Monthly Archives: August 2008

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First Blood: Chinese visa rejection should open floodgates for dissent

 

US Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek

When asked the other day if USA Basketball players should speak out on human rights issues in China, Kobe Bryant said in effect that he and other players are not politicians but are there to “play the game.”  Normally I would say that’s a big cop-out!  After all, we know the power of the dollar these days and how much marketing makes a difference as players follow the “Jordan Rules” for remaining race and issue neutral on all things that do not pertain to promoting themselves or their brand.  I could site LeBron James’ reluctance to speak out about Nike sweat shops as an example. 

For sure the days of the concious athlete, i.e. Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, John Carlos and Tommy Smith, hell Billy Jean King are gone for the most part.  The rare exceptions for example are basketball players like Adonal Foyle, Dikembe Mutombo, and Etan Thomas.  Craig Hodges the former sharpshooter for the Bulls during the early Jordan years gave a letter to the president at the Rose Garden during their championship visit.  The letter talked about poverty and brought up issues that Hodges and others were concerned about that rarely ever get presidential attention.  He was blackballed by the league after that.  These people are conscious of not just their personal benefit and consumption from the sport, but of community and world affairs.  I don’t expect Kobe Bryant to know or care much about Tienanmen Square in 1989.  I don’t know that he is familiar with the issues regarding greater Los Angeles.  I would rather those speak who do know the issues so that the” stars” don’t make fools of themselves or degrade the cause.

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And so it goes with these Olympic games in Beijing.  I didn’t expect athletes with monolithic perspectives to chime in on weighty issues such as the Chinese human rights policy or the geopolitical stand of The Dali Lama.  Too bad the Olympics are in China in the first place, but perhaps we could just play nice and get through the games.  NOT!  Not now that the Chinese government has revoked the visa of Olympic Gold Medalist skater Joey Cheek.  Cheek is the founder of Team Darfur, a group of 70 athletes whose goal is to raise awareness of the human rights violations taking place in the Darfur region of The Sudan as told by Yahoo Sports.  China has many military, economic and diplomatic ties to The Sudan.

Again, initially I understood the modern athlete’s reluctance to get into political discussions during the games.  After all, it takes all one has just to prepare to qualify to compete with the best in the world on the world’s biggest stage.  The Olympics only happen once every four years.  Many American athletes have toed the line and not made any political statements regarding Chinese human rights issues and have focused their energies to promoting the games and making them attractive to fans, who may not otherwise know them.  However, China has thrown down the gauntlet two days before the opening ceremonies themselves.  American athletes should respond likewise by voicing their disdain for the way the Chinese have decided to treat Cheek.  They should use every opportunity especially during the medal presentations to make it their business to rally around a fellow American.  Talk about patriotism!  This is not a time to be politically correct but to make a morally definitive statement in supporting another American’s attempt to make the world better.  With the treatment of a great American like Cheek, it is unacceptable for any athlete to say with a straight face that it’s “just about the games.”  Damn the endorsements – speak truth to power!

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The Best & Worst of Systems

 

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I was reading a column from one of my favorite columnist Sylvester Brown.  He talked about prejudice and a case he served on as a juror for.  This reminded me of an eye opening experience I had as a juror. 

When I got my first jury summons some years ago I remember talking to myself about this great opportunity to serve my community.  I checked in downtown and got my booklet which instructed me on the role of a juror and why I was there.  While waiting I read the book cover to cover.  Going in I knew that I needed to be impartial and to be ready to not allow my personal prejudices to dictate how I would rule on a case.  I was excited to say the least to participate in this most important of judicial processes.

Ahhh the case:

I make it past the first cut where we get to take questions from the attorneys.  The case consisted of a young male accused of selling drugs to an undercover police officer.  The young man was present with his attorney as was the prosecutor.  The laywers polled us by asking questions such as:

a) Do you know the defendant?

b) Have you had negative experience with police officers?

c) Would you need video or audio evidence to convict?

d) Are you more apt to believe a police officer over an accused individual?

Easy enough right?  Just tell the truth.  My answers to these critical questions:  I didn’t know the defendant.  I’ve had negative and positive experience with police officers.  If there was no video or audio I would only evaluate the that was presented.  I am neither apt to believe the police or the accused in any given situation.  Especially as it relates the case at hand.  My evaluation would be strickly based on the evidence presented.  See I had paid attention to my book – AND I meant every one of these words quite sincerely. 

Long story short I didn’t get picked.  Some of those who did however included a gentleman who said he would more than likely NOT believe the police under any circumstances.  And another who said he came from a family of police officers and was likely to believe anything the police would say.  These guys decided the case.  Eventually my time was up.  Three days of pay for reading a couple books, and hours of hurry up and wait. 

I learned a couple of sobering things about jury duty and the judicial system.  First of all the attorneys are not concerned about justice in the strictest terms.  The prosecutor wants a conviction.  Period.  He may have aspirations of being circuit attorney, attorney general, a senator or governor.  If he does not rack up a large number of guilty verdicts his chances for promotion are reduced.  At the same time the defense wants an acquittal.  Doesn’t matter really whether the person did it or not, but rather whether the prosecutor can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.  The attorneys with the most aquittals command the lions share of retainer fees.  Its all a game and the jury are merely a part of the players.

Second, though a jury are supposed to be made up of peers.  I found that to be a mixed bag as well.  Listening to some of those people talk I knew damn well I would never want them sitting on any jury I was counting on if I was faced with doing time.  Lets just say many were without much depth.  Some only complained about not wanting to be there.   And that they would rather be home watching Judge Judy or something.  This was especially disheartening when I heard African-American women complain this way.  After all black folk get the brunt of the short end of the justice stick.  And while they don’t want to serve – let alone serve with honor they are the first to complain about the all white jurors who hung ‘Lil Ray Ray’ out to dry.  I gave them sisters a piece of my mind and explained to them that serving was an opportunity to have a say within their community and being an active participant in the justice system.  I asked if it were them on trial, or their sons or brother or cousin, would they want a juror with their attitude to determine their loved ones fate?  (Let alone if any of them were being tried themselves…)  Some shot me a look of death.  And others thought I had a good point. 

The conclusion is that we in America do indeed have the best system in terms of the idea and the model.  But there is no way to legislate righteousness and once the details are executed with people who have motives that may or may not have to do with truth or justice, the system can get out of whack.  Its a serious thing being caught up in the system.  If you have loot there is a better chance of having decent representation.  One can get investigators, doctors, psychologist, forensic experts ect. to speak on behalf of ones case.  But if your broke, the case can be as flimsy as a wet t-shirt at the Hooters beach party against you and you could still be a goner. 

Nevertheless, I advocate that those of us who are of sound mind, logical, reasonable, and compassionate should do all we can to serve on a jury when called upon.  We may not have the education that the lawyers have, but we still have the last say in most cases for common sense to rule in these complicated issues that effect people’s lives.  Be the juror you would want to have. 

Peace

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The Alchemist

A Fable About Following Your Dream

This is a book on my list of reads.  I heard that Will Smith read it and it gave him a perspective that has been key to his success in life.  I have mad respect for Will, (Hancock notwithstanding) Me and my boy Rich were talking about the book and he is featuring it on his blog on Tuesdays.   His Tuesday post are called, “Back On Track Tuesdays, where they will hold discussions.   I will actively join in after I get the book but I will stay tuned in the meantime!

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BBG C-Notes Week Ending Aug 1 – Aug 3

Can you believe we are already at the beginning of August of 2008?  It seems the older I get the faster time flies.  Several things come to mind this week that I would rather not get into deeply, but they are good for a quick mention…

On Pride and Politics

I mean is it me or does Senator McCain just get on your nerves with his constant obsession with Barack Obama.  All this guys does on his “campaign” trail is rail against Barack.  In his latest tirade he is airing a commercial that compares Barack’s canidacy and appeal to that of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.  Can this old white dude get MORE tired than he already is?  I find this reminiscent of the kind of things one Hillary Clinton used to say about Obama before he spanked that ass in the Dem primary.  In that campaign she constantly belittled and underestimated Obama’s message to Americans.   Next thing you know she is askin Obama for some loot to get out of campaign debt.  I see the same with McCain.  He thinks that because Obama is not white, that he can pretty much say anything about him including the dumb statement that Obama would rather lose the war if he can win an election.  Keep it up John.  Your making this easy.

Speaking of Obama, I hear that his campaign is all in a tizzy over Ludacris’ political rap in which he has a thing or two to say about the likes of Hillary, McCain and Jackson.  An example:

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On special perks:‘Said I handled his biz and I’m one of his favorite rappers, well give Luda a special pardon if I’m ever in the slammer. Better yet put him in office, make me your vice president.’

On Hillary Clinton: ‘Hillary hated on you, so that (expletive) is irrelevant’

On Republicans: McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed, Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped

Obama’s campaign came out with statements against the song, and others are even calling on Obama to denounce Luda.  Memo to the Obama campaign, please do NOT go Tipper Gore on us!  Leave it alone.  The best thing you can say in this situation is nothing!  Let MTV be the judge as to whether the song sucks or not.

Tipper Gore, cofounder of the Parents Music Resource Center

Artest Gives Yao Culture Lessons

While getting ready for the Olympic games in his home country for the Chinese national team in Beijing,  Yao Ming got wind of the acquisition of his American team of Ron Artest from the Sacramento Kings.  Ron Ron was glad to go to a team with the likes of Yao and Tracy McGracy.  But Yao didn’t seem as enthused.  Asked what he thought of the oft troubled reputation of Artest, Yao said: “Hopefully, he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands.”  This of course references the brawl that took place in Detroit a few years ago when Ron Ron was with the Pacers.   When Ron Ron heard this, he wasn’t upset but instead decided that Yao needed a little lesson on ghetto culture:

“I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto.  That’s not going to change.  I’m never going to change my culture.  Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he’ll understand what I’m about.”

 I’m glad Ron Ron said his culture was “ghetto” and not black or African-American.  He may have meant the two interchangeably, but I’d just assume leave it be.  I’ll take the same advice I gave Obama on this one. 

On Sports/Non Olympic

Memo to Brett Favre – Please go away!  I have been one of the few who have voiced my displeasure with this spoiled brat’s “on again off again” rants over the last several years regarding whether or not he was going to retire.  Certainly if he were Steve McNair or Warren Moon, hell Donovan McNabb he wouldn’t garner all of this sympathy nor would this behavior be tolerated.  That being said the Packers made total fools out of themselves by offering #4 20 million to stay in Mississippi as opposed to playing for some other team.  This is stupid on a couple levels.  First of all why?  If you don’t want this dude simply trade him, or release him.  Second what makes them think #4 would have taken the cheddar anyway?  If he did he would look even MORE selfish than he does now; as if all of this was about money.  Even #4 isn’t that stupid!  I don’t think so anyway.

 

 Speaking of trades and what not.  How about my man Manny Ramirez formerly of the Boston Red Sox.  Much has been said over the past several weeks by this disgruntled employee.  Manny is definitely his own man and lives in Manny World.  Sort of like Darryl Dawkins did back when he lived on Love Tron.  But Manny, the ever clever one took advantage of the news of his and #4’s trade rumors gossip.  And in the spirit of Chad Johnson broke with this clever sign in the Red Sox dugout a couple nights ago. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How good is that?  Well Manny was traded on Thursday but not to the Packers.  Instead he will wear Dodger Blue and play for old Yankee skipper Joe Torre.  I met Manny in St. Louis the day he won the World Series MVP against the Cardinals.  The guy was totally cool even as I interrupted his lunch with his wife for a picture.  Say what you want but Manny plays, and he MASHES the ball.  He will always be cool with me.  He should fit right in with other Tinseltown notables.

Quick Notes

Juno has to be one of the funniest, most clever movies I have ever seen!

Speaking of movies, finally I was able to copy The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh a DVD that a friend of mine loaned me in December.  Sorry it took so long man!  There were several failed attempts!

God By Any Other Name

In my Christian circles I often hear that Jesus is the only way to the Father.  I tend to debate that in its strict religious forms.  My theory has always been that God knows what His name is – and that it’s not what you call Him by name but what one means in his/her heart.  I believe God recognize a sincere heart that searches Him out.  Case in point – In reading the book, “Shake Hands With The Devil,” LT. Gen. Romeo Dallaire spoke about a divine experience one of his men had during the genocide in Rwanda:

Major Diagne… while transcribing minutes from meetings – “… as he sat at his desk transcribing, he felt the sudden need of prayer and slid off his chair to his knees on his prayer carpet, his head toward Mecca, as required by Islamic faith.  At that exact moment, a huge piece of shrapnel smashed through his window from a mortar explosion, flying through the space he had just vacated, bouncing off the walls and landing still red-hot near his feet.  He came within a hair’s breadth of certain death.  Always dignified and composed, Diagne reported the damage to his window and then returned to his desk to complete his tedious but essential transcribing.  (P. 313)

Say what you want, Jesus, Allah, whatever.  The man sensed his spiritual master calling and because he obeyed that voice to pray his life was spared. 

Speaking of prayers, big prayers for my man John Bass.  Pull on through!  “In Jesus name!”

Ya’ll make it a great weekend!