Is everybody going to hate Chris?

Today was just another day here in A-merry-ca. Or was it? I mean the iPad is here. (Color me not impressed, I still like to turn the pages when I read.) Our first black prez decided to go all Sista Souljah on environmentalist and drill for black gold. And, Catholics all across A-merry-ca are having a crisis of faith for obvious reasons. (Well, most Catholics. The ones with a conscience. The other ones....not so much. )

Anywhooo, tonight I want to talk about Chris Rock.

Seems a video of my man spoofing white folks has surfaced and A-merry-ca is not too pleased.

"They say it's only racist if it's not funny, so is the previously unreleased video for "Crackers," Chris Rock's white-bashing spoof of OutKast's "Hey Ya," a case of beats for the bigoted?In what is sure to spark debate over the thin line between racism and comedy, Rock's version is called "Crackers," a not-so subtle reference to Caucasians. In the four minute clip.."

Oh ohh Chris, don't you have a new movie coming out? This is not a good time to be controversial in A-merry-ca. Nothing says sure to be broke more than a controversial Negro in A-merry-ca.

Anyway, judge for yourselves. I really need to hear from you white folks on this one. You tell us if you find it offensive. I already know what you Negroes are going to say. Double standard?

Before I go, I want to thank you all for the e-mails and comments you sent my way about the comments section on the blog. Some of it was heartfelt and sincere, and some of it was the usual "field Negro I wish you would die" type shit. I want you all to know that I heard you loud and clear and I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.

Alicia, you did much better today. :)

They say it didn't happen.

In rightwingland there is a new rallying cry: It didn't happen. As in the spitting of an African American congressman after the health care vote and John Lewis being called a nigger by teabagger activist. Right wing talk radio is furious that these good A-merry-cans would be tarred with a racist brand, and they claim that there is a $10,000.00 reward for anyone who can produce a tape or a video of the incident.

Why is there no tape? Why is there no audio? You mean to tell me that not one of the main stream reporters who were there could pick up an audio or video tape of this incident? How about cell phones? In this age of camera phone why was there not one single camera phone picking up this alleged incident? Why is there no You Tube moment? And so it goes with the wingnuts. Wait, it gets better:

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told a crowd at a Duluth, Minn., rally over the weekend that there is no evidence that several black lawmakers were harassed by conservative protesters on Capitol Hill in the days leading up to the health care reform vote. Black lawmakers, including civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), reported that they had been spat on and slurred by protesters demonstrating against the health reform bill last week."Democrats said that they were called the 'N word,' which of course would be wrong and inappropriate. But no one has any record of it. No witness saw it, it's not on camera, it's not on audio," she said. "They said that they were spat upon. No one saw it."She went on, "There's a $10,000 reward right now for anyone who can produce a video or an audio. Don't you think we would have seen a video or an audio by now if there was something out there?" [story]

Did you hear that A-merry-ca? If it's not caught on tape or on audio it didn't happen. All those niggers who got their asses kicked in L.A. before Rodney King were just acting. They were trying out for a part in crime movies. Well Michelle, I am guessing that if one was among tea party friends one isn't going to call out one of their own. But that's just me. Besides, if it comes down to the word of John Lewis or a teabag protester I am going with Mr. Lewis every time. And as for Mr. Cleaver, well, let's go to the video tape, shall we?

And staying with the wingnut theme: I love the interaction from regular readers, I really do. I got an e-mail from a reader named AJ who turned me on to a very interesting article. Seems our girl Cynthia McKinney would rather join with the right wingers than the A-merry-can government.

'“We are ruled not by two parties but one party,' Cynthia McKinney, who ran for president on the Green Party ticket, told me. 'It is the party of money and war. Our country has been hijacked. And we have to take the country away from those who have hijacked it. The only question now is whose revolution gets funded....”'

“'It is time for us to stop talking about right and left,' McKinney told me. 'The old political paradigm that serves the interests of the people who put us in this predicament will not be the paradigm that gets us out of this. I am a child of the South. Janet Napolitano tells me I need to be afraid of people who are labeled white supremacists but I was raised around white supremacists. I am not afraid of white supremacists. I am concerned about my own government. The Patriot Act did not come from the white supremacists, it came from the White House and Congress. Citizens United did not come from white supremacists, it came from the Supreme Court. Our problem is a problem of governance. I am willing to reach across traditional barriers that have been skillfully constructed by people who benefit from the way the system is organized.'

We are bound to a party that has betrayed every principle we claim to espouse, from universal health care to an end to our permanent war economy, to a demand for quality and affordable public education, to a concern for the jobs of the working class. And the hatred expressed within right-wing movements for the college-educated elite, who created or at least did nothing to halt the financial debacle, is not misplaced. Our educated elite, wallowing in self-righteousness, wasted its time in the boutique activism of political correctness as tens of millions of workers lost their jobs. The shouting of racist and bigoted words at black and gay members of Congress, the spitting on a black member of the House, the tossing of bricks through the windows of legislators’ offices, are part of the language of rebellion. It is as much a revolt against the educated elite as it is against the government. The blame lies with us. We created the monster..." [Article]

Interesting article. And in many ways I agree with McKinney. Working class people-black and white- should come together and fight for their common interest and realize that they are being played. But sorry, I am not down with a revolution where I have to watch the guy marching behind me because he wants to kill my black ass. I will unite with his racist ass when it can benefit me, but don't expect me to be "storming the Bastille" with a bunch of racist wingnuts who will be just as bad as the ruling elites we just threw out. With all due respect to Francois Mignet; I am not quite that "intoxicated with liberty and enthusiasm" just yet.

Finally, speaking of interaction from readers: I have gotten e-mails and read comments where some of our regulars want to ban another regular named Alicia Banks. I understand your concerns about the multiple posts,the language, and the vitriol (not just by her) shown to fellow people who comment.

But I cannot and will not do it. I refuse to ban or censor another poster. It's just not in me. If you don't like what she says, just skip over her comments. The comments section on this blog can get nasty at times, and I know that we have our share of trolls. Really nasty ones. The kind that Stormfront would be proud of. But hang in there and roll with it. Believe me, you will be a better person for it. Think of it as going to a part of town or a country that you were initially afraid of, but after leaving and experiencing it, you were stronger and wiser for the experience.

True confessions: I got into blogging because I was banned by the black Christian wingnut La Shawn Barber, and believe me, I had only commented on her blog, once. I asked her a question about her political beliefs and ideology and I never got a response or a chance to respond. I was shocked. But it was her blog, and she could do with it what she damn well pleased. So I vowed to start my own and kick her ass at every turn, and with every blog rating and ranking system out there. Well, to quote the frat boy: "Mission Accomplished".

So sorry, I won't become what I despise. It's a blog folks, not a member of your home. And as much as I would hate it if you did; you can always walk away.

Norman and friends.

Tonight I would like to show the wingnuts that they are wrong about me for thinking that I would never feature a kook from the left. Well, I have found one, and he is my home boy no less.

Yes my friends, Norman Laboon (What a name. No wonder the guy is nuts.) probably should go to jail for allegedly threatening to kill minority whip, Eric Cantor. Still, I want my wingnut friends to understand something; Norman Laboon, is, in fact, certifiable. His antenna doesn't quite pick up all the channels.

"He was mandated by the Federal Magistrate to undergo a mental health evaluation. He reportedly told arresting FBI agents that he was the "Son of the God of Enoch". Leboon was a frequent poster to Youtube, where his rambling videos could be watched. During one such video he recorded with a cell phone video camera, Leboon, said that Congressman Cantor would receive his bullets in his office in his head". He also called the congressman a pig and referred to him as "pure evil".

Easy there Norman, I am no fan of the GOP myself, but this is a bit much. Just stay on your meds there big fellow. Now if my wingnut friends are willing to say that their extremist all have mental problems as well, we might be able to find some common ground. But somehow I am guessing that they won't. I bet that they all still think that people like Beck, Rush, Sarah, and the entire crew over at Radio Rwanda are sane.

So unfortunately we are back to square one.

Anyway, let me leave you with what some wingnuts over at another website -let's just call them friends of Norman- are saying about the kid. I swear that we are all so misunderstood here in the fields.

"March 28, 2010 at 10:36 pm
There’s a blog by a black criminal defense attorney called “Field Negro”.His Sat the 27th entry talks about his visit to the County jail and the legacy of what is going on in the black community. There’s lots of bemoaning of what is going on in the black underclass, but they can’t seem to connect the dots that the crime, missing fathers, etc is ALL related back to the welfare dependency cycle.
So they have this whole never ending pity party about what ails their community, rooted in dependency, while celebrating the expansion of government entitlement programs, which will breed yet more dependency.
It boggles the mind.http://field-negro.blogspot.com/ [at least he/she got the link right]

crystal Says: March 28, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Thanks for the link. I agree…it’s INSANE to not connect the dots, as you said.

emjem24 Says: March 29, 2010 at 4:25 am
I took a look at this blog and it’s a pretty crappy blog. More about passing the buck than taking responsibility for their own actions. It was sad to see.
Then there were the token “wingnut” references, militias are bad but we won’t talk about that gang problem in America stuff. Or, people got conned by former President Bush but nope, not us poor black Americans who’ve been pawned by the Dem establishment, including civil rights race baiters, for the past 40 years. Nope, not a problem at all.
This blog is another example of what the mindset is for most blacks, be they poor, middle class, or rich. Republicans bad, Dems good. Dems will keep us in the style of dependency in which we’re accustomed and those mean Repubs will take away everything and make us work. Wah!
How pathetic.

crystal Says: March 29, 2010 at 7:39 am
I saw that. the only truth he spoke was about the cycle of fatherless homes-crime-poverty, etc. Another example of educated blacks who are woefully ignorant of the truth. This is what saddens me so much. It’s a huge mountain.

YTZ4Me Says: March 29, 2010 at 10:13 am
Emjem:I never said it was a “good” blog ;), I just think it’s instructive to see what we’re up against. I also found it interesting that they screech about “tolerance” but refuse to consider anything outside of their rigidly held viewpoint.
It was also interesting to me that they are ALL terrified of the push to less federal government, and more states rights.
Very sad that over 150 years after the official end of slavery, they are all afraid of real freedom.Including the freedom to try and fail.
Lots of folks big on the “equal outcome” mantra over there.

emjem24 Says: March 29, 2010 at 2:56 pm
YTZ:
I had a funny feeling I wasn’t going to like this “blog.” :) After living in a black community in SE VA for 3 years, and the way they treat white people, this blog just reconfirms everything that has become increasingly apparent about many blacks:
That they don’t want to do anything to improve or tackle the problems in their community.
They want to blame everybody but themselves for what’s going on.
They tarnish black Republicans as sellouts and traitors because they want to break away from the dependency that Dems offer blacks.
Federal dependency is an entitlement that is strictly reserved for black people. Because blacks were slaves a long, long time ago, and didn’t have “equal” rights until 40 years ago that means they don’t have to rise to the challenge of opportunity in this country.
It just makes me so sad that people like this blog guy are so full of hate toward white and those who criticize blacks, but he can’t look at the blemishes in his own soul or that of his community."

"THEY" ?....... I think some of my black conservative friends might have found a new home. That's if they can tear themselves out of the Bondage Clubs long enough.

"marching as to war"

These clowns add a new meaning to that hymn, "Onward Christian Soldiers". Are you kidding me? Christian militia members arrested by Uncle Sam in the Midwest? These are truly "the times that try men's souls." They call themselves Hutaree, and they even have a web site. (You don't have to go there if you don't want to, just take my word for it) Everybody has a web site these days. Hey, didn't another infamous A-merry-can group use Christian symbolisms and hide under the cloak of Christianity to do their wretched and mephitic deeds? Of course they did, I was speaking rhetorically, they are still around as well. Although they have other names , now. That old name makes for poor marketing these days.

I am all for freedom of expression, but I can't blame the feds for cracking down on some of these groups in the age of Obama. Things are just too tense these days. It doesn't take much to send these deranged losers over the edge. All it takes are certain code words such as "reload" to get them all hot under their sheets.

"Savino and two other members from his unit met with the man, who was accompanied by three other men, two women and a young child. The man told Savino federal law enforcement agents had raided his Lenawee County home and had already taken five Hutaree members into custody in the Ann Arbor area, Savino said. ..'I asked'why are they getting detained and why are they raiding your house and they had no answer,' Savino said. Savino said he encouraged the man to turn himself in. The man said, 'That's not an option."'

Well gee whiz; if that's "not an option", just what the hell are the other ones?

Finally, I know it's Palm Sunday, and I am married to a Catholic, so I am going to be very careful with what I say next: About this thing with the Pope and these alleged sexual assaults of these deaf boys in Wisconsin. Are we ever going to get to the bottom of it? Hey, I am not trying to step on any toes here, I am just putting it out there. Inquiring minds want to know. Because there is never anything wrong with asking questions of those you hold in high esteem.

If any of Mrs. Fields friends read that last paragraph, please keep that on the low for the kid. That will be our little secret. Thank you.

Not in a Saturday state of mind.

Lord have mercy, the Apocalypse is upon us; Snoop is on Larry King's show tonight.

These are strange times folks, strange times.

Anywhoo, I could chase racism tonight, but I won't. (h/t to Dave) I could even go on a wild -racism -goose chase, but I won't. (I swear some folks shouldn't even get a race card. They just abuse it)

Nope, there will be none of that. Tonight I am thinking about my personal experiences and how it's drawn me closer to the hopelessness of an entire generation.

Today after a little R&R, I headed up to State Road here in Philly which is where our three county prisons are located. I went to visit a young man who was recently arrested, and whose family asked me to take his case. It's always particularly depressing for me when I visit the county because of the young men that I see there, and where it takes my mind.

Today it took my mind back few weeks. Sitting in a court room while a young man-not unlike the one I just visited- was sentenced. The judge gave him a 25 year minimum, and dude just kind of shrugged and started smiling. Smiling! He kept looking around the court room and smiling at some of his people who were in the back of the room. I have seen that type of reaction from defendant's before, and usually it's just nervousness or fear. But not this time. My man honestly didn't understand the gravity of his situation.

His momma was there, and she wasn't smiling. In fact, she was crying a river. Too late.She should have been crying when the truant officers were telling her that his little ass wasn't going to school. I looked around, and, of course, there was no daddy. There never is.

I couldn't get over the look on my man's face. Twenty Five years of his life gone, and all he could do was shrug and smile like someone just told him that he flunked his driver's license test. He must have heard how Snoop beat his charges and thought that he could do likewise. Sorry young buck, you will not be on Larry King anytime soon.

But I guess when you have no life to look forward to it's easy when you are being told that you will lose twenty five years of it. The sad thing is that being in jail will probably extend his life for a longer period than most of his peers.

There are three huge jails on State Road here in Philly. And they are always full. Most of the people in there look like me but they happen to be a little younger. Most of the people in there will end up going where that young man I saw in court a few weeks back, went. And the neighborhoods they left will just replace the newly departed with others just like them.

Tomorrow is Sunday, and in those same neighborhoods all the churches will be full. Just like the buildings on State Road.

The truth about Harry. And maybe George.

I won't lie, I hate bumper stickers. A car should be for driving, not telling us about what religion you belong to, how smart your kids are, or who you vote for. Sometimes I see bumper stickers on very nice new cars and I just have to shake my head. I just don't get it.

Still, as much as I despise bumper stickers, I don't think I would do what this guy did. What the hell is A-merry-ca coming to when just having a bumper sticker declaring your love for his O ness can cost you a trip to the body shop? Oh lawd! These wingnuts are off the chain. I bet the guy was listening to Beck or one of those right wing talk show nut jobs and just got fired up. The poor guy just took out all his pent up rage on the first thing he saw with his O ness on it.

"After picking up his 10-year old daughter from school yesterday afternoon, Nashville resident Mark Duren was driving home when he was suddenly and intentionally rammed from behind by Harry Weisiger. Enraged at the sight of Duren’s Obama bumper sticker, Weisiger gave Duren “the bird” and then hit him from behind, leading to a violent series of events. Nashville’s WKRN report"

The guy didn't even care that there was a 10 year old child in the car. No sir, all he had to see was the face of the beige man in the people's house to go all Toyota on poor Mr. Duren.

“He pointed at the back of my car,” Duren said, “the bumper, flipped me off, one finger salute.”
But it didn’t end there. Duren told News 2 that Weisiger honked his horn at him for awhile, as Duren stopped at a stop sign. Once he started driving again, down Blair Boulevard, towards his home, he said, “I looked in the rear view mirror again, and this same SUV was speeding, flying up behind me, bumped me.”

Obama supporters, I think you are all going to have to start driving bigger cars. Or, just leave your bumper stickers at home. This is crazy. It's not worth losing your lives over this love you have for his O ness.

Finally, I am going to shock some of you tonight. I am going to defend the frat boy. Yes, defend him.

You all know about the video making the rounds on the Internet of the frat boy doing a quick wipe after playing touch with some Haitians. He has been getting killed for it in some circles. Hey George, this is what happens when you diss an entire city of poor suffering black folks by doing a fly over. These kinds of things tend to stay with you. Let's face it; you Bush folks tend to be Crips when it comes to your blood. So for many people it was easy to believe this story.

But don't worry George, even though I am no fan. I am going to lean to The Guardian story on this one and say that the whole thing just seemed a lot worse than it really was. And, that looks, in this case, was deceiving. Besides, the frat boy, like his daddy, has an issue with touching strangers, period. So I don't think it was a Haitian thing.....I don't think.

How is that? Field taking the high road. It must be the weekend.

Living in right wing bloggerland: Those threats against the democratic lawmakers weren't real.

I would like to thank my man Greg Fuller for sending me the following article from Media Matters. It kind of sums up how right wing blogs have been reacting to the anarchistic and hooligan style tactics of their wingnut friends.

"Right-wing blogs trivialize threats against Democrats
Right-wing blogs have responded to reported threats against Democrats who voted for the health care reform bill by trivializing the threats or suggesting that the reports are false, condemning the threats but making excuses for them, suggesting that Democrats themselves are to blame for receiving the threats, or suggesting other acts of violence that people could commit against their congressional representative.

Right-wing blogs trivialize threats, make excuses, blame Democrats
Big Government: "We doubt these threats are actually real and, certainly wouldn't condone them." In a March 25 post, the "Editorial Panel" of Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com wrote: "Democrats and the leftist media are all atwitter about alleged threats of violence against Congressmen who voted for ObamaCare. We doubt these threats are actually real and, certainly wouldn't condone them." The post continued: "But, here's a tip: Hey Democrats, if you are worried about an angry public, how about not passing a sweeping government expansion opposed by 70% of the public. Just a thought."

Big Journalism's Walsh: Media "never once stops to question whether the Alinsky Party is, you know, exaggerating or even lying." In a March 24 post on Breitbart's BigJournalism.com about a report noting House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer warned Democrats about potential violence, Michael Walsh wrote: "Naturally, the media accepts this allegation at face value, and never once stops to question whether the Alinsky Party is, you know, exaggerating or even lying -- as the spiritual mentor of both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton taught it to do." Walsh later stated: "So listen up, MSM [mainstream media], and consider this speaking out: God forbid that anything should happen. But if it does happen, try not to leap to pre-planted conclusions that fit the narrative: 'Democrats good/Republicans bad.' "

Gateway Pundit: "Suddenly the State-Run Media is Horrified that Politician's [sic] Home Addresses Are Published on the Internet." In a March 24 post responding to reports that the FBI is investigating an incident at the home of Rep. Tom Perriello's (D-VA) brother, at which a gas line was allegedly cut, Jim Hoft wrote, "Suddenly the State-Run Media is Horrified that Politician's [sic] Home Addresses Are Published on the Internet." Hoft further wrote: "This week an angry tea party activist published the address of a Virginia Congressman on his blog and suggested that Tea Party Protesters go visit this socialist at home... The tea party organizer did not direct anyone to harm the Congressman. But, that won't stop the leftist media from going berserk over the incident."

Confederate Yankee: "[H]ave a swing" at "your Congressman" instead. In a March 24 blog post, right-wing blogger Confederate Yankee wrote that it is "totally unacceptable to threaten" Congress members' "relatives or friends and put them in danger." Confederate Yankee added: "Go to your Congressman's office and scream at him in the most colorful language possible. Hang him in effigy at protests. If you're willing to do the time for the crime, have a swing at him."

NewsBusters: "The Media's Myth of Right Wing Violence." In a March 24 NewsBusters post, Mithridate Ombud wrote that while "[t]hose who commit violence in the name of politics deserve political change no more than they deserve leniency in sentencing," President Obama's "desire to continue ramming through the most divisive legislation -- against his own creed -- isn't helping bring calm to even the most peaceful conservatives. And while the evidence of a violent right is scarce, there's no limit to liberals attempting to make conservatives look evil." Ombud further stated, "Whether this is a shortcut to 2nd Amendment action, valid concern, or just a bunch of crybaby progressive politicians over reacting to criticism, it's hard to tell." Ombud concluded: "The media and politicians who are trying to construct a meme of conservative violence as we run up to the 2010 elections should only face the weapon they fear most; the ballot."

Dan Riehl: "Dems Have Only Themselves To Blame For Threats." In a March 24 post on his blog titled, "Dems Have Only Themselves To Blame For Threats," Dan Riehl wrote: "No one should seriously enjoy seeing this type of thing going on. Though, I'd add, the Netroots crowd would have absolutely no problem with this were the shoe on the other foot. But it's not. It's on theirs." Riehl later wrote of Democrats who received threats: "These malignant little tyrants want to play the victim? After victimizing America with their pathetic antics, their corrupt practices, all to push a destructive ideology America has long rejected? The Democrats are the real criminals here. They have torn the fabric of America with a repulsive world view they now hope to thrust upon the American people, whether we like it, or not."

John Hinderaker: Threats "being played up in the press because the Democrats want to dampen the anger that has erupted" over health care reform. In a March 24 Powerline post, John Hinderaker wrote, "We condemn political violence in virtually all circumstances; certainly in all circumstances that could arise in our democracy." Hinderaker later wrote that "[t]he current threats (assuming they are real, as I assume some of them are) are being played up in the press because the Democrats want to dampen the anger that has erupted over their adoption of a government medicine program through a series of legislative maneuvers that are in some respects unprecedented." From Hinderaker's post:

We condemn political violence in virtually all circumstances; certainly in all circumstances that could arise in our democracy. Threats of violence, sadly, are not uncommon in politics; let alone "harassment." Even insignificant conservatives like us have been threatened with violence on several occasions, and the linked article notes that Jim Bunning received threats after he temporarily held up the extension of unemployment benefits a few weeks ago.

The current threats (assuming they are real, as I assume some of them are) are being played up in the press because the Democrats want to dampen the anger that has erupted over their adoption of a government medicine program through a series of legislative maneuvers that are in some respects unprecedented. It is important for the Democrats and their press minions to understand that there are many millions of Americans who regard Obamacare not just as misguided public policy, but as an illegitimate usurpation of power. I am one of the many millions who are outraged at the Left's attempt to destroy the private health care system that has served my family so well, and who regard Obamacare as illegitimate.

As for the threats, we will take them more seriously if they result in the cancellation of a public appearance by a liberal due to security concerns. But that never happens to liberals, only to conservatives. It happened again last night. That was in Canada, of course; the home of government medicine and little regard for free speech. No coincidence, that.
Lopez: "Threats are wrong. But they also are somewhat commonplace." In a post on National Review Online's The Corner blog, Kathryn Jean Lopez quoted from Hinderaker's Powerline post and downplayed the threats against Democrats:

Threats are wrong. But they also are somewhat commonplace. Take deep breaths and work harder, is my advice to anyone to receives one.

Let's not pretend that Obamacare critics are all violent or otherwise breed violence. And let's not pretend that John Boehner and Eric Cantor, or Jonah Goldberg and Kathryn Lopez, haven't been subject to ridiculous -- albeit disconcerting -- threats, too. This is bad news, but it didn't materialize this Saturday or Sunday with a "Don't Tread on Me" flag.

Fox News figures condemn threats against Democrats -- but then make excuses for them
As Media Matters for America has noted, several Fox News hosts and guests -- including Gretchen Carlson, Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade; Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, S.E. Cupp, Charles Krauthammer, and Stephen Hayes -- have been quick to first condemn the threats against Democrats but then immediately make excuses for or dismiss the seriousness of the threats.http://mediamatters.org/items/201003250028"

Don't you just love the "threats are wrong-- but" arguments from these wingnut blogs?

Personally, this shit is mild to me. I come from a place where we kill our political enemies. So sticks and stones if you get my drift. Still, this is A-merry-ca, we are supposed to be civil with our politics and in our political discourse. Violence and threats of violence is not the A-merry-can political way. At least not anymore.

Oh well; bring it on wingnuts. We will be right here.

"Extremism in the defense of liberty.."?

Given the nature of my job I could have my license to carry in Philly in no time. I have this friend who is a gun nut, and he is always telling me that he can get me one of those sweet Korth semi-automatic pistols for a good price. "Come on Field, you can afford it, suck it up and spring for a nice piece." Still, I am resisting the urge to arm myself. I am protected by some fine officers during the day, and I have people -on both sides of the law- who would be all too willing to put in some work for the kid. So, for now, I am good. Hear that wingnuts? Limit your numerous threats to the Internet.

But seriously, the way these wingnuts have been acting lately, I don't know, I might have to reconsider protecting myself when I step out the door.

Ever since his O ness got health care reform to pass, these people have been losing their minds. Spurred on by their leaders such as the crazy Queen from Alaska, they have been doing things like threatening congressmen, and throwing bricks through windows. And, they went as far as to cut the gas lines at the home of the brother of a congressman who voted for health care reform. (Hmmm, I guess Virginia isn't for lovers after all.) Poor James Clayburn, I saw my man on CNN this evening and he still looked scared. He told Wolf Blitzer that he was having flashbacks to those civil rights days. He said that he looked in the eyes of the tea baggers and saw the same hatred he saw back then. Yeah, that kind of hate just doesn't happen overnight with the passing of a bill, Jim. No sir, that hate has been there all along. It's just been hiding under the surface and

waiting to come out.

One wingnut, who is the former leader of some Alabama militia, (good luck on that run for Governor, Artur) left this little gem of a message on his web site:

"So, if you wish to send a message that Pelosi and her party cannot fail to hear, break their windows.
Break them NOW.
Break them and run to break again. Break them under cover of night. Break them in broad daylight. Break them and await arrest in willful, principled civil disobedience. Break them with rocks. Break them with slingshots. Break them with baseball bats.
But BREAK THEM.
The time has come to take your life, your liberty and that of your children and grandchildren into your own two hands and ACT.
It is, after all, more humane than shooting them in self defense."

Nice people these wingnuts. They take losing so well. Where the hell is homeland security when you need them? And why aren't we sending their enablers to Gitmo? Isn't that what we would do with al-Qaeda? I am just saying.

Anywhoo, I am going to stay away from rural areas for awhile until these folks calm down. Sorry Mrs. Field, there will be no trips to the mountains this spring. I don't care how nice the shopping outlets are up there. No sir, I will take my chances with the "street pirates" right here in Philly. Flash mobs and all.

Welcome to Philly! Home of the cheese steaks and "flash mobs"

For certain reasons that I cannot get into, I won't comment too much on this next story. But I need your help. Here in Philly we have what we call a "flash mob" problem, and it's getting out of hand. I will do a cut and paste job for you and let you read about it for yourselves:

" WHAT'S the answer to the city's "flash mob" phenomenon?
Beef up cops on South Street on weekends and in Center City after school?
Earlier curfews?
Conflict resolution in schools?
Get parents to control their kids?
Monitor social networking Web sites?
With nearly everyone from the mayor, elected officials, SEPTA, school officials, merchants and civic groups weighing in after Saturday's incident, Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross yesterday said, "We are looking for a holistic approach."

"We will be announcing something shortly in terms of future steps to be taken," said Mayor Nutter. "What I'm most concerned about here is inappropriate behavior or any kind of violence or assaults.

"I want to strongly encourage our parents and guardians to please keep better track of their children, know where they are at all times, discourage negative inappropriate behavior that's only going to result in someone getting arrested," he added.

As officials sought solutions, more victims injured in Saturday's Twitter-inspired flash mob came forward. Possibly thousands of teens stampeded in waves down South Street until nearly midnight, running on top of cars, knocking down pedestrians, fighting and urinating on neighbors' property.

As police cleared South Street, young men fled to other streets in Center City.
In addition to a woman getting punched in the face about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, her boyfriend, John Kemp, 36, was struck a few times in the head at 15th and Kater streets. Kemp said he and his girlfriend plan to give police statements today.

About 11:20 p.m., at 15th and Market streets, police said, Deion Perkins, 19, was arrested after he and a group of juveniles allegedly beat an adult male near the Clothespin sculpture.
As an officer was putting Perkins into a police vehicle, the defendant turned around and allegedly punched the cop in the face. The two wrestled to the ground and Perkins ran off, but officers caught him nearby, police said.

Perkins was charged with aggravated assault of an officer and related offenses.
About 11:30 p.m., a young man entered the Bliss restaurant on Broad Street near Spruce and punched a diner in the head three times. The youth ran off." [Rest of story]

Did that article say that some of these kids are organizing around social networking sites like Facebook? Oh well, so much for the "digital divide". Anyway, I need you all to help me with this one. You read some of the things in the article that the city is trying to do. Tell me, what would you do? I live here, and you would be really helping a brother out. I don't want to be in the middle of a lovely dinner with Mrs. Field and get clocked on my dome from behind by some young buck. I would hate to go all Kingston 12 on some other person's kid. Besides, I have a career to think about.

BTW, before you go thinking that it's only young bucks in urban areas who are guilty of "flash" mobbing; you might want to remember a certain group of people who just happen to be older and a little more melanin challenged. Thank you Mr. Smith. You nailed it. But don't worry, I don't need any suggestions for how to stop them. I know that only Obama's beige behind out of the people's house will quench their thirst for liberty.

"Baby Killer"! No, not George Bush, the health care reform bill.

You know what's worse than a scumbag wingnut? A lying scumbag wingnut. Calling a fellow lawmaker a "baby killer" is bad, but trying to say that it wasn't meant for him but the bill he supported, is almost as despicable.

But such was the vitriol coming from Washington last night. The veins were popping from the those wingnuts as it looked more and more like Fatso will have to find another country to fill his illegal prescriptions. Did you see John Boehner crying? I swear his tan was about to come off. What a joke.

“Can you go home and tell your senior citizens that these cuts in Medicare will not limit their access to doctors or further weaken the program instead of strengthening it? No, you can not,” Boehner said. “And look at how this bill was written. Can you say it was done openly, with transparency and accountability without backroom deals struck behind closed doors, hidden from the people? Hell, no you can’t.”

Hey Tan-Man, I know what I can tell you; and that is that you and those insurance companies who have you and your cronies in their pockets do not represent "the people". News flash for you wingnut: nothing limits" access to doctors" like a lack of money.

So anyway, it looks likes it's not quite over, as there are still some procedural games to play. Take heart wingnuts, there is still hope. If the bill does pass and becomes law, you can run on repealing that bad boy come the next election cycle. But be careful, don't overplay your hand, because the A-merry-can people just might start to realize that his O ness isn't really a Socialist after all, and this health care reform thing just might work out. Talk about all your eggs in one basket, you repubs sure know how to go all in.

Speaking of wingnuts going all in: Seems that this conservative blogger has called for the assassination of his O ness in a tweet:

"We'll surely get over a bullet 2 Barack Obama's head!" There's more and it gets worse: "the next American with a clear shot, should drop Obama like a bad habit. Forget blacks or his claim to be black."

Oh, did I mention that this slave catcher is black? [Shout out to Lynne for this story.] Memo to black conservatives: I know you really want to impress your white conservative friends. So you have to be really over the top and do shit to get in their good graces. But enough already. We get it. You are black, but that doesn't mean that you support Obama. Good for you, you are entitled to your opinion. But don't let your wingnut friends continue to make fools of you. Frankly, the shit is embarrassing.

THE PASSION OF THE WINGNUT

Do you see those children watching the "strange fruit" hanging from that tree? How much you want to bet that one of them was in Washington today protesting health care reform. (BTW, did anyone see Rush or Glenn Beck in any of the pictures of the Washington protest? It must be nice to be able to manufacture a revolution from a radio or television studio.)

So anyway, thanks to Mr. pro-life Stupak, it finally looks like this very watered down health care reform bill just might make it to 216 votes. Don't worry wingnuts, if it does, the sun will still come up tomorrow in your beloved A-merry-ca. But thanks for your passion. It's funny, I am hearing all these people talk about his O ness transforming A-merry-ca as they know it, and how, if this bill passes, it will be the worst day in A-merry-can history. Really? Even worse than those days when folks like my man in this pic was being forced to do neck exercises until he could no longer breathe? I can guarantee you that these folks would have been the screaming bloody murder when we amended the Constitution to include the 13th Amendment in 1865. We went to war then, but I doubt that we will again. Although you never know. The way this beige guy in the people's house is pissing off the wingnuts it could get even uglier before it's all said and done. Over at Radio Rwanda they must be all wearing black. I bet they can't wait for November to get here so that they can "throw the bums out."

And it's only going to get worse for the wingnut. On a day when over 200,000.00 brown people and their friends are in D.C. demanding immigration reform, please believe that this issue is next up for his O ness. Oh lawd! What's a wingnut to do? They are going to have to get their own Hispanic version of Tom In Chief, Jesse Lee, to beg for them. Good luck with that, Jesse is the best.

Of course when things are this heated, people's true feelings come out. F*#k that facade of civility, it's time-to quote Marsellus Wallace- "get medieval". And medieval they got with Rep. John Lewis of all people. A man who got his brains beaten in because he had the audacity to stand up to bigotry. And one who had the decency to meet with and forgive one of his tormentors. And don't believe the wingnuts when they say it didn't happen, it did. And it represents an ugliness that has been coming to the surface with these nut jobs for awhile now. That's not just some black blogger talking, a white member of congress said the same damn thing. These clowns went "medieval" on Gays and blacks, and they spit in the face of a congressman for good measure.

"Angry activists who had gathered outside the Capitol to protest health care reform Saturday yelled "nigger" at a few members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis from Georgia.

Protesters also spat on at least one black lawmaker, and the most high-profile openly gay lawmaker, Rep Barney Frank, was apparently called a "faggot." Rep Emanuel Cleaver said he was spat upon while walking toward the Capitol. Police arrested the assailant, but Cleaver decided not to press charges.

A statement from his office read: "This is not the first time the Congressman has been called the 'n' word and certainly not the worst assault he has endured in his years fighting for equal rights for all Americans."

I thank Representative Lewis for that. Unfortunately for the poor guy hanging in the pic, folks like Representative Lewis came along a little too late.

A "teachable moment"?

*

Today I had one of those personal teachable moments about race relations here in A-merry-ca.

I won't front. When the weather breaks, I usually play tennis with a group of guys on weekends in a club here in Northeast Philly. One of the regulars in the group is a very fine Italian- American fellow who made a shit load of money in construction. (At least I thought he did)

I hadn't seen the guy since last November, so in between games we are shooting the breeze about whatever. We finally get around to the economy, and, to my surprise, the guy is telling me about his three kids in college and how their tuition is killing him. He is going on and on about his youngest daughter whose tuition is going up 11% this year, and how tough it is going to be to come up out of his pocket to pay it. Not really caring, but just to make conversation; I ask him where she is in school. Now I am expecting to hear Rutgers, Temple, Penn, Vanilla-nova, or some large out of state land grant university. What I sure as hell didn't expect to hear is what he told me next: "Howard University." I tried to be cool and act like I wasn't phased by what he said; just like he was. My man might as well been talking about working on his back hand or his second serve. He was that matter of fact with his statement. He didn't even give me a second look when he said it. "Yeah, 11%, you believe that? All in one year. "

Now I am thinking: Howard? Hell isn't that an HBCU? And I know that a lot of those schools are becoming more integrated, and many of the grad programs in these schools are loaded with folks from the majority population. But, given the age of his daughter, I knew that she was still in undergrad. And , since pops lives in Philly, she obviously lives on campus or is on her own down in D.C.

Field, I am thinking, you really have to start giving folks in the majority more credit with this race stuff. You have got to make stories like the latest one from Arizona stop getting to you. Maybe some white folks in A-merry-ca really do see everything in non -racial terms. Maybe, just maybe, we are living in post racial A-merry-ca.....maybe.

"Hey man, good luck with the tuition." I tell him. "Yeah right, and you know the worst part?" "No, what?"" She wants to be a doctor."

*Pic courtesy of gerrymay.com

When wingnuts are whining children suffer.

*

I tried to go through the day without hearing or seeing wingnuts crying about his O ness pushing Obama- care down their throats, but I couldn't. These wingnut whiners are everywhere. I guess now they are seeing how lefties felt during the run up to the frat boy's war. Billions of dollars and over 4,000 dead -brave- American soldiers later (including one who was very close to me) we can see where that got us. For some reason I am thinking that if Obama-care passes, history will be kinder to it. (Yeah, I know they had an election in Iraq recently, and the Iraqi people went out and voted. Nice. Like what were they going to do, spend the day at the beach?)

But you can't tell that to the wingnuts, they are pulling out all the stops. In fact, they did something recently that I want to blog about tonight.

Down in Ohio there is a congressman who is sitting on the fence with his vote, and the wingnuts, in what could go down as one of the most crass political acts in A-merry-can history, featured an ad. with the man's daughters. Yes, his under aged daughters.

"In southern Ohio, opponents of the bill have created a blowback effect by airing an ad targeting Rep. Steve Driehaus to stand firm as a "no" vote on the legislation. The ad prominently featured the congressman’s young daughters, in violation of the unwritten law that forbids dragging lawmakers' family members – most especially their underage children – into the fray. " [story]

Damn, even criminals have a code of honor when it comes to children. But not the wingnut, not when A-merry-ca's future is at stake.

Oh field, stop it, didn't you see where they offered an apology to the man?

Yes, I saw that. And I bet that they wish they could take the ad. back as well. I mean it's not like the damage hasn't already been done. (Just look at some of the wingnut comments under this post. )

Sadly, I am guessing that somewhere in wingnutville, they are looking for Sasha and Malia doubles.

* Pic by ArtMaggot.

Health Care Madness!

*

Forget college basketball; the real March Madness is taking place down in Washington. (BTW, I love your picks O man) Poor republicans, they are acting downright apocalyptic these days. If you hear them tell it, A-merry-ca, as we know it, will be over in a few days. Come Sunday night, Socialism will have taken over A-merry-ca, and darkness will fall over our republic. Why? Well it's all because of that beige man with the African daddy and the mother from Kansas. He decided to upset the apple cart.

It's so bad that Michelle Bachmann, an elected Representative from the land of the great lakes(I think all that cold up there might have chilled the brains of some of the voters in the land of Prince), is calling for the impeachment of Nancy Pelosi. Glenn Beck is calling this the most traumatic event in A-merry-ca since the civil war, and he has all but told his O ness to watch his back. I just watched Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, (real nice guy that John Boehner) and a bunch of angry white men declare war on this health care bill, and you could just tell from the looks on their faces that if this thing passes they will all have to be put on suicide watch. Over at Radio Rwanda they are taking calls from republican operatives live on the air and telling their viewers that the bill could still die. The wingnut web sites are beside themselves with rage. They are accusing the dumbocrats of lying and cheating to get their way. Oh what a difference a few years make.

Still, the votes are going to be close. I am hearing that this bill might pass by just one vote. Imagine that? One vote! I am still seeing images of all those people in Grant Park and I am hearing those chants of "Yes We Can" in my ears, and I can't believe that if his O ness passes his signature legislation- one that he has damn near staked his entire presidency on- it will only pass by one stinking vote.

I see Dennis Kucininich switched. Good for him. ( Now there is a guy who married up. Literally.) Hey, I am not crazy about this watered down version of a bill, either. But hell, I guess it's better than nothing. In a way, I might have switched my thinking as well. I didn't know how much passing this bad boy meant to his O ness. He canceled his trip to Australia and Indonesia, he went on Radio Rwanda, and he has been literally begging fence sitters for votes. Damn it O man, all you had to do was ask. I would have gotten your back a lot sooner.

I want to know what the wingnuts will do if the bill does pass. They have been threatening all kinds of shit. It should be interesting. Will they storm the people's house and pull the beige man and his family out? Will there be rioting and looting in the streets? Will the teabaggers have a sit down in the middle of Washington D.C and shut down the city? Man they have a lot of options. And, they might have to use them. I see the CBO report just came out and it should give some of those cowardly dumbocratic politicians some cover. As a result, look for a couple of more yes votes flipping for his O ness.

Hang on folks, this should be more fun than a buzzer beater.

*Pic courtesy of Ehow.com

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." This one is called Uncle Sam, and he is very good to your husband.

Ahhh the beauty and perils of marriage. I have to blog about this story, because it involves one of my favorite A-merry-cans: the only man in A-merry-ca with a mirror that actually lightens his skin tone when he looks into it.

Of course I am talking about my man, Clarence. That would be Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas. He of the coke bottle fetish and the Clarence in wonderland legal opinions. Although it's not really Clarence I am focusing on this time, it's his wife. Yes, his wife.

Apparently Virginia Thomas has decided to let her true party colors fly and step up to the plate in the "teabagger" movement.

"Into the heightened political atmosphere between the Supreme Court and the Obama administration comes now Virginia Thomas, the conservative activist and wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, who is founder of a new nonprofit lobbying and political-organizing group catering to the "citizen activists" of the "tea party" movement.

Virginia "Ginni" Thomas says Liberty Central Inc. will educate motivated citizens to "preserve freedom and reaffirm the core founding principles," according to the group's Web site, and will serve as a way for concerned Americans to "make a difference in the fight for liberty and against the liberal Washington agenda." [story]

Yeah, I hear you there Ginny, knock yourself dead. Just remember that your husband gets his big fat Supremes salary from the federal government that you and your friends hate so much. And I know that a lot of pillow talk goes on between you two when you are getting your Wesley and Annabella on, but I just hope that you are not influencing my friend Clarence when he has to make very important decisions on our nation's behalf. I am all for "educating and motivating citizens", I just don't need you "motivating" Clarence too much come bed time if you get my drift.

I am not going to get into the ethical aspects of this. (Clarence, I know you don't have to, but you should recuse yourself if any teabagger case comes before you. You are already on shaky ground. You did rule with he majority in that Citizens United case.) Folks will be able to go back and forth on that one. (The lefties will rip it and the wingnuts and their coon-kicks will defend it) Besides, who are we kidding? We all know where Clarence stands. It's not like the guy is on the fence ideologically. Still, I don't know, the Supremes used to be so much better of at least not acting like they were so partisan. First Alito's little outburst, and now this. Oh where have you gone Earl Warren?

"Virginia Thomas did not return calls on Monday. But she said in an interview with a conservative blogger at a meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee last month that she had left her job working for a small college because of her concern that the country is off-track. ..."We've got to get the Constitution back to a place where it means something . . . or we're headed for tyranny," she told blogger Ed Morrissey."

"Tyranny" huh Virginia? Now I see where Clarence gets his mojo.

Otis, I am not the greatest writer my damn self, but....

"If you saw Sunday's Free Press that shown Robert Bobb the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, move Mark Twain to Boynton which have three times the number seats then students and was one of the reason's he gave for closing school to many empty seats."

"Do DPS control the Foundation or outside group? If an outside group control the foundation, then what is DPS Board row with selection of is director? Our we mixing DPS and None DPS row's, and who is the watch dog?"

I know my writing style can be a mess at times, and lord knows I am no fan of you grammarians. But damn it those two paragraphs you just read above are beyond bad. And usually I wouldn't care, but those paragraphs represent copies of e-mails sent by the PRESIDENT OF THE DETROIT SCHOOL BOARD! Wait, let me repeat that for you:THE PRESIDENT OF THE DETROIT SCHOOL BOARD!

Now I know, that like clock work, certain people are going to be out to say: see, I told you so, those inner city black folks are just off the chain, and it's all the dumbocrats fault. But I submit to you that an argument like that would be totally ludicrous and disingenuous. Why? Because what is happening in Detroit should fall squarely on the shoulders of the people of Detroit. No one else. To put a man who cannot write (he said it, not me) to lead the Detroit School Board would be the equivalent of making Donald Trump the president of The Hair Club For Men.

I mean come on Motown, WTF were you all thinking? Look, I am sure that the guy is a great politician, and he probably has great political instincts. Hell the following statement confirms it:

" Mathis is liked and defended by many of his peers, who cite his collegiality, lack of defensiveness and leadership as more important than his writing skills. "

So give him another job to do within city government where he can utilize some of his other skills. I am sorry folks, sometimes perception, is reality. [Story here]

I swear, some of you Negroes just love to give these wingnuts and their coonkicks ammunition.

Health care reform and other weighty issues.

On what could be a historic week here in A-merry-ca, and on a day when his O ness is stomping in middle A-merry-ca for support, I know that I should be blogging about health insurance reform; but I can't. (BTW, at this point why can't we just scrap the whole damn thing and allow every uninsured A-merry-can under 65 a chance to buy into Medicare? They could compete with priv.... Ahh never mind, it makes too much damn sense.) So where was I? Oh yeah, sorry, I can't blog about his O ness and health care tonight. Tonight I have a bigger fish.... ahhm... person to fry.

So let's talk about 42 year old Donna Simpson, shall we? Donna weighs 602 pounds, and she is trying to eat her way into the record as the world's fattest woman. That would require Donna to tip the scales at a whopping 1,000 pounds. To do that, Donna will have to pack in 12,000 calories per day which will cost her about $750 per week in grocery money...I swear you folks over in Jersey. *shaking head*

Anywhooo, some are speculating that this could be a form of "suicide by eating", but I doubt it. Donna seems happy. She has a boyfriend who loves her very much, and she even has a website up where some of you sick people can pay to watch her eat. And.......-oh lawd, I hate to even go here-but I am looking at Donna's pics from this article, and I am guessing Donna's significant other is one of my cousins.....oh yes, I just confirmed it.......ahhm...ahhm....ahhm...ok, for the first in a very long time I think I am speechless. Sorry folks, I just saw a pic of Donna and Phillippe and....

Anywhoo, I believe in individual freedoms, so Donna go ahead and knock yourself out. Still, I am looking at the beautiful little girl in those pics -who I think is your daughter- and checking out to leave her without a mom would not be cool. I know you say that you are healthy, but a thousand pounds is a thousand pounds. Come on girlfriend, give up the record, I don't think it's worth it.

O man, here is hoping that you have incentives for healthy life styles in your bill.

Just in time for spring break.

I am used to living in a place where murders occur on the regular. I remember growing up in Jamaica and well over a thousand murders in a year was not that unusual. Believe me, for an island of about two million people that's a lot. Do the math. Now I live in a place I affectionately call Killadelphia (see my murder count on the side-bar) and even though we are doing much better, over three hundred killings in a given year is still way too much.

Still, when it comes to murders, both Philly and Jamaica might have to take a back seat to my friends south of the border. In 2008 alone they had well over 5,000 murders in that bad boy. That is Iraq type numbers. Since Calderon took office in 2006 they have had over 8,000 murders. Those are mind numbing numbers for a country that is not officially at war. Although, I take that back; they are at war, but it's a war against drug cartels, who are actually at war with each other. If you live on the American side close to the Mexican border, you have to be concerned, because now the violence is spilling over into the good ole U.S.A.. Thank goodness my Cancun days are over, because it's no fun getting your party on at Senor Frogs if you have to be listening for gunshots. It must be tough being a young buck on spring break down in that bad boy these days. Thirteen killed in Acapulco this past weekend alone.

And, sadly, now comes news that three people with ties to the American embassy were killed as well. Understandably our president is not pleased, and who can blame him?

"President Barack Obama expressed outrage over the killings, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon promised a swift investigation.Several U.S. citizens have been killed in Mexico's drug war, most of them people with family ties to Mexico. However, it is rare for American government employees to be targeted."

Don't hold your breath for President Calderon jumping on that investigation there O man, I suspect that some people very high up in his administration have dogs in these cartel fights. This is nothing new. We have seen this movie before, and I suspect that we will see it again. Unfortunately there is a lot of violence in this movie, and I am pretty sure that there won't be a happy ending.

DISTRACTIONS.

I was sitting in McCormick & Schmick's, a very fine seafood restaurant in Philly a couple of days ago, and I was trying to talk shop with a fellow attorney over lunch. I tried to give him my undivided, but I couldn't. Why? Because there was a very fine Nubian in a business suit across the room distracting me.

It's easy to get distracted these days. For instance, we can get distracted by the cell phone while we are trying to drive. Parents can get distracted by their children while they are trying to talk on the phone; loud people can distract us all in public; and an attractive Nubian can distract us damn near anywhere.

Still, the folks down in Mississippi have taken this distraction thing to a whole different level. You all know the story by now: .A young lady who happens to be Gay has created a stir at her -very red state- school, all because she wants to go the prom with her partner in a tuxedo. This being northern Mississippi, the folks at the school decided to cancel the prom because they say it would be distraction. I mean I know the folks in Mississippi don't take to women wearing tuxedos too well, but why do I get the feeling that this isn't about the tuxedo?

"The Itawamba County school district's policy requires that senior prom dates be of the opposite sex. The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi had given the district until Wednesday to change that policy and allow 18-year-old Constance McMillen to escort her girlfriend, who is also a student, to the dance on April 2.

Instead, the school board met and issued a statement announcing it wouldn't host the event at Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Fulton, "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events."

There is that word distraction again. "Due to the distractions of the educational process"Yes, god forbid we cause a distraction at that most educational of high school events; the prom. I mean I can just imagine if Lark Voorhies had showed up at my senior prom in a LBD. Now that would have been a distraction for your ass. Field, are you going to dance or what? Ahhm, sorry date, I am a bit distracted. I can't stop looking at Lark across the room. How dare she show up here like that?

Anyway, I see that those pesky ACLU folks are getting involved. Maybe they will help us work out this little distraction thing.

Constance, look at the bright side: you have graduated high school and you are emancipated. You can finally move away from Mississippi.