Come on, when is this woman going to stop? And when are people like Sean Hannity going to condemn her for her disgusting rhetoric and ask her to apologize? This is not helping Republicans but rather it is helping to make the myths about us less so. Come on people. This woman is shameful.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Stew Rocks
If you have not had a chance to see a really good play this year you still have time to do so. I recommend that you run to see Passing Strange. The off broadway play ends on July 1st.
I went to see Passing Strange a couple of weeks ago with friends and loved it, loved it, loved it. The story is about a young black man from a middle class family in Los Angeles and his struggle to "find" himself which leads him to Amsterdam's double helping of sex, drugs and rock and roll. He then moves to Berlin and meets a yet otherwise hip and politically rambunctious crowd of performance artists. Unfortunately these drive by anarchists disappoint him as they turn out to be filled with emotion rather than conviction. He then heads home to bury his mother who he has been estranged from because of what she represents and what he ran away from - the bourgeois life. Has he really changed?
The music is rock and roll and the narrator is Stew. Stew is a bald headed black guy wearing a black suit, red shirt and sneakers and plays a mean guitar. He is also the narrator, composer and Youth's alter ego. This is a must see. Here and here are some reviews.
RUN TO SEE IT!
I went to see Passing Strange a couple of weeks ago with friends and loved it, loved it, loved it. The story is about a young black man from a middle class family in Los Angeles and his struggle to "find" himself which leads him to Amsterdam's double helping of sex, drugs and rock and roll. He then moves to Berlin and meets a yet otherwise hip and politically rambunctious crowd of performance artists. Unfortunately these drive by anarchists disappoint him as they turn out to be filled with emotion rather than conviction. He then heads home to bury his mother who he has been estranged from because of what she represents and what he ran away from - the bourgeois life. Has he really changed?
The music is rock and roll and the narrator is Stew. Stew is a bald headed black guy wearing a black suit, red shirt and sneakers and plays a mean guitar. He is also the narrator, composer and Youth's alter ego. This is a must see. Here and here are some reviews.
RUN TO SEE IT!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Happy Gay Pride
Ok, in previous posts I've shared my opinion on doing away with theme months and I still stand by that. I think it makes more sense to just have a weekend or a day long celebration, if we must. So today is Gay Pride Day 2007. Last night I was reminiscing with my girlfriend about past pride events and we both agreed that back then we wanted to do everything and attend every party. That was then this is now - we are older and have less energy. So we are going to brunch with friends and head over to a local bar and watch the young people pretend that they are the only ones who are gay. I'll stay away from the more hardened victim types as they seem to come out in droves on this day.
Even though I'm opposed to theme months I will say this, it is nice to see thousands of gay people in one place. But there is a caveat to that - I prefer gay people with clothes on, the loving couple holding hands with smiles across their faces, older gays and lesbians with a sense of "pride," the sense of family that pride encourages. I don't like the mostly naked boys on trucks, angry lesbians, and transsexuals insinuating themselves in our struggle.
Happy Pride everyone.
Even though I'm opposed to theme months I will say this, it is nice to see thousands of gay people in one place. But there is a caveat to that - I prefer gay people with clothes on, the loving couple holding hands with smiles across their faces, older gays and lesbians with a sense of "pride," the sense of family that pride encourages. I don't like the mostly naked boys on trucks, angry lesbians, and transsexuals insinuating themselves in our struggle.
Happy Pride everyone.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Here, Here
I couldn't say it better. Maybe it was the right decision for Mayor Bloomberg to leave the Republican Party but he's making the wrong decisions when it comes to minority kids. The article penned by Nicole Gelinas is here.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Open the Gates - Part I
In 1970, my younger brother, my sister and I came to the U.S. It was our second trip to the U.S. but this time we were going to stay for good. We had been anticipating this trip for sometime and now that we were finally on American soil it was like we were in another time. I remember feeling almost alien when we walked out the big exit doors to a family member who had come to get us. As we were driving to our home I stared out the window in awe. I thought to myself, "I'm in America and things are going to be different." And it was different. I can still remember the first time I saw snow and I still remember the taste of my first slice of pizza. I was in America with my brother and sister, the three musketeers, and we would remain close for many years. One of the most important fact to our arrival on U.S. soil was that we were legal. Our "green card" said we were legal permanent residents. Our trip to the U.S. was on Air Jamaica. We were and continued to be legal residents until we raised our hands and renounced our allegiance to Jamaica and pledged to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America. Back then almost everyone knew the difference between legal and illegal but in 2007 the word illegal has taken on "legal" status.
I do not profess to be an expert on immigration issues but what I know to be true is that you don't reward someone who has broken the law. The most distressing part of the illegal immigration issue is when advocates for the law breakers say, "They are taking jobs Americans do not want and we are all immigrants." The latter statement is blatant canard that whoever utters those words should be ashamed of himself. Hear that President Bush? It's more like, the more unskilled labor you have the stiffer the competition becomes for those already here - thos legal low skilled workers. And these low skilled workers tend to be blacks and other Hispanics who happened to be natives. Yes, we are all immigrants but most of us did it legally. And to put a personal spin on it - my mother cleaned houses for rich white people. My sister cleaned houses for rich white people. My mother worked in hotels in Florida. So don't tell me about taking jobs that Americans do not want. Those of us who don't want to sit around on our backsides and collect money from the government seek out jobs such as these until we can get on our feet. My mom is retired and my sister has her Ph.D.
In 2004, Time Magazine in an article titled, Who Left the Door Open, stated that there were 4,000 illegals crossing the border everyday. And while they were doing that we were and are submitting to searches at the local airport. Our borders grow more porous, Hispanic men continue to congregate on local street corners, Hispanic men continue to get drunk and throw up on our streets, Hispanic women continue to drop their babies in our hospitals, and we have some states offering in-state college tuition for illegals. And now we have an immigration bill proposing that we make these miscreants U.S. Citizens. Are we out of our minds?
To be continued.
I do not profess to be an expert on immigration issues but what I know to be true is that you don't reward someone who has broken the law. The most distressing part of the illegal immigration issue is when advocates for the law breakers say, "They are taking jobs Americans do not want and we are all immigrants." The latter statement is blatant canard that whoever utters those words should be ashamed of himself. Hear that President Bush? It's more like, the more unskilled labor you have the stiffer the competition becomes for those already here - thos legal low skilled workers. And these low skilled workers tend to be blacks and other Hispanics who happened to be natives. Yes, we are all immigrants but most of us did it legally. And to put a personal spin on it - my mother cleaned houses for rich white people. My sister cleaned houses for rich white people. My mother worked in hotels in Florida. So don't tell me about taking jobs that Americans do not want. Those of us who don't want to sit around on our backsides and collect money from the government seek out jobs such as these until we can get on our feet. My mom is retired and my sister has her Ph.D.
In 2004, Time Magazine in an article titled, Who Left the Door Open, stated that there were 4,000 illegals crossing the border everyday. And while they were doing that we were and are submitting to searches at the local airport. Our borders grow more porous, Hispanic men continue to congregate on local street corners, Hispanic men continue to get drunk and throw up on our streets, Hispanic women continue to drop their babies in our hospitals, and we have some states offering in-state college tuition for illegals. And now we have an immigration bill proposing that we make these miscreants U.S. Citizens. Are we out of our minds?
To be continued.
Money Talks
I love to read. I guess you could say that I am a voracious reader. I read everything and anything much to the chagrin of some of my friends and colleagues. I'm of the opinion that you really can't offer constructive criticism if you haven't read the document. Or better yet, reading everything I get my hands on, ok I don't read playboy, makes me a bit more knowledgeable. Correct? I also love school. Ok, I didn't always like it but I liked it more than my peers did. Much of this love for reading and school was influenced by my parents. For goodness sake my dad use to read the dictionary for fun. I learned how to work my first crossword puzzle at the urging of my dad. We all learned to appreciate the written word and the spoken word. I continue to love school and love to be in the classroom.
So what happened to the influence of parents? What happened to urging your kids to do well, go to school on time, read a book? Well it seems that once again parents are being absolved of their responsibilities and are now being offered money to do what they should do without encouragement from government or private organizations. Yes, we are now going to pay parents and our children to do the right thing. And of course the "experiement" is targeting black and Hispanic children and their parents. The mayor and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein seem to be enamored with economist and proffesor from Harvard, Ronald G. Fryer's idea of offering money to kids who do well on tests. He has now been named "chief equality officer." The question is, will he be paid for his role?
Here are a couple of reasons why I think this is a bad idea. First, you don't give money to people to do the right thing. How did being a responsible parent give way to the notion that in order for you to do the right thing you should be paid for it? If that were the case I should be a millionare by now just for going to to work on time. Second, you don't "influence behavior" (read be a good girl) by paying someone to behave. This is like Pavlov's dog experiement. Is there long time change other than at the sound of a bell he sits up and repeats the same behavior as before? Third, this idea reinforces the notion that blacks can only get ahead or at minimum, be able to be responsible citizens if and only if they receive help, i.e. affirmative action. In two years I would like to see the results of this bogus experiment. Here is the article in it's entirety.
So what happened to the influence of parents? What happened to urging your kids to do well, go to school on time, read a book? Well it seems that once again parents are being absolved of their responsibilities and are now being offered money to do what they should do without encouragement from government or private organizations. Yes, we are now going to pay parents and our children to do the right thing. And of course the "experiement" is targeting black and Hispanic children and their parents. The mayor and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein seem to be enamored with economist and proffesor from Harvard, Ronald G. Fryer's idea of offering money to kids who do well on tests. He has now been named "chief equality officer." The question is, will he be paid for his role?
Here are a couple of reasons why I think this is a bad idea. First, you don't give money to people to do the right thing. How did being a responsible parent give way to the notion that in order for you to do the right thing you should be paid for it? If that were the case I should be a millionare by now just for going to to work on time. Second, you don't "influence behavior" (read be a good girl) by paying someone to behave. This is like Pavlov's dog experiement. Is there long time change other than at the sound of a bell he sits up and repeats the same behavior as before? Third, this idea reinforces the notion that blacks can only get ahead or at minimum, be able to be responsible citizens if and only if they receive help, i.e. affirmative action. In two years I would like to see the results of this bogus experiment. Here is the article in it's entirety.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Archie Bunker vs. Maude - All in the Family
I could watch this stuff all day long. Imagine Archie Bunker in 2007? Not only would the show be off the air but he would have to go into rehab.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Jim's Big Mistake
I recently attended a Pride event hosted by Mayor Mike Bloomberg. It is an annual event in honor of gay pride and usually brings out more than the pretty people of the gay community. There are people in attendance who really care about politics so you can actually have a decent conversation. This year's event, which is always held at Gracie Mansion, was held in a tent on the lawn and for good reason. The heavens opened while the mayor was speaking but everyone continued to have fun.
This year the plan was for a faux runway scene with yours truly as one of the models. This was done because the guest for the event was Tim Gunn of none other than Project Runway. It was a lot of fun and each "contestant" received a prize. I, believe it or not, received Jim McGreevey's book, The Confession. Of all the books to get and for me to get it is even funnier. Since I didn't buy the damn thing I may read it or I may just sell it on ebay. I cannot stand McGreevey and have written about my dislike on these pages in the past. So I'll just share this rather colorful commentary here.
This year the plan was for a faux runway scene with yours truly as one of the models. This was done because the guest for the event was Tim Gunn of none other than Project Runway. It was a lot of fun and each "contestant" received a prize. I, believe it or not, received Jim McGreevey's book, The Confession. Of all the books to get and for me to get it is even funnier. Since I didn't buy the damn thing I may read it or I may just sell it on ebay. I cannot stand McGreevey and have written about my dislike on these pages in the past. So I'll just share this rather colorful commentary here.
Bush's War?
"The administration is relying too much on flawed information. These are documents found on the floor of burnt-out buildings, strewn all over the floor, and taken at face value and not being looked at by trained analysts."
"We warned that, 'Regardless of US postwar policy for Iraq, Iraqis would become alienated if not persuaded that their national and religious sensitivities, particularly their desire for self governance were part of the foundation for reconstruction. Iraqis would likely resort to obstruction, resistance and armed opposition if they perceived attempts to keep them dependent on the US and the West."
"Saddam and his search for African uranium had been based on questionable intelligence. The issue was not trivial-even if this bit of intelligence, his supposed attempts to obtain uranium suitable for enriching, known as 'yellowcake,' was far from solid information. The allegation was worthy of investigation. Based on what we found, however, it was not worthy of inclusion in a presidential speech."
"I wanted to convey that I thought it would be possible to declassify enough additional information-communications intercepts, satellite reconnaissance phots, sanitized human intelligence reports, and so forth-to help the public understand what we believed to be true. I told the president that strengthening the public presentation was a 'slam dunk,' a phrase that was later taken completely out of context and has haunted me ever since it first appeared in Bob Woodward's book Plan of Attack."
"As difficult as the problems in Iraq, Iran, and the Middle East might seem, they pale in comparision to the global challenge of terrorism. Terrorism is the stuff of everyday nightmares."
All of the above quotes are from George Tenet's book, featured to the left. It is a hefty book and requires a lot of time keeping all the players in the forefront of the reader's mind. The book was disturbing for several reasons but most importantly my fear that we still aren't doing enough to protect the US. I don't always appreciate the need to write a book after a resignation or a firing but I'm changing my thought processes as more books are written. After reading the book I still have many questions and am quite disturbed at what has been presented as to the war in Iraq. While I supported the war in Iraq I do believe now that more could have been learned about the kind of people we are fighting. I also believe that Saddam did have WMD's and one day president Bush will be vindicate. This I'm sure sounds naive at best to many reading this but so be it. I say that in light of my former statement on us not knowing who we are dealing with.
I'm not about to debate whether or not Tenet is telling the truth or not. I will, however, encourage people to read everything and anything and not be sucked in to the fallacy that the truth is only the truth when stated my a particular party or a particular person.
Diversity?
Years ago I was a member of the "Diversity" team at my job. I participated in the group for about two years and eventually left after I realized that they really didn't believe in diversity. The goal of the team, as I understood it, was to bring about an understanding of minorites by implementing programs, events etc. With this goal in mind, we set out to plan and execute programs that we thought were going to get people talking and ultimately change the "culture" of the institution. We brought in speakers, teachers brought their classes and our diversity officer was happy and the administration was happy. At the time, I believed that our students were engaging in important discussions on issues relevant to all people and through these discussions we could come to an understanding about one another without playing the race card, the gay card or any other card. It was about, from where I sat, adding to what they were already learning in the classroom. I was wrong.
While I argued for including some of our more tangible objectives, i.e. writings from a more varied group of writers, in the overall curriculum my team members were bent on organizing programs which ended up blaming whitey. The programs ended up as sermons and gave little in the way of give and take "discussions". They soon became monthly and yearly back slapping, resume building look at us diversity festivals. Everyone in the group was of the same ilk and everyone agreed that progress was a myth and gays needed a safe zone and blacks needed more people to feel their pain. I had left the team before attending a safe zone training.
My reason for leaving was simple, I had not bought into the myth that me and my kind hadn't made progress. I left because I questioned what whites were getting out of feeling sorry for our poor black students. I left because these programs weren't helping our students feel part of the conversation but rather they were being put upon to hold their opinions if they differed from the panel participants. I left because I felt guilty when a colleague said she felt intimidated when she attended a "diversity" class. She was afraid to ask a question for fear that she would come across as ignorant or worse yet, racist. I left because ulitmatley this is the goal of diversity programs - to make whites feel guilty and everyone with a different opinion shut up.
Unfortunately, there are many such groups in many schools throughout the US. And while I fully agree with "talking" about tough issues, diversity groups, diversity officers, multicultural groups do not accomplish this important task. And why don't they? Because these groups do not suffer "diversity" well. Ask any diversity director when was the last time they invited a Conservative to speak at their school and you will get a "what are you crazy" look. Ask when or if at their next panel discussion on gays if there was someone arguing against having half naked men gyrating on cars and trucks be eliminated from the annual pride parade. Ask them if we must celebrate Dr. King's birthday each year over fried chicken and waffles why we can't have a "student of color" speak at the podium who can actually make a speech without using black english. We should ask this and more of our diversity officers. Here is a similar take on the diversity gig.
While I argued for including some of our more tangible objectives, i.e. writings from a more varied group of writers, in the overall curriculum my team members were bent on organizing programs which ended up blaming whitey. The programs ended up as sermons and gave little in the way of give and take "discussions". They soon became monthly and yearly back slapping, resume building look at us diversity festivals. Everyone in the group was of the same ilk and everyone agreed that progress was a myth and gays needed a safe zone and blacks needed more people to feel their pain. I had left the team before attending a safe zone training.
My reason for leaving was simple, I had not bought into the myth that me and my kind hadn't made progress. I left because I questioned what whites were getting out of feeling sorry for our poor black students. I left because these programs weren't helping our students feel part of the conversation but rather they were being put upon to hold their opinions if they differed from the panel participants. I left because I felt guilty when a colleague said she felt intimidated when she attended a "diversity" class. She was afraid to ask a question for fear that she would come across as ignorant or worse yet, racist. I left because ulitmatley this is the goal of diversity programs - to make whites feel guilty and everyone with a different opinion shut up.
Unfortunately, there are many such groups in many schools throughout the US. And while I fully agree with "talking" about tough issues, diversity groups, diversity officers, multicultural groups do not accomplish this important task. And why don't they? Because these groups do not suffer "diversity" well. Ask any diversity director when was the last time they invited a Conservative to speak at their school and you will get a "what are you crazy" look. Ask when or if at their next panel discussion on gays if there was someone arguing against having half naked men gyrating on cars and trucks be eliminated from the annual pride parade. Ask them if we must celebrate Dr. King's birthday each year over fried chicken and waffles why we can't have a "student of color" speak at the podium who can actually make a speech without using black english. We should ask this and more of our diversity officers. Here is a similar take on the diversity gig.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Only in America
Ah, race wins out again. Give us your tired, your poor and your illegal immigrants. I predict that this case in Mamaroneck is just one of many that will be coming down the pike in the days and weeks to come. We have allowed illegal immigrants to spurn our laws and then reward them with $500,000 settlements and hiring sites. And what do we get? We get to tie the hands of our police and pretend that there is no difference between legal and illegal immigrants. Thanks.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Hail to The Sopranos
I don't know about you but last night's final episode of The Sopranos was a major disappointment. My expectattions of a series finale was realized in a slow moving boring episode whose sole great moment was when Phil got it in the head. But as this article points out David Chase succeeded in confounding his audience. I would have preferred a different ending bu alas that is not to be.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
A Month of Pride
Well, I'm off to my first gay pride event as June is Gay Pride Month. I'm not a fan of "theme" months but this is more about politics than watching gay boys gyrate on top of moving vehicles. I'm of the opinion that you don't need a month to show your pride nor a month to salute my blackness, nor a month to celebrate my womanhood. I'm still waiting for illegal immigrant pride month. Can't wait for that one. In any event, as president of a Log Cabin Republican Chapter I try to attend some of these events because we get to educate gays and lesbians about Republican issues. Unfortunately, Bush hasn't always made that easy but we haven't been denied access to an event yet so I guess that's a good thing.
Next week we celebrate with Mayor Mike at Gracie Mansion. I'm sure I'll have something to report from that outing. Happy Gay Pride!
Next week we celebrate with Mayor Mike at Gracie Mansion. I'm sure I'll have something to report from that outing. Happy Gay Pride!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Money Makes the World go Around
"Money makes the world go around. That clinking clanking sound can make the world go 'round." And it can even encourage kids to do well on their tests. I'm sitting on the fence on this one. On my initial read of the article it offended every principle I have about encouraging kids to do well in school. And while no one, including me, has the definitive answer on how to accomplish this task I'm not sure I agree that handing out money for the best scores is the way to go about solving it. Dr. Frye is a well respected economist and so I guess I would have to hear his reasons for why this is a good idea. I guess I'll have to some read through his paper on this one.
If anyone cares to write in and give reasons why this maybe a good idea, I'm listening.
If anyone cares to write in and give reasons why this maybe a good idea, I'm listening.
Ivan G. Barnes
I'm from a family of nine kids. Born and raised in Jamaica until the age of 10 I became an American citizen in 1984. My parents are not unique, nor rich, nor members of high society. My mother worked in a local hospital as a nurse's aid and my father, before his death, was retired for many years after working in the refernce library of the Gleaner, one of Jamaica's local newspapers.
As fathers day approaches, it makes sense to reflect on our fathers and their influence on us. As such, I'm posting below an article written by my sister Judith that will be picked up by a local paper in Atlanta, Georgia. The article gives a good account of how fathers can leave an imprint on their offspring.
As fathers day approaches, it makes sense to reflect on our fathers and their influence on us. As such, I'm posting below an article written by my sister Judith that will be picked up by a local paper in Atlanta, Georgia. The article gives a good account of how fathers can leave an imprint on their offspring.
My Father made me The Woman I am
Judith E. Barnes, Ph.D.
He was perhaps five feet eight inches tall; slim in build and possessing a booming voice that belied his thin stature. He was a man not lent to condoning silliness in the speech or behavior of others; not that he resisted the subtleties of telling a good joke or laughing at same being told by others. But sound reasoning, processing on the intellectual environs and bringing about healthy dialogue between others and he was surely at the core of his character.
As a child I saw him read the dictionary and he gloried in the spoken and written word; he was a master at repartee and could easily beguile a woman into thinking that she was the most beauteous creature that God had created. But as all humans can he was often lent to great anger especially when he felt his intelligence was being attacked or his authority as a husband and or as a father. My father Ivan G. Barnes never had any qualms in correcting adults with the use of his ample and eloquent vocabulary spun into almost poetic cadence and a voice that was sonorous in its power. With his children, all nine, he felt no timidity in employing his more than ample speech patterns in correcting their faux pas. Likewise, he had no issue with implementing the well-accepted rule of caning well advocated by the British system under which he and his off springs were born and raised.
It is almost an understatement to say that Ivan G. Barnes managed to include passion in whatever task he undertook and so when he bellowed vociferously at one of his children or his wife or someone else that he might be engaging in a heated debate with; it was clear, he meant every emotion and every word that was observed and heard. It is from that man that had had he lived; he would now be in his 91st year, that I learned how to be who I am today. It was he exhibited to me that I had value and even though I was a girl, the message was clear; read, read, read, think, think, and let no one defeat you in manipulating you because you cannot think things through. Some 15 years since his being divested of this earth, I glory in the legacy that he has left me for because of him I have never thought I was less because I am a female.
Make no mistake though my father Ivan G. Barnes had very strong and oftentimes negative opinions about women, their role and their behaviors. Most of those opinions I am sure was easily colored by the fact that his own mother though having sired only one child, never seemed able to muster much maternal love toward him. That fact which I saw as a child saddened me deeply because imperfect as he was, there was none better than he. The same message that he issued as if edicts to my brothers, he issued also to my sisters and myself; we were to be self-respecting, clean in our physical self, honest, honest and honest again. He taught us not to fear others but to respect authority. He told us that we were not better than others, but no man or woman was to dare garner the temerity to think that he or she could look down on us. We were financially poor most of my young days growing up with this man, but I never wanted for anything and my father made me acutely aware by example that if there was only food enough for us children, we would and could eat and he would go without. By the way his negative opinions about women were and are true and even as a woman I had to admit it then and I admit them now. But despite those opinions about women, he sorely loved them and never missed an opportunity to share in the niceties of a woman’s presence.
So today as I sit and think of him and his legacy to me, and I often think of him because he is so much apart of who I am, I am grateful that despite all my poor choices and the folly of my ways as I have matured; his teachings resonate throughout my being and I can easily continue to forgive the errors that he made as he fathered nine children doing it the only way he knew how. Certainly this man whom shortly before he died and was experiencing the beginnings of Alzheimer’s, continued to look only to the needs of his children and I saw him cry profusely at the last family reunion of which he was a part of as he spoke of how proud he was of us all. He never pursued education on a high level although had he done so he would have been listed among one of the great minds of his time. He never sought to travel away from the shores of Jamaica, and though it was sometimes suggested that he didn’t because he experienced bouts of cowardice, he was a champion as a father. He loved his children with the greatest fervor possible especially for one who never experienced great maternal or paternal love or devotion himself.
I thanked my father before he left this earth and I look forward to seeing him again when I go to where he now resides and I thank him today within these lines and on these pages for not having left me out of his lectures and his pronouncements about how I was to be and how I should live. I did not agree with all his edicts, but I respected him for taking the time to tell me them. I did not agree with all his ranting and raving, but I always even as a small child, knew that he felt pain that was only expressed when he shouted and so he needed to shout. I thank my earthly father today for having imbued in me a sense of self that today continues to lift me up and keep me buoyed to such a degree that along with my relationship with God, I am a force to be reckoned with; to some degree like he was. I thank my father that as I have reached forward for academic and vocational achievements, I have seen his face before me encouraging me to do more. And I thank my father that he never even suggested in the slightest that I could not achieve because I was a girl.
It was he that recommended me for my first full-time job as a 15 year old child; he believed in me you see and for that I will always thank my father. He had faith in me that I could do the job of an adult in a place so appropriate, the local newspaper company where he worked in the reference library. You see in the end and toward the waning days of his life he spent many hours amongst literary tomes and reference materials; and I worked at the tender age of 15 writing words, words that he so dearly loved and which I have grown to love so dearly because of the rich heritage that he leant over and whispered in my ears as I grew. Love it surely I would, if he would have been here to see me walk the carpet to receive my doctorial degree in counseling and to become ordained; for I know he would have felt pride in one that quite willingly carries his gene of humility no matter what I have achieved. I somehow suspect he sees me and knows what I am doing even right at this moment.
Even as a child I believed that one should as often as possible tell others of my love for them; I thank God that my father knew of my love and regard for him and as he so often communicated by mail after I moved to the States at 17 years old, I would frequently remind him that though he didn’t father me perfectly, he fathered me the best he knew how and that has made all the difference in my life!!!!
Judith E. Barnes, Ph.D.
He was perhaps five feet eight inches tall; slim in build and possessing a booming voice that belied his thin stature. He was a man not lent to condoning silliness in the speech or behavior of others; not that he resisted the subtleties of telling a good joke or laughing at same being told by others. But sound reasoning, processing on the intellectual environs and bringing about healthy dialogue between others and he was surely at the core of his character.
As a child I saw him read the dictionary and he gloried in the spoken and written word; he was a master at repartee and could easily beguile a woman into thinking that she was the most beauteous creature that God had created. But as all humans can he was often lent to great anger especially when he felt his intelligence was being attacked or his authority as a husband and or as a father. My father Ivan G. Barnes never had any qualms in correcting adults with the use of his ample and eloquent vocabulary spun into almost poetic cadence and a voice that was sonorous in its power. With his children, all nine, he felt no timidity in employing his more than ample speech patterns in correcting their faux pas. Likewise, he had no issue with implementing the well-accepted rule of caning well advocated by the British system under which he and his off springs were born and raised.
It is almost an understatement to say that Ivan G. Barnes managed to include passion in whatever task he undertook and so when he bellowed vociferously at one of his children or his wife or someone else that he might be engaging in a heated debate with; it was clear, he meant every emotion and every word that was observed and heard. It is from that man that had had he lived; he would now be in his 91st year, that I learned how to be who I am today. It was he exhibited to me that I had value and even though I was a girl, the message was clear; read, read, read, think, think, and let no one defeat you in manipulating you because you cannot think things through. Some 15 years since his being divested of this earth, I glory in the legacy that he has left me for because of him I have never thought I was less because I am a female.
Make no mistake though my father Ivan G. Barnes had very strong and oftentimes negative opinions about women, their role and their behaviors. Most of those opinions I am sure was easily colored by the fact that his own mother though having sired only one child, never seemed able to muster much maternal love toward him. That fact which I saw as a child saddened me deeply because imperfect as he was, there was none better than he. The same message that he issued as if edicts to my brothers, he issued also to my sisters and myself; we were to be self-respecting, clean in our physical self, honest, honest and honest again. He taught us not to fear others but to respect authority. He told us that we were not better than others, but no man or woman was to dare garner the temerity to think that he or she could look down on us. We were financially poor most of my young days growing up with this man, but I never wanted for anything and my father made me acutely aware by example that if there was only food enough for us children, we would and could eat and he would go without. By the way his negative opinions about women were and are true and even as a woman I had to admit it then and I admit them now. But despite those opinions about women, he sorely loved them and never missed an opportunity to share in the niceties of a woman’s presence.
So today as I sit and think of him and his legacy to me, and I often think of him because he is so much apart of who I am, I am grateful that despite all my poor choices and the folly of my ways as I have matured; his teachings resonate throughout my being and I can easily continue to forgive the errors that he made as he fathered nine children doing it the only way he knew how. Certainly this man whom shortly before he died and was experiencing the beginnings of Alzheimer’s, continued to look only to the needs of his children and I saw him cry profusely at the last family reunion of which he was a part of as he spoke of how proud he was of us all. He never pursued education on a high level although had he done so he would have been listed among one of the great minds of his time. He never sought to travel away from the shores of Jamaica, and though it was sometimes suggested that he didn’t because he experienced bouts of cowardice, he was a champion as a father. He loved his children with the greatest fervor possible especially for one who never experienced great maternal or paternal love or devotion himself.
I thanked my father before he left this earth and I look forward to seeing him again when I go to where he now resides and I thank him today within these lines and on these pages for not having left me out of his lectures and his pronouncements about how I was to be and how I should live. I did not agree with all his edicts, but I respected him for taking the time to tell me them. I did not agree with all his ranting and raving, but I always even as a small child, knew that he felt pain that was only expressed when he shouted and so he needed to shout. I thank my earthly father today for having imbued in me a sense of self that today continues to lift me up and keep me buoyed to such a degree that along with my relationship with God, I am a force to be reckoned with; to some degree like he was. I thank my father that as I have reached forward for academic and vocational achievements, I have seen his face before me encouraging me to do more. And I thank my father that he never even suggested in the slightest that I could not achieve because I was a girl.
It was he that recommended me for my first full-time job as a 15 year old child; he believed in me you see and for that I will always thank my father. He had faith in me that I could do the job of an adult in a place so appropriate, the local newspaper company where he worked in the reference library. You see in the end and toward the waning days of his life he spent many hours amongst literary tomes and reference materials; and I worked at the tender age of 15 writing words, words that he so dearly loved and which I have grown to love so dearly because of the rich heritage that he leant over and whispered in my ears as I grew. Love it surely I would, if he would have been here to see me walk the carpet to receive my doctorial degree in counseling and to become ordained; for I know he would have felt pride in one that quite willingly carries his gene of humility no matter what I have achieved. I somehow suspect he sees me and knows what I am doing even right at this moment.
Even as a child I believed that one should as often as possible tell others of my love for them; I thank God that my father knew of my love and regard for him and as he so often communicated by mail after I moved to the States at 17 years old, I would frequently remind him that though he didn’t father me perfectly, he fathered me the best he knew how and that has made all the difference in my life!!!!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
La vien Rose Trailer
Stephen Holden of The New York Times says, "Marion Cotillard's feral portrait of the French singer Edith Piaf as a captive wild animal hurling herself at the bars of her cage is the most astonishing immersion of one performer into the body and soul of another I have encountered in a film." This description is dead on and throbbing with realism. You cannot help being touched by this movie be it the music or the tragic life of Piaf. It is a must see. I can actually brag that I saw the movie on our flight back from Paris before it's NY debut this week unless it's a re-release. In any event, it's worth seeing the movie and eventually buying the DVD and Piaf's cd's.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Fresh and New
As part of my 9 to 5 job I ocassionally interview candidates for open positions in my office. Depending on the opening, I look for the following: 1) experience; 2) work history; 3) longevity at previous positions; and 4) daily tasks and increased responsibilities. I also look at how well the cover letter is written and for an error free resume. This may sound strange to many but I'm often surprised when candidates submit cover letters and resumes with glaring typos and poor grammar usage. One would think that if you are looking for a job you would attempt to put your best foot forward, but not so for some. In any event, after sifting through resumes I decide on ones that best fits our needs. The final step in this arduous process is the interview at which time the candidate can make or break their opportunity for a job offer. Sometimes we hit a home run and hire a great candidate and sometimes we strike out and we end up severing ties with the candidate several months later.
Several months ago we went through an interview marathon and ended up with three candidates. One candidate blew me away on the interview by her energy, marketing experience, articulation of past and future involvement and her desire to continue to learn and grow. After much debate she was hired along with one other candidate. Several months later I'm sorry we hired her and felt that I was sold a bill of goods. The fresh and new perspective I had anticipated quickly vanished and the professionalism I gleaned from her resume was suspect. All in all, I wish we had gone with another candidate but now as the saying goes, we are stuck with her.
I relay this story because I think it necessary for all of us to look at the presidential elections as a job interview. We need to look at all of the things I presented above and more. What we cannot afford to do is to be caught up in mundane things like good looks, scripted speeches, faces that look like ours, and whether or not the face is fresh and new. Which leads me to Barak Obama. First let me say that I like Barak. If his resume were in front of me I would definitely call him in for an interview. Based on past experience, however, I would not buy into the things I presented above. I think voters need to hear more from the fresh new face other than "he gives us hope." I hope everyday that my cancer goes into remission, I hope that pedophiles will be eradicted from our society forever, I hope that poor people will have more to offer their children, I hope that Iran won't bomb us into eternity. I hope for a lot of things, it doesn't mean I can run the country.
Several months ago we went through an interview marathon and ended up with three candidates. One candidate blew me away on the interview by her energy, marketing experience, articulation of past and future involvement and her desire to continue to learn and grow. After much debate she was hired along with one other candidate. Several months later I'm sorry we hired her and felt that I was sold a bill of goods. The fresh and new perspective I had anticipated quickly vanished and the professionalism I gleaned from her resume was suspect. All in all, I wish we had gone with another candidate but now as the saying goes, we are stuck with her.
I relay this story because I think it necessary for all of us to look at the presidential elections as a job interview. We need to look at all of the things I presented above and more. What we cannot afford to do is to be caught up in mundane things like good looks, scripted speeches, faces that look like ours, and whether or not the face is fresh and new. Which leads me to Barak Obama. First let me say that I like Barak. If his resume were in front of me I would definitely call him in for an interview. Based on past experience, however, I would not buy into the things I presented above. I think voters need to hear more from the fresh new face other than "he gives us hope." I hope everyday that my cancer goes into remission, I hope that pedophiles will be eradicted from our society forever, I hope that poor people will have more to offer their children, I hope that Iran won't bomb us into eternity. I hope for a lot of things, it doesn't mean I can run the country.
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