GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images

The nation of Libya recently overthrew the regime of leader Muammar Gaddafi. In a joyous celebration the transitional government has declared the country officially “liberated.” It’s a beautiful day for the Libyan people. As well, it is a solemn time of remembrance for the lives sacrificed in attaining that freedom.

The one thing I disagree with in the entirety of the coup, the rebellion, and the liberation is the celebration of the execution of Gaddafi. Granted, there is nothing redeeming about any leader who doesn’t take care of his people. However, does no one find the way people rejoiced at the news of his execution disturbing? I can understand being relieved. I could understand the satisfaction of vengeance. I can understand rejoicing at the new found freedom. However, fist-pumping, high-fiving, “and I hope they burn in hell” style celebration because you killed a guy makes me question your judgment. Morally, how is that justified? You can do better. Shouldn’t you want to be better person?

I can understand the Libyans rejoicing at the death of Gaddafi, but people over in the United States are truly elated. Granted, Gaddafi committed many crimes and I mean no solace in that but really?! Keep your composure. A man was executed. It seems antithetical to be so uncivilized when promoting the virtues of democracy. If not antithetical, then merely hypocritical.

Source: Obama releases ‘long form’ birth certificate

Unfortunately, the President believes facts and a majority of the nations acceptance of such will finally stop the relentless extremists unwilling to acknowledge his eligibility and therefore Presidency. These fundamentalists also known as “birthers” have flamed rumors that Barack Hussein Obama II was born outside of the United States and thus ineligible to be President despite prior presentations of proof.

We will not be surprised if the fanatical birther members chalk this release of President Obama’s birth certificate up as a conspiracy. Donald Trump, don’t quit your day job(s).

Source: The Bing-Facebook Alliances

In case you didn’t notice, Bing is the official search engine for Facebook. Which gives Bing access to your Facebook info and thus the ability to try to mold the search results it feels relevant to the things you deem relevant. While the Google brand is still a verb synonymous with web searching itself, the Bing-Facebook deal may finally add credibility to the much-ignored Microsoft search engine.

Andrew Cuomo defeated challenger Carl Palidino for the New York Governorship.

Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Christine O’Donnell essentially handed Democrat Chris Coons the Delaware seat.

Democrat Richard Blumenthal defeated WWE entrepreneur Linda McMahon to win the Connecticut Senate seat in what became the most expensive race in the country.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, surprisingly, held on to his Nevada Senate seat.

Rand Paul, son of Ron Paul, won the Kentucky Senate seat.

Nikki Haley, has become South Carolina’s first female and first Indian-American governor with endorsements from Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin.

Obama’s vacant Senate seat went to the GOP candidate Mark Kirk.

House Minority Leader John Boehner is the predicted Speaker of the House for the 112th Congress.

West Virginia was carried by Democrats as Governor Joe Manchin won the Senate seat left open by Democrat Robert C. Byrd who died in office.

Barbara Boxer held on to her Senate seat extending her decades of public service.

Arguably, the Tea Party helped the Democrats. Pundits have said that their burgeoning presence in the elections split the conservative vote. If those seats had gone to the GOP then the Senate would most likely be in control of the Republicans.

The big swing back to the right is mostly the result of disenchanted independents. Media reports say conservatives and independents are “fed up with the gridlock” in Washington, however a conservative house and liberal senate equate to a legislative brick wall. The next two years of the Obama administration will be expectedly impotent presenting bills attempting to blur party lines to deliver on campaign promises but will be expectedly stalled or shot down by the conservative House. Similarly, the conservative House will have a hard time infusing its agenda past the liberal Senate.

Tea Party congressmen/women are promising to introduce a bill everyday to repeal the historic Health Care bill passed by President Obama. Meanwhile, Republican top brass is putting on airs of victory claiming that this is a message from America to President Obama that they want… change? Democrats are ululating that they survived one of the best onslaughts the Republicans and the Tea Party could muster and still retained power in the Senate. President Obama is taking the elections in stride and moving forward with day-to-day business. And now that midterm elections are done, so can the rest of us.

Source: GOP roars back to take U.S. House; Democrats cling to Senate majority

Mexico made a drug bust of 134 tons of marijuana with an estimated street value of roughly $340 million USD and their bright idea was to… burn it. ::sigh::

Mexico. MEXICO!! Ugh, go sit in the corner ’til you learn some foresight.

If you don’t see the problem with this, let me break it down. Mexico gained something worth $340 million and burned it. Sooo Mexico essentially just burned $340 million. Clearly they must be balling since they don’t need what equates to 4.2 billion pesos. Calderon must be in the club making it rain with Arab money while icing. Stunting so hard we should go indict them. They think they’re Big Meech, Larry Hoover, Burning Work… (screeeech) Fail!

AfroThought presents a special edition of “Tell ‘em Why You Mad“:

Lessons From a Super Power…

From here we will explore options Mexico could have taken to not only make better use of this 134 TONS of MARIJUANA but also increase their status internationally.

Option I: Show it!
Announce to your citizens only that you have made a huge drug bust to maybe curb crime by letting them know you actually care about marijuana use and will arrest them. However, don’t intentionally tell the world because then you let the world know just how huge the organized crime is in your nation. I mean 135 tons?! And that’s just your bust. Imagine how much is actually in circulation into and out from your borders. The story will break regardless though, so just try to spin it positively and promote tourism and trade.

Option II: Sell it!! (Secretly of course.)
We know you will do Option I but now that you have it, what do you do with it? Well, this is up to $340 million dollars you stand to gain thanks to organized crime. Not only did you catch a handful of drug traffickers, you made money in the process; approximately 4.2 billion pesos, which I’m sure could be a nice slice into any non-superpower’s account balance.

Option II: Section A
Sell it, albeit covertly to the U.S. marijuana companies. I mean all the production costs for this haul were paid by the drug lords, so now it just needs to be sold. The U.S. companies were going to sell marijuana anyway. Might as well let them inspect it and place bids on it. Again, it’s product that they didn’t have to grow and possibly of higher quality than their current stock. Granted you would work out some agreement with the U.S. government for a cut of the profits. All of this under the table, of course.

Option II: Section B
Sell the haul back to the cartels. Some might be gullible (or high) enough to attempt to buy it back from you. Arrest them. Dumb*sses.

Option II: Section C
Use your best narcotics insiders to sell the drugs back into circulation. That is roughly 4.2 billion pesos ($340 million) that your government could use. You make street value on it while building up enough evidence/capital to eventually launch a huge sting operation and possibly catch the drug lords making this weed and not a handful of product because 134 tons is only approximately 5% of what you catch annually and again that’s only what you catch. So then not only did you make a historic drug bust but then you worked that into substantial drug arrests.

Option III: Flip it
C’mon now, Mexico. Of all the ways to dispose of 134 tons of marijuana… burning?! Really? Aside from the environmental impact, did you not realize the irony?

Apparently weeds make good mulch. Gardeners love mulch.

Maybe you could make a sort of feed for beneficial insects (e.g., silk worms) or other things we don’t eat.

Bury it in unused land whose water table won’t affect the population. Also, arrest anyone who comes and tries to dig it up. Dumb*sses.

IF YOU MUST BURN IT:
Supposedly you can make a high-octane gas out of it.
Or you could have used it as fire fuel in places that we use flames as a power source anyway. There are plenty of places where fire is useful. You couldn’t make small enough quantities to be burned legitimately by various users? Any feelings of levity resulting from said fire would be dismissed as purely coincidental.

Sources:
Mexico makes huge drug bust
What does 134 tons of marijuana on fire look like?
Adios to Mexico’s marijuana haul

“You know you done f*cked up, right?” When you can’t even get a cameo in a farce, you know you’ve gone too far. That means you’ve officially fallen off of the movie level. Oh, sure you have some straight-to-DVD drops coming in the next year or more, but you have definitely maxed out your A-list credit. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

We can’t even say you are a habitual line stepper, that would mean we grew accustomed to your outlandish behavior. From here, you might as well club baby seals, go whaling, become the Simon Cowell of a reality show, etc. Your comeback ante has just been upped to a daunting degree. Granted, I await what PR miracle your team cooks up for you to meander your way back into celebrity’s good graces but still you have major penance to make.

Maybe it was the gradual decline starting with Apocalypto. Maybe it was the anti-Semetic remarks. Maybe it was the male chauvinism. Maybe it was when you went Chris Brown on your jump off. Honestly, I’m not sure what the tipping point was, but you’re star-power needs some Viagra.

Actually, that might not be a bad idea. Be one of those middle-aged guys on the medical ads. Perhaps you should start smaller, take a cue from David Hasselhoff and make a YouTube video that is just embarrassingly lovable enough that America gives you a pass. Trust me, there is a LOT that we will let slide if you entertain us. Ask Kanye West fans.

Sincerely,

Misses Pre Crazy Mel

Source: Mel Gibson dropped from The Hangover sequel

According to a recent article on NPR, raising a child costs $222,360 USD. This is of course adjusted for inflation and calculated through age seventeen (17). However, I think we all know that seventeen is not when you really stop funding a child. Regardless, this figure is definitely one of my first thoughts when I think about eventually having kids. Daddy loves you, but can’t afford you just yet; maybe next fiscal year.

At some Wal-Mart in Washington Township, New Jersey, a male voice announces over the PA system that “all Black people leave the store now.”
Source:
Black people must leave, NJ Walmart announcer says
Wal-Mart NJ: “All black people leave the store now”

The following were comments in response to the story.

One person responds:

Black people are so sensitive. It was probably a prank by some 16 year old kid that ran from his mom while shopping in Walmart….We all know (including black people) that if the announcement had been “All white people leave the store now” this story would not have even made local news.

Another person responds:

Are you “F”ing serious? Black people are so sensitive, really? I am white and I am offended by you and half the **** I am reading on here. It is your ignorance that allows racism to keep on. Take a look back in history, why should white people care if there was an announcement that asked them to leave? White people are so sensitive.
I am white and I am married to a black man and we have 2 kids together. We have been pulled over for no reason, we have had people leave a restraunt or move to a different part amongst other things. So please don’t say stupid **** like black people are so sensitive, especially when you have racist muther****ers out there who don’t like someone because of the color of their skin…..talk about sensitive.

Then another person responds:

Yeah, dial 9 and it's over the whole store...

no……they really are sensitive. i dont have a problem with black people in general but the ones who act like thugs and parade around with their pants below their ass are the ones i dislike, and for that matter thats anybody who acts like a thug not just african americans. a black comedian could talk all day about white people but the instant a white man stood up and said something derogatory toward a black man it would be all over the news and the guys entire career would be gone, this is true and you know it.

Tell ‘em Why You Mad
So I responded:

I agree I dislike people who ‘act’ like thugs and pity the people (all races) who simply don’t know any better.

But i disagree that Black people are too sensitive. In fact, I’ve become so used to women clutching their purses; being watched in stores (even when I’m in a suit); police doing blatant maneuvers (sometimes dangerous to other citizens) to follow me; people thinking racism died in the Civil Rights Act (or with Obama) and thus saying dumb things; and the proliferation of the N-word (both hatefully and from ignorance) that I shrug off 9/10 offenses. At the same time, that apathy is far more dangerous. Trust me, no one has enough energy to simply say “not cool” to all the ignorance minorities face. Is it my responsibility to educate them if I find them ignorant? It’s not my fault they are ignorant. In fact, I wasn’t even going to respond to this, but I just happened to have the time and energy. That said, I have to get back to work.

Besides, this incident is not news, this happens everyday. Look at the name-calling to Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. John Lewis. There’s that apathy again.

P.S.: Under the right intentions it could have been funny… very funny, but in this case it’s not.

EDITORIAL

So really I guess this is more of “Tell ‘em Why You… aren’t Mad?! Wait, WTF?! Why Aren’t You Mad?!” truncated to “I Ain’t Mad at Ya”.

Responder 1: Was actually right, supposedly it was a 16-year old being stupid. Also true that there probably would be no story with “All white people leave.” White folks wait until something happens (though that’s often too late).
However, “All White people leave” could have made the news, alright. Throw in the word ‘terror’ and boom 3-day filler story. Threat Level: Yellow. “Random” airport searches.
“All Black people leave” is Threat Level: Red.

Responder 2: Uhhh… right on?

Responder 3: Well, yeah, but (depending on what he said) that’s justified. He knows what country he’s in. He knows his career risk. Freedom of speech all you want, but you should be responsible. Besides, if you’re funny it will slide, else you gambled and lost. Take it like an adult.

Regarding my response: Going forward I may expend slightly more energy and take a second to tell someone “yeah, that’s ignorant” but I dread having to walk them through their rude awakening. I mean, if I don’t say anything there is a limit to how upset I can reasonably be seeing that I am an accomplice to their ignorance. At the same time, I could just say “not cool” then leave them to find out why. Just because I show them that they don’t know, doesn’t mean I have to teach them, right? That’s their homework.

A couple of related things that do ‘get me mad’ are the times people act like Black people have had centuries to catch up in terms of socio-economic status. Really? I’d say we’re doing amazingly for half a generation’s time. Also, the “N-word”, I have a hate-like-hate relationship with it to be explained in another post. So stay tuned.

In a historic vote last night, Congress passed H.R. 3590, more commonly known as the “Healthcare Reform Bill.” After rancorous debate that seemed more akin to the dozens game than an exchange of facts and opinions in the hope of agreement, including a parliamentary tongue-lashing delivered to Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) by Rep. David Obey (D-WI), the House moved to vote by electronic device. For approval, the bill needed a total of 216 votes. As the 216th vote came in, the House erupted into cheers of “Yes, we can!” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) celebrated with the Democrats. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and fellow Republicans fumed. In the end, the votes tallied up to 219-212 with zero Republican support.

The bill, called “the most significant Democratic triumph in 40 years,” is now on its way to President Obama’s desk. He has stated that he will sign it on Tuesday. Certain changes will happen immediately while the full effects of the bill won’t manifest until 2014. Included among the soon-to-occur changes are:

Children with preexisting conditions are eligible for coverage

The coverage gap for prescription drugs will be closed

Being a woman will no longer be considered a preexisting condition

Children currently insured through their parents’ health care plan will be covered up to age 26

While there are unpopular measures included in the bill, such as an individual mandate of coverage subject to fines, supporters of the bill liken protests to those against other health care reforms, like Medicaid and Medicare, which were opposed by the GOP in the 60s. Seeming to harken back to those times, protestors hurled racial and homophobic epithets at representatives known to support the bill. Representative Andre Carson (D-Ind) shared his account with the Associated Press:

Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., told a reporter that as he left the Cannon House Office Building with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a leader of the civil rights era, some among the crowd chanted “the N-word, the N-word, 15 times.” Both Carson and Lewis are black, and Lewis spokeswoman Brenda Jones also said that it occurred.

“It was like going into the time machine with John Lewis,” said Carson, a large former police officer who said he wasn’t frightened but worried about the 70-year-old Lewis, who is twice his age. “He said it reminded him of another time.”

It is said that history repeats itself. Only time will tell the fate of this legislature; nevertheless, Barack Obama is already being called a “consequential” president.

Source:
US House passes key healthcare reform bill
Giles: Health Care Vote Is the First Step
The Most Significant Democratic Triumph in 40 Years
Boehner: Anti-gay, racial slurs ‘reprehensible’

EDITORIAL:
Hope in the unseen. The bill isn’t perfect, but it can be fixed and is far better than doing nothing, or, as the GOP argues, waiting for the “right time,” since this really should have been done in 1965.

You are already taxed for the poor/uninsured under the current system. So at least HR 3590 is a step forward in getting America covered, if not healthy. As well, the bill was worked on by both GOPs and Dems, zero Republican votes doesn’t mean much beyond strategy for eventual elections. If you want to be useful find out who included the fine with the individual mandate, which is quite similar to what Mitt Romney enacted in Massachusetts only his didn’t attempt cost controls like this bill does, but that’s what’s going to bank roll this (certain businesses are about to get PAID and that fine will really create $$$$ when the GOP is in office again).

You’re not going to get a perfect bill (even if you wrote it) nor are you going to make everyone happy. Even though this one probably doesn’t help you, it helps a lot of people; more than what most recently existed. Granted, this bill is going to hurt a lot of people too, but mostly in the same way doing nothing was going to hurt those people. That’s government.

And to the people complaining about giving hand-outs to the poor because of how hard they work, so what? There are always plenty of people (from all walks of life) working harder than you and STILL worse off. Beyond that, we just gave hand-outs to the wealthiest companies in the nation (started under Bush, finished by Obama). At the very least this might help some kids and some elderly.

The bill really doesn’t go far enough, nor is it what it used to be. (Public option, gone.) Big businesses will always get taken care of by special interests. So that idealism can be ignored. As well, the only bills that ever get passed grease the palms of everyone, remain just vague enough not to hurt anyone politically and hopefully attempt some good. That said, this IS an impressive achievement. Not even for the right reasons.

That said, call your representative or run for office yourself. (If you believe that, I know this prince who needs a little money but will definitely pay you back.)

Furthermore, the fallout of this bill highlights a growing concern of mine, which is how crazy the Right is getting. Be afraid, be very afraid.

The reality is that even though the vote is over, the fight over health care reform is not. Opponents, including the attorney generals of several states, are expected to file lawsuits asking the courts to declare the bill unconstitutional. The anger of conservative activists has been stirred to fever pitch — witness the spitting at Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver or slurs directed at Reps. John Lewis and Barney Frank during Capitol Hill protests Saturday — and it will not go away any time soon. At a time when some people feel like losing an election is living under tyranny, the passage of this health care reform bill has taken on significance far beyond the legislation itself.

Golfer Tiger Woods

(BBC News) Police are expected to question world number one golfer Tiger Woods later on Saturday more than a day after a car crash outside his Florida home.
The star was found semi-conscious with facial injuries after his car reportedly hit a fire hydrant and tree.
Officers were told Woods’ wife Elin had used a golf club to break the rear window of the car and help him out after the accident early on Friday.
The 14-time major champion was admitted to hospital and later released.

____________Editorial______________
There are TWO Black men that are not allowed to EVER break the law. Tiger Woods and Barack Obama. Tiger… your f*cking up!!
(And yes, all subtext with the nursery rhyme and it’s various controversial presentations is completely intentional. C’mon now… we’re AfroThought.)