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Cynique

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Posts posted by Cynique

  1. This weekend (August 18, 2012) I'm part of a panel at Happily Natural Day in Atlanta. We're discussing why black children need to read and write science fiction. I know my reason, but how about yours? Do you think black children should read and write science fiction? Why or why not? I'm interested in your feedback.

    I think anything that requires black kids to expand their imaginations and inspire their creativity is good. Reading and writing science fiction actually serves a dual purpose because it can be a fun way to encourage an interest in science along with providing a way to improve writing skills. It is also an activity that can wean these youngsters off the mind-numbing video games that only serve to make them an extension of someone else's imagination

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    • Like 1
  2. The link below details a familiar scenario that plays itself out all over America; black folks and cops seem to be natural enemies. This incidents hits very close to "home" with me, as the sides line up to accuse each other.

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-man-killed-in-maywood-20120811,0,1283215.story

    Here's another newstory that is stunning Chicagoland's black community. Here is the problem. What is the solution???

    http://jobs.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=14348576

  3. Chicago's western suburbs all have a very rich history in regard to the Blacks in their midst, WriterGirl, a presence that dated back to the mid 1900s. Small clusters of black people led their separate lifes in these little towns and were tolerated by white residents - as long as they stayed in their place. Although their incomes were meager, these families all embodied middle-class values and nurtured hopes and dreams for the good life.

    Before I was even born, a cousin of mine was sent north to live with my parents in the suburb where they settled, so he could attend the local high school which was a very prestigious one at the time. He graduated from this school in the class of 1926, one of 4 other blacks. Years later, I was told by one of his black classmates that because my cousin was so handsome and smart all of the white girls just adored him, and his teachers loved him. While attending college back in Nashville, he died at age 22 when he was injured in an automobile accident and treatment was delayed because a white hospital had to be found that would treat him...

  4. Sad commentary on how far America has fallen when the main thing it is providing its citizens with nowadays is material for ridicule...

    309243_443699735674574_899565020_n.jpg

    558303_456664114365299_1073835845_n.jpg

    ...as MItt Romney announces his cookie cutter conservative choice for a running mate, and Barack Obama snubs the traditional 75 year old back-to-school parade politicians all over Chicago and Cook county participate in to placate black voters, - and makes plans to attend a private fund raiser bash to be hosted by NBA stars, including Michael Jordan. Meanwhile, much to the disgust of his constituents, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. is lolling away at the Mayo Clinic supposedly recovering from the depression brought on by the post traumatic stress that is a side-effect of his stapled stomach weight-loss surgery. <_<

    • Like 2
  5. ”Maybe you should stop ranting about racism long enough to put your ageism in check, WaterStar. ^_^ Youth is wasted on the young and wine mellows with age. Among the things that mellowing entails is the revelation that laughter is good medicine along with taming the ego and realizing the value of self-examination. :rolleyes:

    "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished by how much he'd learned in seven years." Mark Twain

  6. Not all young people are shameless and lacking in motivation. And there are plenty of diamonds in the rough. The ones who become burdens on society are the those who are a part of a replicating pattern of babies-having-babies. This is a chosen lifestyle and entrenched mind-set that is part of a sub culture.

    Those who escape the ghetto trap, are a commendable testament to the fact that blaming society for everything can become a crutch, and that personal responsibility figures into the equation as well as "tough love".

    Every argument can be supported by a set of statistics and their percentages which when translated into actual numbers paint a different picture. Reality is what it is. Success and failure are an inevitable part of life.

  7. Well, the autopsy report just released reveals that the Sikh attacker died as the result of a self-inflicted wound.

    I said "enemy" because I don't consider white people who are the ongoing target of your wrath as being your "opponents". And I said "envy" because white Americans obviously have what you want. And you assume I was building an argument, when I wasn't. My editorializing invited no rebuttal because it was an opinion.

  8. Jeeze, WaterStar. Do you really think the cop who shot this skin head rampager had time to process what the repercussions of doing this would be, and then decided it would be more convenient to kill the motherfucker than to keep him alive so he wouldn't have to undergo the legal process???? Good grief. The man was firing in self-defense, trying to save his own damned life. Where does logic end and paranoia begin? Whether this neo-nazi was a product of his culture or not, there is something significant about him targeting a Sikh temple rather than a black church or a Jewish synagog or a gathering of homosexuals; he had a 911 tattoo.

    Everybody knows America is not a paragon of virture and has a checkered history. So what else is new? Why would you expect anything but oppression and injustice from people who you obviously think are evil. And, yes, this country resonates with an atmosphere of white supremacy, and there's a good frickin reason for this since Whites are, and always have been in charge. Instead of standing around bitchin', maybe you ought to concentrate on black self genocide because white people don't give a damn what you think. They're too busy flexing their racist muscles and basking in your envy.

    And I don't know who you hang around with but the idea of "never under-estimating your enemy" is common knowledge to everybody I know. You're the one doing the under-estimating. Checkers? Chess? Just because Blacks don't run the country doesn't mean that they don't run their games. It's called surviving.

  9. Why do we always have to pamper and enable young girls who get pregnant, and make special dispensations for them while young ladies who have followed the rules are ignored? There is a chorus of voices raised by female teens, complaining that if they want to be rewarded with all of the grants and programs and financial aid that many schools all over the country set up for pregnant young students, then it's to your advantage to get pregnant! It's like the schools adjust to the infringments instead of the students adjusting to the requirements. Who's in charge, here??

    If an alternative home study program that allows a student to keep up with her class is available, then I think that's all that should be necessary. These girls know ahead of time what's expected of them and if you ain't pregnant, then you don't have to try and circumvent the rules by refusing to take the test. Where's the ACLU when employers require drug tests?

    A better atmosphere is provided where there are no shameless students parading around the halls of learning showing off their baby bumps, hardly able to wait for the day when they can come back up to school to proudly show off their newborns and bask in all of the fawning.

    I am definitely in favor of birth control programs set up by schools so that sexually-active teens can avoid pregnancy. This ounce of prevention is the way to save the pound of money that a pregnant teen-ager is eventually going to cost the government.

  10. Dear Gabby, (Baby G)

    We are all so proud of you! You're an inspiration to young black girls everywhere. Your talent and skills have brought you fame and will soon net you a fortune. It has been estimated that your endorsements will translate into millions of dollars, enough to get your hair done and bail your momma out of bankruptcy. You will soon be overwhelmed and your whole world will change, and you'll have to grow up fast! Here's a bit of advice from ol Cynique, who's been around a long time and knows the ropes. :unsure:

    602367_399635233428778_525857709_n.jpg

  11. LOL. Well, OK. I went out and looked at some of the squirrels scrambling around my neighborhood, and they weren't very good in their dismounts and many of them had gray fur but - - if Gabby likes it, I luv it. I'm also lovin that "Baby G" thing.

    I'm just hoping the black stallions on the USA relay track team don't drop the damned baton this year!

  12. 536699_10150968282356689_48822286_n.jpg

    I find this info to be an interesting tid-bit because I am always fascinated with the idea of looking at things in a different way!

    Thrilled with Gabby's "flying squirrel" nickname? Not so much. The media always finds a way to compare black athletes to animals. Nuts to them!

    • Like 3
  13. So tell me, Waterstar, have you ever thought about organizing to do what Marcus Garvey and the Black Muslims once advocated in regard to the diaspora picking up their tents and stealing away into their own country, someplace far away from "Babylon"? :ph34r:

    To me, the way things exist in America is "normal". Unfortunately, justice is not an entitlement. People in power don't give up their power and are reluctant to even share it. "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" And if the post racial scoffers think they are going to reform their "oppressors", they will be in a perpetual state of frustration. If black people were the majority in power, they would do the same thing to white people that is being done to them; in fact they do it within their own ranks to a degree, via colorism. It's the nature of the beast. :angry:

    But - crusades do seem to fill a need for those in whose breasts "hope springs eternal". I've always found these cause embracers to be oxymorons: malcontented optimists. :wacko:

    If I were so inclined, however, Cuba would be the last place I'd look to as a model. Who needs an ego-manical dictator, - a pseudo benevolent leader who subjects his people to the regimentation of a Spartan life. The thought that somebody else might take over his domain is what keeps the garrulous Castro alive. IMO ;)

  14. I checked the Chicago newspapers and there was nothing in their articles about free food being passed out in connection with cow appreciation day at the local Chick-fil-As around these parts; more coverage given to those criticizing Obama for not coming to town and at least making a gesture of concern by speaking out against all of the street killings. My "sanctimoneous" daughter and her church group went to a nearby one to support this company CEO's stance and didn't see any cows in the long lines or receive any free food. Can't speak for other parts of the country. Whatever, it makes me no difference. I'm a Pop Eye's Chicken patron. Also have no sentiments one way or another about gay marriage. But I'm leery about a precedent being set by those who are succesful in penalizing people for their religious beliefs. Next thing I know, they might be picketing my house for my practice of paying homage to the sun and the moon.

  15. Doesn't all of this boil down to the cardinal rule of any enterprise: supply and demand. And doesn't supply and demand involve a good product and smart marketing?

    Could it also be that black book fairs per se are an idea whose time came - and has now gone? I don't think any of them today are now what they used to be, and most around where I'm located have disappeared. Dare I say the internet is the culprit?

    Just some obvious conclusions offered in the interim before others "chime in".

  16. Well, maybe "free" as in buy one and get one "free". All of the on-the-scene news reports and articles that covered the 3 Chick-fil-A franchises in this area never mentioned anything about the long lines of people being given free sandwiches.

    This is a political issue that is, indeed, making strange bedfellows; liberal "freedom-of-speech" advocates allied with conservative homophobes all on a matter of principle. There were even reports of some gay people supporting Chick-fil-A's CEO's right to express his personal opinion, as long as he didn't discriminate against gay cliental.

    .

    Today's state of affairs elicit a lot of mixed emotions for me, personally, especially when it comes ro Obama. :wacko:

  17. Boy, this Chick-fil-A constroversy has really taken off! Franchises all over the country report record sales as freedom-of-speech advocates as well as anti-same-sex marriage zealots jammed their stores, turning out in full force yesterday to show their support for this company and its CEO. Long lInes formed all around the locations. Now the gay community is rallying its forces to stage their demonstrations against this fast food giant. This same-sex marriage issue has certainly polarized the country. Everbody agrees about the bad state of the economy but the state of matrimony incites intense disagreement as it relates to who should marry whom. :angry:

    And if there are any other lunatics out there, they, like me, will undoubtedly be delighted to hear that the month of August will allow us to witness a rare phenomenon because it will have 2 full moons! :) :) The one that was still around at the beginning of the month and another one that will appear at the end of the month! The second one is called a blue moon and this is where the "once in a blue moon" expression originated to describe something that happens only once in a great while! Hummm. They say more babies are born during full moons. Hope their mommies won't feel guilty if they defy NY Mayor Bloomberg and his campaign to promote breast feeding, by emulating the mothers of my generation who stuck bottles in their babies mouths, and even had special devices that sterilized nipples and the bottles that they happily filled with Simulac. Of course the argument could be made that this accounts for the baby boomer generation being so greedy for satisfaction... ^_^

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