My thoughts on elitism...

I have heard the topic of elitism being thrown around for several months now and I want to properly focus people on what elite is. (I won't go attacking a guy who doesn't know how many houses he owns, because that's not what I am here for. In fact, I don't think I could accurately describe the situation to really grasp how crappy it is.) Anyways, since sports is my thing I will use sports to describe true elitism.

I'm an American, proud to be here--don't plan on leaving. But I will say we have an elite mentality when it comes to sports. Let's take soccer, which is great. The rest of the world eats it up. The world cup final literally has billions of people watching it... but not many of those numbers come from America.

Take Olympic Basketball and the "Redeem Team," as they have been dubbed. I understand why it is a big deal that we need to win the gold, but we have this elitist mentality that we shouldn't lose. So what do we do? Put together a team with 2 guys that are there for one skill (Tayshaun Prince and Redd), a guy who would be a great counterpunch to some of the crafty power forwards of the international game (Carlos Boozer), and Jason Kidd, whom I will not address because my opinion of him could fill seven, 20k word posts.

Even our spin on the medal count shows massive amounts of elitism. The United States will come out with more total medals than China, but China will have more gold medals. We say we won in real sports and real events. I have also heard the sentiment that if you subtract events that weren’t subjectively/arbitrarily by people, we have won just as many gold medals as China. While I do think the system is flawed, China won and minus the small children in gymnastics, they were better (gold medal wise) than us. We have the same opportunity to play badminton and table tennis like they do. Let’s be gracious.

I want to reiterate the fact that I love America and think it’s the best large place/country ever (the state of Washington is the best place in general). Yet I think it’s worth mentioning this sports elitism because it spills into other aspects of life. The fact that a country turns its nose up to the “beautiful game” and calls it a sport for wimps is a testimony. Or maybe its visible major sports talk radio widely ignoring a world athletic competition, save Michael Phelps, USA basketball and a little Usain Bolt. And for what? To talk pre-season NFL football!

Upon winning the gold medal in Olympic basketball the theme of what the “Redeem Team” did was the first gold since 2000. Last time I checked, the Olympics happen every 4 years. So basically, we didn’t win in ’04 and that’s it. It wasn’t the end of the world. The team didn’t play well, but Americans in general were generally ungracious. When the Pistons lost in the NBA finals a few years ago the media vilified the team for not giving credit to the Spurs for beating them and being better.

The American response to not winning gold in Sidney was quite similar to that of the Pistons who failed, which is funny because the world really has caught up. Argentina has 6 NBA players and one player that was a staple in the league for years. Spain has eight players that have been or will be in the NBA either last year or next year. Aside: Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trailblazers abused the US defense, and he made Dwight Howard look bad when he dunked on him. Fernandez was born the day after I was and he plays for my new favorite team so he must be a good guy. Other teams also have NBA regulars and really talented players who can hold their own anywhere. In basketball you only need to have the best five guys on the floor…

In short, well not so much, we have to get a hold of ourselves, realize that there is more to life than America and American sports, and be a gracious people. The elitism we have in sports manifests itself in our media, politics, and lifestyles and I hate that it has spilled to my favorite thing in the world. Please guys let’s just play nice!

Salute

What's wrong with society

There are two things I see that are a big problem with society. One is that value for things is completely f-ed up. Two is that everybody wants something for nothing.

So I'll start with value. You know how they tell you to eat your fruits and vegetables? Well, the recommended fresh fruit serving for a day would break the bank for the average person. Same goes for vegetables, except you can buy a ton of frozen vegetables full of preservatives and sodium. Yummy! But a grease burger and fries is cheap....

How about music. I love hip-hop, but I hate it at the same time. Why? Because the best rapper alive is the best rapper because he sold a million copies in his first week. I happen to be a fan of said rapper and 5-6 years ago when I was in high school, this rapper was much better lyrically than he is now, but now that he is selling and a hot artist he is the best alive, even though the guy who started that whole title is still alive. I just confused myself.

Lets even take sports. I love the sports. But if I were to go to a professional game of three of the 4 major sports (hockey, football, basketball for the slow ones) it would cost about a quarter of my rent. And in baseball there’s 10 million games so you can go on the cheap, but I haven't been in forever so that may have even changed. And no only is it expensive as hell to go to games, its getting more expensive to watch. You have to have cable to watch any pro-sport other than on the weekends.... and even the cable package is limited for the pay per subscription service each season. How that bleep is a game supposed to be our national past-time if nobody can watch it?

There's so many things with messed up value it isn't funny.... well actually it is because it shows how and why our society is so backwards. But moving on….

Now to people wanting something for nothing. I have been raised to earn whatever it is I want so whatever it is I have worked for. I would like for things to come easier, but I know that the best way to ensure the outcome I desire is to work for it. But I see too many people waiting on something or someone to pick them up. And then there's those that plot to get rich easy and quick. And still others go through the motions of hard work solely for self gain. In any form however, its just bad. I have moments where I want things to be better personally, financially, socially, spiritually, academically, and every other -ally in life. But I know nothing worth having comes easy.

So if things have skewed values and people don't work hard what do we have going for us? ....I guess the children are our future.

Salute

A note to extroverts

I wrote a post a while ago about why introverts need to work on more extroverted characteristics so I think it’s only fair I flip the script. I am constantly surrounded by extroverts and let me tell you they piss me off. Not because of how they are, necessarily, but because the less mature ones do not know when to take a step back and be introverted.

What does that mean? Quiet down. Let other people speak and get out what they have to say. Don't always be the star of the show. And so on and so on.

Let’s use some analogies here to make a point. Look at Superman. As Clark Kent he is an unassuming, quiet, and average man (well as average as you can be at 6'3 and weighing 235 lbs., roughly the size of Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez). He runs around during the day doing modest work as a journalism and when the time comes he is the most powerful thing ever created. If you don't like Superman then for sure you can rock to Spiderman. Pete Parker is a little nerd with problems that dawns a suit and works to keep the world on the right track.

I could continue down the line of superheroes that have secret identities they use to do good, but I wont. You get the point. The thing is people naturally cling to the outspoken blowhards instead of looking at the evidence that’s right in front of them. 'Cause in the case of the super heroes I mentioned and many other of the fictitious saviors of mankind, it doesn't take too much detective work to figure out who they are. Like Superman has a magic curl that hides his identity. WOW. Peter Parker is always on the scene when Spidey comes out and gets great photo's nobody can get, but it's still a mystery. Hmmm....

I guess in my journey to adopting both personalities I have been a little bit too much of both and am trying to find that superhero balance LOL. But seriously, a little humility and less domination never hurt anyone. Every n0w and then on the Jim Rome Radio show he talks about a washed up star playing the "do you know who I am card" as if they are bigger than the situation. I personally only know a couple of people that carry on with the "do you know who I am" demeanor--but many people act as if the world is going to cease to exist when they do. I am saying this from observation and personal experience with being the center of the universe LOL.

In closing, everybody likes Jesus and he was the most humble person ever, according to the Bible that is. He had the power of God and still was a cool guy. Think about that for a minute.... and then put that into perspective in your life.

When will it stop Pt. 2

OK. Before you read listen to this:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/1543021720034390/

This is what should be the last freestyle over the A Millie Beat ever. I have heard way to many rappers get on this beat and try to kill it worse that it was allegedly killed in the beginning so it’s done.

But again this blog is about love and positivity so let’s talk about the real story here which is this little white boy Asher Roth, the author of this freestyle. I have no idea why I decided to click on the link to this freestyle, because I am extremely sick of the redundancy of hip hop and the entire industry from Lil' Mama, to Neyo, even R. Kelly getting on this beat. But I did. Anyways it was worth it cause the dude has a little flow and his message is on point. If you didn't listen to the track he talks about what good is having "A millie" if you ain't helpin' nobody with it. Really? What good is it. While the Wayne's walk around with a millie and the Jay's walk around with near billie what do they do?

Now those two help out a lot so it probably wasn't pointed at them, but a lot of the music industry gets, gets and gets some more, but you rarely hear of their philanthropy. Now I understand that the media portrays blacks in a certain light already and human interest stories don't get covered. But, Plies (the idiot with the name that makes no sense) has been on the scene for 12 minutes and he is already making a name for himself giving back and helping the less fortunate through giveaways, scholarships, and promotions (it sounds bad but it’s better than most).

Back to the where I was going though. It is rare I stumble across something and don't investigate. An example would be the the French, I guess electronica, band JUSTICE. I heard their song D.A.N.C.E. from that guy Sol P who doesn't update his blog and after a little bit of investigation got just about everything they have put out. Another example would be Joe Budden. A friend, who till this day denies he liked Pump it Up, told me to download the song. I thought it sounded cool and decided to hear more... 5 years later I have a second favorite rapper (to Redman).

Again I got sidetracked geez I need some meds. So research. Yeah. I looked up this Asher Roth character and didn't find too much info. Thank goodness I didn't cause I found his mixtape.... cosigned by DJ Don Cannon and DJ Drama. I think I am a little late, so in order to break this story I haven't actually even listened to it yet but I am going to throw my little inconsequential co-signature on that b cause based on what he said over A Millie, his freestyle over Cannon, and the fact that he has a mixtape called the "Greenhouse Effect" cosigned by DJ Drama and Don Cannon is enough for me. I guess we can learn at the same time. So here you go:

http://anonym.to/?http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/or9pgf

Its about 100MB and is a zip file, but I bet its worth it.

Salute

What I learned on my 4th of July weekend

It had been about 5 months since I last went home so I spent the holiday at home with my mom, my sister, and Loren (the little random baby--inexplicably part of our family). We did the whole 4th thing, watched movies and were a "family" for a few days. And on Sunday I went to church, as I always (and only) do when at home. As usual I got something good out of it.


When I do go to church, I attend St. Stephen Southern Indiana in Clarksville, Indiana. This extension of the St. Stephen Baptist Church is also pastored by Kevin W. Cosby, who preaches at both campuses on Sundays. Thank God he does so, because to be honest, Pastor Cosby is the only reason why I even go to church when I do.

I grew up in the church literally. For an extended period of time, due to my parent’s involvement and my incessant need to cause trouble, I was there almost every day. My pastor was from "the foothills of Mississippi" and was the godliest man I have ever met to say the least. He was like a grandfather, and always worked to instill the godly morals he practiced in my family. I also went to private Baptist School for a great deal of my education K-8 and half of 10th grade, so I learned the Bible as part of school. In short, I have learned and been surrounded by the Bible way too much and I know black Jesus and white Jesus very well. And neither one of these Jesus’ prepared me for what was at St. Stephen, nor any of the other churches I have attended in Kentucky have to offer. No the church isn't bad, quite the contrary. I think it’s on the cutting edge of many things, which is not something I look for when I go to church. That and it is fundamentally different in a lot of ways from what I was taught as a child.

Well I still go out of respect, and out of a desire to learn from one of the most brilliant speakers I have ever heard in Pastor Cosby. Even in my own personal religious struggle, I recognize Pastor Cosby has an inspirational message that transcends religion and is applicable to nearly any walk of life.

On July 6, 2008 (just in case you want to get the tape) Pastor Cosby delivered another great message on the Paradox of progress, which is pretty simple if you think about it: it is impossible to gain something without losing something at the same time.

What does that mean? Personally, I want to do great things and use my abilities to help change the world. So I have to sacrifice some of the things people my age do for building a reputation and rapport with others that shows my desire to help others succeed. Or take that New Balance commercial. The subject is a young basketball player that has a committed relationship with running. After all that running, not partying and spending his time doing things his buddies, all he got was an extra burst in overtime or something like that. He may not even get to overtime to use that burst. But that extra burst is there and it is what sets apart the good from the greats. Not to mention that guy probably is probably in better shape during the game to play at a higher level, with such a focus on what he wants to do. Wrap your mind around that for a second.

Pastor Cosby's message went on to talk about how holding on to things impedes progress in all forms of life. He asserted his message on politics, relationships, friendships, in the workforce, basically anywhere where you can achieve and not fully obtain what is meant for you. A few major quotes Pastor Cosby dropped were:

"It is possible to experience God's good and not God's best" (Self explanatory. You can get some of what is there for you, but by choosing to do other things you'll miss whats right there for the taking)

"Opportunity doesn't come without opposition" & "We focus too much on racism and not the opportunity" (I'm going to let you figure out what he meant, but I will say nothing worth having comes easy.)

"God blesses hustlers" (NO! Not the dude on the block destroying the community. People who work hard and try to make something out of nothing, LEGALLY)

"You are what you are because you had it rough" (Thank God for the struggle, it made you what you are and remember that when you become a parent and want to spoil children)

I understand some people have a problem with God. So substitute God for life, and it would still be a good motivational message you can take something from.

For me church is like the hook in Nas' track "Can't forget about you," off Hip Hop is Dead: "Never on schedule, but always on time."

Gabriel on Everything: Peanut Butter and Jelly for your soul

http://gabrieloneverything.wordpress.com/

Very few people understand life beyond what is in front if them. Even after obtaining degrees from prestigious universities and experiencing much of what life has to offer they still don't get it. Thankfully this guy Gabriel does. Unfortunately, his blog is much more focused and on topic than my own, so if i lose my 3 readers to him I'll know why. Actually, I'll be mad because my blog is better, but whatever, if you choose to be wrong I can't do anything about that.

At the risk of copyright infringement here is his most recent post as of 9:39 PST, Lexington, KY:

Filed under: United States, douchebaggery, education, politics, race, society

First and foremost, I would like to thank Sen. Hillary R. Clinton for making this new term possible for everyone’s enjoyment. I must say that it is a great leap forward from the terms that I am used to hearing about Blacks on television. Every positive term that I hear about Blacks pertains to the athletic world. Blacks with ‘mad hops’ are called freaks of nature, Black athletes that are strong are called workhorses, or beasts, Blacks that are swift, agile and fast are compared to deer. Basically, even compliments for prosperous Blacks are demeaning and seek to rob Blacks of their humanity by comparing them to things that are not human in the least. With that being said, I will explain my definition of this new ‘elitist’ term being thrown around from Hillary supporters to those diehard Fox News (if you can call it that) fans.

To those who haven’t realized it yet, when Sen. Clinton (and others like Ralph Nader, Sen. McCain) tried to call out Sen. Obama by saying he was elitist, she (and they) just meant that he is a smart, uppity, too big for his britches n*gger. For those who wish to disagree with me, I look to the actual old school word elitist. Webster (the dictionary…not Immanuel Lewis) defines elitism as ‘leadership or rule by an elite’. Webster’s defines elite as ‘the socially superior part of society’ and ‘a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence’. Hmmm, in laymen’s terms those definitions sound like rich, White people. Hmmm…isn’t Hilary not only White, but also rich? By golly…she is! One could ask why she chose to use that term to try and call out Sen. Obama. The answer is simple. She wasn’t going for the old school term; she was going for the new term. Sen. Obama made a statement that many people know to be true. He called them out on their safety blanket of guns and religion. The statement attacked one of her strongest fan bases. So because they were so wounded from these hurtful and ‘untrue’ words, so decides to call him out:

Head of Campaign Office in Kentucky: Let’s call him a n*gger. That’ll show that spear-chucker.
Clinton: No…we can’t do that. Even though all he’s only some random mixed guy who happened to pick up a book before he picked up a basketball, all billion (slightly overestimated) of my supporters in the Congressional Black Caucus and all the old Black people like Bob Johnson will turn their backs on me and my elitist ways.
Head of Campaign Office in Kentucky: That’s it! We can call him elitist. We can hide the fact that you’re the wife of a former two term president who sent NAFTA into effect by calling him someone who doesn’t relate to the poor and working class, even though you make millions of dollars a year and he just got through paying off his college loans.
Clinton: I don’t know…
Head of Campaign Office in Kentucky: Come on…he’s no different than any other n*gger. He just happens to have his college education and a law degree from Harvard. We used to call them dumb n*ggers. But with more and more of them going to college and taking our majors (random liberal arts degrees that will do nothing for anyone who doesn’t go to Law school or get their PhD), we can call them elitists when they develop or learn new ideologies and philosophies that help better their situations! That way it won’t be cool for those porch monkeys to learn!
Clinton: Hmmm…that sounds a bit Viacomish to be…but sure, what the heck!

NOTE: IT MOST LIKELY DID NOT HAPPEN THIS WAY…BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.

But yeah, being an elitist is cool. One can still represent their intellect, class consciousness, Blackness and not have to resort to that pesky n-word that the Black Vatican buried a year or so ago.

My name is Gabriel…and I am an elitist.

The things that make you feel good

Life has led me down different paths, so when I say I have bounced from career goal to career goal I do not exaggerate. Right now I keep my focus on journalism knowing that with journalism I have a multitude of options to pursue after undergraduate graduation. Something about a quick learner, who can investigate and comprehend just about anything, makes you useful in the work force.

Anyways I have settled on the journalism if for nothing else but to get out of school with some kind of degree and go from there. I got into it more and more fall semester last year and kinda felt like I was actually made for it, even though I didn't enjoy it all that much. Still, getting published was a nice feeling, even though nobody reads the paper, especially the Kernel. Well I wrote a few pieces I really liked and there were some that people picked up and told me they enjoyed which was nice. The most positive response came from my spring break piece, which I think was popular because my beautiful face was attached to the article and people actually associated me with Wesley Robinson (go figure).

That column was all well and good but my favorite writing and experience came from the Jesus Prom at Southland Christian Church. I got to interview and meet a lot of great people. Participate in one of the most awesome experiences I have ever seen and plain and simple had the opportunity to do something right.

The reason I reference this eight or so months out is I ran into Brewster McCleod the Access (special needs) minister and director at Southland. I didn't recognize him because his hair was a normal color for someone of his age and not radical bleach blond. I don't think he recognized me either because of one amazing beard. After he realized who I was he asked me to give him directions to somewhere in the hospital where one of the parishioners was being cared for. He then told me about how much of a help my article was and how they have distributed it to people for the sake of the prom.

At that moment, knowing something I wrote was helpful to others was worth more than a Pulitzer could ever mean and is the main reason why I do what I do, because as Cam'ron said "at the end of the day" you figure out the rest.