Mel Brooks in Concrete

Mel Brooks (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, etc.) finally has his hands and feet in the cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Notice his left hand.

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What We Can Learn From Joan Rivers

The rich and lengthy history of Joan’s career is well-known. She began appearing in 1961 with Second City comedy in Chicago and at comedy clubs in New York. She joined Candid Camera in 1965 and performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in February 1965. Then followed regular appearances on The Tonight Show, as well as other television and movie performances, including this performance on the Ed Sullivan show in April 1967.

Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, her popularity grew and employment opportunities were steady. Then in 1986 came the split with Carson, and the cancellation of The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers. Other rejections followed, but Joan never became too proud to work small clubs in Cleveland or upstate New York or suburban Wisconsin.

In the 2000s, she is back at the center of popular culture: appearances on Celebrity Apprentice (she won), The Simpsons, In Bed with Joan, and Fashion Police, to name just a few. (copied from What California Job Specialists Can Learn Today from Joan Rivers by Michael Bernick and posted on Fox and Hounds)

My Dad was another great example of finding work when many would have given up. He was a civil/structural engineer. Jobs were projects and once completed a layoff would quickly follow. On the day he married in Winnipeg, Canada. He boarded a train with his new bride, going to Vancouver, Canada. When that job ended two years later he landed a road construction job in north eastern Ontario, Canada. When that job ended he found a job in Erie, Pennsylvania. While none of it was exciting as Joan Rivers’ career he was doing exactly the same thing. Going wherever the opportunities existed.

Today some people are moving to North Dakota where oil has been found and the winters are miserable. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. In a country where jobs are in short supply those making that move are showing their ability to survive when the going gets rough.

The Problem Is in the Hyphen

Written by Courtney McKinney in the Huffington Post. She just wants to be an American. I totally agree.

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I don’t like being called African-American.

I’ve always been pretty fond of being an American. I come from a military family from Texas — patriotism is required. My appearance is not straight forward, black or white, so people often ask me what I am. Sometimes they ask for my ethnicity, sometimes they ask for my race, but sometimes they ask about my “nationality.” My nationality is simple and very straight-forward. I am an American.

I have an American passport. I was born here, and I’ve lived here for my whole life, just like my grandparent’s grandparents. Something interesting yet predictable happens when I respond that I am simply “American.” People are not content with that answer, because it does not give the full rundown of the information they seek. What they are asking for is a deeper explanation. Within my definition of myself they seek an answer to the question of what part of America I belong in, which part of America’s history my veins flow from. Being a citizen of America has always meant different things for different people, and deep down we all know that.

Native American. Isn’t that redundant? Qualifying the people who were here first. Apparently it is not length of time a person’s bloodline has on this land that makes an American, because then we would all have to agree that the only true “Americans” are the native population. So who is American? Who can say, in response to an inquiry about their ethnicity, that they are simply “American,” and people accept their answer?

“America” as we now know it began with the Declaration of Independence. We have a constitution, we have amendments and laws, all created for the advancement of the country of Americans. When those foundational structures were created they were made for a particular group of people — white, anglo-saxon, land-owning men. Over the years the pool expanded a bit, but the general aesthetic of the “American” maintained its potency. The blonde-haired blue-eyed beauty queens and the Barbies that circulate around the globe embody the imagined American ideal. The overwhelmingly white faces we see leading our country, and police forces, the faces we see in movies, in magazines, and on TV — they are the American ideal. They are the ones at the table, creating the structures, the companies, and laws. The founders of this country were white men, and their families and their descendants are understood to be the “Americans.” Never mind a majority of “African-Americans” (black people in America whose ancestors were slaves) are partially descended from white slave-owning men.

That is why certain (usually hyphenated) citizens of America do not feel protected by the laws of their own land. That is why sometimes it feels like there are many different Americas existing on the same large piece of land — some living comfortably and some living in what feels like a war zone, or an occupation.

I desire to claim my complete and comprehensive Americanness. I am American. I have the history of this country’s conception mapped out in my bloodlines. I am American. Some of my ancestors were born here and knew no other land, some of my ancestors journeyed here from Europe, and some of my ancestors were brought here from Africa. I don’t know the complete stories of any of their lives, but I know their stories merge to create mine. One that is very specifically American.

Asian-Americans are American. Hispanic-Americans are American. African-Americans are American. By hyphenating groups we create a subset that relegates certain Americans to a second tier of citizenship that we all internalize whether we want to or not. Being labeled African-American feels like a disavowal of everythingthat I am as well as the singular thing that I am — American.

I am ready to drop the hyphens. I am German-American, Irish-American, French-American, Native-American, and African-American. All of those hyphens make up who I am; who I am is the melting pot we learned about in school but have yet to fully conceptualize. I am what happens in a land of immigrants. I am the embodiment of the American experiment, and I am okay with that as long as I can call myself what I am. The push-back for “reclaiming America” or going back to “the good ole days” is a push back for something that never was. America has never been a happy place for everyone living in it, but the more of America a person can claim, the better America is for them.

It’s time to reclaim Americanness as inclusive rather than exclusive, as a nationality we wear proudly no matter the color of our skin. The founding fathers started this experiment, now we have to carry it out. African slaves built this country, the Irish built this country, Native Americans built this country, the Chinese built this country, the English built this country — we’ve all played our part, so why not let all of us have our name, no hyphens asked? It doesn’t make sense to have a country with a hyphenated majority. This is America, and I am simply American.

Follow Courtney McKinney on Twitter: www.twitter.com/courtDMC

CitizenshipRightsAmericansHuman RightsNative AmericansImmigrationFerguson MissouriAfrican Americans

Do You Pass The Israel Test?

Not just Americans should watch this video. It is sponsored by Dennis Prager who is a right wing radio talk show broadcaster. Despite his right wing stance and some of his foolish commentaries, his position on Israel and Jews is on target.

Arabs should watch this video.

America – A Violent Society

Americans pride themselves in the fact that we are a caring and considerate people who try to bring our civilized ways to the rest of the world. We are particularly insistent on sustaining our freedom to defend everyone’s rights as defined in the first ten amendments to the constitution. Freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom to bear arms, and freedom to hold demonstrations to express our views seem to be the most important.

In pursuing those freedoms we have also become a violent society. We have deteriorated to calling people names. After all, it’s a freedom. Using the F word is now so common place that few pay any attention. Weapon use has become so pervasive that it is estimated that there is one weapon for every person in the nation.

“Stand your ground” laws have enabled killers to avoid penalties for their actions. Is it any wonder that the police fear approaching a car that has been stopped for speeding or running a red light? After all the driver may have a weapon he might use against the officer.

Killing by civilians or police has also become so common place that few Americans are paying attention. Many have forgotten the Trayvon Martin killing. The week’s news is all about Michael Brown. It’s not the only violent item in the news. A California CHP officer was videotaped beating a homeless woman. Your neighborhood also has had its violent acts this past week.

The police have resorted to more weapons and apparel that makes them look like soldiers as they patrol the streets with vehicles that look like tanks in a war zone. Wait a minute, they are excess vehicles from war zones.

Violence has become our stock in trade. To keep track of my adult children and wife I have tracking devices on their smart phones. It’s not to watch their every move but to know that they are safe.

Politicians keep telling me this is a great country. What is so great having to fear for my life?

Read my addendum under comments posted on 8-22-2014.

President of the United States is a Killing Job

Barack Obama June 23, 2011

Barack Obama August 20, 2014

The job of President of the United States is a killer. Look at the impact on the appearance of President Obama. Look at other past presidents and you will observe the same impact. The world is a tough place. It’s bad enough that we have enemies in other nations but even worse is the beating the president takes from other political parties. You have to be a superman to withstand the constant barrage of verbal abuse. Add the many issues arising around the world and you have black hair turning gray and unknown effects on the many internal mechanisms.

President Obama is now 53 years old. Could a 70 year old handle the stress? Hilary Clinton is now 66. If elected president, she would enter office at 69. Why would she or anyone want the abuse the office must bear?

Ferguson, Missouri on Meet the Press

On NPR this past Thursday there was a history professor talking about the fact that Missouri was a slave state and that has impacted the behavior of Whites ever since. I couldn’t believe what the man was saying. His justification of the behavior of White police in Ferguson, Missouri.

The governor of Missouri appeared on most of the Sunday morning TV talk shows. He wasn’t prepared to answer any questions. The word Obfuscation comes to mind. Following is the transcript from Meet the Press of his interview by Andrea Mitchell.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

I’m joined now by the governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon. Governor, thank you very much for being with us. Tell me, why has a full week elapsed, and we still do not know anything? The public wants answers to what happened between Michael Brown and the white officer who shot and killed him?

GOVERNOR JAY NIXON:

Well, it’s been a challenge week with the horrific death of Michael Brown, shot down in the streets of his home town and the appropriate energy and acts that everyone’s had around there. I think with the dual investigations going on right now with the justice department and with the local prosecutor, and I’m especially appreciative.

After talking to General Holder, I appreciated them sending in 40 additional F.B.I. agents to make sure that they’re moving to get a thorough investigation, to get justice here. And I appreciate their response and that energy to make sure that they get this right.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

But why is it taking so long? And you also have a county prosecutor who many say has a conflict of interest here, because he said that he disagrees strongly with your decisions in bringing the county police. He called it shameful, saying that that was in fact an illegal decision. So how is he the person that would be trusted by this very angry and eventful community to come with answers that are credible?

GOVERNOR JAY NIXON:

Well, he’s a seasoned prosecutor that has an opportunity to step up here and do his job. And also though, when you see a dual investigation going on, and the resources of the Justice Department, an F.B.I. agent’s out working in the community yet again yesterday, 40 additional officers, I think that having those dual investigations will help guarantee that this gets done in a timely fashion. That it’s done thoroughly, and that it gets justice.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

Isn’t it more important to get answers, correct answers, and answers to the public? What of the timely investigation? What is taking so long about telling the people what happened to Michael Brown?

GOVERNOR JAY NIXON:

It’s been a week, and it’s a been a very long week. And late in the week, when we saw the additional militarization of the police response there and the security side, I had to take an unprecedented action, which was to replace and bring in our highway patrol to lead that. I think that that has made a big difference. You saw that first night, very much peace.

Second night, until late in night, there was peace. And last night, I think the vast majority of local citizens, the local elected officials and others called on me to put a curfew in place, so there’ll be guaranteed peace late last night. And of the thousands of protesters and the community members out there, I think they made a difference. In order to get justice, we need peace. Those are both intertwined here. And we look forward to keeping the peace and getting justice.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

Well, governor, there was peace. There was peace on Thursday night after you appointed the county police to come in and take over. The state police, rather, their takeover from the county. But then the local police chief who released that video, what justifies releasing the video about the convenience store, while there’s still no details about what happened with the shooting itself? That is what caused everything to erupt again on Friday night and eventually led to the curfew having to be imposed.

GOVERNOR JAY NIXON:

Yeah, we and our security team and the highway patrol did not know that was going to be released. I don’t think the attorney general knew that. And quite frankly, we disagree deeply I think for two reasons. Number one, to attempt to in essence disparage the character of this victim, in the middle of a process like this is not right. It’s just not right. And secondarily, it did put the community and quite frankly the region and the nation on alert again. These are old wounds. These are deep wounds in these communities. And that action was not helpful.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

Well, should the police chiefs, Chief Jackson then be fired or have to step down?

GOVERNOR JAY NIXON:

We’ve moved the highway patrol in to manage security. The Justice Department and the detectives in Saint Louis are doing the investigation. So he–

(OVERTALK)

ANDREA MITCHELL:

But he’s still, with all due respect governor, he’s still doing things, like releasing that video, without even reporting to the state police captain, Captain Johnson, who’s supposed to be in charge.

GOVERNOR JAY NIXON:

Yeah. Everyone can rest well assured that we’ve had very serious discussions about that action and how much we felt that it was not the right way to handle the victim’s family, which I had a chance to speak with. They were deeply troubled. And when you see your son gunned down in the street and then you see a police chief begin an attempt to attack his character.

That’s just not the way to operate. And we’ve made that clear to everyone. And our hope and expectation is that now that our folks are in charge of security, and we have these dual investigations going on, that, that bump is behind us, hopefully.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

Well, governor–

GOVERNOR JAY NIXON:

But the wounds are very real.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

Well, governor, I know that when you say that you were doing a lot of things behind the scenes, but why did it take you till Friday to get to Ferguson, what they call ground zero? And when did you first hear from the president about all this?

GOVERNOR JAY NIXON:

I’ve been involved all week. I’ve been having meetings and phone calls and meeting with local officials, been here a number of times. And once again, yesterday in the morning conference call with local officials have asked me to put a curfew in place, to make sure that we have safety as well as peace, so that this community could be safe.

So we’ve been here all week. I’ve been here most of the days. And I talked to the president in the middle part of the week. I talked to General Holder at some length later in the week, and I appreciate deeply, and actually that conversation, General Holder and the F.B.I. sending 40 additional F.B.I. officers in to make sure they’re getting a thorough but timely investigation here. And I think that’s helping.

ANDREA MITCHELL:

Thank you so much, Governor Nixon, from Missouri. While the events in Ferguson this week have certainly shocked the nation, focusing renewed attention on the nation’s disparity that still exists in our justice system. Our Kevin Tibbles takes a closer look at that situation.

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