Cynique

Sez you, - the well known authority on nothing, using your personal definitions to try and prove your point; as usual

Well, obviously that's because i disagreed with his revering instead of shattering a long held belief about black hair as opposed to his discrediting religion's sacro-sanc status, something i agree with. Actually, "iconoclasm" works better as an adjective, as in "iconoclastic"; iconoclasm as a noun is what an iconoclastic person embraces when they shatter sacrosanct things. i don't think anybody, including me, completely practices iconoclasm. We all have certain conventional tenets we don't attack. @NubianFellow Well, if this conversation isn't about hair, i couldn't tell it by reading all of your posts wherein you obsess and rhapsodize ad infinitum about the glory of African hair, your effusive praise accompanied by pictures to illustrate your point, while I'm the one who is asking what's the big deal about hair. Yet you and Troy insists this discussion is really about the masses being dominated and manipulated by America's powerful one-percenters. So what else is new? That's the name of the game in a capitalistic system. Corporations and the media sell happiness and escapism and people buy this because it improves the quality of their mundane lives. You lament that a little black girl wants to grow up and look like a white fairy princess. Why wouldn't she when fairy princesses are better off than African queens in this country? You can't fix all the ills of this world. But you can adjust and adapt. And it's not like Black people in America don't have a heritage that embraces their tenure in this country. Their creative women figured out ways to tame their hard-to-manage hair, and hairdressers with their straightening combs and curling irons and beauty shops hold a fond place in black culture. Madame C.J. Walker amassed a fortune catering to her black sisters. Furthermore, there are still a lot of things about themselves that black woman won't change or emulate. They've still got attitude and confidence to spare. Actually black people in general don't really worship and revere white folks; they just envy all the advantages that they have. It's presumptuous to think they are all bamboozled and brain washed. They're surviving and are not totally ignorant or lacking in self-esteem. But i guess it's imperative to claim this when beating your breast on top of a soap box. None of this, however, detracts from your being a good guy. That permeates your words. @TroyPerms and weaves damaging the hair is probably why extensions and wigs are replacing them. Extensions are what are used to implement braided styles which are very popular, and wigs nowadays are so perfected, replete with hair lines and parts that look so natural you can't tell they aren't real. (And, don't fool yourself, natural hair requires a lot of care and attention and products to maintain. )

.....wanna try me? @Pioneer1If you kept me in check, you would silence me, not spur me to keep disputing you.

In your dreams... Your definition of "junk" conveniently eliminates the synonym for it which is "trash".

i didn't use the term criminal "instinct', i said criminal "mentality" which is different in that it has to do with thinking it's ok to commit whatever constitutes a crime as long as you don't get caught. In another post, you said slavery should be reformed, but slavery and reform don't belong in the same sentence. Slavery is what it is and freedom alone is its anti-dote. And the solution to eliminating imprisonment and harsh sentences has nothing to with incarceration which is the end result of a trial. Incarceration, per se, is not the flaw in the prison system. Everybody agrees that the fault lies with and occurs in a corrupt society where the court systems do not dispense equal justice under the law. Any other commentary is just a variation on the need to reform the criminal justice system, an endeavor which includes making a civilized society live up to what it is supposed to stand for.

@NubianFellow i don't know where you are looking around, but lots of black women are wearing their hair "natural"- wild and free to the point where doing so is reaching fad proportions. Black women are actually trying out a lot of different looks alternating between natural and enhanced. Some are even shaving their heads and going bald, something i'm sure you would approve of, even it this is not a "natural". And if you could adjust your view to being objective, you would have to admit that many black woman with weaves and wigs do not look unattractive; they merge with the look, and make it their own. And while we're at it, lots of black women are also making inroads into areas and professions that they have not heretofore been visible, and a strong argument can be made for there being a correlation between their progress and their independent spirit which encompasses how they choose to wear their hair. Finally, when you judge a woman solely by how she looks, you are being shallow. Nevertheless, if you are looking for black woman who exemplify your preferences for the natural, there are plenty of them out and about. You are just wearing blinders. And as much as you try to downplay your argument as not being about "hair", the implication is that embracing a natural hair style is in the vanguard of the image-changing that will reflect a return to our African heritage which, in turn, will lead the way to dismantling institutionalized racism, and changing the biased condescending attitude whites exhibit toward blacks. But white folks don't give a damn about how black folks look nor are they preoccupied with their own image, or interested in cloning their population to preserve their European appearance. It's all about power and money, Bruh. If you got it, it doesn't matter whether you wear a Kenti cloth outfit or a designer label one and, what's more, if you've achieved financial success, this goes a long way toward feeling good about yourself. I earlier referred to you as being an iconoclast. Alas, i have to re-think my opinion. You are clinging to old ideas, not shattering them.

In the first place, you don't go out and buy a weave. You go to a hair dresser and have it installed, a process that takes hours. Hair extensions are different from weaves and can be purchased and easily added or removed; just like make-up. Wigs are even more versatile, available to wear whenever the urge hits you. These are all common fashion accessories. Second place, black women are not the only ones who wear wigs or add extensions to make their hair fuller and longer. White women in great numbers wear extensions, too, and they are copying black women who were doing this first. it's all about a woman's vanity. About glamour and flair. And it ain't that serious. Enhancing your hair style has no effect on your intellect. Michelle Obama is one example of this. Fixating on females doing what they've always done dating back to the ancient Egyptians is a waste of time. You need to get your priorities in order. You are stuck in a mindset that does not resonate with America as it exists in 2019. As for black people embracing who they really are. After 400 centuries in this country, who are they? They are hybrids with Caucasian and Native American blood lines in addition to African ones. They are a new breed and it's natural for them to assimilate into the mainstream where they are often trend setters, not imitators of white people. You are too concerned with the superficial. We are in an age of the individual, and more and more black people are gravitating to a "doing you" approach. I repeat it's all about diversity. Afro-centricism is a subset that stifles rather than expands one's flexibility.

@Troy I was using the slang vernacular when I wrote "baloney" instead of "bologna". BTW, there is no such word as "grammarist". It's "grammarian" or "grammatist". And "their" is spelled t-h-e-i-r. Regarding the case in point, it was a matter of using the word "their" when it should've been "there". Also the first word of a phrase following a semi-colon is not capitalized. @Del Right. Spelling does not have anything to do with grammar.

@NubianFellowYes, but the natural do is often a sham such as when braids are entwined with artificial hair extensions to make them longer or the greatest buffoonery of all, bleaching the hair blond, not to mention Afro wigs made of synthetic fiber. It's not what's on top of your head, it's what's inside of it. Wearing your hair natural is no guarantee that your children will grow up to be exceptional and productive. Check out the mug shots of black perpetrators. Appearance is superficial, - all about hiding behind a facade. This also applies to white people who you seem to think are immune from the human foibles that make all of us flawed or insecure. A person is their own representative. A black person in this country proves nothing by embracing the burden of their race, except that they're a glutton for punishment or are seeking martyrdom. The bottom line is money. When you have it or acquire it, then that's the best you can hope for in an America that is becoming increasingly diversified. It's a new day. Black dreams have not come true. And with good reason.

I've heard it all before. Black men wanting to dictate to black women how they should present themselves, always accompanying this advice with a lot of psycho-babbo lectures about "self-hate". But who is to say that it isn't about "self-love" when a black woman gives herself a do-over that makes her feel better about herself? Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can ramble on and on about sistas being brainwashed into accepting European standards of beauty and, in an effort to make your point, inaccurately classify all black women as being buxom and voluptuous, mistakenly implying that all white women are scrawny and flat chested, but the fact of the matter is that women of all colors come in all shapes and forms, and have many different grades of hair, and they all aspire to replicate the most popular standard of perfection. And that includes the woman pictured above with the dyed blond hair-do that looks like somebody dumped a plate of scrambled eggs on her head. Nowadays black women rock any style that appeals to them, many sporting braids entwined with synthetic extensions to make them longer. Until black men get their own acts together they should just chill and exercise the option to only choose from the type of woman whose looks personally appeal to them.

The world is slowly coming to an end right before our eyes. Not only are natural disasters a threat but the decaying infra structures of our cities and the repercussion of computerized technology are all a part of the process. IMO

Black people have been relegated to the consumer class and this is compatible with the materialistic nature which is not entirely unnatural to them. Their lives are hard enough as it is, and having ready access to the luxurious goods and services that bring satisfaction to their existence is what neutralizes their ambition to nation build. The black mystique is the asset they capitalize on. White people envy their swag and cool essence. Finding this amusing is what bolsters black self esteem. In America, role playing is what all ethnics settle into. That's life.

@Pioneer1Shortening your rebuttals is a bust. Your brief analogy is a false equivalency. Slavery and prison are technically not the same. (And when was slavery ever reformed?) Brick and mortar prisons exist to incarcerate those who commit crime, and the principle of punishing those who do wrong is a tenet of all cultures. Penal institutions are a pillar of civilized society, made necessary by people who don't obey the law, and it would be disastrous to "eliminate" these places of confinement for outlaws. Obviously what's called for is more emphasis to be placed on rehabilitating inmates, many of whom do improve themselves during their prison stays. But those with a criminal mentality or a killer instinct, are repeat offenders who are incorrigible. These types are victims of personality disorders or of unstable upbringings that stem from poverty and negligence. None of this needs to be figured out. It's obvious. @Gibran Court systems are certainly what need to be shored up and more aligned with equality and justice and free of the racism that has spawned the privatizing of prisons and false imprisonment Bottom line, the criminal justice system is symptomatic of a dysfunctional Society from whence all ills flow. Our class based society either aids and abets criminal behavior or is a party to the harsh punishment meted out to those who are defenseless. And the chances of this changing are shaky because humans are flawed and Life isn't fair. Unfortunately, the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions. i wish JayZ and Meek Mill, et al well, however. If just one person benefits, that is a small victory.

"Junk" food would be more accurate.

@NubianFellow i add a hearty "Amen" to my fellow iconoclast's sermon. Your views are a like breath of fresh air and they blow me away. Of course what Troy says is credible. We all have our indulgences that help us get through this obstacle course called "Life", but religious folks, in particular, always want to impose their views on others, while ignoring how small a role organized religion has played in making the world a better place. And your deconstruction of the patented black litany parroted by the diaspora is really on point, as is your debunking all the concocted interpretations about blacks being destined for a better fate in a better place. Reality is a bitch. Others will challenge you and label your assertions as simply being "your" truth as opposed the credo they have adopted as "their" truth. But nobody can deny that you are a bold free thinker, and your truth is what has set your mind free, leaving bible-thumpers in a state of denial as to why they are hurting.

No matter how thin you slice your ongoing narrative; it's still baloney.

The Northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, put on an ongoing spectacle in the skies, something i've been witnessing since i was a little girl. I also got to observe the Hale Bopps Comet, the most famous and visible one of the 20th century, as well as Haley's Comet which shows up every 75 years. The regularity and predictability of these phenomenon are evidence of there being order to the universe. And how taken for granted is the regular pattern of the sun rising and setting every day. A superior intelligence at work? Certainly a possibility of something more profound and mysterious than the petty ego-centric god portrayed in the book of fables known as the bible.

Great numbers of Cuban immigrants fleeing the Castro regime are who settled in Florida.

Well, obviously you aren't the one to do this. You don't actually keep anybody in check around here. You just think you do because your inflated ego deludes you.

If these are the "words of wisdom", a phrase you had the gall to think should be inserted into a conversation about my unfulfilled dreams, then stuff it! You weren't around back in the late 1950s and early 60s when both TV and black militancy were in their nascent stages. I was, immersed in the zeitgeist of the era and i witnessed the rise and fall of all of the big names of the day, - thanks to news coverage. So when it comes to this subject, you are just doing what you always do; come up with an opinionated rationale because you can't deal with anything that doesn't fortify your self-appointed role as the arbitrator of all things black. Malcolm X, in his capacity as a spokesman for Elijah Muhammad, came into national prominence via television talk show panels which were all the rage back then. Guys like him and Black Panther, Eldridge Cleaver, whose book "Soul On Ice" was a best seller and, of course, MLK and his passive resistance tactics were the beneficiaries of the media who who gave them a platform and outlet for their messages and they were all glad for the opportunities to popularize their views, rather than just being big fish in little ponds. None of them ever shunned publicity. Back then, as now, Black Muslim enclaves that existed in a few scattered inner cities were in the category of sects like the Amish, who the majority of black folks knew little about. And the media never really made a concerted effort to demonize Malcolm X, who it begrudgingly respected. As for Farrakhan, he demonized himself. All the media did was to print his fiery quotes and air his public vitriol and people formed their own opinions depending on their political persuasion. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, the Black Muslims are not movers and shakers in the over-all black community. They are just window-dressing. Farrakhan is a paper tiger, - a cult hero, and black Muslims have done no more for the masses of black people than the self-help programs of many other organizations. (They have never been active or instrumental in getting innocent prisoners released on trump-up charges.) And always, the question remains. If the Muslims were so great, why didn't you join them? Just like if there is a conspiracy to feminize black men, why haven't you become feminized? Why? because you think you are too extraordinary to be affected by these movements - as if this isn't the case with millions of other black people, many of whom are a lot smarter than you.

@Mel HopkinsYou know that old "round" song which that line is taken from? For years, i never realized what a deep metaphor of life its lyrics are. Check it out. Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream, Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream... @TroyLast night i bundled up and went out for a few minutes to look at the post eclipsed full moon and - "communed" with it, talking to it like the old friend that it is. As usual, after staring at it for a while, my eyes played tricks on me and an optical illusion took over as a second moon appeared. In my thoughts i mused that seeing 2 moons was just as phenomenal as an eclipse, and i think the moon understood. Then i blinked and shifted back into my one dimensional world.

@Mel HopkinsThe phrase "commune with the universe" was one commonly heard back in the hey day of the new age movement back in the 1960s, and it's one i've always used because, as you have illustrated, it so accurately describes what i frequently do. My experience with the latest lunar eclipse was rather weird and i've hesitated to reveal it because it's so surreal. But - I was checking the skies through my window all evening during the night of the impending eclipse. Because it was so bitterly cold, and because there was sporadic cloud cover, i didn't go outside, planning to do so when the eclipse began. While biding my time, i apparently dozed off in the chair i was curled up in. At some point later i found myself in a state of drowsy awareness, thinking how glad i was that i'd gotten to see the progress of the eclipse. Then i sat up fully awake but confused, realizing that i had never gone out side...or had I??? Later when pictures of the eclipse were shown on TV weather reports, what i saw, was what i had seen - in my mind's eye... There will be another lunar eclipse of a blood moon in 2021. I hope i see it; one way or another.

i always keep up with any rare celestial occurrences, especially in the summer when i stargaze nightly and commune with the universe by sharing my thoughts with it in the belief that doing so will energize and expand them...

As soon as you utter some words of wisdom, i might be motivated. But i don't anticipate that ever happening. Your intellect is stuck in a rut.

i don't care how many hundreds of people accept Elijah Muhammad's foolishness, which is no more credible than the immaculate conception millions of Catholics believe. Black Muslims must all be concentrated in one area, - mostly in prison. I am not around any of them and neither is anybody i know. In all of my life, i have personally never known a black Muslim. You guys just can't accept, that millions of black people in cities and town and villages all over this vast country have gone through life, and never had any contact with followers of Elijah Muhammad. And it doesn't seem to occur to you that the same media you excoriate, is who made Malcolm X and Farrakhan and Elijah Muhammad famous. Black people are advised to use sun block just like white folks are. Over exposure to sun rays is harmful. They just don't do it. And they do tan. I and everybody in my family does, and so do lots of other "blacks" i know tan. And certainly not all black folks are lactose intolerantor lacking in Vitamin D which can be harmful if too much of it is ingested. When it comes to an assessment of African Americans who number in the tens of millions, all you can do is generalize.