When I first moved to Lafayette I was very excited. It was a new place and I was out of Alabama. I had much to learn.I have learned a lot about people and the nature of human society as I reflect on my years existing in conservative environments. I have learned that there are good people everywhere and I have learned the value and the importance of human connection. I have learned and embraced the possibility of bonding across social and political spectrums. I have learned patience and I am beginning to learn to embrace myself. When I ran from Alabam into the web of Indiana, I had naive dreams of utopia filled with intellectual stimulation, exciting exchanges, and a new found freedom and liberation in which I could explore, discover, and mine the depths of my self and the world in order to make a connection to humanity. I have become familiar with patriarchy, its insides, outsides, and its very core. I know it, identify it, and know it for what it is. I know hegemony and I have recieved the gift(most definitely in the Duboisian sense) of sight. I have tasted of the tree and the knowledge I possess is something I must learn to handle. This knowledge is not rare, many people have it--the people I look up to and admire have it and I have known of it, but I now have come into cognition of it, which for sure makes a difference. I know and it is a blessing and I will continue to learn. Knowledge exists on two waves, something that the Germans readily express with the terms kenne and wisse. It is the difference between an intimate knowledge and a superficial one or a surface knowledge. To possess an intimiate knowledge is a blessing and this understanding must be used to make the world into a better place. We have only to live and learn.

I heard a wonderful theological discussion that explained the evolution of Christianity and modern culture(especially american culture). It was said that the Calvinists expressed the belief that "I am damned to hell, thank you father for your blessings" believing in the idea of the select, and since one didn't know whether one was select or not, it was assumed that you would exist in purgatory. Getting tired of this, Americans/ modern culture adopted the idea that the lord's favor is seen in how much one attains or how much wealth one accumulates. This is the modern idea of Christianity--the idea of God's blessings tied to material wealth and capitalist principles. Oh, what a world we live in.

Back to Life

Soul II Soul

Back to life, back to reality
Back to life, back to reality
Back to life, back to reality
Back to the here and now yeah
Show me how, decide what you want from me
Tell me maybe I could be there for you

However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me

Back to life, back to the present time
Back from a fantasy Yeah
Tell me now, take the iniative
I´ll leave it in your hands until you´re ready oh
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me
However do you need me
However do you need me
However do you need me
However do you need me

I live at the top of the block
No more room for trouble or fuss
Need a change, a positive change look
Look it´s me writing on the wall
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me

Back to life, back to the day we have
Let´s end this foolish game
Hear me out don´t let it waste away
Make up your mind so
I know where I stand

However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me

Keep on Movin

Soul II Soul

Keep on moving, don't stop like the hands of time
Click clock, find your own way to stay
The time will come one day
Why do people choose to live their lives this way?

Keep on moving, don't stop, no, keep on moving
Keep on moving, keep on moving, don't stop, no
Keep on moving

It's our time, time today, the right time is here to stay
Stay in my life, my life always, yellow is the colour of sunrays
I hide myself from no one, I know the time will surely come when
You'll be in my life, my life always, yellow is the colour of sunrays

Keep on moving, don't stop like the hands of time
Click clock, find your own way to stay, the time will come one day

Keep on moving, don't stop, no, keep on moving
Keep on moving, keep on moving, don't stop, no
Keep on moving

I know the time, time today, walking alone in my own way
Extreme cold and rainy day, friends and I have fun along the way
Yes we do! I hide myself from no one
I know the time will really come when you'll be in my life
My life always, yellow is the colour of sunrays

Keep on moving, don't stop like the hands of time
Click clock, find your own way to stay, the time will come one day
Yes

Keep on moving, keep on moving, don't stop, no
Keep on moving
Keep on moving - the time will come one day....

Why Are the Americans Obsessed with Building Walls and Don't They Need to Be Castrated for Fucking with the Iraqis?

Read this article. Isn't it some bullshit. These people need to go to hell. Real quick.

French Elections

I endorse Segolene Royal in the upcoming elections in France. She seems to be a most progressive person and it is time that the French had a female president.

Partial Birth Abortion Ban

I reissue the slogan I came up with: Castration is the key to our Liberation!

Gonzales Should Be Out

Gonzales used the phrase "can't recall" fifty times while testifying before congress. It is high time he was taken down from the post of Attorney General.

Today I thought about my Aunt Earnestine's yard as I saw some flowers that looked like some of those that she had. She had a huge, tall tree that grew tulips that hung over the porch, then she had several bushes full of very scented roses and other flowers. She also had jonquils that grew at the foot of the porch and several other flowers growing throughout the yard. My aunt kept a wonderful yard.

Reminiscing All Morning

I so love the Pointer Sisters!

Sinnerman

Nina Simone

Oh Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Sinnerman, where you gonna run to?
Where you gonna run to?
All along dem day
Well I run to the rock, please hide me
I run to the rock,please hide me
I run to the rock, please hide me, Lord
All along dem day
But the rock cried out, I can't hide you
The rock cried out, I can't hide you
The rock cried out, I ain't gonna hide you guy
All along dem day
I said, Rock, what's a matter with you rock?
Don't you see I need you, rock?
Lord, Lord, Lord
All along dem day
So I run to the river, it was bleedin'
I run to the sea, it was bleedin'
I run to the sea, it was bleedin'
All along dem day
So I run to the river, it was boilin'
I run to the sea, it was boilin'
I run to the sea, it was boilin'
Along dem day
So I run to the Lord, please hide me Lord
Don't you see me prayin'?
Don't you see me down here prayin'?
But the Lord said, go to the devil
The Lord said, go to the devil
He said, go to the devil
All along dem day
So I ran to the devil, he was waitin'
I ran to the devil, he was waitin'
Ran to the devil, he was waitin'
All on that day
I cried -
POWER!!!!!!!
(Power to da Lord)
[8x]
Bring down,
(Power to da lord),
[4x]
POWER!!!
(power to da lord)
[12x]

(Instrumental)

Oh yeah, Woh yeah, Woh yeah
Well I run to the river, it was boilin'
I run to the sea, it was boilin'
I run to the sea, it was boilin'
All along dem day
So I ran to the Lord
I said, Lord hide me, please hide me
please help me
Along dem day
He said, child, where were you
when you oughta been prayin'?
I said,Lord, Lord, hear me prayin'
Lord, Lord, hear me prayin'
Lord, Lord, hear me prayin'
All along dem day
Sinnerman you oughta be prayin'
Oughta be prayin', Sinnerman
Oughta be prayin',
All on that day
I cried -
POWER!!!!!!!
(Power to da Lord)
[12x]
Go down
(Power to da Lord)
[3x]
POWER!!!!!!!
(Power to da Lord)
[3x]
Power, Power, Lord
Don't you know I need you Lord
Don't you know that I need you
Don't you know that I need you
Power, Lord!

I only caught today's segment of Oprah's show on the Imus fiasco. I must say, I have lost what little respect I had for the likes of Russell Simmons and Common. They sat up there on that panel and evaded every issue concerning sexism and misogyny in the products that they put out. They need to have their power taken away until they put an end to the bullshit. God Bless Stanley Crouch! I was so with him today and I could not have agreed with him more. You go Stanley!

LifeLine

One night I dreamed I was in slavery, 'bout 1850 was the time
Sorrow was the only sign, there's nothing about to ease my mind
out of the night appeared a lady leading a distant pilgrim band
First mate, she cried point her hand, make room aboard for this young woman


Come on up, I've got a lifeline
Come on up to this train of mine
Come on up, I've got a lifeline
Come on up to this train of mine
They said her name was Harriet Tubman
And she drove for the Underground Railroad


Hundreds of miles, we traveled onward gathering slaves from town to town
Seeking all the lost and found and setting those free that once were bound
Somehow my heart was growing weaker, I fell by the wayside sinking sand
Firmly did this lady stand, she lifted me up and took my hand

Sadie

The Spinners

In a world like today
It’s a rare occasion to be able
To see young mothers like the ones
That were around when I grew up
But they live on in memory
To quite a few of us
And this song is dedicated
To those who cherish that memory

Early one Sunday morning
Breakfast was on the table
There was no time to eat
She said to me, “Boy, hurry to Sunday school”

Filled with her load of glory
We learned the Holy story
She’ll always have her dreams
Despite the things this troubled world can bring

Oh, Sadie
Don’t you know we love you
Sweet Sadie
Place no one above you

Sweet Sadie (Well, well, well)
Living in the past
Some times it seems so funny
But no money will turn your life around

Sweeter than cotton candy
Stronger than papa’s old brandy
Always that needed smile
Once in awhile she would break down and cry

Some times she’d be so happy
Just being with us and daddy
Standing the worst of times
Breaking the binds with just a simple song

Oh, Sadie (Oh, Sadie, baby)
Don’t you know we love you (She’ll love us all in a special way)
Sweet Sadie (Well, well, well)
Place no one above you

Sweet Sadie (Sweet Sadie livin’ in the past)
Living in the past
Oh, she’s never sinnin’
In love she’s always winnin’, yeah

Sadie (My, my, my, my, my)
Don’t you know we love you (I love you, mama)
Sweet Sadie
Place no one above you (I just can’t forget)

Sweet Sadie (How you gave me love, oh, Lord)
Living in the past
If there’s a heaven up above
I know she’s teaching angels how to love

Sadie (It’s a mean world without you)
Don’t you know we love you
Sweet Sadie (All the love you showed)
Place no one above you (Oh, I could never, ever doubt her lovely word)

Sweet Sadie
Living in the past
Ain’t it funny that in the end it’s not money
It’s just the love you gave us all

60 Minutes Tonight

I detest the way the media is handling the Lacross Rape case. Leslie Stahl's broadcast concerning the exoneration of the three men was totally insensitive to the young woman who was raped and made every attempt to criminalize, demonize, and assault her person. This is not how you treat any rape victim, no matter whether the crime is solved or not. Alas, I feel no sympathy for these boys. They might perhaps have benefited from serving sentences for this affair in order to foster some empathy and understanding for those who have endured such for hundreds upon hundreds of years. Alas, wherever the white male power structure acts and talks like this new North Carolina prosecutor is, I doubt wholeheartedly and with my whole being that any sort of justice is being done. Who paid him to get these men off? Somebodys wealthy white connections....

This is a very interesting article about American expatriates/ immigrants living in Mexico from Dissent.

Midwest Peace Summit

The Midwest Peace Summit came off beautifully this year. I am not sure how detailed I will be in this post,but I will assuredly give a full report. The numbers were down this year, however the summit was still a great success. We had two speakers this year. Cindy Sheehan spoke to a crowd of a little under four hundred(I really am surprised that so few came out in Indy). It was an empowering evening. James Yee spoke Saturday night to a fuller crowd and his testimonies concerning what he witnessed at Guantanamo Bay prison were stirring and absolutely upsetting. Everyone should have their ears perched to hear, find, read about James Yee's experience at Guantanamo Bay and his own later incarceration and mistreatment at U.S. hands. I will write more later.