The year of the Reaper vs. The year of Resurgence

I am very honored that Time Magazine has chosen someone from the honorable Reaper family to honor as Person of the Year!

We made it!  We made it through a year where the majority of the 80's died.  Willy Wonka is no longer alive to provide those condescending memes floating around through the Internet.  Princess Leia will no longer be able to help the Rebel Alliance fight the Galactic Empire and Prince will no longer shriek like a girl onstage while he plays guitar.  A billionaire reality TV star is going to be the president in less than a month.  ISIS assholes are burning Turkish Soldiers alive because beheading them with a machete just isn't gruesome enough.

The Grim Reaper did not pull any punches when it came to 2016.  Karma Reaper will not pull any punches when it comes to 2017.  I haven't written "poetry" in years.  2016 was a year that caused me to write the following:

Clandestine

Make them envy your light,

When they leave you in the dark.

Independence threatens them,

That’s how you’ll make your mark.

They join exclusive groups,

Leaving others on their own.

If you can’t join them, beat them.

Be sure to beat them alone.

The Pack fears the Lone Wolf,

Not following unwritten rules.

It’s better to be an individual,

Than belong to a clique of fools.

Find the strength within yourself,

To break out of that shell.

If they don’t like what’s been hatched,

Hell is where they can dwell.

They are nothing without each other,

Which is their primary mistake.

They will make clandestine decisions,

Trying to determine your fate.

You will be labeled a Rogue,

Before the first battle has begun.

They will resent losing the war,

As you lead your army of One.

The Hypocritical Civil War

I feel like I'm riding in the backseat of a car with two people in the front seat that enjoy arguing with each other.  I indicate that we are speeding towards a canyon cliff towards certain death.  The two people in the front seat then decide to start arguing over why we are speeding towards the cliff in the first place.  I indicate that all we need to do is hit the brakes and stop the car and that assigning blame of our current predicament can wait.  The two people in the front then start to argue as to the correct way to apply the brake.

Once upon a time someone was elected President of the United States of America, the most powerful position in the free world, and half of the country freaked out while the other half celebrated.  "He has no experience and he is going to ruin this country.  A whole bunch of ignorant sons of bitches put him in office" is what half of the county said.  "The people have spoken and now we have someone about to take office that will fix the screw-ups of the previous administration.  Now move on and get over it" is what the other half said.  The reason why I am writing in past tense is because these events took place November of 2008.  The same exact thing is happening November of 2016 except the halves have switched roles.

 What's with this spoiled brat mentality?  If we win, it's because it was meant to be and everyone else should just move on, but if we lose, it's because we were cheated and we will not rest until things change.  Didn't you notice how Republicans stopped mentioning the word "rigged" after Trump won the election?  The people currently making sure others make good on their promise to leave the country if Trump was elected were the ones threatening to leave the country when Obama got elected eight years ago.  Didn't you notice that there is a completely different demographic waving the #notmypresident flag?  A different political party is now poised to be in a position to resist and block everything the President-elect will attempt to do while in office.  This is why I judge one's character by how they act when they are victorious as well as how they act when they are defeated.

The bottom line is this, it is all about political bragging rights.  People feel as if they have lost/won something.  Trump supporters feel as if they have won something over their rivals, Obama/Clinton supporters.  Clinton supporters feel as if they were cheated out of something and the country will now go down the tubes.  That's why hate crimes, protests, and riots have increased since his election.  That is why some people feel as if they have the right to walk up to minorities and let them know they are getting deported.  That is why there are people out there thinking that they are going to be placed in concentration camps based on their ethnic make up.  The people that felt "oppressed" under the Obama presidency now feel as if Trump will liberate them from the tyranny of the Democratic party.

What the majority of Democrats and Republicans need to understand is that neither side was excited about their candidate of choice.  The race became a contest of "our candidate doesn't suck as bad as yours."  The Donkeys would have voted for a ham sandwich over Trump and the Elephants would have voted for a ham sandwich over Clinton.  Democrats and Republicans need each other, even if it's just to have someone to argue with.  If you think that this county would be a much better place if one major political party ran the whole show, then you don't completely understand how a democratic republic works.

Just because the elections are over doesn't mean the useless debates are.  The only way people will feel optimistic about this country is when they think they are in control.  If you are a presidential candidate that successfully made the majority of this country's voters feel as if they would be in control if you are elected, then you are a successful presidential candidate.  That's exactly what Trump did.  He first convinced them that he was a Republican and then a Conservative and then a devoted Christian.

An informed vote is worth just as much as an ignorant vote.  I vote to hit the breaks, let's see what the two people in the front of the car vote to do.  The end of the movie Thelma & Louise ended tragically with both titled protagonists meeting their fate.  Unlike our Country, Thelma & Louise were united in the end.  If this country was ever invaded and everyday Americans had to fight in the trenches, don't you think Conservatives, Liberals, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Yankee Fans and Red Sock Fans would all have their guns pointed at the invader?

Do not to be as ignorant and hypocritical as you assume your adversary to be.

The First Amendment Is A Double Edged Sword

The freedom of speech feels really good when you are doing the speaking.  The Freedom of speech sounds good when you are in agreement with the speaker.  But what if you aren't doing the speaking or disagree with the speaker?  Do you feel disrespected?  Do you feel oppressed?  When I first heard of Kaepernick's protest, I shrugged my shoulders and scrolled on.  In the back of my mind, I knew a shit storm was coming.  Just another thing to inspire half the country and piss off the other half.  But let's look at the bigger picture:

Just like the Obama election of 2008, this was an event where I saw people's true colors (for lack of a better word).  There were many that found convenient political reasons to dislike Obama.  Many are finding convenient patriotic reasons to dislike Kaepernick.  Am I calling all of his critics racists?  No.  Are they making assumptions about Kaepernick's actions?  Yes.  The best way to negatively judge the basket of apples is to exaggerate the number of rotten ones in the bunch. 

Keep in mind that MLK's actions were once deemed "radical."  The cartoon above compares a Reverend whose protest resulted in him being thrown in a Birmingham jail cell to a multi Millionaire who sits down during the National Anthem.  He sits or kneels during a song and some people are making it seem as if he is wiping his ass with the American flag.  If "they stood up so you could sit down," wouldn't disciplining Kaepernick for sitting down defeat the purpose of the Military and MLK standing up in the first place?

It's easy to make negative assumptions about your opponent to make your battle seem more justified.  If you are a critic of the #blacklivesmatter movement, you assume the worse of them.  You assume they are all rioters who applaud violence against police and only value the lives of their own kind.  True, there may be members that fit this description.  Do these members make up the majority of the movement? NOPE.  True, there are people out there who refuse to stand for the National Anthem out of protest.  Do these all of these people despise the United States Military. NOPE.

But when you are a critic of Kaepernick, it is easier to assume he hates the military, feels personally oppressed by whites, and hates law enforcement officials.  Being a critic of someone who quietly and peacefully protests the National Anthem would make you feel like...I don't know...maybe a Hypocritical Asshole.  If Mr. John Doe, a black dude making $9.00 an hour at some grocery store in Rhode Island, decided to protest the National Anthem at the company picnic, it would not make prime time news.  Kaepernick used what's left of his celebrity status to magnify his stance.  Most critics assumed that Kaepernick himself said he felt personally oppressed...when he didn't.  Just because he's a millionaire doesn't mean he can't have an opinion.  "Were don't buy 49er tickets for his damn opinion" the critics say.  So does that mean you are buying 49er tickets for him NOT to have one?  And whether you agree with his opinion or not, don't forget that he gets paid to play football.

I completely understand that the Westboro Baptist Psychos have the First Amendment right to protest military and celebrity funerals.  I can understand this protest without agreeing with it.  I completely understand that the KKK have the First Amendment right to march down the Main Street of Jenkinsburg, Georgia.  I can understand this march without agreeing with it.  I completely understand that the #whitelivesmatter movement have the First Amendment right to have a demonstration in front of the NAACP offices in Houston.  I can understand this "reactionary" demonstration without agreeing with it.  We have people out there that are actually considering boycotting NFL games over the lack of discipline for someone who technically did not break a rule nor a law.  We have people burning his jersey as if he left the 49ers to play for the Miami Heat.  Let's not mention a few SFPD officers who will refuse to work security at or near Football games because their feelings are hurt over one individual.

Like I have said before, there once was a time when we would fight for the right for people to have the freedom to say what they want, even if it wasn't something we agreed with ourselves.  You have to admit, freedom of speech is a double edged sword.  You can use this amendment to protect yourself from prosecution for what you say, but then forget all about it when you want to prosecute people for what they say.  Now it seems like the freedom of speech is determined on a case by case bases in the court of public opinion.  Let's be consistent here.  If you think a bunch of Good Ol' Boys in Oregon can take over a federal building but a Mixed-Race quarterback can't sit down during the National Anthem, that's pretty damn inconsistent.  Inconsistency is what makes people think you are a bigot.

In the end, this second string quarterback is going to have to do a lot to put his money where his mouth is.  He knows that he will have to follow through with this protest and continue to do his part in fixing the problem.  I wonder what his critics think of the issue he is protesting.  I'm willing to bet they either think it doesn't exist or don't give a damn in the first place.

Now if Kaepernick would just explain those damn socks...

Random Mind Dumplings 29

Question One:  What do you think about the San Bernadino and Orlando killings?

Trump Supporter:  We need to do something about those damn Muslims

Question Two:  What do you think about the Dallas and Baton Rouge killings?

Trump Supporter:  We need to do something about those damn #blacklivesmatter Thugs.

Question Three:  What do you think about the Aurora and Newtown killings?

Trump Supporter:  Damn...now Obama and the Democrats are going to try to take away our guns!!!

In less than four months half of the population in this country will be happy and the other half will think it is the end of the world.

Believe it or not, I am tired of people calling Trump a racist.  Whether he is or he isn't is not the point.  Anti-Trump people need to understand that the majority of his supporters are the bigots, he's just telling them what they want to hear.  Stand up against the meaning of the poster, not the poster boy.  If a hot ass Muslim woman offered him a piece of ass, he would drop his pants faster than Bill Clinton.  I wouldn't be surprised if Beyonce gave him a hard-on.

The Don's rise to power over the Republican party is best described this way:  Respectable Republicans that enjoy small government and conservative values also enjoyed the votes of the bigots that also called themselves Republicans.  The respectable Republicans underestimated the shear number of the bigot Republicans.  My message to the respectable Republicans out there:  You "REAP" what you sow. (see what I did there?)

It's funny how some of these political experts love Trump for the same reason they hate Obama.

Reference is made to the above image.  This was taken from a Facebook post of a friend of mine.  If you ask me, there are sheep on both sides of the political spectrum.  But I have to admit, based on the color of the sheep in the photo, this looks more like the Republican National Convention than the Democratic National Convention.  Reference is also made to the below image.

Just because someone disagrees with you does not mean they are not intelligent or misinformed.  Are we getting to the point where people can no longer agree to disagree?  Are we at a point in our lives where it is more important to be right, than be loved?

If Obama had a couple of ex-wives and a number of children by different women, he would have never been elected President.  This is not a jab at White Privilege deniers...ok...yes it is (he he he).  The majority of people who deny White Privilege are most likely Trump supporters.

No matter who the fuck gets elected, the world is not going to end in four years when we elect (or reelect) another puppet to occupy the White House.  These puppets are all controlled by the same fingers.

There are people out there that would vote for a ham sandwich before they would vote for Hillary Clinton.  I'm not a big fan of the saying:  voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.  What is the alternative?  Not voting at all?  Evil is a relative term.  There are different "evils".  If I had to choose between being punched in the face once vs. punched in the face twice...what the hell do you think I'm going to choose?

Enjoy laying in the bed you made...even if you have to fake it.

Black Privilege

I am going to try to say this as "politically correct" as possible:  There are some Caucasians that are so jealous of Minorities, that they are even jealous of the discrimination Minorities face.

I'll come clean:  I didn't have to go through what my ancestors, grandparents, and even parents had to go through.  I never had to drink from a colored drinking fountain.  I never had to sit in the back of a bus.  I never had fire hoses sprayed on me while police dogs attacked.  I never had to walk past protesters while trying to attend a newly integrated school.  But I do reserve the right to roll my eyes when I hear Caucasians complain about racism and inequality.  

The people that were offended at Beyonce's half-time Superbowl performance three months ago are pretty much the same people that feel inconvenienced by pressing 1 for English on customer service lines.  They were the same people that complained about BET and the fact that there is no WET (White Entertainment Television).  They are the same people that complain that there is no White History Month.  These are the same people that complain that "White Privilege" doesn't exist.  

Don't you understand that complaining about stuff not being "white" is white privilege in itself?

Growing up in predominantly white Vacaville, California, I was faced with these questions all the time.  I had to be the Spokesman for the Black Race for all curious pre-teen Caucasians in that town.  My all time favorite was "if you guys can call each other the "n" word, why can't we?"  Really? Are you jealous that they can call each other something that you can't???  Were you appalled when Larry Wilmore jokingly referred to Obama as "my Nigga" at the 2016 Correspondents Dinner?  Are you appalled at the fact that if Larry Wilmore was a White Man, he could not pull off the same joke?

You have the right to free speech just like your employer has the right to fire you for saying stupid shit.

Maybe it's because it is not typical for an Black person to call his white cohort the same thing in response.  Some "Girlfriends" that are really comfortable with each other call their other female friends "Bitch" and "Slut" out of fun, but do you think they would allow that from one of their Male acquaintances?  I think not.  The truth is, I've never been a big fan of the "n" word, whether the user is using it as an insult nor as a term of endearment.

Here's the truth for White Privilege people that are pissed off about Beyonce's halftime show:  Please give me an example of when a Black Panther Party member assaulted you or one of your ancestors.  Give me an example of when a Black Panther bombed a white church, which would be one of those churches they would not allow blacks (which is something Jesus would do.. right?).  Give me an example of when the Black Panthers used terror to intimidate white people to not vote?  Give me an example of a Black Panther lynching of a white man...and got away with it.  Give me an example of when a bunch of Black Panthers murdered a White Kid for whistling at a Black Girl.  Why in the world are the jealous majority comparing the Black Panthers to the Klan?

What the hell do you mean by "you people?"  Just kidding...I think...

Maybe because you are in denial of your jealousy...you need to harp on the only group that refused to "turn the other cheek" back in the day where there was no social media.  Some of the Black Panthers were not satisfied with MLK's non-violent response to racial injustice.  However, they answered violence with violence but that does not equate Beyonce's performance to the Black version of the KKK.  The KKK was proactive with violence, the Black Panthers were reactive.  Huge difference.

Truth be told!  Karma Reaper is a black man happily married to a white woman.  I'm not happily married because she is white.  I am happily married because I am in love with her and she puts up with all of my bullshit and excessive video game playing.  She watched the halftime show...and the only thing that offended her was me drooling over Beyonce.  She did not feel as if Black Panthers were going to kill her the following day.  She did not feel as if Beyonce was declaring war on police officers.

WHEN YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO PRIVILEGE, EQUALITY FEELS LIKE OPPRESSION.

Black Privilege:  The right to complain about discrimination. 

White Privilege:  The right to complain about Black Privilege.