Super-Predators: Should juvenile offenders be sentenced to life in prison? Supreme Court to decide

Nelson Mandela once said “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” I guess with 1% percent of our population currently incarcerated one could say that all is well in our nation. After all, it’s only 1% - a very small number. Sure, who cares that our jails and prison population just happens to lead that of any country in the free world - uh-huh, that’s right, pun intended.

Yeah I know, you really don’t care because, well, as long as they’re locked away your world seems a bit safer, right? Yep, as long as you or your kids are safe is all that matters, right? Well if I tell you that currently there’s an estimated 2,570 juveniles serving life without parole in America today, how would that make you feel? Would that number also seem small and insignificant so as to not warrant any concern?

OK, screw the numbers, let’s put a face to this:




So how did it get this way? Well, somewhere in the mid 90s when our first Black president Bill Clinton was in office, state and federal legislators created policy irrationally motivated by fear - which in turn was federally signed by Clinton - to address a perceived new wave of crime. Crimes that were committed by what political scientist John DiIulio  (a Neo-Conservative Bush-ite) termed “super-predators”. Yep, Clinton had Black people happy alright. Not only did he give them jobs, legislation he signed helped to throw a bunch of them in prison.

The only juveniles we hear about doing crazy sh*t are white kids!

I realize that’s the perception, but just like the obvious reality that is the racial disparities with  incarcerations in America. One wouldn’t be off target suggesting that the same is true when it comes to juvenile offenders and life sentences. As a matter of fact, according to a 2005 report from Human Rights Watch, black youth receive life without parole at a rate about 10 times greater than the rate of white youth. Hmm, imagine that; yeah, things don't look too good for those kids in Chicago that killed Derrion Albert. As a matter of fact, the kids involved in the Jonesboro Arkansas school shooting from 1998 are out of prison after serving time as we speak; one of them was just released last month. If only those kids in Chi-town would be so privileged.

The way I see it RiPPa these kids are monsters and should pay!

Yeah, I realize that’s often the attitude when it comes to crime and punishment. Yep, don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time is what they always say, right? Heck, there are people among us who believe in the age old biblical idea of an eye for an eye. That said, why don’t we just go right ahead and kill these little monsters. Surely that would save tax payers a lot of money doing so, right? Uh-huh why waste time with any attempts at rehabilitation; these kids are beyond repair. I mean that was the idea pushed by conservative policy makers back in the 90s, right?

Guest Blogger: Put the Haterade Down...Iced Tea is So Much Better (by Tha L)

(Editor's Note: Ladies and gentlemen, there are Black women who talk shit that get on my nerves, and then there are those who talk shit that I love. The author of the blog Blackrageous - "Tha L" - happens to be one of those Black women. What can I say? I guess there's a soft spot in my heart for sisters not afraid to curse like a sailor all the while pursuing a Ph.D who never comes off like one of these psuedo-intellectual types. People, people, holla at her blog and add that to your daily reading. Now pay attention ladies, and be sure to take notes.)



***Ok, dammit, where's my fucking soapbox...***

Ahem...

Ok, seriously. Why do so many women hate men so much? And I'm not just talking about black women hating on black men...although I get sooo sick and tired of THAT bullshit. I'm really talking about women of any color hating men of any color. You know the drill: "there just ain't any good men out there" or "all men are dogs", and on and on like such.

Sure. Some men do suck. But there's plenty of sucky ass women out there too. Let's keep it real.

I get so sick of women who bitch and moan about this sorry ass man and that sorry ass man and the other sorry ass man, but continue to hook up with the same sort of sorry ass men that they love talking shit about. Over and over again.

Believe me when I say, Tha L has had her share of heartbreak. From men and from women. But I don't think it's fair to judge all men (or women) by the stupid fucker(s) I have allowed myself to get involved with. It's my own stupid ass fault for being stupid. And I mean that with all my heart.

First Hurdle in Health Care Reform Crossed: But is it good enough?

You know how some women say that "I'd rather have a piece of a man than no man at all," crap? Well, that's kinda how I see the recently voted and passed Affordable Health Care for America Act in Congress. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's the first major hurdle crossed by way of health care reform since the enactment of the Medicare and Medicaid Act of 1965. But I guess much of my excitement or lack thereof is due in large part to me being a supporter of a Single-Payer Health care system. The way I see it, through a series of compromises this "reform" is nothing but a huge market expansion for Insurance companies.




I've said this a time or two on this blog, and as I watch people celebrate this landmark vote, I can't help but to think or at least be filled with disappointment that more people don't see it the way I do. That would be: a gov't sanctioned expansion of the interest of another corporate entity or industry. Sure some of the proposals are great as far as changing some of the current health care industry rules as it applies to pre-existing conditions etc. And yes, it seeks to extend an opportunity for low income Americans to purchase "affordable" health insurance. But it doesn't sound like the proposals say or do much about controlling increasing premiums by creating a competitive market.

The shooting at Fort Hood: There's a lesson to be learned from the event

"Either they don't know, don't show, or don't care what's going on in the hood."- "Dough Boy" (Boyz in the Hood)

So I unplugged from the world a few days ago - no television, no internet, no nothing. So I'm sitting there minding my own business and catching up on some Michael Eric Dyson reading when I get a phone-call. I pick up the phone and it's my sister-in-law obviously shook and emotionally disturbed on the other end. She said she just wanted to reach out and let us know that she was OK. So I'm like, "why wouldn't you be OK?" To which she replied, "haven't you been watching the news or anything?" I told her no, and that I was just sitting and reading a book - you know, taking a break from it all. It was then that she informed me that a few minutes prior to her phone-call somebody, or a few people had just shot up the PX on base at Fort Hood. Yep, my sister-in-law, her husband and daughter all live on base at Fort Hood, and have been for a couple of years now; her husband is currently deployed in Iraq, and they live about two minutes away from the scene of the carnage.

Having been a frequent customer at the PX at Naval Air Station in Pensacola not too long ago myself. My first instinct lead me to believe that this was an inside job, or an act committed by an enlisted serviceman. Yeah, it's not easy for random civilian people to gallivant onto military installations carrying guns n' shit and go unnoticed. I mean let's be real, the interest of National Security in mind: if the FBI is good enough to thwart the terrorist plot of a few guys with funny sounding names pretending to be pizza delivery guys in New Jersey a few years ago. Surely they'd be able to stop the plans of another guy with a funny sounding terrorist-ish name from shooting and killing innocent people on the worlds largest military base, no? I'm just sayin': airplane hi-jackings and flying them into tall buildings aside, when it comes to national security and the war on terror, the gov't is on top of things.

So why is it so easy for people to associate Major Malik Hassan and his actions to be an act of terrorism with an Anti-American slant? Two reasons A) I've already stated the obvious - the negative stereotype his ethnic name evokes (Barack Hussein Obama is Muslim, remember?), and B) for the most part in this country we are oblivious to the realities of the mental state of the people who are entrusted to protect our freedom as we're told; in short, we tend to downplay mental issues and cast them to the side; you know, like throw them in jail?  Let's talk about the latter shall we? Yeah, because my inner bullshit meter is telling me that were his last name McVeigh, "certain people" would be more concerned about his mental state than they would his political ideological aspirations or propensity for Jihad, his hate for America n' shit like that.

Yes, lemme touch on a little known or rarely discussed fact. Did you know that 2008 was recorded as the year with the highest suicide rate in the Army itself? No seriously, did you know that? I'm only asking because, well, you don't hear that type of stuff in the news too much - plus I know how much you depend on the media for the truth. The suicide rate has increased each year for the last four years, and last year it was the highest. Keeping it real: out side of the stress of combat and being deployed into a war zone? Military personnel endure many hardships us regular people in civilian life wouldn't even think of. That said, is it any shock that a trained professional psychiatrist who serves in the military would snap?

Too Big to Fail: Welfare by Another Name

Yep, what's the deal with this "Too Big to Fail" doctrine? Yeah, why is the Obama administration intent on feeding these bankers more pizza? Uh-huh, if you haven't figured it out, and just in case you thought the pic above to be sexist as it takes shots at "big girls" (a term embraced by overweight women I might add), you're dead ass wrong. Instead the picture metaphorically represents our banking industry. And when you think about Obama's retention of Timothy Geitner, one has to wonder if the game is rigged considering just who his old boss was. Here's a hint: his last name rhymes with "Push". But don't get it confused, even so, there are Republicans against this legislation.

Yes indeed, when you look at what's happened in our financial industry over the last year one can only conclude that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword. But hey, when you're that powerful who needs transparency, right? Yeah, just keep on shoving our hard earned money by way of tax dollars well baked pizza down their throats as they continue to get fat from the fruits of our labor. The man on the street may be disgusted by this as he sees it, but even so, he doesn't realize that this has been the design from day one.

[READ: Usury: A Short History of Banking]

Yeah, pretty soon "Too Big to Fail" is gonna transform into "Too Legit to Quit" and I'm sure somewhere a washed up "I used to have money" rapper will be happy like a Nigerian scam artists who just cashed a check. The sad thing about that is the fact that it is us the American tax payers who were, and are being scammed. Only difference is that we have not fallen victim to some dude in Africa with an internet access. So yeah, I'm down with proposed legislation giving the government the power to dismantle mammoth financial firms preventing future bailouts of these presumed "Too Big to Fail" financial institutions.

As usual, Republicans are against this proposed legislation. Yep, they scream all day long about runaway spending and denigrate the names and lives of poor people and reference the lady in the pic above as a "Welfare Queen", all the while in full support of "Corporate Welfare"  as they continue screw us with no Vaseline.

I'll stop for now, and maybe pick this up at a later date.

In the mean time, check me out in a recent interview....

In the interview I disclose some intimate and personal info about myself.

[Click here for interview]

If John McCain were President...

So I'm sitting here thinking about the atmosphere and how things were right about this time last year. I mean after all, we were about to go into uncharted territory by pulling the lever and casting votes for the very first potential Black president, right? Wasn't it an exciting time, folks? I don't care who you supported for president last year, but you have to admit that there was a certain energy in the air as the day drew closer.

For Black people I'll go as far as to say that there was a certain nervousness and undeniable pride as the day drew closer. Even with the results of numerous polls, a lot of "us" were still apprehensive and watched for the okey-doke. But even still, the excitement and motivational atmosphere as we all collectively echoed the sentiment "Yea We Can," as we committed ourselves to ensure Obama's victory was paramount.

Looking back a year later now, I have to wonder what would have been different had John McCain won the elections instead of Barack Obama. I'd really like to hear your thoughts on that in your commentary - I think it would be easier discussing now what most of us were afraid of even mentioning back then. I'll admit it now but it was my belief that some people would have just totally given up. Could you imagine what would have happened? That said, here's a list of a few things off the top of my head that I think would have been different. Trust me, things would have been a helluva lot different for America if John McCain were president.

Check it out:

1) If John McCain were president right now, the fundamentals of the economy would still be strong. Sure we might still be in a jobless recovery period, but nevertheless, like John McCain said last year, the driving force of the economy which is people would still be in good shape. Yep, no need for unemployment extensions or food stamps or none of that stuff - we'd be alright. Corporate welfare is where it's at, son!



2) If John McCain were president right now we would have already invaded Iran looking for weapons of mass destruction that were transported by tunnel from Iraq. I mean seriously? Why else was Saddam Hussein in a hole in the ground? Hiding? He wasn't hiding! He was making sure those WOMDs got to Iran; thought you knew?



3) If John McCain were president, upon seeing what was happening in Iran, Osama Bin Laden would transform himself into Mahatma Ghandi but only taller with clothes and a beard. Yes, Bin Laden would be so fearful of John McCain that he would come out of hiding as the cave dweller that he is, and become a man of peace. Matter of fact, his name would have been thrown on the ballot for a Nobel Peace Prize a few days before the inauguration of McCain. Yeah, and there would be a new addition being built on Guantanamo Bay as we speak.



4) If John McCain were president, by now our taxes would have been increased. The few people employed would be now paying higher taxes so as to pay Sarah Palin's clothing tab at Macy's. Yes, and her daughter Bristol and her baby daddy would have gotten married by now which saves women from seeing his shriveled up penis in Playboy.


5) The teabaggers and all these people who now protest health care reform would be so bored that they would protest McCain's "Black daughter" from India. They can't help it; their inner racism is just too strong. They would probably even admit to it instead of attributing their disgust to his policies and not the color of his daughter's skin. Yeah, CNN's "Black in America" series would have been cancelled.



6) If John McCain were president more progressives and democrats would be protesting the current wars the country is involved in than they are right now. Yep, the current deafening silence of war protests would be unheard of under a McCain administration. Matter of fact, McCain would have already brought back the draft.



7) If John McCain were president right now Black people would have gotten over the fact that they stole the elections from Barack Obama. Yeah, we wouldn't protest or even talk about taking the country back. Nope, Negroes in Atlanta would never talk about secession or anything like that. We're used to being screwed, no? John McCain would replace "Yes We Can," with "Negro Please," as his re-election campaign slogan.



8) If John McCain were president right now Barack Obama would join the nation of Islam. For him to hear "I told you so," from Rev. Jeremiah Wright would be too much to bear forcing him to run to Louis Farrakhan for comfort. Hell,, he wouldn't even have to change his name either. Yep, and Kanye West would not have been a Jackass at the VMAs, and Henry Louis Gates Jr. would be on Death Row.



9) If John McCain were president right now there would be no Michael Steele. Nope, instead of being the HNIC of the RNC, he'd probably be shining shoes in DC or picking cotton on the property of one of McCain's relatives in Mississippi. Which is actually a bad thing because I actually happen to like laughing at him.


10) Lastly, if John McCain were president, the fundamentals of the economy would still be strong. Yep, and every bill he signed into law would still contain "pork".

May not be purely accurate, but it's damn close.

At least that's what I think....

[insert Kanye shrug]

QUESTION: How different would things be if McCain was president?

The Cipher: A conversation with a Revolutionary Black thinker

Today on the Intersection of Madness & Reality we have one of the most revered thinkers in the struggle for justice and equality (pictured above), Brother X-Squared; president of the North American Chapter of the Renewed Black Panther Party. I had the pleasure of coming to know X-Squared from the good folks at WARNN (We Are Respectable Negroes News Network) at the blog We Are Respectable Negroes. If you haven't had the opportunity to at least checkout or frequent their blog, you're truly missing out. Seriously, do yourself a favor and add their blog to your daily reading because they're stamped and RiPPa approved. Recently I had the privilege of chopping it up with the brother and the following is an exclusive transcript of our conversation

RiPPa: Welcome Brother X-Squared.

Brother X-Squared: It is a pleasure to finally have the opportunity to speak with you Brother Rippa. Your name is an inspiration. It signals strength, power, dignity, and honor. I know from your works--'cause I monitor the white man's Internets in an effort to sabotage the white man's efforts to use tricknology to manipulate the mental mindstates of the captive Black African, especially the bastion of evil Youtube where you can see all manner of black foolishness--that you too are a warrior in the struggle against white supremacy. Your name also has many levels of meaning Brother Rippa. Do you understand that your name also is a dualism? A polyhedron of knowledge that resonates throughout the multiverse?

RiPPa: Not sure if my name is Swahili for anything, or even what a polyhedron is all about, but I'd appreciate if you could expand on that for me my brother.

Brother X-Squared: Rippa is a name that makes sense. It embodies energy. It speaks truth. Obviously, you shed your slave name in order to rename yourself as a strong, righteous, black man. You see, Brother Rippa you are not one of these baby boy, little girl sissy men who was named by a an illegitimate, ghetto underclass, confused, cum dumpster implement of the white man's evil like that sad negress in that damned to hell movie Precious. Rippa exudes dignity and intelligence unlike those Shaquan's, Latrelle's, Tyrone's, and those other names common to the NBA—Nigger Ball Association--that signal from birth that you are destined for the white man's prison. Human fodder for his prison industrial complex.

RiPPa: Well that puts a lot of pressure on me now that I know this. Which is actually scary when I think of it Brother X. Next thing you know I'll be on the FBI watch-list like those brothers in Dearborn Michigan. Of course you heard what happened to them the other day didn't you?

Brother X-Squared: I heard of those pigs killing my fellow revolutionary. Do you know how many men died in the battle of the Somme in 1915?

RiPPa: Not exactly but I'm sure there were many.

Brother X-Squared: Almost 1 million of those white devils died. And that number is nothing compared to how many of our brothers have been killed by the white man's slave catchers and enforcers of his white supremacist racial state. That martyr won't be the last...no way, there will be many many more. You asked me about fear? About being afraid?

RiPPa: Yes I did; isn't it natural for a man like you, a Black man in America to ever be fearful? Surely you must be, right?

Brother X-Squared: You clearly don't know who I am Brother Rippa I am disappointed. I have never shown fear. The only being I fear is the almighty Black God, the creator of the universe. Death is a comfort to me Brother Rippa. You see, I am a modern day samurai. I am their heir in action. The samurai were the greatest warriors the world has ever seen because they welcomed death, they went into battle as dead men looking to earn back their lives. Just like those strong Nubian warriors the Jem'hadar in those white space movies Star Trek, victory is life for all true revolutionaries. I welcome battle with the white man and his death squads. But, I know they won't come for me because I am too strong, too black, and too powerful. They understand that Brother X-Squared is too educated to fall for their nonsense and trickery. I use their own Constitution and Bill of Rights against them. I keep a copy of it in my pocket as a reminder of their wickedness. Those sacred documents have also given the Black man a tool to use against those white tricksters and forked tongue devils. I slay him--just like you do Brother Rippa--with his own laws and principles.

According to Pat Robertson & company: the Hate Crime Bill is wrong, plus, there are Demons in Halloween candy

Oh just great! Not only do we have to worry about some deranged asshole putting razor blades in Halloween candy. Now, according to super christian Pat Robertson of the Christian Broadcasting Network, we have to worry about kids taking a bite out of demon possessed candy.

So that's how they get cavities; it's the work of those damn demons!

Ok, well, he didn't exactly say that, but it does sound like something he would say - he is known say or make outrageous claims. You know, like how he's against the new Hate Crimes Bill and ready to fight it?

Yeah, let's not forget about the whole killing of evil dictators like Hugo Chavez.

Yep, according to him:

"The noose has tightened around the neck of Christians."

Uh-huh, and it's all Barack Obama's fault too. That damn Anti-Christ!

The claim about the demonic candy was actually made by in a blog written by Kimberly Daniels (a Black woman) which was posted on Robertson's website. The post itself has since been reedited on Robertson's site, but can be read in it's original content here. Which is kinda funny because it served as a warning for Christians to forego the celebration of Halloween; something I'm sure Robertson is down with, unlike the new Hate Crimes Bill of course.

Here's an excerpt from the post:

During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

I did a post recently about gay demons and how they turn people gay...

Is this how they do it? Through Halloween candy?

I've read the bible a time or two, but I don't recall any of this being mentioned.

How's that for creative license?

Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.

I'm sorry people, but this stuff makes me laugh. OK, yeah, so I know some of you were raised in Christian homes and taught this alternate reality fundamentalist type of stuff. I was too, and my mother still believes this type of thing be true.  But me? I grew up and did a lot of reading. So yeah, I realize that some of you probably still believe this stuff to this day and refuse to take your kids out trick or treating.

Uh-huh, and according to some of you Halloween is the night of the devil and all that other junk. Well, to you people I ask: are you aware that most, if not all celebrated Christian holidays - like Christmas for example? - all have pagan roots? Oh yeah, that whole celebration of the resurrection of the Bunny Rabbit Jesus Christ? Yeah, that has roots in paganism too.

So yeah, believe this stuff about demons in candy. And because you do, you now have to tell your family that RiPPa schooled you to some other shit - obviously before reading this post you were clueless. Yep, tell them  you read it in a blog because the bible sure doesn't say anything about it. Good! You're gonna have a hard time convincing your kids and your pastor that Easter and Christmas candy are also possessed by demons, but good luck with that, mmmkay?

See, that's the problem - people are suffering due to their lack of knowledge:

Where art thou Mandingo II: If you exclusively date interracial, your sex organ is obviously racist (NSFW)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Guest Blogger: The Eternal Sunshine Of The Clueless Wannabe Parent's Mind by KIT (Keep It Trill)

(Editor's Note: Have you ever stumbled upon a blog site that totally mesmerized you the very first time you visited? So much so that you couldn't stop reading just one post? Well, I have, and that was the experience and just what happened when I came across the blog Keep It Trill almost 2yrs ago. After reading the following you'll be able to understand why this site is a mainstay in my blog roll and RSS reader. Hopefully you visit her site and add it to your daily reading like I did.)

I didn't intend to write this post, but early this morning I read "All We Need Is Love... or Not" by Black Girl In Maine. She spoke of how some folks think that all ya need is love to raise kids, so don't let that hold you back from having more, even if you're living on the economic edge of doom. I love her blog, and boy did she hit a nerve...

By all means read her article and show her some luv. With her permission, here are two excerpts:

"See, love does not feed a child, nor does it clothe a child. Love can not provide the enrichment activities that might nurture that child to be the next great. Sadly it's cold hard cash, dollars, duckets, deniro, shekels that provide these things. So while it would be lovely to have kids with no regards to your financial situation, is it really fair to the kids?

...while love is free, my reality is that kids are not, they do cost and while what they give can never be measured in dollars and cents, the fact is to not look at the costs associated is plain foolish. After all babies can be cheap but just feeding a teenaged boy can send you to the poor house even making everything from scratch..."

BGIM focused on the economics of child-rearing, so I'll expand it and hit another side for those fooled by mother nature's hormones or their own narcissism, that they might not have considered.

This is gonna get gritty, so enjoy.

Parenting is not only an 18 to 21 year commitment, it's a lifetime job. You'll be just as worried when he or she is sweating through a crisis (divorce, career probs, etc) at 40 as you were when he or she was 4.

All kinds of things can go wrong when you have a child, no matter how wealthy you are. The reason is simple: babies grow up to people.

I'll start off light. For example:

Approximately 1% of people develop schizophrenia, usually in their late teens or early 20s.

Up to 1% of children develop autism or one of the related disorders (except among groups like the Amish, who generally do not vaccinate their kids. Some autistic groups think the mercury in the shots cause this, and hint, hint, that's in the new swine flu shots too, but not the nasal spray. Since the pharmaceutical industry and press has been promoting this down our throats, contradictory stories that say they do vaccinate have been popping up to bury the others.)

Now with the more common problems. Approximately 16% of children have learning disabilities and/or ADHD. Keep in mind those are only the ones diagnosed.

Have you ever tried to help a kid with his homework with these issues? Try doing that four or five days a week after a long day at the office or your job, for years. It's like Chinese water torture - for both of you. It's embarrassing too, if he/she has to repeat one of the early grades - like kindergarten.

They also tend to be forgetful about real important shit like their house keys. No telling whose house they're in, and they ain't all that good at choosing their friends. If you say "no more keys", they just climb through the window they left unlocked, because they're ADHD and impulsive, remember?

And how about that category of kids known as Oppositional-Defiant?

These mothafuckas are in a class by themselves. Give 'em a time out in their room, and they play. In the quiet bathroom, and they bust up your wall tiles or screw up the plumbing. Tell 'em they're grounded, and they walk right past you and out the door. Take away all their possessions, and they say fuck you and don't care, and maybe bust a hole in the wall on the way out, which you'll have to pay for.

Crawl on your knees to Juvenile Services for help, and they tell you they can't do a damn thing unless he breaks the law, and the cops ain't doing no paperwork over a hole in the wall or even busted out window, especially if they didn't see it happen. They might take him to the mental hospital if the damage is substantial, but he suckers them too until he's so over-medicated that you don't recognize him.

Beat his ass, and run the risk of Child Protective Services coming after you. Take him to therapy, and watch your slick lil' nigga act like the sweetest kid in the world, only to cuss your ass out all the way home, every week, for 52 weeks out of the year.

Been there, through it, and it's a bitch. Screw the feminists on this one: some boys really need fathers. No guarantee, but it could save a single mother's mind. My son, now 21, still thinks all the shit he did was funny. I can't wait till he gets his own place. First thing I'm gonna do is bust a hole in his wall.