04 August 2009
New Blog
To those who might be looking for this blog, I have officially moved to http://3dees.wordpress.com/. Hopefully I'll see you there.
17 April 2008
Why should I get up in the morning?
Sometimes the hardest thing for an individual is to find the motivation required to keep pressing towards their goal. Especially when you've been pressing for a while and still feel like nothing is working or failing to see results. I have always lived by the motto that "If I don't get what you want, then it means I didn't work hard enough!" This is simply because each and every one of us has been given a level of talent and gift that everything you need to succeed has been given within i.e. we all have the resources to transcend limitations which we have placed on ourselves. Why do I feel so strongly about this? Because every single human being has a tenacity about something. When we were kids, we would pout and cry until we got what we want because we really wanted it . . . as we got older, some still pout and whine while others have learned to direct that energy into hard work. My point being even if you're not tenacious enough about your school work or that exercise that you've been trying to plan or that money you've been trying to save, it's not because you don't have that power to be tenacious about it, it's just that you've forgotten how or haven't been able to make that transition from pouting to focusing on making things work.
The one book that I read that changed my line of thinking was "The 7 habits of highly effective people." Habit 1 stated that "One should learn to be Proactive (rather than reactive)" i.e. instead of reacting to your situations, take the stand to move things forward on your own. Somehow, I don't know how I survived the 21 years before I read that book not realizing that this was probably the most fundamental thing about being a mature human being. I learned that I basically had all the ability that I needed to make things happen because I have been blessed by God (and we have all been blessed). I remember one time when I was at church and the pastor said "Why should you pray for God to do something that you can do on your own?" At the time I wondered why he said that because that almost seemed like saying "Do you really need God" Over time though I found this to be true. It's like your father giving you the textbooks you need for school and then you go back to ask him for help in handing the money over to the cashier. The money is already in your hands . . . do you honestly need help to hand it over? I think not. In the same way, we are all blessed with ABILITY, all that's left is that motivating factor and the realization that you can do whatever you set out to do.
This brings me back to my initial question: Why should I get up in the morning? The honest answer is really simple: The world would be missing out on what you have if you didn't! You have something to add to this round globe and it starts by belief in yourself that you have something to add. Once you have that vision in front of you, all it takes is putting your energy into the training required to present that talent in the manner in which it will be beneficial: you into music? Practice. You into business? Read and get mentored. You into science? Solve problems. Without the training required, your talent/gift will die and another part of the world becomes dark because your light bulb went out.
Think about it
The one book that I read that changed my line of thinking was "The 7 habits of highly effective people." Habit 1 stated that "One should learn to be Proactive (rather than reactive)" i.e. instead of reacting to your situations, take the stand to move things forward on your own. Somehow, I don't know how I survived the 21 years before I read that book not realizing that this was probably the most fundamental thing about being a mature human being. I learned that I basically had all the ability that I needed to make things happen because I have been blessed by God (and we have all been blessed). I remember one time when I was at church and the pastor said "Why should you pray for God to do something that you can do on your own?" At the time I wondered why he said that because that almost seemed like saying "Do you really need God" Over time though I found this to be true. It's like your father giving you the textbooks you need for school and then you go back to ask him for help in handing the money over to the cashier. The money is already in your hands . . . do you honestly need help to hand it over? I think not. In the same way, we are all blessed with ABILITY, all that's left is that motivating factor and the realization that you can do whatever you set out to do.
This brings me back to my initial question: Why should I get up in the morning? The honest answer is really simple: The world would be missing out on what you have if you didn't! You have something to add to this round globe and it starts by belief in yourself that you have something to add. Once you have that vision in front of you, all it takes is putting your energy into the training required to present that talent in the manner in which it will be beneficial: you into music? Practice. You into business? Read and get mentored. You into science? Solve problems. Without the training required, your talent/gift will die and another part of the world becomes dark because your light bulb went out.
Think about it
31 March 2008
Weak . . .
So the past couple of days have been non-stop work. I've spent every night since thursday at the laboratory. I feel like I am about to pass out, but I keep going on. I feel like a weight-lifter who knows that they have to push past that last rep and pummel each muscle with pain. It's the same way in which I try to approach the work that I do. I know the sooner I get down with this degree, the sooner the rest of my life can start and as I look around at my surroundings, it's about time I left this environment. I can't grow any more than I've already grown at O.U. Everything there was to learn about the States I learnt here: from women, school, politics, spiritual life, socializing, debt. My first job was here, every first sexual experience happened here, scholarships here. I also remember that the rational side of me took over when I stepped out of Athens and lived in Columbus for a year. It took some time, but I am at the point where I can be in Athens and not be swept away by the now of everything. Not too long ago, I lived for the thrill of the weekend, alcohol coursing through my veins as I danced up and down at parties and at the club. I'm not exactly miles away from that life, but I realize that there's is a balance and I find that balance in the results that I am seeking: Work hard to succeed intellectually, Play hard to succeed mentally, Save hard to succeed financially. When these results start to appear, then I know that I was balanced all along. Till then I'll just keep working at each aspect.
29 March 2008
WOW!
WOW!!! 0.25 of 2008 is already over. That's unbelievable because I feel like I was just in New York ringing in '08 with B and 3 months have passed since then. An even bigger WOW in the sense that I have been in a relationship for 10 months and counting. I guess it's safe to say that I am beginning to complete another phase of adult life: the act of settling down. Currently it's a state of mind as I am still nomadic since I won't be living in Athens forever. Speaking of, the biggest WOW is that I am officially a PhD student. Yes sir, more nights in the basement of Stocker Center for another 2 years or so. I can't complain though, I'm enjoying what I am doing: the theory of solid state physics and the empirical nature of fuel cell testing. The best part, when one section gets too slow, I turn to the other one to At the present time, I'm looking forward to writing a paper on frequency calculations which will be my first foray into an actual academic publication. It's exciting stuff, but it's taking forever to get the results mainly because these computers are really slow. Ah well, the experiments have been suffering from neglect so I am focusing on those now.
In less mind-numbing news, now that football season is over, my interest has switched from ESPN to CNN and the on-going drama in the current presidential nomination. It's strange though, when I first arrived in the U.S. in 2000, the election was well on the way with Al Gore going against George Jnr. Even stranger is the fact that I was on Bush's side. Why? I honestly don't remember why. I didn't even know either person's platform neither did I know an iota about American Politics. I think it was because everyone at the house was supporting Gore and the "Sore Loserman" slogan (a word play on Gore Lieberman) was catching. Ah well, 8 years have passed and I'm much smarter now than I was then and although I can't play a part in the voting process, I know that there is only 1 of these candidates who can truly make a difference and change how American is viewed by the rest of the world. Anyone reading this knows who that is and if you don't, you need to reach deeper than my words and you'll know.
I look over my last post and strangely enough, that was put up around the same time as I am writing this. It just goes to prove to me that the moments that I spend awake (when everyone is sleeping) gives me the moments I need to be introspective and think about personal progression. It only makes sense though, spending the day moving others forward and spend the nights moving myself forward and being on the path to being the optimum Dammy.
Well it's back to work and hopefully an hiatus that lasts less than 1 week.
In less mind-numbing news, now that football season is over, my interest has switched from ESPN to CNN and the on-going drama in the current presidential nomination. It's strange though, when I first arrived in the U.S. in 2000, the election was well on the way with Al Gore going against George Jnr. Even stranger is the fact that I was on Bush's side. Why? I honestly don't remember why. I didn't even know either person's platform neither did I know an iota about American Politics. I think it was because everyone at the house was supporting Gore and the "Sore Loserman" slogan (a word play on Gore Lieberman) was catching. Ah well, 8 years have passed and I'm much smarter now than I was then and although I can't play a part in the voting process, I know that there is only 1 of these candidates who can truly make a difference and change how American is viewed by the rest of the world. Anyone reading this knows who that is and if you don't, you need to reach deeper than my words and you'll know.
I look over my last post and strangely enough, that was put up around the same time as I am writing this. It just goes to prove to me that the moments that I spend awake (when everyone is sleeping) gives me the moments I need to be introspective and think about personal progression. It only makes sense though, spending the day moving others forward and spend the nights moving myself forward and being on the path to being the optimum Dammy.
Well it's back to work and hopefully an hiatus that lasts less than 1 week.
08 November 2007
Hiatus
It's been almost a year since I last blogged. I haven't exactly been writing in my physical journal either for some reason. I'm up later than late these days anyway, so I should be able to pick up from where I left off from.
These days I'm mostly focused on taking the PhD qualifying exam and obtaining results from my Gaussian file that has been running now for about a week with no concluded results in site. I feel like I have no idea what I'm going to get from the results here. Let's just say that what I am doing is writing a program and then sending it to a Computing Center to perform the calculations and then send me back the results once it's complete. When a program takes a week to be calculated, you know it's something that's huge. Well if this program succeeds in doing what it is expected to do, it will be a huge deal.
On the other hand I have been on youtube a lot lately and man I can't believe the number of ridiculously funny stuff I have picked up on there. I'm just going to put up 2 of them for now.
The first was one I discovered on my friend's facebook profile with 2 Nigerian guys doing a remix to the Souljah Boy song that seems to be sweeping the nation. If you speak broken, you'll laugh your head off. If not, it's still funny anyway to see two guys in traditional garb doing the Naija Boy.
The second is one that my girlfriend sent to me just last night. Warning/Disclaimer: If you love cats, then you probably don't want to watch this. I think you'll still find it funny either way. After all the cat is still alive after this experiment.
Well I need to catch some shut-eye which I have been lacking a lot of this week.
These days I'm mostly focused on taking the PhD qualifying exam and obtaining results from my Gaussian file that has been running now for about a week with no concluded results in site. I feel like I have no idea what I'm going to get from the results here. Let's just say that what I am doing is writing a program and then sending it to a Computing Center to perform the calculations and then send me back the results once it's complete. When a program takes a week to be calculated, you know it's something that's huge. Well if this program succeeds in doing what it is expected to do, it will be a huge deal.
On the other hand I have been on youtube a lot lately and man I can't believe the number of ridiculously funny stuff I have picked up on there. I'm just going to put up 2 of them for now.
The first was one I discovered on my friend's facebook profile with 2 Nigerian guys doing a remix to the Souljah Boy song that seems to be sweeping the nation. If you speak broken, you'll laugh your head off. If not, it's still funny anyway to see two guys in traditional garb doing the Naija Boy.
Well I need to catch some shut-eye which I have been lacking a lot of this week.
09 February 2007
Fi(red) Up
Today's edition of "The Post" included an article that a student @ Baylor University had written about the Product Red campaign. The full article can be viewed here.
I am a strong believer in the greater good. Granted not everyone who donates is doing it because they care, most are doing it because it's a fad or to blow their trumpet using their chest, face or feet. However when it comes to charity, I believe the end justifies the means. When the people who need the money are getting their basic provisions or when research in AIDS is being advanced, the question will not be why did it take a fad to get them to donate; the thought will be how can we make people go deeper into their pockets. Short of killing someone and embezzling their money, I doubt that the source of the money is not important.
Yes those of us in under-developed countries need more than money thrown at us, but I will be the first to tell you that those children will tell you that the money is a start. Sometimes I hear people who talk about charity from a distance condemn and chastise these famous people for selling a fad and I wonder what these same critics are doing. What efforts have you personally made to advance one kid or to educate the illiterate or help the needy? Yet you want to stay on your soap-box and criticise Bono, Oprah, Angelina or Clooney for using their fame to raise money for a cause that is needed.
And when you think about it, these yuppies and their (red)-tagged attires will influence others who see this as a real cause. After all, Malcolm X did not wake up thinking revolution, Elijah Muhammed brought about his awareness and we all know what kind of person Elijah was.
I am a strong believer in the greater good. Granted not everyone who donates is doing it because they care, most are doing it because it's a fad or to blow their trumpet using their chest, face or feet. However when it comes to charity, I believe the end justifies the means. When the people who need the money are getting their basic provisions or when research in AIDS is being advanced, the question will not be why did it take a fad to get them to donate; the thought will be how can we make people go deeper into their pockets. Short of killing someone and embezzling their money, I doubt that the source of the money is not important.
Yes those of us in under-developed countries need more than money thrown at us, but I will be the first to tell you that those children will tell you that the money is a start. Sometimes I hear people who talk about charity from a distance condemn and chastise these famous people for selling a fad and I wonder what these same critics are doing. What efforts have you personally made to advance one kid or to educate the illiterate or help the needy? Yet you want to stay on your soap-box and criticise Bono, Oprah, Angelina or Clooney for using their fame to raise money for a cause that is needed.
And when you think about it, these yuppies and their (red)-tagged attires will influence others who see this as a real cause. After all, Malcolm X did not wake up thinking revolution, Elijah Muhammed brought about his awareness and we all know what kind of person Elijah was.
08 February 2007
Twilight Zone
I turned 24 three days, thirteen hours and forty-six minutes ago. I was too tired to evaluate or think about anything else but getting through the day. I didn't even feel like celebrating the event, just another passing day telling me it's time to get out of Athens and into the workforce somewhere else.
I have recently reached the point where I wonder if I still have a lot of years ahead of me or the best is gone and all that's left to look forward to is back aches and the like. If you listen to my cousins tell it, they would say I am a dinosaur. On the other hand, I know I've only experienced a third of all I have to experience in this life. Although six years in America and 17 in Nigeria makes me feel like I have experienced more than my share at this point in my life.
I distinctly remember having a conversation with my friend right before I turned 23 about how the age of 30 is the golden age of most men. It is the moment when you know you are going to be a success or a failure. This conversation helped me come up with what I called 7-year plan. It encompassed graduation, working, owning real estate, investments and of course marriage, all in that order. These days all I think about are the first two items on that list i.e. getting done with my Masters and finding an enviable position in the workforce a la Chevron, bP, Exxon and so on. I don't kid myself into thinking everything else will fall into place, but I've amassed enough experience to know that my path can only be lit by focus, dedication and passion.
24 years have passed and with it all the innocence that I once claimed to possess.
I have recently reached the point where I wonder if I still have a lot of years ahead of me or the best is gone and all that's left to look forward to is back aches and the like. If you listen to my cousins tell it, they would say I am a dinosaur. On the other hand, I know I've only experienced a third of all I have to experience in this life. Although six years in America and 17 in Nigeria makes me feel like I have experienced more than my share at this point in my life.
I distinctly remember having a conversation with my friend right before I turned 23 about how the age of 30 is the golden age of most men. It is the moment when you know you are going to be a success or a failure. This conversation helped me come up with what I called 7-year plan. It encompassed graduation, working, owning real estate, investments and of course marriage, all in that order. These days all I think about are the first two items on that list i.e. getting done with my Masters and finding an enviable position in the workforce a la Chevron, bP, Exxon and so on. I don't kid myself into thinking everything else will fall into place, but I've amassed enough experience to know that my path can only be lit by focus, dedication and passion.
24 years have passed and with it all the innocence that I once claimed to possess.
10 January 2007
First of the year
The new year brings lots of new things. Resolutions, Promises, Excitement, Anticipation etc. Most importantly, it has given my the chance to love again. Yes I know, maybe it's still the champagne from the New Year's Eve party that's kicking in. Trust me, that wore off by noon the next day.
When I first laid eyes on her, I wasn't initially impressed. I felt she would be like everything else in my life that has come, got broken and is now dissolved in the pool of past crushes. Then I started to pay attention and I realized (in the words of Beauty and the Beast), perhaps "there's something there that wasn't there before". The more I paid attention, the more intrigued I became and now I'm wrapped around the idea that this could actually work. People says looks don't matter, but those people lie. Looks are what make u snap your head around twice and catch your eye, and I tell ya those curves made me look again and again. Yes I know building relationships take time, effort and patience and every new one is different from the previous one; I am not too worried though, because getting to know her is the exciting part. When things begin to get rocky, I know I have dependable people I can share my troubles with. I just hope I'm able to afford her. Here's her picture. And if that doesn't impress you, this should.
When I first laid eyes on her, I wasn't initially impressed. I felt she would be like everything else in my life that has come, got broken and is now dissolved in the pool of past crushes. Then I started to pay attention and I realized (in the words of Beauty and the Beast), perhaps "there's something there that wasn't there before". The more I paid attention, the more intrigued I became and now I'm wrapped around the idea that this could actually work. People says looks don't matter, but those people lie. Looks are what make u snap your head around twice and catch your eye, and I tell ya those curves made me look again and again. Yes I know building relationships take time, effort and patience and every new one is different from the previous one; I am not too worried though, because getting to know her is the exciting part. When things begin to get rocky, I know I have dependable people I can share my troubles with. I just hope I'm able to afford her. Here's her picture. And if that doesn't impress you, this should.
11 December 2006
Blood Diamond
It's 2:11 am right now and I should probably be sleeping, but after watching this movie tonight, some things were weighing on my mind. I'm not quite sure if it's the fact that when one buys jewelry they have no idea what that rock has been through, or if it's the fact that a place that has numerous natural resources is highly indebted to the "developed" countries or if it's just that my continent is still roaming around trying to find itself.
There is so much turmoil in Africa and amidst it all, there are folks making a fortune from the resources that are supposed to benefit the indigenes of the land. It's moments like this that I think about Desmond Tutu's words: When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land. Now it seems we're forever indebted to the Europeans and Americans and have no choice but to continually export our resources unfairly to either purchase arms to kill and subdue the weaker ones or obtain money to put in our personal pockets.
The last time I felt like this was after watching Hotel Rwanda and seeing how all the fighting started because at one time one tribe was continually made to seem better than the other and the reaction was the genocide. Yet the same people who fed this conflict decided to fold their arms when it was time to step in and profer some help or assistance. Something similar happened in Nigeria with the Biafran war and yet I fear that it could happen again if the folks of the Delta region decide they want to fight for their rights to control the oil. After all, if I am lucky enough to have found myself on an oil-rich field, shouldn't I have some sort of benefit from it?
The next question I ask myself is what can be done? It's time to stop blaming the government because it is our people that are in the government. It's time to stop blaming the whites because at one time they were fighting amongst themselves (American Revolution) and somehow they have rebounded from that some years later to become partners (U.S. and U.K.). It's time to stop looking outward and begin looking inward to how we can pick up ourselves and the only way we can begin to do this is first to realize that we can effect a change. It takes smarts to defraud people, this same savvy can be somehow translated into a positive. I know on my own part I'm interested in increasing the education of my people. This will not just happen in the classrooms, but in their everyday lives and I'm talking specifically about reading. We need more libraries and then there are those who will take an active interest in moving this idea forward on four wheels. This is why I say again that I am excited about this group of young people coming together to move things forward.
There is so much turmoil in Africa and amidst it all, there are folks making a fortune from the resources that are supposed to benefit the indigenes of the land. It's moments like this that I think about Desmond Tutu's words: When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land. Now it seems we're forever indebted to the Europeans and Americans and have no choice but to continually export our resources unfairly to either purchase arms to kill and subdue the weaker ones or obtain money to put in our personal pockets.
The last time I felt like this was after watching Hotel Rwanda and seeing how all the fighting started because at one time one tribe was continually made to seem better than the other and the reaction was the genocide. Yet the same people who fed this conflict decided to fold their arms when it was time to step in and profer some help or assistance. Something similar happened in Nigeria with the Biafran war and yet I fear that it could happen again if the folks of the Delta region decide they want to fight for their rights to control the oil. After all, if I am lucky enough to have found myself on an oil-rich field, shouldn't I have some sort of benefit from it?
The next question I ask myself is what can be done? It's time to stop blaming the government because it is our people that are in the government. It's time to stop blaming the whites because at one time they were fighting amongst themselves (American Revolution) and somehow they have rebounded from that some years later to become partners (U.S. and U.K.). It's time to stop looking outward and begin looking inward to how we can pick up ourselves and the only way we can begin to do this is first to realize that we can effect a change. It takes smarts to defraud people, this same savvy can be somehow translated into a positive. I know on my own part I'm interested in increasing the education of my people. This will not just happen in the classrooms, but in their everyday lives and I'm talking specifically about reading. We need more libraries and then there are those who will take an active interest in moving this idea forward on four wheels. This is why I say again that I am excited about this group of young people coming together to move things forward.
On the 20/20 issue
I have quite a number of friends who are not African, even more who are not Nigerian, therefore I feel it's my responsibility to clarify some of the things that had been said on Friday Night's edition of 20/20. If you did not get an opportunity to see it, go here and look at the video links on the right side. I am sure we've all received the emails where someone says there's some money somewhere in the millions and you need to pay a certain fee to get access to that money. Maybe you have received the email saying you should send your name and account number for the money to be transferred to you.
After watching the show, I couldn't help laughing. This wasn't because I took the issue lightly; far from it. It was because I was surprised by how easily it was to take advantage of people who should know better but didn't. I honestly don't feel sorry for anyone that got scammed. It would be a different story if these people were giving money to a noble cause and got scammed out of it. This wasn't the case however, these were people on both sides trying to make quick bucks and one side got burnt in the process. It is strange to me that a congressman and a surgeon could be victims of these fraudsters, but it just goes to show that sometimes greed will take you to lengths you never even fathomed. I feel in this case I have to quote Malcolm X: This is a case of the chickens coming home to roost: the culture of defrauding people for promised wealth is coming around full circle and the price will be paid by the innocent and the guilty.
Then there are the scammers themselves whom ABC apparently thinks we are applauding. Apparently making a music video poking fun at the scams equates to elevating the scammers as icons of the society. That's like saying Eminem's "Stan" was praising crazed fans, N.W.A.'s "Fuck Tha Police" song was praising cop killers or maybe Big & Rich's "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy" is actually saying cowboys should be a jockey's best friend. The truth is these scammers don't have to explain themselves, it's people like me that have to try to justify why we can still call Nigeria home, just like no matter how much your brother or sister mess up, family's still family. I'm disgusted by the actions some of my people have undertaken to make money, but I can't blame them after they continually feel that making an honest living is not the key to success.
In the end though I wonder if people are more mad about being scammed or mad at the people they were scammed by, after all some still consider us to be lazy, ignorant fools.
After watching the show, I couldn't help laughing. This wasn't because I took the issue lightly; far from it. It was because I was surprised by how easily it was to take advantage of people who should know better but didn't. I honestly don't feel sorry for anyone that got scammed. It would be a different story if these people were giving money to a noble cause and got scammed out of it. This wasn't the case however, these were people on both sides trying to make quick bucks and one side got burnt in the process. It is strange to me that a congressman and a surgeon could be victims of these fraudsters, but it just goes to show that sometimes greed will take you to lengths you never even fathomed. I feel in this case I have to quote Malcolm X: This is a case of the chickens coming home to roost: the culture of defrauding people for promised wealth is coming around full circle and the price will be paid by the innocent and the guilty.
Then there are the scammers themselves whom ABC apparently thinks we are applauding. Apparently making a music video poking fun at the scams equates to elevating the scammers as icons of the society. That's like saying Eminem's "Stan" was praising crazed fans, N.W.A.'s "Fuck Tha Police" song was praising cop killers or maybe Big & Rich's "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy" is actually saying cowboys should be a jockey's best friend. The truth is these scammers don't have to explain themselves, it's people like me that have to try to justify why we can still call Nigeria home, just like no matter how much your brother or sister mess up, family's still family. I'm disgusted by the actions some of my people have undertaken to make money, but I can't blame them after they continually feel that making an honest living is not the key to success.
In the end though I wonder if people are more mad about being scammed or mad at the people they were scammed by, after all some still consider us to be lazy, ignorant fools.
08 December 2006
Affirmative Action banned in Michigan
It was another day of facebook browsing and I'm not sure how I stumbled on this group, but it was a group associated with Proposal 2. Apparently this proposal has passed in Michigan and it is sparking some controversy. Anyhow, I came across a thread with the title "Stop whining and get the hell over it" and I was reading through it. You can find it here. However if you don't have facebook, here are the person's statements
It's comments like this that make one wonder if we're in 2006 or if we're still back in stoneage. I understand that Affirmative Action (AA) is unfair to a number of people, but it's a positive step in making up for the social ills of the past. Allow me if I may to use the analogy of the BCS, every year the process of selecting the college champion is refined. It's not a perfect process to begin with, but that is why people of intellectual ability into power so they can think through policies in place. If AA is not doing what it is meant to do, then it should be replaced with a better process rather than scraping it. This person also made a point referring to black South Africans and the Irish and so on. First off, the Irish are not forced to live in the same country as the British so that cancels that arguement out and as for the South Africans, you have to remember that there may not be reparations, but the people who have ruled this country in the past couple of years are black and therefore have put policies in places that will advance their people's causes. It's like at my current university where we have had a black president for the first time. There are issues that he knows about which an average caucasian has no idea about and hence will overlook if he were a policy maker. In my opinion AA is good and there is need for improvement but scraping it is not the way to go . . . and yet one wonders if there is such a thing as a global community when people still feel they are better than another by virtue of what they look like or where they live and so on.
what is affirmative action for anyways? the slavery? jim crow laws? some sort of revenge for a racial or gender injustice. well get the hell over it already. racial, sexual, and gender discrimination is a part of human history, all over the world. the english enslaved the irish for over 500 years. and the scots for 100 years, does that mean i get reparations or better treatment from them if i lived there? hell no. are the south african blacks getting treated favorably in south africa for apartheid? do the germans have a means of social apology to the jews? is japan going to apologize for the rape of nan-king and manchuria? are the egyptians going to apologize for enslaving the jews? are the modern day romans (italians) going to apologize for conquering germany? hell no. and none of these conquerors are going to give a damn dime to who they conquered. and they shouldn't.
conquering and slavery happened to the weaker, less advanced, and less aggressive people. the native americans were conquered by the europeans because they were 5000 years behind in technology. same with the romans to the barbarians. the african slaves were never conquered by europeans. when one tribe conquered another in northern africa, the conquering tribe sold the losing tribe for rum, guns, textiles, and sugar. to any black person reading this in america: you were conquered. but it was by your own people and you were sold by your own people.
and by weak i mean that some races actually fought back. the scottish fought back against the english. ever see braveheart? the love interest wasnt there but those battles did happen. the english only ruled the scots for 100 years because the scots revolted and told the english to get the fuck out. just like the indians and mahatma ghandi did. so dont blame the race that enslaved you, blame your ancestors for being weak. and be strong and go out and conquer the economy, and make a shitload of money because you want to, and do it with a level field.
and native americans. i am really fucking sick of giving you money, free college tuition and tax breaks. get over it already. if my ancestors wouldve never come to america and brought you up to speed with technology, you would still be sitting in a skin hut on dirt, with only a fire to keep you warm in the winter. no metal tools, no tv, no playstation, no booze, no electricity, no computers of any kind. i dont care how many of your race my ancestors killed. without them you would be nothing. you would still be 5000 years behind. if anything, you owe us. same goes the people of african tribal ancestry.
lastly, not all white people are the same ancestry. ive looked into it, and all of my ancestors came to this country and lived in the north after the civil war. they had nothing to do with slavery, or manifest destiny. they just came here and lived, in search of the american dream.
and lastly, im not calling any black person "african american" unless they are actually from africa, as in born in africa. are you going to call me "western european american"? no, and you shouldn't because its ridiculous. and i actually know kids from africa; sudanese lost boys. they don't want to be called african. they hate africa. they were chased around 3 countries in the savannah. if you're black and were born here, you are american, not african, and you just happen to be black just like i am white. get over it.
It's comments like this that make one wonder if we're in 2006 or if we're still back in stoneage. I understand that Affirmative Action (AA) is unfair to a number of people, but it's a positive step in making up for the social ills of the past. Allow me if I may to use the analogy of the BCS, every year the process of selecting the college champion is refined. It's not a perfect process to begin with, but that is why people of intellectual ability into power so they can think through policies in place. If AA is not doing what it is meant to do, then it should be replaced with a better process rather than scraping it. This person also made a point referring to black South Africans and the Irish and so on. First off, the Irish are not forced to live in the same country as the British so that cancels that arguement out and as for the South Africans, you have to remember that there may not be reparations, but the people who have ruled this country in the past couple of years are black and therefore have put policies in places that will advance their people's causes. It's like at my current university where we have had a black president for the first time. There are issues that he knows about which an average caucasian has no idea about and hence will overlook if he were a policy maker. In my opinion AA is good and there is need for improvement but scraping it is not the way to go . . . and yet one wonders if there is such a thing as a global community when people still feel they are better than another by virtue of what they look like or where they live and so on.
05 December 2006
Leadership and Vision
I was reading some website when I stumbled upon this quote by Colin Powell: As soon as people stop coming to you with their problems, you quit being their leader, and I got to thinking about leadership. I have just completed a seminar on leadership and the one thing I learnt is that leaders are visionaries. This is the most exciting part of leadership as far as I am concerned: being hit with an idea and watching that idea grow. The problem is I never give myself time to sit down and meditate and the next big thing I want to do. I continually feel like I am running around and managing my life rather than enforcing the leadership side of me.
I also started thinking about this when a friend invited me to join a group. Now I know there are a lot of people who have thought about this (mostly Africans), yet it took her to step up and begin this effort for me and those other folks to get galvanized into action. I applaud her vision and somehow in the back of my mind, I wonder if my busy work is hindering or helping me to also achieve my optimum potential. Now all that's left for me to do is work as hand in hand with the other impressive people I will be coming in contact as this effort begins to bear fruit.
I also started thinking about this when a friend invited me to join a group. Now I know there are a lot of people who have thought about this (mostly Africans), yet it took her to step up and begin this effort for me and those other folks to get galvanized into action. I applaud her vision and somehow in the back of my mind, I wonder if my busy work is hindering or helping me to also achieve my optimum potential. Now all that's left for me to do is work as hand in hand with the other impressive people I will be coming in contact as this effort begins to bear fruit.
28 November 2006
Blacks for progression
I am highly impressed by the recent wave of events. It seems everywhere I look someone is trying to improve the plight of the negroid race in general. From facebook groups to my high school alumni network, from those trying to improve black americans to those wanting to give back to Africa, it seems like the talented tenth is coming forward and trying to do something about the remaining 90%.
As I was driving to the post office, I remember thinking to myself: "To whom much is given, much is expected and to whom much more is given, much more is expected" I was thinking back to a game I played at a retreat in the fall quarter where a group of us were in a race and our advancement were based on certain questions. For instance if you had over 50 books in your house growing up you moved forward, if not you stayed in the same spot; if you were likely to have more professors the same sex as you, you moved forward and vice versa. As the game progressed, I discovered that me and 2 other white guys were the ones in front. At the end of the game, I ended up winning, but it made me think about my upbringing and how much I'm different from those who I'm friends with and who have the same color of skin as I do. Race had never been an issue to me before arriving in the States and while I was an undergraduate. Now it seems to stare me in the face and I am forced to grapple with issues that until about a year ago I never really cared about.
I won't bother bringing up Michael Richard's tirade because that issue has already been beaten to death, however I am impressed by people like Paul Mooney saying they will never use the word nigger in their acts again. Paul Mooney was the guy in Dave Chappelle's "Ask a Black Guy" and "Negrodamus" skits. As they say, a ripple in an ocean, but a ripple nonetheless.
As I was driving to the post office, I remember thinking to myself: "To whom much is given, much is expected and to whom much more is given, much more is expected" I was thinking back to a game I played at a retreat in the fall quarter where a group of us were in a race and our advancement were based on certain questions. For instance if you had over 50 books in your house growing up you moved forward, if not you stayed in the same spot; if you were likely to have more professors the same sex as you, you moved forward and vice versa. As the game progressed, I discovered that me and 2 other white guys were the ones in front. At the end of the game, I ended up winning, but it made me think about my upbringing and how much I'm different from those who I'm friends with and who have the same color of skin as I do. Race had never been an issue to me before arriving in the States and while I was an undergraduate. Now it seems to stare me in the face and I am forced to grapple with issues that until about a year ago I never really cared about.
I won't bother bringing up Michael Richard's tirade because that issue has already been beaten to death, however I am impressed by people like Paul Mooney saying they will never use the word nigger in their acts again. Paul Mooney was the guy in Dave Chappelle's "Ask a Black Guy" and "Negrodamus" skits. As they say, a ripple in an ocean, but a ripple nonetheless.