Friday, January 11, 2008

er, um, should we file these under "trying to be down"?

Not to put too fine a point on Kerry's endorsement of Obama but King actually said: "The time is always *ripe* to do right". It's not *right* to do *right*. I mean, it was MLK. He could turn a phrase. Now unless he also gave the version Kerry is saying, he misused the most important part of the quote!

Fact check, dude. I mean, I worry what he would've said had he opened his mouth after bro got 'tazed! (Instead of just standing there...)

You don't mess up *King*! He's one of the most quoted Americans *ever*. I'll mea culpa if anyone corrects me but I've read a bit of the Rev's speeches so I have feelings about this. He needs a poet on permanent staff: every word counts, Senator!

Okay, should anything even be *said* about A****** Cuomo? I know, I know, "he didn't mean Barak Obama". Seriously though, has anyone ever heard the term 'shuck and jive' not be referred to Black people?

I usually try to be a bit more aesthetic on this page but dag: this is like abuse of language by democrats week! I mean we *expect* this from republicans so no need to even go there...Democrats are supposed to have actually earned the right to go to college, the bar is higher.

Anywho, this is gonna be an interesting year to see how things shake electorally. I just had to blow off a bit of literary steam on this one. Here's some meditative King text for you before the observation day comes up. Prescient writer, to be sure. King wrote work constructed to endure. Folks need to get correct! (Okay, I can let it go now...) In honor of King's memory I'll work on being *peaceful*.

(from) Rediscovering Lost Values
by Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Reverend Simmons, platform associates, members and friends of Second Baptist Church, I need not pause to say how happy I am to be here this morning, and to be a part of this worship service. It is certainly with a deal of humility that I stand in this pulpit so rich in tradition and history. Second Baptist Church, as you know, has the reputation of being one of the great churches of our nation, and it is certainly a challenge that, for me to stand here this morning, to be in the pulpit of Reverend Banks and of a people who are so great and rich in tradition.

I'm not exactly a stranger in the city of Detroit, for I have been here several times before. And I remember back in about 1944 or 1945, somewhere back in there, that I came to Second Baptist Church for the first time—I think that was the year that the National Baptist Convention met here. And of course I have a lot of relatives in this city, so that Detroit is really something of a second home for me, and I don't feel too much a stranger here this morning. So it is indeed a pleasure and a privilege for me to be in this city this morning, and to be here to worship with you in the absence of your very fine and noble pastor, Dr. Banks.

I want you to think with me this morning from the subject: "Rediscovering Lost Values." "Rediscovering Lost Values." There is something wrong with our world, something fundamentally and basically wrong. I don't think we have to look too far to see that. I'm sure that most of you would agree with me in making that assertion. And when we stop to analyze the cause of our world's ills, many things come to mind.

We begin to wonder if it is due to the fact that we don't know enough. But it can't be that. Because in terms of accumulated knowledge we know more today than men have known in any period of human history. We have the facts at our disposal. We know more about mathematics, about science, about social science, and philosophy than we've ever known in any period of the world's history. So it can't be because we don't know enough.

And then we wonder if it is due to the fact that our scientific genius lags behind. That is, if we have not made enough progress scientifically. Well then, it can't be that. For our scientific progress over the past years has been amazing. Man through his scientific genius has been able to dwarf distance and place time in chains, so that today it's possible to eat breakfast in New York City and supper in London, England. Back in about 1753 it took a letter three days to go from New York City to Washington, and today you
can go from here to China in less time than that. It can't be because man is stagnant in his scientific progress. Man's scientific genius has been amazing.

I think we have to look much deeper than that if we are to find the real cause of man's problems and the real cause of the world's ills today. If we are to really find it I think we will have to look in the hearts and souls of men."

Source: http://www.mlkonline.net/values.html Photo source: http://www.library.uiuc.edu/doc/newpages/mlk2.jpg


Thursday, January 03, 2008

HNY!



I am too excited about 2008! Drama, intrigue, an election and the Brooklyn skyline. I just missed the Michigan snowstorm and am seriously into hibernation. The city that never sleeps isn't trying to hear it though and so, snowless, chilly winds will be beating me down today.

The annual gig at St. Mark's Poetry Project was a blast! It was fun seeing old hang out buddies like Akila Oliver, Lee Ann Brown w/ Family, Edwin Torres and Maggie Estep as well as legendaries like John Giorno. Brendan Lorber is going to be a Pops he told me and folks seemed more upbeat than last year.

Val Jeanty and I took the stage and made some trouble. I got a very, very sweet gift of baubles from a cutie pie kid right after the reading. I was more touched by that than the applause! -- I'm grateful for that, too though. Never can take that for granted certainly.

Easing into the '08. I *just* caught the ball on TV, speaking of baubles. It's a fun year ahead* (with horrors in wait I'm sure) and I look forward to sharing it with my friends. Cross fingers for a better '08 and a healing '09.


Tracie

* for the solar Gregorian folks. Lunar New Year's coming up! All Hail the Rat year... --:-) T