42 + 5 = 47 Things I KNOW at 47
2 years ago
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I Barack'ed my vote, have you?
I can’t believe today is finally here!
I voted in the last two presidential elections, both of which were very crucial elections at the time, even though neitherof my candidates won. (Well, they technically DID win, but it was stolen from them. I'll always believe that.)
But neither of those compared to the excitement and joy I feel about this election, regardless of the outcome.
It literally felt like Christmas morning when I woke up this morning to Barack my vote.
The text messages started early that day from friends. Actually, they started weeks ago as many of my friends text messaged me photos of the early voting lines in their cities.
Then, I started getting the text messages this morning and immediately jumped up to get ready to do the same.
And as I watched the live coverage of Barack and his family voting at the poll, tears almost came to my eyes.
I mean, this is happening, right here, right now, in our lifetime, y’all. In our lifetime…
And of course, just like everyone else, I worry about his safety and I worry about whether or not his victory will be stolen from him just as it's happened in the past presidential elections.
But as my momma keeps saying - if it's God's will for Barack to win, there ain't nothing nobody can do to stop it. Not even the devil himself. And we've seen that be proven time and time again through his campaign. Through the Rev. Jeremiah Wright scandal, through the vicious attacks by his own party during the primaries, through the personal attacks on his family and background.
So if you haven’t yet, I hope you’re making some kinds of plans to go be a part of history today. Whether you’re Baracking the vote or McCaining the vote, make your voice heard!
I voted in the last two presidential elections, both of which were very crucial elections at the time, even though neitherof my candidates won. (Well, they technically DID win, but it was stolen from them. I'll always believe that.)
But neither of those compared to the excitement and joy I feel about this election, regardless of the outcome.
It literally felt like Christmas morning when I woke up this morning to Barack my vote.
The text messages started early that day from friends. Actually, they started weeks ago as many of my friends text messaged me photos of the early voting lines in their cities.
Then, I started getting the text messages this morning and immediately jumped up to get ready to do the same.
And as I watched the live coverage of Barack and his family voting at the poll, tears almost came to my eyes.
I mean, this is happening, right here, right now, in our lifetime, y’all. In our lifetime…
And of course, just like everyone else, I worry about his safety and I worry about whether or not his victory will be stolen from him just as it's happened in the past presidential elections.
But as my momma keeps saying - if it's God's will for Barack to win, there ain't nothing nobody can do to stop it. Not even the devil himself. And we've seen that be proven time and time again through his campaign. Through the Rev. Jeremiah Wright scandal, through the vicious attacks by his own party during the primaries, through the personal attacks on his family and background.
So if you haven’t yet, I hope you’re making some kinds of plans to go be a part of history today. Whether you’re Baracking the vote or McCaining the vote, make your voice heard!
ALLOW ME TO RE-INTRODUCE MYSELF……. THE OPTIMISTIC, PESSIMIST???
AM I JUST BIASED OR DO I TRULY HAVE A REASON TO FEEL THIS WAY?
The reason that I write today is because I am one of those people who really does not believe that my vote or anyone else's vote really counts. However, I am doing my best and playing my part to even prove myself wrong. I am a registered voter and as of 10/29/08 my wife and I casted our vote on the behalf of Barack Obama. To get right to the point, I do not have faith in the American People or government to do the right thing. I try not to get my emotions involved with this campaign because I feel that when November 4th rolls around somehow they are going to pull the carpet from right under our feet. When I say "they", I am not referring to just white people I am speaking about the powers that be. I am a firm believer that that there are groups that take a hand in controlling and manipulating the people whose sweat, blood and tears have built this country.
Example of the Power that be @ Work:
Ever since Bill Clinton was voted in as president we have seen record turnouts of minorities and new voters that increased every election but somehow Bush and all his lies was able to remain in office. Why wouldn't Al Gore fight for an election that he clearly won and why did John Kerry concede the same way? So I believe that if Obama wins he is part of a bigger plan and will eventually be dismissed as David Dinkins was after becoming the 1st and only black mayor of New York. Take a look at our (America) history and its treatment of Blacks and other minorities. Every time Blacks or any other minority started organizing and taking care of their own the government interfered by dismantling and destroying their progress citing that we were unpatriotic, communist and even racist(Black Wall Street, Black Panthers, MLK Civil Rights Movement). Fast forward 2008 Presidential Campaign, Barack Obama has been labeled an elitist, terrorist, socialist, and everything else that clearly goes against his character and what he proposes to do for this country.
As a Black man I have come to expect this from the powers that be but to still see in 2008 that a great portion of Americans are race driven and will not vote for someone because of race or color is very discouraging. I also failed to believe that anyone truly believes in McCain or Palin after all the question dodging and airhead responses that they both have given on simple questions. So what are the real reasons that people are supporting McCain and Palin? Why does it seem that McCain and Palin supporters are so angry with Senator Obama? Not only are they angry but are going to great extents to show there anger. There have been reports of people shouting racial slurs during McCain rallies, a supporter even went as far as falsely reporting that she was robbed and beat up by a black man enraged by her McCain and Palin bumper sticker. Then we have the scariest report of them all, two white supremacists were arrested for plotting the deaths of 88 black people, plans to behead 14 more and to finish off the killing spree with assassinating Barack Obama. What angers me about the whole thing is that there were reports that there would be increased security just in case Barack Obama does not win like we are going to start a riot or something. Barack Obama supporters are very passionate but we have not shown any evidence that we would be violent; however we can not say the same for the McCain supporters. So how much security will be increased if Obama wins? An even better question is when are we going to realize that black or white we ultimately want the same things and if we truly vote for the person with the better plan then everyone can have a piece of the pie instead of acting like we are bloods and crips fighting over turf that we do not own.
HOLLA@YA PEOPLE!
SHADETREE SOUP
The reason that I write today is because I am one of those people who really does not believe that my vote or anyone else's vote really counts. However, I am doing my best and playing my part to even prove myself wrong. I am a registered voter and as of 10/29/08 my wife and I casted our vote on the behalf of Barack Obama. To get right to the point, I do not have faith in the American People or government to do the right thing. I try not to get my emotions involved with this campaign because I feel that when November 4th rolls around somehow they are going to pull the carpet from right under our feet. When I say "they", I am not referring to just white people I am speaking about the powers that be. I am a firm believer that that there are groups that take a hand in controlling and manipulating the people whose sweat, blood and tears have built this country.
Example of the Power that be @ Work:
Ever since Bill Clinton was voted in as president we have seen record turnouts of minorities and new voters that increased every election but somehow Bush and all his lies was able to remain in office. Why wouldn't Al Gore fight for an election that he clearly won and why did John Kerry concede the same way? So I believe that if Obama wins he is part of a bigger plan and will eventually be dismissed as David Dinkins was after becoming the 1st and only black mayor of New York. Take a look at our (America) history and its treatment of Blacks and other minorities. Every time Blacks or any other minority started organizing and taking care of their own the government interfered by dismantling and destroying their progress citing that we were unpatriotic, communist and even racist(Black Wall Street, Black Panthers, MLK Civil Rights Movement). Fast forward 2008 Presidential Campaign, Barack Obama has been labeled an elitist, terrorist, socialist, and everything else that clearly goes against his character and what he proposes to do for this country.
As a Black man I have come to expect this from the powers that be but to still see in 2008 that a great portion of Americans are race driven and will not vote for someone because of race or color is very discouraging. I also failed to believe that anyone truly believes in McCain or Palin after all the question dodging and airhead responses that they both have given on simple questions. So what are the real reasons that people are supporting McCain and Palin? Why does it seem that McCain and Palin supporters are so angry with Senator Obama? Not only are they angry but are going to great extents to show there anger. There have been reports of people shouting racial slurs during McCain rallies, a supporter even went as far as falsely reporting that she was robbed and beat up by a black man enraged by her McCain and Palin bumper sticker. Then we have the scariest report of them all, two white supremacists were arrested for plotting the deaths of 88 black people, plans to behead 14 more and to finish off the killing spree with assassinating Barack Obama. What angers me about the whole thing is that there were reports that there would be increased security just in case Barack Obama does not win like we are going to start a riot or something. Barack Obama supporters are very passionate but we have not shown any evidence that we would be violent; however we can not say the same for the McCain supporters. So how much security will be increased if Obama wins? An even better question is when are we going to realize that black or white we ultimately want the same things and if we truly vote for the person with the better plan then everyone can have a piece of the pie instead of acting like we are bloods and crips fighting over turf that we do not own.
HOLLA@YA PEOPLE!
SHADETREE SOUP
Polls open as America makes history
Americans are lining up at polling stations today in what already is one of the most historic U.S. elections. Democrat Barack Obama could become the nation's first African-American president. Republican John McCain could become the oldest president elected to a first term. McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, could become the first woman elected vice president. Americans also are expected to vote in record numbers
Monday, November 3, 2008
the bridge to Nowhere
(for the record...this is Kwaz's last 2008 politically related post~ GO VOTE!)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Sunday morning Tea
my girl, Sukhjit (pronounced, SOOK-jeet), gets her tea, "on".
"I drink a lot of tea. I’m thinking it has to do with being an Indian girl and growing up in a house where tea is served on average 3 times a day. Indian tea is called “chai”, or “cha” if you’re Punjabi like me. When I was in India at the start of 2008 it became clear to me that “cha” is not just a beverage, it’s a ritual. It’s a multi step process and every household has a slightly different take on how it should be made. There are several ingredients in a good cup of “cha” and I thought I’d share a very basic recipe with you.
Cha
3 cups water
1/2 tbs anise seed
3 or 4 cloves
3 or 4 cardamom pods
a dash of cinnamon
1 tbs loose black tea leaves
whole milk
sugar or honey to taste
Put 3 cups water in a pot and bring it to a boil. While the water is heating add the anise seed. Crush cloves & cardamon using a mortar and pestle or back of a big spoon. Add it to the boil. The water should turn a golden brown. Add a couple dashes of cinnamon. Let this boil for a couple minutes then add the tea leaves. Bring this to a boil for 2 more minutes. The chai should have a dark translucent look. Add milk and let it boil till the tea is slightly frothy from the boil. Strain it into a pot or cup and add sugar or honey to taste.
All these ingredient amounts can be increased or decreased. Again, this is a very simple and basic recipe. I took a cooking class while I was in India and one of my favorite things to learn was chai. The recipe was more complicated than the one I’ve shared. When I find that recipe I’ll post it here too."
"I drink a lot of tea. I’m thinking it has to do with being an Indian girl and growing up in a house where tea is served on average 3 times a day. Indian tea is called “chai”, or “cha” if you’re Punjabi like me. When I was in India at the start of 2008 it became clear to me that “cha” is not just a beverage, it’s a ritual. It’s a multi step process and every household has a slightly different take on how it should be made. There are several ingredients in a good cup of “cha” and I thought I’d share a very basic recipe with you.
Cha
3 cups water
1/2 tbs anise seed
3 or 4 cloves
3 or 4 cardamom pods
a dash of cinnamon
1 tbs loose black tea leaves
whole milk
sugar or honey to taste
Put 3 cups water in a pot and bring it to a boil. While the water is heating add the anise seed. Crush cloves & cardamon using a mortar and pestle or back of a big spoon. Add it to the boil. The water should turn a golden brown. Add a couple dashes of cinnamon. Let this boil for a couple minutes then add the tea leaves. Bring this to a boil for 2 more minutes. The chai should have a dark translucent look. Add milk and let it boil till the tea is slightly frothy from the boil. Strain it into a pot or cup and add sugar or honey to taste.
All these ingredient amounts can be increased or decreased. Again, this is a very simple and basic recipe. I took a cooking class while I was in India and one of my favorite things to learn was chai. The recipe was more complicated than the one I’ve shared. When I find that recipe I’ll post it here too."
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