http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/opinion/18brooks.html?_r=1&ex=1198731600&en=3ad5368ac125db01&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin
Response to NYT opinion article concerning Hillary C. vs Obama.
It is a month later, and for the delay in response, I apologize. However, it wasn’t until today that I was fortunate to come across Mr. Brooks article covering the “Hillary / Obama” issue. I say fortunate not because this article provided me with enlightenment into anything substantial; but because it did the opposite.
Let me begin by openly admitting that I have no clue as to what is meant by Mr. Brooks when he says, ”… the country’s future can only be shaped through a remorseless civil war between the children of light and the children of darkness.” I do not know which (of the many) Americans (republicans & democrats) feel this way. Reading this literally makes me feel as if Brooks is insinuating the idea that many Americans believe the only way to solve our countries problem would be through some sort of racial divide. I truly hope this is not what was intended, but considering the topic and juxtaposition with the language used, “…children of light and darkness.” feels like an allusion to this idea. Maybe the language is meant to allude to the American idea of good vs. evil, but considering the historical context of language in our country, I can't tell. Is there necessity in the ambiguity in Mr. Brooks' choice of words? I can't tell. Okay, last thing that struck me as odd in this opinion piece is the line where Brooks says that Obama has a “…racial predicament…” Did he really align Obama's race to a predicament? I am just not sure of the intentions of Brooks’ message. In my opinion, choosing to use the word “predicament” was unnecessary. To me it seems as if Brooks is taking subtle jabs at Obama’s expense, in essence, his exclusivist references and language only cause further confusion.
I am sure Mr. Brooks does not care; however, he should remember this, not everyone is as well versed in Reinhold Niebuhr as he may be. Mr. Brooks...dumb it down.
lol.
I got an interview 2morrow shawty...just wanted to let folks know as ignant as i could...holla @ ya boi boi for tha biznass...peace out my dude.
DIAMOND MONKEY JEWELRY COLLECTION
Overview:
Inspired by the popular, See no Evil. Hear no Evil. Speak no Evil. mantra, Schwartz has designed a collection which is called the "Diamond Monkey" Collection. “The concept behind see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil is a means to leading a peaceful, positive life” says Schwartz. “Wearing this emblem is a constant reminder of these three mantras and helps keep you grounded by empowering you to take charge of your emotions and block out negativity.” The collection, which is available by wait list only, features 18k gold and blackened-gold monkeys representing the three aspects of the adage. The handmade monkeys are adorned with canary yellow diamonds and contrasting white diamonds for the eyes. The Lorraine Schwartz Monkey Collection includes necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and cufflinks which can be worn layered or as a single statement piece, and are available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman.
From a oct. 28, 2007 post on concreteloop.com
“I collect the see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil monkeys. The are very nice looking. It’s nothing racial about it…they are monkeys, covered with diamonds…hence “diamond monkey collection”…plain and simple. blacks always wanna take something out of proportion!!!”
My Response:
What a great example of unintended irony. Analyzing this quote, an extremist might view it as a subliminally racist metaphor; however, I just hope it was just a curiously comical coincidence. Though the post is describing the jewelry, imagine it as a description of the celebrities themselves… “… The(y) are very nice looking…they are monkeys covered with diamonds…”, very disturbing right? At least whoever posted this comment referred to these people as black rather than negro/
negroes or worse, remember, this is 2007 not 1907.The main point of this issue is not black folks being hypersensitive on race issues; it is about Loraine Schwartz’ lack of creativity. Schwartz’ choice to call her collection by this name is simply uncreative. Most know the tragic stereotypes created to align blacks with primates in the past so I will not loom there. How about this…let us all: black, white, and brown, evolve and stop perpetuating the stereotypes placed on us from years ago. Again, the point is Ms. Schwartz could have chosen a much more creative and sensitive title for her collection. I would have expected young Skateboard P (Pharell Williams) to check her on that shit; but there he is smiling for the paparazzi. Maybe this is a class issue. To me it seems as if these uber-rich celebrities are losing sight of reality. Hey, this is America, a free country; so I guess the folks wearing the jewels do not care about the name of her collection. Should they? If you can afford it and want to wear a bathing ape T-shirt and Red Monkey Jeans designed by a Japanese man, adorn yourself with monkey diamonds from a white (Jewish?) woman, and rap about shooting people of color and selling them crack then good for you. Wow…Dance monkey! Looks like Ms. Klum brought her own real life diamond monkey…j/k, I like them and have no problem with interracial dating, but I had to say it. I’m sure some ignorant-racist-bigot was thinking it somewhere; I just wanted to beat them to it and steal their power.
WELL THE HAWKS DID WHAT EVERYONE KNEW THEY WOULD DO. I HOPE HORFORD CAN PROVE ME WRONG IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS...I'M SURE HE WONT, BUT AT LEAST HE WILL TRY. WHEN YI REVOLUTIONIZES THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLAYER, WE WILL LOOK BACK AT OUR LOST OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOMETHING GREAT IN ATLANTA. oh well.
The hawks should definitely pick Jui-Wan at three tomorrow night, and with the 10 they could scoop up a true point guard; Javaris Crittenton, 6-4 194 PG G.Tech Fr, or maybe acie law or Mike Connely, Jr. The lineup would be ready to win 25 to 30 more games next season, baring injury. As an added bonus, of course the picks would fire up the A, and immediately bring more people to Phillips, finally taking advantage of one of the best-designed NBA arenas, which is often left under filled due to a city, which has been unexcited by the Hawks in recent years. The lineup would go like this. Acie law at point, Joe at the two, josh smith running the wing, and Yi Jianlian doing his Nowitzki thing from 3...and don't sleep on rising NBA local hero, Pachulia; they are solid down low with ZaZa doing work on the boards and cleaning up the trash. I've heard of a three-team trade sending Amare Stoudemire to Atlanta, KG to Phoenix, and Minnesota cleaning up with the Hawks 2 first round picks. Don't do it Billy Hunter, fight for what your team, your city, deserve. To me, it sounds like Colangelo is working his power and up to his old tricks again. Overall, the Hawks become more dynamic with Yi and a true point guard...sorry Speedy. We will see tonight. Let's Go Hawks...Let's Go Hawks...Let's Go Hawks.
Until manana,
THUNDERSTICKS...
So it has been seventeen days since my last comments. Here goes. Today i played basketball at miller grove and two separate people tried to dunk on me. Can you believe the audacity? I admire the heart but, as to be expected i had to send them both packing. It is not like anything else would be expected. I guess thats what you get for playing with good talent. Moreover, in other aspects of the game i was alright. Overall, i was happy with my game today; i played good defense, i was aggressive and my three-ball was there. This actually sparked a nerve in me to stay as active as possible. so this is the jump off of a athletic blitzkrieg of sorts. The past couple of weeks have bee foggy, and i guess i have been living in a fantasy world of road trips, weddings, best-man status, drinking, hotels, and room service. Now; it's back to reality. Work tomorrow...the grind continues. Only, two weeks till my grad quarter begins, then it is off to the real world. I will be ready. soon enough, i will have my website up and i will be forced to and excited to broadcast more of myself to the world.
So what about Curtis "50-cent" Jackson's Glacéau investment that returned him 400MiL? I didn't see one news network cover this...not one newspaper headline discussing his victory. I do, however, remember the critical onslaught he received due to his "Get Rich or Die Trying" billboards. Of course that was all over the news, this is nothing new nor surprising, and I am not writing about it to get a rise out of anyone...it's just something I noticed. Lol, currently my itunes is playing the Black album...so this leads me to question: who in hip-hop is really BALLIN? 50, Jay, Diddy, Birdman & Weezy F. Baby, Russell Simmons, Jim Jones??? Should I include Oprah, Sheila and Bob Johnson? They are black so in essence, they are hip-hop...right? I digress...So Jay just sold Rocawear to Iconix Brand Group for 204 mil in cash, and 35 MIL in stock...also, he will still be head of product development which should generate a nice annual salary considering the company has an annual revenue of over $700 Million...wow! These are big numbers we are talking about here, add them all up and we have reached billionaire status. So what are these gentlemen going to do with such wealth? Hip-hop(efully) they will surprise me by continuing these wise investments to build empires that can empower people of color, the disenfranchised or impoverished. Yea, I want them to make it rain too, but let's keep surprising the masses, who feel that is all we as black folk know how to do. ha.
on Lorraine Schwartz launched her ‘Diamond Monkey Collection’