6/10

“Together we want to help the world see and believe in a better future.”

- Ban Ki-Moon

“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur.

You take the front line when there is danger.

Then people will appreciate your leadership.”

- Nelson Mandela

“Reality is the enemy of prejudice.” – Barney Frank

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It was raining out, there were rumors of power shortages, the show was delayed hours and the opening act majorly sucked. But, when M.I.A. took the stage it was like nothing we had ever seen. Pure charisma couple with great beats, that night was unforgettable. We know have a great understanding of why M.I.A. is such a cultural icon, even though we loved her all along.

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“Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.”

- Pliny the Elder

He passed away in 2008, but his messages still run true throughout all the time and even states. Lovely little part from a great stand-up session.

“Days before the Aug. 7 deadline, Haitian-American superstar Wyclef Jean has confirmed toTime.com that he will run for President of Haiti in this year’s Nov. 28 election. “If not for the earthquake, I probably would have waited another 10 years before doing this,” Jean said. “If I can’t take five years out to serve my country as President…then everything I’ve been singing about, like equal rights, doesn’t mean anything.” Jean may announce his candidacy on Thursday’s Larry King Live once he has arrived in Port-au-Prince from New York.” – EW.com

Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York State mentioned why he will not run for president earlier today.

(Excerpt from The New York Times).

Approximately two weeks after we declared Avatar to be “the greatest movie made about US foreign policy,” this shows up. Palestinian demonstrators against Israeli oppression and aggression took to the street dressed as the Na’vi tribe from planet Pandora from the movie Avatar. It’s a great analogy and, in this case, it was affective in getting them exposure.

These are four pictures from 1959, 1978, 1995 and 2004 respectively of the graduating class of Cairo Univeristy’s English Department. They showcase the change of societal norm in an epoch of a country’s nation. It would be interesting to study the correlation between the political sphere of the times and how it impacts social attributes. How political dynamism, corruption, standard of living, totalitarianism and the state of feminist thought can or cannot impact the same people of the same within decades. And how piety can angulate so quickly with the times and for what reason, if you get my breeze.  Also, it’s also peculiar how the English department has waned with time, but that’s another subject.

Speaking technically, Kuwait is currently #1 in the Middle East and the Arab World when it comes to freedom of the press. As much as we’d like to boast and rant on this accomplishment, it was not really due to Kuwait’s adamant effort on rectifying some of its freedom faults, but is a result of other countries faltering. This comes on because of Israel’s atrocious behavior in handling media rights during the horrific Gaza Strip massacre. Yes, Kuwait rose to #60 and became the Middle East’s champion merely because Israel fell hard. Inching closer is Lebanon right after at #61 (rising). Then the UAE at #86 and Qatar at #94, both of which steeply down. Still, is #60 good enough? It’s 60 out 175, which gives Kuwait a grade of 65.8/100. That’s a D!

The dire situation in Iran looks like it’s not going to end anytime soon. Following Neda Soltani’s graphic death and many more violent outbursts in the streets of Tehran, the people still seem adamant on getting their votes counted and counted correctly. As we see with revolutions, there has to be a valid and clear reason for people to stand up against a tyrannic government. When you’ve lost all hope and take to the streets that’s when it all happens. But, the media is portraying this as a purely domestic issue and world leaders are not addressing the issue because they fear their words would skew the train of the thought in the Iranian streets. But, in actuality, this issue is an international one and had former world leaders not interfered in Iranian affairs this wouldn’t all be happening.

In this interesting article by Chris Hedges he explains the chain of events that lead to this: “Iranians do not need or want us to teach them about liberty and representative government. They have long embodied this struggle. It is we who need to be taught. It was Washington that orchestrated the 1953 coup to topple Iran’s democratically elected government, the first in the Middle East, and install the compliant shah in power. It was Washington that forced Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh, a man who cared as much for his country as he did for the rule of law and democracy, to spend the rest of his life under house arrest. We gave to the Iranian people the corrupt regime of the shah and his savage secret police and the primitive clerics that rose out of the swamp of the dictator’s Iran. Iranians know they once had a democracy until we took it away.”

That is not to blame the US for the whole debacle, but there has been some meddling in the Iranian affairs ever since the US establishment as a world power. Surely, other world powers like Russia and other had a hand in it, but not as much as America that has introduced to tyranny to a nation of civilizations. And, if my history serves me correctly, the US’s foreign policy is the reason for the rise in Islamic fundamentalism across the Muslim. The Middle East and many other regions have been exploited, colonized and robbed of their futures for many years and this is but a mere reaction.

Of course, the thought of people opposing a criminal like Ahmadinajad and the sight of women dropping their veils in the middle of the street only to pick up a protest placard is greatly satisfactory to my liberal mindset, but that is without forgetting the past events that lead to this upheaval. Even if Mousavi is a moderate conservative and, really, not that progressive at all. For the people to stand for him like that as he is the most liberal choice shows that the region is ready for a progressive era. An era of freedoms and liberty. A time for the pursuit of happiness that only is spoken of when mentioning America. Most everyone in the region wants it and peace along with it.

So for the West to just sit there and shrug of any statements about Iran because an issue of inter-politics is just another moment in the chain of events that lead to this breach of rights. Maybe if the West’s governments tried to help out in any way shape or form, Neda’s death could have been avoided.

With all this voting bonanza going I am hearing all kinds of advocates left and right and although I have very little candidates I like and a whole lot of crap-hustlers, I am amazed at how people are willing to support a candidate on a one point-of-view basis. I mean, candidates should be multi-faceted and the voters should dig deeper if they are endorsing anyone. Pseudo-liberals are touting candidates who have had not-so-progressive stand points in the past and that doesn’t seem to factor into the scheme of candidate-choice.

I said it with the women’s movement and I alter it and say it again: Half a liberal is not a liberal. And with the tides that are coming our way this time around there are only but a few true liberals out there. People who think of freedom is a cherished right and not to be messed with. In any case, the point is, if you find candidates who suit your perspective and you are willing to check the box for, dig deep. If not, then, you are blindly voting and, in turn, skewing the outcome.

Some good pointers to follow:

1. If they voted against women’s rights, they’re probably bigots and NOT progressive

2. If they bring up religion as justification for wrongdoings and human rights abuses, then they are probably NOT progressive

3. If they have bought votes or been involved in some sort of corruption, then they are probably NOT progressive

4. If they have associated with other members to exchange votes, then they are probably NOT progressive

5. If their entire family if employed in their a ministry of sorts, then they are probably NOT progressive

6. If they talk a big game and their bank account suddenly augments, then they are probably NOT progressive

7. If the don’t live and let live, then they are probably NOT progressive

8. If the want to remove the constitution for religious dogma, then the are probably NOT progressive

9. If they are segregationist is any shape or form, then they are NOT progressive

10. If they don’t have respect for the arts, then they are NOT progressive

Just a thought…

This came at a right time after I went to the National History Museum solely to visit Darwin’s statue and say hi. They won’t budge because they want their constituencies to keep voting for them, even when science proves otherwise. The conservative agenda won’t settle for fact and would rather follow some myth. This is why they are about to face popular extinction. I like the last Mount Rushmore comment.

All this talk of the African pirates is leaving me baffled, really. Why now? Why old-school piracy? I mean, surely the some of the world’s most sophisticated armies can take care of a couple of skirmishes of the coast of the horn of Africa. I have a hard time believing that couple of incidences like that would be such a hurdle in the “fight against terrorism.” Why is the media creating such a buzz about this?

If everyone on this earth was a replica of Ani DiFranco this would be the greatest place to be. 

The song’s titled “Smiling Underneath” from the ever-growing Red Letter Year.

There has yet to be a consensus on the whole Iran issue and it seems that Obama’s hand is still outstretched for some sort of compromise not only because that would be the wise thing to do after Bush’s waging of two unlawful wars, but also because, frankly, the US can’t afford an all out debacle with Iran right about now. The Iranian government have a choice of accepting this sort-of-truce or retreating.

However, this gives Iran the upper hand. With a President that is more lenient and Iran’s newfound power position in the region, it looks like the government is more formidable than ever. The nuclear program tension has lessened, whether due to waning speculation on its intentions or media downplaying. But, when all is said and done Obama did the best thing the leader of the free world could do and that is to extend a hand. Now, it’s left to Iran to decide if it wants to take it or leave it and this decision will be the harbinger of the region’s future.

My posts on politics have been sparse lately, mostly after Obama’s inauguration. That is not because of a disinterest in the subject, but because the seeds are still being watered by this incumbent, per se. My support of Obama has left me with high hopes that are almost impossible to accomplish. To expect such fast and drastic change after 8 years of shit-throwing is unreasonable. The economy, I am told, has gone to the dumps in this post-Bush era we live in. All this talk of recession and crisis seems, to me, like a big figureheads way of trying to create a studied dip in thier grand graph of world economics in order to get a future high spike for their money-mongering ways. But, then again, I have to say I know very little about macroeconomics, or any economics for that matter.

One things I do know about is foreign policymaking, which brings me to a subject that has taken a backseat recently to the economic crisis – The US’s exit strategy from Iraq.  Obama’s US is in Iraq still and everyone is clamoring to give suggestions for a smooth and quick exit from this drawn-out war. Yet, it is hard to go back in time and find any exit strategies from any wars that went smoothly, that is, without some sort of oppression scheme, internal violence or a complete change in the country’s economic system.

Leaving a war can sometimes be as painful as starting one. Iraq’s issue is prime for this presidency and, even though everyone wants a safe withdrawal, chances are it will be highly unlikely. The sectarian hostility is one reason why, but, the country’s history with political corruption, the regional instability, the divide between rich and poor and the looming threats (no matter how unfounded) from neighbors makes for a very sticky situation.

This is not to say that Obama should be given some slack with this formidable obstacle, but just to re-state that we are still dealing with the banana peels from the old buffoon.

“Hats off to the Scandinavians, who continue to make the world’s progressives green with envy. Even as Iceland faces economic catastrophe, the volcanic island nation has made history by naming the world’s first (for the most part) openly gay national leader. Johanna Sigurdardottir will become prime minister. (The New York Daily News says Norway briefly had an openly gay man as prime minister.)

The family-values types can just relax. Sigurdardottir has been married to her female companion for seven years.”

Is Iceland Scandinavia, though?

We actually started writing this song a few years back and when I began putting the songs together for this album I knew I wanted to finish it. You know my album title is TESTIMONY: VOL. 2, LOVE & POLITICS..and while I know most people will see this song as a love song…I see it in a political sense as well. Musiq and I just shot a video for the song so be on the lookout for that coming soon. We had so much fun. LOL. I also have a single out now called “Therapy” and it features Gramps Morgan. Gramps is from the group Morgan Heritage of whom I’m such a fan! You definitely need to check him out….I just love his voice. There is a very special song on the album entitled “The Cure.” (In fact it was inspired by Stevie Wonder but I’ll tell you more about that later…LOL!!!!) When I thought about recording this song I knew I wanted to do something really special with it. Well…on a random day in New York City I was out shopping and met this incredible lady in a store. We started talking and it turns out that she happens to be just the BIGGEST POP SUPERSTAR in Turkey!!! Her name is Sezen Aksu and after listening to her I fell in love with her music. I even took a spur of the moment trip to London to see her in concert….we’re talking about leaving my gig and driving all night to make the first flight out, changing clothes in the car and heading straight to the show from the airport kind of trip! LOL!!! HAHA!!! It was definitely worth it…almost like a Stevie Wonder show!!! She even invited me onstage at Royal Albert Hall to sing “Ready For Love.” I LOVED IT!!!! After seeing her I knew we had to do something together… I even went to Turkey to spend time with her and she was SO gracious to me. When I was recording “The Cure” I asked her to be a part of it and what she brought to the song is MAGICAL. I can’t wait for to hear it…it gives me chills. LOL LOL LOL. OK…that’s all I’m telling you right now…but there are others I’ll share with you in the coming days. I can’t give too much away at once!!! HAHAHAHA. I hope you are as excited as I am about the new music!!!! More to come soon….
India.Arie ”

My LOFT965 Exclusive: The Best Albums Of 2008 has been getting a lot of hits and some comments and email have been popping up from it. Some are surprised I thought Detours was the best album of the year, considering the fact that it has been a year heavy on album releases. Not that I have to justify picking it, I just wanted to give you a glimpse of this wonderful album filled with great songs.

I am not the biggest fan of Sheryl Crow and, although I have kept an eye on her career, I remain a follower of her singles. I saw some maturing on Wildflower, but not enough for it to survive the iTunes axe. This one though, is the pinnacle of that evolution. Great folk song with rock arrangements and some of the best politically-aware lyrics I have heard in a long time topped with amazing choruses. I couldn’t ask for more. I look forward to what she has to offer in the future and I hope she’s doesn’t stray from this hippie folk into a rockier direction as many want her to. I feel like that most people who dislike Detours haven’t really given it a chance for various reasons (too preachy, she’s a has-been, “politics and music shouldn’t mix,” too Kumbaya, etc…).

It is my favorite, I am sticking by that.

-Jimi Hendrix

I heard about it when it came out and I thought I should miss it since I already what corporations are up to and how “evil” they are. I was wrong. This documentary shines a light on many other aspects, with many luminaries of our time commenting and pitching in. I recommend this to everyone with a conscience.

You guys, this is for real. I can’t believe the American propaganda.