By Crystal Laramore
By now we’ve all had time to mourn the death of a music icon. By now we’ve heard enough about this and enough about that. Sometimes it’s sad that we are in a world where ALL you hear for days on end is about someone’s private life. I’d much rather be watching 24 hour music videos starring Michael Jackson (as a Tribute) than I would be watching 24 hour scandalous and titillating not-so-news stories. There will be plenty of time to discuss the mans dark side in the coming months and years, but for now do as your mother says and “If you can’t say anything nice, keep your mouth shut.
Michael Jackson was an entity that defied a definition and certainly defied racial lines. Having said that, I want to say I am appalled at P. Diddy and Jamie Fox for trying to make all the media coverage about Michael Jackson a racial issue. At the BET (which is divisive in nature) Awards P. Diddy and Jamie Fox said things like Michael is our black man and things like we didn’t go on and on about the drug abuse when Elvis died or JFK or Anna Nicole Smith…Hmmm. Yes we did. And still do. And Jamie, how are you defining “we” and why is Michael Jackson your black man and who is making this a racial issue besides you?
Elvis and JFK did not die in the era of shock T.V. when media is streamed into our homes 24/7 on 896 different channels and they have been dead a long time but now you CAN catch all the sordid, gory conspiracy theory stories your brain cells can handle on either one of them.
Anna Nicole Smith did die during the Jerry Springer era and since the public wants it, they gave it to us; 24/7 on 896 different channels. Follow the money baby, follow the money. Anna’s story was attached to Marilyn Monroe’s story and the tie-that-binds filled our television screens not b/c she was white and certainly not because of any God-given talent but because she was sexy, and complicated, and a drug addict, and surrounded by controversy, and sad and…scandalous.
Farrah Fawcett also died during this “I gotta know it all yesterday” era but, at about 3:15 we forgot all about it. Most of us anyway. Why? Because she wasn’t as news-worthy as the latest celeb that had just died. Why? Because she wasn’t scandalous. Follow the money baby, follow the money.
Michael Jackson was many faceted and many things, black happens to be one of them. Moreover, he was an American. Period. End of story.
Michael Jackson is receiving the same inflammatory coverage for many of the same reasons; one of them being because he was, dare I say it, scandalous but, certainly NOT because he was black. Comments like those just create more racism and perpetuate the already existing racism. Stop it.
When MJ was coming out with songs like PYT and Billie Jean and Thriller, oh I wanted him to be my boyfriend. The way that man danced and moved defied physics. That could be a little overstated but by now you all know me, I’m a little overstated! His looks were secondary and the color of that man’s skin did not matter to me or a lot of my friends. We looooooovvvvvveeeeeeed him.
When we (the whole wide world) think of Michael Jackson we have different first impressions. My girlfriend, Dr. Deanna Foster, PHD, said her first impression was “what a broken, sad soul”. She is a psychologist and I am an artist. Makes sense. My girlfriend Vicki Warner likes the song “Dirty Diana”. She says she thinks about “how amazingly talented he was and how sad it was that he never had a childhood and how sad it was about how much pressure was on such a young man”. She never mentioned the color of his skin. Hmmm.
Another friend reminded me that Michael transcended not only race but, even more so, he transcended cultures. He was as popular in Asia as he was in America. Additionally, the man transcended religion. He was raised a Jehovah’s Witness but loved by Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Catholics, Evangelicals, Jews, etc.-equally. And we all probably prayed for him-equally. And bought his music and watched his videos-equally. WE LOVE MICHAEL! We. All of us Jamie. So, YOU don’t go trying to take that away from US.
And Jamie, if you want to get down on someone for beating up Michael, why not start with Eddie Murphy. Or, Chris Rock. His HBO special really trashes Michael. But it was funny. And it was titillating. And the money followed.
So, let’s let the man rest in peace. And let’s also remember Farrah Fawcett. And Ed McMahon. And Billy Mays. And our friends and family who have also passed this week. Let us especially remember our soldiers. God rest all their souls. And God rest the race issue. And God rest the media. And God bless America.
P.S.
It really saddens me that the very people who are trying so desperately to gain equality still look at our country as divided among racial lines. Oh, I agree there are those…but most of the people I know and love, myself included, do not see color first; especially where Michael Jackson is concerned! We see Americans. We see Human Beings.
While we celebrate our independence this year let us celebrate independence from racism. Let us celebrate a God who created us all equal. Let us celebrate each others diversity and sameness. Let us, together, celebrate our talents whether they come from hard work or they are God-given. Let us celebrate our freedom to spew non-sense out into the universe and the freedom of others to condemn it. Let’s celebrate liberty from tyranny. Let’s celebrate democracy. Let’s celebrate that God loved us so much that he gave us entertainers like Michael Jackson to uplift us.
Michael Jackson and his talent certainly belonged to God and his music certainly belongs to the world; the whole wide world. He represented the best in each of us and maybe even the worst in us as every man is flawed and every man a sinner; “And, It don’t matter if you’re black or white”.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Tribute to Fathers
By Crystal Laramore
Father. Just the name alone stirs the heart. For the daughters out there Father is the first male relationship we had. He was our first kiss, our first love. He taught us what good love was all about. He taught us how other men should treat us. He gave us our foundation for all future loves to come.
He was the first man to treat us with respect, love and admiration.
I am 44 and I still sit on that man's lap and I still call him "Daddy". The father-daughter relationship is a special, sacred relationship. Treasure it. Nurture it. Never take it for granted.
For most of us, male and female, Father was our first buddy. He was the first man we laughed with; the first man to make us furious and the first man to heal a wound. He’s the first man we forgave.
Father taught us all respect. I don’t know about you, but I NEVER was unkind to my mother if my father was around! If I were ever going to smart-off you can be rest-assured it was when daddy was somewhere else! I always said yes-sir and no-ma’am. I minded my manners and was respectful to my elders; and still am. I did not(for the most part)interrupt adults and I did not plunk my rear-end down at the dining room table with the adults either. Children were to be seen and not heard during certain times and we knew when those times were.
Our fathers teach us kindness. I’ve seen my father be upset but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be unkind. If he found himself in a situation where kindness wasn’t possible he became quite and disconnected maybe but, not unkind.
Fathers teach us about generosity and charity. Mine taught me that it started at home and that was good advice. If you don’t take care of yourself first, you will have nothing to give to others.
My Father taught me that generosity and humility = strength. Father taught us to have a good work ethic. He taught us to be good employees and employers. He taught us the meaning of pride and loyalty. Father taught us about politics too. We are probably of the same political persuasion as our fathers.
Father is probably the one that took each of us to our first live sporting event. He’s the one who baited our first hook and netted our first fish; heck, he probably actually caught it too but being the good storyteller he is, that is NOT how we replay it in our minds today; and so the fishing stories began...
So this Sunday as we celebrate Father’s, Step-Fathers and Daddy's around the country let us also celebrate the life-long lessons, the love and the sacrifices they made on our behalf, the ones we know about and the ones we know not.
Not too long ago I wrote my Father a love letter. It made him “weepy”. I highly suggest it!
Happy Father’s Day Daddy! I love you!
Father. Just the name alone stirs the heart. For the daughters out there Father is the first male relationship we had. He was our first kiss, our first love. He taught us what good love was all about. He taught us how other men should treat us. He gave us our foundation for all future loves to come.
He was the first man to treat us with respect, love and admiration.
I am 44 and I still sit on that man's lap and I still call him "Daddy". The father-daughter relationship is a special, sacred relationship. Treasure it. Nurture it. Never take it for granted.
For most of us, male and female, Father was our first buddy. He was the first man we laughed with; the first man to make us furious and the first man to heal a wound. He’s the first man we forgave.
Father taught us all respect. I don’t know about you, but I NEVER was unkind to my mother if my father was around! If I were ever going to smart-off you can be rest-assured it was when daddy was somewhere else! I always said yes-sir and no-ma’am. I minded my manners and was respectful to my elders; and still am. I did not(for the most part)interrupt adults and I did not plunk my rear-end down at the dining room table with the adults either. Children were to be seen and not heard during certain times and we knew when those times were.
Our fathers teach us kindness. I’ve seen my father be upset but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be unkind. If he found himself in a situation where kindness wasn’t possible he became quite and disconnected maybe but, not unkind.
Fathers teach us about generosity and charity. Mine taught me that it started at home and that was good advice. If you don’t take care of yourself first, you will have nothing to give to others.
My Father taught me that generosity and humility = strength. Father taught us to have a good work ethic. He taught us to be good employees and employers. He taught us the meaning of pride and loyalty. Father taught us about politics too. We are probably of the same political persuasion as our fathers.
Father is probably the one that took each of us to our first live sporting event. He’s the one who baited our first hook and netted our first fish; heck, he probably actually caught it too but being the good storyteller he is, that is NOT how we replay it in our minds today; and so the fishing stories began...
So this Sunday as we celebrate Father’s, Step-Fathers and Daddy's around the country let us also celebrate the life-long lessons, the love and the sacrifices they made on our behalf, the ones we know about and the ones we know not.
Not too long ago I wrote my Father a love letter. It made him “weepy”. I highly suggest it!
Happy Father’s Day Daddy! I love you!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Baseball, Apple Pie & Government Motors?
By Crystal Laramore
Edited by Deborah Martin
Barack Hussein Obama said he was going to give us change. Change can be a good thing, but he is not stopping at changing our core values, changing our paychecks, changing the way the world sees us, changing our life styles and those of generations to follow but he’s changing the lyrics to our favorite past time songs too? Is there nothing about our country that he loves? Is nothing sacred?
Why does Barack Hussein Obama hate America so much? Every day, EVERY DAY since his inauguration I’ve had to listen to him speak on television about how “bad” America is and how he and Pelosi and Reid and all those corrupt folks at ACORN are going to drive us in the right left direction. Remember what John Adams once said “Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There has never been a democracy yet that didn’t commit suicide”!
Every time I see Barack, which is OFTEN because he LOVES to go on TV, his brow is furrowed and he looks serious and we’re always in a flipping “crisis”. Where are the motivational speeches? Why isn’t he rallying the troops? Why isn’t he telling us “We are Americans! Let’s be all we can be!”?
I feel as though he’s saying, “Let’s just face it, we suck. We’re no better than anyone else and it’s time we get off of our pampered pedestal. Let’s sabotage ourselves further and go in the direction of socialized health care. It’s never, ever worked and I know it won’t work here either, but isn’t that the goal - to be on a ‘level playing field’ with the rest of the world? Now listen, we don’t want to be better than everyone else because then they might not like us. I know everyone who lives in a country with socialized medicine comes here for their treatment, but still, let’s just lower our standards so those who aren’t as great as we are don’t feel bad”.
Hey, I just had a thought – if we’re ALL second rate where will WE go for treatment?
Our shiny new president keeps talking about justice, about how he's going to bring economic "justice", racial "justice", ecological "justice". What the heck IS he talking about? I thought I knew what justice meant but maybe I should look it up again. I have always thought it meant doing what was right as established against a solid set of criteria.
Economic justice would be to give everyone equal opportunity to be financially successful - NOT give them what they want regardless of their work ethic. I do not want to work my tail off for SOMEONE ELSE!!! Who does? Why does he want to punish those of us who are using our own resources to drive this country? Is he jealous?
I am beginning to think that since he (and all of his cronies) basically got a free ride, and seemed to have such a good time getting it, that he (and all of his cronies) thinks everyone should get a free ride. No, Mr. President. If everyone gets a free ride who will pay for it? There IS a tipping point. Tea anyone?
Oh, and wouldn’t economic “justice” be that any corporate executive should be able to fly around the world in the jet HIS company worked to pay for but, the President and his wife should just stay in town for entertainment? Is there NOTHING to do in Washington? I bet he could find a tea party to attend…Why does he get to fly around on our plane, while we pay for it but we cannot fly around on our planes??? Can you spell “double standard”? “Ya say ya want a revolution…”
I thought racial justice meant treating all the races the same because, after all, underneath our skin we are all basically the same - NOT give formerly mistreated races the upper hand to dole out retribution henceforth and forever more. And what about reverse discrimination? Several teenagers have told me they are being made to change clothes if their t-shirts say anything political in a conservative sense. However, everybody wearing a t-shirt with a dollar bill on it and screaming “Change” and “Obama” gets a high five!
One student at a local high school was made to remove a bumper sticker from HIS truck that HIS parents paid for that read “McCain Palin”. Seriously??? Are you kidding me????
Listen, I can't even address ecological justice without nearly throwing up. We should take care of the earth, definitely, positively. But why lie about the situation? Al Gore won a NOBEL PEACE PRIZE and had stolen/pilfered/lifted footage from a MOVIE to use in his DOCUMENTARY! And, now it seems any animal or germ having a hard time and in danger should be saved, but when it comes to humans its okay to kill babies from embryo to full-term. What the heck. We must get the world to a manageable global population level SOMEHOW! Why not kill viable babies? Tea anyone?
What gives people cause to behave so badly? What ARE they afraid of? Have we come this far to go straight back where we were? Has no one in this generation read 1984 or Brave New World? How about early 20th century European history? Why are we so afraid to be what we are? Americans used to be proud of being an exceptional, hard working, upwardly mobile society. THAT’s why so many people from other countries want to live here. Because they sky was the limit! You could DO and BE anything! If we become like everyone else then the whole world loses. EVERYone loses. America has been the escape hatch for oppressed people everywhere. How crazy is it to follow a man who wants us to oppress OURSELVES??? The old America would never stand for this.
I would like to mention some items for consideration: Builderbergers, The Illuminati, and The Trilateral Commission. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Guess who said this? I’m no conspiracy theorist, but I am becoming one…
I'll tell you what! Justice will only happen when enough conservatives, liberals, democrats, republicans, Christians, Atheists and hot blooded Americans WAKE UP and STAND UP for REAL equality and justice or we are going to wake up and be France, for Pete's sake!! Let's collectively grow a set and put our country back on the right track, where hard work is rewarded, not poor planning, apathy, carelessness or downright laziness. Tea anyone?
I want to live in the United States of America. The one where government is small and works for US; the one where men and women who fight for their liberties are considered heroes not murderers; the United States of America where men are considered equal no matter the color of their skin but the character of their heart, Mr. President, Sir.
We don’t want to be wimps, sir. We want to be able to whip some serious a$$ if need be. If someone threatens to tear apart the moral fiber our country we want to stop it, sir. And why don’t you want that too? Is it because you feel inadequate in our shadow? Is it because you are not really, after all, one of us? What IS it? Oh, I guess it depends on what your definition of “is” is…
I want to live in the United States of America where men love their country so much they will leave family and friends, hop on an aircraft, travel half way across the globe, jump off the aircraft, put on 80 lbs of battle gear in a foreign county and look evil in the face knowing all the while there is a strong possibility they will die- and all to keep the enemy OVER THERE so you, sir, the man who hates his country, can sleep safely knowing your wife and children will encounter no harm in the night, sir.
Tea anyone?
Edited by Deborah Martin
Barack Hussein Obama said he was going to give us change. Change can be a good thing, but he is not stopping at changing our core values, changing our paychecks, changing the way the world sees us, changing our life styles and those of generations to follow but he’s changing the lyrics to our favorite past time songs too? Is there nothing about our country that he loves? Is nothing sacred?
Why does Barack Hussein Obama hate America so much? Every day, EVERY DAY since his inauguration I’ve had to listen to him speak on television about how “bad” America is and how he and Pelosi and Reid and all those corrupt folks at ACORN are going to drive us in the right left direction. Remember what John Adams once said “Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There has never been a democracy yet that didn’t commit suicide”!
Every time I see Barack, which is OFTEN because he LOVES to go on TV, his brow is furrowed and he looks serious and we’re always in a flipping “crisis”. Where are the motivational speeches? Why isn’t he rallying the troops? Why isn’t he telling us “We are Americans! Let’s be all we can be!”?
I feel as though he’s saying, “Let’s just face it, we suck. We’re no better than anyone else and it’s time we get off of our pampered pedestal. Let’s sabotage ourselves further and go in the direction of socialized health care. It’s never, ever worked and I know it won’t work here either, but isn’t that the goal - to be on a ‘level playing field’ with the rest of the world? Now listen, we don’t want to be better than everyone else because then they might not like us. I know everyone who lives in a country with socialized medicine comes here for their treatment, but still, let’s just lower our standards so those who aren’t as great as we are don’t feel bad”.
Hey, I just had a thought – if we’re ALL second rate where will WE go for treatment?
Our shiny new president keeps talking about justice, about how he's going to bring economic "justice", racial "justice", ecological "justice". What the heck IS he talking about? I thought I knew what justice meant but maybe I should look it up again. I have always thought it meant doing what was right as established against a solid set of criteria.
Economic justice would be to give everyone equal opportunity to be financially successful - NOT give them what they want regardless of their work ethic. I do not want to work my tail off for SOMEONE ELSE!!! Who does? Why does he want to punish those of us who are using our own resources to drive this country? Is he jealous?
I am beginning to think that since he (and all of his cronies) basically got a free ride, and seemed to have such a good time getting it, that he (and all of his cronies) thinks everyone should get a free ride. No, Mr. President. If everyone gets a free ride who will pay for it? There IS a tipping point. Tea anyone?
Oh, and wouldn’t economic “justice” be that any corporate executive should be able to fly around the world in the jet HIS company worked to pay for but, the President and his wife should just stay in town for entertainment? Is there NOTHING to do in Washington? I bet he could find a tea party to attend…Why does he get to fly around on our plane, while we pay for it but we cannot fly around on our planes??? Can you spell “double standard”? “Ya say ya want a revolution…”
I thought racial justice meant treating all the races the same because, after all, underneath our skin we are all basically the same - NOT give formerly mistreated races the upper hand to dole out retribution henceforth and forever more. And what about reverse discrimination? Several teenagers have told me they are being made to change clothes if their t-shirts say anything political in a conservative sense. However, everybody wearing a t-shirt with a dollar bill on it and screaming “Change” and “Obama” gets a high five!
One student at a local high school was made to remove a bumper sticker from HIS truck that HIS parents paid for that read “McCain Palin”. Seriously??? Are you kidding me????
Listen, I can't even address ecological justice without nearly throwing up. We should take care of the earth, definitely, positively. But why lie about the situation? Al Gore won a NOBEL PEACE PRIZE and had stolen/pilfered/lifted footage from a MOVIE to use in his DOCUMENTARY! And, now it seems any animal or germ having a hard time and in danger should be saved, but when it comes to humans its okay to kill babies from embryo to full-term. What the heck. We must get the world to a manageable global population level SOMEHOW! Why not kill viable babies? Tea anyone?
What gives people cause to behave so badly? What ARE they afraid of? Have we come this far to go straight back where we were? Has no one in this generation read 1984 or Brave New World? How about early 20th century European history? Why are we so afraid to be what we are? Americans used to be proud of being an exceptional, hard working, upwardly mobile society. THAT’s why so many people from other countries want to live here. Because they sky was the limit! You could DO and BE anything! If we become like everyone else then the whole world loses. EVERYone loses. America has been the escape hatch for oppressed people everywhere. How crazy is it to follow a man who wants us to oppress OURSELVES??? The old America would never stand for this.
I would like to mention some items for consideration: Builderbergers, The Illuminati, and The Trilateral Commission. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Guess who said this? I’m no conspiracy theorist, but I am becoming one…
I'll tell you what! Justice will only happen when enough conservatives, liberals, democrats, republicans, Christians, Atheists and hot blooded Americans WAKE UP and STAND UP for REAL equality and justice or we are going to wake up and be France, for Pete's sake!! Let's collectively grow a set and put our country back on the right track, where hard work is rewarded, not poor planning, apathy, carelessness or downright laziness. Tea anyone?
I want to live in the United States of America. The one where government is small and works for US; the one where men and women who fight for their liberties are considered heroes not murderers; the United States of America where men are considered equal no matter the color of their skin but the character of their heart, Mr. President, Sir.
We don’t want to be wimps, sir. We want to be able to whip some serious a$$ if need be. If someone threatens to tear apart the moral fiber our country we want to stop it, sir. And why don’t you want that too? Is it because you feel inadequate in our shadow? Is it because you are not really, after all, one of us? What IS it? Oh, I guess it depends on what your definition of “is” is…
I want to live in the United States of America where men love their country so much they will leave family and friends, hop on an aircraft, travel half way across the globe, jump off the aircraft, put on 80 lbs of battle gear in a foreign county and look evil in the face knowing all the while there is a strong possibility they will die- and all to keep the enemy OVER THERE so you, sir, the man who hates his country, can sleep safely knowing your wife and children will encounter no harm in the night, sir.
Tea anyone?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
