Seven years ago, while the DNC was here in Boston, I got to meet a childhood idol at my workplace – Chuck D. I’m not lying. I met the man. The man that, back in ’89 and ’90 while listening to Public Enemy, helped me learn who people like Huey P. Newton were. Who helped me understand what it was like to actually sacrifice to gain ground. I work in a restaurant and walked up to the table he was at and, as politely as I could, simply said hello and thanked him. He was very gracious and shook my hand, and it’s still a source of pride for me.
Years later, I’ve re-learned those lessons, as I’ve certainly become a hell of a lot more selfless. It’s something I certainly don’t like to say so publicly, but for the sake of this post, I think there’s a need for it so that people understand who I am.
Now, my own feelings come from not just a musician, of course. His lyrics certainly resonated within me and made a difference. It was really only that way because of my upbringing, which I understand fully. The two people that laid that foundation in me internally at such a young age are unfortunately no longer with us, any more, but it doesn’t lessen the importance of the lessons they taught me. The music was simply a vessel to launch it into another area of my life – that of equality issues.
Last week, we witnessed Congress – namely Tea Party backed Republicans that strongarmed the rest of their party – nearly shut down our government within the House of Representatives. Now, when I blast Republicans, I have to say that I know that blame isn’t 100% on one side or the other. It takes two to dance. In this instance, we nearly had a shutdown of our government over a distorted moral agenda led by Tea Party backed Republicans. The supposed 11th hour deal that was made is simply stripping more social programs, but the Tea Party is still not happy.
Now, Planned Parenthood is there for a reason. To help a certain cross-section of our society with what is a difficult decision, but also to help provide other resources for women that are simply not available otherwise due to what is still a more subversively sexist society. The fact that we have Senators like Jon Kyl making misinformed statements about the role of Planned Parenthood in abortions is even more disgusting. He made the claim that “over 90%” of what they handle are abortions. Don’t believe me? Watch for yourself:
Disgusting. Which makes Stephen Colbert’s take even better. Take a look at a small part of it:
And that, people, was the sticking point for the budget. A bunch of lying politicians distorting numbers just so they could get a little facetime and suck up to the morally twisted far-right. And yes, that group is led my many involved in the Tea Party. Now, for those saying, “Well, thank God that’s over”? Nope. We have more coming. Hell, perhaps today, even.
Check out the news about how the “debt-ceiling” can affect you.
Why are we even in this mess, to begin with? The fact that a lot of Republicans – Tea Party or not – are willing to basically refuse to let our country to function normally because of a bill that passed – legally – in the Health Care reform bill should frighten all of you. Seriously. These are grown men and women. Stomping their feet and throwing a temper tantrum. One that started over lies about Planned Parenthood and abortion and is ending with people simply throwing words like “ObamaCare” around and continuing to be allergic to facts. One of those facts? Our taxes are historically low. Maybe not for you or I, but for the rich, they are. Taxes are how we pay for everything! And we’re in this mess because a bunch of puppets – and they’re on both the left and right – have pandered to the rich and culled their favor for far too long. Maybe they should have shut down.
and I jumped on 
