Why I am a Liberal: The Conservative

I stand in the middle of the extremists. There are those who think everything America does is good.

The conservative mindset has no self-awareness to speak of; it consists of bravado with little to back it up. The one theme, the single thread of consciousness which everything else springs from, is that America is a gift to the world. This jingoist views American history through the equivalent of beer goggles; the so-so girl next door becomes a modeling chick after enough brews have been knocked back.

The conservative premise leads to circular logic that we see in "debates" of the day: America does not torture therefore "waterboarding" is not illegal. America "waterboards" in a "humane" way. These arguments disregard facts in settled law and history.

Symbols of our racist past, to say nothing of our present, are white-washed so people feel free to fly the confederate flag. This logic prevades in more just conservatives; I know far too many people who refuse to see that an unprovoked attack is a illegal.

This is not to say that pride in ones nation has no place, on the contrary, pride is what leads you to want you nation to be at it's best. This means knowing and accepting it's full history; the good, the bad and the indefferent.

True pride means working to improve on its failings and conserving, yes conserving, the points of greatness.

Why I am a Liberal: The Revolutionary

I stand in the middle of the extremists. There are those who believe America is good for nothing.

Jefferson has been famously quoted (not by any revolutionaries I know) as saying that occasionally the tree of liberty must be watered by the blood of patriots and tyrants. What human history has shown time and time again is that tyranny is what stays standing. Well meaning individuals usually pave the way for tyrants.

The truth is that whatever justice is gained through blood-shed is usually tainted by it; This is the falicy of the violent revolutionary. The aim is to bring down a government for a laundry list of crimes ranging from war crimes to wrongful imprisonment.

This blind following of the ends justifying the means puts the revolutionary and the conservative in the same box. The cause is so pure that whatever actions taken to achieve their utopia is irrelevant.

I respect the revolutionary, vision, passion and devotion; I don't agree with the means. If this could be tapped and channeled to the masses real change could happen.

Why I am a Liberal: The Liberal

I stand in the middle of the extremists. I am a real Liberal, I want real change.

A true liberal is someone who is broad minded. This is sometimes twisted to mean someone without principles, but that is the furthest from the truth. I define Liberisms principles by the words of the Declaration of Independence: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Since this is the founding principle of our government it is these principles that every governing body should keep in mind.

Life...
Every person should be able to have a full life regardless of the circumstances they are born into. This is why Universal Healthcare is a right not a luxury. Basic Healthcare , preventive care and non-cosmetic service should be readily and freely available. There is and should be a place for private healthcare for those who choose to pay for additional services.

Liberty...

This is best stated as a mash-up of the first and fourth ammendments. I really can't do a better job of explaining it than that.

Pursuit of Happiness...

A person is "happy" if the first two principles are fulfilled but there is more to life. A person should have a reasonable opportunity to make a living for themselves and their family. In order to do this a higher education should be freely available according to ones acuity and a minimum standard of a living wage should be applied.

These are principles I hope everyone can stand by.

Why I am a Liberal: The Rant

I stand in the middle of the extremists. I am a real Liberal. I want real change.

I am tired of the image of the mealy-mouthed, weak-kneed liberal who is afraid to offend.

I believe in standing up for the truth no matter how ugly it is. Transparency is key to a vibrant Democracy. I am aware that the country that I know and love has a jaded history that most are in denial of. We've sold arms to despots, installed dictators and supported death squads; however that is only part of the story. We've also been the overwhelming force for good in world wars, the refuge for the persecuted and the hope for the future.

Statement on Torture

Notorious human rights abusers, including,
among others, Burma, Cuba, North
Korea, Iran, and Zimbabwe, have long sought
to shield their abuses from the eyes of the
world by staging elaborate deceptions and
denying access to international human rights
monitors. Until recently, Saddam Hussein
used similar means to hide the crimes of his
regime. With Iraq’s liberation, the world is
only now learning the enormity of the dictator’s
three decades of victimization of the
Iraqi people. Across the country, evidence
of Ba’athist atrocities is mounting, including
scores of mass graves containing the remains
of thousands of men, women, and children
and torture chambers hidden inside palaces
and ministries. The most compelling evidence
of all lies in the stories told by torture
survivors, who are recounting a vast array of
sadistic acts perpetrated against the innocent.
Their testimony reminds us of their great
courage in outlasting one of history’s most
brutal regimes, and it reminds us that similar
cruelties are taking place behind the closed
doors of other prison states.

The United States is committed to the
worldwide elimination of torture, and we are
leading this fight by example. I call on all
governments to join with the United States
and the community of law-abiding nations in
prohibiting, investigating, and prosecuting all
acts of torture and in undertaking to prevent
other cruel and unusual punishment. I call
on all nations to speak out against torture
in all its forms and to make ending torture
an essential part of their diplomacy. I further
urge governments to join America and others
in supporting torture victims’ treatment centers,
contributing to the U.N. Fund for the
Victims of Torture, and supporting the efforts
of nongovernmental organizations to
end torture and assist its victims.

No people, no matter where they reside,
should have to live in fear of their own government.
Nowhere should the midnight
knock foreshadow a nightmare of state-commissioned
crime. The suffering of torture victims
must end, and the United States calls on all
governments to assume this great mission.

International Day in Support of
Victims of Torture
June 26, 2003
Administration of George W. Bush,

Lobstah Part Deux

I reserved the Lobster Tail for a Lobster Salad. This is my take on a Lobster Roll.
Avocado
Cucumber
Cherry Tomatoes
Chick Peas
Black Sesame Seeds
Lobster
Topped with a home made vinaigrette



The setting..


I believe the word delicious comes to mind

Bounty of Booty from RI

The setup...

A bottle of Voigner
2lb Lobster
Jelly Bellies
all Demolished...


I played babysitter for a little bit on Saturday...


Then she got hold of my phone/camera....

Her pops sleeping off the previous night of revelry.

Born Identity

That's right , it's April 15th and I was born today. After 9 months it was time for me to get up out the piece and bring my shine to the world.

I must admit though that this bornday is unlike other in recent history. For the last several years it's been a day/weekend to get together with my peoples and celebrate the passing of another year together. This year I still have most of my original peoples and now have some new peoples. I want to keep it real low key 'cause I'm too far apart from the people I love. DJ's mom call me out on it the other day and she was right.

I feel that friends and family are one in the same. They say you know a person by the company they keep. I must be the G.O.A.T cause I know people of all stripes and I work daily to hopefully be imbued with their best qualities. I guess that would make me Rogue...

While I got my good sense and looks from my mom and dad, you all are my:

Love - All Ya'll
Heart - Claw
Soul - JWow
Consciousness - KoolRedd
Pillar - Brain
Kindness - Keyesie
Cool - J$
Style - HD (of course I have to shout myself out)
Spirit - DJ
Strength - Spontaneous
Sense of Humor - Phantom
Memory - X
Courage - Mz Pack

I am who I am because of you...

Thank you.

Nice Guys

you say want to be treated right
but that only comes from my type
smart, handsome, dressed to the nines
cover topics: politics to the Knicks
the sway of your hips to my kicks
got spots from BK to the bricks
not renaisance - your everything man
typecast "nice guy"
passed over and passed by
not interested? I wouldn't ask why
the price of being me is steep
priceless, an antique hope to speak


Maybe I'm not a Nice guy...

BB King Adventure

on my way back from philly and still feeling pretty good after a long day. I basically did an evening trip to philly in order to check out a BB King concert. I'm glad I took the opportunity to check out a master at his craft. there are so few people who have done what he has done for as long as he has.

legend is a word bandied about, but, this man is beyond that. this man is an icon and the standard bearer for all performers. gotta get up earlier and practice till daybreak to hope to compare.

his age shows but on stage he knows how to play lucille and the crowd. Both are pitch perfect and orchestrated by B to weave a complete show. So laid back and cool he does not miss a beat as he has done this too many times to count.

I guess that's all I have for now, perhaps more coherent thoughts will come in the morning...