10 Days in China

As soon as we took the picture she shouted "Money!"

Money!

This is what the Chinese woman shouted at us after we took her picture. She was working in the rice paddies and she wanted us to pay her after we took her photograph. No one did, but this was only because she was too far away to get to us before we jumped into our buses and drove away. Her neighbors beat her to it though. Some of them followed us all the way there, others were waiting just for an opportunity to pose for unsuspecting tourists who would go camera crazy and then be badgered into compensating them Badgered is in fact is putting it mildly. A lady ripped the shirt off my shoulder until I paid her at the sight of some Chinese Yuan that I was lending someone.

Money is indeed the word that sums up my experience in China. It even threatens to overshadow the country’s impressive and immense history. Most of my colleagues, all of whom were undergrad business students were not aware of just how indebted the U.S. is to China and it is not surprising. The Chinese are the most aggressive and persistent business people I have ever met. Men and women, young and old to ancient, pound the pavement wheeling and dealing their knock off merchandise. “Never pay the price they tell you,” warns our tour guide, because shopping in China is a seemingly endless round of negotiations that are not for the faint of heart. A typical transaction can involve people following you out of the store when you leave, others pulling you into their store while constantly prodding and pushing new merchandise in your face, and if you resist them or insist on a price they don’t like, they will not be afraid to give you a firm but playful slap on the arm or even insult your manhood. Yes a colleague of mine was told after he refused to buy something, “you’re not a real man, you’re a lady!”

I asked an American business man what the Chinese work culture I like and he said, “My workers do what I say because I do their assessments.” No motivation required here, either do the work or go home!

Don’t let all this turn you off, China will blow your mind. Its like walking through the pages of National Geographic.  Our tour guide could not speak about the hundreds of students killed by the Chinese government in Tiananmen Square because the government forbids it, but the fury of the slain protestors was revealed in the immense heat from the sun beating down on the American tourists who finally came to appreciate the value of good air conditioner.

The Great Wall was indeed great among other things like gigantic and steep to the point where I had to walk on my tip toes, but with all that said China has taught me a very important lesson. Don’t underestimate the Chinese! The sweet Chinese lady in your local restaurant has a sister somewhere in China that is pounding the pavement, refusing to quit until she gets what she wants and until she and her children ultimately rule the world!

I find no fault with this woman

Ruling with empathy.
Since when is that a negative.
The GOP has finally gone mad and shown their true colors by condemning the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. 
The woman is a moderate at best and has ruled against using public funds to support abortion yet they rail against her and call her a racist.
Of course her experience as a female latina from the Bronx is richer than that of a white man without similar experiences. For saying this, they call her a racist. The attorney general was right, Americans are cowards when it comes to race.
Maybe the GOP and Fox news needs some diversity training!

Control

It comes like a thief in the night.
But all along it’s been watching and waiting in silent envy for the right moment to pounce.
Control is like a drug, some people need it to survive, but the same people hate to be in its arms.
Here we go again, we danced this tango many moons ago, now do you think I will willingly be locked in this embrace. I fought you before and won, and I will again!!

Barack’s win was lost on me until….

As an international student, I could not completely identify with the euphoria of SC State students when Barack Obama was announced the projected winner of the 2008 elections.

I was happy that Barack Obama won and I understood the historic significance theoretically, but I was used to black Presidents[In Trinidad and Tobago] so I did not jump out of my skin when I heard the news. In fact, election day was the first time I even heard the song “My President iz Black.” No I don’t live under a rock, I was just in University Village for a couple of days.

It was as if SC State won a collective lottery. Students mounted their cars in jubilation, and screamed at random persons in the street. As I was making my way back to to my room after working on The Collegian for the entire day, [13 hours, while everybody else had a holiday], someone said “the band is playing at Fine Arts.” I thought OK, one last stop to get more pictures.

As I stepped out of my friend’s car, I felt as if I entered a science fiction movie. Students were running towards the Fine Arts building, out of what seemed like nowhere, carrying clarinets, horns and other instruments. Dressed in pajamas and hoodies the look of anticipation on their faces was exciting, but eerie. I knew then and there, I would not get to my bed anytime soon.

As I followed the band along with what seemed to be the entire school, I marveled at the unplanned unison that Barack Obama created. Armed with a gigantic camera around my neck that I really did not know how to use, [I would later find out, that I did not turn on the flash, rendering all my pictures useless], I stood amazed and almost proud like a parent, of how students mobilized themselves, without direction from faculty or staff, and without fighting or any other stereotypical black youth behavior.

After almost being knocked over by a swinging drum a couple of times, [because positioned myself too close to the band to get flash-less pictures] I exited the crowd, [pictures or no pictures.] It was not until the following day when a student showed me a power point presentation he was working on, did the significance of this even really hit me.

I remained stoic as the slides rolled on showing images of civil rights demonstrations and fire hoses bulldozing human beings; images I’d seen in a dozen movies. This was until slide seven; a slide showin an image of a black man and woman hanging from a tree surrounded by white on-lookers, introduced with a power point bouncing effect.

I got it then. “My President is Black;” It means he has our back. Yes this election was largely about race, but justifiably so. Barack Obama symolizes hope. Hope that Katrina would never happen again. Hope that a black child could become what ever he or she dreams of. Hope that black issues would not take a back seat and more importantly hope that America can see that we are just as good as every other race.

Why Can’t a Muslim be a U.S President

Are Muslims the new Negroes?

Gone are the days of cartoons like “The Coon” that presented powerful and damaging images of African Americans as lazy, stupid and even dangerous, to advance the anti-freedom movement.

Now we are faced with the controversial New Yorker cover, which portrays the new “Black Messiah” and his wife as Anti-American Muslim terrorists.

To many people the term “Muslim Terrorists” is redundant. The two have been synonymous ever since 9/11.

Yet while the Obama camp has exhausted its efforts to quell the controversy over his denomination, not until now has Obama alluded to the blatant bigotry in the accusations.

Why can’t a Muslim be President?

Is it that 9/11 has destroyed all chances for a Muslim-American to hold political office?

What are they going to do, wear a suicide bomb as soon as they get in so that they can destroy the White House?

I am almost certain that a lot of people would answer yes to that rhetorical question.

The difference between the anti-negro cartoons of the pre-abolitionist era and the New Yorker cover, is that the magazine may just have done a public service to Muslims by bringing Americans face to face with their own prejudice.

This prejudice spurred by 9/11, has made Muslim-Americans the victims of increasing civil rights abuses according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

In a 2007 report aptly sub-titled “Presumption of Guilt,” the council documented receipt of a 2,476 complaints of civil rights abuses in 2006, 36.32 percent of which occurred at government agencies.

These abuses include refusal of employment unless the hijab (scarf) is removed, wrongful dismissal for Islamic related reasons, unreasonable arrests, assault of those in traditional wear accompanied by hateful remarks and vandalism of places of worship and other meeting places.

One of the many examples given in the report is the vandalism of a Texas Islamic center on October 26. The vandals revealed their “Islamophobia” by spray painting “Redemption” on the center’s newly painted walls to complete their damage.

If you think making crude comments about Muslims especially those in headwear or cringing when you see a Muslim in an airport does not do any damage think again.

Would you like someone to cringe at you?

What is the solution?

The council recommends exactly what most Americans fear, more representation in government by Muslim-Americans to provide a stronger voice to their concerns.

This cry is not different from the cry of African-Americans today.

While Obama says he has grown a thick skin to attacks of this nature, victimization grows and should not be tolerated.

As an African-American whose ability to reach as far as he has, is largely due to the struggle for civil rights in America, Obama must acknowledge the struggle of the Muslim-American population, because as Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere

New Obama Commercial Raises Concerns

Does Obama Really Identify with Black People?

 

Sen. Barack Obama launched his first post primary commercial on June 20, without saying the words “Hope and Change” even once throughout the message.

 

The commercial entitled “The Country I Love,” aired in 18 states and has been dubbed as Obama’s “Reintroduction to Voters,” by The Washington Post.

 

In his message, Obama departs from his usual “Hope and Change” rhetoric but still maintains the sentimentality that won him mass appeal by showing images of his childhood with his mother and photographs taken with his grandparents when he was a young adult.

 

Obama begins by drawing a parallel between the strong values of America and the Kansas values that he was raised with.

 

Obama also cleverly mentions growing up in a single parent home with little resources, equating himself with the poor in America.

 

Obama continued by saying that despite not having much money, his family taught him values of accountability, self-reliance, working hard without making excuses, and treating your neighbor as you would like to be treated.

 

Obama’s latter words may see harmless, but when considered in light of prior and relatively un-noticed statements, is there cause to say, “BLACK PEOPLE BEWARE?”

 

On Feb. 28, in Forthworth, Texas, Obama addressed a crowd of mainly African Americans and said that parents need to turn off the TV, help their kids with their homework and stop letting them grow fat eating cold Popeyes chicken for breakfast.

 

His remarks earned cheers from the crowd, none of whom I’m sure was struggling to put food on the table and could only afford cold Popeyes for breakfast.

 

 This comment was clearly aimed at struggling African Americans and was possibly an attempt to score points with middle and upper class blacks.

 

His mention of “Accountability, self-reliance and working hard without excuses,” in the context of his own poverty, begs the question, what type of accountability and self-reliance does Obama expect from the child growing up in an impoverished and drug infested neighborhood? 

Does the drug dealer whose substandard public school education cannot afford him a decent job to support his family have “no excuse” as well?

 

Conversely, is the rich kid whose father gets him into Harvard “Self-reliant?”

 

While we are finally hearing from Obama campaign exactly what this candidate stands for, much of his poverty alleviation strategies seem to contradict his public comments.

 

For example, in Obama’s “Plan to fight poverty in America,” he outlines several strategies for poverty alleviation such as raising the minimum wage, improving transportation access to jobs, the placement of “high quality teachers in low-income classrooms,” and increasing public housing (by a mere 14 000 per year however.)

 

Obama’s specific strategies that we have just begun to hear about in his campaigning show some understanding of the disparities that exist in the African American community.

 

  Obama discusses prisoner-rehabilitation and has worked in the senate to provide job-rehabilitation and mental health counseling as well as a Prision-to-Work incentive program to ensure that ex-offenders have employment opportunities.

 

Obama’s plan however does not address the ridiculously unjust “Three Strikes” law in California whereby a person can get a life sentence for minor crimes like carrying a small amount of narcotics or shoplifting. This law has created a virtual concentration camp for poor black youths.

 

Additionally, what is the quality of these jobs offered to ex-offenders? Will these persons be able to work their way up the system and live the “American Dream,” or will they be shunned from higher-end jobs when they declare their record? Will ex-offenders finally be allowed access to government housing?

 

Obama’s ability to identify with the black community became even more apparent when he responded to a voter’s call-in request in the Jan. 31 Democratic Presidential debate.

 

 The voter asked both him and Sen. Clinton to acknowledge the negative economic impact that immigration has on African Americans. Obama unabashedly responded by saying that there was a huge amount of unemployment before the flood of immigration labor and that any argument made linking immigration to unemployment is a case of “Scapegoating” that he does not believe in?

 

 Scapegoating, really?

 

Is it unrealistic to expect that illegal immigrants, who are willing to exploit themselves by accepting less than minimum wage and working obscene hours per day, are contributing to the unemployment of African Americans?

 

           While Obama has the potential to be a great President, black people should not expect that their life will change overnight. While his policies if executed properly can make some impact on the level of poverty in America, black people should not expect miracles just because the new president has some “color.”

 

 

 

Interview with a Soildier – Is this war worth it?

With all the gloating from President Bush yesterday about the progress made in Iraq, I decided to talk to one of my professors who in Septemeber returned from Iraq to find out what is really happening over there. Are we winning? is there really a threat e.t.c

Here it goes

First of all, thank-you for the invaluable service provided for this country.

  

Q. What did your job in Iraq involve?

A. Helping to formulate missions, intelligence gathering and logistics.

Q.  Were you out on the field?

A.  Yes, our job entails training the Iraqi army. We were actually embedded with them and went out on joint missions, patrols or as show of force for example, based on intelligence about an ID (improvised explosive devices) maker, in a certain area, we would go out and see of that person was there and capture them. 

Q.  What were your first impressions of Iraq?

A.  I arrived in Iraq during the middle of summer and my first impression was how does anyone deal with this blazing heat (120 degrees plus) Q. Did you always want to be in the military?
A.  No.  My desire to be in the military began to peak as the need for financial assistance to attend college increased.

Q.  If there was a war going on at the time you signed up would you have still joined?

A.  (He laughs). On the personal side, no. I understand that I’m a solider and it was not a responsibility that I wanted to get out of but on the human side, you realize that in times of war people are going to die. It was a duty and I wouldn’t shun my responsibility.

Q. Is there a need for this war?

A.  I think there is a need for it but I don’t think its being fought on the right front. It has created something that wasn’t there in the beginning. There are other fronts that should have had more concentration or focused on first like Afghanistan and the border of Pakistan. But there is a need now because terrorists like Al Qaeda are in Iraq.

  

Q.  Are we winning this war?

A.  It depends on your measuring stick for success. In terms of the military, violence has decreased but at what cost? It’s a bit of a catch 22 in terms of the cost of American lives and money. Some people may also gauge from the reduced amount of terrorist attacks. It depends on how you measure success. I don’t even think the surge will be over until this summer. There will be something like 160 000 troops up from 125 000 to 130 000 troops.

Q.  What was your greatest fear while in Iraq?
A.  Fearing for my life.

Q. What do soldiers in Iraq do to relieve stress or entertain themselves?
A.  They try to communicate with family, workout, watch movies, read, etc…  Anything to keep their minds occupied.

 

Q. Some presidential candidates are saying that they will start withdrawing troops as soon as they get in office but many voters are under the impression that this would completed within a year. Is this realistic?

A. Some of the candidates are saying as early as 90 days I also heard some saying that they would start putting timetables on the Iraqi courses. I think that makes sense especially since this is the 5^th anniversary of the war. One year logistically may be difficult. The Presidential candidates want a substantial amount of troops withdrawn and I can agree with that.

Q.  What do you think would be the effects on Iraq of a withdrawal?

A.  A drawdown in phases could lead to co-existence in a civil way with the 3 dominating religions i.e. the Sunni, Shea and the Kurds. If drawn down is done too quickly, there is the potential for one group to dominate an entire region. If done strategically it could work out well if not it could lead to violence and bloodshed.

Q. Do the Iraqi people feel better off without Saddam?

A. It’s hard for me to really answer that. During my tour I had a chance to interact but it was not really educational we were thinking in a more combative mode. I did hear sentiments both ways. I’ve seen rallies in the street with people happy that Saddam was captured and eventually executed but I’ve heard people also say the opposite. It depends on the particular group. The group that was oppressed did not want dictatorship

In light of the contrasting opinions between the Democratic and Republican candidates, many argue that the race for the presidency will be a race to either stay in or get out of Iraq.

 

 With this said, on voting day, it will be the American people that will decide the fate of the Iraq war. 

Men really do like Mad Women

First let me clarify what I mean by mad. 

I’m talking about all those complicated women like extreme neat freaks, germa-phobes, wheight-aphobes or just women with weird hang ups.

Let’s not leave out the high maintenance women in this definition either.

You all know these women and you know there not single.

I’ve been developing this theory in my head for some time but always rejected the notion that women have to play games like Vivica Fox in the movie Two can Play at That Game until I read the book by widely featured author Sherry Argov, Why Men Love Bitches.

Argov explains that it’s not really about looks or intelligence as we women have been conditioned to believe, it’s the ability to create intrigue that attracts the opposite sex.

It is the mental challenge that these women are able to create by simply not giving a f%@&

According to Argov, nice girls cook dinner for their man early in the relationship while the girl they decide to stay with makes them microwave pop corn and the men, after putting in sufficient effort, will finally work their way up to a tv dinner, which they would appreciate more because they had to earn it!

Nice girls get ready early for a date while the “dream girls,” as she calls them, make men wait 15 to 20 minutes.

Argov might be on to something. Ask any man if he hates it when his girl talks or whines about being bored during the game and they’ll be like, “ Yeah dawg.” 

None of them would say, “Well my girlfriend doesn’t do that “

…why?

Because those girls are single!!!….

Men like Mad Women…..deal with it!!!!!! 

Obama and Hilary Promote Satan’s Finest Accomplishment

Satan’s manifestation of his loathing of God and the human race is revealed in what is his finest accomplishment to date.

Satan hates us so much that not only does he devise a plan to kill millions of us but he has also found a way to convince even educated men and women that “reproductive freedom” or “a woman’s right to choose,” is a positive and rational action.

I think his cleverest marketing strategy to date is the use of the American public, even those who are God fearing, to support those Presidential candidates most of whom promote his plan of destruction.

For example, studies have shown that African Americans who are traditionally conservative still support Democrats.

Why?

In 2008 it’s worse because not only do they traditionally vote Democrat but now there is a black man running for office.

Hilary, Obama, all the other democratic and most of the republican candidates all support this atrocity. Whether they know it or not, they are all just a ploy to fulfill this satanic plan.

What they don’t realize is, yes you may get the votes but you have just done Satan a big favor.

Why do we have so many homicides in this country?

Well what goes around comes around. Maybe that’s it.

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Bye Bye Benazair

Well they finally got her.

The world still cannot beleive it.

Over several months the the world watched you. A beautiful woman with the balls to stand up against the freaking Taliban, the Pakistani President and all those Islamic extremists who oppose democracy. Most of us are too scared to stand up for our own basic rights.

Like Antigone in your own Greek tragedy, you dared to be a woman who demanded change.

Were you insane?

This is freaking Pakistan! No way would they let a democrat rule far less a woman!

And still you left the comforts of aristocratic life to fight for your country.

My wish for 2008? That more of us would have 1/2 the backbone you did!

RIP Benazair and Thank-You!
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