Happy Birthday wishes to my sister Karen and my nephew Gabe. Love you both sooo much and I wish you two many happy more....(Gabe: top right)
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Happy Birthday Wishes!!!
Happy Birthday wishes to my sister Karen and my nephew Gabe. Love you both sooo much and I wish you two many happy more....(Gabe: top right)
More on the King of Bling - Mansa Musa
I discovered this Mansa Musa video on You Tube. I found it fascinating and richly informative. Watch it and I am sure you will feel the same.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Am I Becoming A Republican?
If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain.
Winston Churchill
I agree with the above quote. As I have gotten older, I find my politics much more conservative. But somehow - ironically speaking - as conservative as I have become, I do not find the Republican party more attractive.
I am pro GOP bedrock issues like:
Education reform
Free Enterprise System
Law and Order
Education and Hard Work are the keys to Success
Personal Accountability
I am vehemently against:
People regardless of class, race or ethnicity trying to get a free lunch or playing the victim card
People thinking government should solve all their problems
Parents not fulfilling their parental responsibility
People not taking pride in their community
Reckless, violent and criminal behavior
I have been asked by my Republican associates why don't I join their party. I am lectured that African-Americans are too attached to the Democrats; and the Democrats take our voice and vote for granted. They inform me, the GOP needs more blacks and other like minded minorities to represent their interests.
I respond by telling them, I agree with their observations of the Democratic party to a certain degree. But, even though I have voted for Republican candidates in the past, I would not remotely consider becoming a member.
The GOP has been co-opted by an element that treads out the above mentioned core issues, while conversely pursuing an agenda that is anti poor, working, middle and upper middle class. Their agenda exclusively supports (outside of token bones thrown to appease their constituents)bankers, moguls and corporate tyrants.
For example, we desperately need a new energy policy, commonsense gun control laws, a more protective environment policy and infrastructure building investment; yet, because of big oil, the NRA, Wall Street and other corporate tyrants like Rupert Murdoch - that pimp the rank and file Republican members - we don't have our best interest served.
That is why - as conservative as I have become - I do not find the Republican party attractive...
Winston Churchill
I agree with the above quote. As I have gotten older, I find my politics much more conservative. But somehow - ironically speaking - as conservative as I have become, I do not find the Republican party more attractive.
I am pro GOP bedrock issues like:
Education reform
Free Enterprise System
Law and Order
Education and Hard Work are the keys to Success
Personal Accountability
I am vehemently against:
People regardless of class, race or ethnicity trying to get a free lunch or playing the victim card
People thinking government should solve all their problems
Parents not fulfilling their parental responsibility
People not taking pride in their community
Reckless, violent and criminal behavior
I have been asked by my Republican associates why don't I join their party. I am lectured that African-Americans are too attached to the Democrats; and the Democrats take our voice and vote for granted. They inform me, the GOP needs more blacks and other like minded minorities to represent their interests.
I respond by telling them, I agree with their observations of the Democratic party to a certain degree. But, even though I have voted for Republican candidates in the past, I would not remotely consider becoming a member.
The GOP has been co-opted by an element that treads out the above mentioned core issues, while conversely pursuing an agenda that is anti poor, working, middle and upper middle class. Their agenda exclusively supports (outside of token bones thrown to appease their constituents)bankers, moguls and corporate tyrants.
For example, we desperately need a new energy policy, commonsense gun control laws, a more protective environment policy and infrastructure building investment; yet, because of big oil, the NRA, Wall Street and other corporate tyrants like Rupert Murdoch - that pimp the rank and file Republican members - we don't have our best interest served.
That is why - as conservative as I have become - I do not find the Republican party attractive...
President Obama: Up in the Polls
WASHINGTON — Americans give higher marks to President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans after a holiday season of compromise paid dividends for both, according to the latest Associated Press-GfK poll.
At the start of the divided government era, the survey found that 53 percent of Americans approve of how Obama is doing his job, his best numbers since the divisive health care vote 10 months ago. Read More
At the start of the divided government era, the survey found that 53 percent of Americans approve of how Obama is doing his job, his best numbers since the divisive health care vote 10 months ago. Read More
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Massacre in Arizona: Were You Surprised?
Paul Krugman, New York Times columnist, asked the following question yesterday in his column called, Climate of Hate:
When you heard the terrible news from Arizona, were you completely surprised? Or were you, at some level, expecting something like this atrocity to happen?
Sadly, just as Krugman wasn't surprised, I was not surprised. Even if there is no direct link between the alleged assassin Jared Lee Loughner and any political group, I suspect that the climate of toxic politics - filled with violent metaphors and imagery - at the very least, tangentially inspired Loughner's demented rage.
My other observation, what type of society do we have when a mentally deranged person can walk into a gun shop and purchase a very dangerous weapon that can unleash over 30 shots in seconds? This was the same type of assault weapon banned during the Clinton presidency until 2004 (the assault weapon ban was allowed to expire under Bush, even though, police agencies around the country supported the ban).
Finally, how long will this event, shocking if not surprising, bring us together and say enough, (in the words of Gabrielle Gifford's brother-in-law) we can do better.
When you heard the terrible news from Arizona, were you completely surprised? Or were you, at some level, expecting something like this atrocity to happen?
Sadly, just as Krugman wasn't surprised, I was not surprised. Even if there is no direct link between the alleged assassin Jared Lee Loughner and any political group, I suspect that the climate of toxic politics - filled with violent metaphors and imagery - at the very least, tangentially inspired Loughner's demented rage.
My other observation, what type of society do we have when a mentally deranged person can walk into a gun shop and purchase a very dangerous weapon that can unleash over 30 shots in seconds? This was the same type of assault weapon banned during the Clinton presidency until 2004 (the assault weapon ban was allowed to expire under Bush, even though, police agencies around the country supported the ban).
Finally, how long will this event, shocking if not surprising, bring us together and say enough, (in the words of Gabrielle Gifford's brother-in-law) we can do better.
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