RattlerGator Blog

Memorial Day 2012

A very happy Memorial Day to one and all. Tropical Storm Beryl is giving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia real wind and rain but here in Tallahassee it appears that we are just to the west of the edge of the storm. Bright sunshine is filtering through the windows of my home right now (while drafting this post, however, the clouds have moved in -- Jacksonville radar explains why -- and back out, and back in, etc.):

But hey, it's Memorial Day and I'm in the mood to offer this U.S. Army photo that captures (my personal political differences nothwithstanding) the majesty (and I mean that -- majesty!) that absolutely is America:

The President and Commander-in-Chief along with, I presume, the commanding general of the Military District of Washington. Moments like this never fail to move me.

I re-tweeted this morning this quote from an Army website: “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” - Joseph Campbell. It's in that spirit that I salute all of my fellow veterans who have worn the uniform of the United States of America but especially those who not only answered the call but gave their lives.

I'm going to close with some photos from Arlington National Cemetery and the Army's "Old Guard" -- for many, myself included (I have an older brother that served in the Public Affairs Office of the Old Guard), the perpetual public face of Memorial Day:

 

 

This we will defend.

Check Out Cobb, Y'all

Cobb, always worthy of a serious read, has (as usual) been pumping out some interesting material. Check him out at cobb.typepad.com -- we need to get this man a bigger platform.

Congressman Allen West's Weekly Review Submission to the CBC

Florida Congressman Allen West submitted today a timely article to the Congressional Black Caucus weekly review publication.

The article focuses on several topics including; the capture of Osama bin Laden, funding to the Palestinian Authority and Pakistan, National Debt Ceiling Crisis, and his most recent legislation, "The Small Business Encouragement Act." Presented in full below is Congressman West's article.

The Present Challenges of our

National and Economic Security

By: Congressman Allen West

This past week, our country for a slight moment was able to breathe a sigh of relief. The week ended with the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks finally meeting his maker and paying for the consequences of his decisions to attack the United States. The United States military served ultimate justice on this individual who personified evil.

Osama bin Laden did not die of natural causes. He died because our military led by General David Petreaus and assisted by our Intelligence Community, hunted him down and then took him down in a special operations attack at his compound in Pakistan.

We must acknowledge President Obama for giving the order and commend the US Navy SEALS who carried out this critical mission, as well as all of the Men and Women in uniform. Former President George W. Bush stated, "America has sent an unmistakable message... no matter how long it takes, justice will be done."

Although this is a time of exuberance, rejoicing and healing, America, as well as our allies, must be vigilant and on guard for retaliatory attacks from the Islamic terrorist groups. What strongly concerns me is that bin Laden was not found hiding in a remote cave, but in an urban area of Pakistan where Pakistani Army’s premier training institution operates. This is a war that is nowhere close to being over.

I, like many Americans, thought Osama bin Laden may be located in an isolated hidden place in the mountains of Pakistan's tribal northwest. However, we now learn that Osama bin Laden was living in a million dollar compound which was custom-built in 2005 in Abbottabad in northwest Pakistan. The heavily fortified compound, with 11- to 18-foot walls topped by barbed wire, is only a few hundred yards from the Pakistan Military Academy, described as Pakistan's West Point. The city, Abbottabad, is home to Pakistan Army 2nd Division, and is a cantonment under government control, and is located 75 miles from the Pakistan Capital of Islamabad.

It is not unreasonable for the American people to question if Osama bin Laden was located on government controlled land, next to a military academy, and so close to the nation's Capital. What real assistance was the Pakistan Government providing for the last 10 years to locate the al-Qaeda leader and bring him to justice?

Since the September 11th terrorist attack, the United States Government has provided an estimated $20 billion of assistance to the Government of Pakistan. Questions are arising on whether the Government of Pakistan may have aided and abetted this most wanted international terrorist.

I think it is quite clear that unless we get a clear explanation of what the Government of Pakistan knew about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, all foreign aid from American taxpayers to this nation needs to cease. We need to understand whether the Government of Pakistan was harboring Osama bin Laden for all these years. Further, did the Government of Pakistan always know where this terrorist was but instead did not want to bring him to justice in order to continue to receive foreign aid from the United States of America. This is either a case of serious ignorance or complicity, both equally troubling.

Along with the deepening concern about Pakistan comes more unsettling news from the Middle East. Two weeks ago the Palestinian Authority made an announcement that there will be a formation of a unified government comprised of Fatah and Hamas. This united front only adds to the overall unrest and instability in the Middle East and is the first step in the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.

Any government, in which Hamas - a terrorist organization whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel - plays a role, should not receive one dollar from the United States. The United States must remain firm in our commitment to the peace and security of the Jewish State and cease all funding to the Palestinian Authority immediately.

As we look at halting funds from being sent to the government of Pakistan and the Palestinian Authority, our main focus should be on the state of our current spending and economy. Back in 2006, as the vote on the debt limit came up, Senators Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Harry Reid all voted against it.

Before I pledge to vote against the debt limit, just like then Sen. Barack Obama did, let me quote the junior Senator from Illinois: "Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."

I agree, we do need better leadership! I think we clearly get the picture here of duplicitous hypocrisy of the greatest degree. We are at this point due to the over $5 trillion of new debt added by the Obama, Pelosi, Reid machine. Leadership is about making tough decisions, not situational ethics.

My message to President Obama, Vice President Biden, Senator Harry Reid, and Secretary of the Treasury Geithner is simple, no raising of the debt ceiling unless we have spending control measures;

- Constitutional amendment for a balanced budget requirement on the federal government.
- Cap federal government spending at 20% of GDP, put into law.
- Cut the corporate/ business tax rate from 35% to 20% flat tax rate and remove loopholes.
- Implement a trigger control mechanism that at a certain % level of the debt ceiling being reached, automatic budget cuts kick in; this will preclude us ever having to revisit this issue again.

If we've learned anything during the recession, it's that we cannot tax and spend our way to prosperity. The best way to get people working again is to rein in the growth of government and end the uncertainty facing small businesses. By addressing both issues, our plan revives free enterprise and moves America away from a debt-driven economy.

As our economy begins to recover from the past recession, it is important for us, as members of Congress, to pass legislation that helps our nation’s most effective job creators, our small businesses. Not only are small businesses the backbone of our economy, they are the backbone of our country.

Today we face staggering unemployment hovering near nine percent, a massive deficit, and an unprecedented $14 trillion in national debt. That is why I along with 9 of my fellow Members of Congress introduced The Small Business Encouragement Act (HR 1663), which will amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow small business employers whose gross receipts in the preceding taxable year did not exceed $20 million, or who did not employ more than 100 full time employees, a work opportunity tax credit for hiring unemployed individuals as full-time employees during 2012 and 2013.

This legislation would also double the rate of such credit for employers who hire individuals from counties with high unemployment rates.

Along with the support of my colleagues, The National Black Chamber of Commerce, and the numerous Small Businesses across America, this legislation will support many minority owned businesses that have felt the impact of the recession, and will encourage many others to become innovative with job creation. This legislation will push for a wave of job creation across the nation, setting conditions for economic improvement throughout America.

In closing, I am optimistic that our efforts in the United States House of Representatives can continue to help foster the growth of our economy and unleash the indomitable entrepreneurial spirit of each and every American.

Congressman Allen B. West (FL-22)

Indomitable !!!

Kanye Creatively Stuck In A Rut

I finished watching the new Kanye West longform music video "Runaway" last week just before Thanksgiving.

Truthfully, Kanye's never been much of a rapper to me but, of course, I'm not a rap aficionado. He is clearly creative, however, and obviously quite a producer. That said, here it is, all 30-something minutes, if you're interested (raw language is periodically used throughout):

My goodness, what a beautiful chick to feature in his video! Selita Ebanks is her name and she stars as something of a phoenix (defined as a legendary Arabian bird said to periodically burn itself to death and emerge from the ashes as a new phoenix; according to most versions only one phoenix lived at a time and it renewed itself every 500 years) who is alien to modern earth and ultimately repulsed by what she sees of life on earth in the 21st century.

Here's an unrelated picture of Selita that captured my eye, courtesy of TheBeauteeShop, from her work with Victoria's Secret:

Quite a woman, quite a phoenix. Skinny, to be sure, but quite a woman. I absolutely loved her in the "Runaway" video and I also thought the overall imagery in the film was impressive.

As for the story/video/theme --what can I do but sigh, and then slice.

Charitably speaking, okay, Kanye, okay. People are phony, unaccepting, sheep-like slaves to manipulation and conformity and host to all manner of other ills, and on top of all that they are sinful as hell (yourself included, Kanye??? Or are you an alien and different enough to except yourself from the norms of humanity? Like a phoenix? No, I think one point he was trying to make is he's screwed up but so are all of us -- okay, Kanye, okay).

Yep, ladies and gentlemen, go run and shout it from the hilltops. This world is doomed (freedom = free doom) . . . so, escape if you can. And, oh yeah, America is a bastard. At least that part of America that isn't with the conscience crowd and isn't still apologizing for African slavery (as opposed to Arab enslavement of Africans, or, one wonders, as opposed to world slavery in general?), blasé, blasé, blasé, yada, yada, yada.

Now it's time for me to be what some will surely describe as uncharitable: Kanye, this is what you are pushing as revolutionary and thought provoking? This is how you exhibit your creativity? Gil Scott-Heron and Comment #1 ??? Really? In 2010? With an African American as President? With black folks winning seats in Congress from districts that are primarily white in the South? And Republican? With Jay-Z as something of a music mogul, owning his music and more? With black athletes earning millions in multiple professional sports and some of them breaking into ownership of professional franchises? With black businesses open and productive all over the nation and African Americans indisputably the richest community of African descent anywhere on the planet?

Apparently so.

One approving reviewer of the film, Ken Tucker, wrote:

Late in Runaway, the phoenix speaks: “You know what I hate about your world? Anything that is different you try to change, you try to tear it down.” West’s visual and musical sophistication was constantly contrasted with images of the phoenix’s playful innocence, until she finally burst into flames and ascended back “to my world,” as she put it, leaving West’s character desperate, running down the road after her, left alone.

Me? What do I think of the video?

I say it's drivel dredged up from the time period of the late 60s, early 70s or so, a time when ABC Records wouldn't promote what would become Louis Armstrong's classic "What A Wonderful World" in America because it just wasn't revolutionary cool, don't you know. ABC apparently had to be shamed by the British public (who made Armstrong's classic a number one single over there) to really push it in the land of its birth.

How incredible is that? Quite incredible, to me.

The bitch-and-moan babies on the far left still insist on bitchin' and moanin' as a governing mindset in the 21st century, even as they earn millions while simultaneously disrespecting many more millions. As financial instability lurks on the global stage, as an era of making do with less, an era of genuine austerity when judged by the standards of the late 20th century, inches ever closer to becoming reality. In the face of all that, here comes Kanye with "Runaway."

Note to Kanye (George Bush Hates Black People) West: you might want to quit sucking from your Mama's revolutionary dead tit.

Yeah, brother, I got a plan. Runaway from your mindset as fast as I can.

The Vipers Begin to Circle Allen West

When contemplating the 2010 midterm elections, I already know that I am going to be fascinated by the first term of Congressman Allen West. I'm going to follow it very closely in part becasue I know that so many others who don't want him to succeed will be working feverishly to lay all manner of traps for him.

There will be manufactured incidents, no doubt.

How will he deal with them? How will he anticipate them, mitigate them?

Yesterday, the Washington Post posted a fair introduction to its readership of the man who is surely one of the most prominent newcomers in the 112th Congress and, like Sarah Palin, a lightning rod for criticism from Democrats.

I love virtually everything about the guy. As much as I can know, that is. But I know many, many folks will be looking for cracks in his armor. We'll know about some of them soon enough. They'll be trumpeted with much fanfare, no doubt. So, watch your back Colonel West. I suspect you are number one on their Congressional hit list.

In fact, one particularly noxious viper -- right on cue -- reared his ugly head Wednesday night:

This particular viper can be easily handled by the Congressman. Others will appear that will be far more difficult. It's just a matter of time.

The Rock In My River

Occasionally a columnist will write an opinion piece that particularly strikes home with me. Today is such a day and Jonah Goldberg is the writer. He's commenting on (and in doing so, quite approving) Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope recently caused quite a manufactured stir when he opined that condom usage could be appropriate in certain circumstances. Take it away, Jonah:

Over the weekend, the media (mis)reported that Benedict had renounced the Roman Catholic Church's longstanding "policy" against condom use. I put "policy" in quotes because the media have a tendency to portray all church positions as if they were like rules for trash pickup; easily changed or abandoned upon papal or bureaucratic whim. That's not how it works.

What Benedict said in a book-length interview is that in certain circumstances, using a condom would be less bad than not using one. To use Benedict's example, a male prostitute with HIV would be acting more responsibly, more morally, if he wore a condom while plying his trade than if he didn't.

The pontiff understands that not all harms are equal. Assault is wrong, for instance, but assault with a deadly weapon is more wrong than assault with a non-deadly one. Recognizing and limiting the harm you do can be the "first step in the direction of a moralization, a first act of responsibility in developing anew an awareness of the fact that not everything is permissible."

There is absolutely nothing difficult to discern in any of this. Unless, of course, you are purposely being dense in the cause of generating controversy.

Not all harms are equal. This strikes me as a sentiment that resonates particularly well with an African American audience; something my father would have agreed with. I may be projecting on this point and it may be why this opinion piece struck me so hard this morning. Earlier this year, while contemplating the Florida-Georgia football game, it occurred to me that this edition would be the 30th anniversary of my father's last Florida-Georgia game. It's a game he never attended but it meant something to him anyway even though he wasn't much of a sports fan. And, much to my dismay, he cheered for the "wrong" team.

Thirty years.

Thirty years!

The November 1980 game was a classic, of course. Herschel Walker, Lindsay Scott, and all that good stuff. In the following spring, by the middle of March, my father would be dead. His influence, of course, lives on in me and the five other children from his union with the girl from Andersonville, Georgia.

A father's influence has a way of lingering. With that, I return to the column I read this morning:

As for the church's preferred approach — abstinence until marriage — it may be impractical in most parts of the world, as the critics claim. But it would undeniably save more lives than condom use if put into practice. What seems to offend many isn't the efficacy of the solution but the suggestion that such values have any place in the modern world.

The church's position is that the truest notes are those that not only celebrate life and love but cut through the whitewater racket of devouring time. As those notes become harder to hear, the answer isn't to stop playing them but to turn up the volume.

Perhaps it's the approach of yet another dad-less Thanksgiving — a holiday during which we give thanks for whatever parts of our lives that are set to the music of those true notes — that has set my mind in this direction. But that shouldn't surprise, for he was always the rock in my river.

Yes.

On all counts.

It seemed to be at least a decade after he died before I could really think about a holiday such as Thanksgiving without getting quite emotional. Well done, Jonah. There's a good message in your column, with an interfaith application, and a nice personal touch, too. Quite appropriate for the Thanksgiving season.

Revisiting the Gettysburg Address

I stumbled across this today at American Digest and was struck by my strong desire to visit a place I've never quite made it to -- Gettysburg:

That's powerful stuff.

It makes me so incredibly sad to think of the not insignificant number of African Americans who have turned their backs on the magnificent legacy of Abraham Lincoln -- unable to view the great man in anything remotely approaching a just light.

What a crazy world we live in.

A Worthy Appeal

An appeal to African Americans from the Republican Party; come back home to the Party of Lincoln. We want your vote, and we think these candidates deserve your serious consideration:

Change, genuine change -- not the hopey-changey kind -- is on the way. The dam has not burst, but it's damn close. A good and representative group of Black Americans have been put forward for federal office this election cycle. Hopefully, the slate will only get better from here on out.

FAMU Homecoming 2010

It's Homecoming on The Hill and this years theme is Rattlers on the Reel, showcasing, in part, Rattlers involved in the acting, production and presentation of movies on the big screen (e.g., Anika Noni Rose, Daniel Sunjata, Will Packer, and Rob Hardy).

Florida-Georgia seems to conflict with FAMU's homecoming more often than not but, hey, such is life.

It's another gorgeous day in Tallahassee. The morning temperatures were somewhere around 50-55 and it will get up around 80 degrees today. There are clear skies everywhere you look; perfect weather for homecoming at Florida A&M. The homecoming parade this morning has ended as I write, and hopefully another victory will be in the bag this afternoon.

Here's an old video of the Marching 100 that I post in tribute to the College of Love and Charity:

The Rattlers still aren't quite where I'd hoped they would be on the football field (Bethune-Cookman, however, is) but hope springs eternal with Rattlers everywhere.

So . . . Hubba Hubba !!! Go Rattlers, beat Morgan State !!!

Zee Roh's Acolytes

With all of the disenchantment with Obama out in the open, I periodically converse with friends who are supporters of his (virtually all of my friends) or I try to read some pieces that are still supportive of him. My personal surveys back up the polls -- African Americans are still solidly behind him and are sending chain eMails asking all of us to pray for him, etc. This is the latest incarnation making the rounds:

Prayer is what it's going to take

Folks, If you have not noticed...few Presidents have ever worked this hard for our country, having to deal with such hatred and ill-will.  Many wonder, does he ever sleep? Only God can sustain such energy, knowledge and person.. Will you please join in this prayer?

Let's keep this going!

Lord,

We pray for optimum health, mental clarity and political prosperity for President Barack H. Obama. We pray that what he lacks in political 'experience' you make up for with supernatural wisdom and power.

We also pray that when his enemies come upon him they will stumble and fall; and that your love will fill his heart to the end that 'Your will' be done through him.

We pray mightily for his protection. As we plead the Blood of your son, Jesus, over him and his family. We reverently ask you to dispatch legions of angels to protect them from all hurt, harm, danger as he serves as the President of the United States of America .

We thank you and praise you for answering our sincere prayers, in Jesus's precious name,

AMEN

1. Oftentimes, it's the unanswered prayers we have to be most thankful for.

2. Few Presidents have ever worked as hard as Barack Obama? Come on, man!

3. Few Presidents have ever faced such ill-will and hatred as Barack Obama? Come on, man!

That said, and back to my opening, I've never understood the folks who insist he's bi-partisan because he has clearly been supremely partisan throughout -- and disrespectfully so. For anyone who cared to pay real attention, that is.

I've also never understood the anger from the far left, where Jon Stewart (incredibly) clearly believes Obama has been too timid in his dealings with Congress. I keep asking myself, do these people have no grasp on reality at all? Have they not seen how the Democrats had to subvert the voting system in Congress just to get that health care monstrosity passed? How that abomination is killing the political careers of so many Democrats?

Apparently, they don't care about reality.

Yesterday, Jonah Goldberg provided an example based on an incredible speech already highlighted by Commentary Magazine's Contentions blog:

Ah, yes. Barack Obama has been so supple-minded, so open to “continuing debate,” so skeptical of certainty, and so humble.

I just wonder where that Barack Obama has been for the last 20-odd months, because the guy in the Oval Office has been talking endlessly about how the “time for debate is over,” how he doesn’t want to hear from his opponents, whom he now calls “our enemies,” how he got all of his policies right, how any statement of disagreement is merely a “talking point,” or perhaps the irritable mental gesture of Americans who are so frightened they cling to their boomsticks and sky god, or simply reject “facts and science.”

It truly is laughable, if it weren't so bewildering and depressing.