I don't know what happened to TownHall.com this last week, but I could not get on to blog, and at a time I could have wrote a book on the events of the weekend!  I think everyone who might read this knows about the comments of everyone's favorite candidate, Barack Obama, and how everyone is 'bitter' because they lost their job and 'cling' to guns, religion, etc, etc...so basically you know you're a redneck in a red state(or small town according to Mr. Hope) when you go to church, have a gun rack, and don't like illegal immigrants taking jobs from legal(and hence better qualified) workers.  I guess that's the conspiracy in those small Penn. towns right? All the rednecks are getting together and declaring in their town hall/kkk venues, "We're bitter about everything....so we aren't gonna vote for that Obama feller--he wants us to actually have hope--but he's black, so we sure aren't voting for him...Heil Hitler!" 

It's amazing to me how these 'conspiracy theories' are certainly 100 percent accurate when a black senator says them....or when some jackanape like Alicia Keys comes out and says that Gansta Rap is a conspiracy to make black people kill each other made up by white people(including her mom I guess) and the government.  Especially in minority communities, where some of the most ignorant people are.(They choose to be ignorant by the way, I grew up there and chose to be educated) Rev. Wright said AIDS was devised(which if it was devised in a lab, why doesn't another lab devise a cure so they can make a worldwide profit that would make the oil companies look like my small business in comparison) by government scientists to kill blacks and hispanics.  Again, it's the white people's fault(again, including his mother--which is overlooked by everyone, all these conspiracy blacks are half white, just like most of us--I'm a bit of everything, so yes, I can say that), and that's real right? 

Yet, when Geraldine Ferraro comes out and says that Sen. Obama's campaign is successful is because he's black, she's a card-carrying member of the KKK if you believe the people who support Obama.  I am so sick of the fact that when a black person bumps his gums and says something ridiculous, it's fact, but when a white person says something, it's obviously because they are a closet racist and they want to let the world know---really?

Bob Johnson of BET came out yesterday and said the same thing that Ms. Ferraro said, and it's amazing how I have not heard a peep from Jesse(Jackson) or Al(Sharpton)--or really anyone.  It's hard to argue with a self-made billionaire...black, white, or indifferent.

There was a time when we ignored people who brought up ridiculous ideas like those above, but in the you tube era, it seems everyone's theory is true.

So what are the facts? Depends who you ask right?That's just the problem--we're so afraid to be wrong in this day in age, so quick to blame someone else for our problems, that we as a society have replaced fact and truth with conspiracy, of course, only if you're Black, or a Woman, or some other 'oppressed' minority.

The facts are this: Bob Johnson decided not to believe the conspiracy, along with so many others who aren't in the ghetto anymore, who rose above, who  decided to be better, not bitter.

The bitter ones are those who choose to be so.  Whether they cling to guns, or communism, or the idea that it's all 'the man's' fault.

Here's what I cling to, with no bitterness: G_d, the idea of real hope and change that I can make, and the truth of the fact that I live in a free country where I can change my life and others in the scope of one day. 

I know what's it's like to be down, to struggle, I'm doing it right now: but what I have learned from years of playing football is that the struggle is the practice for glory to come when success is made--the problem is, many of the liberal people in this country believe that the game is rigged.

They can keep believing that--I will go after my victory, and eventually, I will win. 

I know others will win with me, and they will cling to their victory, not bitterness.

I mentioned in my first entry that I am a huge sports fan.  Sports have been a huge part of my life, I've been playing football since I was 8, I still am playing arena football as a professional.  The life lessons sports has given to me are things I couldn't learn anywhere else.  Sports and politics seem to bleed into each other more and more, and I don't know that it's healthy for either genre.  I see this especially when I look at these media-hogging protesters who have this insane idea that if they somehow make the Olympic torch go out-China will say, "Oh my gosh, you're right, we're sorry for the last 50 years, well hello Dahali (Lama) !!!."  It's amazing how these people all of a sudden are bound and determined to end what is certainly a wrong-headed and brutal occupation of Tibet when it has been going on for more than 50 years.  I guess they think that China will bow to world pressure because they are hosting this event, since they're so responsive to the outside world.  
Two words to the protesters: GET BENT!


Furthermore, now Democratic politicians are finding a way to spin this to blame it on President Bush.  That would just be added to him being responsible for the Iraq War, Terrorism, Katrina, the Economy(but only now when it's been bad-not the good 6 years), Hurricanes in general, All diseases created to kill black people, the situation in Darfur, and oh yea, the decline in Starbucks' coffee's quality.


Hillary Clinton is calling on Bush to boycott the games, which is totally hypocritical.  She didn't have a problem with China when she went over there in 1998 to glad hand the Chinese premier during the UN's conference on human rights.  Then it was only smart policy to "Talk to the Chinese and let them know our concerns."  Of course, this is what the President has said he is going to do, but now it's an "endorsement of China's human rights policy."  
I guess this is what is called a 'political football'.  Only problem is, one who is supposed to be on our team is running toward our goalline, not the opponents.


Please don't get me wrong, I am not for China's brutal oppression.  They treat their own people like dogs, anyone remember Teninnamen Square?  This has gone on for years, and will go on, Olympics or not, protests or not.  Actually, the protests are a bad strategy if you know anything about Far Eastern culture standards.   The concept of Face is as important in China as the American concept of justice.  When you burn Chinese flags and attempt to run down the torch-bearer(who by the way, has nothing to do with China or helping them oppress Tibet), that makes the Chinese lose face, and not in a good way. 
The question that is more important however to me is this: Do these self-proclaimed reformists and revolutionaries actually care about the people of Tibet, or the rest of China, which is equally oppressed and starving?  Or, like I suspect, do they care more about the idea that they are part of a 'movement' that makes their pathetically selfish lives legitimate?  I tend to see the latter.
How can I say that? Well, again, I don't see them doing anything constructive.  Are they contributing to funds to help Tibet? Are they committing their time to anything to help Tibet other than making something that should be celebrated throughout our world-the Olympic games-like writing to our officials to take real, effective action against the wrongs of China?
How many products in their house are made in China?  Your pocketbook tells your priorities.   I don't have a German luxury car, and I never will.  As a Jew, I will not spend my money and give it to companies that helped the Nazis kill my ancestors. 

The biggest problem I have with these actions is this: These protesters obviously do not know their history, or how powerful a sporting events like the Olympics can be.  No one listens to protests that counts because of this reason: the same people who protest would protest anything if someone convinced them to--the protesters really aren't dedicated, disciplined, or powerful.  Athletes, however, people listen to, even if they don't deserve it, because they are(or should be) those very things.
Let's go back to 1936 and Jesse Owens.  He showed Hitler that he was a fool, even if it was for a brief moment.  Same with Joe Lewis--the 'white knight' that Hitler said would dominate the boxing competition was stopped in his tracks by the Brown Bomber, and this stunted any claims that Hitler's Aryan supremacy could possibly be legitimate.
On the other hand, the boycott by president Carter of the 1980 Olympics only lead to another boycott--and it had no effect on helping us rid the world of the scourge of Communist Russia.  Then they boycotted our games---a childish act that was provoked by our childish act. Far less impactful than our 1980 whooping of the Russians in the Miracle on Ice at the winter games.

This is my point: The Olympics may be hosted by China this year, but they are not Chinese. The torch has nothing to do with Freeing Tibet.  Let the Olympics go on, let President Bush be in China when everyone else in Western society is pulling out, he'll actually be listened to by the stubborn Communist Chinese.  Furthermore, let the athletes run without controversy, and let's see if the areas where the Chinese Olympic teams are normally dominant if the world does not send them a message--the whole world will be watching, and the actions and words of those athletes will be far more powerful than some college student who doesn't even know where Tibet really is trying to snuff out the eternal flame.   G_d knows that the Chinese will not win, because they are not right--but we must beat them in this world the right way- with determination, discipline, and passion--not another protest.

I woke up very late today, I felt terrible after a long night.  At around 3AM in the morning, storms rolled in a woke my wife and I up from a dead sleep.  We had not gotten to bed much earlier, but it still messed up my schedule.  After waking up and immediately being a little upset with some business matters, I turned on the television and saw the CNN broadcast from Memphis.  I was quickly reminded that today is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I watched a few minutes of the radio broadcast (Forgive me, I do not know the name of the radio show host--I'm sure if you're a liberal you'll label me a racist for not doing so--but you better hold on to your hat later in this blog, I'm going to punish you for that thought) and turned after I heard comedian Mo-Nique say, "Ya'll, I truly believe that equality can start when Barack Obama becomes the president."  I almost threw my computer at the TV.  My wife said to me with her amazing candor and insight, "And so this is what Dr. King died for."
Let me tell you what I know about Dr. King---more than you, period.  I know no one has read this blog yet(so the computer tells me) but for those of you who will, since this is the second entry on this blog, I will qualify that remark. 
I began to study Dr. King's work for the first time when I was 8 years old of my own volition.  We had one of those 2nd or 3rd grade reading projects about some figure in history, and I chose Dr. King.   I read whatever biography they had in the Alpharetta Elementary library, and began to ask my parents questions---a door I'm so very glad I opened, for it has been one of the most important discoveries of my life. I have given A+ reports on Dr. King in Jr. High, High School and College.  I have even given a speech in a black church(my church-where I received my license to the ministry) on Dr. King's birthday where I had people in my congregation tell me they did not know the things I said about him until I gave the speech.  Again, this goes back to my parents.
You see, my parents didn't just live at the time of the Civil Rights movement---they were inside the Civil Rights movement.  They were the Civil Rights movement.  My mother and father were a mixed race couple in Montgomery, Alabama and eventually Auburn, Alabama.  My father's family knew George C. Wallace and his whole family went to school with my mom and pop--the Wallace daughter had a crush on my uncle, who ironically for the idiot segregationist governor, was Hispanic.  Rosa Parks worked for my grandmother--NO BS--no exaggerations, I have the pictures.  My mother went to school and had Blacks and Whites asked her on a daily basis--"What the hell are you?"
The first black students in Alabama to integrate went to Sydney Lanier High School--with my mom and dad.  My father played with the first black football players at Auburn University-James Owens(LB) in 1969 from Fairview, AL and Thomas Garrison(S) from Birmingham--they came to Auburn of their own free will--they both got Graduate degrees and from all I know were or are successful young men--if you read this and are part of their families, I'd love to hear from you. My father and your fathers were good friends, and teammates.
Maybe that's why I am so passionate about this topic and putting it out there for what it really is.  I have been a football player since I was 8 years old also, and I've never, ever, even considered if my teammates were black or white.  All I've ever cared about is if they wore the same color uniform as I did.
Here's a secret America: All of us are on the same team--we all should be proud of wearing the same uniform--the uniform of the freest and most democratic country in the world.  Yet, what we see today, and what I heard from Mo-Nique, and other blacks in this nation, is not even close to Dr. King's dream.
I read another blog on townhall yesterday, the six things that are true about race we are afraid to say, and it was very on-point. So, the question today--of all days---is what is racism?  What makes you a racist? 
Here's what does not make you a racist
-If you are white(sorry, but many people think this is the first qualification--and it's as racist as ideas come)
-If you notice that people of different races talk, act, or think differently than you and you don't understand.
-If you are white or black and don't support Barack Obama--I'm sick and tired of this one-Mo-Nique, he's not the answer
-If you don't know every influential person in another's race's background or lore
-If you're a Republican--in fact--most Republicans are far less racist than Democrats

So what makes you a racist?  You make like not these qualifications, but with my background, I am qualified to make them:

-If you vote for a black, hispanic, asian, or any president solely because of their race, you are a racist.
-If you believe that 'acting white' or 'acting black' are viable terms, you're a racist
-If you call someone who doesn't agree with Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton's opinions an "Uncle Tom", you are a racist
-If you are Al Sharpton, Jeremiah Wright, Louis Farakahan, Henry Ford, Adolf Hitler, David Duke, Strom Thurmond, Maqmuhud Aminajhad, etc, etc---You are racist--without a doubt.
-If you look see a white kid with a black father or vice versa and have to take a second look-you're a racist


-Most importantly: If you would not let your daughter date or marry someone of another race because of their race: you are a racist.

Yes, I said that.  Don't like it? Well, you are what you are.

It stormed today in the south---it only passed by here in Texas--but the storm is pounding the deep south today, and that is not a coincidence--just like the fact that our worst hurricanes follow the tradewinds that brought the slave ships from Africa to the Southern US shores.  These curses must be broken-spiritually and physically.

The Bible puts it this way, "Anyone who says, "I walk in the light," but hates his brother, that person is a liar and still remains in darkness (1 John 2:9)

My pastor's version says it this way," You can't lift your hands and sing, I loooove you Looordd....but I hate that honkey(ni**er/spic/kike/guinea/yellow/etc---yes, all the ugly words are there...they are all equally ugly) next to me!!!"

Liar...not  from me...from God.  You stumble in the darkness, fall utterly.  Doesn't matter if you're black, white, etc...because you're still in Darkness.

So far, this political campaign has brought nothing but darkness in reference to Dr. King's dream--a majority of that coming from the candidate that supposedly is running on "Hope".

Dr. King would be appalled at how many times people have been called 'racist' by his campaign.  Especially with what he has said about whites in his book.  But such is the racism of this day.  Sen. Obama does it, my parents-in-law do it.  If you saw them in public, they'd never even hint to the fact they are racist...but if you saw them at home, you'd know. 
Not because they'd use an racial word, or wouldn't talk to a person of another race---but because they expect you to treat them differently because of their race.

This is racism, this is what Dr. King lost his life for.

Not for the KKK morons no one listens to....not for the Black Panther party who are the real "Uncle Toms" because they embrace the ideals of the very Islamic militants who began the slave trade...no...the masses of people who politely snub, talk down to, act differently, or won't go to church with those 'other' people.  These were who Dr. King was most angry at in his book.

Storms across the "Memphis Sky".. "Free at Last....They took your life...they could not, take your pride.....!!!!"

May we all take a hard look at ourselves, in the name of Love.




-

Hello....
Anyone listening...?
Really listening...?
I hope someone is, it seems in this day and age everyone has a blog, from the nation's best and brightest to, well, those who are not.
I know former students who have blogs with a million hits, so I figure it can't be that hard, but then again, I'm not a popular senior in high school that is going to post racy photos.
So who am I and what am I doing here? (No, I'm not copying Ross Perot's vice presidential candidate, I'm sane, unlike he was)
Glad you asked, let me give you those answers.
I am a man, a real man, honest to goodness, red-blooded, non-metrosexual, red-meat loving, football playing, big, strong, hairy man.
If you are already offended, get ready to be really ticked in a bit!
I am an educated man, thank G_d,(Yes, I believe in him wholeheartedly, and no, I am not a brainwashed religious flake-far from, and if you thought that to begin with--I'm your worst nightmare.) but unlike so many in my generation, I don't define 'education' as blindly accepting the rantings of ivory tower professors who have never been anything but...well, Ivory tower professors.  My late father(may his name be of blessed memory) told me at a young age, "never let anyone tell you what something says, read it for yourself," and I was crazy enough to believe it.  That doesn't mean I'm anti-intellectual, or that I don't listen to the learned, I just don't think they are always people with certain prefixes attached to their name.  In fact, I've learned more about life from people who's first name (to me) are Coach, Pastor, and Rabbi(yes, both Pastor and Rabbi are in that sentence--more on that to come).
Maybe it's better to say I am informed.  I read, alot, and about many things....but I pay particular attention to what I'd call 'culture shapers'--you know what I mean--politics, sports, entertainment, art, and religion.  As one who is informed, I have an opinion. I know you don't have to be informed to have one of those, you only have to have a...well...you know, but that's what a bit different about me, my opinions are informed, strongly, and powerfully.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  
So, what am I informed about, and what has this information caused me to conclude?
1) I am a proud Christian and Jew(like I said, more about that at a later date), a licensed minister for that matter, as well as a very patriotic American(no, really, not some nut job who thinks it's okay to bash our country and claim to be a patriot), Southerner, Hispanic, White, African-American(Yes, I am mixed in the most dangerous way, the way that actually sees life without color first--just wait, you'll see) athlete and intellectual.
2) I am proudly conservative politically (yes, go ahead and label me--labels are supposed to let everyone else know what the product is--but if you label, you better be right) and I'm young! I know, all young people are card-carrying, Barack Obama obsessed, tree-hugging, Toyota Prius driving, Al Gore reading, The Hills watching far-left Liberal loons!  Wait...except ME and so many others who the media does not pay attention to.  What's better is I was a liberal, an atheist and I know all the arguments, all the spin, and LOVE to take on anyone who wants to see if I know my stuff!  Not because of some ego-driven wish to show off, but because so much of what my generation believes is PATENTLY FALSE and stupid, and it's because their parents were afraid to tell them how they got to where there are, my wife's background proves this. (Yes, I'll share sometime, have your kleenex ready).
3) I am TIRED of people who share my views who let those on the other side say and do anything at their expense and get away with it.  I'm a fighter( and at 6'0 and 320 pounds, I can do some damage) and I'm tired of screaming at my TV when I watch Fox News and hear some of these fools talk!  Give me an opportunity to punch back and I'll land the knockout blow! You'll see as we go on.
4) Believe it or not, I hate religion, brainwashing, and much of what the "Western" church teaches and practices.  Not because I don't believe, but because I know that the truth is not what we are pushing, and not what G_d would want...there is a better way that one group of people has kept since ancient days, and that is relevant for now(More later...yes...I know...said it before)
5) What else...oh yea, capitalist, Yankees fan, Cowboys fan, Mavericks fan, Stars Fan... aspiring arena football player(yes for real), big Star Wars fan, Lord of the Rings fan, The Matrix Fan. The movies have a lot to say to us if we'd look at them.
6) I love the study of history, and we are repeating it as we speak, dangerously so.  We don't know it because most of us(especially my generation) have never really looked at it.
7) I am a revolutionary, and I am writing this with every intention of drawing more recruits to my side...whatever it takes. 

Such is the Mad Bear.  Why Mad Bear?  Because people have described me as such since high school.   I 'm big, ugly, hairy, loud, strong, love to eat, and will slash my enemies to death if I need to(figuratively speaking of course.)

Expect strong opinions on this blog, and if you like them, great! If not, then let me know too, but if you want the bull(or in this case the bear) you'll get the horns(paws--you get the picture)

I will say things you've never heard before, and I hope you'll look into them for yourselves.

I will always be relevant.

I really am a loving person, and I will share my life with all who ask...what you'll see is that my journey has been rough, still is, but I know where I'm going, where G_d has me, and what I want to do.

I am concerned about the direction of this country.  If we really think that becoming Europe is the answer to our problems, or think that radical Islam is not a problem because most Muslims are not radical, or that electing a man who has less experience in running anything then I do knitting or dancing ballet, or that the solution to life is dependent on the government...well...we will be in bad shape in the next ten years.

Look at our history....it is 1939 all over again,  but most of the people I know don't understand what that means.

It's not as bad as the media would make you believe....in Real Estate, in our economy, in our cities, or towns. 

I won't let hate-mongers and psychos have a free pass here...I will call them what they are, and slap them in the face if I can so their message will go where it belongs...in the garbage.  My wife is working with me on not reacting 'emotionally' against somethings...but like I said...I am a man, so it will happen, because no one else will.

Bears are cute, you have to admit--so am I at times, or so I'm told.  I don't mean to be offensive sometimes, but sometimes I'll hopefully make you smile.

We will talk about race here...why? Because I am one of the few people in the US who is confident enough to do so...helps that I'm mixed race--really mixed---Puerto Rican, White, Cherokee Indian, Jewish, and African-American.  Guess what? You likely are too, you just don't know it.   I grew up in the Ghetto, went to college in the Country, and live in the City....no one will accuse me of racism here and be able to substantiate it? Why? Because I don't care if my son or daughter marries a black, white, red or brown person...and most of you do...which makes you more racist than me.  Not to accuse, but you will get it when we talk.

I hope I can bring light to the darkness in this world, for this is what G_d has made me for....I will just do it Mad Bear style...

Ya'll come back now, ya here? More to come!!!