I remember a conversation with my dad and I was telling him how I wanted to follow in his "footsteps". I remember a conversation like that with my son too. I told him what my dad had said to me. I said, " Sure son I want you to be like me in someways and follow in my footsteps..." my son, wide-eyed and in awe of the status that I had achieved at that time; "but..." as I began to utter the very words my dad had spoken to me, "...don't follow me too closely son, I might have stepped in some sh** along the way."
Bycha Buxton
It has its roots in tradition, history and religion (what a threesome); Christmas. Declared a federal holiday in 1870. The history of Christmas dates back over 4000
years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries
before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright
fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades) with
floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday
feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early
Mesopotamians.
Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.
But a "Jesus themed Christmas" in the 21st century should be more than the usual mundane christian songs and imagery. I'm talking about the gifts, meals and family gatherings. A ceremonial way (not too hoky) of giving, choosing and presenting Christmas (maybe this is not the most original idea, but bare with me for a few more paragraphs).
In the "spirit" of W.W.J.D.(What Would Jesus Do?) Would the Rabbi give a video game like "Grand Theft Auto" to an adolescent? Would he hold mistletoe over you and a stranger? Would he dress up like Santa Claus (no offense Santa) and let you take a picture on his lap while asking you if you've been naughty or nice?
I'm not condemning the traditions that have become as common and accepted in our 'brave new world' as cheese on fries and bacon on everything (Jesus didn't eat pork...but that's another subject). There just needs to be some reflection in everything we do that is associated with this "Christian" holiday. Even if you are not a Christian the man (Jesus) was extra-ordinary and recognizing his birth and contribution to this world should not be forgotten. Yes we all should assume a little "Jesus" in the way we think about others and project ourselves. Not taking the fun out of the holiday season but putting the "Christ" back in XMAS.
Bycha Buxton
The difference in Candidate # 5 and Client # 9 is as clear as Black and White. But the irony is what men are willing to pay for their egos to be stroke and stoked. The "Candidate" seeks power the "Client" sought the pleasure both men paid with a currency of trust.
# 5 exposed like a newborns bottom; naked, tender and helpless to the good doctors swift smack of an open palm.
These men are mere numbers in U.S. Federal Investigations, but moreover stains on the political landscape of the most exciting year in U.S. politics of a generation.
"The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out." (Thomas Babington Macaulay)
But let not me be the one who has a plank in his eye, speak of the speck in the eyes of the Candidate and the Client for I have been both in retrospect. Seeking the power and the pleasure at times in the most unconventional ways. Violating my own "Constitution", under self-imposed moral reflection; as I measure ones own character. Although the Candidate (Jesse Jackson Jr.) has not been charged with any wrong doing only his ambition, guilty by association, led by hope and validated by the election of change. # 5 the weight of your legacy will crush you if don't choose to be plumb with integrity. # 9 (former Governor of New York) just pray that strumpet doesn't write a book about your bedroom manners.
This dysfunctional behavior breeds the disdain that the public has for politicians. The stench of corruption that good tax paying people would consider too egregious for reconciliation and too tendentious for consideration. Let this be a lesson for those seeking power or pleasure it can cost more than you can afford.
Bycha Buxton
There was once a man who, while walking
along a path, fell into a hole and
could not get out. The harder he tried
the deeper the hole got.
A doctor came along the path and the
man said, "Help me! I fell into this hole
and I can't get out." The doctor wrote out
a prescription with some advice and threw
it down into the hole and continued along
the path.
A priest came along and the man said,
"Please help me, I'm stuck in this hole."
The priest said some words and wrote out a
prayer and threw it down into the hole and
continued on.
Finally a friend came along the path and
the man said, "Please help me! I've fallen in
this hole and I can't get out no matter how
hard I try!"
The friend immediately jumped down
in the hole with him. The man said,
are you, crazy? Now we are both in this
hole together!" But the friend said, "Yes,
but I've been here before and I know the
way out."
Moral? It doesn't take experts to help you out of the hole you find yourself in. What it takes is someone who has been there before and knows the way out.
A catharsis is a form of emotional cleansing. According to
psychodynamic theory, this emotional release is linked to a need to
release unconscious conflicts. For example, experiencing stress over a
work-related or social situations may cause feelings of frustration and tension.
Rather than vent these feelings appropriately, I had chose
instead to release these feelings in other ways such as cessation from the people who love me most, introversion and assumed anonymity culminating in a periods of self-doubt.
"Catharsis" was first used by Aristotle the Greek philosopher in his work 'Poetic'...
"Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; ... being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper catharsis of these emotions." 335 BCE
It was most recently the new buzz word during Hillary Clinton's Presidential Primary campaign defeat. Used as a term to express what her supporters felt they needed a "catharsis" (caused by the tragedy of a Black Democratic Presidential Nominee, the fear associated with her future, also how to cultivate humility without losing power and the magnitude of these emotions). Only then could come the former First Lady's full-throated support of Senator Obama (now President-elect Barak Obama).
It
is now my MLC (mid-life crisis) dichotomy. The battle within myself
to which has been won through a surrender to myself (the better of
myself, the victor of the battle; but not the war).
" We have met the enemy..." said Pogo "...he is
us!" I have to learn to love him even though he can be hard to love. He is me and I am.
There have been casualties along the way (and for that I have
deep regret) I have hurt only the ones that love me and no one that could care less; but a catharsis is emotional and purifying and only those who seek it get clarity... I shall press on.
to be continued...
It's been a masterful run, labor unions provided job protection, brotherhood and piece of mind. Today most labor unions in the United States are members of one of two larger umbrella organizations: the American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) or the Change to Win Federation, which split from the AFL-CIO in 2005. Unions came to existence In 1914, amidst a groundswell of public outrage, the Federal Government passed the Clayton Act which specified, "the labor of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce." This key legal definition, which reaffirmed our Founding Fathers’ vision, opened the way for today’s Unions.
It was in this historical context that the USW (United Steel Workers) first began its organizing efforts in 1936 as an international organization, spanning the United States and Canada. By 1942, the USW had accumulated more than 700,000 members and formally adopted a constitution under the banner of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).
With the financial crisis of the "Big Three Automakers" (General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler) begging for another low interest loan of $25-$50 billion from the U.S. Treasury. The threat of (" this industry is too big to fail ") a systemic loss of millions of jobs if even one of the three (GM [particularly], once the largest corporation in the world) unions were good once upon a time (before the global economy). Goodbye old friend I'm vested and I hope you provide me my lifetime annuity in 2065.My pension, however small, is mine but I fear I will traverse through this century with only memories of the myth of a "pension" like the cliche of a fairy tale "once-upon-a-time" so is the dream of a guaranteed annuity after retirement age and living "happily ever after" (with a monthly check) and with the death of unions it's co-dependent the "20th century pensions" shall die too. It was and is supported by ever increasing union "dues" and shrinking union "brotheren". With the heaviest burden of healthcare cost to the automakers (est. $1200 per vehicle sold ) the unions and 20th century pensions will be on life support in the trial clinic of the U.S. Government TARP; but they will surely die. What should we do?
The United States Electoral College is a term used to describe the 538 Presidential electors who meet every four years to cast the "official" votes for President and Vice President of the United States. The Constitution gives each state legislature the plenary power to choose the electors who shall represent its state in the Electoral College. The Electors never meet as a national body. At 51 (Fifty states plus the District of Columbia) separate meetings, held on the same day, the electors cast the electoral votes. As such, the collective concept of the 51 groups is the technical definition of the college. It is because of this power structure that the popular vote was overturned in the 1824, 1876, 1888 and the more recent 2000 Presidential election. What scares me about this system is that it is elitist in nature and has a cloak of anonymity that render them (the Electors) unaccountable to the general masses. The Constitution does not require the Electors to vote as pledged, but many (not all) states have enacted laws that do require their Electors to vote as pledged. This system seems to be in place to assure certain citizens that under no circumstance will an "undesired" candidate be allowed to occupy the highest positions in the land. You may wonder why the forefathers choose to wrest the power from the voting public and give it to these 538 mysterious individuals (who are they?).
There are calls to reform this antiquated system. There are those who truly want to put the power in the hands of the people. The argument for an "Electoral College" is that while the Congress is popularly elected by the people, the President and Vice President are elected to be executives of a federation of independent states. The Electoral College ensures that candidates, particularly in recent elections, pay attention to key 'swing-states' (those states that are not firmly rooted in either the Republican or Democratic party). It equally assures that voters in states that are not believed to be competitive will be disregarded.
Supporters of direct election argue that it would give everyone an equally weighted vote, regardless of what state he or she lives in, and oppose giving disproportionately amplified voting power to voters in states with small populations. Under the current system, the vote of an individual living in a state with three electoral votes is proportionally more influential than the vote of an individual living in a state with a large number of electoral votes.
The arguments for and against get bogged down with historic policy and precedence set throughout elections that are skewed by the history of the United States divisions among its political parties, voters and regions (in other words they filibuster the discussion).
Registered Voter,
Bycha Buxton
Should there be a boycott of China? Or should there be a boycott of the Olympic games in Beijing? Mario Vazquez Rana, the president the
Association of National Olympic Committees, and the International
Olympic Committee stated that "Any politician who is pushing for a boycott is
committing a serious error," Vazquez said, "For me a total
boycott, a partial boycott, is totally out of the question."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has not ruled out the possibility he might boycott the opening ceremony if China continues its crackdown in Tibet. In a recent edition of Le Monde, one of his Cabinet ministers outlined changes needed for Sarkozy to take part in the Aug. 8 ceremony. President Bush has received calls to boycott the opening ceremonies, but has not addresses the matter publicly.
The Chinese have not been the model society of humanity nor have they been receptive to international criticism. Will the IOC (International Olympic Committee) give the Chinese the same kind of propaganda boost that the1936 games gave Berlin? A boycott was called for then but largely ignored.
They saw Jesse Owens embarrass Hitler and his team of experiments based on racial superiority. After a New York Times editorial (1933) inferred that Hitlers "race doctrine" had begun. Do we let history repeat itself? Unfortunately America's goodwill, leadership and economic interests are hampered by world events to singularly take on this posture without resounding support from the world community. The world community is too bitter to come together for "human rights" because of "business rights" and personality conflicts. The Games have taken on more than a celebration of cultures and national pride. They have become a symbol of international status for host countries and platforms to propel those countries into industrial powerhouses on the backs of talented athletes and the graves of second class citizens. Do we punish the athletes who only get this world stage once every four years and maybe only once in their lifetime? Is fame, the gold medal and national pride more important than the unalienable rights every "citizen of the world" should be entitled too? Let the tanks roll and the "games" begin the show must go on...and it will be the greatest "show" on earth (all pun's and sarcasm welcome).
A Sports fanatic of Human Rights,
Bycha Buxton
When Rev. Jeremiah Wright (Barak Obama's Pastor) spoke of AIDS being put in the Black community in his much ballyhooed sermon this is why. There is precedence for this kind of action in America. Is this fear mongering? Or is this acknowledging (very real) possibilities? This (Tuskegee) experiment garnered an apology from the President twenty-five years later.
The United States government did something that was wrong—deeply, profoundly, morally wrong. It was an outrage to our commitment to integrity and equality for all our citizens. . . . clearly racist.
Apologies only begin the healing process. It does not cure the hurt. Germany has apologized (for the Holocaust) but the Jews still feel the pain and recognize the significance of never forgetting nor letting the world forget their struggle. Neither shall Black Americans forget; so when you hear the endless loop of Rev. Wright's petition to GOD damning America it stems from this experience along with, slavery, racism, discrimination and injustice that seeks to understand WHY? And how long do we have to suffer this kind of deception? And is their still this kind of government sanctioned racism going on now?
When (non-Black) Americans hear the horror of the Black experience they want to put it in the past, tag it as "what once was", say "it's not like that anymore" until the next event that tears the scab off a wound that will ultimately leave a scar at best. So here is a reminder of why you (America) will from time to time get the vitriolic rhetoric from our gatherings at churches, rallies and demonstrations. Please pardon the anger, hurt and distrust that Black Americans have for some of America's worst offenders, bad actors and racists. It is natural to cry in pain when your healing; to be in discomfort when you've been handicapped. We are in repair.
Your (test) subject,
Bycha Buxton
The U.S. economy is definitely in an "economic downturn" the latest bailout (corporate welfare) of Bear Stearns has to be the biggest cover-up of a defunct financial market in U.S. history. Bear Stearns's capital base of $17 billion had dwindled to $2 billion in cash, and Bear Stearns told government officials that it saw little option other than to file for bankruptcy the next day. Had the government let this Investment Bank go bankrupt the entire banking industry would have stopped dead in it's tracks; no loans, hoarding of cash and the depositors (you and I) would be in a panic.
Could you imagine what you would do if the 24hr-news cycle told of a bank that went broke and left it's customers with no way to claim their money (Investment Banks are not federally insured [FDIC]). I know I would go down to my bank and ask a few questions while withdrawing my change (along with millions of other depositors). Thus creating a classic "run on the banks" which hasn't been seen since "the great depression" of 1929 -1939.
So this is the reason that a Sunday night deal was made to save the financial markets by rescuing Bear Stearns. Not only was the Federal Reserve Bank saving the banks but indirectly heading off a financial crisis of magnanimous proportions. Was it a corporate bail out? or did they spare America a "real depression" at the expense of our reputation abroad. The recent reforms proposed by Treasury Secretary Paulson was of direct results spurned by the mortgage crisis. So here is the fallout which will hurt us (America) abroad, continue to keep the dollar devalued, inflation rising and worldwide confidence in the greatest economy at a low.
This is an excerpt of an article ran in the
USA 2008: The Great Depression
Food stamps are the symbol of poverty in the US. In the era of the credit crunch, a record 28 million Americans are now relying on them to survive – a sure sign the world's richest country faces economic crisis
By David Usborne in New York
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
We knew things were bad on Wall Street, but on Main Street it may be worse. Startling official statistics show that as a new economic recession stalks the United States, a record number of Americans will shortly be depending on food stamps just to feed themselves and their families.
Dismal projections by the Congressional Budget Office in Washington suggest that in the fiscal year starting in October, 28 million people in the US will be using government food stamps to buy essential groceries, the highest level since the food assistance program was introduced in the 1960s.
