Wright, Shut the Fuck up!

You haven’t heard, which wouldn’t be surprising due to the amazing silence of the majority of media outlets, Obama’s pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, recently said, “God damn America.” Now I am not going to chastise the guy (amazing, I know!) for that comment as I believe each and every person in this nation has a right to say whatever they wish. Freedom of speech is a glorious thing which has allowed us as a nation to advance as far as we have in science, civil rights, and the arts (though we’re regressing on that last point). But, as I believe in freedom of speech, thus I am going to exercise it to dispute the rather short-sighted, ridiculous claims made by a demagogue in Christ’s raiment.

There are those saying that Wright's words were taken out of context. That he was not blatantly damning the whole of America but racist views which have held his people back (the man is black), made them into criminals, and attempts to extinguish them as a culture. The pastor related various incidents leading up to his condemnation of our country. He spoke of his days as a Marine, returning from war, and being told he couldn’t eat at certain restaurants or go to certain areas because of the color of his skin despite the fact that he fought for this country. He railed against blacks being relegated to the lowest rung of the economic order, being forced into criminal acts to survive, being locked up because of a system which prevents them from rising up to middle class status. I call bullshit on his entire argument and I am going to tell you why.

The pastor complained about public segregation. That complaint is near forty years too late as all forms of segregation, whether in schools, water fountains, bathrooms, restaurants, etc. ended a long time ago. The last time I checked, no restaurant turned away a customer based on the color of their skin.

On the economic order of things, blacks were not the first people to suffer through economic misery. There were Irish immigrants, German immigrants, Italian immigrants, Jewish immigrants, and even the new wave of Hispanic immigrants who all came to this nation without money or education, had no political power, and had to suffer through privations until they rose up and took their place alongside the citizenry of this nation. Political theory has shown that any group can, and will, eventually attain equality unless there is true discrimination going on. Through hard work, a group attains money. Through money, a group attains stature. Through stature and economic value, the group attains political voice. Through this political voice, the group attains power and thus becomes a part of the system. The average amount of time this system takes is usually forty years. Not counting from the point of slavery’s abolition, but instead from the end of the civil rights movement in the 60s, blacks have had the prerequisite amount of time to have completed the system and to have the equality they seek. The problem is they do not want it.

Listen to the average black politician. They will consistently play up black urban plight, the repressive system that holds blacks back, the difficult economic situation of African-American culture which forces a disproportionate number of their young in the criminal system. Yet black culture glorifies urban culture. The majority consistently complain about how they are “owed” something. The problem with black culture, and you may call me racist for being so blunt, is that blacks want things given to them rather than to earn them. Where this view originated I can’t really tell you. The Civil Rights movement was made up of men and women who fought against the system that kept them and their children back from a host of possibilities. They faced brutal repression to give future generations a chance. Once they had the door opened, perhaps it was the way they were invited into the political system which warped their style of politics. The nation bent over backwards to give blacks a chance. There was desegregation of schools, the creation of public housing, the establishment of quotas, and more which not only leveled the playing field but outright gave blacks advantages over other groups. In other words, government “gave” blacks what they wanted rather than made them “earn” it. By that, I mean we did more than strip away racist laws; we created laws which discriminated others and forced people to step aside that blacks may become a favored class. Whenever someone steps forward and complains about preferential treatment, and to state a quota of any sort is based on merit rather than on skin color, then they are labeled racist and politicians back off for fear of the backlash. Why not call it what it is? Blacks are racists who believe they are entitled, partially due to government’s pandering to them reinforcing such behavior, and they do not want to give up that status. The blacks have virtually become like the whites of the early twentieth century: too stubborn to allow merit, over skin color or flawed thinking, to determine what is best.

Government policies have ruined black communities. These policies are entitlement programs. What incentive is there to work if welfare exists? From the cradle to the grave, that program alone destroys any drive a person may have. And it has become generational. Then there is desegregation of schools. Through busing, kids are taken out of their neighborhoods and put in other communities’ schools in order to “force” diversity. Yet there has been no real improvement in black economic or educational growth. This program has helped to ruin inner city schools. Whenever a school fails, the parents blame educators and want their kids shipped to more affluent areas for better education. Education is not simply teachers in the classroom. Education also happens at home. How can teachers teach if parents are setting bad examples, failing to discipline their children, and refusing to help their kids through their studies? It is the family unit, not the schools, that has failed blacks in America.

Over 70% of black children are born illegitimate. 70%! Children grow up without a father and that leads to all sorts of problems. Daughters seek out that missing male in their life, taken advantage of by sons who have never been taught what it means to be a man. Single mothers have to take two or more jobs to support their children (if they work) and thus are not available to supervise their children who get into things they shouldn’t. Children feel lost and alone and thus attach themselves to peer groups in the shape of gangs who give them that first true feeling of belonging they never had. Black children grow up angry and upset because their community had failed them. Rather than own up to their failure, the black community plays the race card (like Nazis with Jews) and take all their problems and embody them in white repression. They focus all their anger and frustration at whites to direct it away from the real problem because they simply don’t want to deal with it.

Black culture glorifies gangstas and athletes, sexuality and bling, violence and drugs. There is no talk of education, activism, or sacrifice. Blacks want the easy way because it is the simpler way. Whites helped to pave that path. Blacks refuse to deviate from it.

I’m sorry if this rant has insulted some. To me, this is the truth. Someone had to say it. Might as well be the quiet guy who can’t shut up anymore.

The nature of politics today

You know, more and more everyday and I am really being repulsed by the Republican Party. Now I am a moderate with some conservative leanings (belief in gun rights, capital punishment, small government, an end to welfare, etc.) with only a smattering of liberal views (belief in abortion, redistribution of wealth though through a VAT rather than an income tax). I don't believe completely in the power of rehabilitation. Certain cases, such as sexual assault and mental illness, I fail to believe in second chances. One cannot force individuals to take medication nor can one expect to ever rewire an individuals sexual proclivities. That is biologicial fact. The willingness of many Democrats to ease prison restrictions and make an inmate's life more comfortable than mine were for the longest time something that kept me at arms length. Now, the Republicans are truly beginning to piss the living shit out of me.

I was tired enough of listening to Bush blackmail this nation for years along the lines of, "If you don't do what I say, 9-11 will happen again. If you don't believe in me you aren't a patriot. You want your friends to die. You want our soldiers to die. Do what I say and don't challenge me." I heard enough of this BS in church where one isn't expected to think but to succumb. Anyone or any organization that does not believe in constructive criticism or debate knows they are not completely in the right, have a shaky faith, and probably shouldn't be incontrol. A problem cannot simply be solved head on. Bush has surrounded himself with sycophants who refuse to tell him alternatives, to challenge him, to make him govern effectively. With so much power in such mediocre hands is it any wonder this nation has gone into the crapper? Certain people laud what he has done but what I have seen is a system of divide and conquer used most effectively by tyrants.

Have you ever wondered why there is so much war in Africa? It is because of the historical culture built up by European efforts at colonization. Being the minority, the Europeans found ways to create groups and pit them against each other. It helped to prevent any group from rising up and threatening the artificial status quo created to benefit the few at the expense of the many. When the Europeans imploded following two world wars and left a vaccuum in their wake, Africa never recovered. I am afraid that this nation might be following that course. What was once a united country in one shape or form has grown more disparate, more fragmented, more hostile. Bush has used so many tools to ward our eyes from war to fear to patriotism: the tools of despots. He rewards those who support him, those power players who finance his campaigns and keep him squarely in authority. Bush sacrifices underlings to protect himself and the illegal activities that he does. Illegal wiretapping, spying, government contracts to corrupt organizations, torture, and worse. Bush uses the same scheme as Hitler: when something untoward is uncovered, of course he never knew about it. He is insulated by a layer of underlings. This administration is so rotten it is making me sick.

And now once great men are following his stead believing it will lead them to power. McCain, a man I once admired, has so sold his soul that I cannot stand to look at him anymore. He has become a liar (Baghdad safe anyone?), a conformer (belief in abortion and the Christian conservatives, a true pox on modern politics), and a syophant (Bush is right on the surge). Giuliani has become an echo of Bush policy (need for extreme government intervention to prevent 9-11, Democrats threaten the safety of this country, blah blah). These men are not fit to govern. I will not elect them. I cannot.



I refuse to go through another eight years of military involvement in what is a foreign government's obligation to right itself. Split Iraq into the three separate entities it is and allow those new nations to find their way. We didn't try to force Yugoslavia to remain a single entity. Tax breaks need to come to a close. In fact, I believe income tax should be set to a flat tax and a national VAT created so that the rich finally don't have a loophole to escape paying their fair share. They want to live like kings, pay the taxes on the goods that pleasure you so. No Child Left Behind needs to stop. A nation of test takers? There is a reason the educational system is decentralized: flexibility. Immigration: time to either start enforcing the laws or for these various employment opportunities to face up and move south of the border. I cannot defend anyone who breaks the law simply because they want a better life. Perhaps our nation, rather than continually throwing money away to buy influence abroad, should create an organization that provides microloans to Mexicans in their home country to spur on economic growth so that they will have no reason to come north to search out jobs only to be met by the backlash of a nation that fears them and their cheap labor. Time to own up to the Kyoto Pact rather than sell out to businesses who only think of the profits today rather than the environmental ruin of tomorrow. Financial accountability would also be nice. I have to spend as I earn. Why the hell should government have the right to continually spend more of my money without my say? Folks, I could go on all day.



Now, regardless of what I'm saying I'm not a Democrat. I believe them to be spineless, too idealistic and out of touch with reality, and far too willing to raise taxes to give to the "poor and downtrodden". Welfare wrecked this country. You give people money without earning it and it soons becomes an entitlement. I believe in the Pavlovian Reflex. If they stay poor they get paid. Why bother to work for something one can get for free? There is no incentive there. I believe mandatory sterilization should begin for all individuals on wlefare. If you can't take care of yourself then you have no right to do with your body something you have no right to. I also do not believe in total withdrawal from Iraq. The place is in such a shambles that with us gone it is no doubt that someone will try to step in (Iran, Syria, etc.). Then there are the candidates. Hilary is almost as bad as Bush, willing to lie through her teeth in order to garner support from anyone and everyone. Yeah, I trust you with this nation! Obama has gradually shown himself to be a political animal turning Virginia Tech into a chip on the political table with his statements meant to capitalize on that tragedy. Not even the decency to leave it alone. And since when has jobs being moved overseas been perceived as violence, Barack?

I'm telling you, if I had the money I'd probably move to fucking Canada. Canada! You see how insane I'm becoming!?!? Sure it's dull, quiet, and really empty up north but at least things still work there. And for those who call me a traitor to my country and get the hell out if I don't like it, I ask you this: if you are willing to accept something rather than do what is best for you and those around you, refuse to even try to change things for the better, unwilling to give back and improve the country that you so love, then how are you anything but freeloaders? If you aren't an active citizen, then why do you call yourself a patriot?