What if people had Odometers?

I was driving talking to a friend of mine about a used car and a common question came up…How many miles does it have? What kind of condition is it in? Isn’t it interesting that most people judge used cars based on these factors? Have you ever noticed that people will ask about the mileage because it can give insight into the overall health of the vehicle? I began to think about how the world would be if people had odometers and gauges that showed their mileage.

What if every individual had a gauge for dieting habits, substance abuse, and sexual promiscuity? What if these gauges were visible to the general public? How would you feel about your life? Think about the implications if life were like this. What gauge would you be the most embarrassed for people to read? How much “mileage” would you have in the “lot” of life? How do you think people would judge you and ridicule you based on your mileage?

I also thought about how the mileage doesn’t effect the value of the car if you change what is on the inside. A used car becomes valuable when you keep the right fluids in it and change the necessary parts that are old and outdated. People aren’t any different. If you keep the right things on the inside and make changes to the “old” parts of your being that are hurting your overall character, your mileage would not matter–even if you were responsible for the excessive wear and tear! Aren’t you glad that we don’t have to display that type of information!

This is the beauty of God’s grace…no one knows the mileage that we have put on our lives because God covers it up. God will literally change the very essence of who you are on the inside if you will let Him and make a used body operate like a new person! God changes the motor and makes the number on the odometers insignificant! Imagine if people had to display our gauges…thank God, literally!

What is the price of freedom?

One thing has driven ordinary people to extraordinary results through out history…FREEDOM. It has caused people to lose their lives in pursuit of it, flee their homelands in hopes of experiencing it, and make alliances that normally wouldn’t be made to achieve it. Why are people willing to put so much into the concept and idea of freedom? Freedom has caused people to realize the strength and resolve they have inside. Freedom has caused people to fight to survive in the midst of oppression and resistance. Freedom has lead every great change in society and created the best civilizations in the world, including America.

With the history of freedom, and the sacrifce that people are still making for freedom…Why are there some people voluntarily in bondage? Why would someone choose the comforts of slavery over the unpredictability of freedom? Why don’t people take every opportunity to be free? Everyday in America, people go to work in places they are not passionate about. Everyday in America, people put their passions aside to chase the “almighty dollar.” Everyday in America, people enslave their potential and barter their freedom for what seems comfortable. I call them the enslaved free.

Colleges and universities teach students to get a good job, work hard , and then retire. Some parents teach children from a young age to find a job so they can be “responsible” adults. Everything in our society encourages bondage, even though people don’t see it. You go to work to create “freedom”, so you think, when you are actually pushing yourself further into bondage if it is not what you are passionate about. What is true freedom? True freedom is pursuing what you are passionate about. True freedom is not based on money, it is based on opportunity and passion. Self inflicted bondage takes place when you voluntarily choose to stay in a place that you are not passionate about. Self inflicted bondage occurs when you realize you are so deep into the self enslavement that you cannot see how to get out. This bondage comes from working on a job and living above your means. You feel trapped and chained, and shackled! How do you turn it around!?

You must create an action plan to get free! You have got to focus on what you are passionate about and fight to go after it. You have got to put fear behind you. You have got to work towards your freedom! You have to realize that true freedom can only come when your full potential is released. Don’t enslave your potential. It may look more comfortable, but there will never be true security until you control your own destiny in life with God’s help. This comes through taking the necessary risks that you must take to make it happen. Fight for your freedom!

“You can’t separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” -Malcolm X

 

The Iraq Whore: Sleeping with the enemy

Imagine you know of a guy who is in a relationship with a woman that is completely bad for him even-though he can’t see it. You know that the first time she catches him with his guard down, she is going to go in for the “kill.” He, on the other hand, thinks that he is the “lady’s man” that is coming out on top. He thinks because he is draining her for his pleasures he is in the best position. Who is benefiting from the relationship? The promiscuous women that is draining the guy’s resources or the guy who is using the woman for his pleasures? More importantly, would you start dating this woman knowing that she is willing to trade her body and dignity for money and resources? Would you take this woman knowing how the other man abused her?

Saddam Hussein abused Iraq for years under his terrorist regime. He took advantage of the country and used it for his pleasures. The people of Iraq, on the other hand, were just waiting for the chance to catch him “slipping.” They could not wait to find a way to overthrow his government. The people of Irag were not just unloyal to Saddam because he is a terrorist though, but they are unloyal in general. You cannot have a loyal body of people when they are not consistent in their ideology. Saddam, although he was crazy and unbalanced, created consistency in Irag because all factions were scared of him and didn’t have time to focus on each other. He kept the Independence of the Shiite and Sunni Muslims under control.

For some reason, an administration of Americans got the brilliant idea that they could treat Iraq better than the ravenous dictator that was abusing the country. Enter the Iraq war! How can you win a war when the people you seek to liberate are just using you in return? Who came up with the brilliant idea America could treat Irag better? Who came up with the brilliant ideal the people wanted to be liberated? Did the dictator do a better job of keeping the instability of Iraq under control? My goal with this analysis is not to draw conclusions for you concerning the Iraq war. My goal is to bring up issues and ask questions to make you think about the Iraq war and the implications surrounding the war.

According to the web site globalpolicy.org, Iraq’s oil prov-en reserves in 2002 were listed at 112.5 billion barrels, about 11% of the world total. They also stated that analysts believe Iraq has potential reserves substantially above 200 billion barrels. In addition, The Energy Information Administration of the US Department of Energy has estimated that Iraqi reserves could possibly total over 400 billion barrels. Globalpolicy.org estimates that Iraq’s reserves could prove close to those of Saudi Arabia, now listed at 260 billion barrels. It is a prov-en fact that Iraq is a “cash cow” for oil reserves and natural resources. According to the On-line News Hour on pbs.org, in 2005, the United States still relied on imported oil for about 60 percent of the nearly 21 million barrels consumed in this country. I am no mathematician, but if we can control another 11% of the world’s oil, this would reduce our foreign dependency to around 49%. In this scenario, the United States would reduce foreign oil dependency to less than 50% by taking control of Iraq’s natural resources. President Bush stated, in the State of the Union address, “In order to stay competitive, America must end its dependence on oil. When you’re hooked on oil from the Middle East, it means you’ve got an economic security issue and a national security issue.” How do you reduce your dependency on foreign oil?

What are the corporate and economic implications from the war? According to statistics gathered by Deborah White on about.com, compiled from various news sources, the United States has spent $435 billion of US taxpayers’ money in Iraq–an amount that was approved by congress. In addition, $9 billion of US taxpayers’ money and $549.7 million in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors is unaccounted for. According to the Washington Post, Halliburton, a firm formerly chaired by Vice President Cheney, has benefited financially from contracts and dollars allocated for the “rebuilding of Iraq.” Out of all the sources I researched, no one source could give an exact amount in reference to the money Halliburton has made in Iraq. The United States has spent money in Iraq, but they have made much more if all of the numbers mentioned above are correct.

What has been the total cost of the war? Many people equate cost to dollars, but the cost of war includes much more. White also pointed out the following numbers in her article on about.com:

1. US Troop Casualties – 2,596 US troops; 98% male. 90% non-officers; 77% active duty, 14% National Guard; 53% of US casualties were under 25 years old.
2. Non-US Troop Casualties – Total 230, with 115 from the UK
3. US Troops Wounded – 19,387, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries (total excludes psychological injuries)
4. US Troops with Serious Mental Health Problems 30% of US troops develop serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home
5. US Military Helicopters Downed in Iraq – 52 total, 27 by enemy fire
6. Journalists killed – 77
7. Non-Iraqi Contractors and Civilian Workers Killed – 403

Who is benefiting from the relationship? There are 90 daily insurgent attacks as of August 2006. According to a poll taken by the British Ministry of Defense in 2005, 82% of Iraqis are “strongly opposed to presence of coalition troops, 67% of Iraqis feel less secure because of the occupation, 72% of Iraqis do not have confidence in multi-national forces, and less than 1% of Iraqis believe Coalition forces are responsible for any improvements in security. Has the war just opened the door for what the people wanted all along? Has the war given them an opportunity to pursue their separate interests? What was the Bush administration’s reason for attacking Iraq in the first place? Are the Iraqi people using the United States and all other foreign coalition forces to fulfill a underlying agenda? Why isn’t there an “exit strategy” to leave Iraq.

Even a “real pimp” knows when it is time to let a “girl” go! Even a “real pimp” can recognize when a “girl” is persuing her own agenda. Why is the Bush admnistration holding on to an Iraq that is simply draining the financial, natural and human resources of the United States? Which liberation do the Iraqi people really want? If they wanted to be liberated so bad, why aren’t they taking a proactive approach against insurgents? Why is there a threat of civil war in Iraq now?

I questioned who benefits from the relationship in my analogy for a reason. I wanted to make you think! No one can benefit from a relationship when the two parties involved have their own agendas from the beginning.

Its racial…or just good television: the New Season of Survivor

We live in a world of political correctness and diversity, so they say, in America. We are a “melting pot” of tolerance, a Mecca of dreams for immigrants, and Superman to impoverished nations. We are America! We are the land of opportunity and the place where everyone should desire to be. We set the examples for the world on how people should work together and be “one big happy family.” Right? Aren’t we the same country that is still trying to figure out where everyone fits though? Aren’t we the country that tries to deny the past and ignore the problems of the present so that we can focus on our “bright future”? Aren’t we the country that is still scared to talk about race? Are we really a “melting pot?”

Americans, under the rhetoric “lets just all get along,” often do not want to confront racial issues. They are swept “under the rug.” It makes more sense to me, however, to confront these issues head on. When describing the country’s treatment of black Americans, Chris Rock said America was like, “The uncle that pays for your college, but molested you as a child!” Many comedians point out the inconsistencies in our culture through their acts and use humor to soften the blow. Why do Americans shy away from talking about race? Why do they treat it like that one thing in every family that “no one needs to know?”

As I was listening to talk radio this afternoon, by now you know this is my daily routine, I learned some interesting facts about the new season of “Survivor,” the reality TV show. Apparently this year’s show is going to have an interesting twist…the “tribes” are going to compete based on race! I listened to callers say that we don’t need “division” in our country. I listened to people say that it is completely against diversity. It seemed like the consensus, for the most part, with the radio crowd was this type of show is a bad ideal. It is bad for America, they said. My question is why? Is the issue that the show is creating division or is it really just portraying the true America? The show is going to put teams of five in various competitions in the beginning. There are going to be five white, five black, five hispanic, and five asian contestants. (some of you are going to have a problem with the order I listed them in) Are people being too sensitive on this issue?

I think there are communities in the country that have embraced race and can sing “Kumbaya” together, but I also think we do in some secret way compete based on race in reality. It is just taboo to talk about it. If this were not true, we would not have the ACLU, the NAACP, LULAC, and all the other “cultural” organizations. If this were not true, there would be no need for a sub set of Congress called “the Congressional Black Caucus.” If this were not true, Sunday morning would not be the most segregated day in America. Don’t we team up by race naturally anyway? On college campuses, we have historically black fraternities and sororities, historically hispanic fraternities and sororities, and traditionally white fraternities and sororities. On those same campuses, every community wants their own organization. At corporations, every community wants their own liaison. In city governments, legislative bodies and all operational factions of America, every one wants to be represented in their communities “by their own.” Is “Survivor” creating more division in our country or just exposing the division that already exist? How many times have you seen a show and cheered for your race to win?

How many times have you looked at the black, hispanic, asian, indian, middle eastern, or white executive and felt pride that one of “your own” was at the top? Don’t we compete in our country based on race anyway? If this were not true, why do we have a radio station for every culture? Why do people get offended when they do not see one of “their own” represented? Why do we still need Affirmative Action programs, raced based scholarships, the Census and all other programs, organizations and events that segment us by race if we do not compete on the basis of it? Why is a business owned by a person of color identified with that color, but a business owned by a white is just “a business.” If we do not compete on the basis of race, why are these things prevalent in our society? Why are people so offended that a TV show would point out something that really exists? We just don’t want to talk about it.

Maybe this will bring about dialogue on the topic. Maybe the people that are offended know that deep down inside they do compete based on race. Don’t we need to compete on the basis of race until we live in a society where everything is equal? Is there any thing wrong with people wanting to be represented? Isn’t the show displaying the America we are trying to achieve with all of our social programs? Why are people complaining? At least everyone is represented equally on the show! When people are forced to survive and coexist, don’t they align with what is familiar? Why are people offended by a picture of the true America? Why are people offended that someone would cause them to think about race? To be a healthy society, don’t we need to have some good ‘ole racial competition until everything is naturally equal?

I want African-Americans to keep “competing” for positions until there is equal representation. I want Hispanics to keep “competing” for positions until there is equal representation. I want Asians, Middle Eastern, Haitian, African, and all other races to “compete” until there is equal representation. At least on the show everyone starts out with an equal opportunity and equal resources! Aren’t you a little curious to see how the experiment works? What would America be like if it started like this show with all things equal? Does the show bring up a bigger issue? What are going to be the implications that come from the race that wins? Will this say something about the America we live in or confirm, deny or change our perceptions? May the best black person, I mean person, win!

The Hip Hop-ocrites: The reason I am cheating on Hip Hop

Hip Hop, its not you, its me! I do not feel that there is any substance to our relationship. You use to have passion and talk about “fighting the power”, social change, and inspire me to overcome the “hood.” You use to take a good beat and put an even better lyrical flow over it, now the beat is simply used to cover up your non existent flow with lackluster content. Now all you do is cuss at me, get drunk all the time, stand for a superficial existence and encourage drug use. You have no substance. What happened to questioning America’s inconsistencies, musical activism, pointing out the plight of the poor and under represented populations– the music and rappers that were more concerned about sending a message rather than selling records? Hip Hop you have let yourself go!

You no longer work hard at writing social conscious lyrics and using the medium of music as a tool to reflect positivity. What happened to driving and identifying with you–the connection we use to have. Now, everytime you open your mouth, I get more disgusted. I simply cannot support you as long as you stand for everything that I am against. You see, I refuse to encourage sexual promiscuity in a world of HIV, I refuse to encourage alcoholism and drug use, I refuse to encourage the use of deplorable language, accumulation of material possessions as social status and display life as one big party. What you call a party, I call addiction. Hip Hop, you are an addict and you won’t acknowledge you have a problem! I think we should see other people…you need to seek help. You need to reconnect with who you were.

You need to really think about answering to the God you acknowledge at award ceremonies, but refuse to include in your work. Simply put, you are a social coward. Who says that if you take a stand, it will sell less records? What about the children? They are looking up to the image of you that you perpetuate in your music. You live in the Suburbs, your kids go to private school, you eat at five star restaurants and drive cars that cost more than some low income neighborhoods! You encourage them to buy your CDs, but are unwilling to give back to them. Children and teenagers need more from you! Your listeners deserve better…you have really let yourself go!

Homeless and hungry or greedy liar: Should you give to panhandlers?

Mayor Bill White, mayor of the City of Houston, has launched an arsenal of public service announcements designed to discourage people from giving to panhandlers. The Mayor has said in a series of interviews that he believes people should give the money to agencies that provide services to the homeless. He has also cited safety as a major issue, meaning that panhandlers have become so aggressive that they are walking through moving traffic. This was the hot topic on talk radio stations today. Many people stated, in defense of the mayor, that studies have shown many panhandlers are just “street hustlers.” Others said they believe you should give to them regardless because you never know who is really in need. This is a topic that, no matter what side you are on, has to be addressed in every city. Rather than take sides on this issue, I prefer to ask questions.

Do you disregard all homeless people because of the bad intentions of a few people?

Do the social programs designed for the homeless really meet the need?

Does the City of Houston have an adequate number of programs targeted to help the homeless?

Who should take the lead on providing services to the homeless?

The problem I have with criticisms of the homeless is people are more apt to search for a reason not to help them rather than find a way to reach out to them. Homeless people need assistance! They do not need to get stuck in the middle of bureaucracy. They do not need to be stereotyped as “hustlers” and “beggars.” If you were hungry and homeless, you just might grab a cup and stand on the corner too! Hunger eludes rational thinking. In your most desperate moments in life, you tend to go into survival mode. Many of the policies of the homeless facilities are so full of red tape that most people would rather survive on the streets than deal with those organizations. We must have compassion for all of those that are less fortunate than us. My personal belief is we should help people in need, instead of deny people based on our preconceived notions. If they are lying, let God deal with them. If they are not lying and you refuse to help them, God just might deal with you!

What is the true image of a hero?

Imagine that you are sitting in a movie theatre watching one of the most intense scenes in the movie and you realize that it is portraying an account from your life. As you get deeper into the scene, you also realize that the person cast in your role doesn’t even look like you. You realize that in the screenplay you were written out. What would your reaction be? How would you feel if your act of heroism was blatantly overlooked? On 9-11, there were many acts of heroism and many stories remain untold of people that sacrificed their lives to save the lives of others, but one story in particular caught my attention.

The first in depth movie based on the events that occurred on 9-11, “World Trade Center,” was recently released. Part of the movie chronicles the story of Port Authority police officers Will Jimeno and Sgt. John McLoughlin, who were trapped beneath 20 feet of debris when the towers fell. Two Marines rescued these two officers from the debris. While others were running from the building, these Marines were running towards them to see who they could save. Sgt. Jason Thomas and Staff Sgt. David Karnes were those two Marines. As Sgt. Thomas was dropping his daughter off at his mother’s house, she informed him that planes had hit the towers. Sgt. Thomas, a retired Marine, pulled a Marine uniform out of his trunk and headed in his truck towards the towers after hearing the news. The only equipment he had was a flashlight and an infantryman’s shovel. He bumped into Staff Sgt. Karnes at “Ground Zero.”

“Someone needed help. It didn’t matter who,” Thomas said. “I didn’t even have a plan. But I have all this training as a Marine, and all I could think was, ‘My city is in need.’” The two Marines climbed through debris, putting themselves in harm’s way, calling out “Is anyone down there? United States Marines!” The two crawled into a deep pit to find McLoughlin and Jimeno, injured but alive. They proceeded to save the two officers. Sgt. Thomas returned to “Ground Zero” for another two and a half weeks to help out with the rescue efforts and then “disappeared.” He said he walked away from it because he wanted to forget the scenes that he had been a part of. Many had heard of this Marine, but no one knew his identity until he recently came forth amid pressure from his family.

Fast forward to the release of the movie. The scene that portrays the story captures it, according to critics and reporters, “accurately” except for one “small” detail. Why is the actor that portrays Sgt. Thomas white?! When asked about the portrayal, Sgt. Thomas simply responded, “I don’t want to shed any negativity on what they were trying to show.” Thomas is a modest hero that did not seek any recognition for his efforts. He has also kept the most important issue at the forefront–lives were saved. I do feel that it is my American duty, however, to ask the critical questions that he modestly declined to ask.

1. How can you confuse Sgt. Thomas pictured above, a “Chocolate” African American male, for a white man in the movie?

2. Why did the film’s producer Michael Shamberg, even though he realized the mistake after production was begun on the film, not make efforts to give credit to the right man and at least represent him accurately in the media as African American.

3. Why didn’t the other Marine, the two saved officers, and others that aided in telling the story take a second extra to mention to the producers of the film, “and he is black?”

4. Why does Shamberg believe the apology for the “inaccuracy” in the film is enough?

5. Is this really an “inaccuracy,” or is it simply another example of Hollywood and the media having an inability to want to portray African Americans in a positive manner?

Sgt. Thomas, I salute you! I also feel that it is my duty to express what I feel is a complete violation of your act of heroism. African Americans are often accused of playing the “race card,” but it is used because of situations like this. Does it matter that he is African American? What do you think? I believe that even from the simple standpoint of telling the story accurately, it is important to mention every detail. Even if it is not an act of “racism,” it is an act of faulty research. Today I choose to leave my “race card” in the deck and pull out my “accuracy card.” You cannot accurately portray an African American soldier by casting a white actor! You cannot accurately tell the story and display it on thousands of movie venues throughout the country and not have the facts right. Maybe there is no racism in America. Maybe we just live in a country plagued by “inaccuracy.” I’ve had it wrong all these years! Maybe racial profiling should be called “inaccurate driving.” Maybe slavery should be called “inaccurate selling.” Maybe the Civil Rights Movement should be renamed the “inaccuracy movement.” Maybe Affirmative Action should be renamed “Inaccuracy Action.” America, I apologize. For all these years, everything that I “mistook” for racism was just “inaccuracy!”

Immigrant by circumstance vs. Immigrant by choice: Who deserves the right and who stole it?

As I was driving listening to the local talk radio station here in Houston, as I often will do, I heard something that was thought provoking and appalling. The radio host said He believes Katrina “immigrants” are more detrimental to the City of Houston than illegal immigrants. The basis of his argument was the recently released crime statistics. According to his data, 1 in 5 murders since November (when the Katrina victims arrived) can be attributed to Katrina “refugees.” He went back and forth between “immigrants” and “refugees” when describing “them.” He also stated Katrina “refugees” are “mooching” off of the City of Houston. As African-American callers began to accuse him of being racist, he said the “race card” was being played. He also conveniently didn’t have any statistics summarizing crime that can be attributed to illegal immigrants. These were his arguments. I listened, I thought, and I realized that any idiot in America can guest host a talk show! Elmer Fud could have commented the show and been more balanced and objective describing Daffy Duck! I did not get an opportunity to call into the show, but I wanted to highlight the problems with his arguments.

1. Katrina victims are not “immigrants” as he constantly called them, they are just as American as you and I. Immigrants flee their country, Katrina victims were forced out of their homes.

2. Katrina victims lost their homes because of the rising water when the faulty levees in New Orleans broke, illegal immigrants gladly swim through the water to cross the border.

3. Katrina victims pay taxes (even if some of them were on governmental assistance), illegal immigrants do not pay taxes–a clear sign that you are not an American!

4. He claimed that they were “mooching” off the City of Houston, but the amount of taxes they have paid over the years far outweighs the amount of assistance they have received. If I lost my home due to a natural disaster, I would “mooch” off of the system too with the tax money that I have paid over the years. Illegal immigrants have been “mooching” off of Americans for years–anytime you drain an economy without pouring into it, you are the biggest “mooch” (meaning you do not pay taxes).

5. The majority of Katrina victims are African American, hence you cannot separate any criticisms of the population from the dominant culture in the population. A criticism of Katrina victims is a criticism of African Americans. They are not “them” or “refugees” as he proposed, they are AMERICANS!

6. Illegal immigrants receive better healthcare, more services and benefit from more social programs than many Americans, including the Katrina victims.

7. Crime statistics are unbalanced because the illegal immigrants are “undocumented” eventhough they know how many are here. Interesting… If they are “undocumented,” how do you know how many are here in Texas? Have you made any efforts to learn their “undocumented” crime statistics? Do you need to be reminded that one of the most deadly gangs in the history of the State of Texas (MS13) is comprised of illegal immigrants? This group is also responsible for the rise in crime statistics, eventhough they are “undocumented.” They have caused many murders, car jackings, robberies and assaults that are “undocumented.” The real question is why would you not “document” the crime statistics of illegal immigrants, but make a valiant effort to “document” the crime statistics of Katrina victims?

8. Americans can spend millions of dollars to go across the seas to free other Americans from a war zone, but they can’t get to a state in time to free Americans from a disaster zone. Lives could have been saved! At least illegal immigrants get sent back to their homes! Katrina victims, Americans, are waiting for their homes to be restored. They are waiting for false governmental promises to be fulfilled.

9. If you lose everything that you own, you will do whatever is necessary to feed your family. Frustration can cause any person at the wrong time to consider negative options. This does not excuse the crime, but I understand the root of it. There are many Katrina victims that are hard working, have found jobs, and are making new lives for their families. There are many Katrina victims that are giving back to the economy through paying taxes. There are many Katrina victims that are some of the greatest AMERICANS. Illegal immigrants will never be Americans unless they apply for citizenship.

Katrina victims are not bad people, they are not social misfits, they are Americans that have been removed from their homes due to a natural disaster. If you are going to “document” the crime statistics, “document” the progress. Illegal immigrants are simply not Americans, that is why they are illegal. It is unpatriotic to deny basic human rights to Americans. It is unpatriotic to invite someone to a City to “get back on their feet” and complain that it is taking them too long. It is unpatriotic to have the audacity to claim that illegal immigrants are more American than true Americans. It is unpatriotic for a talk show host to admit that he employed illegal immigrants on the air and not face any repercussions from it. The talk show host in his infinite wisdom, admitted that he employed illegal immigrants because he could not find any one to do the work. My suggestion to him, why don’t you try employing Americans for a change instead of complaining about them? Finally, if I am ever in a similar situation as the Katrina victims, I would hope that someone would be there for me and give me the proper time to recover. How much time does it take to recover from losing everything? The reality is you cannot measure that lost. Katrina victims are not immigrants, they are Americans! I am disgusted that an American would refer to them as anything less and take it further to say that they are less valuable than illegal immigrants!

We forgot you were a hero: The Sgt. Jason Thomas Story

Imagine that you are sitting in a movie theatre watching one of the most intense scenes in the movie and you realize that it is portraying an account from your life. As you get deeper into the scene, you also realize that the person cast in your role doesn’t even look like you. You realize that in the screenplay you were written out. What would your reaction be? How would you feel if your act of heroism was blatantly overlooked? On 9-11, there were many acts of heroism and many stories remain untold of people that sacrificed their lives to save the lives of others, but one story in particular caught my attention.

The first in depth movie based on the events that occurred on 9-11, “World Trade Center,” was recently released. Part of the movie chronicles the story of Port Authority police officers Will Jimeno and Sgt. John McLoughlin, who were trapped beneath 20 feet of debris when the towers fell. Two Marines rescued these two officers from the debris. While others were running from the building, these Marines were running towards them to see who they could save. Sgt. Jason Thomas and Staff Sgt. David Karnes were those two Marines. As Sgt. Thomas was dropping his daughter off at his mother’s house, she informed him that planes had hit the towers. Sgt. Thomas, a retired Marine, pulled a Marine uniform out of his trunk and headed in his truck towards the towers after hearing the news. The only equipment he had was a flashlight and an infantryman’s shovel. He bumped into Staff Sgt. Karnes at “Ground Zero.”

“Someone needed help. It didn’t matter who,” Thomas said. “I didn’t even have a plan. But I have all this training as a Marine, and all I could think was, ‘My city is in need.’” The two Marines climbed through debris, putting themselves in harm’s way, calling out “Is anyone down there? United States Marines!” The two crawled into a deep pit to find McLoughlin and Jimeno, injured but alive. They proceeded to save the two officers. Sgt. Thomas returned to “Ground Zero” for another two and a half weeks to help out with the rescue efforts and then “disappeared.” He said he walked away from it because he wanted to forget the scenes that he had been a part of. Many had heard of this Marine, but no one knew his identity until he recently came forth amid pressure from his family.

Fast forward to the release of the movie. The scene that portrays the story captures it, according to critics and reporters, “accurately” except for one “small” detail. Why is the actor that portrays Sgt. Thomas white?! When asked about the portrayal, Sgt. Thomas simply responded, “I don’t want to shed any negativity on what they were trying to show.” Thomas is a modest hero that did not seek any recognition for his efforts. He has also kept the most important issue at the forefront–lives were saved. I do feel that it is my American duty, however, to ask the critical questions that he modestly declined to ask.

1. How can you confuse Sgt. Thomas pictured above, a “Chocolate” African American male, for a white man in the movie?

2. Why did the film’s producer Michael Shamberg, even though he realized the mistake after production was begun on the film, not make efforts to give credit to the right man and at least represent him accurately in the media as African American.

3. Why didn’t the other Marine, the two saved officers, and others that aided in telling the story take a second extra to mention to the producers of the film, “and he is black?”

4. Why does Shamberg believe the apology for the “inaccuracy” in the film is enough?

5. Is this really an “inaccuracy,” or is it simply another example of Hollywood and the media having an inability to want to portray African Americans in a positive manner?

Sgt. Thomas, I salute you! I also feel that it is my duty to express what I feel is a complete violation of your act of heroism. African Americans are often accused of playing the “race card,” but it is used because of situations like this. Does it matter that he is African American? What do you think? I believe that even from the simple standpoint of telling the story accurately, it is important to mention every detail. Even if it is not an act of “racism,” it is an act of faulty research. Today I choose to leave my “race card” in the deck and pull out my “accuracy card.” You cannot accurately portray an African American soldier by casting a white actor! You cannot accurately tell the story and display it on thousands of movie venues throughout the country and not have the facts right. Maybe there is no racism in America. Maybe we just live in a country plagued by “inaccuracy.” I’ve had it wrong all these years! Maybe racial profiling should be called “inaccurate driving.” Maybe slavery should be called “inaccurate selling.” Maybe the Civil Rights Movement should be renamed the “inaccuracy movement.” Maybe Affirmative Action should be renamed “Inaccuracy Action.” America, I apologize. For all these years, everything that I “mistook” for racism was just “inaccuracy!”

What happen to the good ‘ole days when an incumbent was guaranteed to win?

Are pigs flying? Is it literally raining cats and dogs? How could it be that a 35 year veteran in Congress can be ousted in the primaries by someone in his own party? Political infighting…Who would have thought that people in political parties don’t get along. Incumbents beware! We are watching you and if we do not like what you are doing we can exercise our right to vote. We do not care if you identify with the arbitrary label of the same political party! For so many years politicians have looked at opposition from an individual as insignificant. Now they must revisit that thought. What used to take months to achieve in terms of community activism, can now be mobilized in a matter of minutes via the internet. Revolt and opposition no longer begins with communities, it now begins with a mad voter with a blog. You thought one individual could not change the voting process…The reality is now they have the power to influence many more voters and convince them to sway to their beliefs. Blogging is a politicians worst nightmare…Accountability! I do not care which party you are in, if I feel that you are not living up to the position of service, I will blog you out of office too! Every politician should start to take notice! Quit raising your salaries when your performance gets worst every year. Quit giving into lobbyist and special interests groups. Quit hiding money in refrigerators, taking golf trips oversees, and being loyal to the financial puppets in corporate America that are greedy idiots. We are watching you!