Purdue POLE Sit-In In President's Office

Watchi the video in the above link of the student sit-in in the President's office here at Purdue. Students in this video are staging a protest in President Jischke's office to demand that Purdue cooperate with efforts to end sweatshops and create a living wage in the factories that make Purdue apparrel.

The House That Ruth Built

Ruth Brown, the legendary R&B singer that put Atlantic Records on the map, has died at 78. What a passing.

I think that it is absolutely important to stress what Dr. John Henrik Clarke pointed out, that nonviolence is a strategy...it is not meant to be a way of life.

I was quite impressed with the POLE action today.

Why? The King of Love is Dead

Nina Simone

What's gonna happen now? In all of our cities?
My people are rising; they're living in lies.
Even if they have to die
Even if they have to die at the moment they know what life is
Even at that one moment that ya know what life is
If you have to die, it's all right
Cause you know what life is
You know what freedom is for one moment of your life

But he had seen the mountaintop
And he knew he could not stop
Always living with the threat of death ahead
Folks you'd better stop and think
Everybody knows we're on the brink
What will happen, now that the King is dead?

We can all shed tears; it won't change a thing
Teach your people: Will they ever learn?
Must you always kill with burn and burn with guns
And kill with guns and burn - don't you know how we gotta react?

But he had seen the mountaintop
And he knew he could not stop
Always living with the threat of death ahead
Folks you'd better stop and think
Everybody knows we're on the brink
What will happen, now that the King of love is dead?

We should all strive to walk through the world with humility, dignity, and respect for all humanity. It is when we don't that the bullshit comes into play.

You Belong To Me-The Perfect Seduction Song

Carly Simon

Why'd you tell me this
Were you looking for my reaction
What do you need to know
Don't you know I'll always be your girl
You don't have to prove to me you're beautiful to strangers
I've got loving eyes of my own

You belong to me
Tell her you were fooling
You don't even know her
Tell her that I love you

You belong to me
Can it be, honey, that you're not sure
You belong to me
Thought we'd closed the book - locked the door
You don't have to prove to me that you're beautiful to strangers
I've got loving eyes of my own
And I can tell - I can tell darling
Tell her - tell her that I love you

You belong - you belong - you belong to me
Tell her you were fooling
Tell her she don't even know you
Tell her you were fooling
I know you from a long time ago, baby
Don't leave me to go to her now
You belong to me.

Black Organized Religion

This weekend I witnessed somewhat of a Black religious event/revival. There are some things that I definitely want to comment upon about Black organized religion. Black people's god, for a large part, and not for all for there are strains of progressivism within the Black church, but mainstream Black religion deifies white men and the great white father. Lets take some of the songs and just substitute. Or rather some phrases and I'll make up some as I go along, because I dont actually know any(of the gospel really, I know lots of spirituals).

(The White Father)He's a great god
(The White Father)God is good to me

I definitely do not intend and will never downplay anyone's religion. The sincerest expressions of religion are wonderful. I appreciate and connect with people's connections with god. Until the Black community shuns its apoltical stance and its passivity as a response to white supremacy, and especially the evils of imperialism that affect the entire world, Black religion will ring a false note.

People need to rediscover the meaning and the phrase the personal is political.

Representative Keith Ellison

Everyone should be keeping their eyes on this new face in the U.S. Congress. The Honorable Congressman Keith Ellison is the first Black person to be elected to public office from the state of Minnesota and is the first muslim to serve in the United States Congress. I definitely am looking forward to seeing good things from him. He is a staunchly progressive voice in the Democratic fold.

The End of A Love Affair

Chaka Khan/Billie Holiday

So I walk a little too fast and I drive a little too fast
And I'm reckless it's true, but what else can you do at the
end of a love affair?

So I talk a little too much, and I laugh a little too much
And my voice is too loud, when I'm out in a crowd
So that people are apt to stare

Do they know, do they care, that it's only that I'm lonely
and low as can be?
And the smile on my face isn't really a smile at atll!

So I smoke a little too much, and I drink a little too much
And the tunes I request are not always the best
But the ones where the trumpets blare!

So I go at a maddening pace, and I pretend that it's taking
your place
But what else can you do, at the end of a love affair