So NOW The TRUTH Matters

It was reported in the NY Times today that George Tenet, the former of director of the CIA is dropping this BOMB in his new book "At the Center of the Storm"

WASHINGTON, April 26 — George J. Tenet, the former director of central intelligence, has lashed out against Vice President Dick Cheney and other Bush administration officials in a new book, saying they pushed the country to war in Iraq without ever conducting a “serious debate” about whether Saddam Hussein posed an imminent threat to the United States.

Isn't it amazing how now that the war has become unpopular and Bush's approval ratings remain low, that so many people are now starting to come after him and his administration.

Where the hell were the balls and ovaries of all the people speaking up now, when Bush was really cooking up the mess he created and served to America?

It's a damn shame things had to get this bad in order for the people on the inside or with potential to make change, decide that the TRUTH had to take priority over loyalty to the GOP or surmount their fear of revenge from those in power.

Alberto Gone Gonzo

I can't believe Alberto Gonzales testimony. I lost count of the number of times he used the "I do not recall" defense. Today I read several sources that say the final count is at least 70 times during his testimony. Ronald Reagan would have been proud.

How can ANYONE be the head of ANYTHING, and be effective at it, if they can't even recall what they did a few weeks or months ago. I mean he's suppose to be running the show and he came off like he had NO CLUE as to what was going on in his office.

Alberto, your performance was downright shameful. You need to find a quiet place, sit down with yourself, and ask some soul searching questions. You got busted lying about the shady shit going down. The honorable thing would have been to either come clean, or leave.

On Turning 39

Recently I turned 39 years old. It's an event that has pulled me emotionally in several directions. One thought that came to mind is how quickly it arrived. At times I feel so much like and adult, and often like I'm just starting to be one.

Overall I say that I am grateful. I know far too many people that did not make it this far. Don't forget babies my path has been a mine field of obstacles that if I failed to surmount them, it would have meant my demise. By the time I hit my mid-30s, I knew enough people that have died from the explosions of AIDS, drugs, poverty, mental anguish and violence, that I ran out of fingers and toes to count them. They remain a part of me, and I move forward in their honor.

Here are some obersvations and epiphanies I have about reaching almost 4 decades on this big blue marble in space:

• I've seen black power, the latino love of The Lords, the amazing fight for civil rights. A movement determined to shed colonial mentalites and negative self-indentities for people of color.
• I remember a time when there were only nine channels on tv and its transimission traveled through the air and it was free. Now there are over 200 channels and it enters from the ground and you have to pay for it (Annie Leibovitz shed that light). Now, via the Interent I move at the speed at light. So many ideas and worlds I can now just click into.
• I remember the first time I heard Planet Rock by Afrika Bambatta and Soul Sonic Force. It was that beat, those words that ushered me into being a teenager and a member of the hip hop generation. Now hip hop is dead. I'm eagerly awaiting the new sound from the children of a community that is poor and disenfranchised. The new sound that like hip hop, took scraps and made it into a sonic meal that fed the world.
• God Bless The Queens of the Christopher Street piers. She taught me how to strut it. She showed me how to read it. She told me to always give it. Most importantly, she taught me to be out, loud and proud.
• My brother and sister. Our blood ties are made even more sacred by our spiritual connection that I could only realize over time. Thank you my fellow travelers for holding my head when it hurts, tickling my spirit when I needed a laugh, and understanding me in a way no one else can.
• The skin I'm in has started to become a better fit. It took some time and needed some mending. I played with all the trends and at times over did it. At last, now I know what looks best on me. Who knew that it was the authentic me I always needed to be. Time has been my tailor.
• Still on the journey after all these years. Now more than ever I realize that I have so much more to see and do. I can't believe I once thought that I would feel done with having that good job, 3 hots and roof over my head. I'm a kid again at times, riding on the shoulders of the blessings that I have been given.

And the beat goes on

I recently went to a lecture given by Dr. Marcelo M. Suarez-Orozco, co-director of Immigration Studies at New York University. His presentation was titled "Rethinking Immigration" and here are some highlights:

Humans started immigrating 60,000 years ago when there was an exodus from Africa to other parts of the world. There ain't nothing new about people moving to get somewhere better, safer, or closer to other family.

There are 85-300 million immigrants and refugees worldwide. Australia and Switzerland lead the pack with each country having at least 20% of its population foreign born.

The U.S. is in fifth place in terms of immigration with only about 12% being foreign born. (Makes you wonder how real is this concern, by some people, that there are too many immigrants in this country).

U.S. foreign policy has led to the need for people to immigrate to other countries, including the U.S. (Vietnam and Iraq Wars, and U.S. goverment interceding in the politics of Central and South America)

In the U.S. about $50 billion worth of "human capital" is injected into the U.S. economy annually, because of the contributions of immigrants. (That's right folks, immigrants don't just take, they also contribute, labor, skills and talents. An immigrant invented the iPod.)

Second and Third generation children of immigrants will transform the U.S. in terms of culture and economic growth.

Even if immigration stop today, the dynamics and pending influence connected to the immigration of the last ten years are already in motion.

Therefore, in order for countries to benefit from immigrants, policies created around adjusting toan immigration populations should be "values-based" and consider a world-view.

Something to think about while you color your easter eggs. Oh, by the way, the tradition of easter egg coloring was brought over by immigrants.

Pessimism - The Anti-Secret

A friend recently sent me this quote, that I though was funny and had some truth to it.

"My life is filled with drama, most of which has never happened."

I decided to keep the tone of humor running by creating some of my own twisted quotes:

"I have endured so much, in my head"

"That which does not kill us, will only get us that next time around"

"A bird in the hand, is not as good as the two in the bush."

"Haste makes waste, so I pray for patience."

"Live and let live, unless your living gets on my nerves."

"Aim low in life, so the results don't disappoint you."

"You say pessimist, I say realist. You say optimist, I say must be drunk."

"What you are NOT worrying about, is what is going to get you."

"Every cloud has a silver lining, or is a sign of a hurricane a'comin."

"A friend in need, makes me feel my life aint so bad"

"If I had a nickel for everytime I was right, Uncle Sam would get 30% of it."