever said that it can’t be fun. This year, for example, I purchased a lot of my presents from an online company where the products are made by real people (as opposed to factory machines/robots) and a portion of the profits go directly into these artisans’ pockets and other portions go into improving the Amazon or sending young, Afghan women to school. I coordinated everything in a such a way that they are shipped in one go, as opposed to multiple shipping arrangements. Additionally, for my nephew whom I got a telescope, I actually bought it at an independent store, as opposed to the box marts, owned by a man that is really into telescopes, binoculars and things of that nature. He helped me to get a wonderful telescope along with education about what sets well-made telescopes apart from others, for my nephew at a very competitive price. And, the telescope was made in Great Britain. Yes, the store was located in a different city, but I got there using my bike part of the way and public transportation (Tri-Rail) the rest of the way. For my mom, I got her dinnerware that was hand made. The lady I bought it from, markets and packages the items that her son makes. So, I felt good supporting yet another local merchant, who actually makes his own items, and his products are absolutely amazing. She and her son are currently working on their website. The dinnerware was pricy, but I still stayed within my budget, and besides, I’m actually helping a person pay their bills and survive while supporting their artistic endeavors, so it was worth it. So, I’m feeling good about myself. But, that’s not the only reason I do this. I do it because it is just loads of fun. Just the planning and coordinating alone was fun for me. And this is testament to the fact that it can be done. Finally, I feel that I’m making a difference, and it was so much fun that for birthdays and other Christmases, I’m going to see to it that I become more and more thoughtful about where I purchase items. Heck, I’ll soon develop the skills to make my own presents. Ho! Ho! Ho! And Happy Holidays to all.

Striking a Balance

darkchoqlit477 — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 08:42:38 GMT

It’s discussed ad nauseam on Saturday afternoon news shows, talk radio, magazines, build boards and all sorts of other outlets. You hear people chatting about theirs at the water cooler and over coffee. You get the little inserts in the mail, edging you on, whipping you up into a frenzy of fear. Yes, it is the all-ubiquitous discussion on our financial “future”, particularly for soon-to-be 30-somethings, where the big concern for our generation is no social security being available when we retire. Now, I am all for people taking personal responsibility for their future, but I wonder if the fear tactics that the banking/investment industry is using is necessary. Secondly, I’m not too sure that there is much that we can do as individuals to guarantee our future. Then again, perhaps because I’m so fiscally illiterate is the very reason I made that statement, and why investment analysts are so concerned about those like me. My point is, however, that even if I were to save more, which I’m doing personally, who’s to tell that there won’t be some huge crash in the future that will see that money disappear? Okay, okay, we know that there are FDIC protections in place to guard against those kinds of things, but has it really ever been tested for a huge crash? I mean, we have had downturns, but not a mega-crash reminiscent of the one back in the 1930’s when my parents were still in my grand parents’ imagination. We like to think of Western society as being forever stable, hence 50-year mortgages and perpetual time-shares, but the banking industry is not that old from a historical perspective. I guess being cautious is all right, but certainly not to the point where there’s this frenzied rush. I have a conservative portfolio, and I’m not too worried about it. If I don’t have enough money when I retire, so be it. I’ll just become a hobo or something. The way this world is going, that lifestyle—as difficult as it seems at times-- is looking more and more appealing. I think we’re just way, too money-obsessed