I was going to go down to the Wachovia Center and check out my Sixers play the Wizards tonight, but I didn't want to get shot! That guy Gilbert Arenas adds new meaning to the term "shooting guard". Talk about irony, the Wizards used to be called "The Bullets". I think they should rename them again.
Seriously, how dumb can some of these Negroes be? Gilbert, didn't you hear about what happened to a certain football player for the New York small men? Let me clue you in: Plaxico Burress is doing hard time for getting his club on with his "Nina" on his hip.
Tammates- Arenas and Javaris Crittiton- were about to draw down on each other in their locker room because Arenas allegedly owes Javaris a gambling debt. ( I sure hope that they weren't betting on NBA games.) And then, to make matters worse, my man Gilbert jokingly tweets about it later. Gilbert, guns are no laughing matter.
Oh field, so the man had a gun in his locker room, he had a new born at home, what was he supposed to do, leave the gun and go to work? The man has a second amendment right to carry just like any other citizen.
Yes, but he doesn't have a right to pack his piece at work. And with all his money, I am guessing he could have built a very secure gun locker to keep his piece from his new born in his home.
So, once again, we are left with a case of wealthy young brothers behaving badly which makes the news. Brothers who should know better, and who have much to lose after being blessed with a very rare gift. It's sad, and it infuriates me.
It will happen again, and I will be just as mad the next time. This is a serious matter, because the authorities in D.C. are still investigating. Forget the loss of potential income and a suspension from the league. You two knuckle-heads could go to jail.
Finally, speaking of jail, congrats to Seth Williams who became Philly's first ever African American District Attorney. Actually, he becomes Pistol-vania's first ever African American DA as well. That's pretty impressive stuff. He joins an African American mayor and police chief to form-to steal a horse racing term- a trifecta of crime fighting which had better stand and deliver for the people of our fair city. Seth, you vowed to get guns off of our streets and out of the hands of criminals, and I really do hope you succeed. I know it was down from 2008, but 304 murders in a city the size of Philly is not cool.
So Seth, go to work, and here is hoping that you deliver on all of your campaign promises. Oh, and while you are at it; you might want to check in the visitor's locker room at the Wachovia Center.
Asshole. Given more opportunities than the average Black American and risks it all on foolishness. He doesn't deserve another chance...
ReplyDeleteGood posting, Field. I can get pretty cynical about pro sports, but whether they like it or not these athletes are role models for millions of young people, especially young black people for whom there often aren't a whole lot of other visible examples of success.
ReplyDeleteThey have a responsibility to those kids who look up to them, and all the more so when so many of those kids have nowhere else to look. They need to get their heads in the game of life.
The responsibility isn't only to black kids. Lots of white and Hispanic and Asian kids look up to athletes too. But I think black kids have a special need for black athletes to set examples to be proud of. Wake up, idiots!
You think people would have have learned from Jayson Williams whos back in the news today BTW. Gun play is not funny and carrying a your gat doesn't make you man.
ReplyDeleteI see Phillys trying to be like Wichita, Kansas and have oodles of BLacks in powerful positions, lol. Good for them!
ReplyDeletethey 'bet not embarras us
L
Foolishness! Stupidity! and more Foolishness!!! If Joe Blow brought a gun to work and drew down on a co-worker, his ass would be fired. Fired, the cops would be called, and he would be arrested. That is what should happen here. There should be absolutely no tolerance for this nonsense... and in our everyday work a day world, there isn't. This guy needs to go.
ReplyDeleteAs for Seth.... I am cautiously optomistic, but time will tell. I wish him the best of luck. And, I hope he keeps his promise of stopping throwing a ton of charges, and then seeing if any stick like his predesessor did. Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!!!
Off Topic...Field I was hoping you'd blog about Hip Hop Mike Steele once again running afoul of the Rethug's officially sanctioned talking points. Maybe they should have hired CF to be the Head Token In Charge. He ALWAYS stays on the wingnut talking points...ad nauseum!
ReplyDeleteI co-sign with Cinco about the NBA players. They are some dumb a$$es for pulling guns over a gambling debt.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, blacks are gaining powerful government positions because the coffers were robbed and bankrupted by their predecessors, including the POTUS position. I do not want to rain on how you all are feeling there in Philly, therefore, I Congratulate you guys for electing your first black DA. I wish your leaders and the President nothing but success.
Unfortunately, blacks are gaining powerful government positions because the coffers were robbed and bankrupted by their predecessors, including the POTUS position.
ReplyDeleteYou know, there's a part of me that thinks the string-pullers allowed Obama in there because they knew how terrible things are and they wanted to discredit blacks and the Democratic Party by putting Obama into a collapsing situation. Hope that's just a bit of paranoia creeping in.
Brother Field... I echo the previous commenters. Especially since the Black atheltes were the first ambassardors- ENMASS- for our relationships during the wave of integration. When we started going to the same schools they were the ones that greased the skids. They were accepted sveral years before the comfort zones was the status quo. They are by numbers the image America have for the racial unit Black male. This hurts ME because not only did he commit a crime but how lack of judgement he displayed. Unfortunately, a lot of atheletes have had a sheltered life. Placed on a pedestal by us. a lot of common sense lessons were not taught. Not knowing Brother Arenas, I hope there is some ELDERLY Brothers will be able to guide Brothers in similar situations through thier pre-manhood state. I witness one such young man that was given everything and allowed (by the people in Newport News and Hampton) to do as he pleased while in elem and h.s. just because he was a superstar with the basketball. He appears at the age of 30-plus to finally start acting in a responsible manner. Thank you 76ers. There again they are fortunate to get these "passes"-- other non-ball playing Brothers will be incarcerated. Hummm- Thats a wicked thought about letting Brother O "win" the election. Most things are rigged in a sinking ship. PS How did he pulled 4 guns on the other player? That got to be on You Tube somewhere. One in each hand and foot. :0
ReplyDeleteI must be stupid
ReplyDeleteI don't own a gun
something is missing
they seem like such fun
look at the headlines
just read the news
damn things are all over
which one should I choose
maybe I'll pack a pistol
or wait yes a shotgun
how about a bazooka
I'd never be outdone
I know it's not funny
but what should I do
place is getting scary
we all live in a Zoo
these stupid dumb athletes
why are they packing heat
they all live in mansions
not out in the street
they are not role models
and they never will be
just look at the Tiger
and what do you see
Grinder, I absolutely agree with you. I said way back when that Nominating McCain and Palin was the
ReplyDeleteRepublicans way out. They could not come out and say they didn't want to deal with the next 4-8 years. That would be cowardly and let's face it it is going to be brutal for anyone involved in the government. It isn't going to be a picnic for any of us is it?
Grinder and Lady-Cracker:
ReplyDeleteFunny you both should bring that up, because I felt like that myself, because earlier on before the President had been office 10 days, they were too anxious to try to pin the failing economy on him and a few other things. Don't forget, President Obama had to remind them in one of his earlier speeches that he inherited the failing economy.
Nevertheless, it won't work! And everything is gonna work out. It might look bad right now, but the storm comes before the calm, and after every storm there is a rainbow.
Oops, Grinder did you see my answer to your question on the other topic? I had been busy all day today and didn't sign on until about an hour ago.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLady-Cracker, to me Exhibit A is the health care bill. The Republicans and spineless Democrats tore the guts out of it. Now the Republicans are making a big show of opposition, but in fact they are absolutely ecstatic over it.
ReplyDeleteFrom now on, the health care disaster will be the Democratic Party's Fault, even though it was the Republicans who created the mess.
I have to say that, with respect to health care legislation, Obama and the Democrats have no one but themselves to blame. They walked straight into the Republican trap.
In a tactical sense, the Republicans have played brilliant defense. They are so much better at the long-term game than the Democrats. And Obama and his people are looking more and more like people who were good at getting elected but not so good at playing the game once they got there. It's a little like watching a dog chase a car and wondering what happens if he should happen to catch it.
I think we should name that dog "Jimmy Carter."
Granny, you talking about my fantasy book? It's a long story, pardon the pun.
Yup Grinder that's what I am talking about.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't think that the Democrats have failed. Think about it, no other President has been able to get a Health Care Bill this far. First get the bill passed, they can always come back later and make the necessary changes by adding on to it. In addition, I keep trying to tell people that we've had public option all the time. When you fill out your health forms when you first take a job or during open season for health insurance, you're give a booklet of the different health insurances to pick from. Even with medicare every year they send out a booklet of the different health care insurances and ask you to choose which one you want. That's public option--a right to choose which one you want.
The problem with health care insurance wasn't CHOICE of insurance in the first place, it was the COST and AVAILABILITY! That is really where the focus should have been but the political pundits and Insurance companies threw in a big distraction called public option that we already had in the first place and made people think it was something new but it isn't.
Filled-Negro:
ReplyDeleteAs much as I jump on you for being an ideological and political hack I can also applaud you for putting out a fair assessment of the situation that took place in the locker room.
Good job.
CF:
ReplyDeleteNah, you didn't call him an ideological political hack. Smh! Nah, not you... A case of the pot calling the kettle black. Lawd help!
Nite to all and pleasant dreams!
ReplyDeleteGranny, you are more optimistic about health insurance than I am. I think the system is a money sucking scam, and that the legislation won't make the necessary changes. I want to be wrong about that, but I don't think I am.
ReplyDeleteI am also very worried about the political damage that the Democrats have suffered along the way, most of it of their own making. For some reason that I simply cannot fathom, the Democratic Party feels obligated to wear a "kick me" sign. They barely even bother to defend themselves.
That stance doesn't cut it. Americans don't respect wimps. They look for leaders who can lead with confidence. I have admired Obama's even temper and I wouldn't change it, but the party needs a rhetorical goon squad to go after the Republicans.
I think this fall's elections are going to be a disaster for the Democrats, and that 2012 is likely to bring us a President Mitt Romney. Like my early predictions of a real estate-led depression, I want to be wrong about this. But the longer Obama's in office, the more worried I've been getting.
Someone needs to follow him with a syringe filled with testosterone and amphetamines. It's getting a little ridiculous. Actually, they should have done that about eight months ago. Now it might be too late. I very badly want the man to succeed, and hope I am wrong.
This guy (like all the others) is clueless. He's further proof that you can take the black man out of the "hood" but you can't take the "hood out of the black man."
ReplyDeletePeople like this just don't get it and they never will. No wonder the only role models black boys worhsip are the thugs, rappers, gunslingers, drug dealers, and ball bouncers. None of the men (or women for that matter) tell them to worship reading, writing, math, and "speaking" the king's english.
Conversation heard among 2 fast food employees recently as they sat out on their break: "I can't wait till i get off of this mother
f----n job cause my brother is gonna come over today and teach me how to cut some coke.
Sad, really sad.
Stop looking for other people to be your child's role model. The biggest role model that any child should have are his PARENTS!!!! The only reason people seek outside sources to provide "ROLE MODELS" for their own children is because THEY WANT TO PASS THEIR REPSPONSIBILITY ON TO SOMEONE ELSE.
ReplyDeleteCo-sign with anon. 3:00 AM,the only role models children should have are their parents. Still, the reality is that many of these young men have no father's at home.
ReplyDeletefinefroghair, you are wasting your talents. Do you have a publishing deal? If not, you should get one.
Ernesto, I will have to check out that Hip Hop Mike story.
Grinder, Lady-Cracker and Granny, I enjoyed your exchange.
StillAPanther2, happy new year my brother. It's nice to see you back.
Granny - I still love you and there is NOTHING that you can say to stop it!!
ReplyDelete[quote]. I think the system is a money sucking scam, and that the legislation won't make the necessary changes. I want to be wrong about that, but I don't think I am.[/quote]
GRINDER - let's focus for a second.
This bill will drive about $90 BILLION new dollars of spending on Health Care per year.
$52 BILLION of this is from NEW TAXES ON THE RICH!!!!!
This leaves about $38 billion from other sources.
Of the money that those who are mandated to pay for a health insurance policy (the exchange) this is FOR THEIR OWN SERVICE. This should not be mistaken as TAXES. You are PAYING for something that you use AND/AND/AND someone else is kicking in THEIR MONEY via TAXES to cover the excess. The excess is the GAP between the actual cost of the service that was rendered upon you and the money that YOU PAID.
In summary Grinder - what do you have to complain about?
IF the insurance companies receive NEW CUSTOMERS per the government mandate - IT WAS NOT YOUR MONEY that made the difference for your new found care. IT WAS THE TAX MONEY FROM THE RICH.
[quote]I am also very worried about the political damage that the Democrats have suffered along the way, most of it of their own making.[/quote]
I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT BOTH PARTIES RENDER.
In as much as the DEMOCRATS totally monopolize the areas that I am most focused upon I WORRY MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THE INSTITUTIONS THAT THE PEOPLE LOOK TO.
WHY, Grinder are YOU worrying about the PARTY rather than the UNDERLYING PURPOSE of your political advocacy?
Some of you are combatants in the American Political domain, having lost the index of where the party's interests end and your own continues along.
they are not role models
ReplyDeleteand they never will be
just look at the Tiger
and what do you see
Oh yes they are. Role models, that is. The wrong kind.
When adults in the black community throw out that shit they call rap (not old school, but gangsta, sex and mysogyny) then kids will have a chance.
ReplyDeleteSlight correction.
ReplyDeleteThis happened last month as a result of a card game on a plane.
Crittenden lost a substantial amount of money during the game to Arenas.
Arenas asked when Crittenden was going to pay up, Crittenden then threatened to shoot Arenas in his surgically repaired knee.
At the Wizard's next practice, Arenas laid three unloaded guns in front of Crittenden's locker with a note that read "Pick One".
Crittenden became enraged, threw one the guns at Arenas and assured him that he had his own weapon.
There was no "drawing down" in the locker room.
And before some sobsister claims that I am "excusing bad behavior" let it be known that as far as I'm concerned both Arenas and Crittenden should be suspended for the rest of the season.
Plus with the strict DC gun possession laws, both may very well face prison time.
I'm just relaying the facts.
"Oh yes they are. Role models, that is. The wrong kind."
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should look to folks like Dick Cheney as role models.
Oh wait, Cheney actually shot somebody.
Ok, the "leaving the gun at home because there is a newborn there" schtick would be a completely insane argument. How many newborns have found a gun in their home and accidentally shot themselves or someone else?
ReplyDeleteAlso, the gun was for "protection", not vengeance! lol geez. As I have stated on here before, you're 4 times more likely to die by gunfire if you carry and own a gun than if you do not. This example just helps cement that statistic.
An interesting aside, there were 2,000 people killed in 2009 in the small (1/3 the size of Philly) Texas/Mexican border city of Reynosa, MX. I hope no other city gets that close in numbers.
Speaking of Role Models.... I want to take a moment to honor one of mine who just passed.
ReplyDeleteBill Sutherland, Pan African, Pacifist, 1918-2010
Bill Sutherland, unofficial ambassador between the peoples of Africa and the Americas for over fifty years, died peacefully on the evening of January 2, 2010. He was 91.
A life-long pacifist and liberation advocate, Sutherland became involved in civil rights and anti-war activities as a youthful member of the Student Christian Movement in the 1930s. Sutherland was raised in New Jersey, the son of a prominent dentist and to Muriel Sutherland Snowden of Boston. He spent four years at Lewisburg Federal Correctional Facility in the 1940s as a conscientious objector to World War Two, striking up what became life-long friendships with fellow C.O.s Ralph DiGia, Bayard Rustin, George Houser, Dave Dellinger, and others. In 1951, in the early days of the Cold War, Sutherland, DiGia, Dellinger, and Quaker pacifist Art Emory constituted the Peacemaker bicycle project, which took the message of nuclear disarmament to both sides of the Iron Curtain.
In 1953, in coordination with the War Resisters International and with several activist groups and independence movement parties on the continent, he moved to what was then known as the Gold Coast. An active supporter of Kwame Nkrumah, he married playwright and Pan African cultural activist Efua Theodora, and became the headmaster of a rural secondary school. The call of Pan Africanist politics was very strong, and Sutherland was instrumental in hosting the visit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King to the 1957 independence celebrations. In the early days of the first Ghanaian government, Sutherland also served on the organizing team of the All African Peoples Congress. He was appointed private secretary to Finance Minister Komla Gbedema. He was also central to the development of the Sahara Protest Team, which brought together African, European, and U.S. peace leaders to put their bodies in the way of nuclear testing in the Sahara Desert.
Sutherland left Ghana in 1961, working in both Lebanon and Israel for the founding of Peace Brigades International, and for the Israeli labor organization Histadrut. He settled in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1963, as a civil servant. Sutherland’s chief work in Dar involved support for the burgeoning independent governments and liberation movements. A close friend and associate of Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere and Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Sutherland helped develop the Pan African Freedom Movement of East and Central Africa. He served as hospitality officer for the Sixth Pan African Congress—held in Dar in 1974—working to bridge the gap between Africans on the continent and in the Diaspora. He hosted countless individuals and delegations from the U.S. in these years, including assisting Malcolm X in what would be his last trip to Tanzania. His home in Dar became a camping ground for liberation leaders in exile from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and throughout the region. His love of music, especially jazz, his passion for tennis, and the pleasure he got from dancing, were hallmarks of his interactions, shared with political associates and personal friends the world over.
Despite Sutherland’s close association with those engaged in armed struggle, he maintained his connections with and commitment to revolutionary nonviolence, and joined the international staff of the Quaker-based American Friends Service Committee in 1974. In 2003, the AFSC initiated an annual Bill Sutherland Institute, training Africa lobbyists and advocates in various policy issues and educational techniques. Sutherland was also the recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from Bates College, and served as a Fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics. He was awarded a special citation from the Gandhi Peace Foundation in India.
maybe they'd behave themselves if they were paid more money.
ReplyDeletei really, really wish we Black Folk would pay less attention to sports and entertainment figures. the media isn't going to help us here, we've got to help ourselves. one of the reasons i come to this blog is to read about people like the DA in this post, and i thank you, Field, for keeping me informed. but really, i could just scream, every time i talk with some of my black students about people they admire, and they rattle off a list of sports and celebrity types. it just makes me so sad that so many of our young people have little to know idea who is really make the world better for us. it's not these plantation clowns on the court, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteField, here's what Hip Hop Mike said:
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/01/top-line-steele-offmessage-again.html
Then of course, he was forced to eat his words. Again. But hey, he's used to it.
"I have to say that, with respect to health care legislation, Obama and the Democrats have no one but themselves to blame. They walked straight into the Republican trap."
ReplyDeleteNah, it's more like BOTH parties laid a trap that WE get to walk into. They do this all the time. Look at our foreign policy and handouts for Wall Street bankers, where the two parties are two sides of the same coin. I'm becoming convinced that Obama is a capitalist "Manchurian Candidate" meant to pacify Black people whilst continuing the reverse Robin Hood policies of the past 30 years. It's also telling that the only Revolution being televised is that of the extreme rightwing, some old fools that apparently want to get fucked harder by the ruling class. We live in interesting times.
Conservative evangelicals linked to Uganda's death penalty law for homosexuals: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html
ReplyDeleteGrinder, you are not paranoid and thanks for debating my statement further with Granny and Lady Cracker. Ernesto hit the nail on the head with this statement:
ReplyDeleteNah, it's more like BOTH parties laid a trap that WE get to walk into. They do this all the time. Look at our foreign policy and handouts for Wall Street bankers, where the two parties are two sides of the same coin.
However, I do not co-sign or am I convinced that Obama is a capitalist "Manchurian Candidate" meant to pacify Black people whilst continuing the reverse Robin Hood policies of the past 30 years. I believe Obama really wanted to make the changes in Washington he campaigned on, but once he sat in the POTUS seat, he realized there was nothing he could do. The stage of what has been happening in America now has been set many years ago. He was in Washington as a freshman Senator before he won the POTUS seat.
We are pawns in the chess game played in Washington. The only need politicians have for their pawns, is to move them into the voting booth when its election time. As more and more pawns begin to realize neither party has their best interest in mind, maybe a strong Independent third party of the people will emerge; the very people that voted Obama into office who wants to clean up Washington of all the long time politicians of liars, crooks and thieves.
Amen, Blinders Off. Besides, it makes no sense that it would take having a black man as president to do the thieving and stealing that has been going on for roughly the past 30 years.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should look to folks like Dick Cheney as role models.
ReplyDeleteOh wait, Cheney actually shot somebody.
Ha ha! Touche!
As more and more pawns begin to realize neither party has their best interest in mind, maybe a strong Independent third party of the people will emerge; the very people that voted Obama into office who wants to clean up Washington of all the long time politicians of liars, crooks and thieves.
ReplyDeleteI think it's heading in a different direction. The U.S. is going the way Argentina did 100 years ago. It was once the ninth richest country in the world, and then totally lost it and sank into chaos and dictatorship.
The Republicans are increasingly fascist, and if things keep going downhill I think you'll see the Democrats turn into Peronists. Keep an eye on those Tea Party people. They're much the same as Ross Perot's crowd from 1992, and I think they're a harbinger of things to come.
The Tea Party people are stooges, and too stupid or senile to realize they are pawns. They are about as close to a real revolution as Obama is.
ReplyDeleteAnd Blinders Off, where did Obama ever give you the impression he wanted to make any real changes to what's been going on? He actually had the nerve to brag about how "free trade" was a great thing to Illinois farmers when he was running for the Senate! I had him pegged as a fraud as soon as I heard his convention speech in 2004 so I have not been too shocked by how he can still smile broadly while the bankers/insurance companies have walked all over any real chance for reform.
Any candidate who is serious about changing things will come to us first and foremost touting 100 percent public-financed campaigns as the central plank in their platform. Anything less is business as usual. And you can bet any such candidate would get bumped off as soon as it appeared they had a real chance of getting elected.
Ernesto, I agree that any candidate 'serious about change' would demand serious change to our system starting to how these get into office.
ReplyDeleteTwo problems in realpolitiks:
We tend not support real radicals. Whether its Quixotic do-gooders like Nader and Kuicinich or libertarian crazies like Ron Paul, Americans don't have much a strong stomach for folks offering radical change. Hell, milquetoast establish guys like Obama are railed against as if he were Stalin of Marshall Tito for even suggesting closing Gitmo or reforming health care. The reality is taht we don't have much use for rebels in American politics.
More importantly, Americans don't have a stomach to do the hard work of change. Obama said in his election acceptance speech -- you want change, force to do it. Simply put, he's not Jesus. As much as the left bemoans the right wing creep of our President, the only people making dedicated, prolonged battles for their interests are the Tea Baggers, Birthers and the rest of the Wingnut circus.
Think about it, raise of hands ( or just posts) of people who are involved in their local NAACP or active in their civilian review boards. Or even know their Congressperson's name? None, really? Doesn't surprise me.
As many posters have said, Obama has many a flaw, but so do we. Despite the jokes, he's not from Krypton. He's not Superman and can't magically change the world in less than a year. Hell, even Superman had Wonder Woman and Batman on his team. If we're not willing to do the leg work to make change, we deserve to be disappointed by the skinny Black guy on Pennsylvania Avenue.
grinder, do you think white athletes are good role models for white kids? Oh wait, maybe white kids don't need to look up to them, they have other white role models.
ReplyDeletegrinder, do you like watching black male athletes?
ReplyDelete?grinder, do you think white athletes are good role models for white kids?
ReplyDeleteSome of them are, and some are not, just like black athletes.
Oh wait, maybe white kids don't need to look up to them, they have other white role models.
Your words, not mine.
do you like watching black male athletes?
Not much of a sports fan these days, but when I do watch I like watching the blacks along with those of other races.
Black Mayor, Black D.A., Black Police Chief. Black President, Black Attorney General, yada, yada, etc, etc.
ReplyDeleteDAMMIT FIELD!!! I thought at least you would know better. When will we learn that Black faces in high places isn't going to change anything as long as they are part of the system that created and sustains the problems.
A Black judge decided that regardless of the FACT that I was in possession of a valid firearms permit, he was not going to allow Black people "in my neighborhood to continue to have all these guns". Forget the pretextual police stop, and illegal search, if I wanted justice, I had to cop to the gun charge. Ever since that day, I've realized that it doesn't matter what color the overseer was, so long as massa was still running the plantation.
Why is Arenas a national issue?? What does his failures and shortcomings have to do with Black folks?? I am so tired of this routine when one Black person fucks up we get the usual racist pathology of indicting all of Black America...
ReplyDeletethe thing is, I'm Black. I've lived in urban areas my entire life, outside of going to school. Why is it that I've never felt the urge to go out and buy a firearm. I believe in the 2nd Amendment, but have guns on your person? at your workplace?
ReplyDeletehe's a MILLIONAIRE, and he couldn't pay someone to design a safe/electronic lock cabinet, with maybe fingerprint censor , so that he could have his guns- AT HOME?
I just don't follow the breadcrumbs of logic behind his actions.
I am so tired of this routine when one Black person fucks up we get the usual racist pathology of indicting all of Black America.
ReplyDeleteWho has done that here? It seems to me that the criticism of the athletes has been narrowly focused.
What Blog are you reading?? The Bulk of posts have race related comments..
ReplyDeleteAgain my premise remains the same what does Arenas issues have to do with Black folk??
"We tend not support real radicals. Whether its Quixotic do-gooders like Nader and Kuicinich or libertarian crazies like Ron Paul, Americans don't have much a strong stomach for folks offering radical change. Hell, milquetoast establish guys like Obama are railed against as if he were Stalin of Marshall Tito for even suggesting closing Gitmo or reforming health care. The reality is taht we don't have much use for rebels in American politics."
ReplyDeleteLaCoincidental, there is a great post in that somewhere. That is a spot on observation.
Jody, thanks for the news about Sutherland. And that was a great tribute you gave him as well. He will be missed. :(
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat Blog are you reading?? The Bulk of posts have race related comments.
ReplyDeleteI reacted to your comment that you are "so tired of this routine when one Black person fucks up we get the usual racist pathology of indicting all of Black America."
This blog is about race in America from a particular black man's perspective. Readers then comment on his perspective, and each others' views.
I do not see what is wrong with that, and I do not think it means that calling out Arenas for his thuggery is an exercise in "indicting all of Black America." I do not believe that anyone has done that in this discussion, least of all Field.
If you object to any discussion of race, I would say that you are likely to be unhappy here.
I used to like Gilbert Arenas. He seemed like a nice guy with a good heart and good game (but not lately!) But I didn't know he was this STUPID! He deserves the number ZERO and deserves the indefinite suspension without pay he received today. I wouldn;t want any of my co-workers bringing a gun to work and playing around with it like its a frisbee. What a fool!
ReplyDeleteErnesto,
ReplyDeleteMany campaign promises are made and I bought into two of Obama's campaign talking points. 1.) Him wanting to clean up Washington when it came to lobbyist, especially politicians who become lobbyist for big business. 2.) He suggested more than once American people should be able to have a choice of buying into the same health plan as Congress...now that would be real Health Care Reform. He also said he would not have a mandate.
Call me naive, but I thought with him in office and a Democratic majority America would see real change in our Health Care System and Big Business. Unfortunately, it is still the same bull. For once I wanted to believe in a politician that would not lie just to get in office. Being a politician is the best job to have in this country. Hell, a politician is set for life when they are elected to serve in Washington. As for the Tea baggers, I agree they are pawns being used in the worse way.
LA,
I like what you had to say. I never took Obama to be Jesus (although many Repubs and Tea baggers think he is the Anti-Christ). I know Obama could not it alone, you would think the Democratic majority would help him, but they are still spineless. You are also right about it takes hard work for change. I can only speak for myself, what is happening with Health Care Reform is a disappointment. I do not see the Dems working hard for real change with the Health Care system (they are still afraid of the Repubs) What I see is the Repubs working damn hard against what the majority of American wants. I must give it to the Repubs come hell or high water, right or wrong they stick together.
I can raise my hand, I personally know how hard the work is to evoke change (If it would not take up more than one post, I would tell you what I experience evoking change in the small city I call home now). As for the NAACP, I use to be a member years ago. I also have an open mind to be a member again once some major changes are made in the organization; elitist attitudes are not needed there.
Finally, I sometimes think I should become selfish and say "EFF it" and worry about me, myself, mine and not about other. I honestly sometimes wish I could not give a damn about what is happening around me, but I am not built that way.
Probably ,another causality of the BET thug video era - these kids grew-up being babysitted by thug videos . An entire generation of young Black latch-key kids grew-up seeing guns and pit-bulls treated like a fashion accessories .
ReplyDeleteI can't take some of you all seriously sometimes. (I never take WhiteBowieSteve seriously - he has earned the honor)
ReplyDelete[quote]i really, really wish we Black Folk would pay less attention to sports and entertainment figures. the media isn't going to help us here, we've got to help ourselves.
Chicago Dyke:
Take a look at this picture from Dec 2008.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mNAOq8ApgBA/STga2o4sK_I/AAAAAAAAAeo/PtSHLC79tMo/s1600/Thugs%2BOn%2BStage%2BWith%2BDemocrats%2BNumbered.JPG
In addition to these Hip Hop ENTERTAINERS you see a Sheriff, a Preacher and a White Liberal DEMOCRAT. They all realized that these ENTERTAINERS (2 of which have criminal backgrounds) are the key to get BLACK FOLKS to go to the polls.
When I see many of you PREEMPTIVELY (meaning BEFORE THE ELECTION) go on stage and tell your ideological soul mates "WE BLACK PEOPLE WANT TO TALK POLICY ISSUES!!! We RESENT you bringing up ENTERTAINERS on stage with the belief that they can motivate us to vote. YOU NEED TO show your respect for us by not putting DRUG DEALERS turned famous on stage (excluding Ludacris)"
[quote]Nah, it's more like BOTH parties laid a trap that WE get to walk into. [/quote]
Ernesto PLEASE!!!!!
You want to be SERVICED!!!
It is NOT YOUR MONEY that proves to be the BALANCE in the question of IF you will be SERVICED via health care!!!
You got TRAPPED by the old axiom "BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS"!!!!!
If you DIDN'T WANT TO BE TRAPPED - you would set up more LOCAL means by which you coordinate the NEEDS for health care for the people with :
* The EDUCATION of more young people to provide these services in your community
* The ECONOMIC collaboration among the people in need to FUND IT within the community in question
* The LIFESTYLE management where people's choices of what they eat, exercise and the risks they expose themselves to impact these outcomes.
The only TRAP that you walked into is the same one that a hungry and desperate mouse sees some cheese sitting on a wooden block that he thinks is a table instead of a mouse trap.
[quote]We tend not support real radicals[quote]
RADICAL my back side!!!
You like LISTENING to radicals because you like the STRUGGLE AGAIN - LAC
The thing that I can't understand about you is that after a "Pragmatic Radical" takes over he must become an EXECUTIVE - putting his words into action and then a CONSERVATOR - insuring that the NEXT generation retains the system that they struggled for.
LAC - I challenge you to return to the land that you "WON" control over and stand accountable for the results that it had been PROMISED would be better.
That would be RADICAL for you to do.
Instead you prefer the perpetual OUTWARD chase.
@grinder,
ReplyDeleteYour post makes no sense to me ..I have no problem with racial chats my post was a racial post..
My premise remains the same Arenas issues have nothing to do with the Black community. I will continue to reject the notion of indicting the entire Black community because of the shortcomings of one person regardless of what that person does for a living...
I met Gilbert on a plane once and he was dumber than a box of rocks, so this gun business didn't surprise me much.
ReplyDeletelol at Dick Cheney as a role-model for fun safety.
Hey CF, are you involved in your community? As for my track record, I ran for Registrar of Voters for my hometown. The first 3rd party candidate in 30 years and the youngest candidate in city history (25). As to why I'm not as involved in the City of Angels? Well, I can barely get around without my GPS and a printed Google Map (only been here 9 months today). But, trust me, I plan to get more involved.
ReplyDeleteAnd what's with the caps, son? No hate, but ALL CAPS IS SCREAMING AT PEOPLE IN NET-SPEAK. It come off as you're yelling at everyone of your response. Not a good look. Just saying.
Don't wanna call the guy a dummy, but whats going on with him to think he could get away with this so call prank/joke?
ReplyDeletefn:
ReplyDeletei told you so
the toxic new breed will destroy EVERY arena as they take this ghetto bs with them wherever they roam
from schools to harvard to the nba...
no space is sacred or safe...
folks used to try to escape the ghetto...
ReplyDeletenow they just export it!...
shame!
To alicia banks
ReplyDeleteYou are tough,(not necessary saying you are wrong on this one) but speaking the truth...what a shame ...
anon:
ReplyDeletei am real
always have been
always will be
reality is tough
always has been
always will be
To say that this dude went to one of the best schools in L.A. (Taft is always in the running for those educational decatholon titles) and then he went on to the University of Arizona, this dude is fucking stupid. What, the rat bastard is too cheap to be a fucking GUN LOCKER? I hope that he gets his contract voided and then he'll have to get a real job like the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteAbuAmirah