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Archive for November, 2014

The Ferguson Decision: A Tragic Denial of Michael Brown’s Humanity

Posted in Living History, Politics, Racism, tagged , , , , , , on November 26, 2014| 1 Comment »

After days that went into intensive months of a call for justice, Monday November 24, at around half past 8 pm, would be a sad moment for those of us anxiously awaiting the grand jury’s decision to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the tragic killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed person barely out of his teens just trying to get home.

While many in the news continued to voice their doubts given the local authorities’ brazen disregard for public demands to do the right thing, still there were those of us hoping that most of the grand jury members would follow reason, ignore that tribal impulse to support racism’s views and indict Wilson on at least one of the charges, which ranged from degrees of murder to involuntary manslaughter. But, of course, they didn’t, and thus failed to indict him.

As I watched the people’s reactions on CNN after hearing Robert McCulloch, the county prosecutor announce the grand jury’s decision of no indictment for Officer Wilson in Michael Brown’s shooting, I had to fight back the tears as the subtle wailing and moaning of the frustrated protesters (most likely not much older than Michael was) managed to briefly waft above the noisy crowd. Soon, too many hours of repressed anxiety would ultimately give rise to chaos, violence and the destruction of local businesses that serve their community.

A Brutal Disregard for Humanity

Throughout the ages though never a good idea, seems chaos, violence, the burning and looting of local stock is not unusual when public demand for justice is arrogantly ignored by its leaders, and the people are left frustrated and hurt beyond belief. Sadly, Ferguson’s local leaders (from the governor on down) knew this and could have prevented it. But, they didn’t! Which reeks of a brutal disregard for humanity, or so it seems.

As most reasonable persons well know by now, if they so chose, via cable news and detailed articles on the web from the Washington Post, here, the Root, New York Daily News, Dorian Johnson’s grand jury testimony in September, Darren Wilson’s grand jury testimony and such, the evidence against Officer Wilson supports the public’s (and now the world’s) demands for justice for Michael Brown: An innocent, unarmed person who simply did not deserve to be seen as less than human and then gunned down like a mad animal in the street…which is what Officer Wilson, the local authorities and other misguided folks would have us all believe!

And so while we patiently wait for justice for Mike Brown from our Justice Department, we urge those in our great society to rise above the primal instinct to defend tribalism (one’s own group) and realize that as an open and free democracy we are all in this together. Thus, justice for one is justice for all, and justice denied lets injustice thrive where we least imagine it to be.

The Gift of Humanity

A simple way out of tribalism and racism…always see another’s humanity first!   And do take care to remember our common humanity at all times. This is likely how the ancient custom of speaking, particularly when passing another or that of saying “good morning” at day’s beginning or “good night” at day’s end, came into practice in human affairs.

Finally we learn that to honor another’s humanity is to realize our own, which is a sacred gift that awakens our innermost happiness and keeps us civilized.

© Delores L. Adams and The Aunt Jemimah Post 2012-2014. All rights reserved.

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Is Stupidity the New Root of all Evil: Consider Why the Mighty Dems Struck Out and Realized a Poverty of Votes in 2014!

Posted in Poetry, Politics, tagged , , , , , , on November 13, 2014| 1 Comment »

Some may be offended by this blog, but the stark reality is: We cannot fix that which we cannot see. Sadly, with truth on their side, in my opinion the Democrats made very bad choices that lost a crucial election they were poised to win. Sadder still would be an arrogant refusal to own their mistakes, and then make a definitive change moving forward!

“Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light; and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; but there is no joy in [Demsville today, as] the mighty Casey has struck out!” From the beloved poem titled, ‘Casey at the Bat’ by Ernest Lawrence Thayer (ca.1880).

Stupidity, Our Greatest Poverty

Today, most people tend to balk at the word “stupid.”  In fact, whenever I am tempted to judge someone else’s behavior as sheer stupidity (rarely my own of course…), I always stop and think of Whoopi Goldberg (America’s favorite comic and co-host of the View) who deplores this thought relative to calling a child stupid, which is cruel indeed. Still, even as cultured adults, or so we like to think, we all are subject to stupidity at times.

Yet, at times this can be very destructive if we don’t recognize such stupidness…or admit it when duly informed… and change our focus! Hey, that’s virtually all we need do.

Thus, remaining closed to our inherent ability to open our lovely mind and choose once again, has to be the definitive state of stupidity. Hence, this, I believe, reflects the true meaning behind this wise saying from Muhammad’s most highly evolved disciple, in part:

“The greatest wealth is Wisdom. The greatest poverty is stupidity,” Imam Ali, ca. 630 AD.

Is Money Still The Root of All Evil?

Of course money…or the love of money…is still considered the root of all evil. Yet, sadly today, this enduring proverb has now taken on a new root.

Created by Stupidity while passing as a Supreme Court Justice, seems the frantic drive for more money has virtually stupefied the electoral process. Where, in the final analysis, everyone is the loser, including Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike! Thus, stupidity has seemly become the new root of all evil. Yet, we must continue moving forward.

Dark Money, Arrogance, or Stupidity, Which was It?

Actually, I was not going to write another blog about this election, but it seems the drive for more money is upon us yet again, and so soon after the election!

So wake up from that insidious stupor you mighty Dems. And do take notice lest you stay there and likely mess up again, which we hope not. To paraphrase Dr. Phil on national television: You cannot heal that which you refuse to acknowledge, painful though it may sometimes be.

Being a devoted citizen-volunteer on the front lines in the Democratic camp, I was amazed by some unusual events that simply did not reflect democratic values, such as: The rejection of our sitting president and his policies, which was widely noted after the election; the favoring of a candidate while shunning the other which broke democratic traditions; considering dedicated volunteers as “the help” or so-called “low-level” employees; failure to show monetary gratitude or respond to emails when asked; failure to even speak to “the help” at public events; sadly the list goes on, yet the message is abundantly clear.

As we well know by now, indeed “dark money” (funds from unknown sources) made us all a little crazy and thus drove this 2014 mid-election to the edge of the political abyss.

Yet, I cannot leave us there as there is always a way out, a better way without losing that which is far greater than money. Some would rightly call it our very soul.

Dark money, arrogance or temporary stupidity, we all must decide eventually.

Love’s Activating Force

Of course, society’s laws and social traditions cannot always regulate the frailties of human behavior, yet there are always consequences to our actions, both good and bad.  Said differently, most people know when they are loved and will return that love sufficiently.

As love is the most activating force in the world that ultimately unites us all!

And so in their frantic haste to combat the “dark money” forces, seems the Mighty Dems forgot to lay bare the very thing they excel at, and that is of championing the basic needs of the middle class. Of course, this is not to say that the democratic candidates did not have good intentions and the political will to better their constituents. Yet, it seems the people just did not feel the love, and thus withheld their precious vote.

Lesson learned: We must always remember, both collectively and individually, to put people way before money no matter what. Thus, money, in all of its forms, becomes the illusion it really is, stupidity and arrogance transforms to clear thinking, and love unites us all.

© Delores L. Adams and The Aunt Jemimah Post 2014. All rights reserved.

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Prelude to a Poem Titled: Casey at the Bat

Posted in Poetry, Self Improvement, Uncategorized on November 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Arguably the most animated ballad to date, this legendary baseball ballad has its rightful place beside such other mythical tales as Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill. The rhythm of it takes you there, where a roaring crowd is waiting in great expectation for the Mighty Casey to finally step up to bat and save the day. But alas! The mighty Casey appears yet full of false pride. He stupidly shows off until the third ball approaches and then strikes out, thus leaving the crowd silently dejected.

Written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, this historic poem was first published in the San Francisco Examiner in 1887, a local newspaper owned by William Randolph Hearst. Thayer was a college friend of Hearst, who had hired him as humor columnist. And the rest is history. This poem has been adapted to varied types of media: including books, film, television, music, and such. Today the ballad of the Mighty Casey is still being recited at different events by various people, sometimes accompanied by a symphony orchestra. Following is the complete poem:

 Casey at the Bat
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, ca. 1887

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:  The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,  And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,  A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest  Clung to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast;  They thought, “If only Casey could but get a whack at that— We’d put up even money now, with Casey at the bat.”

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,  And the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake;  So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat, For there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,  And Blake, the much despisèd, tore the cover off the ball;  And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,  There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;  It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;  It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,  For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey’s manner as he stepped into his place;  There was pride in Casey’s bearing and a smile lit Casey’s face.  And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,  No stranger in the crowd could doubt ‘twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;  Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt;  Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,  Defiance flashed in Casey’s eye, a sneer curled Casey’s lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,  And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.  Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped— “That ain’t my style,” said Casey.  “Strike one!” the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,  Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;  “Kill him! Kill the umpire!” shouted someone on the stand;  And it’s likely they’d have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey’s visage shone;  He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;  He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the dun sphere flew;  But Casey still ignored it and the umpire said, “Strike two!”

“Fraud!” cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered “Fraud!”  But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.  They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,  And they knew that Casey wouldn’t let that ball go by again.

The sneer is gone from Casey’s lip, his teeth are clenched in hate,  He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;  And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,  And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey’s blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,  The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;  And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,  But there is no joy in Mudville, mighty Casey has struck out.

This poem is in the public domain.

© Delores L. Adams and The Aunt Jemimah Post 2014. All rights reserved.

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GOP Gets the Votes: Sadly ‘Dark Money’ Was the Real Winner!

Posted in Living History, Poetry, Politics, Self Improvement, tagged , , , , , on November 5, 2014| Leave a Comment »

“I may be wrong, but I doubt it.”  ~ Sir Charles Barkley, NBA Superstar

First, much respect to my favorite democratic candidate who, despite her opponent’s lead now, is not conceding her race for Attorney General until after all the votes are counted. Thus, all the evidence is not yet fully disclosed. Truly the mark of a patient and dedicated attorney, here is hoping that Felecia will be her state’s next Attorney General. The people need her sincere dedication in that office.

To Gloat or Not is the Question

Meanwhile, to those nationwide Republicans obviously gloating about their big wins last night (Mitch McConnell in particular), do take a deep breath and consider the underhanded way in which your party won! Thus further damaging our democracy. Then, gloat no more! After all, false pride oft comes before the fall, remember?

As most of us well know, it was the GOP’s agents of ‘dark money’ from undisclosed sources that legally spent untold dollars in false television advertising, which significantly did the Democrats in. As loads of these false ads were targeted to darken and confuse the American mind; thus, unfairly tilting our national election in the GOP’s favor.

Generally full of horrendous lies about the opposition that virtually went unchallenged…this was by no means an honorable win worthy of self-praise! Instead, in my opinion, this 2014 GOP mid-term election win amounts to a pitiful scam that ultimately dishonors all Americans and, indeed, our democratic government.

O Ye of Little Faith!

Of course, the Democrats are not without fault here; no, not by a long shot! First, the Democrats collectively abandoned their party’s sitting president and his worthy policies (such as raising the minimum wage) instead of running on them; which actually won in several states when on the ballot. How weird was that?

Next, rightly concerned by the impending abundance of “dark money” ads that stood to crush their narrative or repeatedly use it against them, seems the mighty Democrats fell victim to their own fears and overly protected themselves. Hence, unwittingly breaking the cardinal rule of verbal warfare: Never, ever let the enemy control your narrative!

O ye of little faith. Still, the morrow is another day…or so…and the good fight continues after all.

Lest We Forget!

And then there were We the People, who ultimately let themselves down. For no matter how hopeless things seem, particularly in our democratic system of government, we all must do our part to keep our society well and our democratic government properly functioning.

Much like we can’t give up on our kids, no matter how difficult at times, we cannot continue to give up and simply not vote because things are not going well. How infantile is that?

In the final analysis we all have to live with the results of our political elections. Hence, the true nature of politics is very, very personal. So, we must take our duty as American citizens very seriously and make an effort to vote at every election. That’s the very least we can do.

As Civil Rights icon, Rev. Jessie Jackson wisely said in a recent newsletter: “If you fail to show up, your vote still counts, but in support of those you oppose.” Lest we forget.

© Delores L. Adams and The Aunt Jemimah Post 2014. All rights reserved.

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