Near the end of a discussion, my GSI posed a question: Would Dr. Martin Luther King support Affirmative Action? I was one of the two students who argued he would be in support of this reversed discrimination. Opponents argued that it would perpetuate perceptions of inequality and further the historical view of African Americans being inadequate and superior. At the end of the discussion, my GSI said that indeed Dr. King would support Affirmative Action. Although I believe this argument is subjective, I agreed with her. Through his leadership in SCLC, his protesting and influence in passing the Civil Rights Act, and his will to ensure equal justice for our future, it is evident that Dr. King would support Affirmative Action.

Affirmative Action first started in the early 1960s when President Kennedy introduced an executive order mandating that all public employees have equal opportunities regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin. Dr. King was alive when the program was first introduced and was able to witness the triumph in his accomplishments when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, mandating equal education and work opportunities in the public sector. Dr. King was a major influencing in pressuring the US Congress to pass the CRA and heavily support section VII, which essentially frames the intent of affirmative action. After King’s death, Affirmative Action began to expand and encompassed disabled Americans as well as women.

The term “affirmative action” was not official until after his death, but the first indirect affirmative action campaign, “Operation Breadbasket”, was led by Dr. King and SCLC. In an interview with Stephen Oates, Dr. King stated that “a society that has done something special against the Negro for hundreds of years must now do something special for the Negro” to compete on a just and equal basis”. According to Oates, Dr. King didn’t approach affirmative action as reverse discrimination, rather, he as a incomplete conclusion to help further racial equality. Dr. King concluded that “collective problems require collective solutions.” Affirmative Action monitored by the government would be an effective solution to ensure equality in all spheres of the social norms in America.

Opponents argue that Dr. King would be disgraced that we continue some type of form of discrimination based on race. Louisiana, Governor Mike Foster, presented Dr. King’s opinions when signing an executive order to abolish affirmative action. “I can’t find anywhere in King’s writing” he told the New York Times “that King wanted reverse discrimination. He just wanted to end all discrimination based on color.” The majority of my classmates agreed with Gov. Foster saying that Dr. King would find Affirmative Action completely absurd and furthering the separation between races. Also, opponents argue that Dr. King’s famous words “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” shows that affirmative action is just paralyzing our nation and teaching races that their skins color will historically be worth more than their character.

However, political theorists and even Supreme Court Justices are ready to put behind remedies of past injustices and create a new, completely equal America. In Justice O’Connor’s decision in Grutter v. Bollinger she states “it probably would be better if we could remedy the racial gap in academic achievement long before application for college admission”. She hoped that affirmative action would end in the next 20 years, yet perhaps her prediction came true. In 2006, Prop 2 was passed in Michigan banning Affirmative Action in public universities. The contagious debate of affirmative action has yet to end. Only in California and Michigan have citizens ended this remedy. Perhaps the country is ready to move forward and put all discrimination based on race behind them, or perhaps they are turning a blind eye to the historical discrimination Dr. King peacefully protested.

Works Cited

Schmidt, Peter. “Sandra Day O’Connor Says Affirmative Action Faces Uncertain Future.” The

Chronicle N.p., Apr. Web. 20 Nov. 2009.

<http://chronicle.com/article/Sandra-Day-O-Connor-Says/38513>.

Rockwell, Paul. “The Forgotten Teachings of Martin Luther King.” In Motion Magazine NPC

Productions, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. <http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/mlk3.html>.

Rockwell, Paul. “Recasting MLK as an Affirmative Action Opponent.” Race, Racism, and the

Law University of Dayton, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2009.

<http://academic.udayton.edu/Race/04needs/affirm25.htm>.

As if my posts weren’t brainy & awkwardly academic sounding to begin with, now you have the opportunity to read my writing at its formal & stilted best! I have added a new box to the right of my posts, entitled, “Academic Peace Papers”. As the name suggests, much of my academic life has been focused on peace and nonviolence. I will periodically add more of my papers to this collection.

Among the papers now available is my Master’s Thesis! This project included a video companion piece, which I promise to someday upload. I find it interesting that there is an inverse relationship between how much effort it takes for me to write something and how many people read it. So, a post that took 20 minutes to write may be read by hundreds of people, whereas a thesis paper that I labored on for months might be read by a total of three people, including myself. To rectify the situation, I hereby invite the entire world to click on & read my thesis.

So, read on, let me know what you think, and tune in soon for more additions to the Academic Peace Papers box.

- Eric

4 Men from 4 different corners of the world. 4 different religions 4 different ages and 4 different ethnicites. 4 different lives and 4 different faces with 1 cause; peace, happiness, love and equality.  They had a dream, a mission, a mantra, and a movement for the greater good of the world. Though they all never came together as a force to promote a positive cause, each of them were a reinforcement of the positive cause. These 4 revolutionaries are the epitome of Equality 4 All and Equality 4 America. Even though Americans treat people according to their race,sexuality, socio-economic status, and gender we are all still humans. One of the 4 men depicted, Martin Luther King, had an ideal for equality within America. In his speech, “I Have A Dream”, states “I have a dream that one day my 4 children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the context of their character.” King wanted everyone, specifically whites, need to accept people, specifically blacks, for their character and not what they see on the outside. 1968 King was assassinated for his fight for equality.

They were 4 equality, we are 4 equality. Will you be 4 equality?

Psychic Sterling Sinclair Auracature of the Stars, “Martin Luther King,” November 18, 2009

I was moved to post this Auracature today.

This man believed in a hope filled dream,

And a hope filled dream we all need today.

Blessings,

Sterling

Together, we march over the horizon.

The Sinister Yung Breeze

On behalf of our worldwide audience, Joe Stern-McGovern, global agent and President of Universal Artists, International, is pleased to announce the return of Yung Breeze, former partner of DTA of Houston’s hardcore street duo, The Brigade. Known for such hits as Degradation, Block Bleed, Krunch Time, Real Where I’m At, Mob Style, and Hands if You Feel Me, our listeners can come to expect the return of these classics to the shelves and in downloads on the coming site and charitable brainchild of Joe Stern-McGovern, www.endhivaids.com, dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS in our lifetime.

Produced by Joe Stern-McGovern in the earliest days of Universal Artists, International, Yung Breeze was a budding prodigy discovered through H-Town’s young producer, Mastamind, along with his cohort, B-Fly, on the hard streets of Houston’s notorious 3rd Ward. With many a scuffle and near miss with the local Texan thugs and corrupted, as well as close encounters with Harris County’s finest, Yung Breeze was molded by the environment in which he was raised.

Joe Stern-McGovern Posing with The Brigade

While Yung Breeze’s lyrics and the vehemence of his delivery are part in parcel of who he has become, his aura and essence are more of a product and statement of that which he has personally witnessed within his community and the back alleys of Sharpstown, as well as the peril he’s bourne on his shoulders rather than a radical call for violence, rebellion, and disobedience. When he cries out for justice and equality, his words ring with crystal clarity as those of an individual whose lived the life against which he protests with endurance, contempt, and integrity, and simultaneously maintains the roots of who he’s developed into as a man of pride and consequence.

If you wish to know how the other side of the tracks has lived and survived without personally endangering yourself and your future, take a quick listen to the furious tales of the dark side as portrayed on the microphone and in the studio by the genuine article, Houston’s Yung Breeze.

In spite of the anger and resentment one might expect from such an individual, Yung Breeze has developed into a rather charitable individual, donating his time and talent to Joe Stern-McGovern and Universal Artists, International’s struggle against the spread of HIV and the devastating consequences of AIDS.

Look for future production of Yung Breeze through the likes of Shaka Productions, as well at  H-Town’s legendary recording hot spot, In the Jar Studios, run by the studios owner and operator, Al Loya, techincal afficianado and savvy engineer to some of hip hop’s fastest rising legends.

“When I first met Yung Breeze, he was a struggling youth who had a great sense of pride, an enormous gift of expression, and a knack for conveying his particular genius through the local street venacular of the areas hoods and ruffians. Originally recording at one of the illest and most infamous studios in the shadier side of town, Psyche Ward, Yung Breeze was picked up and developed by the genius of the wonder twins, Boss and Ripp.” Collectively, these forces of the city’s darker and far more dangerous neighborhood known as Southwest Houston, Soufwest to the locals, have come to the forefront in recent days.”

Joe Stern-McGovern can personally vouch for the validity of the young anti-hero as through his entrancing telling of the first photo shoot the act was to experience as the entity which would come to be known as the Soufwest Brigade, or simply, The Brigade, led by street veteran and surprising genius given his circumstances, DTA, “Don’t Trust Anyone”, a meeting in which the photographer was so terrified, he insisted the photo shoot take place in broad daylight in a local downtown Houston city park.

The Southwest Brigade

True to his name, DTA came to generally distrust those who held the strings to his future as well as his cohorts, and the split was made as DTA went MIA and Yung Breeze continued the journey on the road to stardom solo. For those dedicated and loyal fans of DTA, fear not, he is yet in his prime and will surely rise back to the surface given the timing, motive, and opportunity, as his tales are of equal importance to those of any and must be expressed through the venue known widely as hip hop.

Currently holed up in Al’s “In the Jar Studios”, Yung Breeze is deliberating the path of his next turn towards truth and the betterment of society and the world around him through analysis of the streets and the general feeling of the times.

“Youths such as Yung Breeze sadden me in a way,” states Joe Stern-McGovern. “He’s just about the age my son would’ve been had he lived, and upon reflection it fills me with a sense that somehow I, as a part of society,  have failed our younger generations, leaving them to inherit a world abandoned to greed and the mismanagement of our leaders and botched policies of the government, an entity whose best intentions are questionable.” Those who have chosen such selfish ends will now come to face the fury and ambitions towards societal justice and self-correction from the likes of DTA, Yung Breeze, two halves of the Brigade.

For more information about Yung Breeze or DTA, please visit us at www.myspace.com/universalartists or www.universalartists.net. For information about booking either of the duo domestically or internationally, please write to Joe Stern-McGovern’s assistant at either joesternmcgovern@myspace.com or www.myspace.com/joesternmcgovern. For inquiries of the artistic nature or to explore your own future as an artist at Universal Artists, International, please write to Shaka of Shaka Productions at shaka@universalartists.net.

Light Brigade Records

For donations to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, please visit our writer’s page at www.universalartists.net. If you are interested in either sponsoring or investing our endeavours at fighting the battle  against HIV/AIDS, please write to joe@universalartists.net, or universalartists@myspace.com attention, Joe Stern-McGovern.

For information regarding the sales of Universal Artists, International’s products or charitable goals, or to download singles towards charity from your favorite Universal Artists, International artist please visit our latest site, www.endhiveaids.com, currently under construction and built by www.lubashadesign.com.

For information about our colleagues abroad, please visit www.pure-records.com or write to info@pure-records.com in Tokyo, Japan attention, Eric. Please look for our international release throughout greater Japan, Eastern Asia, and Australia in early 2010.

Now on Sale, Casey Rankin's, "Speaking in Tongues"

Tomorrow, Friday the 13^th, marks an ominous day in my hometown. In Bethesda, Maryland, at Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School the infamous Westboro Baptist Church is coming to protest a number of student run groups on campus. At my high school, they are protesting The Diversity Club, The Feminist Club, The Gay Straight Alliance, The Jewish Culture Club, and The Special Olympics Club. All of these clubs are well known at my school for fostering acceptance and tolerance for all people worldwide. This Westboro protest really strikes home for me because I know a number of friends in these clubs and can personally attest that what they advocate and promote are both progressive and peaceful ideas not the kind to be protested. The Westboro Baptist Church is known nationwide for its controversial protests of LGBT groups and its radical beliefs about homosexuality. There was a prominent play entitled The Laramie Project, which document one of their protests at Matthew Shepard’s funeral, because he was gay. Their website is here for those interested in learning more about them http://www.godhatesfags.com/. The most interesting part of this controversy, however, is the student’s reactions. Our high school has issued a request that students do not cause too much of a commotion due to the protest and want any counter-protest to be silent and peaceful. Students at my high school created two rival facebook groups to combat the protest, one entitled “Counter Protest Against Westboro Baptist Church!” focused on being “a SILENT and PEACEFUL protest” And the other “VOCALLY protest Westboro!!!” which advocated disobeying the high school administration’s request for a silent protest. These two opposite protest methods seem highly reminiscent of the Civil rights movement and both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s theories on protest. Like the civil rights movement, Gays and Lesbians across the country are currently denied their civil rights and groups like the Westboro Church are likened to racists and anti-civil rights supporters back in the 1960’s.  In their respective essays, A Letter from a Birmingham Jail and The Ballot or the Bullet, both King and X argue for their protesting methods. I believe that were they alive today King and X would support the corresponding methods by which students are counter-protesting.  In his essay, King states that “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.” In this case, the nonviolent, non-vocal, and peaceful protest of the first group personifies King’s ideals. They create tension through counter-protest, while simultaneously bringing positive attention to the cause because of their respectful dissent to their opponents. Malcolm X on the other hand advocates a different type of protest. In his essay, X says that we should remain “nonviolent as long as the enemy is nonviolent” By being vocal and trying to instigate emotional and negative responses, the Westboro church, by X’s standards, validates an equally vocal response. The Westboro church is known for trying to spark emotional responses to their protests. One of the main concerns that both the students of the first group and the school administration share is that the Westboro Group loves attracting news coverage through the response that those they are protesting provide. The harsher the reaction to their protest, the more coverage they can generate. The debate becomes this: which is a better method of protesting? I believe, in both this situation and the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King’s protesting strategy has many more positive results. It is responsible of the majority of students, shown through the number of members in the respective Facebook groups, to choose to silently protest. They show their disagreement with the church’s views while simultaneously being respectful, more mature, and denying them their desired press coverage. Just like in the Civil Rights Movement, being peaceful and passive makes their opponents look worse for seeming more radical. The excessive force used to put down the non-violent protests generated a lot of positive media coverage for the movement. In this case, by being peaceful and silently rejecting the church’s protest, B-CC students will rise above their opponents. Simultaneously, if the students had adopted X’s ideals in their protest they would be playing into the hands of their opponents by generating more media coverage. In conclusion, it is easy to see why King’s strategy for protesting is a superior one, both in the Civil Rights Movement and for tomorrow. By being peaceful and not regressing to emotional responses, protesters can make their message heard and seem mature and right while doing it.

“One man’s theology is another man’s belly laugh.” Scifi guy Robert Heinlein said it. Or so says QuoteDaddy.com.

Having studied a little divinity and chuckled a few times myself, I am often fascinated to find out so and so studied to be a priest, a pastor, for piety or out of pacifism.

Some famous folks profess to having given thought to wearing a clerical collar. Charles Darwin and Sting, for example. Others had clerical parents, which led them most decidedly away from divinity. Friedrich Nietzsche, I’m looking at you.

So here’s a quick and dirty list of notable students of divinity (know of others? let me know):

Tommy Douglas — father of Canadian healthcare, “Greatest Canadian,” and ordained Baptist minister.

Martin Luther King Jr. — The doctor was a PhD in systematic theology from Boston University!

John Long — American rock climber went to Claremont School of Theology.

Gram Parsons — Ur-Creator of Alt-Country music — studied divinity at Harvard for a semester.

Albert Schweitzer — musician, medical humanitarian, Nobel Peace prize winner — Theology PhD from Tubingen.

Joseph Stalin — kicked out of a Georgian Orthodox seminary for not paying his tuition.

Rudy Wiebe — Western Canadian Mennonite writer — studied at Tubingen for a year.

I found Malcolm X’s argument compelling.  I especially liked when he talked about not being an American.  I was fascinated by this concept, I have never really thought about being an American.  He said “I am not going to sit at your table and watch you eat, with nothing on my plate and call myself a diner.”  That is an interesting concept.  How does one define what makes them American?  Being born here? Malcolm would say not “As long as you and I have been over here, we aren’t Americans yet- If you and I were Americans there would be no problem.”  He is saying that African Americans are second class citizens, that because their votes are not counting, they cannot even consider themselves Americans.  “They don’t have to pass civil rights legislation to make a Polack and American.”  He says that the government that they voted in has been a waste of a vote, the administration “has seen fit to pass every kind of legislation imaginable, saving you until last, then filibustering on top of that.” 

He says that the black man “doesn’t intend to turn the other cheek any longer.”  “They haven’t got anything to lose, and they’ve got everything to gain.  And they’ll let you know in a minute: ‘It takes two to tango; and when I go, you go.’”  I realize that Malcolm X said “by any means necessary,” but I feel that he would never have even talked about taking the movement to violence if there had been another option.  I think that when you back people into corners for a long enough amount of time, they will strike back.  I feel that Malcolm would have been all for MLK’s non-violent campaign if it had worked more quickly.  His problem was that the black man had waited too long to be given what had already belonged to him.  “How can you thank a man for giving you what’s already yours?  You haven’t even made progress, if what’s being given to you, you should have had already.”  He is saying that because these rights should have been the given to the black man to begin with, fighting (with violence) is justifiable when one is being deprived of something they should already have.

Malcolm X said “The ballot or the bullet”, I think that is a sign that he was willing not to turn to violence, if there had been another option.  He made the point that if the government would have given black people a real voice, they would not have had to turn to violence.

While MLK would not agree with the possibility of violence, under any circumstances, you cannot deny that the two men were fighting for the same things.  They both believed that their rights were being, not just violated, but they did not truly have these rights in the first place.  King advocated non-violence; however he was willing to go to great lengths to achieve these ends.  He ultimately gave his life for this cause.  I think that if the white man would have done what he had promised he would do, the civil rights movement would never have had to turn to violence, and I think that Malcolm would agree.

Great thinkers such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Socrates took it upon themselves to enhance their given societies with their unique perspectives on social change and through active attempts to influence others. Their beliefs, methods and philosophies greatly influenced their given societies the advantages of which made Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. into an iconic American social leader and Socrates one of the many founders of Westernized philosophy.

Educationally, Dr. King was both a graduate of Morehouse College and a theologian who used his knowledge to combat inequality throughout the Southern regions of the United States during the 1960s. His intent was to alter the social standards of all Negro citizens using his social methods to organized advocacy in the form of non-violent peaceful sit-ins, marches and legal battles. He believed that he could create equality amongst Negros and Whites from institutionalizing equality through U.S. law and through state recognition of the Negro community and its standards. Dr. King used methods, which followed the status quo in order to obtain power through acknowledgment and leadership that he further yielded to all Negros in the form of education and equality in order to progress his social movement toward improving the standards of all Negros.

His efforts remind me of Socrates who attempted to alter institutionalized philosophical thought throughout Athens with his very own philosophy; a feat that would eventually cost him his very life. Socrates’ aim was to influence the men of Athens to lend their ears to those who teach wisely rather than following those who seek knowledge through an unreliable standard. Socrates believed that philosophers were the only suitable men to govern society. He believed his methods were a more reliable source than the Athenian system in place. His methods involve posing a series of questions until the one who seeks knowledge gradually develops an answer (the Socratic Method also known as elenchus).

Unlike Dr. King’s efforts to maintain the status quo and advance his community through making Negros knowledgeable about advocating justice and social advancements; Socrates was steadfast with his intent to disgrace Athenian philosophy and rebuild their society with his beliefs. This ultimately resulted in his trail and death, but the mere attempt had a lasting affect on his students, influenced a discipline and created a philosophical legacy. In contrast, these two historical figures were not very similar and their efforts to alter society are historically renowned.

Americans headed to the polls in droves yesterday to weigh in on a myriad of issues and candidates, including many dealing with the LGBT community.

The good news: In Kalamazoo, MI, 65 percent of voters supported an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance; currently, domestic partner benefits are leading in Washington with 51 percent of the vote, but only 50 percent of precincts have reported; Akron, Ohio, elected it’s first openly lesbian candidate, Sandra Kurt, to city council.

The bad news: No on 1, the stance that would preserve gay marriage in Maine, has conceded as 53 percent of voters voted yes to reject marriage equality.

Of course today is reminiscent of this same time last year. In a country that had just elected it’s first black president, oppression was institutionalized for another class of people. This has happened yet again.

And while radical actions are great, when it comes down to it, we must still answer to the laws of our nation, and when those laws create privilege for some we must work to change them. We need to work both within the system and through radical action to make real change.

Marriage equality is a tired subject and maybe shouldn’t be the LGBT or queer movement’s top priority, but the inequality is still indoctrinated in American law at many levels and that must change.

Moreover, what has happened in California, Maine and other states that have embedded oppression and hate into it’s most sacred document – it’s constitution – are just symptoms of how America feels as a whole. Constitutions are a contract between the government and the people; apparently a majority of both are okay with having a gay marriage ban in this contract. This is about changing the way people view queers as second class citizens, not just about the institutionalized inequality.

So if you get the opportunity to support equality where you live take it. Even if you’re tired of hearing about gay marriage or you are too radical to support such an issue, because when it comes down to it, it’s about equality. Even if you don’t want to take advantage of marriage equality, someone else does. And wouldn’t you want their support if something you valued was being taken way?

And keep in mind the famous – and albeit trite – quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

FIRST LADY BUMPS GIULIANI FROM
YANKEE SEATS

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
arrived at his favorite seats in
Yankee Stadium for Game 1 of the
World Series last week, only to
find them taken by Michelle Obama.
The First Lady was given his usual
spot next to team’s dugout.

MLK’S DAUGHTER IS SCLC’S FIRST
FEMALE PREZ

Rev. Bernice King, the youngest
child of the Rev. Martin Luther
King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, on
Friday became the first woman to
head the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference civil rights
organization co-founded by her
father.

“Martin Luther King Sings” by The Gregory Brothers

I’m subscribed to 37 channels on YouTube, one of which is that of The Gregory Brothers, the musical visionaries behind the Auto-Tune the News series you may or may not have seen (watch it here). What they do is string together clips from various news programs, auto-tune them, and slap on funky basslines — it’s ineffably awesome (I recommend #6 and #8). But this clip here is actually from Auto-Tune the News’ lesser-known younger brother, Time Travel in Song. Described as “historical events songified“, the series is pretty much the same idea, except The Gregory Brothers use clips of historical speeches (they’ve also done JFK and Winston Churchill) instead of the national news. Enjoy the song, and be sure to subscribe to The Gregory Brothers’ YouTube channel here!

In the traditional sense of the word I am in no way a good student. My study habits are poor, I am inconsistent and all around disinterested in having my work judged by an out of touch professor who’s just as much interested in livening up his lecture as I am interested in having to sit through it, but I get the job done. As a student of life I would say I am excellent.  How or why I am not sure but I’ve been told I’m wise beyond my years. I think that’s in part due to the fact that my father is almost as old as the institution I attend (cheap shot, of course it is, am I allowed, of course, he’s my father). Coincidentally there are three pieces of legislation authored by the old man that make me proud: H.R. 5707, H.R. 676 & Finally, H.R. 800, now this last one is a great one don’t get me wrong, but I like it more because of my time off of school than it’s actual purpose(no offense R.I.P. MLK, JR). I have yet to sleep, I have insomnia (yes, clinically diagnosed) and I’m getting a tad weary and I can see this is becoming a tangent more than an about3 post (these will happen sporadically throughout the life of this blog).  Not quite morning for me but definitely not night, I’ll just bid you all “Good Morrow.”

3

Friday October 23rd I attended the Enough Is Enough Crime Watch Meeting which took place at Janie’s Garden on Osprey and MLK. The meeting was very well organized, and the group touch based on a lot of key points on ways to coordinate around North Sarasota. I had the Opportunity to speak with Mary Mack President of the Amaryllis Park Neighborhood Association Inc.

The meeting opened with a prayer service by Valarie Beuler speaker, and member of Enough Is Enough Crime Watch which opened the second meeting. After establishing the group leaders would be, and establishing who would keep record, and notes of all meetings a serious question was brought up. This question was if the Citizens crime Watch should approach anyone who is doing illegal activity or how they should handle the situation?

The meeting eventually made its way to identifying the problem makers with in the community, and Janie’s Garden. Many of the hard working residents were upset at those who don’t care, and don’t have to pay as much for their accommodations basically stating that it’s time for them to take responsibility of their actions.

The Speaker Valarie Beuler announced one of the problems in which she encountered Living inside of Janie’s Garden, and then she explained how they will defuse of such problems in the future.

The meeting finished with every member of the Crime Watch Group serious about getting the message out to the streets that Enough Is Enough. If you want to hear the prerecorded interview of the event please visit us at www.doubleedgetelevision.podomatic.com or www.myspace.com/dastad

DO of the Black Flock Gang

You may call him DO, you may call him the Deacon, but whichever moniker you prefer, you must pay heed to the Poet Laureate of the Streets, blood brother to Mouf Piece of da City, and one half of Birmingham’s legendary duo, Dem Hard Headz.

Word from every corner has it this enigmatic icon will soon take wing with microphone in hand, launching into a furious lyrical lashing which is certain to bring even the most jaded, hardened soul to bow down to his power and dominance. This is not idle chatter, friends, this is not bravado, this assertion is grounded in a proven track history of freestyle battles, adept delivery on the mic captured on film, and the throngs of fans who mob the dimly lit backdoors to each nightclub he plays in an attempt to catch even the briefest glimpse of the legendary and darkly mysterious icon with his corn rows down.

An elusive character often spoken of as possessing the wisdom, power, and stealth of a black jaguar in the Amazon, at heart DO is surprisingly down to earth. A creature molded by his years on the tough streets of the Magic City, his lyrics are filled with insight into the trials and tribulations of a portion of society which goes largely unnoticed and neglected, except for in the eyes of entities such as local and federal law enforcement.

Hard Headz: Blood Brothers

A solid example of his roots might be found in his coming smash hit, “Cash In”, with older brother, mentor, and all around savvy Hard Head, the oft spoken of highly and widely, Mouf Piece of da City. In the high octaine cocaine based single, DO proceeds to break down the underworld of cocaine, a realm in which the search for sheer and immediate satisfaction through “white china” creates an element of the hopeless, strung out, and addicted, as well as the accommodating dealers poised, as the song takes point of, to “Cash in”. 

On DO’s mark, the field has assembled in legions to futilely attempt to trump this poet laureate. When asked how he feels about the jam up of so called opponents, the Deacon just smiles, sits back, and proceeds to pop open another chaser of Budweiser. With the nickname the Budweiser Kang, DO shows no fear of the perils of this world, as through a supreme sense of confidence, he senses no fear. Perhaps out of a sense of haughty superiority which has evolved through years of walking up and down the block stomping over the competition, his confidence is as warranted as it is appropriate.

DO: Poet Laureate of the BFG

In the debut of BFG, the CD certain to take the world by storm, Dem Hard Headz pair up with the FAM Boy$, whose ranks include Facts, Lo, and the most infamous citizen of Birmingham by way of Adamsville, the honorable and worthy Hood Shuttlesworth. The collective known as Black Flock Gang  gather for a round at stardom beyond the pale of imagination. 

Word has it their subsequent mind bending stab into the psyche of the general public will follow with the future release of a compilation album, brain child of Joe Stern-McGovern and Shaka Productions of Universal Artists, International. Partial proceeds of the album will go to fund the agency’s concern for the issue of pediatric AIDS. Filled with a social conscience as well as the skills which level the competition, DO is filled with heartfelt kindness, coupled with pride and professionalism. He is able and ready, and promises to devastate any negativity or hate so prevalent in the field known as hip hop. His casual yet poignant manner has replaced in its stead an image of social awareness and compassion for his culture, people, and the community as a whole. 

Preacha Boi: Other Half of Dem Hard Headz

For more information on DO, Dem Hard Headz, FAM Boy$, or Black Flock Gang and their debut, BFG, make sure to visit us today at www.universalartists.net, www.myspace.com/universalartists, www.youtube.com/universalartistsintl, or the acts own profile on Myspace at www.myspace.com/blackflockgang.

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Black Flock Gang: BFG

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We look forward to hearing from you soon, as your comments and patronage are greatly appreciated.

This is random.  But I’m going to list my 10 fave dudes of all time (out of the celeb pack).

 1. Bob Dylan                                                                            

2. Sacha Baron Cohen

3. John Lennon

4. Martin Luther King Jr.

5. Vince Vaughn

6. Obama

7. Larry David

8. Jim Carrey

9. Howard Stern

10. Tie between Conan O’Brien and Robert Downey Jr.

Yes that’s quite a motley crue.  They are all very different.  But they are all exceptional, fearless, uber-smart, march to the beat of their own drummers. Some hilarious, some spiritual, some prophetic, some healers.

Yeah, those are my boys.

Long story short, if I was married and Bob Dylan asked me to marry him, I might have to go pay a visit to my attorney.  LOL.

©PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND THIS IS COPYRIGHTED INFORMATION.  USE OF THIS INFORMATION IN REPRODUCTION or ANY OTHER MANNER CONSTITUTES COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY LAW©

THE FOUR HORSEMEN

A long time ago, when I was still considered a child I tried to sketch what I envisioned and dreamed regarding this painting and was unable to.  Believing it just wasn’t my time, that I hadn’t yet earned the right I continued on with my life.  Although I had made bets with myself to read the entire bible, I often became discouraged because I did not understand what I was reading and still do not…mostly.  I would put the bible up and forget about it.  I had read or heard that if you simply ask for understanding, you will receive it.  I also read not to test God, but the rebel I am an have always been went ahead and tested him.  I asked for understanding.  Sometime later, I read Revelation like I always did, as an artist and not a religious person.  I got to the Four Horsemen and found my heart pounding in realization…
I had earned the right, I finally understood!
Once widely used to classify races of humans and still used in Forensics and medical sciences, I find it interesting that the four primary races match the colors of the horses in overall color, (please see blog regarding the Pale Horse separate from this entry) as well as the roles the horses represent.  The terms are not used as much publicly due to the “offensive” projections people feel they create.  For this piece, I will use them for scientific and artistic purposes in order to express my theory as I see it.  All I can tell you is if you feel offended, close the blog.

Theoretically, the Caucasian-white, Australoid-red, Negroid-black, and the Mongoloid-pale (In art the lightest basic color in the color scale before white, classified as “pale”).  One could argue the “pale” theory but I am not here to argue that, I am here to express my theory as an artist, keep an open mind, continue researching the subject and make sure I have scientific evidence and proven information.

The terms are used in physical anthropology and intricate details of each skull type are used to classify the originations of various humans or the regions of the world from which they were first known to inhabit.  It is interesting information and you may not be who you think you are!  In science and through excessive research, it has been found that:
 
Caucasoid people were/are indigenous to Europe (see European countries:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe), Western and South Asia, as well as a Western section of Central Asia and North Africa.

Australoid-Australoid peoples ranged throughout Australia, New Guinea, and Melanesia, as well as different parts of Oceania , Philippines,Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and the Southern Middle East.

Negroid are people from a Southern portion of North Africa and sub-Sahara Africa.

Mongoloid people are East and Southeast Asian, the Eastern portion of Southeast Asia, Polynesia, Far East Central Asia, Greenland, Far Eastern region of South Asia and the Americas!  (This is very significant in the story of The Four Horsemen.)

See link for geographical reference to race originations:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniofacial_anthropometry
Please note that ALL people classified in the origin may not have an active role in the events represented by their horses’ role.

So, what does all this mean?
These are the Four Horsemen of Revelation:
The White Horse-Caucasoid
The Red Horse-Australoid
The Black Horse-Negroid
The Pale Horse-Mongoloid

SECTION ONE-THE FOUR HORSEMEN-THE WHITE HORSE

According to Revelation the White Horse:

“…And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer…”

EUROPEAN MAJOR WARS/Events:
French Revolution 1789, Industrial Revolution-Second half of the 18th century, Russian Revolution 1917.  See:  World War II Timeline…Germany, Hitler, Soviets, etc… It is astounding information!  http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm
And in current times the threat of The New World Order-The wealthiest most powerful bloodlines in the world.
The 13 bloodlines are:

The Astor Bloodline
The Bundy Bloodline
The Collins Bloodline
The DuPont Bloodline
The Freeman Bloodline
The Kennedy Bloodline
The Li Bloodline
The Onassis Bloodline
The Reynolds Bloodline
The Rockefeller Bloodline
The Rothschild Bloodline
The Russel Bloodline
The Van Duyn Bloodline

Also as a 14th bloodline theirs a Merovingian (Merovingian – a Frankish dynasty founded by Clovis I that reigned in Gaul and Germany from about 500 to 750 bloodline) which has something to do with the European Royal Families and also 3 interconnected bloodlines,

The Disney Bloodline
The Krupp Bloodline
The McDonald Bloodline.

It appears throughout time, the Caucasian race has utilized the bow and crown given to him.
Some text theorize the White Horse is the Antichrist but does not link the theory to research, although if I had to look at it in that manner, I would have to agree.
If a person looked at these horses as not only races of people but the timelines and peaks of their reigns, that person could calculate events before they happen.  The times overlap yet there are definite peaks, as you will see in The Black Horse theory.
Biblical years v.s current years:  http://www.direct.ca/trinity/360day.html

SECTION TWO-THE FOUR HORSEMEN-THE RED HORSE

The Red Horse-Australoid:

 ”…And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword…”

The focus on The Red Horses Australoid origin would obviously focus on the Middle East in current times all the way back to biblical times.  Peace has definitely been taken from the earth for a long, long time due to the discord.  The Middle East fight among themselves and indeed kill each other.

My confusion came when I thought about the American Indians and their skin colors so similar to Middle Eastern.  I thought they did fight amongst themselves and kill each other too, along with others but if they were here before “white men”, they did not fit into the Australoid origin theory.  My entire theory was shot…But then I started thinking, well then, where did they originate from?

SHOCKINGLY, this is what I surely did not expect to find:
Skulls of peoples with Australoid morphologies have been found in the Americas, leading to speculation that peoples with phenotypical similarities to modern Australoids may have been the earliest occupants of the continent.
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Australoid

 SECTION THREE-THE FOUR HORSEMEN-THE BLACK HORSE

 “…and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of balances (scales) in his hand…”

I went over some of this material in my post regarding the Black Horse previously.  I stated as the artist, and as a human being that I felt no man in history had given so much toward equality in the world as Martin Luther King, even losing his life for it.  It was his actions which gave birth to all of the equal rights movements for so many things in current history.

For me, the balances (scales) are equality and therefore justice by weight of evidence measured.  I also noted that the rider of the Black Horse will be Martin Luther King.  The equality explosion occurred in effort to obtain equal rights for African Americans, and all people in general.  So it would center around the Negroid race.

SECTION FOUR-THE FOUR HORSEMEN-THE PALE HORSE

THE MONGOLOID PEOPLE-THE PALE HORSE

“…And behold, a pale horse, and he who sat on it, his name was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him…”

Mongoloid people are East and Southeast Asian, the Eastern portion of Southeast Asia, Polynesia, Far East Central Asia, Greenland, Far Eastern region of South Asia and surprisingly enough, the Americas!

Shocking to realize WE (Pale Americans) are the Pale Horse!

Is it coincidental that we are currently on the brink of World War III?  Is it too far fetched to think that America does not have a major role in the unsettled politics of our current times and the overall turmoil of the world?  Are we the rider named Death?