Conversations I Am Tired Of Having
There was a post a while back, 10 Conversations On Racism I’m Sick Of Having With White People. The original started at The Chronicle, but LiveJournal is kind of weird, so a mirror image will have to do. There are comments, at the sourced post, that illustrate some of the points covered today.
I got to thinking about “10 Conversations”, and a reply began to take shape. I started a list of conversations the I am tired of having, and before you could say affirmative action, there were a dozen items. Many of these incidents have involved people of color, or POC. Many others have not. Often, the ethnicity of the other person has little importance to the discussion. Therefore, the title of this feature will not be racially specific. This monolog will probably not go viral, or even bacterial. Washing your hands might be a good idea when you are finished reading.
Meetings where one person does all the talking The word conversation implies that more than one person says something. Often, this does not happen. One person will talk for a while. Before person two finishes a sentence, person one will interrupt them.
This does not work. When the other person is talking, shut up and listen. Don’t be thinking of your clever comeback, but pay attention to what the other person is saying. What the other person says is just as important as what you say.
Listening is not valued in our culture. It is seen as a loss of control, a sign of weakness. It is really a sign of strength. If you are weak, you don’t want to allow the other person to say anything. Have you ever heard anyone boast about the clever things that they say to someone? Of course you have, just like you never hear anyone talk highly about himself because he is a good listener.
My question is not an excuse to make a speech. Some people have an agenda. Whatever you say is an obstacle to the message they want to broadcast. When you ask a question, some people think you are handing them the talking stick, to do whatever they want. When your eyes glaze over, they plow on, in total disregard to your discomfort, and lack of comprehension. It is almost as if they are talking to hear the sound of their own voice.
I’m not talking to you. If you are screaming something, anyone with earshot can hear you. Do not get offended if there is a reaction to your words, especially if it is subtly directed at the person you are not talking to. This applies to the internet as well, where all of humanity is *privy* to your innermost thoughts. Keep the farmyard meaning of *privy* in mind when sharing your innermost product.
Conversations should be with people. If you are a business, and you want to tell me something, send me a written message. Please refrain from using robocall machines. I feel very foolish talking to a machine, especially one that doesn’t understand southern english.
You don’t have to shout. The amount of truth in a statement is not increased by the volume of expression. If you are standing next to me, the odds are I can hear you in a normal tone of voice. If you are across the room, come stand next to me, rather than shout across the room. If your normal tone of voice is shouting, then you have a problem.
The same principal goes to controlling your temper. When you choose not to control your temper, you show disprespect to yourself, and the person you are talking to. There is no situation that cannot be made worse by angry speech.
Privilege Racial polemic is getting more subtle these days. We are not quite post racial, although there are rumors of a PostRacial apartment complex in Dickhater. The phrase that pays these days is Privilege. This is always something owned by the group you do not belong to. Last summer, I heard this quote in a discussion, and nearly fell out of my chair.
From the N word to POC. Labels for groups of people can cause problems. I have expressed myself on the N word before, and don’t have much to add. As for POC, that is even sillier. Colored people is an insult, but people of color is preferred. I am sure some of you have a terrific speech to ‘splain this, but I am not interested. My neck may be red, but that is a color. PWOC is an insult to my humanity, whether you are talking to me or not.
This is getting longer than the attention span of many readers. It might be continued at a later date. This is a repost. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
War Letters
In the winter of 2003, it was obvious that America was going to war. Congress had voted approval, the modern version of a declaration of war. The troops. and supplies, were on the borders of Iraq, waiting for the order to go in.
PG felt the need to make a statement. There was no illusion that it would affect the overall decision to invade Iraq. However, PG wanted to go on record as being opposed to the folly to come.
It was a low risk act. In America, we have freedom of expression. This does not mean that the powers that be listen to the people. The only expression that matters is by people who pay the authorities. The people can say anything, but nobody in charge listens.
There were three representatives in Congress to contact. The two Senators were Saxby Chambliss and Zell Miller. The 4th district was represented in the House of Representatives by Denise Majette. She was new to Congress, having defeated Cynthia McKinney in the 2002 election.
The area that PG lives in is gerrymandered into different districts every ten years by the Georgia legislature. This is partly the legacy of the Voting Rights Act, which requires the voting districts in Georgia to be approved by Federal authorities. Today, PG is in the 6th district, represented by Republican Tom Price.
The letters are lost in hard drive crash fog. It started out with the phrase “you were elected to represent me.” Apparently, this left Zell Miller out. He has been appointed to finish the term of Paul Coverdell. Democrat Zell Miller was appointed by Democrat Governor Roy Barnes to complete the term of Republican Paul Coverdell. After this, Zell Miller gave the keynote address at the 2004 Republican Convention. This is what Georgia has come to expect from Zig Zag Zell.
The anti war letter was not great writing. It basically said that the invasion of Iraq was not a good idea. The letter did not address the tax cut. In a bizarre move, Congress approved a tax cut, with an economically ruinous war on the horizon.
The responses to the letter are attached here. Denise Majette gave a thoughtful reply. She did not say “I agree with you” in so many words, but it is clear she is not gung ho about killing Iraqis. Miss Majette said, and PG agrees, that once the war begins, the debate should cease.
Saxby Chambliss sent two replies. Both talked about how well the war was going, and how wonderful it was to be killing people in Iraq. It is a good question whether his staff read the original letter from PG, which opposed the war.
In the 2004 election, Denise Majette ran for the Senate. Zell Miller chose to retire, and his seat was up for grabs. Republican Johnny Isakson won the Senate seat. Cynthia McKinney made a comeback, and won the fourth district House seat.
Saxby Chambliss was re-elected in 2008, and retired in 2014. The conflict in Iraq continues to this day. It is a disaster. The withdrawal of American combat troops did not end the civil war. Currently, Iraq is the scene for combat operations from the Islamic State military force.
The financial burden of the war has been immense. The military depends on contractors for many basic services, at increased cost to the Asian war financiers. The National debt has been increasing by a trillion dollars a year. Revenge for nine eleven, directed at a marginally responsible country, has been horribly expensive. Pictures for today’s entertainment message are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
There have been nine presidential transfers of power in PG’s life. Seven of them were in January. PG typically ignores them. He goes out with Mr. Crook in office, and comes home to President Thief.
The best exception was in August,1974. Richard Nixon was finally undone and forced to resign. After watching Tricky Dick’s next to last television speech , PG got in his Datsun and drove to the Great Southeast Music Hall. The entertainment that night was Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
The Music Hall was the sort of place we don’t seem to have anymore. The auditorium was a bunch of bench backs on ground level, with pillows everywhere. It was a space in a shopping center, occupied by an office depot in later years. To get there from Brookhaven, you drove on a dirt road, where Sidney Marcus Boulevard is today.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was not modest. He was the modern miracle of the tenor saxophone. He would play three saxophones at once, getting sounds that you do not get from a single instrument. At one point, the band had been playing for about five minutes, when PG noticed that Kirk had been holding the same note the entire time without stopping to breathe.
Mr. Kirk played two ninety minute sets that night. He talked about twenty minutes out of every set. Of that twenty minutes, maybe thirty seconds would be fit for family broadcasting. Mr. Kirk…who was blind…said he did not want to see us anyway, because we were too ugly. He said that Stevie Wonder wanted to make a lot of money, so he could have an operation and see again.
The next day, Mr. Nixon got in a helicopter and left Washington. The Music Hall stayed open a few more years, and Sidney Marcus Boulevard was paved. Rahsaan Roland Kirk had a stroke in 1975. He struggled to be able to perform again. On December 5, 1977, a second stroke ended his career. He was 41 years old. This feature is an encore presentation. The pictures used today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Who Told You That You Were Naked?
One recent story is the termination of Atlanta Fire Chief Kevin J. Cochran. He self published a book, Who Told You That You Were Naked? The book was about Jesus worship religion, and said rude things about people who do not agree with this religion. The Fire Chief allegedly gave copies to his subordinates. This is said to create a hostile work environment, and create ill will for Jesus.
The title of the book is in the Bible. It is found at Genesis 3:11. This is where the Adam and Eve story is told. Maybe, if it had been Adam and Steve, things would have turned out different.
Mr. Cochran’s book is published by 3G Publishing, “3G Publishing Inc. is a faith-based company that has created a unique niche in the publishing world.” Another book from this press is Inside Oedipus Closet. ““What happens in this house, stays in this house … Walk into their lives as they find that no matter how hard they try, skeletons never stay inside the closet.”
The dispute over whether Mr. Cochran is being fired for his faith, or for being a jerk, will go on for a while. Lawyers, with dollar signs flashing in their eyes, will lead the charge. Meanwhile, to quote 3G publishers, “Though He reconciled Adam’s condition by clothing him in coats of lambs’ skin, Adam never got over what he had done.”
PG once worked in a place where excessive Jesus worship created a hostile environment. His co-worker placed a radio next to the bathroom door, where you were forced to listen to it. When PG objected, the co-worker declared holy war.
This co-worker was not a supervisor. He was a black man, working in a company dealing with a discrimination lawsuit. The co-worker was untouchable. This man utilized all the leverage this lawsuit gave him, preaching a crude brand of Christianity. The preacher had total contempt for the comfort, and the soul, of his neighbor. “I don’t care what man thinks, I care what G-d thinks.” Some call this selfish behavior “faith.” This does not speak well for Jesus.
Common Sense I am buying this wonderful book simply for all the one star comments, and to support a great and Godly man. :)
Joshua A real man writing the Truth is exactly the kind of thing we need … in the black community.
Fiction Addiction I’m so glad that this blithering fool Kelvin J. Cochran has been thrown out of his job once and for all. Just imagine how this Christian fundie would squawk his head off if he had been forced to work for some Muslim, let’s say, who created a hostile work environment by telling him to read a book in which Christians were described as Satanic or filthy or doomed to eternal Hellfire.
Travis Mac A gay friend of mine tried to read it but it burned his fingers and gave him some nasty paper cuts. The Atlanta FD was of little help in putting out the fire.
a.ryan one of the most bigoted books I’ve had the misfortune of tripping over. Seriously offensive, not only to gay people, but to women, jews, and anyone who isn’t Christian. Way to prove to the world what a joke “Christians” are.
Atlanta30312 Obviously written by a closeted, self hating homosexual. Can’t believe a book can be published in 2013 filled with such HATE, under the guise of “Christianity”. This book describes Homosexuality this way: “Uncleanness — whatever is opposite of purity; including sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, pederasty, bestiality, all other forms of sexual perversion.” … Authors such as this that continue to speed such hate are the reason gay teens commit suicide.
Dianne This is a disgusting work of lies, perpetuating myth about human sexuality. You should not be selling this on Amazon. Pull it.
Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
Bill Cosby Rape Joke
@chescaleigh Cosby’s jokes is rape culture in action. victims & rape are seen as JOKES. this is why victims don’t come forward. it’s not funny.
@AnUglyN**** @chescaleigh so by making light of a situation its advocating rape?
@chescaleigh if you were wrongfully accused of raping 20 women, you think making jokes about it would be a good idea? seems innocent? @AnUglyN****
@AnUglyN**** @chescaleigh So idk why u put my @ at the end of your tweet tryna attract your pro black panther feminist friends. cause I asked a question
@chescaleigh putting your name at the end of a tweet is not telling anyone to attack. welcome to the internet where this convo is public @AnUglyN****
Before we get to the meat of this discussion, lets discuss @AnUglyN, and the four stars. This twitter address is connected to a user, I AM A GOD. This person violates the first and third commandments, and then further degrades himself with the n-word. It is tough to insult someone who has thoroughly humbled himself. A racist can ignore the spectacle. @AnUglyN**** is doing the dirty work.
So, Bill Cosby is making a comeback. Apparently, there was a show in London, ON. The venue was Budweiser Gardens. A comment about current affairs was made.
“The strangest moment of the night came midway through, when a woman in the front row rose and started walking out. Mr. Cosby asked her something. She appeared to reply that she was getting a drink and asked Mr. Cosby if he wanted one. He declined and then said with a smile “you have to be careful about drinking around me.” The audience expelled a collective “ooooo” at the joke then laughed and cheered and the show went on.”
Is that a “rape joke”? It depends on how you define a joke. Is it funny? Appropriate? In good taste? Remember, this is an entertainer. Is an internet hissy fit going to make rape victims feel better? Will Mr. Cosby get more publicity? What would Fat Albert do?
Sometimes, the best commentary can be found in an unlikely place. Today, it is the comments at Perez Hilton. This should not be confused with the droppings of Mario Laundromat. “Bill decided to embrace his public image and made a full on date rape joke during his set.”
Dunya Bill Cosby is the new Michael Jackson. No matter what happens from here out he will always be judged by public opinion which will go on well after his death.
bnietzsche id be pissed if he didnt make a joke about it in someway.. that’s what comedians do.. its like not addressing the elephant in the room. as a comedian, you need to get that outta the way before goin thru the rest of ur set without all that tension
Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
Racists Got Racist
The #blacklivesmatter movement took a dairy inclusive turn this weekend. New York City was the scene when #BlackLivesMatter Protesters Hit Whites Where It Truly Hurts: Brunch.
“… a group of about three dozen demonstrators … hitting such quiche-and-mimosa joints … When they arrived, they began reading the names of black Americans killed by police to diners. From the Washington Post: The protesters, most dressed in black, read the names of African Americans killed by police punctuated with chants of “ashe,” a word from the Yoruba language of West Africa comparable to “amen.” Timed by participants, the ritual takes four-and-a-half minutes — since Michael Brown’s body was left on the street for four-and-a-half hours in Ferguson. … As is to be expected when such a sacred institution is so callously attacked, the protests sparked lots of fervent tweeting. Racists got racist”
The comment about racists getting racist is linked to a tweet. It was part of a lively thread. The first tweet is the one linked Racists got racist. Selected replies follow.
@genophilia It’s fine for blacks to loot, rob, rape and kill whites, but if whites complain about it, now that’s racist. #blackbrunchnyc #ferguson
@adamscolleg @genophilia I personally have had people on twitter call me racist when I mentioned being mugged and pistol whipped.
@adamscolleg @genophilia they don’t. It’s always on the news. We didn’t protest when oj got off after cutting his white wife’s head off
@Lazlos_Closet @genophilia lol ok. And are you sure OJ did it? And was OJ a cop?
Many people are raising questions about the tactics employed in this struggle. One feature is Ten Counterproductive Behaviors of Social Justice Educators. Is the action designed to affect change, or to satisfy the ego of the actor? If you are trying to talk to police, maybe a donut shop would be preferred to a trendy Manhattan bruncherie.
A twitter crusader recently made a comment about having fun by calling out people on “racist” behavior. The verbatim quote is lost in the annals of twitterdom. A google search for “feel good calling out” found an article, Stop Calling People Out. The idea is to get better results by calling forth, rather than calling out. Allow the person to save face, and this person might listen to your message.
Mohandas Gandhi knew a thing, or two, about affecting change. He is quoted as saying “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” (Information about the source is in the linked article.) Maybe the social justice bully is the weak party today. The showboat tactics are an indication of this weakness.
Pictures are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Conservative IQ Test
PG felt the urge to write. Not having anything to say is not a problem. He decided to take a test, What’s Your Conservative IQ? He was going to copy the questions, for recycling and reuse. This turned out to be a good move. The makers of the test had black letters, on top of a dark background. The only way to read the text is to highlight it. Is 1998 website design conservative or liberal?
The test is ten questions. Each question has three possible answers. These can be described as liberal, moderate, and conservative, usually in that order. An example is number 10.
If you could change one thing about the conservative movement in America, what would it be? That conservatives would go away – far away. ~ That conservatives would reach across the aisle and work alongside liberals. ~ That conservatives would take whatever means necessary to restore liberty and constitutional principles to our great nation, before it is too late.
What would PG change about the conservative movement? Perhaps make it less similar to a bowel movement. Failing that, a bit less cynicism is in order. Employ fewer rhetorical cheap tricks. Don’t use liberal as an all purpose insult. Think things through before spewing out the contradictory bee ess.
There are contradictions galore here. “What do you believe about granting amnesty to some 11 million illegal immigrants while our borders remain insecure?” “How would you rate the importance of conservatives reaching out to African-American and minority communities about how free markets and liberty can empower them?” One of the largest minority communities is Hispanics. Many of them are in this country, illegally, trying to make money. So you want to reach out to people to tell them something, and then label them as criminals when they take your message to heart.
“How important is it that we respect the U.S. Constitution and follow it as written?” The constitution was written when the colonies used slave labor. There was a question about how to distribute the seats in the House of Representatives. As a compromise, the slave was determined to be worth sixty percent as much as a free person.
After answering 10 questions, PG got his score. “17 Middle of the Road. Your conservatism could use an upgrade, and the good news is, we’ll help. Get this FREE download and find out more. … Learn the real truth about government-run health care by downloading this free e-book: Shattered Lives: 100 Victims of Government Health Care.”
The download will wait for later. As a prominent conservative said “”I think those guys are brave and courageous. … They’ve got guts.” Rush Limbaugh. If there is anything that Mr. Limbaugh knows about, it is having a gut. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
Drug Screen
The work assignment required a drug screen. On one level, this is no big deal. PG has been detoxed for a while. A residual distaste for the war on drugs except alcohol does linger over the chore.
There was an email. You print the information on the email, and take it to an office. The offices are listed on the email, in fine print. PG printed the email, and wrote the address, and phone number, of the nearest office on the back. This office had moved across the street.
PG called the phone number. A lengthy recorded message started, with no menu options. 3 was the number for speaking to a person. The line went directly to voicemail.
Since the office was nearby, PG decided to just go (to the office.) Fortunately, the office was only a couple of miles away. The note said 976 Johnson Ferry Road. When you went past Northside Hospital, the next building is an MOB complex. There are 2 buildings, 960 and 980.
PG turns around to go home. He tries to call the office, and gets voice mail. He leaves a message. “This is a nightmare. Answer your phone.” He might have raised his voice.
When he got home, PG took another look at the email. After enlarging the text, he saw that the address was 975 Johnson Ferry Road, instead of 976. PG called another office of the drug testing company. The line was busy. PG then tried the first office again, and left a message.
A few minutes later, the lady from the first office called back. Yes, they were open today, and were not especially busy. To get to the parking lot, you turn onto Meridian Mark Drive, and take a right into the parking deck. This is something else the email did not tell you.
Once PG got to the office, things came out all right. The lady was very friendly. It turns out she is in the office by herself. The drug testing company is trying to squeeze all the profits they can.
The procedure was the same as before. Go in the bathroom, fill the cup past the sticker, and do not flush. You fill the cup, and put the toilet seat back down. There is a sink behind the desk, where the attendant watches you wash your hands. You need to sign three copies of the “URINE CHAIN OF CUSTODY FORM.” At this point the procedure is finished.
As if the medical extortion committee is not punishment enough, most facilities require you to pay for parking. When it was time to leave, PG had to wait behind a BMW. The AMEX card was rejected, and the lady fed dollar bills into a machine. A man in the little building talked on his phone, and pointed to the machine. PG fed enough dollar bills into the machine to satisfy the hunger. Pictures are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Your Racism
Last night, in anticipation of the Grand Jury presentation, chamblee54 published Freedom Lies Bleeding. Here is the text: grand jury renders opinion ~ national hissy fit begin again ~ when justice is popularity contest ~ freedom lies bleeding in street.
There was a comment. Anonymous said, on November 25, 2014 at 2:28 pm (Edit) Thanks Luthor… you’re racism never disappoints! The name was misspelled. The spell check suggestion is Author.
There is both style, and substance, to consider here. Is Freedom Lies Bleeding racist? Who knows? The definition of racism is growing, in carcinogenic fashion, as we speak. Some say it is systemic institutions of oppression. Some say it is jokes about toothpaste flavor. Maybe the best definition is that racism is anything that you do not like.
The poem was directed at the concept of mob rule. As President Obama said, “We are a nation built on the rule of law, so we have to accept this decision was the grand jury’s to make.”
A few years ago, O.J. Simpson was accused of murder. Many people thought he was guilty. After a long trial, he was found innocent. Should popular opinion have overruled the jury? No, it should not. The jury saw the evidence, and heard the arguments. The people can protest and debate, but they cannot take the place of a jury.
Is a dependence on a system of law and order racism? Anonymous seems to think so. Is they qualified to make this judgment? If racism is anything that you don’t like, then Anonymous is qualified to make the call. Maybe they knows something we don’t.
There is the style of the comment to consider. While Anonymous did not give their name, there was an I.P. address. The IPA is connected to a .edu server. Apparently, this is a workplace computer. Leaving insulting comments from your employer’s computer does not reflect well on the institution.
Anonymous is entitled to an opinion. However, leaving a name calling comment does not speak well for this individual. The six words say more about Anonymous than they do chamblee54. Pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Lemony Snicket And His Money
PG was trolling twitter when he found this: @Number13Press Lemony Snicket pledges up to $100,000 in racist joke apology. Who/what is Lemony Snicket? What did this person say? How can this joke be worth $100,000? Did he ever fork out the change?
Lemony Snicket is the pen name of Daniel Handler. Apparently he is not related to Chelsea Handler. Mr. Handler told a “joke” at the National Book Award affair about a black lady who was “allergic to watermelon.” Toothpaste flavor was not involved.
Knickers were twisted coast to coast. Mr. Handler was called out, and out, and out. Mr. Snicket took to twitter, and said my bad.
@DanielHandler My remarks on Wednesday night at #NBAwards were monstrously inappropriate and yes, racist. -DH [1/4]
@DanielHandler It would be heartbreaking for the #NBAwards conversation to focus on my behavior instead of great books. So can we do this? -DH [2/4]
@DanielHandler Let’s donate to #WeNeedDiverseBooks to #CelebrateJackie. I’m in for $10,000, and matching your money for 24 hours up to $100,000. -DH [3/4[
@DanielHandler Brown Girl Dreaming is an amazing novel and we need more voices like Jacqueline Woodson. -DH [4/4]
The mea culpa tweets were dated November 21. It is now November 24. Presumably, the 24 hours are over. A check on google does not reveal how much money Mr. Handler will need to match. It also is not known whether the money was ever sent. This is a problem when people make a show about donating money in the future. There is seldom any proof that the donation took place.
When googling Daniel Handler, the first suggested search is “net worth.” He wrote an article for the New York Times in 2007. It began: “Let’s start by saying I have a lot of money. I’ve acquired it by writing children’s books about terrible things happening to orphans, and this seems like such a crazy and possibly monstrous way of acquiring money that I give a lot of it away.”
The tweet at the top of the page linked to The Guardian. It has a lively comment section. ArkEton “A paltry $100k and an apology? It’s time we stop letting these people off so lightly. Making a racist joke is the worst thing in the world. It should be highly illegal and they should go to prison for a very long time. An apology? Like that makes it okay? Damn you racists.”
Pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
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