Don't let it hit you in the ass Mark Penn.
I'm talking about the swinging door. You know, the one Hillary just showed you after you effed up yet again. Read more about it here.
Mark Penn was a funny dude. From news reports, it's obvious he was the classic arrogant bastard who believed his farts smelled like strawberries. And besides his embarrassing deal with the Colombian government, he apparently represented dirtbags like Blackwater and Countrywide. I guess that old saying about birds and flocks actually is true.
The funny thing, well besides the laughable attempts by Hillary's surrogates to suddenly distance the campaign from Penn and and his fluctuating morality, is that not only did Penn get dumped by Ms. Clinton, but he he also got dropped by the Colombian government. Seems Colombians don't like being thrown under the bus by people they are paying millions of dollars, and they took offense at Penn scrambling to distance himself from them and their trade agreement. So homeboy talked himself out of two fat checks.
I wouldn't feel too sorry for Penn though. After all, he's still going to be hanging around Hillary helping her analyze polls while providing other advice. And given the way Hillary's campaign has hemorrhaged bigshots, Maggie Williams might want to polish up her own resume, because if things keep going south for Hillary she's going to be looking of a new Kizzy to bring her some water real soon.
I'm actually curious to see if Penn's departure will change the tenor the campaign at all since he's received much of the blame for Hillary's decision to make negative attacks on Obama. Then again, I also heard on some television show that Hillary's folks claim they have some explosive dirt on Obama that they are waiting on the Obama-loving press to report on. So, things may stay the same.
Whatever happens, it's becoming clear that Hillary has pushed all her chips into the middle of the table for one last push. She seems to have less and less patience for screw-ups and with more of her lies being exposed, Hillary is even more conscious of potential public relations pratfalls.
While her surrogates have claimed that Penn stepped aside voluntarily, I tend to believe he was forced out by those individuals who used this last mistake to finally draw a wedge between Penn and the Clintons. If there is one thing we've learned it's that the Clintons will get rid of anyone if the political cost of their friendship is too high.
Nobody is indispensable.
Pay Attention
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Red, White and Blue Rape
I've never been raped.
Honestly, I've never really considered that level of physical violation. Sure, like most men, I've joked about dropping the soap in jail or getting molested by some handsy priest, but I never took those threats seriously.
I've never sized up the shrubs along the sidewalk to see if they were big enough to hide a man, or checked the backseat of my car late at night for a predator. A friend of mine told me she carries a condom in her purse just so she could beg a potential rapist to use protection if he attacked her. I've only carried condoms to be prepared in case I got a chance to get laid.
I have no idea what it's like to be a woman.
My lack of understanding was beaten into my mind recently when I read a set of articles in several publications about rape in the military. Please check them out below.
The Nation.
The LA Times
Salon.
I cannot comprehend the betrayal and agony these women feel. It's beyond my puny empathy to appreciate their hurt. In fact, I almost feel like I'm insulting them by trying to relate to their pain. No matter how many books I read, no matter how many activists or women I poll, I will never truly understand what it's like to spend most of my life with a bulls-eye painted below my waist.
But, what I can do is get angry. In fact, I can do that quite well. Brushing aside anguish and despair, I can fully embrace the righteous anger we should all feel when we're confronted with evil. Because what happened to these women in Iraq and what happened to them when they returned home was the true definition of evil.
My wrath is directed first at the despicable men who would prey on their comrades; stalk the very people they have sworn to protect. But, my real venom is for a government that not only allows these actions to occur, but also seems to tacitly approve of them.
Oh, I'm sure that if we polled the entire Pentagon we wouldn't find a single person who believed the rape and sexual assault of female soldiers is acceptable. Truthfully, only the saltiest old codgers wouldn't express disgust at the rampant sexual harassment these women face.
Yet, when nearly a quarter of the women we send to war are being sexually assaulted the only thing this country does to protect them is create an anonymous website?
Really?
This is a hideous abdication of duty. For me, this is worse than any of the false statements used to draw us into war and the changing rationale that has kept us there. This is a core betrayal, in many ways worse than when African Americans risked their lives for this country in various conflicts only to return home to segregation and discrimination. These women are being asked to deal with all the stresses of war, while also dealing with being prey.
Yet, much of our national media focuses on polls, passport files and YouTube clips. Talking heads debate when Obama knew about his pastor and if Hillary is being treated fairly. There is no wall-to-wall coverage of this sexual assault data, no outcry against the Pentagon's refusal to step in and make these women safe.
The media can pressure Hillary to release her tax records and schedule, but they cannot force the Pentagon to keep accurate statistics on how many women have been raped in Iraq? Media hordes can descend on Trinity United Church of Christ but they can't follow up on the fact that the overwhelming majority of reported military rapes do not even result in arrest?
While we get our daily dose of drivel, a female soldier in Iraq is pissing on herself because she's scared to walk to the latrines alone.
Where is our anger, where are our priorities?
Every blog needs to be calling for media attention to this issue, we need to be pressuring news organizations to get to the heart of what is happening. I've been as guilty as most for being unaware and unconcerned about this problem, but that changes now. I care about these women, these mothers, sisters and daughters. We should all care about their fate.
This cannot be something we learn to live with.
Honestly, I've never really considered that level of physical violation. Sure, like most men, I've joked about dropping the soap in jail or getting molested by some handsy priest, but I never took those threats seriously.
I've never sized up the shrubs along the sidewalk to see if they were big enough to hide a man, or checked the backseat of my car late at night for a predator. A friend of mine told me she carries a condom in her purse just so she could beg a potential rapist to use protection if he attacked her. I've only carried condoms to be prepared in case I got a chance to get laid.
I have no idea what it's like to be a woman.
My lack of understanding was beaten into my mind recently when I read a set of articles in several publications about rape in the military. Please check them out below.
The Nation.
The LA Times
Salon.
I cannot comprehend the betrayal and agony these women feel. It's beyond my puny empathy to appreciate their hurt. In fact, I almost feel like I'm insulting them by trying to relate to their pain. No matter how many books I read, no matter how many activists or women I poll, I will never truly understand what it's like to spend most of my life with a bulls-eye painted below my waist.
But, what I can do is get angry. In fact, I can do that quite well. Brushing aside anguish and despair, I can fully embrace the righteous anger we should all feel when we're confronted with evil. Because what happened to these women in Iraq and what happened to them when they returned home was the true definition of evil.
My wrath is directed first at the despicable men who would prey on their comrades; stalk the very people they have sworn to protect. But, my real venom is for a government that not only allows these actions to occur, but also seems to tacitly approve of them.
Oh, I'm sure that if we polled the entire Pentagon we wouldn't find a single person who believed the rape and sexual assault of female soldiers is acceptable. Truthfully, only the saltiest old codgers wouldn't express disgust at the rampant sexual harassment these women face.
Yet, when nearly a quarter of the women we send to war are being sexually assaulted the only thing this country does to protect them is create an anonymous website?
Really?
This is a hideous abdication of duty. For me, this is worse than any of the false statements used to draw us into war and the changing rationale that has kept us there. This is a core betrayal, in many ways worse than when African Americans risked their lives for this country in various conflicts only to return home to segregation and discrimination. These women are being asked to deal with all the stresses of war, while also dealing with being prey.
Yet, much of our national media focuses on polls, passport files and YouTube clips. Talking heads debate when Obama knew about his pastor and if Hillary is being treated fairly. There is no wall-to-wall coverage of this sexual assault data, no outcry against the Pentagon's refusal to step in and make these women safe.
The media can pressure Hillary to release her tax records and schedule, but they cannot force the Pentagon to keep accurate statistics on how many women have been raped in Iraq? Media hordes can descend on Trinity United Church of Christ but they can't follow up on the fact that the overwhelming majority of reported military rapes do not even result in arrest?
While we get our daily dose of drivel, a female soldier in Iraq is pissing on herself because she's scared to walk to the latrines alone.
Where is our anger, where are our priorities?
Every blog needs to be calling for media attention to this issue, we need to be pressuring news organizations to get to the heart of what is happening. I've been as guilty as most for being unaware and unconcerned about this problem, but that changes now. I care about these women, these mothers, sisters and daughters. We should all care about their fate.
This cannot be something we learn to live with.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Moving Up In the World
Apparently folks actually read this blog and find it of some use.
I recently got an opportunity to share my thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with Al Jeezera for a special section they did on their website.
Check out the link below and let a brother know what y'all think.
Al Jazeera
I recently got an opportunity to share my thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with Al Jeezera for a special section they did on their website.
Check out the link below and let a brother know what y'all think.
Al Jazeera
Ranking Role Models
I like listening to rap music.
I purposely called it rap music because I know if I labeled what I listen to "Hip-hop" some random cat would stumble upon this post and point out that artists like UGK, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z don't really represent Hip-hop. And if I admitted that I used to blast No Limit and the entire Cash Money Records catalog in my youth, well the Hip-hop purists would have a fit if I lumped my music in with their "art."
That's cool.
In listening to rap music, I've become a pretty big fan of Jay-Z. Not only do I like the way he handles himself on the mic, but I've become a fan of the way he handles himself outside of the studio on most occasions. Sure, I have a problem with his glorification of drug dealing and his gross materialism, but does seem to be pretty intelligent cat who tends to look at the big picture. More importantly, his career arc, from corner hustler to CEO, is fairly impressive.
Need more proof? Read this.
That right there is a mogul move. Although the deal is built on the celebrity Jay-Z earned as a rapper, it is really impressive because of the business savvy it displays. The deal not only insures upfront revenue, but it establishes a continuous influx of funding while minimizing Jay-Z's own risk. This cat clearly has educated himself about business (after all he is a high school dropout) and is making very, very smart decisions.
So, is Jay-Z a suitable role model?
Before folks get really upset I've heard the "parents are the best role models" spiel many times and I agree with it. But, the reality is that way too many young black youth do not have positive role models in their homes and are eagerly searching for outside sources of inspiration and guidance. The question is should these children be looking up to hard-drinking, week smoking womanizer, who happens to be intelligent, hard-working and independent?
I would much prefer if Jay-Z had displayed the same business acumen while pursuing a career as a lawyer, doctor, stock broker or executive. If he was preaching education and moderation as much as he talked about hustling and splurging, well our young people might have a very different outlook on life. There can be no argument that music influences folks, and while that does not mean we should hold musicians responsible for the failings of society, we also should no ignore the realities of life.
Then again, lawyers, doctors, stockbrokers and executives have not exactly been immune to corruption and shady dealings, have they? As the recent subprime mortgage crisis and the criminal failings of BET have shown us, just because you have degrees and operate a legal business doesn't mean you aren't screwing up the world. In fact, given the paucity of rappers who have truly wide-reaching appeal, you could argue that it's us regular folks who are causing all the problems.
Personally, I think Jay-Z can serve as a role model. His music shows he possesses a real awareness of his place in the world and how he obtained that position. While his hustling mantra may wear thin, he rarely lies to youth about the risks and dangers associated with illegal behavior and he also tends to glorify hard work. More importantly, his core values--loyalty, independence, perseverance--are exactly the traits I would want any young person to possess.
There is no doubt that Jay-Z is a deeply flawed man, who presents an equally flawed example of how to live life. But, any role model that children choose will be flawed in some way, and most of them will be unable to capture the attention of today's youth in the same way that a millionaire rap star can. I'm not advocating for schools to start including Jigga in their black history month programs, but viewing him as symbol of all that is wrong in the world is equally misguided.
Holla.
I purposely called it rap music because I know if I labeled what I listen to "Hip-hop" some random cat would stumble upon this post and point out that artists like UGK, Lil Wayne and Jay-Z don't really represent Hip-hop. And if I admitted that I used to blast No Limit and the entire Cash Money Records catalog in my youth, well the Hip-hop purists would have a fit if I lumped my music in with their "art."
That's cool.
In listening to rap music, I've become a pretty big fan of Jay-Z. Not only do I like the way he handles himself on the mic, but I've become a fan of the way he handles himself outside of the studio on most occasions. Sure, I have a problem with his glorification of drug dealing and his gross materialism, but does seem to be pretty intelligent cat who tends to look at the big picture. More importantly, his career arc, from corner hustler to CEO, is fairly impressive.
Need more proof? Read this.
That right there is a mogul move. Although the deal is built on the celebrity Jay-Z earned as a rapper, it is really impressive because of the business savvy it displays. The deal not only insures upfront revenue, but it establishes a continuous influx of funding while minimizing Jay-Z's own risk. This cat clearly has educated himself about business (after all he is a high school dropout) and is making very, very smart decisions.
So, is Jay-Z a suitable role model?
Before folks get really upset I've heard the "parents are the best role models" spiel many times and I agree with it. But, the reality is that way too many young black youth do not have positive role models in their homes and are eagerly searching for outside sources of inspiration and guidance. The question is should these children be looking up to hard-drinking, week smoking womanizer, who happens to be intelligent, hard-working and independent?
I would much prefer if Jay-Z had displayed the same business acumen while pursuing a career as a lawyer, doctor, stock broker or executive. If he was preaching education and moderation as much as he talked about hustling and splurging, well our young people might have a very different outlook on life. There can be no argument that music influences folks, and while that does not mean we should hold musicians responsible for the failings of society, we also should no ignore the realities of life.
Then again, lawyers, doctors, stockbrokers and executives have not exactly been immune to corruption and shady dealings, have they? As the recent subprime mortgage crisis and the criminal failings of BET have shown us, just because you have degrees and operate a legal business doesn't mean you aren't screwing up the world. In fact, given the paucity of rappers who have truly wide-reaching appeal, you could argue that it's us regular folks who are causing all the problems.
Personally, I think Jay-Z can serve as a role model. His music shows he possesses a real awareness of his place in the world and how he obtained that position. While his hustling mantra may wear thin, he rarely lies to youth about the risks and dangers associated with illegal behavior and he also tends to glorify hard work. More importantly, his core values--loyalty, independence, perseverance--are exactly the traits I would want any young person to possess.
There is no doubt that Jay-Z is a deeply flawed man, who presents an equally flawed example of how to live life. But, any role model that children choose will be flawed in some way, and most of them will be unable to capture the attention of today's youth in the same way that a millionaire rap star can. I'm not advocating for schools to start including Jigga in their black history month programs, but viewing him as symbol of all that is wrong in the world is equally misguided.
Holla.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
