All My Trials

So much discussion about the non-indictment of Michael Brown's killer. It seems every cop is granted double 'O' status when they leave the academy. Fourteen children have been killed by cops since that fateful day in August. Lots of analysis; lots of punditry. My favorite platitude this week? "We live in a nation of laws" A lot of well meaning people have been trying to answer the question "Why isn't Darren Wilson being charged with ... something?" Here's my attempt at an answer.

Look around 

Past row houses in Ferguson Missouri

Down the long antebellum rows of cotton

Look

Beyond the police line; the race line

The scarred line 

Jagged across Old Glory’s tattered furls

Look how it connects the money, the congressmen, the cops

And smell it … can you smell it?

The smoke, the tear gas, the rage

Ferguson is burning

Across the years, Atlanta is burning 

Resentment still settling

Like soot on sons of the south

Listen

Deep down in your soul

Listen

Your granddads Klan is tryin’ to be heard

“Lose your job?  … The colored man took it”

“High taxes?  … Shiftless welfare bums”

 “Angry? Afraid? … White privilege my ass!”

Now

Do you feel it?

Drumbeats pulsing in your brain

Feel it

A familiar tune

Faintly rising to the pounding beat

Hum it with me … Sing it with me

This is our song

“Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton …”

Hannity Blames The President

FOX News pundit Sean Hannity says President Obama will be partly to blame for violence in Ferguson, if it happens.

When my back pain attacks with a flair

The discomfort is all I can bear

Til the kidney stone shifts

Then the agony lifts

Like when Hannity goes off the air

Paying it Forward

I heard this shaggy dog story a few years ago. At that time, it was attributed to Jimmy Pattison, a notorious Canadian one-percenter. I don't know if that part is true. The rest, of course is.

Years ago I was down on my luck

Out of work, I would sleep in my truck

And I often would curse

“Things can’t get any worse!”

‘Til the sole of my shoe came unstuck

When I walked it went “Flippity-Flop”

So I stopped at the shoe repair shop

But the cobbler was brash

And he said “Without cash

I suggest that you skip and you hop”

It was later that day, I recall

On my way to the hiring hall

My old shoe caught a crack

And I fell on my back

There I sat and I started to bawl

But a limo pulled up in the street

A tycoon helped me get to my feet

Then he pulled out a roll

That could choke any foal

Rubber banded to keep it all neat

He said “Son, I was once just like you,

And this might be the least I can do”

He then peeled off the band

Pressed it into my hand

Saying “This ought to bind up your shoe”

It is all men

In case you've been living under a rock for the past week, here is a link to a video titled "10 Hours Walking in New York City as a Woman". It's gone viral, as the say. The video documents the numerous catcalls and other forms of sexual harassment endured by a woman, just walking around town.

Disappointingly, but not surprising, the video generated a lot of controversy. "Most of these guys are just being nice." "It's racist! the white guys were edited out" "It's all in fun" and  "Boys will be boys". This is not to mention the hateful and ignorant comments posted by men who actually took offense at being called out for their sexist behavior.

I want to make the point right now that the responsibility for this anti-social behavior rests with all men. Not just men of color or white men or rich men or poor men or young men or old men; and it doesn't rest with women. The responsibility to treat women with respect lies with all men.

If you call after women on the street; stop it, you're not flirting and it's not harmless. If, while driving through town, your friends wolf whistle out the window; call them on it. They're acting like bullies. Most telling of all, if you witness street harassment and you're afraid to intervene, think about why. The purpose of catcalling is to intimidate. If you're intimidated, put yourself in her shoes. Most important of all; if you have a son. Teach him to treat women with respect. This is your responsibility.

There is no need to over intellectualize this discussion. I've seen too many online debates about this. "Is it inherent in our capitalist society", "Is it rooted in a particular culture", "Do we have to solve some other social problem before we can solve this one". All these discussions just detract from the point. Men are behaving badly and they should stop.

Here's a limerick that boils the issue down to its essence.

Out in midtown or up in the hood

Every "Baby, you're sure looking good"

Each "Hey Sweetie" and "Ciao"

Means "I'd fuck you right now"

Is there something I've misunderstood?