Congress Passes Extension of Bush Tax Cuts: One Step Forward, One Mile Back

by Eco.Soul.Intellectual

Dammit Obama, on the backs of the working folk, this country will be carried once again. Let me tell you something the elders would warn me when I was younger. They said, "EcoSoul, all money ain't good money." What may look like helping those who are struggling to make ends meet, protects the very same people who have made economic decisions that have put many families in these dire predicaments. If you stretch and bend any more Obama, your position will permanently be called "coopted." In other words, face down, ass up, and requiring little if any vaseline. I'm exhausted dude, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.

And now for some mood music...

OK, That's It; I'm Now Switching to the Republican Party...

And I dare one of you to tell me this is a bad move...

Georgia Prisons Still On Lockdown As Prisoners Continue their Strike

by Joanna (JuJuBe)

On December 9, prisoners across the state of Georgia staged a strike to protest the conditions under which they are incarcerated. Cell phones purchased from prison guards were reportedly used to organize the action. Four of the prisons participating in the protest are still under lock down today. This work stoppage has cut across racial and religious boundaries, as leaders of various factions, normally at odds with each other, worked together to find an effective means of resistance to the conditions under which they have all been forced to exist.

The demands of the prisoners are reasonable, and include educational opportunities, wages for work performed, and decent health care. Prisoners in various facilities have reported that prison officials have attempted to provoke violence from the peaceful protesters. Prison officials have used such tactics as turning off the heat, forcing prisoners to shower without hot water, and leaving prisoners outside in a cold prison yard without adequate protection from the elements. Several prisons have been inundated by tactical teams brandishing weapons and tearing apart inmates cells and property. But the prisoners have expressed a determination to remain on strike until their demands are met. Prisoners have expressed the need for outside entities to intervene in order to help force the DOC to provide adequate living conditions for the incarcerated population.

On December 8, a press release was issued that outlined the demands of the striking prisoners. The men participating in the strike have expressed that they will not give up the fight for their rights, that no matter the consequences, they will continue to peacefully demand decent treatment from the DOC. The following are the demands of the striking prisoners. I'm not sure how you may feel about them. But I'd really like to get some feedback from you as to whether they're unreasonable or not:

Racist C-SPAN Callers Refuse to Support Michael Steele Because He's Black

So my boy Captain Coontastic... err, I mean Michael Steele, surprised me yesterday. Last Friday I heard there was gonna be a this "major" announcement concerning his re-election bid in January, 2011. Naturally I figured the brotha was gonna come out on Monday saying that he was not going to seek re-election. I mean with the Kunta Kinte type beating them white folks his fellow republicans gave him the last 2yrs, surely I figured the brotha had enough. Hell, he even went as far as to say that much of the grief he was getting from his pointy white hat wearing peeps was because of his race.

Well, it looks like Steele is a glutton for punishment, because he announced that he will seek re-election next month. Personally I think this is a good thing and I hope he wins. Not that I like seeing a brotha get clubbed over the head like Rodney King who just stepped out of a Hyundai. But because his gaffes and blunders were gifts from the political comedy Gods; yeah, left wing Jesus is a funny-ass dude. But anyway, apparently Steele was right; yep, some of his brethren refuse to support him because of his melanin affliction; and of course, this doesn't make them racist one bit.

C-SPAN's morning call-in show, Washington Journal took calls from Republicans to get their reactions on Steele's big re-election bid announcement last Monday. The following is an actual clip from the show that you really should check out. No seriously, just in case you think Steele is full of shit by pulling the race card as he did. Do checkout the clip and listen to the sentiments expressed by a few of the callers. I don't know if they're gonna make you laugh as they did me, but...

Bishop Eddie Long Seeks Settlement with Accusers of Sexual Coercion: What Happened to the Five Stones, Eddie?

Ever since I read about this over at this black sista's page yesterday, I've been thinking about this case and just where it is currently. My girl blksista has an excellent breakdown of the case that you can check out if you like right here. But after reading her piece, and watching the above video, I can't help but to ask: What happened to those five stones, Bishop Eddie Long?

You addressed your congregation wearing yet another one of those f@%ked up lacefront wigs and declared war against the devil remember? Oh that's right; you didn't actually say you were innocent. Nope, not even a "now you know I ain't never touched them boys booty? You niggas know that ain't me!"

Don't Worry Eddie, I Got Your Back

You were arrogant; and yes you said that you're not the man that your accusers said you were - whatever that means. But, I don't quite remember you coming out like Michael Jackson after having your testicles placed in a police line-up to proclaim your innocence. No you didn't; and, you were supposed to fight. So what happened to that, Eddie Long-strokes? God ain't got your back?

I mean lord forbid if your congregation starts letting out all of your secrets after the fact. No seriously, I sincerely believe that somebody in that church knows something; I refuse to believe that out of 30,000 congregants, that there isn't anyone with an iota of knowledge of the goings-on of the good reverend-pastor-bishop. That is, anyone who hasn't been compensated financially to keep their mouths shut.

So where does Eddie Long go from here? How exactly does he justify giving the devil and his gay demons settling with his accusers out of court as opposed to fighting to prove his innocence. Can he maintain his innocence after making the deal with the devil? Hello, from what I understand monies in any settlement wouldn't be coming from Eddie Long's pockets, but from the church. Oh hell, I guess it doesn't matter; from the church, from his pockets, same difference, right?

Lord You Better Not Tell Them Negroes What You Saw Me Do!

Michael Jackson (who I mentioned before) settled out of court in his child molestation case; and many of us in the court of public opinion, believed him to be innocent. Bishop Eddie Long is currently working on an out of court settlement with his now-adult-accusers of sexual coercion. Now, Eddie Long didn't make Thriller; that said, how many of you believe the allegations against him to be false? More importantly, how exactly can he sell his innocence to his church and "shame the devil" in the process? But hey, I guess we have to wait to see if he tones down his homophobic rhetoric to find out.

The Real Meaning of Christmas

by Tracy Renee Jones

There won’t be no Yule Log burning on my television screen this year. Nor will there be any gift giving. Nor will there be any church services. Nor will there be any Christmas tree.

Of course in the past I willingly adhered to the practice of splurging, buying, and decorating while freezing my ass off in below zero temps and spending time with people I didn’t bother with any other time of the year and going broke in the name of Jesus Christ.

Anything less was me being a bad mother, and how could I disappoint my child when she expected to wake up to toy store bounty in celebration of Jesus’ birthday! I fought bravely on behalf of my daughter’s honor, so that she may have a Giga-Pet! My best friend earned her notches by getting into a full on scuffle at 5 a.m. with a soccer mom over a Glo Worm her son had to have lest he become an invalid or something terrible.

No, seriously, I’m pretty much over the whole Christmas as a viable celebration in my life. I’ve been getting uncomfortable glances when I’m asked about holiday festivities and I admit that I’m done with Christmas. The looks on the faces of the white suburban mothers’ I work with boarder on confusion and disgust at my comment. Some take my refusal to participate in the fiscal requirements of Christmas as my wanting to take the secular aspect of the holiday out of the religious observance. Nope, it’s not that either.

Can someone tell me what’s so great about Christmas anyway? Do people even know why they celebrate it? Aside from the mass hysteria that is called customs what’s the real meaning of Christmas?

Naivety or Nativity

During the ‘90’s an Ohio school board banned all nativity and other Christmas scenes on any school property; they felt it violated the separation of church and state. Pissed off parents challenged them in court because they WANTED their Christmas. What about the kids?! The board lost their case when the courts ruled that Christmas is a worldwide tradition and not a religious holiday. The courts ruled that mangers could stay because nativity scenes are not recognized as representation of any one religion.

Most of the Christmas tradition is repackaged Roman paganism. December 25 initially was considered to be the harvest festival of the Roman God Saturnalia (the God of sowing). In 529 A.D., the Emperor Justinian made Christmas a civic holiday. Many Egyptian pagan celebrations were held during the month of January; these holidays were moved back and become associated with Christmas. No one in the Bible mentioned a celebration in memory of Christ’s birth.

It was 300 years A.D. before the Roman church honored the celebration of Christmas, and it was not until the fifth century that it became an official festival honoring “Jesus Christ.” Biblical scholars quote verse where Jesus specifically spoke against keeping pagan holidays and boisterous traditions (Matt 15:9; Mark 7:9).

Go Jesus; It’s Your Birthday!

The book of Luke describes the events that were taking place during the season of the birth of Jesus Christ. Strangely enough, the time points to his being born during the Fall Season (see Luke 2:8 reference to shepherds still in the fields. Shepherds didn’t do this during the winter months). The festival of Saturnalia (Dec 17^th) was a time for partying and gift exchanging. December 25 was the birth date of the god Mithra (the Righteous Son). January 1^st was the Roman New Year; a time when Romans would adorn their houses with decorations and gifts were given to the poor and children. Fir trees, Yule cakes and gift giving are also aspects of German and Celtic harvest celebrations which were absorbed into tradition when these tribes settled in Britain and Europe.

During the Reformation those PR gurus swapped out the harvest festival celebrations and replaced it with the birth of Jesus Christ; they threw in some self serving gouging and debauchery for good measure because who doesn’t like a good party?

Pastor James David Manning: Obama Has Neutered and Weakened the White Man

by Eco.Soul.Intellectual

Just when you thought you have heard it all, here comes this pastor. Amen and pass the bottle of Boone's Farm, Uncle Ruckus of The Boondocks is not only real, but he has a congregation. And, has a helluva pep talk for white folks in America in this installment. No seriously, white folks, pay attention OK?

"You ain't what you used to be, white man!" - Pastor James David Manning



Um, did this fool say that "God has moved on from slavery..."?

Guest Blogger: Republican Swagger (by The Janitor)

[Editor's Note: The following post comes from my man The Janitor, of The Urban Politico. I'm proud to say that having watched his blog grow since its inception, that I'm happy to have him as a guest on this site. I mean, it's not every day you're able to have the creator of an award winning blog featured on your site.]

A few weeks ago I found myself sitting in a waiting room at the car shop when something interesting occurred.  The waiting room, which probably held about 25 people, was at about half capacity.  There were an assortment of folks from different walks of life seated around this room; a soccer mom over here, a business guy over there.  Although a few people were preoccupied with work from the office or random messages on their blackberries, the majority of us chose to pass our time by watching the flat screen TV mounted in the corner of the room which was tuned in to the local news.  After about a half an hour or so, in walks a middle-aged Asian guy who casually strolls in, looks at the TV, picks up the remote control and, without consulting anybody else in the room as to whether we were watching the TV, he proceeds to change the channel to Fox News.  But he doesn't stop there. As I mentioned the TV was mounted in the corner of the room pointing towards the center of the room at a 45-degree angle, however all of the chairs had their backs placed squarely against one of the four walls like you would expect in a waiting room.  This guy, without giving it a moment's thought or the slightest bit of hesitation, takes one of the chairs out away from wall and places it in the middle of the room at a 45-degree angle directly in front of the TV.   Mind you, by doing this, he completely blocked the view of the people seated directly behind him who were watching the news prior to his arrival.  Nobody else's opinion in the room mattered to this guy.  He saw what he wanted, and he took it.  It was supposed to be his way.  Naturally.  Of course the TV should be tuned to Fox News.  What else is there?  Of course he should have his seat front and center.  Why wouldn't he?  And that's when it hit me: this guy personified the Republican Swagger.

The New Poor Professional Class: Suited, Booted & Broke

by Eco.Soul.Intellectual

Master's degrees or more, business suits, living check-to-check and a job are required for this group. Please make sure you are ducking and dodging from the Department of Education and consolidation loan agencies. Your tuition loans that are so high, your debt for attending a university equates a monthly mortgage payment.

You front at Starbucks, nursing on a latte you've been drinking for about 5 hours, hoping that you will bump into someone. Praying that you will meet high-powered someone that will put you on. You ARE employed, but you barely make enough to make ends meet. Some of you take care of your parents because you are a first generation corporate person. Some pay for your grandparents medication, and have to decide which bill you can pay this month.

Or take first generation attorneys, doctors and corporate workers who were not given basic business guidance like setting up your own corporation. And even those who did not have a mentor that opened them to a network in which they could move up.

Suze Orman's "unrealistic" and demeaning money advice can kiss your ass. She said higher education was a luxury, but school was your passageway into circles you were not allowed . . . and frankly with the crunching economy, you've found out that you still are not in.

Gary DeWester, Racist Soap, & Black Face Cupcakes

What's Wrong With Preserving Our Racist Past?

by JuJube (Joanna)

Gary DeWester, the owner of "The General Store" in Noblesville, Indiana, is happy about the controversy caused by the racist labels on soaps sold in his old fashioned store. He believes that the outrage that this product has caused is "free publicity", and will help bring people into his shop. After all, racism sells, and the almighty dollar is king.

Gary was told by the owner of the building in which he leases his store that he must pull the offensive product from the shelves. He has refused, citing the notion that people are "too politically correct". He even states (with pride) that "our country was built on racism". Mr. DeWester is now facing the possibility of losing his lease because of his refusal to stop selling these racist items.

I remember seeing items from the past that used blatant racism as advertising. I was always appalled that people found such things perfectly acceptable, and wondered how anyone can look at such things and not be offended. Today's racism, though just as insidious, always seemed to be more subtle (for example, the Old Navy commercial I wrote about a few weeks ago) But, obviously some people still believe in good old fashioned, in your face racism.

Sometimes I wonder what is worse, the obvious racism of these soap labels (which I am sure some people will label as "kitschy" or "nostalgic" despite their offensiveness) or the more subtle racist messages in media today. Most people will look at this soap and immediately recognize that it is unacceptable to portray these images. But, sadly, people will look at the Duncan Hines Amazing Glazes commercial (featuring Black face in cupcake form) as just a cute ad for a new product. So, have things really changed all that much?