Friday, January 31, 2014

I Write to Seek Truth, Not to Reinforce What Readers Want to Believe

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

I Write to Seek Truth, Not to Reinforce What Readers Want to Believe
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A WRITER'S JOB IS TO TELL READERS
WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR
I don’t profess to be either the owner, or arbiter, of truth. I’m a seeker of truth, as oppose to a seeker of validation. And I don’t see the internet as a social club. I view it as an educational tool, a place to educate, and to be educated. So writing is not a competitive event for me, nor is it a social activity where I feel obliged to either stroke egos, or tell people what makes them feel warm and fuzzy inside. I avoid such places and activities both online and in the real world, because they’re a gross waste of time. They’re only good for reinforcing the often erroneous beliefs of the people who congregate there. I call them FOXholes.
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So I’m not going to waste my time writing just to tell people what they WANT to hear. If I’m going to write, I’m going to write about what I think people NEED to hear, and if they're mature adults, they should understand and appreciate that. If they’re not, I simply dismiss them as not the kind of people I’m interested in communicating with in the first place. Why try to have a discussion with people whose minds are closed to ideas that differ from their own? Such people have already made up their minds about what they want to believe, so truth, new facts, and even reality, are meaningless to them. So what’s the point of a discussion? There isn’t one.
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I’ve found over the years that you can pick and choose who you want to associate with in the real world, but on the internet that’s not always so easy. So I’ve found an easy solution for that, and maybe others might want to adopt it. When I find that a person online has nothing of value to offer, or doesn’t fit the profile of the kind of person that I’m trying to get through to, I simply ignore that person. The minute I see the person’s name I simply skip over it and move on. That way, it’s like the person’s not even there. And if the person tries to force themselves upon me, as many such people tend to do, I simply block them. If everyone did that, trolls would eventually find themselves with only one another to troll. They’d be relegated to a troll’s Heaven.
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I received a comment from one lady (at least, I’m assuming it was a female) that said something to the effect that every since I betrayed a thought that she didn’t agree with that she’d lost all respect for anything I had to say. It later became obvious that my opinion was offensive to her more liberated feminist views. I had written an article that was intended to give women insight into how most men think. I considered it a very innocuous article, since it was based on what we men have routinely discussed among ourselves since the time we were little boys. It described my observation of how most men categorize women. I pointed out that in my opinion most men place women in one of three categories: 1). Easy - convenient and nice to have around when there’s no one else to have sex with, but we have very little respect for. 2). Friends with benefits - women who we like and respect, but whether or not we'd marry them is a question mark. Or 3). Women who are generally low-key and very protective of their sexuality - or, the kind of women that most men are looking for in a wife, hence, the phrase, "my lady."
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Women don't like hearing that - especially feminists - because they have a vested interest in believing that men are taking them seriously, and that their newfound sexual liberation isn't being used against them. But the fact is, due to the fact that men have been innately wired to be morally corrupt, and all's-fair-in-love-and-war predators by nature (probably to ensure the perpetuation of the species), we are indeed undeniably manipulative of the newfound sexual liberation of women. It plays right into our lustful hands. But that said, it's grossly illogical to lash out at a writer for brazenly reporting the blatant truth. He didn't create the situation, nor is he promoting it, he's merely doing his job, reporting the facts. So that clearly demonstrates that craving the comfort of an ideological echo chamber is a human characteristic, and not merely a conservative affliction. That's why it is incumbent upon writers to never cater to this tendency in human nature.
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But again, the lady was highly offended, and said that as a result, she had lost respect for anything I had to say. I pointed out to her that while I was sorry that she felt that way, I could certainly understand it. So I simply won’t expect to see her name commenting on any of the blogs that I submitted in the future. I let her know that while I was sure I’d miss her input, I wasn’t there to win friends and fans, and I was certainly not there just to reinforce what she wanted to believe. I was there to engage in serious discussions with serious-minded and objective people who are capable of intellectual detachment. Thus, for my purpose, people who are emotional and allow their egos to get all caught up in a discussion are a distraction.  
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So if a person doesn’t like what I have to say, it’s not necessary for them to throw tantrums and spitballs - that’s the way children behave. Such people need to realize that they don’t live in this world alone, and the rest of the world don’t have an obligation to cater to views that make them feel good. There are others who may also disagree with me, but may want to challenge my views in a more detached and intellectual fashion. I welcome such people, because they are the ones who give the internet the potential for being the most powerful educational tool that man has ever known, and more than once, individuals of this caliber have caused me to reexamine my views, and even reverse them.
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But my opinion is my opinion, so if it’s such an intolerable assault on what an individual wants to believe, they should simply vote with their feet, and I’ll get the point. And what’s most ironic about it is, more often than not, these tend to be the very people running around with their hair on fire, wanting to know what’s wrong with the world, and why people are so dumb.
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Well, here’s another "why." Why distract others who are online to discuss issues, explore ideas, and who are genuinely seeking mutual growth, with inane side issues and false assumptions regarding the motivations of the writer. If you feel that the writer has a hidden agenda, do something constructive. Write an article of your own with an opposing view, laying out the issues that you feel are relevant - some of my best articles have started out that way. That way you’re ADDING to the body of knowledge, instead of simply being a distraction. 
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Life is simple. Why make it complicated?
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Eric L. Wattree
Http://wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.com
Citizens Against Reckless Middle-Class Abuse (CARMA)
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Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

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Sunday, January 26, 2014

What Most Americans Don’t Know About President Obama

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

What Most Americans Don’t Know About President Obama

He’s Not a Liberal - He’s a Progressive

I’m not a liberal. I’m a progressive, and the same is true of President Obama. The reason I make a distinction between the two is because liberals and conservatives tend to be ideologues, so they're merely different sides of the same coin. Ideologues give ideology priority over truth, so when they find truth to be in conflict with their ideology, they try to contort the truth into a configuration that fits more comfortably into their preconceived view of reality. Thus, ideologues are not thinkers; they’re feelers, and as a result, more often than not, they're also bitterly reactionary.
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On the other hand, while progressives tend to hold a liberal perspective, progressives are not ideologues. Progressives give truth priority over ideology, and they believe in following truth wherever it leads and regardless to whose ox it gores. Thereafter, on those occasions when they find that truth is in conflict with their preconceived beliefs, they modify their beliefs, not truth, because by definition, truth is in the best interest of humanity, regardless to what it reveals. Progressives understand that truth, much like physical pain, tells us what issues need to be addressed and modified.
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That’s why President Obama is the best possible person to have heading our government during these perilous times. He’s a thinker, and not prone to strike out recklessly in response to his emotions. He’s also willing to do the right thing, and when what’s right is not the most popular thing to do, he’s willing to take the hit.
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President Obama understands that the appropriate attitude for a progressive to bring to every discussion is a firmness of thought, and an open mind to divergent ideas. Because a progressive, by definition, should have the intellectual capacity to recognize that one can neither scream, nor insult, one's way to a solution to any problem. Thus, what should always set a progressive apart from all others is an affinity for humanity, an independence of thought, and a fierce determination to remain a seeker of truth above all else, regardless to where that truth may lead.
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But ironically, those are the very values for which Obama is most severely criticized. The reason for that is, those values no longer seem to be held among many who define themselves as progressives today. Many contemporary 'progressives' tend to possess the very same rigidity of thought, and mean-spirited, knee-jerk adherence to ideology that the progressive movement was created to combat. So the response that many of these people bring to even the slightest divergence from their rigid ideological beliefs can only be described as one of radical reactionism.
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That concerns me greatly, because while conservatives and today's so-called progressives remain completely divergent in their views toward governance, in terms of intellectual disposition they've become different sides of the same coin. I've often heard it stated that the regimented intolerance of reactionary conservatism is reminiscent of Nazi Germany. That may, or may not be true (I tend to believe it is, and it’s becoming more so with every day that passes). But if it is, it must also be acknowledged that the intolerant regimentation of many contemporary radical 'progressives' represent the USSR at best.
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Many modern progressives have allowed themselves to become infected with the exact same kind of intellectual rigidity that we previously associated with the radical conservative mindset. In fact, many who define themselves as progressives today could very accurately be called latter-day conservatives. While they have a slightly updated set of values, their rigidity and rabid defense of those values will surely morph into the completely closed-minded conservatism of tomorrow.

A perfect example of the above can be found in the fact that I used to routinely write for the Daily KOS, that is, until I wrote an article that asked the simple question, "What is the Difference Between Zionism and Racism?" That was about four years ago, and I’ve been banned from writing for the site every since that time. Then when I contacted them (twice) for an explanation, all I heard in return were crickets.
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That is exactly the response that I would expect to get from a radical conservative website, and it is exactly contrary to what I expected to be confronted with from a site that professes to be progressive. A site that labels itself progressive is expected to be dedicated to seeking truth, whatever that truth is, and not be so protective of its point of view that it becomes just another ideological echo chamber. If you're philosophy on any issue is valid, it should be able to stand up to scrutiny. But if it can't stand up to truth, then a change is warranted.
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That's the primary reason that the conservatives' reckless campaign of rampant disinformation is winning the battle over reasoned and logical thought. So many contemporary progressives have taken on the conservative mind-set of anger before contemplation, and reaction over reason, that there's no one left who's actually thinking. Everyone is simply reacting through anger, ignorance, and disinformation. That's an environment in which the Republican Party thrives, since as any thinking person would recognize, radical conservatism is reactionary by definition. So as Mark Twain said, they drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience.
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Progressives cannot out-scream the Republican Party, and we shouldn't try. The disinformation that's currently being disseminated by the GOP must be met with facts, a well thought-out plan of action, integrity, and character. Progressives must not only be prepared to demonstrate that the conservative philosophy of hanging on to flawed values of the past prevents society from moving forward, but that character, and integrity counts.
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The American people are not stupid. They desperately want these qualities in their governance, but the current progressive movement is not giving them a viable alternative. Regardless to what our intent, in many cases, we're acting with just as much thoughtless anger, reckless abandon, and self-service as the Republican Party - well, in the interest of truth, not that bad, but we're getting there.
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But the problem is, we have not coalesced into a solid front with a clear and viable agenda. We've divided ourselves into so many factions with so many different agendas that the people no longer know what we represent. And the reason for that is, too many of us really don't know what it means to be progressives ourselves. Instead of bringing a clear and definable philosophy of common sense to EVERY issue, and regarding EVERY constituency, we’ve degenerated into a ragtag group of special interests who, in many cases, are fighting against one another. Even as many of us are demanding racial justice, some of those very same people are perfectly content to support a bigoted philosophy toward women, gays, undocumented workers, and other minorities.
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Many of us, for example, have chosen to remain blind to the fact that much of this land was STOLEN from "undocumented workers," so they are NOT the ones who are "illegal," WE are. But all of a sudden, on this particular issue, many who claim to be liberal, or progressive, want to stand with the bigots. And the same is true of so-called Christians, who consistently preach that God created all things, and is the Lord and master of the universe and beyond. Yet, they've decided that their almighty God has made a mistake when it comes to gays, because THEY don't like their lifestyle. Well, truth doesn't work that way. Truth demands consistency, so how can we profess to be warriors against bigotry and hypocrisy, when we ourselves are bigots and hypocrites?
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Thus, how can so-called liberals and neo-progressives expect those Americans who are undecided to distinguish between our character, and the character of Rush Limbaugh? The fact is, they can’t. What they see is two teams both cheering for their side, with very few distinctions in terms of character between the two. Try telling a radical feminist that the nation would benefit from having more women remain in the home. You’d have to wear a flack jacket just to broach the subject. It would be the equivalent trying to advocate an Equal Rights Amendment at the Republican National Convention. But these are issues that desperately need to be discussed, and no knee-jerk assumptions should be made about one's attitude toward women by simply broaching the subject (http://wattree.blogspot.com/2013/06/motherhood-most-valuable-profession-in.html).
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So, too many of us fail to understand that the primary goal of the progressive movement was to create a viable democracy that serve, respect, and honor ALL of the people. But due to the destruction of our educational system, the corrupting influence of Republican governance over the past thirty years, and an irresponsible media, our ideals and what we represent as a people is only a rumor up for debate for an entire generation of Americans. Who would have thought a generation ago that the relative merits torture would even become a debatable issue in America? So we're sliding down a very slippery slope.
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Thus, many young people of the left who consider themselves progressives don’t really know what being a progressive actually entails. They know that their political orientation is liberal, but what they don't know is, there's a vast difference between being simply liberal, and being a progressive. So again, many of these young people approach our democracy like it's a sporting event with no rules of sportsmanship. It's just our team against their team - period.
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What they fail to realize is that the progressive movement is much more than just a synonym for left-wing liberalism. Progressives have always served as America's philosophers, intellectuals, and the nation's conscience. Thus, true progressives don't see conservatives as the enemy. They understand that both liberals, and conservatives, play an important role in our society - at least, responsible liberals and conservatives. Progressives recognize that both philosophies are necessary in order to maintain a balanced America. And we clearly understand that while there's a burning need for a Martin Luther King to remind America of its humanity, there is also a need for a Gen. MacArthur to ensure our security.
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Thus, the progressive movement is not so much a political ideology as it is a philosophical attitude towards human behavior. A true progressive, as oppose to an ideologue of any stripe, will always give truth, logical thought, and the interest of humanity priority over ideology. And regardless to how much he or she may admire any politician, he will always hold that politician accountable for truth, justice, and his fidelity to mankind.

Eric L. Wattree
Http://wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.com
Citizens Against Reckless Middle-Class Abuse (CARMA)
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Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

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Saturday, January 18, 2014

Let Adversity Become Your Mentor

Beneath the Spin * Eric L. Wattree

Let Adversity Become Your Mentor
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ATTENTION BLACK PEOPLE!!!
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WHO USES THE WORD "NIGGA" AND WHY THEY USE IT IS NOT IMPORTANT.  LET US NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO BECOME SO FIXATED ON A WORD THAT WE LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE.
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HERE'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT:
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A Father's Pride
LOOK INTO THOSE EYES. DO YOU SEE A NIGGA
IN THERE ANYWHERE? I DON'T THINK SO.
There's Nothing On Earth More Formidable Than A Person Who's Been Dragged through The Pits of Hell, And Then Comes Out the Other Side A Strong, Educated, and Resolute Individual. That's What's Important.
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I NOW STAND FIRM
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I now stand firm. My conviction of the power of knowledge is the platform upon which my podium rests. I stand firm, strong, and now free. Free of anger. Free of self-delusion. Free of the folly of empty vanity, and free of the pernicious bane of meaningless pride without substance.
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I stand free to look upon the eyes of other men, reflecting dignity over sorrow, and accomplishment over pain; I stand with a burning passion, fueled by the very flame that forged ancestral shackles,with a deep sense of pride and a pride that flows deep.
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I now stand erect. The steel that once degraded my father, that chained him in bondage to this bitter Earth, now reinforce my character, making me more, rather than less; and the blood and sweat that once drenched his brow, now rage with resolve and a sense of purpose within my burning breast.
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I now stand as a new being - neither simply African, nor simply American, but a hybrid forced to transcend the sum of my parts; no longer simply African, since being torn away from the African motherland to suffer and toil in the fields of America, and more than simply American, after being forced to be more than simply American just to survive within the bowels of this prosperous land.
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Thus, I stand now armed - armed with the wisdom of deprivation, the courage of my conviction, and a deep conviction of my courage; and fortified - with the confidence of a survivor, the empowerment of knowledge, and a ravishing hunger for greatness.
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I now stand the product of love, struggle, and sacrifice; a witness to man's inhumanity to man, and a monument to the hopes and dreams of a million slaves.
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I now stand embraced by my creator, as God now smiles upon my people.
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Yes, I Now Stand Firm -
Firm, Black, and Free.
 
Eric L. Wattree
Eric L. Wattree
Http://wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.com
Citizens Against Reckless Middle-Class Abuse (CARMA)
Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

One For Jimmy

Beneath the Spin * Eric L. Wattree 

ONE FOR JIMMY

I’ll never forget the day my father brought home my first saxophone. It was on a Sunday morning. He opened the case, and there it was, smiling at me for the very first time, with its pearly-white keypads and glistening gold body gleaming in the sunlight against the deep blue felt lining of its case. Even now, I can remember my excitement as the newness of it’s smell filled my young nostrils.
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But to my surprise, he also brought Jimmy home with him - for what, I didn’t know. Jimmy was the neighborhood’s quintessential dope fiend and general substance abuser. Thus, to my even greater surprise, it turned out that he had brought Jimmy home to teach me to play the saxophone. I was very doubtful that Jimmy could teach anyone to do anything but shoot dope, toss back a pint or two and nod, but I wasn’t worried about that at the time - I just couldn’t wait for him to put that horn together.
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It seemed like it took him forever to extract the pad-saver and adjust the reed on the mouthpiece. Then they finally put the strap around my neck. Jimmy showed me where to place my fingers, and then I blew my first official note on the saxophone, and got one of the most horrifically agonizing sounds out of that horn that ANYONE has ever heard. It made my mother jump up out of bed and run into the living room yelling, "What is going on in here!"
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I became immediately frustrated, because I just couldn’t figure out how something that was so beautiful could produce such a horrible sound. Then my father said, "Wait a minute, son. Jimmy, show him how this thing is supposed to sound."
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Jimmy, as I mentioned before, was not only a dope fiend, but over the years he had degenerated into an extremely unkempt drunk as well. He had become the kind of person who was completely dismissed by even the most down-on-their-luck adults, and the kids used to like to play practical jokes on him when we found him nodded-out somewhere in the neighborhood. But when he put that horn into his mouth and began to play "Round Midnight," he became a different person. Now he was in his element - Jimmy was in command. All of the disappointments and humiliations in life slipped under his fingers and out the bell of that horn as some of the most beautiful licks that I’d ever heard before or since.

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Even as a kid I could see the confidence, the focus, and knowledge reflected in his eyes. I could see the young Jimmy. I could see all of his hopes and dreams that seems to have gone astray. And to this day, I have never heard ANYBODY play "Round Midnight" with such passion and ease of facility, and I’ve heard it played by some of the greatest saxophone players who has ever lived, but not one of them has been able to touch me in the spot that Jimmy reached that Sunday morning of my youth. And this was cold, on a brand new saxophone, and he probably hadn’t touched a horn in years - and not to mention he was loaded (one of the last times I ever saw him in that condition, by the way).

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I never looked at Jimmy the same way again. From that day on, he became a man to be respected and to be taken very seriously–at least, in my eyes, and later, others began to see him in the very same way.

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But as dazzled as I was, I hadn't heard nothing yet. My father became so taken with the seriousness and professionalism that Jimmy brought to teaching me to play that about six months later he took Jimmy to the music store and bought him two brand new state-of-the-art Selmer saxophones - a tenor, and an alto (we won't discuss how my father knew Jimmy, and how he had so much ready cash - let's just say he was a very successful businessman).
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But when they got back home and Jimmy placed his brand new Otto Link metal mouthpiece on that tenor, he took my breath away. The clarity and speed of the notes flying from the bell of that horn reminded me of the glistening spokes of a Cadillac El Dorado reflecting off the Sun as it gracefully cruised down Sunset Blvd. It was absolutely breathtaking. It was next to impossible to believe that this was same guy who just six months earlier was nodding out between the trash bins behind the pool hall.  Jimmy was undoubtedly a world-class talent - and he knew it. My father would have him play along with records, and he'd routinely blow circles around some of the best in the business, and without bustin' one sweat bubble. He could play 16th notes in double-time that were so fast that it sound like a swarm of bees. 
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Jimmy has been an inspiration to me for my entire adult life. It's ironic, considering, what I thought of him when I first laid eyes on him. I've often wondered if he secretly knew that I was one of his most prolific practical jokesters. If he did, he never let on. But I know for a fact that he didn't know how much more he taught me than just music. Watching his transformation taught me about the foolishness of trying to judge people at face value, and also the power of excellence, character, and class.
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He remained quietly humble for the rest of his life, and never once did he ever try to take advantage of his newfound stature in the community to either exact revenge for the way he had previously been treated, look down his nose at others, or get a free ride - and any, or all of which, he could have easily done.  He even walked in one day and tried to pay my father back for his saxophones, but I guess his class even rubbed off on my old man, because my father refused to accept it and simply said, "Jimmy, that was the best money I ever spent, and you’re not going to deprive me of that" - and  we're talkin' well over $1500 here (in 1960's dollars), and my father was a hardcore man of the street, so a philanthropist he was not, but Jimmy was special..
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Jimmy’s hero was Gene "Jug" Ammons, a jazz superstar (most would have thought it was Dexter Gordon, because his tone and approach was much more in keeping with Dex). But after I was an adult, me, my wife, and virtually the entire community turned out to see Jimmy playing with Jug at a popular jazz spot call the Tiki Island Cocktail Lounge. It was one of the most powerful and emotion-filled nights that any of us had ever experienced - and especially me. I sat there watching my hero playing with his hero, and Jimmy was in top form. Jimmy and Jug were like two lions going at one another, and both loving every minute of it. The room was filled with grown men with tears streaming down their faces. My father denied it until the day he died, but he had tears in his eyes too. That night Jimmy proved, without a doubt, that he wasn’t just a neighborhood hero - he was a world-class musician, second to none, and jug could certainly attest to that. It was the night that Jimmy had prepared all of his life for, and he was on FIRE!!!
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So this one’s for you, Jimmy, because when the chips were down, you proved yourself to be the man, and without a lot of struttin' and fanfare. You just pulled yourself together and showed us what you were made of.  And I’ve never forgotten what you said - 'BEAD' is the stairway to the stars," and you were right. So thank you, my man, for changing your life long enough to give me one. I’m thinking of you this morning with moist eyes - not from sadness, but with great pride in your dignity, and how you handled coming back from the very bottom to a man who commanded the respect of everybody who knew you. You've been an inspiration to me in many more ways than just music. You had character - more character than anyone I've ever known, and class.

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You showed ‘em all, my man, and you went out a winner. You and Jug blew the lights out at the Tiki (that was another night my eyes were moist), and your last gig was SRO. The people who used to laugh at you when you were on the bottom are now saying you were the very best, and they fought back tears as they carried you out of this world on their SHOULDERS. Bird didn't even get that kind of treatment, so you can't get no more respect than that, my man . . . I just hope I’m as lucky.
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As I sit here at 3 in the morning with tears streaming down my face these many years later, I only have one regret - that I didn't keep your horns. But after you moved on, I couldn't stand looking at them. For nearly a year I would clean them, and look at them, as they stood there in their stand awaiting a master that I knew would never return. But finally, they met their inevitable fate - I played 'Round Midnight' one last time on your tenor, and I sold them back to Henry Grant. By that time musicians all over the city were talking about you, so Mr. Grant looked at me and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?" and told him, "Yes." Unfortunately, I used the money to do the very same thing that prevented your name from reverberating throughout time with Dexter, Jug, and Charlie Parker, and the very thing you tried so hard to keep me away from. But the good thing is, your words finally got through, and today my son, Eric Jr., is a Fed (you would have loved him, and he would have loved you). He's dedicated his life to eradicating the demon that deprived the world of your genius.  Just think of the irony in that - Mac's grandson is a fed!!!
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Finally, I just want you to know that the things that you taught me are not going to waste. I'm not the great musician that you told me I would someday become. Life led me into trying to fool the people into thinking I'm a writer instead (I never could figure out how that happened), but I do still get great pleasure out of playing my horn.  I also have a dear friend - who I think is one of the great divas in the world today - who's benefiting from everything you taught me. We're dealing with BEAD as I speak, and I love seeing her soaking it up. She was scattin' along with Eddie Jefferson the other night, and she blew me away. She knows all about you, and I think she's as dedicated to your memory as I am. So just stand by, my man, because your story is far from over. 

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I stay away from foreign substances these days, but every now and then I do indulge a little drink from time to time . . . and thinking of you has made this one of those "thens."  The Sun just came up, so I think I'll run up to the liquor store and get me a pint of gin. Yeah, I know. It's the first thing in the morning, but my stomach don't know what time it is.  
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By the way, Rita was making fun of me yesterday because whenever you come up, all of the swagger and macho in me dissolves into the damp-eyed kid I used to be when I first heard you play. But there's a reason for that. You taught me one of the most important lessons I've ever learned in life. That night at the Tiki you had some of the most hardcore people I've ever known crying like babies, because you represented us all. You showed us that life wasn't about swagger, and bluster.  Life is about excellence, self-worth, and the power of character. You blew the lights out that night, Jimmy, and I'll never forget how Jug and the rest of the band were looking at you. But you didn't seem to even notice. Their expressions seem to say, "Who is this this guy?" But for you, it was just an opportunity to play with one of your heroes. And afterwards, instead of struttin' around with your chest poked out, you simply walked away. But that night, you were the hero, and everybody - including Jug - seemed to recognize that fact but you. That's why we loved you. People who used to laugh at you when you were down and shootin' dope, carried you out of this world on their shoulders. They didn't even give Bird that kind of send-off.
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So you rest in peace, Jimmy, until I write the book that Rita wants me to write about you. It's a story that's begging to be told, because you showed 'em. You showed 'em all - and with grace, and a lot of class. 
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Oh, and one other thing. If Val is up there drivin' you crazy, just tell her that was a one-time thing at our wedding reception. You don't play Al Green. Because I know my baby, and so do you - if don't get Val straight right off the bat, she's gonna bug you into a second death.
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Squirt
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Eric L. Wattree
Http://wattree.blogspot.com
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Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

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Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Are Women Turning Men Off With their Liberated Attitudes Toward Sex?

Beneath the Spin * Eric L. Wattree
 
Are Women Turning Men Off With Their Liberated Attitudes Toward Sex?
(Sorry, Fellas. I Had to Spill the Beans In the Interest of the Community) 
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I want to preface this article by assuring everyone that I’m no prude, nor am I some kind of Bible-thumper trying to force my religious agenda down anyone’s throat. In addition, I don't think there's anyone on the planet who enjoys sex more than I do. I’m merely giving my honest opinion of what I think is contributing to the break-down of the family unit, and it all boils down to one thing - sex.
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Women talk to me all the time about how useless and irresponsible many men have become, which I pretty much agree with. But what women don’t seem to understand is the pivotal role that they're playing in bringing about their own frustration.
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Women have made casual sex far too readily available in our society, and that has resulted in two things that place them at a decided disadvantage. First, women have allowed sex to become so easy to obtain that men no longer have to become real men to get it. As a result, there’s no incentive for men to become responsible adults and father figures. That’s why you see forty year-old men still living with their momas and hanging out on the block wearing sideway-tilting baseball caps. That image doesn't lend itself to being a father figure or a good role model, but unlike in the past, they don’t have to be, because if they can come up with a couple of joints and a pint of gin they can get all the sex they can handle regardless to how dysfunctional they seem to be as men. 
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Things were different in the past. As a rule, in order for our grandfathers to obtain sex during their generation, they had to prove their manhood, jump through a series of hoops, and wine and dine our grandmothers for months and even years - and in many cases, they even had to marry them first. But now all a young boy has to do is walk into a club with enough pocket change to buy a drink or two. That gives him no incentive whatsoever to become a responsible adult, and all the incentive in the world to continue hangin’ out in the clubs instead of focusing on what's going on around him and becoming a man.
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Women used to know how to handle their business. Even with my late wife, Val, while she wasn’t as stingy and strict as some of the ladies from the old school, when we were going together, even while secretly keeping in regular touch with my mother, she stopped speaking to me for an entire year until I caved in and adopted the kind of lifestyle that she approved of - and, thank God, she kept me jumping through one hoop are another until the night she died. If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been capable of writing this article. So in a very real sense, this article represents a letter to sisters from Val's grave. If she were here she’d say, "Girl, what you have beneath your dress is the only leverage you have with these turkeys, so use it wisely" - and anyone who reads this article who knew Val will tell you, I’m not lyin’.
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The second way that the sexual mores of our society is hurting women is, even among the men who are responsible - and who are looking forward to heading families - they're finding it increasingly difficult to find the kind of woman who they feel comfortable about starting a family with.
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The problem is, women don't understand men, and the reverse is also true. That's why most men and women can only relate to one another on a sexual level. Men think that women are impressed by what THEY think is "cool," and women think that men are impressed by what a woman finds impressive in a man - swagger, confidence, and assertiveness. But both are wrong. In many cases, what men consider "cool," women consider silly and simply put up with. And most men don’t consider swagger and assertiveness attractive in a woman at all. Those qualities boils down to aggressiveness, and that’s a male characteristic, so why would a man find a woman who acts like a man attractive? Do women find men who act like women attractive? Not really. So the very same thing is true in the reverse. Men and women have different needs. So many times, when men and women try to impress one another they either turn each other off, or make fools of themselves.
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Let me give you an example. Many women think they can get a man by acting sensuous, sexually provocative, and assertive. In a sense, that’s true. A woman, any woman, can get a man that way, but only as a sex partner, not as her man. Because men classify women in three different categories. The first category is hoe, or someone to use instead of having to masturbate. The second category is sex partner and road dawg. Men like the women in this category as friends, someone to party with, and to have as a sex partner. Unlike the women in category one, men actually like and respect the women in category two women, but not enough to marry - that is, unless they fall in love by accident. Men generally choose a woman who is sexually stingy as a wife. The reason for that is quite simple, so he won't have to worry about her cheating once they become a couple.
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Men will die to protect their manhood. Nothing is more important to us, and there’s no greater assault on a man’s manhood than a cheating woman, because it sends a message that says two things - first, that he wasn’t man enough to keep her in line, and secondly, that the man she’s cheating with is more of a man than he is. So women should understand that if they ever get caught cheating, that’s it. The man may not leave you immediately, but from that point on, he’s just waiting for the right "lady" to come along so he can replace you.
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Men are not like many women, who'll forgive and move on with the simple assurance that it will never happen again, because you’ve assaulted his manhood, and that's an unforgiveable offense. You've fallen off the pedestal that a man requires his woman to stand upon, so he'll never look at you in the same way again.  So generally speaking, the women that men like to party and have fun with, are not the women that they choose for a wife, because even though he may like them, they’re perceived as being much too casual in their sexuality.
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When a man decides to marry - unless he falls in love with a category two woman by accident as a result of having repeated sex with her - he chooses a wife from the third category. These women are generally very protective of their sexuality, low-key, and feminine. Men not only feel that these women are more apt to be loyal, but there’s also a psychological component to it. Category three women are harder to get, and it’s human nature to want most what’s hardest to obtain. That’s why a Bentley is more valuable than a Ford. While they both cars will get you where you want to go, a Bentley is more prestigious because it’s harder to obtain. The same is true of a woman. A man wants a woman that other men can't get, and once he gets such a woman, he not only gets uncorrupted sex, but also, a boost to his ego in knowing that he’s lying next to a women that other men can’t have. He also knows that if she didn’t think he was special, she wouldn’t be lying next to him. That’s a huge boost to his sense of manhood, and 99% of a man’s sexual pleasure is mental. Thus, a man is not as interested in having a sex expert for a woman as he is having a woman who is loyal.
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On the other hand, many women do want a sex expert - or, at least, a man who has sense enough to consider her needs - because far too often in casual sexual encounters, women end up with men who are just interested in satisfying themselves, and then leave the woman hanging and sexually frustrated when they're done. So a woman wants a man that she knows has the sexual expertise to provide for her sexual needs. But a man doesn’t have to worry about that, because all he needs to obtain satisfaction is a warm, wet, vagina - any warm, wet, vagina.
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Thus, all a female sex expert means to a man is hoe. Because the assumption is, in order to obtain her sexual expertise, she had to have made herself available to a lot of men. Therefore, she doesn’t see him as special; he just happened to be in the right place at the right time - and if it wasn’t him, it would be someone else. Now don't get me wrong, he’ll PRETEND that the "expert" is rockin’ his world, and doing something for him that can’t be done by any woman with a warm and wet vagina, but that’s just to stroke the woman's ego so he can have sex with her whenever he feels the urge.
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So personally, I’d rather be with a woman who’s simply capable of enjoying the lust of the sexual experience than I would somebody who’s trying all kinds of techniques on me, any day. Because the "expert’s" head is not in the right place. I want a woman focused on how good SHE'S feeling, and fixated on that tingling sensations that’s building up within her loins, not on how to contract her muscles to impress me with how good she is in bed. After all, a man’s biggest challenge is NOT to climax too soon, so why would he want somebody who’s gonna defeat that purpose? That’s also why men indulge in oral sex, because there is nothing sexier to us than a woman who’s out of her mind with lust and sexual passion. So if there’s any expert in the bed, I want to be the one.
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So when a woman starts talking sex to a man, or try to be overly sexy, she’s not doing herself a favor. All she's doing is ringing the dinner bell that brings out the predator in a man, but he automatically starts thinking in terms of fun and games with a woman of either category one or two. So just because a woman can get a man’s attention in that way - and any woman can - she shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that she’s going to hold his attention. He’s just gorging himself on hamburger until he can find him a steak - a category three woman; wife material, a woman who’s not gonna even consider the possibly of sex until he jumps through a lot of hoops to get there. She's the prize that most men are after.
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Now, I want to emphasize that I’m not advocating any position on this issue. If you’ll notice, the title of this article is a question, not an assertion. My intent is to simply give women insight into how the vast majority of men think. How do I know how most men think? Because from the time we're little boys we spent an inordinate amount of time discussing women and girls. So whether or not what I'm saying is perceived as sexist is not my concern. I’m simply relating the truth - a truth that is common knowledge among most men.
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While many women may consider what I’ve said here old fashion, men have assessed women in the same way since the beginning of time and across cultural boundaries, and it’s very unlikely to change anytime soon. But the problem with truth, and the primary reason that so many people object to it is, it doesn’t always conform to either ideology or fashion. It simply is what it is. So efficient thought requires that we ALWAYS give truth priority over ideology. But much too often we try to give ideology priority over truth. Then when truth comes into conflict with our ideology, we try to contort the truth to fit more comfortably into what we want to believe. and unfortunately, that's what many women do when it comes to the subject of sex. 
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As a result of that tendency, modern women are living under the mass delusion that because their attitudes have changed, the attitudes of men have changed along with them, but they are horribly mistaken. You see, men simply pretend to have changed because it’s to our advantage. The modern female mind-set makes casual sex much more available, and we love it - I certainly do, because I’m just as predatory regarding sex as any other man. But that doesn’t mean that I’m so accommodating to that new mind-set that I want to marry the women that I’m having sex with - and I’m very comfortable in saying that MOST men feel the same way - and that’s a major contributor to the dysfunction of the modern family structure, which is the point of my article.
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I want to emphasize that I'm not suggesting that women should remain celibate until marriage, but I'm sure many women are going to read that into it. I'm simply saying that men prefer women who are "protective" of their sexuality, and women need to understand that, regardless to what a man may say.  Women need to keep in mind that a man will say anything, and take any position, that allows sex to be readily available. But if you want to see a man’s true attitude toward female sexuality, all you have to do is even suggest that his mother or daughter is less than protective of their sexuality. You’ll end up with an extremely hostile individual on your hands. Thus, a man's attitude toward sex is very complex - while we love it being easily available, we don't want the women in our lives involved in contributing to the ease of availability.
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So the bottom line is, the new female mind-set towards sex not only creates a disincentive for men to step up to the plate to become responsible husbands and fathers, but once they are husbands and fathers, the attitude of many women outside of the marriage creates constant pressure for men to cheat. Thus, the attitude of the modern women regarding casual sex often serves to create the very Hell that many women often complain about.
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Think about it. What incentive does a man have to limit his sex life and take on the responsibility of settling down with one woman when he can have all the sex that he can handle - with multiple women - and without having to take on any responsibility at all? Not much. And what cultural incentive does a married man have to remain faithful? Again, not much. So I'm not advocating that women reverse their newfound sexual freedom, but rather, to consider carefully how that freedom is used, because every male you come into contact with certainly is. So while I'm not advocating any position, I am suggesting that women learn the rules of the game and not allow themselves to be played, because having that knowledge gives women options on how they want to play the game.
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In that regard, what's important for every woman to remember is, while many women's attitude toward sex has changed tremendously over the years, men are still very old fashion when it comes to their woman - they have to be, because the way a man’s woman carries herself is reflective of his manhood - and that's very important to a man. While I know this may sound kinda old-school to contemporary women, with all of the sexual opportunities out there for your man, how you carry yourself may be the determining factor on whether or not your man is willing to make that extra effort to be the kind of man you want him to be. And women should also remember this - as old fashion as your grandmother was, she didn’t have any problem hanging on to her man.
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Love, Pain, Passion, and Lust
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HER PAIN:
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She walks alone, sweet woman-child,
her sobs flow warm against the dark;
Her need is love, not merely passion,
a mighty fortress, her broken heart.
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Quivering bodies and breathless moans,
she remembers with great delight,
but the heat of love is the only flame,
her lusting soul craves late at night.
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Hungry arms yearn for her shuddering body,
to embrace her tenderly with all their might;
Shivering lips lust for her succulent passion,
as she cries out desperately into the night.
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But only true love can quench the thirst
that burns red hot, and deep inside,
so she faces the pain, again and again,
and late at night she cries.
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Masculine shadows of delusion and lust
caress their egos more than her pain,
for her convulsing body quivers not for them,
but for her fantasy
of a warm and gentle man.
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So, with head held high, by light of day,
but, mournful eyes, that do betray,
unspent love, and a breaking heart,
and the fear of sobs, when day turns dark.

HIS PASSION:
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She's dark, she’s passionate, and she's lovely,
but she doesn't know herself:
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She doesn't know
the extent her smiling eyes
devastate this love-sick heart;
The way they dance in the moonlight,
subtly beckon,
and betray the depth
of her sultry passion.
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She doesn't know
the ecstasy of pleading moans
on a humid, Summer night, or
the maddening pleasure of glistening bodies
entwined in erotic flight.
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And
She doesn't know
the hot breath of passion,
as it whispers between her thighs;
The gentle kiss, the sting of bliss,
the pain of pleasure
that burns inside.
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She doesn't know
the agony of lust
while suspended in endless time,
as she yearns for sweet release,
while desperately clinging to
the sweet sublime.
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And
She doesn't know
of frantic begging
for that of which she's run,
of the animal that leaps inside of her,
as flowing chills
begin to come.
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She doesn't know
the embrace of madness
as her trembling loins
begin to spill . . .
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She
doesn't know of love,
but on this night,
her pleading eyes,
say she will.

THEIR LOVE

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Eric L. Wattree
http://wattree.blogspot.com/
Ewattree@Gmail.com
Citizens Against Reckless Middle-Class Abuse (CARMA)
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Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

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Saturday, January 04, 2014

A LITTLE LESSON IN CLASS - AND JUST A LITTLE COMMON SENSE - COULD SAVE THIS COUNTRY

Beneath the Spin * Eric L. Wattree

A LITTLE LESSON IN CLASS - AND JUST A LITTLE COMMON SENSE - COULD SAVE THIS COUNTRY
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This young lady's arm was in a sling, and the gentleman - a perfect stranger - saw that she was having difficulty cutting up her food. So he put his life on hold just long enough to, literally, step up to the plate. That guy should be found and recognized - not just for his benefit, but for the benefit of America - because he represents what most of us want America to be.
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I love this picture, because it speaks volumes about people relating on a human level.  It shows how easy it is to make one another happy, and what the world would be like without ignorance. It should also put a little something on some of our young men's minds about class, knowing how to treat a lady, and manhood.
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This guy shouldn't go unrewarded, because his simple act of kindness is EXACTLY what's missing in our society. This simple gesture represents a Master's class in what America is suppose to be about - not the hatred, selfishness, or the division that's seems to be increasingly engulfing our society, but kindness, and sense of caring, and the recognition that the struggle through life is a group effort. When he sat down at the table he didn't ask her who she voted for, her political affiliation, or her position on any political issue. He simply dealt with her as one human being to another, and I'm going to save this picture to my mental database, to remain a constant reminder of that fact.
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Someone should find this guy and give him a Soul Train Award or something. Because this is what awards should be about. So I hope everybody will post this picture all over the internet to let him, his employer, and his family know how much we appreciate his acting like an American, and taking the time to make the world just a little bit better, for just one young lady. These are the things we should reward as a society. Look at the look on that young lady's face. It says it all.
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And who knows, maybe if we gave this gentleman enough recognition for his simple kindness, it just might catch on. The mass publication of stupidity sure has caught on, because people tend to repeat the behaviors that are rewarded, and the reward of mass public approval is one of the most powerful motivators that society has to offer. In psychology they call it a conditioned response. With just a little effort we could make it "cool" to be sensitive and caring, and before we know it, we could have young men competing to be seen helping an elderly lady cross the street, instead shooting at each other to prove their manhood. 
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And it's not like it's something that hasn't been done before. For several years in Los Angeles during the sixties the Black community virtually safe from urban predators and the gangs all but disappeared, because it was a time when being "enlightened," and "down for the community" was rewarded as what it meant to be cool.  Young men were literally "borrowing" their nieces and nephews so the women could see them interacting with young people, and taking the kids to the barbershop to get their afros groomed. In short it became "cool" to be responsible.
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During that time entertainers and athletes had to demonstrate that they were responsive to the needs of the community to get the community's support. It wasn't just Muhammad Ali's skill as a fighter that made him an icon in the Black community, it was the community's sense that he was fighting for them. It was a time when even James Brown an Sammy Davis, Jr. had to cut off their processed hair and grow naturals, because it didn't matter how famous you were, you had to be responsive to the community to get the community's support.
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It was a great time to be alive in the Black community, because everybody seemed to be pulling together. During that period I didn't even need a car. I could get all the way across town in just a matter of minutes. I'd go to the bus stop and before long, someone would roll down their window and ask, "Where you going, brother?" Then when I told him, he'd say, "Hop in," and he'd take me as far as he going in that direction, or sometimes, even go out of his way to drop me off at my destination. He knew he didn't have to worry about being jacked, because we didn't do that to one another. And then, when I'd offer to pay him, he'd say something like, "Don't worry about, my man. Just pass it along." That was Black life in Los Angeles during the sixties.
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So if we really want to create a better society, and clearly demonstrate that those who worship selfishness and greed are out of touch with reality, moments like the one depicted in the photograph above should be seize upon and rewarded. Personally, I'm for making this guy a poster child for what we mean by American ideals. thereafter, all we'll have to do is display the poster during mass rallies and demonstrations to remind Americans of who we profess to be.
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In the recent past we've been wasting our time carrying posters angrily condemning the behavior we're fighting in an attempt to ANGER the people into action. But the people have become immune to angry protests, so all that does is strengthen the resolve of the people we're fighting. As a result, that doesn't worked. So now we should try carrying posters of ordinary Americans who we've made it a point to honor for their ordinary, but honorable deeds, in order to INSPIRE the people into action.  We know that will work, because it already has.


Eric L. Wattree
http://wattree.blogspot.com/
Ewattree@Gmail.com
Citizens Against Reckless Middle-Class Abuse (CARMA)
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Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.     

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