Random Thoughts

EbonyRose, you out did yourself in your response to Fagunwa's question on the "Ask Women topic." You go girl!

And this thread is a great idea!! I happen to have those "random thoughts" a lot! lol

Well, jump on in and say it anytime!

Thinking out loud. It seems, me and James are the only posters around here today. I wonder if members are still having access problems.

I think this is a good idea also. Often I'm not sure whether I should "jump in", or not.

PEACE

Jim Chester

I understand James you're probably not alone others may feel the same way. That's too bad though because we could be missing some very interesting viewpoints.

Well, It's almost Father's Day. I get real sentimental around this time, as I miss my daddy. He's been diseased for many years, but my broken heart from his death has yet to heal because I won't let go. So, Ive managed to live with it. On occasion, I've dreamt about him and woke up crying.

To you fathers out there never underestimate the influence you have over your children. If you show them love no mater what happens they will always love and esteem you!

Len...

This was the first Mother's Day I had to endure without my mom ... I made it through the day, but the day after was the hard part! But, because of that, I am especially celebratory of my father this coming Sunday! I will probably try to buy up the Academy sporting goods store for him!

Your heart will heal! Remember he's still loving you from where he is just as you are loving him from here! So, the saga still continues!

And a happy early Father's Day to all you dad's out there!

Thanks EbonyRose, and I believe you, one day my heart will heal.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom, and wish you and your family comfort as well. I'm sure you your dad will have a great Father's Day with his girl spoiling him.

MBM, your photos are great. The family is lovely. Does each person have to create a separate gallery or can we add photos to the AA.org gallery?

I've never used the album feature for multiple member posts, although there is a button that I clicked for it to be a "community album". You may need to start another thread to add pictures. Perhaps the "community" aspect is limited to additional posts added beneath the gallery.

You can add photos to the gallery by pressing the icon that looks like a monitor with a plus sign beside it.

What are y'all talking about??

EbonyRose we are talking about the AA.org photo gallery that MBM created in the "Our Lives" forum. He shared some beautiful pictures of his family. And I wanted to know if members could add images to that gallery, or create our own.

Oh okay! Just found it! That's really cool!

I saw this quote and thought that it tied to a number of threads.

"The first truth is that the liberty of a Democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in essence, is Facism - ownership of government by a individual, by a group, or by any other controlling power." FDR

America becomes enraged when one of her own dies at the hands of the enemy. Paul Johnson's murder is but another in what, unfortunately, may become a long string of high profile murders of Americans in the Middle East.

This up swell in sentiment raises questions about the 800 or so other Americans who have died in that region. Where is America's outrage at their death's? What's the difference in the relative indifference that we approach their deaths? Could it be that because "W" has censored the press from covering certain key elements of American deaths (like showing their flag draped caskets as they come home) that we are prevented from personalizing each American death so as to continue to give "W" a pass on his failed mission?

I bet you can guess what I think!

I saw the Tupac video yesterday. He made a comment in an interview that made me laugh. He was commenting on how a White person called him a Ni@@er, and the (White) interview responded by saying that he used the word in all of his songs. Tupac corrected her by saying, "Ni@@er, not nigga. A ni@@er has a rope around his neck and hangs from trees. A nigga, has gold ropes around has neck and hangs in clubs." (And I'll add, "and smokes trees."

But, is there really a difference?

Only in Tupac's dictionary

Any doubts about my having moved to the South were quickly dashed when at the grocery store today I saw - fried chicken gizzards!

You ain't in Seattle anymore Toto!!

Welcome to the east, my brother to the east!

You ever wonder why we drive on parkways and park on driveways?(you did say random right?)

Two wrongs don't make a right.

But three lefts do.

PEACE

Jim Chester

While visiting in Charlotte, NC., I was in a grocery store where there was pork of some kind in a standlone un-refrigerated bin near the meat counter. Hmm, what kind of pork do they eat and sale in the south that does not require refrigeration? It didn't look smoked.

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Originally posted by Diamond:
While visiting in Charlotte, NC., I was in a grocery store where there was pork of some kind in a standlone un-refrigerated bin near the meat counter. Hmm, what kind of pork do they eat and sale in the south that does not require refrigeration? It didn't look smoked.

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That would be the Deathgut brand of pork... no refrigeration required.

Why is it that people come here and take on fake identities? This is a site that, for the most part, embraces all kinds of positive, productive debate. For example, I have invited and encouraged all perspectives since day one. We've had all manner of members across the entire spectrum of ideology. Why do people feel the need to pretend to be what they are not?

At the end of the day, you just get "outed" for who you are anyway, and in the process you get embarrassed and lose all credibility. Why not just be who you are? It's OK to be white and active here. It's OK to be conservative. It's OK to think you know more than we do and to try to change our minds on positions that matter to us. It's even OK to be racist. Just be honest!

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Originally posted by MBM:
Why is it that people come here and take on fake identities? This is a site that, for the most part, embraces all kinds of positive, productive debate. For example, I have invited and encouraged all perspectives since day one. We've had all manner of members across the entire spectrum of ideology. Why do people feel the need to pretend to be what they are not?

At the end of the day, you just get "outed" for who you are anyway, and in the process you get embarrassed and lose all credibility. Why not just be who you are? It's OK to be white and active here. It's OK to be conservative. It's OK to think you know more than we do and to try to change our minds on positions that matter to us. It's even OK to be racist. Just be honest!

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I think that some of the people on this site know some others and don't want (for what ever reason) the others to know. JMO

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Originally posted by MBM:
Why is it that people come here and take on fake identities? This is a site that, for the most part, embraces all kinds of positive, productive debate. For example, I have invited and encouraged all perspectives since day one. We've had all manner of members across the entire spectrum of ideology. Why do people feel the need to pretend to be what they are not?

At the end of the day, you just get "outed" for who you are anyway, and in the process you get embarrassed and lose all credibility. Why not just be who you are? It's OK to be white and active here. It's OK to be conservative. It's OK to think you know more than we do and to try to change our minds on positions that matter to us. It's even OK to be racist. Just be honest!

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Whether identities are fake or not... in that same sense of being honest? How come people can't be honest about what they really feel or want to say... or was saying... or was trying to say (imply)...

Anyway... that's always bothered me. And gotten me in trouble (knowing or not knowing whether people were being honest).

Sounds like a sticky, MBM. Something to put in the New Members and Issues forums, etc. (warning, information, notice) Who knows if it will help...

I was speaking less about personal identities, as much as ideological ones. I don't care if people create different names/handles/avatars etc. for themselves. That's cool. To be clear, it's disappointing though when people come here pretending to be black, for example, when they aren't. Over the years I've found it somewhat common for white conservatives to come here and create a facade of a black conservative - in an effort to try to "open our eyes" about things. They try to tell us how affirmative action and reparations etc. are all not to our benefit. I would so much more appreciate someone saying - "I'm a white conservative. I don't believe in anything that you do and I'll tell you why". Aside from being so much more honest, it would lead to much better debate than the subterfuge of a false identity.

I understand your perspective now...

White conserv's have never been honest, if they were there would never have been a watergate, reaganomics, Willie Horton, prez. bush 1 would have not told the country that he bought crack across the street from the white house (one of the most secure spots in the world ), no 911, no enron, no "war on terrorism", and definetely no "liberation" of Iraq.

With a track record like that, and I am not even scratching the surface, how, more importantly, why would you expect them to be honest here?

White people have been lying for thousands of years in order to protect their "interests"... you cannot possibly expect them to start telling the truth now. (so that no one is offended, know that I am speaking in general terms)

My ex called and my son doesn't have to deploy. He has some medical issues he needs to take care of so he is safe for now. Whenever I deployed I felt it was no problem. When he got his orders I din't like the idea at all. I know as a young man he needs to find his own way in life, so does me not wanting him to go make me a hypocrit?

catch

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Originally posted by ocatchings:

. . . so does me not wanting him to go make me a hypocrit?

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No, it makes you a caring dad.

So, true, MBM. So true.

And, if the medical issues are not too serious, I say great, may they keep him out of harms way, forever.

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I was speaking less about personal identities, as much as ideological ones...

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I think I understood you from the start. But I will even try to give people the benefit of a doubt (sometimes) on their ethnic identities. But feigning Blackness while speaking Whiteness fluently just doesn't work.

It would seem as if they think that since they've read books by Blacks that they somehow have the perfect cover.

But beyond that... I have no love for the weasel... People who conveniently change their position or emphasis when they are met with strong opposition on their first proposition...

Anyway... I share your frustration, MBM.

Randomly... You (MBM) should never think that we question your sincerity. In the midst of debate, sometimes you lose sight that you're down with us.

Signed Numero Tres de la Tres Amigos!

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Originally posted by AudioGuy:

White people have been lying for thousands of years in order to protect their "interests"...

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Although I'm not sure whether it's a concerted effort or not, I do believe that "folks" come here with the sole purpose of stirring shit up and getting the conversation bogged down into ultimately meaningless BS to keep us from serious conversations and developing real solutions for our progress. There are a couple of members here now that I suspect of these ulterior motives. COINTELPRO lives.

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Originally posted by MBM:

...I do believe that "folks" come here with the sole purpose of stirring shit up and getting the conversation bogged down into ultimately meaningless BS to keep us from serious conversations and developing real solutions for our progress.

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What I say to that (knowing I may very well fit into that tangent category) is for those who want to focus on serious discussion to do it and not use disruption as an excuse to avoid a thread or whatever "once it's gotten out of hand"...

I can change gears at the drop of a dime.

It just seems that if I were 'the man' and was threatened by national and international black unity that I'd just foment tension around issues of identity and race and nationality to prevent any meaningful dialog from taking place. Think of how much BS is going on in this site lately. We're arguing about our identity with fringe 'nut cases' who clearly do not have the broader communities' interests at heart. I mean think about it, we've got people here who are trying to tell us that we're not even a race.

I posted an article by an African who talked about tribal conflict in Africa. Well, if in America there are not tribal affiliations to use to separate people like they've done in Africa, then, well, let's create some "tribal" shit to divide in America.

I've long since looked at the E Pluribus Unum as a model-metaphor for African-Americans. From Many Tribes ONE People.

ONE LOVE!

Interlopers.... FT!!

I was reading the post by O.A. about the Congo and began thinking about the sister that used to post from there. Has anyone heard from her?