The Tribune Online, 84

The Writer's Need...it's an addiction, albeit a good one

Since I started this writing episode, going back to 1982, it has been great therapy along the way. Writing allows one to bring forth those inner drives that somehow collect passing reflections of life gone by. It can be very cathartic and pleasurable at the same time, even though sometimes going over experiences that may not have been all that pleasant.

Here's how something pleasant can come from a not so pleasant observation. I just finished lambasting a right wing talk show jerk, who says that immigrants coming to this country should be willing to "assimilate." For me, being black, that was the problem in America, giving up one's ethnic identification in order to climb the ladder to hollow material success...somehow, it always turned out to be a soul-killing experience for those who chose such a route.

When I went to boot camp, we would have the privilege to go to the local exchange to buy a few personal items, and maybe stop in at one of the  booths to listen to some 45 r.p.m's as well as meet guys from other companies. Being black I always was in the booth listening to the "motown sounds" primarily with about 6-10 black guys. One day I was in the booth, and this white guy (Italian) from Philly, named Joey, struts in and asked to play some some sounds from Philly or the east coast. So the guy put on some Gamble and Huff tunes, and a few more that were called blue-eyed soul, including the "Four Seasons". 

Joey was a friendly guy who could dance, jive, and joke with any brother. He didn't like racists, and if somebody said "wop or guinea"...buckle up buddy for an ass-whupping was going to be dished out, and he could handle himself like a professional boxer. One guy said, don't mess with Joey...he hits too damn hard. I saw him one last time in Memphis after our training at Great Lakes, there he was at the club dressed to the nines, laughing and talking smack...people enjoyed being around him.

Anyway, I started listening to some other tunes by groups like the Association, Classic IV, and a few more. I never was a hard rock fan, nor particularly a blues or country western type, and never a fan of what became the rap motif. However, in expanding my musical tastes, thanks to Joey, I came to appreciate some of the song stylists in all of these categories. I was raised in a jazz household, danced to r&b, and eventually matured to appreciate classical. I said all of this to say, people should never be required to assimilate in our society...associate, yes...for greater understanding and appreciation.

Political Bravado Burns Its Constituency

Found out two days ago, that the Fed will not assist Virginia in the tornado aftermath that struck surrounding counties...and whose fault is it? No one else's except the self- serving state politicians bucking for notches in their climb to ever higher aspirations at their state's expense.

Take for example, Governor Perry of Texas, now in charge of the Republican Governors' Association, on a nationwide Sunday Morning TV talk show, proclaimed the need for more state's autonomy and less federal interference in their reclaiming the state's economic status. Consider Virginia's Governor McDonnell making similar proclamations with no need for affordable healthcare and that it's building a "surplus" due to its ability to navigate its state's destiny. Governor Perry succeeded Governor Barbour of Mississippi as the head of the Republican Governors' Association, of which Barbour had a false start toward the Presidency, and who began his campaign of  rigorous state's independence going back to the Civil War; whereby, he considered slavery as just an incidental passage of history, of little or no consequence to its state's future.

These political dunces all have one thing in common...they're dunces. Perry gets no additional welfare from FEMA in the massive forest fires..."physician cure thyself" and leave Uncle Sam be. McDonnell developed that "surplus" at the expense of Virginia taxpayers to solidify his upcoming bid for national office; therefore, use it now to benefit those taxpayers resulting from the natural disasters..."physician cure thyself"...don't appeal to Uncle Sam for more health and welfare. Governor Barbour realized what an opportunist he was and decided to scurry back to Mississippi out of submission to his "stump-jumpin' stupidity."

When Quality Leaves The Air

Just saw where Keith Humphrey of WDBJ 7 in Roanoke is retiring May 25, and I'm sad to see him leave...for the man is of quality character, who kept the public informed with humility and sincerity, and truly cared about the Valley and its audience.

I couldn't say that about John Carlin, formerly of the Channel 10  newscasting operation. It didn't take me long as a viewer to see that he was just a big-headed showoff, that felt anything happening in the Valley was his piece of cheese to divulge in a manner that made him appear to be "king rat". He all of sudden left for what he said was a better opportunity to present his public persona with an ad agency. That lasted about a hot year or less. He even tried to promote one hospital facility over another in a low despicable cheesy manner that public reaction didn't appreciate at all. Last I heard, he's attempting to sneak back in to the news industry at the Fox Channel with a bi-monthly program called something or another, of which I would not waste my time watching, nor I dare say the rest of the Valley. 

Right Wing Talk Jerks...Falling On Deaf Ears

Since the taking down of Bin Laden, the talk jerks can't seem to regain their "mojo" with their rapidly dwindling listening audience, even though they're trying to continue the disparaging of America's President.  They're seizing any topic available to try to discredit his leadership, such as their commentary about the poet, "Common" even going so far, Hannity that is, bringing up the fact that two of the poets were not for interracial marriage, when right wing racists know all that niggers should want are white women and [Cadillaxes].

Nevertheless, they have come out to defend big oil in losing their subsidy...what about their stand on capitalism and free enterprise without government interference? They complain about not drilling for oil off our shores and the pristine wilderness areas, so to bring down the price of gas...when the refineries are at capacity. They dislike the idea of having corporations to pay a more comparable share of taxes by closing loopholes and I would add the need to seek out the offshore scofflaws. What's so horrendous about that? We still can't get UBS to fork over information to the IRS about those patriotic scofflaws.

They talk about wasteful spending, but scared as hell of a candidate like Ron Paul, who would cut everybody to the bone...dooming cronyism. In other words, these right wingers don't know what the hell they want...that's why they run for cover when Ron Paul comes to town...which means when push comes to shove, they feel relatively "safer" with Obama in office.