"13/30" - The Damaged within - Part 1

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a 39 year-old Army psychiatry resident  - tasked with helping soldiers suffering the debilitating psychiatric effects of having been deployed to a war zone, at both Walter Reed Army Hospital in DC and later at Ft. Hood -  has been identified as the alleged lone perpetrator of the latest incident of violence against U.S. military troops - on U.S. soil.

Will this Democratic POTUS, with his Democratic Congress in the majority, finally take a stand against War?

According to the Army Times piece, "Major named as Fort Hood shooter:" 

Greg Schannep, an aide to Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, told the Austin American-Statesman that he was on the Army post to attend a graduation service. He said that as he neared the entrance of a building where the service was being held, a soldier with blood on his uniform ran past him and said a man was shooting.

Per news reports, this could have been a whole lot worse than it was - seeing as the building directly adjacent to the the graduation service is where the "killing fields" were.

*******************

I've pretty much sworn off watching the "celebrity news" on television - especially CNN!  Once I get caught up in all their s'posed-to-be news, my blood pressure tends to shoot right through the damn roof!  But, raised blood pressure notwithstanding, I watched the coverage of the shooting pretty much non-stop and what I saw unfolding was tragic in more ways than one.

Why is the fact that this happened on U.S. soil so amazing to everyone.  Because Ft. Hood is a closed military post?  Because this was an act of "terrorism," on American soil as CNN and others first tried to imply? Because there has been, according to CNN, a lot of reported "gang activity" on Ft. Hood?  I don't think it's amazing at all, given we've been involved in two wars - of our own making- for the last eight years on someone else's soil.  Anyway you slice it, this has brought the war home in a way that pictures of flag-draped caskets arriving at Dover never could.

I was watching this exchange on Larry King live and thought, "What the Hell!!" This is clearly illustrative of the dichotomy in this country surrounding the discussion of what are now, Obama's wars, that makes this so decidedly "un-amazing" to me:



I know Dr. Phil was the purported "expert" on the panel, but there was no better expert among them than sister, Shoshana Johnson, former Army Specialist and POW (tried to upload a photo of her when she was released from captivity but apparently, due to the upcoming release of her book, all the photos I could find have been copyrighted and I couldn't). 

And yes, I'm so very proud of her for calling former JAG Officer, Tom Kenniff out on his racism, elitism and sheer ignorance (did this guy learn to pronounce terror and terrorism from Shrub or something?).  Props to Dr. Phil for his two cents, but he's never been to war, never been shot in both ankles, never been captured and held for some 22 days.  This sister of Panamanian descent did what has heretofore been taboo in both Black and white society - she stood up, speaking her truth - out loud (and yeah, there was some neck-workin' going on) - to one who can definitely be considered a poster boy for the White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy.  Good for her, and Blacks/Browns (had to add the "Browns" here.  I don't want any of my people in the diaspora to think I intentionally forgot them.)  in general - but for sisters in particular.

Other military members have died ON POST in this country - at the hands of fellow military members:

- From a July 2009 cbsnews.com piece, Was Navy Sailor Killed For Being Gay?

The 29-year-old Houston native was found dead Tuesday at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. Roy said the family was told that Provost was shot three times, had his hands and feet bound, his mouth gagged, and body burned.

- From an October 2009 hamptonroads.com piece, Family of sailor slain in Newport News seeks court-martial:

In February, in a new apartment complex for Navy sailors, Mackie, a sailor on the amphibious assault ship, Kearsarge, put a gun to the back of Trask's head and pulled the trigger.

- From an October 2008 NY Daily News piece, Army to probe five slayings linked to Colorado Brigade:

Three other members of the unit were accused in the slaying of two soldiers.

- From a July 19 ABC News piece, Reports Clears Army in Gay Soldier's Death:

At Glover’s trial, soldiers testified that Winchell had been relentlessly taunted with anti-gay slurs in the months leading up to his slaying.

- From the 1956 St. Petersburg Times piece Sailor Killed in Race Fight at Naval Base:

A Navy spokesman said the riot broke out Friday night outside the recreation hall at Ford Island, the naval air station in the middle of Pearl Harbor.

And I would certainly be remiss, particularly as a Black Navy veteran, if I didn't list the 1944 Port Chicago Mutiny:

...many black divisions were being bet upon by the whites commanding them.  White officers were wagering whose division could load the most ammunition in the least amount of time. This atmosphere of speed-above-safety put the loaders in further peril.

 Probably the best source I've seen on the type of killing that happened at Ft. Hood,  is Salon's excellent and  in-depth, Coming Home series.  Check it out.  It's definitely worth the read.  Also, here's a short list of Some other military slayings from the Austin-American Statesman.

It just boggles the mind the way people are acting like Ft. Hood is some kind of anomaly, initially blaming it on terrorism, or some possible gang activity.  This is totally irresponsible on the part of what passes for media in this country, particularly because it allows the military, Obama & Co. and the rest of the country to continue burying their heads in the sand regarding what war does to people - deployed or not.

"The Warning" shows how the foxes keep guarding the henhouse - then and now

The clips below are just the tip of the stomach-turning iceberg.  Please go here to watch the hour-long, Frontline piece and then tell me how anybody can believe the Changeling's 'bout anything but himself - just like all other politicians.





"The Year of Global Change," a two-part video compilation (Introduction) and Timeline from  Der Spiegel and Reuters, quite interestingly and succinctly documents how the "moneychangers in the temple" have had such a direct and negative effect on the lives of people - all around the world!

Yet most of us are still asleep at the wheel, happily being spoon-fed a whole lot of nothin' from the Changeling and praising him for it - instead of holding him accountable.

And the beat goes on...

How 'bout dem 7 - 0 Saints!!!

Cliff - Congrats Man!  This one's for you!!!

"Sticktuitiveness"  - definitely the Spirit of all New Orleans!!!

Ticketing driver for not speaking English (thx ea!) : Misunderstanding? Or more flexing of racist muscle

UPDATE:  My friend ea brought this to my attention in the comments...



...to which I replied, "I can't see how that "Your name is Toby" shit could be legal! Guests may need you to speak English to get some towels, but your name doesn't have to be "Mary" for you to do it!"

Thoughts?

Sitting here listening to the news last night I heard the teaser, "Driver gets ticket for not speaking English" -   I had to stop what I was doing and look up and listen! Then, I went looking for a more fleshed-out version of the story to make sure I understood what had transpired.  I found this - "Dallas police ticketed 39 drivers in 3 years for not speaking English"  - (along with some interesting comments that followed).

"I was surprised and stunned that that would happen, particularly in the city of Dallas," Kunkle said. "In my world, you would never tell someone not to speak Spanish."

Weren't those 39 cases "in his world" and, since he's the Chief of Police, under his jurisiction?

The case that led to the discovery of all the others occurred Oct. 2, when Ernestina Mondragon was stopped for making an illegal U-turn in the White Rock area. Rookie Officer Gary Bromley cited Mondragon for three violations: disregarding a traffic control device, failure to present a driver's license and "non-English speaking driver."

According to officials, the rookie was confused by a pull-down menu on his in-car computer that listed the charge as an option."  With a veritable "buffet" of  possible charges to choose from, I suppose the young man could get confused.  Guess the experienced, training officer who was with him and signed off on the ticket was confused too.  (emphasis mine)

But then this "non-English speaking driver" got herself a lawyer - seeing as there's no such law in Dallas for private citizens driving in the state - and then...

Dallas police said they will drop all charges against Mondragon, who speaks limited English and does have a Texas driver's license.

 What if she hadn't been able to get a lawyer, as the other 38 in three years obviously couldn't? Certainly speaks to that "power" to materially affect a person's life doesn't it?

Attorney Domingo Garcia said he has been hired to represent the Mondragon family..."The issue has nothing to do with whether people should learn English or not. I believe they should," Garcia said. "It's about not following the law and issuing citations against a law that doesn't exist, against a fairly voiceless and helpless population."

 Couldn't have said it better myself.

"It's the principle of the matter that there are police officers out there representing our city who actually think that it's a crime not to speak English," said Brenda Reyes, a political consultant and member of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

 Sounds like some flexing to me!

More "It's not what you say white folks, it's what you do..."

I heard from Mel.  You can go  here, here or here if you care to follow this, uh - "discussion."  It's been ongoing, but certainly not fruitless - for me.  As a matter of fact, it reinforces that phrase somebody once said, "People always show themselves to you, you just better recognize 'em when you see 'em."

Guess she's decided to follow that "blank" she shot (see her "Why ask why? I don't know" post for the meaning of that), instead of having the courtesy of hearing my response to this last missive posted below since she chose to close comments on both her posts.  

Normally, I'd chalk something like that up to someone - "saying one thing and then doing another" -  and then just move on, understanding that what they really want to do is talk, have you listen - but not pay attention.  But since she chose to fire her last salvo and leave for whatever reason, I'm posting the end of this drama here - with my reply.  I hate unfinished business.

Quite frankly and for future reference, if anyone really wants to talk about race/racism/racial healing with me, know that one person doesn't get to dictate anything because I believe the narrative should be a "collaborative" effort.  My point is just as valuable as anyone else's.  That's been a huge part of why there's been little if any"moving forward" on "racial healing" to date, IMHO.

Here's Mel from the last emailed post-notifiction I got (and before any "edits" she's since made)...

=========================

Author: Sue & Mel's Cafe Society

Sat 10/24/2009 3:37 PM

Comment:

"It’s seemed more important to you that you tell all your truths, than fully listen to any of mine – or anyone else’s for that matter"

You asked me Deb - I told you.

Are you enjoying all of this, Deb? Yeah you are. That's the thing about blogs isn't, Deb, personal attacks are the norm - hit and runs.

Feeling powerful, yet, Deb? Got your Mojo going on? I hope so.

No surprise why you keep your back to the window, Deb, waiting to pounce, Deb:

"Given what you’ve shared to date (here, at Cinie’s or my blog), I totally understand you’ve got a whole lot of shit that you’ve been dealing with for a long, long time (told you that before too). But don’t project them onto me, because if you do, I will call you on it.

Likewise, if I feel you are not being honest, I will say so,

(Seems you like the head of the table, and every seat in the room, Deb?)

...and expect you to do the same, because without truth? Just tilting at windmills, Mel and I don’t have any time for that. Too much real shit I care about to do that."

(Seems you like you get to project your truth, determine real shit and critique the tilt on my windmills, Deb, but feel "offended" on asking about your own tilts? pfffft!)

Sell that bullshit to someone else, Deb. I'll own my shit. You can try and shove my own "shit" down my throat to choke me on it.

But you can't put enough garnishments on your own to make me swallow all of it, no matter how fast you serve it.

From pumapac to Cinie (I haven't read your early beginnings) - we all seem to sound like a bunch of psychopaths trying to voice our "truths" until we figure out our own voice.

Gee! I thought a whole lot of Snark with a little substance was the new "cold-blooded, blow-hard journalism" everyone seems to relate so well to.
My focus just happens to be social oppression with a restaurant theme, rather than penis whacking with a political twist with a paw.

Give me a little time - I'll gather a few more "kiss, kiss, you're so brilliant, important to the "cause" and make me feel so gutsy and understood. I'll protect you from anyone who steps on your loooong veil, doesn't belong on your catwalk and isn't approved of by you, like you've approved of me!"

Give me a break, Deb. We all are just not that damned good, important or flawless to be "THE way and THE truth"...

...just a thread in the fabric of human perspective, grappling with how do undo our "renaissance man" - the age of reliance upon all of that highly over-emphasized "thought" and "reasoning" - that it has done all of our asses in by inhibiting us from evolving as a greater "humanity".

I'll take one Joan Baez" over thousands of bloggers, political critics and human rights "campaigns" on single focused issues. She brings "caring" about humanity into far greater perspective than all of them combined. She checks her ego at the door.

=========================

And my reply....

Nobody's personally attacking you, Mel. "Hit and runs???" If you check your time-stamps, you'll see I've been here - the whole time - sharing my POV in response to yours.  You know that "discourse/dialogue" thing?  Oh, I forgot, only what you think matters.

Anywa-y-y-y......YOU said something untrue and YOU invited me to "call you on it"  if, as you also said - you were, "failing somewhat on here on “trying to make my journey about getting there, whole with as little collateral damage as possible.”  YOU said, "I would like to have that feedback from you." Don't remember saying any of that right Mel?

And by the way, truth doesn't cause collateral damage - lies do. I say again, this is your shit, particularly since I was doing exactly what you asked.

Our definitions of power are obviously and un-surprisingly different. Hate to break it to you, but I was "powerful" lo-o-o-n-n-ng before you ever showed up. Don't need your permission, OR involvement for that. Does this make YOU "feel powerful"  Mel?   If it does, didn't anybody tell you that attempted, verbal, foot-on-neck beat-downs such as this,  stopped working on most Black folk a long time ago?

"...rather than penis whacking with a political twist with a paw."

Don't know WHAT THAT  means!

I'm not "offended" in the least. I gave you my POV, isn't that what you wanted? I'm not trying to "shove" anything down your throat my dear, but know - I will NOT be the "shovee."  I'm not selling anything. That you think so, just shows where your head really is as you focus on "social oppression."  Seems everybody else is selling something, but - I, Mel, am the only one who's being sincere. Please.

"From pumapac to Cinie (I haven’t read your early beginnings) – we all seem to sound like a bunch of psychopaths trying to voice our “truths” until we figure out our own voice."

You have a right to your POV, but IMO, only some of us sound that way.

"Seems you like the head of the table, and every seat in the room, Deb?"

There you go projecting again. As I told you before, I sit with my back to the door - both metaphorically and literally - so I can be aware of all that's going on around me - and coming at me. Don't know if it's a "Black" thing, borne out of 100s of years of bullshit or Feng Shui - either way it works for me.

"Give me a little time – I’ll gather a few more “kiss, kiss, you’re so brilliant, important to the “cause” and make me feel so gutsy and understood. I’ll protect you from anyone who steps on your loooong veil, doesn’t belong on your catwalk and isn’t approved of by you, like you’ve approved of me!"

Let me be very clear here Mel because you've obviously got some shit twisted.  I'm going to say this very slowly for you so there's no misunderstanding: 

I neither SOLICITED nor NEED  either "accolades," assistance or acceptance from you to walk this walk.  I know who I am and I already  know I'm important to the "cause," no matter how much, or how little YOU think I bring to the table. Seems it is you, who's having a real problem with "importance and or relevance," IMO.  I've not exercised any APPROVAL of you.  Unlike you, I understand that approval is solely in the purview of each individual.  My issue is, and always has been, with the untruth you told.

Hope you're real clear on that.  Enjoying the conversation of someone who seems to "get it," is hardly a search for approval.  It is an attempt at - going forward together, better.

"Give me a break, Deb. We all are just not that damned good, important or flawless to be “THE way and THE truth”…

I never professed to be "that damned good" or "flawless," though I am important - to me. Funny you should say that though Mel, just two days ago, you said this!:

"It takes a highly experienced, fearless and gifted woman to speak on an issue and hit alll cylinders.

You have all of those attributes, Deb. I wish I could just do a post on your comments. They are so pointed and make things so perfectly clear.

Now which am I supposed to believe?

That whole "truth-telling thing" is something else isn't it?

If you take my "truths" for ego - that again is your shit Mel (almost sounds as if you think I'm kind of "uppity" there girl!)  If Joan Baez is where you want to be - have at it. Maybe she can get across to you the importance of  - the truth - as the first building block in any real and lasting attempt at "healing" anything.

Not what you "say" white folks...it's what you do

In the span of less than eight hours, strange and connected things have occurred that I needed to "carve in stone" as it were.  Always good to have landmarks along this journey of mine - keeps me on course.

I'd been having some interesting conversations about race and racism on another blog, with Mel, a white woman who seemed eager to "own her shit" and move forward better, together.  After spending a lot of yesterday commenting back-and-forth on our respective blogs, I decided to leave her last comment to me unanswered until morning, and went to bed.

When I checked my email this morning, I'd gotten this - "Dr. Andrew Manis: “When are we going to get over it?”  - from my former, downstairs neighbor in DC when I was going to grad school who once told me, "You like pain, huh?"  She was referring to the MANY TIMES  I'd bent her damn ear talking about why money is not the most important thing in the world to me, race and racism, white people and Black people and - why The Changeling, with his mask-wearing self was no friend of mine. 

Pretty interesting conversations given she's a 57 year-old Black woman, born in New Orleans and raised in Detroit, with a placard on a little chain on the passenger-side dashboard of her little, blue VW Bug that reads, "This car is for Black passengers only!" and - loves The Changeling and his family.  As a  matter of fact, it was she who gave me the the little sign where I whited-out the "s" on "Daughters" and scanned in that you see in the upper right corner of my blog.  She got them both at the same time.  But her philosophy was, "We gotta make that money, we don't have time to worry about all that!"  So, I was pretty surprised when she sent me the, "SOMETHING TO REALLY PASS ON!" piece about Dr. Manis.

After reading it and thinking - "He sounds just like Mel." - I decided to answer her comment that I'd let sit until morning, but - it was gone, along with several others we'd both made on two of her posts.  I thought, "Hm-m-m-m, how odd!"  I knew I'd left her with a question that might have required some thought, but I didn't think it was that deep she'd delete our conversations. 

Rather than explaining all that transpired, I'll just post it all here and you draw your own conclusions:

===============================================

Mel, I came over to respond to your comment in response to my "point-to-ponder question - "Why would you think I'd gone to all "White" schools?" - from last night.

Remember you said, "...What is interesting to me is that I have little recall, Deb, of that "experience", except that I was in my early teens and from the day I started to school, I felt like I was in a strange dream. She finally just withdrew me until we could move. I have no stories to tell from that time - none - they are just a blur.

Was that ever how being in predominantly "White" schools felt, Deb? Like being in a strange and uncertain land at times? Based upon that brief time, I've often wondered."

I told you, "The blur thing is interesting - and a point to ponder, as is this: "Was that ever how being in predominantly "White" schools felt, Deb?"

However, it seems you've deleted ALL the comments not only to this post, but the Baldwin/Baez one as well. Luckily I saved it because I do want to respond - since we're being real and all. (BTW, jj's "review" comment of the first chapter'll sure look nice on a book jacket huh?)
==================================================
I told you I hadn't ever gone to an all-white school until grad school- last year, and you replied:

Author: itsjustmel
Comment:
Didn't know your age, Deb, or, if you went to private schools, or if areas you have lived in were divided into "districts" where the majority in certain grade levels was predominately "white".

I don't consider YOU "collateral damage" but that the collateral damage of relating my exposure to the hypocrisy, even today, causes "unnecessary" pain.

The possibility of "unnecessary pain" is the "collateral damage" that I was referring to.

The "privilege/supremacy" delusion was one of the biggest eyeopeners for me. It made no sense whatsoever because that "lack of privilege and supremacy" you mentioned was superimposed by a dominating - not "dominate" - race.

Yet, the power it maintains is oppressive in many forms. It is hard to see that when you have been raised to believe that.

"Suddenly" you awaken to how senseless that whole belief system is and the human struggles it has caused. It is hard to comprehend how you ever believed that, really. Yet the imprint is there and you can't go back and speak up when you were silent or step up to the plate when it was the right thing to do, or go back and get involved now that you recognize the many missed opportunities to do so.

But... maybe, just maybe... Deb, something good will come from making an effort today.
======================================================

When I read the first paragraph, I couldn't believe it. I certainly have my own idea why you would automatically assume I'd attended all-"White" schools, but I wanted to hear your "truth." Instead, you said this:

"Didn't know your age, Deb, or, if you went to private schools, or if areas you have lived in were divided into "districts" where the majority in certain grade levels was predominately "white."

Knowing that on several occasions, we've discussed exactly the opposite of what you said, and recently - like when I replied to you on 10/16 at my place about BLM: "It was - in my then predominantly Black, public, high school; by my Black English teacher. (We did move on up, but divorce, and Black mobility ushered in by white flight have a funny way of changing a child's life over time).

And on the "Race Card" post, which I can't seem to find right now, I told you about being 53 and going to an all-Black, Catholic school with all-Black nuns!

"God gave Noah the rainbow sign, No more water, the fire next time!"

How I'm feeling today:







I thank Mrs. Alfreda Jenkins, my high school English teacher, for James Baldwin (and many more prolific Black writers).   When I'm really weary of all the double-talking bullshit from the Changeling & his henchmen followers as I'm finding myself increasingly these days, I still find solace and sanity in his words.

It has been 46 years since this interview yet, it all still sounds so very, very current.  Baldwin was so much more of a "man" than the Changeling could ever hope to be...