You Ain’t Got No Home Buddah!!!

Funny as it sounds, that’s how it feels. Traveling, traveling. It’s a good thing. But it’s very tiring. In the last two-and-a-half months, I’ve been to Seattle, Montreal, DC, San Jose/Mountain View, and Rochester. Mostly for job interviews. I went to Montreal for a week in April to attend the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (more about that later).

I’m heading back to DC for another job interview next week (YAY I get to go home!). Then back to Rochester. And the following week I may be heading to Pittsfield, MA for another interview. It’s crazy. As soon as I drop my bags and get comfortable it’s time to pack those bags and board the plane again!

As I mentioned above, I had the opportunity to attend the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Montreal back in April. This is the annual conferernce for the Human Computer Interaction community. For those who are wondering, Human Computer Interaction (or HCI) is a field of computing which focuses on the interaction between people and computers. One of its main goals is to improve the interaction between people and computers by developing computing systems that efficient, effective, easy to use, and easy to understand. And most importantly, that computing systems meet the needs of the people who use them. It’s a multidisciplinary field that depends heavily on computer science, information science, cognitive science, anthropology, ergonomics, psychology, and sociology to name a few.

At the conference, there were several presentations, workshops, courses, and discussions devoted to recent innovations and developments within the HCI community. It was a wonderful experience for networking and learning about what other students, researchers, and practitioners are doing in the field. I was one of several student volunteers there. And I had a blast! Got to party a little bit. Got to meet a lot of new people. And I got to talk with several employers about possible job opportunities in their HCI departments. I even got to attend hospitality events in some of the local hotels sponsored by employers such as Microsoft, Google, eBay, and IBM. The Conference is held in a different location each year and usually lasts about five days. Next year it will be in San Jose, CA. I’d really love to go next year. But it all depends upon the money! I guess if I start saving now, I might be able to make it.

Other than that, I’m chillin’ like a villain up in Da ROC. I’ve been listening to a lot of Chaka Khan and Phyllis Hyman lately. They are two of my all-time favorite vocalists. Both of whom I’ve been listening to and loving since I was very young.


Chaka Khan recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards. Much deserved and long overdue if you ask me. I’ve been bumping the following albums: Chaka, I Feel For You, Come 2 My House, Classikhan, The Best of Rufus & Chaka Khan, and Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1. Word on the street is that she’s been working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on a new album. Sounds like it’s going to be hot! I’ll be first in line to get it when it drops.


Phyllis Hyman is yet another consummate artist who never received the acclaim and accolades she rightly deserved. I’ve been playing the following over and over again: Phyllis Hyman, You Know How To Love Me, Living All Alone, The Prime of My Life, and The Legacy of Phyllis Hyman. It would be nice if she were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame or received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame even. (If Britney Spears has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, why not?) Though she’s no longer with us, her legacy continues to live on. Now that I think of it, it would also be nice if Arista/BMG would re-release all of her earlier albums from 1977 – 1983. There’s no doubt in my mind that there’s an audience out here who craves them. I wrote a poem in tribute to Phyllis a few years back. Since her birthday is approaching, I may put it up. She would’ve been 57 this year.

Until later, hope you all have a great weekend!

I’se Graduated Now!!!

Yes, yes. May 27, 2006 marked the close of another chapter along this journey. I graduated with my Masters in Information Technology. It was truly a remarkable thing. The weight of it all didn’t hit me until the Dean of our college began speaking. I was saying to myself – this is really a big deal. Especially being the first male in my family to graduate with a Bachelors and a Masters from college. And being one of a small number of black males graduating from my school’s computing college adds to that. It hasn’t been easy. It’s been a struggle from day one. But I kept striving. Kept moving. Kept pushing on. And the next chapter will mark the beginning of the reward for all of this hard work. One thing’s for sure, I definitely didn’t do it on my own. I am truly grateful for the love and support from my family, friends, mentors, professors, supervisors, and others along the way. And I’m ready to give back to the community that’s given so much to me. It is my turn to be the model, the inspiration, the reality check, the supporter, the mentor to those coming after me. It’s only right.

Graduation weekend was beautiful yet very bittersweet. You find that so many people you’ve become close with were heading down the same road. And now, it’s time for closure. For the road you were traveling down is going to become quite different. But before all the final goodbyes, you know you’ve got party one last time (and there was plenty of that)!

After graduation, I went home for a few weeks. Chilled with the fam, enjoyed some good food and got some much needed rest. I also had the pleasure of singing at two of my dearest friends’ wedding. I did my rendition of John Legend’s “So High.” I received a great deal praise (my friends keep telling me that their families and friends won’t stop talking about how good my performance was). I was just happy to take part in the commemoration and celebration of their love. The wedding was a beautiful introduction to the journey that they will taking together. I wish them well.

I’ve been back in Rochester, NY for the last few weeks. Where I’ll be until I start working most likely. I do have some things to wrap up – the main one being my grad project. Remember – it was supposed to be a thesis. But during the fourth week of spring quarter – it had to be changed to a somewhat unrelated grad project. So I had to go back and do everything all over again. Yeah, I know…..It sucks. Once this is done, I can sever all ties to student life. The sooner the better. I’m also interviewing and waiting to hear back about jobs. Such a long, drawn out process. I had no idea it would be this involved. But I shall not worry. Something good will come along!

Oh goodness….This post is getting kinda long. I guess this is what happens when you don’t keep your blog updated regularly. I’ve got a little bit of extra time on my hands now, so I’m hoping to alleviate that issue. Until next time – live, love and learn!

If….

I’ve been tagged by ProfessorGQ. These were some pretty cool questions. Check out my answers below.

If you were to be the opposite sex for one day, what would you do?
I would be a gold digger and have men cater to my every need. LOL!

If you had to name the most difficult thing about being a teenager today, what would you say?
Trying to be yourself in a world where people expect you to conform.

If you had to name the most embarrassing moment of your life, when was it?
There have been several of those. The one that sticks out the most is — when I was in the seventh grade, in the lunch room. I was just coming back to the table with my lunch. Sitting directly in front of me were two of my friends. They were fighting over a carton of chocolate milk. Before I could get my grub on, I found myself covered in–you guessed it–chocolate milk. I stormed out of the lunch room and to the nearest bathroom for damage control. I was so pissed! It was a shame too cause I was looking real fly that day.

If you had to name the most overrated actor in Hollywood, who would it be?
Tom Cruise – really can’t stand him. I still can’t get over the fact that that they allowed him to play a samurai. He is not worthy.

If you had to name the one personality trait that you have tried the hardest to change in yourself, what would you say?
Being a perfectionist. It has its positives, but definitely has its negatives. Sometimes you just got to say fuck it!

If you could go back for one minute to the Garden of Eden and give Adam advice, what would you say?
Yo dawg, you need to watch Eve. She about to set you up.

If you were to name the best “I told you so” you ever got to deliver, what was it?
Oh boy! I told one of my good friends that he needed to stop trying to play his ex-girlfriend, especially after a not-so-good break-up. He was still trying to talk to her, while talking to his new girl. I told him you need to stop thinking with the head between your legs and start thinking with the head attached to your neck. Cause if she finds out that you’re trying to play her, that’s your ass. Well, she found out (and she told the new girl what was going on). And let’s just say he had to lay low for awhile.

If you were Madonna, what would you do for your next publicity stunt?
How about nothing??!! She needs to keep it chill before she gets another hernia. BOW OUT!!!

If you could have a lifetime 50% discount in any single store at your local mall, which store would it be in?
Only one store….Not fair! Okay, I guess it’ll have to be Abercrombie & Fitch.

If you could have one more pet, what kind would you get, and what would you name it?
It would be a dog, a pug, and I’d name it Tamar.

If you could have God perform one miracle today, what would you want it to be?
Finding a cure for HIV/AIDS.

If you could spend next New Year’s Eve doing anything, what would you do, and with whom.
I’d spend it with my baby, DP, in the Bahamas.

If you were to set your country’s immigration policy, what would it be?
If you’re illegal and you get caught out there, you’ve got to go! There are no exceptions.

If you were given the power to settle the issue of gays in the military, what policy would you set?
It’s not an issue. If you want to serve your country, it should be your right just like anything else. Sexual orientation shouldn’t be a hinderance.

If you could have one person you have lost touch with call you up tonight and invite you to dinner, who would you want it to be?
It would have to be with one of my best childhood friend’s Larry. It’s a shame that we’ve lost not once, but twice.

If you could change one thing about your love life, what would it be?
The fact that it’s long distance and there’s a six hour time difference. Maybe I should be happy it’s only for a few more months.

If you could have prevented one book from ever having been written, which book would it be?
Hands down it’s On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of ‘Straight’ Black Men Who Sleep With Men by J. L. King.

If you have to name the best music album ever recorded, which would you select?
This is a tough one. There are too many to choose from. Okay, okay….Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin On?

If you could have one thing made out of pure gold, what would you choose?
Though I’ve got a few more months to go (thankfully), I’d have to say my master’s degree from college.

If God were to whisper one thing in your ear, what would you like Him to say?
You’ve successfully completed your journey. You’ve loved, shared, cared, inspired, assisted, led, learned, and lived. You’ve made me proud. Now it’s time for you to come home. Welcome!

Thesis….It’s a Bad Word!

Wassup ya’ll! Hope all is well. I’ve been away from my blog a lot longer than I anticipated. The life of a grad student – craziness!

I’m this close to banishing the word “thesis” from my vocabulary. I wish someone would’ve told me that I would run into this much drama trying to get this thesis done. I’ve changed so many things in the last two months that it’s ridiculous. I have three professors on my committee and they all seem to want something different. They all have a different idea of what it is that I should be doing. This is what’s been creating a bit of a problem for me. I will be having a meeting with all of them soon to ensure that we are and will continue to remain on the same page. I’m nipping this shit in the bud! As I’ve been talking to my friends and other students who are working on their graduate theses and projects, I keep hearing a lot of horror stories about this process. Something that begins as your own creation or something that you want to do turns into being what your committee members want you to do. They end up having the final say on everything. If they like it, you graduate. If they don’t like it, you have to make the changes and defend it until it meets their approval. If you’re in the BS/MS program at my school and you fall in the latter category, both of your degrees can and will be held up because of this. It seems like all the power and control is in everyone else’s hands but your own. But I’m determined to win this. I’m getting mines!

Aside from school, I’ve been seeing someone for about four months now. For the most part, everything has been wonderful. We’ve had a few arguments and have pissed each other off a few times. But in any relationship, it’s expected. We’ve been able to work through it and not let it destroy what’s currently building between us. I think some of it has to do with the fact that we both have strong personalities always vying for attention and total domination. All we can do is laugh about it now. It looks very promising though. I am happy. After being single for almost two years, it’s nice to have someone in my corner. I forgot how good that feel.

Rest in Peace Octavia Butler. The first black woman of prominence in the literary world of Science/Speculative Fiction. You were truly one of the greats. We will miss you. But your spirit will live on in the beautifully written, multi-faceted, groundbreaking stories you’ve shared with us. I’ll be finishing Bloodchild and Fledgling over spring break.

That’s about it for now. Thesis, music reviews, articles and the continued hunt for a job are upon the horizon. Until later….Take Care!

And So Went The Dreads: The Rundown for 2006

After talking about it for sometime, I finally did it—I cut off my dreads. I did it over winter break. I went back to my old high school barber and it was a wrap! What a liberating feeling it was to release all of the energy held within. There was a bit of sadness, but not for long. It happened so fast, I really didn’t have ample time to cry over lost dreads. Guess I have to get used to going to the barbershop every two-three weeks again.

Many have asked why I decided to do it. Well, after about six years, I decided that it was time to try something new. Even after telling people this, some still assumed that something must have happened in my life (something life-changing or bad) to make me cut my hair. I will admit that there’s been a lot going on in my life. However, it had nothing to do with the cutting of my hair. It’s a new year. It’s time for change. I guess I just don’t place as much value in hair as many others do. There’s more to me than how I choose to wear my hair (too bad many can’t grasp this). Like India.Arie, “I Am Not My Hair.” Plus it’s easier to manage. I can wear a greater variety of hats (which I’ve been doing a lot lately since I tend to get cold more now than ever). I’ve also been getting more compliments with short hair than I did when it was long. So this brotha is still turning heads! I’m not one to brag, but when you’re fine—you’re fine.

Well, besides the new hair cut, I’ll be working to lose about 30 pounds. I have what many have told is football player’s build. Probably would’ve been a good Running Back. My mission is to slim down and tone up. Gotta get right for the summer! Also on slate for ’06, letting go/getting rid of baggage and avoiding drama at all costs. I’ve also need to work on staying in better touch with friends. I have tendency to fall of the face of the Earth when there’s a lot going on my life. I will shut people out, but not purposely. I guess I didn’t really pay too much attention to this until recently. The people that mean the most should be the last people to shut out of your life, especially when the journey gets a little rough. So I’m going to try really hard to rectify my fascination with pulling the disappearing act.

Other goals include finishing my thesis (topic: blogging in higher education), graduating with my masters, and finding a great job/fellowship somewhere outside of Upstate New York. After attending school in Rochester, NY for the last six years I’m praying for a drastic location change. Anywhere but here please! As always, I gotta keep writing, singing, performing, and creating artistic masterpieces. And we’ll see what the year has in store in the love department (so far so good)!

So that’s what’s on my plate for ’06. I’m looking forward to all that life has in store this year. May the year be fruitful and joyous for all!

Buddah’s Back: It’s Been Too Long!

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I last made a post. It’s amazing how quickly time can escape you. So what have I been up too? I’ll tell you as succinctly as I can. Fall quarter ended on a crazy but a very high note. I got 2 A’s and 2 B’s. I have successfully completed all of my master’s classes. Now on to the next daunting task….The Thesis! I’m in the process of finetuning my proposal for approval by my thesis committee and my department. I’m pushing to have it approved as soon as I come back from winter break. If I can get it approved before break that would be wonderful. But I’m not going to stress it. As for the topic, I’ll be looking into the usage of weblogs in high school education. I’ve been doing a lot research to expand my literature review in my proposal. The findings have been pretty interesting thus far (more about that in a later post).

I’ve also been in the process of looking for a job. I’ve been slowly but surely applying, sending out resumes, attending job fairs and communicating with those I’ve come to know very well in my social network. People have been asking, “So what are you doing after graduation?” My response is, “If I knew the answer to that question I probably wouldn’t be here now.” For many that I know who are graduating in the spring, we are trying to get an answer to that very question ourselves. If you weren’t fortunate enough to be offered a job from the last place you interned/co-oped, you’ll most likely get word of job/fellowship offers in late winter/early spring. I’ve also been asked if I was going to stay at my current school and get my Ph.D. I said, “Hell No!” First of all, it’s time to go. I’ve been at this school for almost six years. It’s been nice–it’s been real–but I’m ready to go! Second of all, a Ph.D is so far from my mental scope right now. I’ll probably get another master’s degree before I go that route. Third of all, can a brotha get a break? I’m so tired of school right now. Thank god I finished with my classes when I did. I had three four-hour evening classes and one online class. I don’t think I could stand another quarter let alone full year of that again . I’m ready to go out and work. Once I become fully acclimated with the workworld, there’s no guarantee that I’ll still be in love with the computing field. It’ll be better to find this out sooner than later. In this life you never know how it’s going to turn out. But whatever is to come my way, I’m going to stay optimistic. I’m looking forward to it. Whatever is to come my way, I’m going to accept it and embrace it with open arms.

Oh well, I guess I better get back to work. I haven’t been feeling too well today. Actually, it’s something that’s been on-again, off-again for the last five days or so. All I’m gonna say is allergies (and upper-respiratory issues) are a bitch! Research is calling my name. Plus, I have to finish getting ready for a meeting I have to lead Monday night about the evolution of music videos over the last two decades. This will be for Emerging Black Artists, the club I’m a student advisor for. Between work, the thesis, meetings and dates (Am I dreaming? Could it be? Yes, dates–it’s about time!), it’s going to be yet another busy week. Oh yeah, I get my refund this week. And I get paid on Friday. Getting out of the poor house–it’s a wonderful thing!

I’m going to try my best to post a little bit more regularly. The length of time between this and the next post shouldn’t so long (I hope). Until then, I wish you all the best!

Rest in peace Richard Pryor (1940 – 2005).

The Best Thing, My Love

Ok, here’s a poem I wrote back in high school (in the 11th grade to be exact). This one always seems to stand out. It’s a trip when you go back and read your older works.

The Best Thing, My Love

It’s the
Pulsating rhythms of my heart
You give
The beating of drums of my pulse
I live
It’s the syncopated breaths that I breathe
It’s the ruckus of sound in my ears
You made leave
It’s that music you helped make of me
That 12/8 measure in my eyes
I see
I’m in love

It’s that explicit
Nature of your luscious lips
That carried that lyrical content
To my lips
That continuously rolls
Number one songs
For hour tolls
We sing tastes
Of albums haste
You made me play the piano with
My hands
You strum the guitar
Of my abs
My body is
The bass you play
By plucking or playing with
The bow-like fingers
On your hands
You are the best thing,
My love

© 1998 BuddahDesmond

Janet & The 18 Year Old Daughter Rumors


The media must have nothing better to do than mess with the Jackson clan. Need I say anything more. This time, it’s not Michael, it’s not Latoya, or Jermaine in the news….It’s Janet. Rumors have surfaced yet again about her supposedly having a daughter from a previous marriage. Young DeBarge, 28, recently announced during an interview on the radio that Janet has an 18 year old daughter who’s been staying with Rebbie, her oldest sister. Janet was married to one of Young’s older brothers, James DeBarge for a hot minute back in the 80s. According to Young, “James and the Jackson family kept everything real close, real tight.” Someone please tell me why is this anybody’s business all of a sudden?

This is not the first time these rumors have surfaced. I remember these rumors surfacing in the early 90’s when LaToya was airing out all of her’s family’s dirty laundry with her infamous autobiography. (She also acknowledged that Michael had been spending too much time with little boys–but this is another topic altogether.) If Janet and James had a baby and wanted to keep it a secret, it’s their business. Now if the supposed daughter is just finding out that Janet and James are her real parents, then this sheds a different light on the situation. I couldn’t imagine how detrimental this kind of info would be after living a certain kind of life for 18 years or more. It could rock your world. But it wouldn’t be the first time or last time that something like this has happened. Drama like this happens everyday. It would be crazy to think that the Jackson’s and the DeBarge’s are the only families on this planet keeping secrets. Doesn’t make it right, but please let’s be realistic.

The supposed daughter is 18. She’s grown. Let her and her family deal with this the best way they know how. Damn, can the Jackson’s have any kind of peace??!!

And let us not forget that Young DeBarge (who released/rehashed this info) is an aspiring singer who just finished recording an album. Can I say publicity?

Regardless of whether Janet has children or not, I’m still going to buy her next record. So there! And after news like this, shit, it better be good!

On Marriage…

So many marriages are crumbling. Whether it’s people in the spotlight or people in our personal lives. Marriages currently seem to be more like short-lived excursions instead of life-long, fruitful journeys. At this rate, the only couple who looks like they’re going to make it is Whitney & Bobby. Recently, I told two of my friends (who’ll be tying the knot June 2006) if they end of like Babyface and Tracey Edmonds I’m going to cut them both. But seriously, where are the marriages/relationships like Ruby Dee & the late Ossie Davis? You know, marriages like our great-grandparents, grandparents and quite possibly our parents….When the love just seems to get stronger and stronger and the relationship seems to get better and better. When problems arise and they’re able to keep it civil, work it out and stay together….

Today, it seems like people are getting married for all the wrong reasons. Lust. Money. Security. Because a baby is on the way. Not because you want to but because it’s expected. First and foremost it’s supposed to be about love. At the same time, marriage is a business. Once you sign that contract, you’re making an arrangement between you, your spouse and the state (or government). Maybe this part is irrelevant. Then again maybe not. My point is this—why get married if your heart isn’t in it? Why make these arrangements or this commitment if this isn’t the person you truly love and desire? If you’re marrying only for security, what happens if it turns out to be a false sense of security? Marrying for children or because there is a child on the way doesn’t seem to be any better, especially if one (or both) of you has resignations about going thru with it. As we all should know, the children will be affected either way. Even more so if they have to endure unstable, hostile relations between parents who really don’t want or need to be together.

It should be a requirement that before you walk down that aisle, make sure he or she is the one. You also need to make sure you really know each other. There’s nothing worse than getting some unexpected surprises down the line. If there’s something you want or feel you need to know, you better ask! You need to discuss money, children, jobs, relocating, etc., before you jump over that broomstick. Because it’s so easy for any relationship to end, but it’s work if you want the relationship to last. If one person is trying and the other person fails to even make an attempt, you’re going to have some issues.

Another hot component to this discussion is the sanctity of marriage. But this typically comes up with yet another hot button issue—gay marriage. In all honesty, gay marriage is not going to burn down the house of holy matrimony. Newsflash everyone—the sanctity of marriage was already in jeopardy long before the gay marriage debate began. Take a look at TV today. When you have reality shows (really faux reality shows) like The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Who Wants to Marry My Dad?, Wife Swap, Trading Spouses, and the like, it signifies a big problem in our society with marriage. There are larger issues to consider when statistics say that marriages nowadays are more likely to end in divorce. How about considering many of the following questions: Why people don’t stay together? Why people commit adultery? Why people lie? Why fewer people are deciding to get married? And just how does gay marriage threaten anyone’s idea of marriage? You’re not directly influenced by it – especially if you’re involved in an altogether different relationship. So still, how does it affect you at all? And furthermore, what right does anyone have in invalidating another’s relationship by saying their relationship is insignificant (because of their sexuality)? But I digress.

Maybe the other part of this discussion needs to be reconsidering whether a traditional relationship is right for you. You may not be a fan of traditional. You may want a relationship that’s a bit more radical. Possibly an open relationship. A committed relationship without the basis of monogamy. Or maybe you want the fruits of traditional marriage without all the hoopla. As far as I know, no correlations have been made specifically stating that relationships more often than not fail to endure if there’s been no exchange of rings or a formal ceremony. Marriage, the idea or the actual experience, is not for everyone. You may have to walk down the aisle a couple of times before you figure it out (sadly). But hey, that’s just how it goes.

With all the many wonderful things that we encounter and achieve in this life, isn’t it just nice to share them with someone you love? Someone that’s got your back. Someone that’s always going to be there. Someone you can have great conversations with, cuddle with, laugh with and cry with. Someone that you can rush home to each and every night.

Isn’t this the overall goal? Is it possible? Or is this just wishful thinking? I think that it is possible. But I can only go on what I’ve experienced, what I’ve been exposed to and what I believe. I sincerely hope that the forecast calls for brighter, lighter conditions on the marriage/relationship front for everyone.

What do you think?

The "Morally Reprehensible" William Bennett and Other Musings

By now, the name William Bennett should ring a bell. Bennett, the former Secretary of Education under the Reagan administration, made rather racist comments about reducing crime on his radio show not too long ago. If you haven’t heard the comments you must have been living in some kind of padded, soundproof cell. But just in case, Bennett said, “…you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.”

So tell us how you really feel….Anything else you want to throw out there to enlighten us? Go ahead, we’re all ears. We’re waiting. And people say racism no longer exists. What a crock! Bennett later went on to say that it “would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do … but the crime rate would go down.” What a contradiction. Maybe he would’ve fared better if he kept his mouth shut.

My question is this, why abort all the black babies? How is it that the crime rate will go down if all black babies are aborted and no other group of babies? It doesn’t make it right and I don’t support the argument either way, but if you insist to continue with the argument why not abort all babies (regardless of race) if you want to lower the crime rate. This is completely ludicrous! Comments like these prove just how disposable we are. Comments like these prove just how little respect and decency a significant portion of this society has towards black people. And to top it all off, very few if any members of the GOP (please correct me if I’m wrong) condemned Bennett for his comments. So that must mean that several other members of his party share similar beliefs. Or they don’t see anything wrong with the comments. This incident reminds me of the climate after some comments Vincente Fox, President of Mexico, made months back. [for more info, check here http://www.seeingblack.com/2005/x080305/mexican_stamp.shtml and here http://www.adl.org/international_affairs/letter_mexico.asp]

These incidents and the recent Hurricane Katrina tragedy (the rather tardy response of government officials and the presentation of the incident by the news media) go on to show that we still have serious racial and social class issues in this country. People try to push racism further under the rug or act like it no longer exists. However, it’s still ever present. Social class issues have never really been dealt with in this country at all. Meanwhile, the disparities between the races and within the races seem to grow wider and wider as the years progress.

Typically, the GOP is late (if ever present) to the table when issues of race are the top of the menu (not unless it addresses something that will impact them directly). Because we all know it’s about the haves and the have-nots. And if you fall in with the latter, the GOP wants little to nothing to do with you. Oh yeah, let me not forget to mention that the White House Press Secretary did issue a statement from Bush saying that Bennett’s comments were “inappropriate.” Wow, what a response! On the other hand, the Democrats responded promptly, demanding that Bennett apologize. Some even went as far to call for Bennett’s resignation from his radio show.

Historically, it’s members of the GOP who’ve made comments along the lines of Bennett. And when the shit hits the fan, they typically stick by their remarks, will not apologize, and will cry that they’ve been misquoted, misrepresented and misunderstood. When in actuality, they weren’t mis- anything. They were quoted, represented and understood quite well.

While everyone else drowns, several members of the GOP continue to swim to the top of the sea of bigotry, racism, social class disparities, inequalities and homophobia. Well it’s time for us to rise to the top and rid the sea of its pollution. Cause we’ve got a long way to go. It’d be wise to get the boxing gloves ready. It’s going to be long fight. And it won’t be ending early.

I’m interested in knowing your thoughts. What are your ideas, opinions, recommendations, etc., about what we as a community (and we as a society) need to do to get beyond this current demise?