When Will It End?

I just wanted to take a moment to ask anyone who reads this blog to take a look at my friend's posting. Specifically, his posting of November 29, 2005.

http://abdurmalik.blogspot.com/

Most of you have never been to the town he speaks of, but it is about 15 miles northeast of Sacramento, California. It is an area that used to be kind of sleepy, but is now becoming a bedroom community for Sacramento and the Bay Area, and prices for homes are shooting up as they are elsewhere in our area. With all of that, it still has a small town feel and most would describe the town as friendly. Yet, the incident that he describes shows that we have a long way to go.

There is something that people of all races need to remember: we are all human beings. I don't say that expecting people to say "duh" in response. But obviously, there are still some "people" out there who think that one race is superior to another. That is a load of garbage. Face it...white women can have babies with black men and vice versa. That goes for other races as well. Scientifically, we are the same species. The only thing that differentiates the races is the human tendency to think one above another. That is not physical; it is psychological. And it is ridiculous. Even the Bible notes that all races come from one. Anyone who, in our day and age, can make mindless, racist, vile and violent comments like the two idiots in Loomis did had better hope that they never need a black man to come to their aid someday. What will they do? Turn down the help? I am proud of my friend, Abdur, for keeping his temper under control. I also know that if anyone, of any race, needed help, Abdur would be the first one there. He has done it in the past, and he always will.

I don't feel the need to apologize for the two "men" who made the comments. Or those who insulted his mother on other occasions. Frankly, I consider them beneath contempt. After all these years, there are still some pillowcase wearing imbeciles who haven't learned. What a shame. They miss out on knowing some truly great people.

By the way...my brother-in-law is black...and he is one great guy.

Giving Thanks...

Here it is, the day that the world calls "Thanksgiving". All in all, however, is it really necessary to have such a holiday? One day a year for giving thanks seems almost hypocritical if one believes in God. Why? In the Bible, we are reminded over and over about the importance of giving thanks. It is not meant to be something done once a year, but regularly; daily; often. A family I know is not religious. The woman of the house thinks she believes in God, but does not practice any form of religion. Yet, on Thanksgiving, their family prays before dinner. Once a year, they pray. Is that really giving thanks?

People ask me if I celebrate Thanksgiving. My reply is, invariably, that every day is thanksgiving for me. I don't have a large turkey dinner, watch football, or have friends and family over. Football and turkey is done occasionally, but friends and family are gathered many times a year; not just once. Every day is thanksgiving because every day I think about the blessings that my family and I have received and I give thanks several times a day. How can any living being who believes in God do any less?

In reality, all Thanksgiving has become is a day for gorging (an act expressly frowned upon in the Scriptures), for arguing with family members, and for perusing the ads for "Black Friday" so that people can pay homage to the gods that they truly worship: the almighty dollar and the god of materialism.

Sorry for my negativity, but facts are facts. Now excuse me, while I go read a bit and prepare to avoid every single department and toy store there is tomorrow.

Random Rant on Art

I'm in the process of reading a book for my English class entitled "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. I don't want to insult anyone who loves this book, especially since it was made into a movie and won a Pulitzer Prize. However, I'm finding it very difficult to enjoy this book. Subject matter aside, the writing style of this author feels disjointed and difficult to follow. In fact, I just get tired reading it.

So what's my point? My point is that the art illuminati seem to feel that anything that is different is good. Some of the modern art that I've seen looks as though the artist shoved paint up his nose and sneezed onto the canvas. But since it is different, it is "magnificent, unique, innovative", etc., etc., etc. Sorry, folks. That isn't art. Don't tell me that a splash of paint on canvas compares to a Monet. I'm not buying. That's why I'm ranting about writing styles. Just because something is strange and disjointed doesn't make it deep or artistic. Frankly, I find more enjoyment delving into a book when I can be drawn along with the story, not when I have to fight like a salmon swimming upstream...and then at the end of the stream is a bear.

I'm sure that Toni Morrison's book is moving, touching, emotional, and deep. The subject matter is tense and harsh. But I don't need someone telling me how there is significance here and symbolism there. I don't mind working to see an author's point. I just don't want to have the feeling that I went on the "teacup ride" at Disneyland and someone spun the thing too fast. I want to get the point. I want to feel what the author is trying to make me feel. If the subject is harsh, I want to feel the harshness of it all. But I don't want someone telling me that a writing style is magnificent just because it is different.

Different is good, but paint from someone's nose is just colorful mucous.

France on Fire

I love France. I have been there several times. My wife is French. Her family lives in France. There is something very special about France, and I particularly love Paris. I say these things to preface my following remarks about the situation in that country.

The outbreak of violence in France is horrible, disgusting, criminal...and predictable. France has long claimed to be the land of "liberty, equality, fraternity" and human rights. That all looks good on the surface. But how many who have visited Paris have gone beyond the tourist attractions? How many have looked at the social powderkeg that has existed for years?

There are thousands and thousands of immigrants in France. They largely come from northern Africa and the Middle East. The majority are quite poor. Unemployment for that group sits at around 25%. I have seen families of 10 or more people living in a one room apartment, and many of them are there illegally. Some squat in condemned buildings. Others live in the most run-down and filthy places that one can imagine. To make a long story short, these immigrants are desperate. Does that make the rampages that are going on right now acceptable? Absolutely not. First of all, the electrocution of the young boys was not the fault of the French police force. These kids got nervous when they saw the policemen and they ran. They ran straight into an electric substation. Brilliant. It's a tragedy, for sure. But it is no excuse for the riots that are taking place.

If you want to look at the people who are causing the riots, look to the second-generation immigrants who have French citizenship. These are young people. They are organized. They were just looking for an excuse to cause trouble. Why? Perhaps they are aligned with radical Muslim groups. These groups have been active in France for years, especially groups from Algeria. Perhaps they are just bored and looking for trouble. Perhaps they are looking for ways to loot. In any case, they have made themselves criminals. They are attacking innocent people and destroying property at random. Criminals.

Let me tell you a story. My sister-in-law has friends in a very poor part of her town in France. It is a suburb of Paris. As she enters the main lobby, there are young men dealing drugs, and 4 and 5 year olds out playing in the street...at 10 p.m. No parents nearby. No supervision. You wonder why these young people are out of control? Look to the parents. Yes, the same type of parents that are accusing the Police and the government of killing their kids at that power station. You know what folks? Take responsibility for your own kids and quit blaming everyone else for your poor efforts. Sure, there are kids whose parents do everything right and they still revolt. But in the case of these two kids, quit blaming the cops! Quit burning the cities as if that will help.

What is going to happen next? Are the French legislators going to say, "There, there" and throw more taxes at the problem? Probably. But I guarantee that the first thing that's going to happen is that the army is going to be called out to stifle these riots. And if the army doesn't work...watch out. The French still have a group called the Foreign Legion. These Legionnaires are not the nicest folks in the world, and they would have no qualms about doing some damage to the rioters.

Before the French government will try to help these immigrants, the violence will need to stop. But before any plans will work, parents need to take responsibility for their children, and the children need to take responsibility for their own actions. In fact, if everyone took responsibility for their own actions, we wouldn't have some of the problems that we do today. Simple, isn't it? And it's a wish that won't come true with humans being the way that they are: imperfect and selfish.