Race and Politics

As many of you may know, there has been a storm brewing ever since Obama entered the race for the White House.  Inevetably, race and politics would be brought up.  While constructive criticism about the current state of affairs in regards to racism is always healthy, recently, discussions have become negative and unnecessary.

It is unnecessary simply because in the state that our country is in right now, there is no place for racism.  We are in 2 wars, our country’s economy is in a sour state, the housing market is (or has) crashed, jobs are vaporizing at an ungodly rate, and crime is up.  Our country doesn’t have the time, the luxury, of dwelling in a debate centered around race.  And nor should it ever.

When it comes to electing a President of a great nation, the cards he or she brings to the table should be the only issue that matters.  The constitution says that “all men are created equal.”  As such, race should never be a consideration.  To bring up the issue of race in and of itself is racism.  Here’s why:

By bringing undue attention to Mr. Obama’s race, the media is directing fire at the very fact that he is black.  As beings with intelligence, we can see for ourselves that, yes, Obama is black.  No one needs the media to tell him that.  Racism can be loosely defined as harboring prejudice against another race.  To be honest, everyone exhibits some form of racism.  Even the most un-racist person in the world has racist tendencies.  It is our psychological nature to be prejudiced, maybe not at a race, but at something.  The media has chosen to make race an issue.  In almost every instance where a candidate for office has to defend his or her self, it is the media that first brings allegations to light.  But why?

The media thrives on negativity.  Happy news is not news.  Death, beatings, a bad economy, the war: these are what the media is built to present.  People like Glenn Beck chew out others on national tv daily, mostly on negative issues.  By choosing to start reporting on the fact that Obama is black and whether or not that has anything to do with his electability draws fire to the issue and creates a circularity:  the media first brings up the issue, it simmers, attacks are made, and then the media turns around and asks the public if race is really an issue.  YOU BROUGHT IT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE.

To the media:  be nice and focus on the issues.  We have just 7 more months until a new president is elected.  Drop the race issue and tell us why we should vote for one candidate over the other based solely on their merits.

-this is a response to CNN’s iReport question of the day: Does race matter in politics?

Police: Captive had at least 6 children by her father

Austrian police believe a 73-year-old man held his daughter captive in his cellar for the past two decades and fathered at least six children with her, according to police and state-run news reports Sunday.

The woman, identified as 42-year-old Elisabeth F., has been missing since 1984, when she was 18 years old, police said at a news conference.

The situation came to light earlier this month after her daughter — a 19-year-old woman, identified as Kristen F. — was hospitalized in Amstetten after falling unconscious, according to police.

She was admitted to a hospital in Amstetten, outside Vienna, by her grandfather with a note from her biological mother requesting help. Amstetten is a rural town about 150 km (93 miles) west of Vienna.

But police said a DNA test later revealed her grandfather, Josef F., was also her father, according to ORF, Austria’s state-run news agency.

That sparked a police investigation, which revealed that Josef F. may have fathered at least six children with his daughter, forcing her and three of the surviving children to live in the cellar of his house, according to ORF’s Peter Schmitzberger.

The children are now between 5 and 19 years old.

Police are awaiting DNA tests to verify their relationship to Josef F., who faces arrest for “severe crimes against family members,” according to police. So far, he has not given a statement to police.

Police spokesman Franz Polzer told ORF that the 73-year-old has led police to several hidden rooms in his cellar accessible only by an electronic passcode that he provided to police.

-CNN.com

———————–

Okay guys, this is sick.

Remember the case, I believe it is in Louisiana, where a guy is on death row for rape?  This guy, who has the balls to father 6 children with his daugher, deserves to be on death row.  Sadly, most European countries are against the death penalty because they think that it is too cruel.  What this guy did to his daugher is cruel.  If the death penalty is too cruel, than this guy fits the bill.  Let’s hose him with gasoline and light him on fire.  What he did is a crime against humanity.

Suzuki offers up Garmin GPS on all 2009 SX4 vehicles

Back in the day, integrated GPS units were the stuff of luxury cars, gargantuan SUV cruisers, and lost old ladies. Suzuki is looking to change all of that by including the Garmin T.R.I.P. on all 2009 SX4 Sport and SX4 Crossover vehicles — at no extra charge. As Suzuki gleefully points out, this marks the first time a sub-$16,000 car has included a GPS unit as standard equipment. The T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play) sports a flip-up 4.3-inch screen and Bluetooth connectivity. As for software, it will include real-time traffic, weather forecasts, local event listings, community-based recommendations, and a gas station finder that can filter based on fuel prices.

-engadget.com

Seriously, how long has it taken for American vehicles to finally get GPS as standard?  Japanese, and for that matter, most Asian autos have had high-tech equipment come as standard on almost all of their vehicles.  We have to buy a Ford Focus with SYNC at an extra cost.  And people question why American cars are going down the drain?  We just can’t (or won’t) keep pace with Asian economies.

To buy or not to buy: the Apple Macbook

I recently bought a Dell Inspiron 1420 after my Acer Aspire 5100 finally coughed and started BSODing on my every few minutes.  For $780 including tax, I thought I got a great deal on my Dell.  Here’s a run down of the specs:

• Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0 GHz 667MHz FSB 2MB L2 Cache
• 3 GB 667MHz RAM
• 120 GB 5400 RPM HD
• 14.1″ 1440×900 WXGA+ TruLife display
• 2.0 MP webcam
• Dual Layer DVD-RW
• Intel X3100 IGP
• Intel 4965N wireless
• Expresso Brown Lid color
• 4 USB ports
• 6 cell battery
• Dell Travel Remote Control
• 5.2 lbs
• Windows Vista Home Premium

The cheapest Apple Macbook, starting at $1099, has the following specs:

• White color
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1 GHz 800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 Cache
• 1 GB of 667 MHz memory
• 120 GB 5400 RPM HD
• Combo DVD/CD-RW drive (cannot burn DVDs)
• Intel X3100 IGP
• i-Sight camera
• 13.3″ WXGA 1280×800 resolution screen
• 2 USB ports
• Airport Extreme N wireless
• Mac OS X Leopard
• 5.0 lbs

Now, comparing these specs, I believe that my Dell is superior both in terms of price and specs to the Mac.  The only difference worth the price increase is OS X, but even then, it does NOT command a (including tax) $400 premium over my Dell.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Apple products and would love to work on Leopard, but since technology increases at such a fast rate, I don’t see the point of spending thousands on something I can get for a better price in 2-3 years.  Windows Vista works well enough for day to day tasks that I don’t need to pay extra for Leopard.

Justice for All

In the latest New York City fiasco, three undercover cops were acquitted of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends.  I agree with this verdict.

However, there are those among us who believe otherwise.  These people are the civil rights advocates and racist bastards of America.  That’s right.  I called some black people racist.  Here’s why.

Browsing through the tons of comments on CNN’s article about this case, it became clear that most people were calling the verdict a civil rights disaster.  Some were so brazen enough to call our legal system “shameful.”  Some were saying that “it’s sad to be a BLACK man living in this WHITE America.” White America?  Last time I checked, whites made up 69.1%.  None-hispanic whites made up only 66%.  The other 36% are of Latin American decent.  Blacks make up 12.4% of the population.  I don’t see where this “white america” is coming from.  I look out my window, and I see Latinos, Asians, Whites, and yes, Blacks.  Sure, the statistics might indicate a white majority, but honestly, city like New York is probably equal parts black and white.  Kinda of like a latte.

What’s even more interesting is the fact that 2 of the 3 officers charged were BLACK?  Excuse me, I didn’t know black people could be racist against other black people, especially black police officers.  I didn’t know a black person could violate another black person’s civil rights.

So it comes down to this: whenever a black person is shot in NYC, black people start yapping about racism.  What if an Asian person got shot?  Or how about Muslim?  The only time when something isn’t racist to the black community is when a white person get shot.  I bet that’s probably true.  Afterall, why not share the bloodshed.  I lose a brother, so you can lose a brother as well.  That’s justice.

Bull shit.

Another CNN poster said that “this only occurs in the black and latino communities.”  Geez, I wonder why?  Maybe because there are more black and latino gangs in NYC or Los Angeles than there are white gangs?  But why are there gangs?  O shit, my mommy smoked pot, so now I’m a fucking pothead as well.

Wise up America.  In Psych 100, you learn that everyone’s inheritantly racist to some degree.  But does it have to be racism when a black man is shot and the officers go free?  The answer is no.  Sure, they riddled him with 51 rounds.  So what?  If I was shooting someone, I’d probably riddle them with a hundred rounds.  If I saw a car coming at me, I’d probably shit my pants and fire off 200 rounds.

What this country needs is for people to look past black and white hatred and MOVE ON.