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8/18/2004
Alan Geez! and lessons from Barbershop
 One of the disadvantages of being in the air is that you're a day late and a dollar short on the happenings in political la-la land. Surely old talk by now, but imagine my chagrin when I caught up on the news and found my old pal Alan Keyes making an embarrassment out of himself. Oh wait, he already did that last week. Well, for what it's worth, at least he's consistent. After fumbling around some thoughts about reparations being good in principle, Keyes has issued a statement to "clarify" his position. Relative definition of clarify: huh?
These days, Mr. Keyes is making it very difficult for supporters like me to vouch for his political aptitude. Now I see why people like Bill Clinton remain so popular; blind loyalty. Granted, being a yapping carpetbagger doesn't really compare to being a shady, adulterous loser, but conceptually, I think I'm starting to get it. Strangely enough, I still like Keyes (I know I know, just slap me already).
 My simple take on reparations: absolutely not. I think that about covers my general opinion. Can I understand an argument for them? Sure -- doesn't mean I agree with it. Admittedly, I haven't done much research on the topic. I recall the history on renumeration for the Japanese, but to be honest, I'm unable to really sumise any good purpose it accomplished. Reparations, or as Cedric the Entertainer's character "Eddie" in the movie Barbershop called them, "Respirations", are not going to accomplish much of anything in my opinion. Respirations on the other hand, would. You know, a little oxygen, some supplement and aid to the breathing process in our cultural and socio-economic development. Surely communities on the respirator aren't going to be aided by any amount of money. That's why 75% of lottery winners go broke in less than a few years. It's the difference between being given a fish, catching a fish, and owning the pond. I happen to be in favor of pond ownership.
The black community doesn't need hand-outs, they need a few hand slaps (ouch I felt that). I tip my hat to Friar Cosby for publicly offering a few light love taps. Growing up, (and admittedly a few months ago), my mother used to pop me one on the hand every now and then when I reached for something that didn't belong to me or that I didn't need. I despise the minority mentality. It lacks vision, self-confidence, and allows itself to be tricked into thinking it is ill-equipped to do anything substantial and meaningful in this life without the aid of the big-brother.
I don't know about you, but I vote for respirations.
(Nyk points to Michael King)
posted by ambra at 8/18/2004 01:10:25 AM | link to this entry |
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