Cynique

A lot of generalizations in this article, and conclusions reached by people who weren't totally objective. Little attention is given to the golden tan African American females held in high regard by black men. Instead, it seemed all about high-yellow or dark brown. What i have noticed down through the years is how the perception of what is "light-skinned" varies from person to person, and what color folks consider themselves to be is not always in agreement with how others see them. On my job, I was involuntarily cast in a very uncomfortable position by my co-workers who used me as the standard for being light-skinned and they would describe others as being various degrees darker than me, or as light as or almost as light as me. This would even result in arguments. Yes, my husband said me being a "red bone" was one of the things that influenced his attraction to me, but I had girlfriends who came in all shades and they never had trouble getting top of the line men. Back in the 1950s big fine legs and nice "racks" and naturally long hair, not weaves or extensions) were regarded as premium assets. I have dimples, and you also got points for that, back then. Go, figure.

As if what you list are things the Republicans have solutions to, or will successfully resolve if tRump is allowed to seize the presidency in 2024. Talk is cheap and the right wing puke you regurgitate ain't worth 2 cents.

I remember reading or hearing somewhere about 4 or 5 years ago that Greek(?) scientists had discovered humanoid remains in their country that were as old as or older than Lucy and had different DNA from hers. Was this ever disputed or proven?

Wordless sounds of time in the 1950s

To initially underestimate how dangerous a threat Trump's supporters are before their behavior became so extreme that the situation had to be re-assessed, is not a case of "speaking with a forked tongue".

Was Dominique ever molested by her coach or expected to perform under physical duress or subjected to the pressure of being the GOAT. I'm curious about whether she broke any records?

@TroySo have you checked out this prequel yet? I have, and am finding it easy to get into since it's so much in the vein of "Game Of Thrones" which I have been "jonesin" for ever since it ended.

I think "time" is a word, an audible utterance, or a script of symbols, both of which are components of Language which is an attempt to systematically capture reality. Silence is a language that speaks for itself.

The Ankh is also the Egyptian symbol of eternal life. Pyramids and crystals both emit energy waves, leading me to believe that the combination of my talismans in alignment with the image of my husband are a paradigm of what could culminate in supernatural activity which, as you suggest, is up to me to pursue. I feel pretty much the same way! My miniature table top pyramid is solid and has a green gem embedded on one its sides, and when the light hits it a certain way, its largest facet seems to turn black and resemble an open door that leads to what's inside. Hindus think the answer to everything is contained in the Emerald Tablets, rather than the Akashic records, and I imagine that this phantom door in the green jewel leads to these emerald tablets. I like to think of this as magic - instead of insanity.

@DelWhat's your take on omens or messages from the other side? i don't want to be morbid, - but I am. On my night table, next to my collection of quartz crystals, is a small pyramid topped by a tiny ankh. Also on a nearby desk is a picture of my late husband. Yesterday morning when I woke up, the framed picture was laying on the floor and as I was picking it up, I noticed the ankh was missing from the pyramid and I spotted it on the floor, too. What do you make of this? And, believe it or not, as I am trying to key this, my computer keeps skipping and stalling. I have no major health issues and have been doing OK but if I come up "missing in action", it's been nice knowin' ya, Pal.

The allegory says it, when it refers to Eve being made from Adam's rib.

@Pioneer1I am not expecting people to agree with my unorthodox points of view. That's why the mirror reflecting my thoughts is cracked.

In order to accept and fear what so many people attribute America's turmoil to, one has to believe that there is an organized effort conceived and executed by a nucleus of individuals who are successfully manipulating the behavior of the population in collusion with the Government. Believing this means that you also accept the idea that if this was not the case, people would simply go about their lives, accommodating and interacting with their fellow citizens, practicing no racism, harboring no greed or desire for status, no hunger for power, and that the blame for this not being the case falls solely on the shoulders of the "they" who are routinely coordinating the actions of the many. You'd have to believe that human beings, if left to their own devices, would all get along and there would be no clash of values or culture, no dislike for the unlike. You'd have to admit that you resist taking the overview, or looking at the big picture, have to ignore that Earth's civilization is doing what it always does - mirroring the organized chaos of the Universe. You'd also have to ignore the idea that what you imagine sounds like the plot of a movie instead of the nature of this thing called Life. The Ancients experienced this, too. That is why they created mythology and religion, - why the heroes of these tales were those who followed their own star. When it comes to social media, I have always contended that its critics take it so much more seriously than they do and that, by now, its participants know enough to consider the source when it comes to the output of these outlets. FaceBook is not considered an authority on anything. Twitter is recognized as being politicized. These 2 and all of the others are forms of escapism. All but the most nave realize this and that they convey subliminal messages and can't be trusted.

Dreamer that he was, MLK believed that integration was what would dispel racism and usher in a new era pf brotherhood. Similarly, hippies thought universal love was the answer. So much for idealism.

@Deli'm not really questioning anything. I'm just sharing my thoughts, engaging in retrospection. I think your idea of everything costing a dollar is intriguing; typical of your unique way of viewing things. @ChevdoveThat's the thing. I haven't really done a lot. I've just watched and commented. Now I kind of regret having not been more active and in the front line with those seeking reform. I'm a summarizer, a narrator, a "pen is mightier than the sword" type. Whereas you delve right into subjects and thoroughly pursue your interests. I admire that in you, along with the personal anecdotes you inject into your conversation. @ProfDThanks for your input. Your observations are thought-provoking, as usual.

I'm curious about what economic "System" exists or should exist wherein a country can "have it both ways", - a utopian paradise where there is prosperity and equality for all, replete with a guarantee that everybody, both the ordinary and the extraordinary, will live the good life. Socialism and Communism are rejected as ideal because they are about The State owning and controlling everything, proceeding on the dubious theory that everybody will benefit equally as long as the masses are kept under control. Capitalism is criticized because it spawns the free enterprise opportunities that facilitate the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer via a process that financially rewards aggressive, shrewd, people, while relegating others into the "have-not" category. Dreamers have fantasized about the ascension of a benign, charismatic, dictator, - a wise, magnanimous, paragon of integrity and compassion who would exercise absolute control, eliminating the political rivalries that lead to dissention and corruption. Dreamers, indeed. Nightmares are what Fascistic and Theocratic systems bring to mind with their fanatical nationalism and religious zealotry. So, just what is the solution to the problematic way things are now? Democracy falls short for the same reason all the other systems fail. It is all about lofty aspirations that pale in the face of stark reality, a conclusion that should be obvious by virtue of the fact that because Mankind is imperfect, it is incapable of creating a perfect System. Society and civilization are in a never-ending pursuit of a world where everybody lives happily ever after, the hope for which continues to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of scorched empires. But how can Paradise ever exist on Earth when Humanity is its own worst enemy? In the twilight of my years where waking up every morning is an achievement, I continue to ask myself what System has enabled me to survive 89 trips around the sun? The answer is "I know that I know not". I just lived my life, ordering my priorities, following my instincts, embracing my spirituality, indulging my curiosity, resisting materialism, managing to sidestep many of the things that tripped up others of my race. I retired from the work force in 1992, something that has allowed me to lead a life of leisure for 30 years, doing nothing to earn a monthly pension and the regular cost-of-living raises that come with it, money that more than covers all my expenses. I have a roof over my head, am surrounded by an extended family, have affordable health care, never owe the IRS, and whatever is going on in the world locally or globally has had very little impact on my life. I'm just here, dangling under the radar, breathing air that doesn't even belong to me. What's wrong with this picture?

Yes, i was just getting ready to change the verb after proof reading what i had written.

I am amazed at how biblical interpreters read the mind of a god they've never seen nor heard. And how much credence they give to what has been revised, edited, omitted, manipulated and incorrectly translated. if the Adam and Eve allegory originated with men then those who created these explanations are simply putting their own spin on evolution. How do we know Eve(females) didn't come before Adam(males) but with their physical brawn, males imposed their version of who came first between males or females. After all, females are the species who give birth. It's an extremely convoluted issue. I, of course, speak as a person of little faith.

I remember this momentous event well, just like it was yesterday. I had 3 young children when the March of Washington took place, and was not able to make the trip, but I did gather with a group of friends to watch it on TV and shed tears when MLK gave his famous "I have a dream" speech. Now, MLK and all of those friends have passed on, and I am left to contemplate how King's dream played out...

Why is everybody so eager to leap frog over Simone Biles and credit the success of her 3 contemporary champions to a 45-year- old Domnique Dawes? It's like saying black girls aspiring to become pro tennis players are inspired by the late Althea Gibson instead of Serena Williams. Yes, Dominique and Gabby have earned their place in the annals of women's gymnastics but it is more accurate to credit them with being Simone's inspiration. The torch is passed from one champion to another.

Has black access to gymnastics improved greatly for black girls? There may have always been been black females gymnasts, but they weren't champions. Simone Biles is a super star, and - a super inspiration!

It's being said that high profile Simone Biles is who is inspiring the increased interest in gymnastics by black girls most of whom weren't even born during Dominique Dawes' heyday, or were too young to follow Gabby's career. it's also being noted that white girls seem to be losing interest in this sport.

@Pioneer1Who asked for, or really cares about an explanation for your "problem" with me. You're like Donald Trump who can't accept the idea that he lost the election.

They were undoubtedly inspired by Simone Biles.

You have to give teachers something to work with so they can do their jobs. Parents should always be their children's first teachers. When I attended school black history, neither its true nor sanitized versions were taught. What I learned about it was brought to my attention by my father. Today black parents, themselves, should know enough about black history to pass some of it on to their kids and give the teachers a head start by making these kids receptive to their authentic heritage. This has to be a collaborative effort. The diversity found in the black community trickles down in all areas and individuals have their own goals and priorities As usual, the home environment of black kids influences their the trajectory. Not to mention. that there isn't that much about black history that has to be tweaked. Black kids could be told in one sitting that their people were brought to this country against their will and held in bondage for 400 years by southern white plantation owners, and that they were abused and not treated as equals because they were considered inferior by both their masters and the Constitution. And that all attempts to break the chains of their bondage were thwarted by the cruel slave masters until the South lost the war to keep their slaves who were finally emancipated by a President - with ulterior motives.. And that all of this is what reinforced the racism which exists to this day, in spite of how blacks have proven themselves to be equal by deed and accomplishment, - something kids can presently see for themselves. It should also be explained that the reason "America, the beautiful", the "Leader of the Free World" doesn't want all of this revealed or emphasized is because this democratic republic doesn't want its stellar image to be tarnished by its disgraceful past. Period. Conservative whites fear that teaching these unvarnished truths will result in their kids being subjected to retaliation from black classmates. They also want to absolve themselves from the sins of their forefathers, choosing to ignore how the past paved the way for the present white skin privilege that continues to benefit them. Of course, all of this has become politicized. And the beat goes on...