Living (and dying) in America!

Living in America!

Michael Kinsley says it is time to scrap the Star-Spangled Banner. I'm on board with this. Doesn't sound bad, great historical references and all that, but it is even tough to lip-synch it...

Kinsley makes a couple of tepid recommendations. My choice?

Living in America by James Brown!

Can you get more American than James Brown? Drugs. Women. Jail time. Illegitimate children. Car chases. Mixed race. More women. Battle over his estate.

Not only should the song be the National Anthem, but the video should also be the National Video...

Whistling Past the Graveyard

Last night I picked up the June 6-12, 2009 issue of the Washington Afro-American. A page one article in the paper as well as an opinion piece by George Curry document the recent case of the white woman who claimed she was kidnapped by two black men.

As I recently asked: Why in the world would anyone believe that such a thing could happen? Why didn't she blame Native American Indians?

Looking through the news section, that's the only "crime" story in the news section.

Thankfully, the Washington Post is always on the case to report about crime! There's a story, B4, with the headline, "Despite More Policing, Another Man is Slain."

In this case, the man was shot and killed "just steps away" from a new post where an officer is stationed. There's also a security camera nearby.

Jean Bland, a resident who lives nearby and has "several old bullet holes" in her home from people shooting, says the obvious: "Something has to be done."

Something is right! I'd suggest we spend more time tracking down more white women who make up stories about black men...

* * *

Will he hear this by 2029?

Sherrilyn A. Ifill ties the recent shooting at the Holocaust museum to right-wingers. When I have trouble quickly distinguishing between Jew-hating leftists and Jew-hating rightists then I check with Ifill.

Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post joins in today with the type of hackneyed thinking he should be remembered (then, quickly forgotten) one day.

In unrelated news, noted Republican Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. says "Them Jews" won't allow Pres. Obama to meet with him.

Pres. Obama sat in Rev. Wright's church for 20 years without hearing the things he said...perhaps he'll catch up with this story by 2029...

* * *

Eugene Robinson is still a clown

When he first replaced William Raspberry a few years I tried to read his writing. I had read Raspberry's columns on a regular basis for about 15 years. While I often disagreed with Raspberry's conclusions when he reached them, I could appreciate that he seemed to be thinking out loud and didn't mind changing his mind or admitting he had been wrong.

But Raspberry being followed by Robinson is like going from Martin Luther King Jr to Al Sharpton. Whereas Raspberry was thoughtful, Robinson is a hack. There were some days that Raspberry couldn't decide which shoes to put on; Robinson prefers clown shoes.

* * *

How much more Magical could he be in person?

According to Ray Friedman of Vanderbilt University, the scores of black students increased after Obama's nomination and election victory.

If true, then just think what the Obama effect would have been if he had given the commencement address at a black college or university?

According to DeWayne Wickham, the White House refuses to answer his question: "I wanted to know how many black higher education institutions have asked Barack Obama to be their commencement speaker this spring."

CJL
linked by Booker Rising and I stole the great graphic from her...

"Yoegi Anjuseyo!"

* I have a short reflection in today's Korea Times about an encounter with an unfriendly looking Korean man on the subway. It was a reminder not to be too quick in judging people in Korea. 09-13-2011 16:47 'Yeogi Anjeuseyo!' By Casey Lartigue Jr. The recent incident in which an American English teacher bullied an elderly Korean man and other passengers on the bus reminded me of a more pleasing incident from years ago. I was on the subway, taking the train outside of Seoul for a work assignment. I have the habit of standing on the subway to strategically position myself near the doors in case my stop magically appears. On that particular day, there was a Korean man STARING at me. Not just looking at me, but intensely staring at me. He had an incredible frown on his face. Not just for one stop, but for several stops the guy just kept staring at me. If I had known more Korean then I would have been able to curse him ...

Michael Breen discussion at 10 Magazine

Yesterday I attended a discussion with writer Michael Breen, hosted by Barry Welsh. Very often, when I attend a speech or discussion about a topic I know a lot about, I often think about ways the speaker/facilitator/discussant could have done better. But I didn't feel that way about Breen, it was one of those times that I really felt like I had a lot to learn and should listen more than talk. He's been in Korea for three decades, working as a reporter, commentator, communications specialist. He reminds me of Andrei Lankov in that his analysis seems to be based on observation of how things work rather than trying to get the world to fit his biases. I don't know him, so his friends may say he is a raging ideologue, but that's not the impression I had yesterday and based on his writings. Michael Breen (L) and Casey Lartigue I first read his book The Koreans about a decade ago. It was a delightful read, that was both warm to Koreans but also critical at times. Yes...

Humanitarian with a guillotine (Korea Times, February 1, 2013) by Casey Lartigue, Jr.

Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan said the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, `` I’m from the government, and I’m here to help .” For many well-intentioned activists, politicians, and intellectuals, that should be updated as: ``We are here to help you. You’re under arrest.” For example, ``sex workers” around the world oppose anti-prostitution laws. Prostitutes may not know the theoretical arguments but they do know in reality that prohibiting prostitution means they lack protection in dealing with abusive pimps and madams, violent patrons and crooked cops. Locally, a Korean woman busted for prostitution recently appealed to the courts pleading , ``I cannot survive without this job. I don’t want to be treated as a criminal for making a living the only way I can.” How should someone who genuinely wants to help her respond? If you say ``arrest her” then you are qualified to be a “harmful humanitarian.” In your desire to help, you have elimin...

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

Inspiration from a lousy visitor (The Korea Times, December 31, 2013) by Casey Lartigue, Jr.

2013-12-15 It was a great occasion yesterday. A group of us held a Christmas party in the cancer ward of severance hospital. So many people to mention. The man who inspired it all: Nick Adams. It was his trip to Korea last month that inspired me to organize the party. He had cancer when he was a child, and he insisted that as part of his itinerary that we stop by the hospital. I was so moved that I contacted the best party planner I have ever known. The man behind the motion: Edward M. Robinson! As I've said several times: If you are looking for someone to hold an incredible party for kids, then contact Eddie! I look forward to big things from HOPE now that he has taken an even more active role with the organization (and was smart enough to name me an International Adviser, for example). The staff members at Mulmangcho are still talking about the incredible Halloween party he hosted, and they are looking forward to the Christmas party he has planned this weekend! The lady behind t...

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