it's weird. One of my friends forwarded me an email on white pride and how come white people are the only ones to be considered racist. As her first and oldest black friend she wanted to know if I found that offensive, and what did I think about the issue. I'm her go to person for questions concerning black issues. We've been friends since the 6th grade and can talk about everything even uncomfortable issues. This whole topic came up concerning Michael Richards(Kramer of Seinfield) lawsuit by two black men he called niggers after they heckled him during his show. In court as part of his defense he wanted to know why being proud to be white was bad, and why it was ok for whites to be called honkey,cracker and other racial epitaphs, but if he used the the racial slurs nigger,gook,sand nigger,towelhead etc. he was a racist. I told her that Kramer was missing the point. That it was not wrong of him to be proud to be white but it was wrong to belittle other people. He got mad at being made fun(an occupational hazard for an entertainer) and responded by being offensive. I told her a better way for him to deal with the rude black guys was to ask them to leave the show if they didn't like it and that he would have the box office refund their money, but that their behavior was ruining the show for the rest of the audience. If he had said something like that he would have shown those 2 men to be rude and obnoxious without being rude and offensive himself. But he took the easy route and starting using profanity and the n-word. Now he is being sued and suffered a loss of popularity. He had alot of black fans until he went there. Black people are loyal supporters until you cross that line and use the N- word then it's ass-whooping time. LOL anyway in his speech he brought up the fact that other minorities were african-american,hispanic-american,asian-american,arab-american,native-american but that white people were just plain american. He also stated how we had our own tv station(BET) but if there was a WET(white entertainment television) it be racist. I guess he doesn't consider that all the other networks in America except for the 3 spanish and 1 asian networks(KBS America) are white owned and operated. Even BET is now white-owned. He also said we have our own colleges, chamber of commerces,business organizations and black history month and Martin Luther King Day. I told my friend that we started all of those things not because we were superior and wanted to be exclusive but because at that time in history when most of those civil rights groups and organizations were funded, the law of the land(jim crow laws) prevented us from joing the white organizations. I reminded her that black people had been enslaved for over 400 years, and that we've only been free in the usa for 144 years. and of that 144 years it's only been 44 years since the jim crow laws that required minorities to be seperate but equal were ended, and you can't expect an entire race of people to shake off the remains of oppression that quickly. Even today the voting rights act that gives us the legal right to vote has to be renewed every 50 years. If we're all citizens and equal under the law, why not amend the constitution to reflect that once and for all. White people didn't want us using their stuff, so we had to get our own. And he wants to trip off the fact that we got 1 black hero day, and that the shortest month in the year is black history month. White people are mad because we got 29 days to celebrate the accomplishments of black people compared to the 12 months full of whte people holidays. I said the hispanics got their month even though I'm not sure which month it is, but that the asians were left out. We About an hour after I emailed her, I got an email update from one of my wire feeds stating that President Barack Obama just changed all that. He officially recognized the accomplishments of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders by making the month of May Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Congrats for getting your props at last. Although I always thought Pacific Islanders were ethnically Asians. Why do they seperate the two categories? Anyway Obama has not forgotten his asian roots(had an indonesian stepfather and 2 half-asian sisters) and is giving them(asians) the recognition asian-americans deserve for making this nation great. here is a copy of his proclamation.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
---------------------------------
For Immediate Release May 1, 2009
ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
The vast diversity of languages, religions, and cultural traditions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continues to strengthen the fabric of American society. From the arrival of the first Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrants 150 years ago to those who arrive today, as well as those native to the Hawaiian Islands and to our Pacific Island territories, all possess the common purpose of the fulfilling the American dream and leading a life bound by the American ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we remember the challenges and celebrate the achievements that define our history.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have endured and overcome hardship and heartache. In the earliest years, tens of thousands of Gold Rush pioneers, coal miners, transcontinental railroad builders, as well as farm and orchard laborers, were subject to unjust working conditions, prejudice, and discrimination——yet they excelled. Even in the darkness of the Exclusion Act and Japanese internment, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have persevered, providing for their families and creating opportunities for their children.
Amidst these struggles, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed in great and significant ways to all aspects of society. They have created works of literature and art, thrived as American athletes, and prospered in the world of academia. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played a vital role in our Nation's economic and technological growth by establishing successful enterprises and pushing the limits of science. They are serving in positions of leadership within the government more now than ever before. And along with all of our great service men and women, they have defended the United States from threats at home and abroad, serving our Nation with valor.
>From the beaches of the Pacific islands and the California coast, the grasslands of Central Asia and the bluegrass of Kentucky , and from the summits of the Himalayas and the Rocky Mountains , the Asian American and Pacific Islander community hails from near and far. This is the story of our more perfect union: that it is diversity itself that enriches, and is fundamental to, the American story.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America , by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States , do hereby proclaim May 2009, as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
BARACK OBAMA
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-Asian-American-And-Pacific-Islander-Heritage-Month/
The only problem is they are going to be on the east and west coast and i live near neither one of them. New York City is closer to me, it's only a 23hr busride. unfortunately, i don't have any family in nyc to crash with. so do i want to sleep in a nyc bus station for one night just to see tablo? really i do. or i could risk the pig flu and spend 3 days on a bus through swine flu territory and safety and security of sleeping on my Aunt's couch. decisions,decisions. it might just come down to money. It's only $120rt ATL-NYC by greyhound bus. Plus less exposure to potential pig flu carriers. So what if i have to sleep in the bus terminal. the homeless do it all the time. why does thought of this fill me with fear. i'm already leary of travelling by bus,ever since some psycho stabbed an beheaded this 19yr old guy on the greyhound. Do you know everybody, includeing the bus driver ran off the bus, instead of trying to save that kid. they should have bum rushed the killer. the cowards. so that's a worry. but to be honest i'm more afraid of the flu. i don't have insurance and i get sick at the drop of a hat. and my asthma makes me a high-risk candidate. 3 days through the southwest and swine flu ground zero. i should be okay. i'll bring some lysol and (for this i won't be cheap and get the generic) spray down the bus seat, and wear a face mask. it's only 3 days each way. I can stay and visit my aunt, do a little sight-seeing, i've never been to cali before. But, it's $166rt atl-la. i'll have to pack enough groceries for the trip there and back. i won't have any money for souvenirs. where's my tax rebate when i need it? I really want to support them, since you can't buy their albums here. There latest Map the Human Soul, is the first to be available on Itunes. of course I have all their albums courtesy of the internet file sharing. down with digital copyright. in my defense, i uploaded all the cd's i paid for, so it's more sharing then stealing. and i do buy the cd's when i can find them, i'm really glad they marketed this album through itunes. i listen to all my music on computer or my zune anyway. i just wish more world music was available. 
