Sunday, July 28, 2013

--I've just written in the ruminations series an item (or, post) as my reaction to O'Reilly's critique on the status of  Black Culture in America on the FOX news network.  No doubt his series of commentaries on the topic was prompted in anticipation of the conference held by Black leadership on the topic last Thursday in Washington.  The point I wished to make in the item is that the facts he cites, e.g., youth unemployment and family disintegration, belie the most outstanding fact of all, viz., blacks living today have slavery as their heritage in America. Under slavery, the job a black was to have was not necessarily related to what he wanted to do. 

Now, someone may note that slavery has been outlawed and a civil war was fought over its continuance in the States over a century ago.  But to my mind, the effects continue: namely, blacks haven't been given the support from the American culture at large to develop in their culture--not the freedom to express their wants and desires--but the training to know what their personal wants and desires are and how to demand that these be met with the support of all Americans.  We whites have had such training, I contend.         

Specifically, with regard to black youth, education by those in charge of their upbringing must emphasize the importance of planning for their future as adults!  Their adult supervisors should ask the question of each black child, starting at the age of 3, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  And from that child's early age, there should be drawn up a plan by his mentors and in line with his expressed idea of what he wants to become, a path for him to follow.  Put generally, the black child should be respected such that his interests and wants are early asked for and subquently acted upon in a way which encourages him, so that once an adult, he will hold a job he wants to in a socially acceptable way and with the help of others who care about him!

I was honored to be on an evaluation team of Malcolm X College--I think the very first the college underwent.  I believe the reason why he was looking to Africa for guidance on how to handle the social and psychological problems blacks encounter as a result of their slavery experience is that he did not find the culture of New York City sufficiently understanding.

I argue in my item that the black culture needs to take a giant step into the black future through individual planning for the place each black wants to assume in the USA; and with society's assistance be able to take that position.  

--I'm still editing the Social-X series--up to the Social Change topic.  Going slowly, but such is life!   

El Paso's Rumor Mill

El Paso, Texas is known for its wind and sand storms.  It seems like every strong gust of wind blows in another rumor off the desert plains to the West.  I'm not complaining much about El Paso because I've found churches I like here, which is a far cry from the Epicopal church I attended in Omaha, Nebraska; and none I found to my persuasion in Reno, Nevada.  I want to stay Episcopalian, if I can; but you never know how that will work out ahead of time.

Anyway, back to El Paso as a rumor mill.  I think it's location at the border with Mexico has something to do with the number of rumors coming through!  I've been here several times before, but didn't think then I would end up here as I do now believe I will.  So, I had forgotten what a rumor mill this city is!

I cannot attest to the veracity of any of the present rumors I'm listening to, but in sharing these salient rumors, I can give you a flavor of the town's dynamic hum.

1.  I've heard from various individuals passing through the town that law enforcement agencies' personnel  in the area including northern Mexico, except for those working for the FBI, are light on educational accomplishment.  I could imagine that it's important for detectives and analysts to possess all the education they can afford, because their work requires a lot of brain ingenuity to handle their work load.

I've known through the years that some bosses and high-ups in the cartels send their kids to Ivy League colleges, resulting in one's being unable to tell their offspring from those of executives and CEOs of the major corporations with respect to degrees attained.

2.  I've hear rumors on the radio and TV, too.  To me, their news oftimes is no more than a rumor, because the purported fact is said so quickly without any development into a story--just simply said as an item--that I really can't be sure I heard right!  One such statement I heard just last night is that the several states will handle lowering the insurance rates as a direct result of imposing Obamacare.  New York state, I believe it was said, is the first that will seek to lower their levels by as much as 60% annually.  Wow, if true!

3.  I've heard that the Zeta Cartel is crashing into oblivion.  That cartel is known in this area as a violent, murderous gang.  And, the reason I heard for their crumbling is that the cartel was caught money-laundering.  I've also read somewhere that banks are reluctant to report their suspicions about money laundering at their branches, possibly because they make money off such transactions.  In any case, I'm glad they're gone--and that's not predicated on a rumor!