This IS Our Country

Just two short days after celebrating our dads and the great jobs that they do, I was surfing the inter webs, getting bombarded with images and audio of the family separation monstrosity that is taking place in border cities. I have come across several SHOUTS of: 

"WTF, this is NOT our country." 

"How can ANYONE think that this is ok?" 

"OMG, these babies."

"What kind of monsters would do something like this?"

Uh, the United States would. Duh. Last month I was watching Anderson Cooper on CNN. Anderson Cooper- yum AND he is super QUICK to call out the outright lies the citizens are being told. And I am thankful. Anyway- I was watching Anderson Cooper and the New York Times columnist Charles Blow was on a panel. What he said that night has stayed with me. When asked about whatever stupid scandal was going on, Mr. Blow simply said "Stop being astonished." Man, if that ain't a message. 

I have wanted to post about the family separation policy of the current administration for a week or so, but I waited until TODAY to post this. Why, you ask? Today is Juneteenth. On this date in 1865, a full 30 months after the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation, the abolition of slavery was announced in the state of Texas. Two and a half years late. Stop being astonished. 

Since the inception of this country people have been brought to this land against their will. The founders of this country came here with NOTHING and stole land and resources from the indigenous people. Stop being astonished. 

Slave owners routinely raped their slaves, spawning offspring that were light enough to work in the house, but not white enough to be allowed to play with their half siblings. Stop being astonished. 

Families were ROUTINELY obliterated at slave auctions, with babies being ripped from the caring arms of their mothers; husbands being taken away from their wives; siblings left crying while they head to plantations in opposite directions. Stop being astonished. 

Slavery. The Trail of Tears. The Internment Camps for Japanese American citizens. The Muslim Ban. The poor response for Hurricane Katrina. The absolutely useless response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Stop.Being.Astonished.

What we are seeing right now has happened before. This administration is participating in tried and true tactics. This approach has been proven effective. The scheme is: once the family dynamic is broken, taking what you want is easy. We all know the ploy. So now, what are you going to do? The time of being astonished is over. The highest levels of our government are committing human rights atrocities... while we sit back in our air conditioned homes talking about "OMG, I cannot believe that they are putting babies in cages." But they are. This IS who we are-- this is who we have been from the very start of our country. Now we have to decide if this is who we will remain.

STOP BEING ASTONISHED.

Why Heathens Will Save the World

As a long-suffering social media addict, I am often bombarded with opinions from every side. Talking points I agree with strongly or disagree with completely. I mute stupid people; block the ultra ridiculous. Not a bad gig. As I was scrolling through my Twitter timeline, reading about the horrors of Hurricane Harvey, I came across several tweets by different folks that questioned why Joel Osteen's mega church wasn't open to shelter those that Harvey hit the hardest. After 3 days of being rightfully questioned about his motives and Christianity, Joel opened his dry stadium, er church to Houstonians. The whole concept of mega churches opening themselves up to the public brought up a couple things: 1. a conversation that hubs and I had a couple of weeks ago, 2. the thought that modern day churches don't follow the Jesus they are supposed to serve and 3. the idea that it will be heathens that save the world... c'mon and follow this logic. 

A couple of weeks ago hubs and I were gathered in our bedroom, watching the coverage of the tragedy in Charlottesville. I never tell him sappy shit like this, but my most favorite thing about our ever changing relationship is that we watch and comment on the news together. It is refreshing to have a partner that has sympathy and empathy for folks. Anyway. After Orange Julius' press conference there were many people, on both sides (ha ha) who commented "I'm a Christian and this outrages me." Business leaders and artists removed themselves from presidential councils, yet no evangelicals recused themselves. None of them were running for the door. None of them were calling the Tangerine Tyrant out on his shit. BUT guess who did call him out? That is right, heathens AKA those of us who are generally concerned about the welfare of others. 

And isn't caring about the welfare of others the job of the church? I mean, religion, at its very core, is trusting your Lord and loving your neighbor, right? I haven't reviewed ALL religions, but I have read up on a few and that tenet seems to be universal. So, I guess the real question is: when you look at the leaders of your church, do they serve as good examples? I've seen Joel Osteen in person-- at a Night of Hope in Chicago. I have purchased several of his books, but if I'm honest, I unfollowed him on Twitter when he said that the Tangerine Tyrant was a good man (because, eww, hell no). Joel is a "feel good" preacher. He smiles a lot and tells his legions of followers that our merciful God will bring them through their trials and tribulations. He says that... but is he a vehicle for those victories? Does he attempt to make it easier for his followers to turn their trials into triumph? If we use the current flooding in Houston as an example the answer is a resounding no. Once he was badgered, Osteen tweeted out his prayers for the city where he collects millions of tax free dollars every week then he put up a fundraising page on his church's website. It wasn't until us heathens shamed his ass on Twitter that he opened up his almost 17,000 seat church to those in need... TODAY. Uh, it has been raining since Friday. How very Christian of him. Oh Joel... if you know better, you are supposed to do better.

That is exactly what hubs and I talked a couple weeks ago: what is the role that the church should play in the lives of every day folks. Background: we don't live in the hood... but we are (technically) hood adjacent. So I ask hubs: "if you go to the next neighborhood over (like seriously, 1 mile away) what will you see on every other corner?" He had no idea, so I helped him out. You see a liquor store and a church. (Y'all, the truth). Presumably we know the role of the liquor store, but what role should the church play? Why are there so many? Why do there seem to be so many in failing neighborhoods? Most importantly: why do those neighborhoods continue to fail-- even if the churches are doing well? If the churches are doing well... and doing what they are supposed to do, like, I don't know, following the example of Jesus... would there still be folks in need? 

Even this heathen knows some scripture. Christians are supposed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison, take care of widows and orphans. (Matthew 25: 35-46; James 1:27) We are supposed to be examples-- the light of the world (Matt 5:14). We are supposed to follow the greatest commandment... (Matthew 22:36-40) But if we do that, why are there so many people suffering? Not just in Texas, but in the neighborhood down the street. If you give every Sunday in church... where does that money go? Who does it help? Is your church working in its neighborhood? Does your mens group serve as mentors to the young men in your neighborhood... or do they just shake their heads at the dudes on the corner? Does the ladies group at your church gossip about the pregnant girl in the back pew? Do they have weekly soup kitchen parties to feed the neighborhood's homeless? Since one of our political parties claims to be exceptionally "Christian" why do they not hold strong to the teachings of Jesus? Why does it seem like your resident heathens are the ones lighting the world with love and kindness? Food for thought.

Wordless Wednesday - MAGA

Dear America

Dear America:

Hey girl. It is your favorite caramel colored girlfriend. Originally, I was going to wish you a belated birthday, but honey, we have some things that we need to talk about. I am feeling some type of way about you. I mean, you just turned 240 years old on Monday and you are not adulting well. I mean, I really think that you are too old for these ongoing problems that you have. These last few years, our relationship has been strained and so now, here I am, with an ultimatum.

Listen. You gotta stop lying to yourself and others. America, you keep telling folks that everyone is welcome and that you are friendly. Ma'am, nothing is farther from the truth. We all know that everyone isn't welcome. Why do you keep touting that line of thought? History tells us that it isn't true... What you allow in your house shows us, every day, that you don't want diversity here. Within your borders, people (of color) are ROUTINELY marginalized, CONSISTENTLY demonized, REGULARLY disenfranchised and HABITUALLY murdered for simply being. You don't have love for us, girl. And when one of us stands up to tell you just how unfair the treatment that we are receiving is, the clap back is swift. You aren't nice, chick. You allow our children to be murdered; our husbands to be taken. You don't blink when our elderly die in poverty, unable to afford the drugs that could keep them alive. It doesn't bother you that our neighborhoods are falling apart or that we are overlooked for jobs and promotions. You are not surprised and often find excuses for police who brutalize your citizenry. I mean, why do you keep inviting folks to your house if you don't want to straighten up first? You know what I mean? I just don't understand. Why invite family over, only to spit in their faces? That is what you are doing. You are spitting in our faces-- and we have had enough.  

You pretend to love us, but that love is only good if we stay in the boxes that you have picked out for us. You want us to make you look good. You want us to entertain you-- on tv, at the movie theater, through sports and at concerts. But, you don't want us to ever think that we are more than that. We are here to entertain you and the moment we stop, you turn on us like an inebriated spouse. Often you use us for entertainment then for target practice. We are targets for your abuse-- in which you want us to suffer silently. Stay in our place, save face (for you) and do it all quietly. America, girl, that is not how this works. That is not how any of this works.

Look, I want to take this time to let you know that you wouldn't have your house without us. We have been here from the beginning. Actually, darling, now would be the time to remind you that you brought many of us here against our will. And now you are systematically, emotionally and physically, killing the same folks you enslaved all those years ago. America, girl, you are too old for this! Since we just celebrated your birthday, I feel the need to remind you what happened 240+ years ago that brought about your birth. America, YOU are the result of the ultimate protest. Your founders were tired of being shit upon, so they left the game and started YOU. Now, darling, let's use some common sense here... If you have spent all of your years shitting on some folks, what, exactly can you foresee them doing? Are you trying to get history to repeat itself? Are you trying to make an uprising happen? Do you think that we will allow an extermination of certain folks just happen?

America, I am writing this letter because I love you. I love the idea of you. I love being a part of you. Now I want you to love me back. I want you to respect me and other Brown and Black folks. I want to be able to be proud of you when I leave your shores for vacation or business. I want folks to be able to look to you for guidance... not just military or monetary help. I want to be able to tell my daughter that her life will be respected because she is considered a gem in her own country. A gem... not a burden. In short America, I need you to get your shit together, sis. I mean I can't keep writing you warnings about this fucked up behavior. If you keep disrespecting your citizens they will rise up-- it is inevitable. We are not expendable. Our children are not to be used as kindling in the streets, America. Our fathers and breadwinners are not to be brutalized as examples, America. Our mothers and daughters are not here to be assaulted by you, America. We are not expendable. Saying that doesn't make us ungrateful, or selfish or racist. It makes us citizens and it makes you accountable. Stop murdering us. Stop excusing our murders. Just stop it.

Gut Check Time

Osama Bin Laden is dead. Last night the President of the United States took to the airwaves and told the public that Osama was killed in Pakistan by US Military personnel. People have had very different responses to this news, and I have to say- some of y'all need to participate in what I call "gut check time" I am SO for real. Some of you need to really examine how you respond to things. I am going to go out on a limb and say that in trying times like these, some of you goofballs have no need for social media access. Need some examples? Ok, see below:

Debbie Downers: The news broke just before 10 last night and at 10:01 my facebook feed was full of assholes saying "This doesn't concern me" "I don't care that he is dead" "you guys are morons for thinking that this means anything" Damn, Debbie, get some happy pills. First of all- calling people morons because they are happy that the man who supposedly organized the attack on America on September 11th is... less than kind AND generally questioning a person's intelligence while saying something STUPID is frowned upon. Don't know which part of your statement is stupid? Let me tell you: our country has been at war for almost a decade. Where do you think funding comes from? Where do you think our government gets the money to allow our armed forces do their job? Um, from US. So, the death of Bin Laden concerns us ALL. Through taxes, we are ALL paying for two wars, so the demise of the leader of the other side involves you. I realize that some people will never be pleased- with anything, ever. Well Debbie, I'm good. Take your complaining ass some place else. Thanks for playing, Debbie... go take a pill.

Overly Righteous: You don't want to celebrate the death of a dictator? Absolutely fine with me. You don't want to celebrate the death of a man? Fantastic. I don't really either-- I am totally more of a 'torture mass murderers for the rest of their lives' kind of girl. I am not sure what kind of torture I would specialize in... but I digress. You don't want to celebrate Bin Laden's death in Ohio, Colorado, where ever the hell you are? Good for you- but y'all can NOT stop the celebration of others. Twitter feed was stacked with "Why are we celebrating the death of a man? Uh, because he took responsibility for murdering thousands of American citizens, said he would do it again, and evaded capture for 10 years- that's why. AND if you aren't in NYC or DC, or didn't know someone who died on 9/11, who the hell are you to judge those affected? I watched videos of people celebrating- they were singing God Bless America and waving the American flag- and possibly getting some closure on one of the turning points in their lives, and you judgemental bastards are mad? Get off your high horse. I am more concerned about the people who have no emotion at the breaking news than I am about the people pouring into the streets to celebrate the end of Bin Laden. So what if people who were holding up pictures of their lost loved ones on the news 10 years ago went back to Ground Zero and expressed happiness? Let them. That is not your place to judge them. Want to judge someone? Judge those nasty "church goers" that picket the funerals of service men and women, holding up signs that newly deceased soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms are going to hell. Those that happily cheer at the funerals of men and women who died defending their right to free speech. Protest them. Be mad at them.... but the thousands cheering in DC and NYC, you should be HAPPY that they are getting some kind of closure. If Osama Bin Laden's death (you DO remember what he did to get on the Most Wanted List, right?!) is what gives them closure, then let them have that for a night. I have to say- I'm happy he is dead. I would have preferred some heinous torture, but dead works for me. And you can judge me all day- I don't care... it won't change my mind.

Polarizers: The people who are using this as a platform to further divide the American people are sickening. Every once in a while, you have GOT to learn that it is ok to congratulate the other side. Even I do it occasionally. If W was in the White House when Bin Laden was killed, I would have congratulated him. Thanked him. Taken a day off from bashing him (ok, ok... half a day- he is loaded with material for jokes). People are acting like they can't congratulate and thank our President. Why? Because you are a Republican? Drop that shit. Upon hearing the news last night, my friend said "You know, I don't like Obama's economic stance, but I am SO happy he helped get that rat bastard." That is how it should be. I am not asking anyone to stop their less than liberal thoughts, or become Democrats (I'm not even a Democrat), or name their next child Barack. No, I am saying.... we are all Americans. Under the administration of Barack Obama, one of the most dangerous terrorist in the world was killed. Congratulate YOUR President. You don't have to like shit else he does. Ever. But right now- damn, say thank you. Even W sent his congratulations. Quit acting like you have no manners. Go back to being a hater tomorrow.

Political Opportunists: To Donald the Dick and who ever works at Fox news that made the "mistake" of putting "Obama Bin Laden is dead" on the television stream last night... TAKE THAT!! Seriously, keep up the games, the name calling, the holier than thou attitude, the bickering, the racist antics- all your antics... keep them coming. Because we, as the American public, will tire of you. (I'm already tired of you). You can bet on that.

Thank you to President Barack Obama; members of every branch of the Armed Forces- at home and abroad; American citizens that made the ultimate sacrifice; fair reporters; members of Congress and especially Joe Schmo-- we financed this war, were patient and got our man... Now let's bring back our troops and begin the stabilization of THIS country.