SO YET ANOTHER DUMMY IS CALLING BLACK PEOPLE IGNORANT

If there was ever a need for proof of how elusive the concept of intelligence can be, one need go no farther than the renowned geneticist James D. Watson to completely make one's case. He has proven to be the living embodiment of both brilliance and ignorance walking hand in hand. Watson, a 1962 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology for his contribution--along with Francis Crick, and Maurice Watkins--in the discovery of the structure of DNA, and its role in the transfer of information in living material, has at the very least, matched that laudable accomplishment with an equally renowned act of stupidity that has brought his illustrious career to a disgraceful end. Watson is quoted in a London Times interview as saying that he was "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours--whereas all the testing says not really." He then went on to say, "people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true." While Watson may be brilliant in his field, the stupidity of such a statement, from a purely public relations point of view alone, clearly demonstrates that if he harbors anything beyond average intellect, it is far from well distributed. One might say, this man is a Nobel laureate--what do you mean IF he harbors average intelligence? Well, the fact is, just because a individual has exceptional insight in a given area, that doesn't necessarily mean that he possesses a well rounded level of what we call intelligence. Idiot savants are a case in point. These people are generally mentally retarded but exhibit genius in a highly specialized area, such as mathematics or music. The movie, Rain Man, was based one such individual. Some of these people can't add up six and six, but if you give them your name, they can tell you on what page it appears in the Los Angeles phone directory--then tell you your phone number. So, again, the inner workings of the human mind is just as mysterious as the universe itself. Anyone who reads this column regularly knows that I'm all but fixated on knowledge, intelligence, and the human mind. I became fascinated with the subject as a teenager, and it's only become more pronounced as I've gotten older. On my website (wattree.com) I point out that "Some of the greatest minds I've even known held court while sitting on empty milk crates in the parking lot of ghetto liquor stores." I meant that literally--so there's very little that anyone can tell me about the power of Black intelligence--and those who underestimate that power, only do so because they haven't been fully exposed to it. It is my opinion that one's gross intellectual potential is immeasurable, and functional intelligence is dynamic in nature. In other words, our IQ changes to accommodate our need, so what our IQ happens to be at any give time is dependent upon our interests, desires, and our aspirations at that particular time in our life. Intelligence can be called upon when needed in just the same way that Herculean strength can be call upon by a mother who needs to lift a car off of her child, or the way that we gain additional strength during the fight/flight reaction due to anger or fear. That explains the disparity in IQ scores among different groups--their IQ scores simply reflect their attitude towards knowledge, and their culturally inspired desire to do well on such tests. Of course, there are those who will ask, "What credentials do you have to even comment on this issue?" To those "experts" I respond in the following manner: First, since no one has the credentials to even define what intelligence is, I'd say my theory is just as valid as anyone else's; Secondly, in the absence of absolute fact, I never credit anyone else's ability to think over my own--after all, while man can confer credentials, he cannot confer insight, nor intelligence; and finally, my theory simply makes more sense. So the fact is, you are not only what you think, but what you desire--that's why I'm always beating the drum over the need for the Black community to embrace the love of knowledge. I think that's also the point that Dominique DiPrima was making on KJLH's 'Front Page' last week. She argued the importance of forcefully responding to assaults against our intellect. I agree with her. We should respond--if for no other reason than to keep our youth informed of their full potential. But that's only one part of the equation. What is more important is to invest our energy into refocusing the mores of our community. If we promoted the pursuit of knowledge with the pride, effort, and determination that we promote our creativity and athleticism, our intelligence would be self-evident, and it would render our critics moot. Controversies come and go, but as Lady D herself points out at the end of every show, success is a journey, not simply a destination (I think I got that right). The message that I get from that is, enhancing our community is an on going process. That is also my message with respect to doing well academically. Thus, when someone makes a stupid remark regarding our intelligence, you don't jump up and down screaming "I ain't dumb!" You simply tell them that you disagree, then formulate an argument that demonstrates your intelligence. You don't tell them, you show them. The way a situation is handled says much more about intelligence than anything you can say. All we had to say was, "You're a scientist, what evidence do you have of that?" Then let him wrestle with the ignorance of his own statement. Then he looks like a fool, and we come up smelling like a rose. We should never try to out scream our critics--we should use our creativity to out think them. We must always remember--when the mouth is in drive, the mind is in park. James Watson failed to recognize that fact--that's why he's out of a job, and ending an illustrious career in disgrace. The Black community tends to use yesterday's tactics to fight today's battles. In the past, we had to protest to break down barriers--to be able to sit where we wanted to on the bus, or simply walk into a restaurant to have a cup of coffee. But today's battle is perceptual in nature--it's not about breaking down barriers, it's about modifying perceptions--and you can't protest away an idea. The only way to modify an idea is with another idea--a better one. Even though James Watson has the trained mind of a scientist, his attitude wasn't based on scientific evidence--his attitude was based on his perception of our behavior. Look at the last part of his statement--"people who have to deal with black employees find [that Black people are as intelligent as the rest of us] is not true." Now, I hate to say this, but there's no way around it--I can fully understand how he would come to that conclusion–he based it on our behavior. When I read that remark, one of my acquaintances immediately came to mind. The brother is without a doubt, one of the most intelligent people I know--he's very well versed in history (although he's not opposed to discrete revisions when it suits his purpose), and has a mind like a steel trap when it comes to memorizing facts (admittedly, I'm kind of jealous of him in that regard), but with all of the knowledge at his command, he doesn't know how to use it--and wit without wisdom is a waste. One minute you'll hear this brother being so profound that it'll send a chill through you, then the very next he'll be in his manager's office rantin' and ravin', calling his supervisor and other sisters dumb bit**es and wh**es. We've all seen it before--picture a brother flailing his arms, talking loud, and putting all of his energy into proving that he's not afraid of the boss. Then he throws his arms up in disgust and turns like he's about to walk away, only to suddenly turn around and get started again. We've all seen the performance a hundred times. Then later he'll come to get your review of his performance. Then he'll say, "They won't promote me because they know I'm a Muslim." I try to be honest with the brother ."No, they won't promote you because THEY DON'T LIKE YOU. They also think you're unstable--and you go out of your way to prove their point every chance you get." There are several Muslims high in the organization, but I don't think they would promote him either. First, because if indeed he is a Muslim, he represents the Nation of Islam in the very worst way. Muslims pride themselves on being teachers, not whiners--and they certainly don't disrespect their sisters in the way this brother does every time they give him an instruction he doesn't like. The Muslims I've known–and enlightened Black people in general--understand that intelligence entails having the wisdom to respect one another in order to gain the respect of others; the foresight to understand that by making one another look good in the workplace, we pave the way for those who come behind us; and they have the common sense to never, ever, sabotage the efforts of another Black person to succeed. All of that seems to be lost on that brother, and many others in the community. The fact is, that brother is not an aberration. Ignorance does indeed run rampant throughout the Black community. But by ignorance, I don't mean the inability to learn, or the lack of knowledge--there's plenty of knowledge in the community--I mean the good, common sense to work together for a common goal. We have the raw intelligence, but just because you own a tool kit doesn't make you a mechanic. So if Watson's workplace is anything like my own, the only thing he's guilty of is being dumb enough to comment on what he's observed–and what he's probably observed is, a group who lacks the motivation to cultivate their potential, the vision to utilize their knowledge, and the wisdom to love their own. So I can see how he became confused. After all, all of that is a part of intelligence too. Eric L. Wattree

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JUST BECAUSE THE NAME IS CLINTON, DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA GET BILL

Beneath the Spin * Eric L. Wattree

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JUST BECAUSE THE NAME IS CLINTON,
DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE GONNA GET BILL

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I was both embarrassed and conflicted by a CBS News poll that showed Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 52% to 28% among Black voters. I was conflicted because my emotions seemed to directly contradict my position that the new struggle in this country is no longer about race, but class, and I stand by that position. Nevertheless, it is extremely embarrassing to know that the rest of the world has just got to being snickering over the Black tendency towards self-hatred--and let there be no doubt about it, that’s exactly what the numbers above reflect.
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It is contrary to my character and antithetical to everything that I believe to suggest that anyone cast a vote based on race alone--after all, if White people voted race alone, Black politicians would never win an election outside the Black community. But it seems to me that this election, and Senator Barack Obama in particular, represents a very special circumstance. It’s a confluence of factors coming together that demand Black people to unite and assure we’re on the right side of history.
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Senator Barack Obama is not just another Black politician--he’s intelligent, he’s personable, and his political instincts are flawless. In fact, his sense of class, dignity, and propriety places him so high above the rest of the pack that the other politicians don’t know what to do with him. He is so well thought of by the American people--Democrat, Republican, and Independents alike—that it is clear that he possesses that very special, JFK-like quality that could bring this nation together. I see the candidacy of Senator Obama as an opportunity—and quite possibly our last opportunity--to recapture the best of what America is as a nation, and we are as a people. I’d say, that alone, speaks volumes.
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Admittedly, I’m far from one who’s qualified to speak for God, but it seems to me that considering all that Black people have suffered in this country--including being called ignorant, classless, and untrustworthy--if God handpicked the kind of man that he thought should represent our people in this country, Senator Obama would be that man. He is the walking personification of everything we know our people to be--even his heritage, the marriage of Africa and America, is a metaphor for who we are as a people. Yet he trails in the polls, among our own people, by 24%. What’s up with that?
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I have no problem with Hillary--in fact, if she wins this nomination I’ll be right out there supporting her enthusiastically--right along side Barack, I’m sure. But what makes Hillary so special that we would support her over a dream that goes back as far as the African-American culture itself? The numbers mentioned above can reflect nothing less than a flaw in our character. Think about it--what do we actually know about Hillary other than she’s married to Bill? I was married to a wonderful woman for thirty-three years, yet, we were as different as night and day. So, just because the name is Clinton, doesn’t mean we’re gonna get Bill. And even if Hillary is identical to Bill, who’s to say that a President Barack Obama wouldn’t stand head and shoulders above even Bill Clinton himself? Bill was an excellent president, but he was far from the Messiah.
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We’ve simply got to have faith in ourselves. If we don’t, who will? If Black people don’t have faith in the fact that we are capable of producing a leader with the capacity to lead our people and this nation to a higher level of humanity and leadership in the world, why should anyone else believe in us? And if Barack Obama is not that man--with his background as the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review, his demonstrated courage to stand up against invading Iraq during a time when it was unpopular to do so, and the flawless political judgment that has propelled him to the very apex of power in a nation where all the cards were stacked against him--then what Black man (or woman, for that matter) among us is?
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Some Black people seem to be actively seeking a reason not to support this man. For the lack of any other excuse, they say he lacks experience--but experience at what? Where has experience gotten us so far? Hillary Clinton has experience that goes all the way back to the Nixon era, but that didn’t prevent her from voting to give George Bush the power to take us into the most foolhardy war that this country has ever been involved. Then, after conceding that she made an error, she repeated the error in voting for the Kyle-Lieberman Amendment against Iran.
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On the other hand, Obama, this so-called "political novice," had the wisdom to tell America, once again, that we were giving a man who can't be trusted a free hand to be foolheardy--once again. And now, recent revelations in the news tell us that he was right--once again. So I'd say, inexperience notwithstanding, Senator Obama seems to be batting a thousand.
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The inexperienced Senator Obama also stands poised to hand control of political power back to the American people. He’s demonstrated single-handedly that the people can come together and more than compete with big business as a source of political funding. Obama has raised more money through small donations from average Americans than the "more experienced" politicians have managed to raise through their corporate masters. That means that Americans now have a fighting chance of electing politicians that are more beholden to them, than they are big business (and mark my words--you can look for big business to sponsor some sort of legislation in the future to try to close that egregious loophole).
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Thus, regardless to how this campaign turns out, whether Obama wins, or falls short in his effort, he’s already performed an immeasurable service to the American people by demonstrating that politicians don’t have to be beholding to big business. Someday, when all of this is looked back upon, Obama’s contribution is going to be recognized as one of the most valuable gifts to America in modern history. I’d say, that alone is a pretty impressive accomplishment for a guy with no experience. Now I ask you, what have any of the more "experienced" politicians done to change the face of American politics lately?
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So the bottom line is, considering Senator Obama’s Character, political savvy, and the fact that he’s the very first viable Black presidential candidate in the history of this nation, to say that he’s not ready to be president is to say that no Black person is ready to be president of the United States. If you happen to be Black and not willing to take that position, in order to be logically consistent you have to be prepared to come up with the name of a Black person who you consider more viable and qualified to be president. If you can’t do that, you’re in denial, and on the wrong side of history.
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It's hard to understand the Black community. Never in my most horrific nightmare did I ever think I’d have to mount such a self-evident argument to my own people regarding a viable Black candidate. As I sit here I imagine Martin, Malcolm, and a million slaves spinning in their graves, saying, "I died for this! What’s wrong with those idiots?" I also imagine racists of the past taunting these great men, saying, "We told you--y’all were fools."
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But as sad as this situation is, it brings to mind an old joke--a very old but profound joke, so bear with me: There was a guy stranded on his roof during a flood, and the water was rising fast. In an attempt to try to save him, a group of people wanted to throw him a life preserver, but he turned it down, saying, "That’s ok. God will provide." Then they tried to save him in a boat, and later with a helicopter, but in each case he turned them down, saying, "That’s ok. The Lord will provide." Finally the water overtook him, and he drowned. Then, as the Devil was dragging him off to Hell, he looked up to God and said, "My Lord, how could desert me, and why am I going to Hell?" And God replied, "Man, I sent you a life preserver, a boat, and even a helicopter, and you refused them. You’re going to Hell because you committed suicide."
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That joke is a perfect example of what’s currently happening in the Black community. We’re being given the opportunity to bring both Martin’s dream, and the prayers that our people have whispered for hundreds of years into reality--the opportunity for Black children to say for the very first time, and with conviction, that "I‘m going to be president someday." For the first time, a Black child will be able to go through life knowing that he is the master of his own destiny. And just as important as all of the things mentioned above, finally, the loosers and deadbeats in the Black community won’t be able to convince Black youth that failure is acceptable, because "it’s the White man’s fault." But in spite of all of that, some of us are so consumed with self-hatred that we’d rather cut our own throats before supporting one of our own for president.
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That is the reality, but if we allow this opportunity to pass us by, God would be completely justified in telling us to stop complaining and just shut-up whining about all our suffer. After all, God helps those who help themselves.
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Eric L. Wattree

Http://wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.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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