New Jersey Trip

November 23, 2006

Random thoughts on the way to NJ Thanksgiving Day.
  • Screw you weatherman! Why did you make it rain today!?
  • Is that woman seriously combing her hair while driving?
  • Hmph…The radar detector just went off again. Dont cops celebrate Thanksgiving?
  • Panic! My Venti Chai Tea is almost done. Gotta find a Sbux quick!
  • oooh….gotta pee. Rest Stop next two exits.
  • Hmm…Think if I go under that flyover anyone would notice me?
  • Okay, there’s only so much Bob Marley I can take. Time to groove to my future ex wife Beyoncé.
  • To the left…..to the left
  • To the left….to the left
  • She needs to hurry up and go on tour.
  • Poor Yoshi (my pet fish) four days, no food.
  • He’l be all right; he survived 5!
  • Agh…finally there… food time! Bye!\

From my heart to yours,

Akhenaton

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G’ving Thanks

November 23, 2006

G’vng Thanks
(Not just another year, not just another Thanksgiving)

Hopefully you can see the picture above this article in your browser. It shows five ‘smiley faces’ on the top of a lamp post, with a gloomy/cloudy day as the backdrop; with the caption “Thanks!”
The cloudy day in the backdrop to me represents the gloomy days of my life. (We all have gloomy days.)
The ‘arms’ holding up the smiley faces represents those who have positively impacted my life (my best friends, my Pastor and my parents).
The ‘smiley faces’ are as a result of they being in my life. Even on a gloomy/ cloudy day, I am smiling because I have these people in my life.
God is the lamp post; He’s placed these people in my life, each a light in their own way. Even on gloomy days, I can say ‘thanks!’, I can smile!
For this I am thankful. I am thankful for each and every one of them. I am thankful for the good times and with the same breath, I am thankful for the bad times.
With a grateful heart, Thank you.
From my heart to yours,
Akhenaton

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Qualified Freedom as would apply to Racism in America

November 22, 2006

(A different perspective on the Kramer issue)

When ‘Kramer’ of Seinfeld’s racially charged outburst and the African American outrage over this is considered, the obvious is that what you are allowed to say and get away with is relative to your racial background.

Permit the unique twist in this post because I have not seen this point of view widely expressed elsewhere where ‘Kramer’ is” discussed.

Does being Black qualify someone the freedom to insult Caucasians with racially charged slurs yet when the same is reciprocated, all hell breaks loose? This double standard is so blatantly echoed every day on television, on the streets and in our homes.

This brings me to a couple questions…
  • What qualifies Blacks the freedom to, without warrant use the word ‘nigger’ in their day to day dialogue amongst themselves or when referring to each other when the very word historically has derogatory connotations?

  • What qualifies Blacks the freedom to use the word ‘nigger’ so loosely in their music notwithstanding the fact that Caucasians listen to their music also?

  • What qualifies popular Black comedians like Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle the freedom to throw racially charged insults at Caucasians, even going as far as to call them ‘crackers’ (the white equivalent of nigger) with little or no recourse for this?

Is it that our blackness ‘qualifies’ us the inherent right to be racist towards ourselves and the Caucasian race?


If you watch the ‘Kramer Video’ on

www.tmz.com, you would notice that he himself (and by extension Caucasians) was insulted once or twice on the same set when the heckler called him a ‘cracker’ (among other things). Where is the outrage over this?

It may appear that way, but racism is not the catalyst for the offensive tirades of ‘Kramer’, Mel Gibson, Dave Chappelle and others. 21st century Racism directed towards Blacks rather, is the result of our own (black) internalized racism. We are our worst enemy in this regard. What Kramer did was wrong, but we have wronged ourselves to a greater degree.

Indirectly, we fuel the fire each time we say, sing or rap the words ‘nigger’ or ‘cracker’ and every racial outburst, every racially motivated attack is a sign that the fire is growing out of control.

There are two solutions; abolish (pun intended) the concept of qualified freedom and make it acceptable for anyone to use the words ‘nigger’ or ‘cracker’ without recourse or in the alternative, stop using seemingly racially derogatory words altogether. The most reasonable seems to be the latter right?

In the end, as a ‘civilized’ society, it serves us well to simply STOP speaking hate.

Nigger = Hate; Cracker = Hate; Qualified freedom = Hate.

From my heart to yours,

Akhenaton

Posted by acjeffers
Filed in Activism, Politics
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Materialism

November 19, 2006

UGH!….that materialistic/physically oriented SPIRIT

It is no secret that most people are overly obsessed with physical attractiveness or material possessions.
Not surprisingly though, is the fact that most of these people live unfulfilled lives simply because their constant focus is to keep up with the Jones’, save for little time to be themselves; little time to be HUMAN.
The constant want or ‘need’ to be like that six-packed guy on myspace or that person at the fitness club has been setting up so many for low self esteem simply because their priorities are set on the physical and matters of the heart are minor.
The truth is that no matter how much you work out, no matter how hard you try, no matter how much Amani or Gucci you wear, you will NEVER be happy with yourself if the reason you do all of this is for physical gratification.
Have you ever noticed the never satisfied attitude of those who are in constant pursuit of the material or perfection in physical appearance. Notice that they are never happy/content with what they have; notice that EVEN when they are told they look great, their self-perceptions are incoherent to what was said to/ about them. Notice the disconnect when it comes to the relentless pursuit of the material/physical and true happiness.
It should not be mis-understood however, that material things and physical appearance are not important. It is good to look good; it’s a great feeling to have a lot of material things! What makes the difference however, is whether or not you allow material things or physical appearance to overshadow your ‘humanness’ i.e. the value of beauty or the material above the things that really matter.
Happiness should not come from outside in, but from inside out. Challenge yourself to think outside the box by valuing not the material things in life, but what it took to get those material things.
Happiness can also be achieved by being content (not complacent) with yourself, and not by what the world expects you to have or be.

Finally, understand that it is okay to have faults, it is okay to be you; while you’re at it, don’t forget to allow others the opportunity to be themselves also.
From my heart to yours,
Akhenaton

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