Hamp's Corner of America

Say what you mean and mean what you say

There is an ‘old Negro saying’ that reads like this, “Say what you mean and mean what you say”. Well, maybe it’s not an ‘old Negro saying’ because my father was not an old Negro when I first heard him say it. I can’t tell you exactly how old he was or when I first heard him say it. He might have gotten it from the slang of the time or some old Negro he knew. I’m not sure, but I do know it was a favorite phrasing of my father who repeated it continuously to anyone who didn’t quite know how to put a particular thought into words or was telling an outright lie.

Needless to say, he used the phrase often when counseling me. Especially during those times when I’d did something wrong and was trying to figure out how to put to words an excuse of why I did it. He knew there was no excuse. Yet I kept trying to justify why I did something I knew was wrong to the man who was in charge of punishing or counseling me for that error in judgment. I always felt that if I could justify it in my immature way, then the punishment would be light. Hell, if I could make him laugh about it, I may even get off with a warning. At least it was a nice thought.

Let me tell you, those mental games I tried to play with my father? If I had succeeded once, I don’t remember it. I always thought, even today, that old man had a master’s degree in life itself. Back in those days, black people felt that sending their kids to a Catholic school would ensure their child would get a good education. Well, I remember thinking while walking to and from St Benedict de Moor in Milwaukee; I wanted to go to the same school as my father. Why? Why because that man knew something about everything. And another thing, he was no fool. That was another one of his favorite sayings. He would say, “I ain’t no fool so don’t play me cheap”. I never did understand how the words ‘fool’ and ‘cheap’ related to each other. But I (as a kid and adult) and most people around him got the message and agreed with his statement.

I thought about my dad the other day, when my cousin Kelly, who did a tremendous job of researching her roots, located and identified some of our ancestors as far back as pre-civil war and beyond.

The thought, as it always does stirred up those memories I had of growing up in a household where ninety percent of the people who came into your house was a relative and another five percent were your play-cousins. I’m telling you up until I was approaching thirteen years of age, I thought half the black people, a few Puerto Ricans and a couple of white people in Milwaukee was related to me in some way.

It was the values we were taught as children. Our parents, who were originally farmland country folk, may not have had a high school diploma. Back in the late forties and fifties, they moved north, west, and east to get away from the segregated south. They arrived in places like, California, New York, Chicago and yes, Milwaukee looking for jobs and a place to raise a family. My mother and father left Arkansas heading for Milwaukee four months after I was born.

They knew how to make ends meet. We never felt poor or were never hungry as a kid growing up. No, we were not rich with dollars, but rich with community and love. And no matter what adult in that community a kid was talking to, there were rules. You didn’t lie to an adult, you didn’t say bad words, you didn’t steal, and one that will probably make young parents of today wish for those old days. You didn’t speak while grown people spoke. After the initial hello to a visitor, the kids didn’t stay in the same room, sitting on Aunties lap listening to grown folk conversations.

Oh, the kids would be present upon the visitor arrival, get their attention time, you know. “Ain’t she cute?” “Boy, you getting big like your daddy.” “Whooo Rosalie, what are you feeding that boy?” “Naw, I think she looks like Aunt Peggy.” “Oh man, let me tell you what I heard about Peggy.” At that point, one of the parents would say, “hold on”. And you as a kid knew what was coming next. “You all go on in the back room and play. You all don’t need to hear grown folk business.” Just when the conversation was about to be good, I always thought. Some of you remember those days.

Back in the day, people didn’t use a lot of unnecessary and phony descriptive words during their conversation. Most were short and to the point. There was no room for misinterpreting what was meant by someone. And usually, if you were dealing with a down-home person, as they use to call themselves, they meant what they were saying. If they said they were going to slap the mess out of you, you better duck or get hit.

Nowadays there is a lot of talk. Everybody is talking. The children are talking. The teen-agers are talking. The grown-ups are talking. The people on the TV, in the grocery store, at the bank, gas station, the President and other politicians, the commentators and analyst on the radio, sports reports on ESPN, CNN, ABC, CBS, you name it, everybody has something to say. At least they think they do.

Yet when it comes down to it, the kid’s parents should be more like those in our past. Sometime being seen and not heard is a good thing. Our children should learn the first rule of speaking and that is respect the other person right to speak. Another rule I was told to remember was that if I was talking all of the time, when would I listen. And surprise, surprise you learn more by listening.

All of the other people, especially during this political season, should ask themselves before they say a word, Is what I am about to say the truth? Or is it something I heard or read on the internet? Is it relevant? Will it help my brother man? Is it meaningful within this conversation that I am having? Do I really need to say this now? Will people or the person for whom this conversation is directed understand me?

Don’t get me wrong, the act of rapping or jiving is still part of my personal repertoire. That is what we called taking mess’ back in the day. My friends and I could sat around spinning stores, stretching the truth, laughing and joking about each other’s lack of whatever with whomever, talking about family, neighbors, our bosses, and the finest lady on the block until the wee hours of the morning. Add a beer or some wine to the equation and you got a party. Sometime girlfriends would join in while sitting on the porch gazing at the moon and stars on a hot and humid summer night. The radio would be playing the latest R&B. That’s how I remember the sixties, just before and right after I got out of the Army.

But you may have guessed, there is a time for that and a time to get serious.

A lot of these people showing up on our TV’s as experts or people who are supposedly speaking the truth are like carnival barkers. They are just trying to sell something, either a product, or themselves, and even worse spouting some political line they know is false. Do you hear me Mitt?

Just think about it. If there was some kind of truth litmus test before people started taking, we would all be better off in a more silent world. My mantra would be more music and less talk. I just wish some of them would remember that “old Negro saying” used by my father and others. “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” And I would add to that; if not, sit your butt down and shut the hell up because nobody wants to hear your crap.

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A weekly blog for your enjoyment

Okay, I tuned in to KBLX

I tuned in on Tuesday, the debut of The Steve Harvey Show on KBLX. I caught the 6:00am opening on my way to the gym. Steve began with a 5 to 10 minute person–to-person sermon on why one should have God in their life. It wasn’t the fact that he advocated everyone should have a personal relation with God, the fact that he assumed most of the listeners didn’t was most confusing. Let’s just say right off the top; Steve should leave the lengthy sermons to the preacher.

Exiting the gym, I started up the vehicle in time to hear Nikki Thomas begin and end her version of the ‘Hollywood Minute’ segment in 30 seconds. Frankly what she reported wasn’t interesting. This revealed the strength of Cousin Kev’s program director’s abilities, as well as the constraints of time on the new segment and Ms. Thomas inability to select newsworthy topics.

This was followed by an Eric Benet song. Well at least they couldn’t screw that up and did not speak while the song was playing. And then…and then….

Let’s just say, the shows characters began introducing themselves. There is Eugene (Butterfly), the man who delivers birthdays, anniversaries, etc. from across the country. This was followed by a comedy segment which included a couple of Steve’s characters. There was Mr. DOM (Dirty old Man), who is as dirty as a public morning radio show format will allow. One of his lines was “Sometimes I sat at my computer with nothing but my tee shirt on.” You get the picture, browsing the internet, etc.

There were a couple of other characters, a country brother act with someone and Steve playing these brothers who (in my opinion) proceeded to insult gays, white women, country folk everywhere, and the listeners intelligence in the entire Oakland-San Francisco Bay Area.

Don’t get me wrong here, I like Steve the comedian. He is just like any comedian. Some comments are funny and others are not. In a different venue, the entire act may have been hilarious although not politically correct.

It seems to me, judging by the content of the Steve Harvey Morning Show, there must be an assumption on the part of the shows’ stars and producers, that their listeners are idiots. When you think about it, Comedian Steve Harvey makes an on-stage living at being this down-home country dude who is keeping it real while being exposed to the big city ways of the world. He tackles each experience by using his home-grown upbringing and common sense in a comedic manner. In other words, he highlights and states the obvious. It’s all good--in a different venue.

It’s painfully obvious that the new owners of KBLX did not research the Kevin Brown Morning show audience. I wonder if they listened to Steve’s show before assuming that since this man’s (with 7 million listeners across the country) type of humor would fit well in the Oakland-San Francisco and surrounding areas market. Bay Area residents know this area as rich in multi-culture and often enjoy mingling, exchanging and adopting other cultures secrets in food, music, style of dress, and share communities. A lot of residents are friending and marrying people of different races. This not to say these things are not happening in New York. It just happens on a grander scale in California, especially in the Bay Area. Therefore African-Americans are not the only race of people who listen to all of KBLX programing including Kevin Brown in the morning. To conclude this thought, Steve’s show is aimed more at the twenty to thirty year old inner city audience than a wide variety of people, with African-American of all ages in the majority.

On Wednesday, Steve made a personal comment to the Bay Area listens or in his words, people out there in San Francisco. I didn’t catch the beginning, but the premise and summation was, if you, John Doe, had a radio program. Someone approaches you with a check and says they will pay you to let them broadcast your program in San Francisco, what would you do? His answer and he concluded John Doe’s answer would be to say yes and accept the check. My first thought was that Steve is hearing the Bay Area backlash of Cousin Kev’s firing too.

In addition, to my surprise, the Sunday morning Bobby Jones countdown of the latest gospel hits was missing in action. I guess when they say, KBLX R&B, there is no room for gospel either, not even on a Sunday morning.

It makes you wonder what kind of experience the new owners of KBLX really have and further validates the notion that they didn’t think much of the line-up of KBLX shows. You would think they would examine what they bought and keep the strong performing shows and personalities. At least for sixty to ninety days allowing a manager to accurately gage what needs to be jettison against what should be retained.

The end result was I tuned in, I listened, and I didn’t like what I heard. No, I’m not feeling KBLX these days. I’ve outlined my reasons in this blog. My vote is to bring back Cousin Kev, ASAP. But then, I would sure like to know what you think.

(Hamp Note:) I notice this Sunday, 5-13, they broadcast the Donnie McClurkin Show, new time 7:00am to 9:00am. Could it be that the management of KBLX is evolving too? It's a lot of that going around these days.

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment

KBLX, oh no! Not Cousin Kev too.

KBLX of San Francisco and its sister city, WBLS of New York, felt the full effect of Inner City Broadcasting Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing. The New York Court approved the sale of KBLX to Entercom. You would think that Entercom Communications Corp., having gone through these local uprising and resistance before would be more sensitive to traditions in this area. We got a false signal from its CEO, David J. Field. He stated before the takeover that, “KBLX has a long history of producing distinctive and compelling programming.” And then the hammer dropped. This week they fired on-air personality Antoine Davis, the general manager and a vice President of the KBLX hierarchy.

They also fired one of the stations most loyal, community activist and popular AM drive time Disk Jockey, “Cousin” Kevin Brown, who had been a fixture at KBLX for twenty-two years. To say listeners in the Bay Area went berserk is an understatement. Hell, I’m one of them.

Local, national personalities, old school and hip hop singers, producers, comedians, actors and almost anybody who was anybody or trying to be somebody and passing through the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Area, stopped in on my “Cousin” Kevin Brown. People listened in to “The Quite Storm” R&B-Smooth Jazz, 102.9FM formatted station for the music. It should be noted that they play less and less and even less of the smooth jazz. Primarily, they spin R&B with emphasis on old-school. Yet, make no mistake about it Cousin Kev was KBLX most popular personality. He doubled as a program director and promoted local charities. He would get his news caster, Nikki Thomas, and traffic adviser, Joe McConnell involved and interacting with each of the segments during his 5:00 to 10:00am Monday–Friday timeslot. He offered the Hollywood Minute, Love Doctor’s advice with audience participation, “Dumb Bunny” of the Day stores , “Strange but True” stories in the news. Another favorite was “Its Friday”, where this country and western hoe down band would whoop and holler while singing, “It’s Fri…iii...day”. A day to tell your boss whatever that would not get you fired. He’d make a full blown production to celebrate the passing of another work week. Nikki and Joe’s adlibs and unrehearsed comments as daily contributors during each morning’s discussions made it a fun time for the three of them and listeners.

“Entercom couldn’t be more excited to start working with a tremendous heritage brand like KBLX. KBLX has done a magnificent job of serving the local community, and we look forward to continuing to do that at Entercom,” said Vice President and Market Manager Dwight Walker.

So who is Entercom’s CEO and San Francisco Vice President and Market manager, Dwight Walker going to replace this Bay Area Icon with? Steve Harvey. “Adding Steve Harvey in the morning makes KBLX better. His mass appeal will resonate with KBLX listeners and bring in a wider audience over time.” Think about that a moment. Doesn’t it just piss you off when people insult your intelligence? So we are supposed to be okay with it because he supposedly will “…bring in a wider audience over time…”? The Steve Harvey Show is broadcast out of New York, a three hour time difference, so there will be no local call-in contest to win concert tickets? There won’t be any interaction at all because his show will be taped-delayed. That will not work here; ask those who produced the Tom Joyner Show. They quickly found that out and that broadcast died an early death in the Bay Area. Reportedly Nikki and Joe will maintain their duties during the Steve Harvey feed but the heart of our morning show, Cousin Kev is gone.

To Entercom’s (one of Forbes Magazine “Most Trustworthy Companies” in 2007) credit and according to their web site, they are “one of five largest radio broadcasting companies in the US’ with over ‘100 stations in 23 markets.”

Sounds big, so there was no room for Kevin Brown and Steve Harvey? Why not split the time or place the taped-delayed Steve Harvey Show in the afternoon’s drive slot? I’m just saying…to a lot of people in this area, ”Cousin Kev” was part of our mornings ritual whether driving, eating breakfast, shaving, showering, or whatever Bay Area listeners did to get started in the morning. The big question is how are they going to keep the local flavor in a national radio show during the Bay Area’s morning commute hours?

Then again, let’s try to look at the big picture with Entercom. They bought KBLX and can do with it as they please, within the guidelines of the FTC and other regulatory bodies. We don’t know what happened at the radio station when the new bosses assumed the leadership reins. We don’t know what was said or if other positions or timeslots were offered, if anything to those who were (fired is such an awful word these days) displaced. We have yet to hear from any of them. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at that meeting and the subsequent get-together’s at the water cooler by the current and outgoing KBLX staff.

A spokesperson has emerged via e mail and a note on the NEW KBLX website. As is stated by Cousin Kev’s former newscaster and sidekick, Nikki Thomas, now installed as the morning link between the east and west coast, “Luckily for us Entercom stepped up and saved KBLX.” To her credit she also says “saying goodbye to Kevin Brown and Antoine Davis was not easy.” Ummm, can you say collateral damage? Otherwise, I probably should not comment.

Yes, KBLX is still broadcasting every day and did not go away because the former owners filed bankruptcy. Their new shape, fashion and format has yet to be heard? May 7 is the big day for Steve’s Morning Show. Will the morning format work and attract even more listeners as the new owners think? Maybe the larger question is who will tune in? We know some will be curious; some will be Steve Harvey fans, and others will tune in out of habit. Will Cousin Kev be missed? Yes, yes and yes on that one. I will tune in as one of the curious. You, my audience will read of my curiosity. As for other diehard Kevin Brown fans, tune in with me…or not.

Cousin Kev, he will be no different than others who have suffered from downsizing, etc. He is a very talented and experienced radio personality. He will land on his feet. Hopefully it will be in the Bay Area.

For now, KBLX has got all of our attention. Regarding policy, we will be watching what you do, not necessarily listening to what you say. Don’t throw away those letters of complaints against the firing of Cousin Kev. Mine and others, whose names are printed as authors of those thousands of e mails will revisit this issue if things don’t work out to your satisfaction. I’m just saying…

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment

Business and some people don't mix

Over the years, I’ve met and dealt with all kind of people throughout my life and during my business career. It’s a career that’s spanned the gamut of retail sales, federal and city Government procurement, through contract specialist. The dollar value of various transactions and contracts ranged from $5.00 to millions of dollars for Department of Defense process systems.

After retiring from the federal government, I’m self-employed and happy with a few clients that I service in various ways. I’ve been in management over the last half of that career so I’ve been in position to see or facilitate a project from start to finish. I do not say this to toot my own horn, but to emphasize direct contact with a great variety of people. They came in all shapes, color and sizes. Let me also say for the record, as you age you learned to appreciate the people you’ve met along the way because each encounter was a new and memorable experience. You remember most for their originality and or likability and others? Well, those you try to forget but never succeed. Yet, I’m still a people person.

Most entrepreneurs (sooner or later) understand what it means to mold a self-employment business into a profitable venture. Those that don’t will not succeed or last in business. No matter what type of business you are in, you will undoubtedly have to deal with people. And that is exactly why I choose to write this blog.

Keeping in mind that I am primarily addressing business or professional people, even though we all, regardless of profession or not, have encountered these people who, let’s just get it out there, don’t have a clue.

This is about individuals you’ve encounter while trying to solve a problem, complete a project, or simple take care of business. Sometimes that business can be as simple as completing some type of inquire from your bank or creditor. To be clear this is not about those people that bring something to the table. No, this is not about those individuals that contribute to the ultimate goal of ‘getting something done’.

I’m reminded of the doctor who was introduced to another person at a party. As soon as the introduction is complete the person seeking free advice, who probably cannot even remember the physician’s name asked, “Doctor it hurts when I do this. What do you think I should do?” The doctor trying not to look annoyed that he would have to give advice while he is in a party mood, simply tells the person who is demonstrating when it hurts by twisting their body in some animated way, says “Then don’t do that” and walks away after politely excuses himself.

This about people who are always seeking your advice or opinion, doing the opposite of what you have advised, and returning to you for additional advice on how to correct what now has become a more complex issue. They always start out with the phrase, “I should have followed your advice.” You know who they are. They could be co-workers, friends, and/ or family members. They just love who you are, how you are able to keep things in perspective and manage your affairs. They hardly ever take your advice and always have some kind of business problem. If they had taken care of business in the first place they would not have those particular problems. They pretend to be business people. They actually go into some kind of business for all the wrong reasons. As previously stated, some are friends or family member’s you never hear from unless there is a problem.

Some have negative attitudes about everything. Another common trait is they see the glass as half-empty instead of half-full. You know the type. If you are talking about who is making love to who, who is cheating on their mate, the latest news about celebrity life, in fact, choose your subject. I would bet you even money it has nothing to do with running a successful business, completing a resume or anything that is going to improve their economic status in life. These are the type of people who can talk for hours and never have anything meaningful to say.

Meanwhile, in your capacity as a business person or entrepreneur, you’re stuck dealing with, let’s call them progress blockers. They might just happen to be on a project you are heading or a member of the planning and implementation team. They whine and complain about having to contribute their time and effort to a flawed process (in their mind) but are the first ones in line to reap the benefits from collective personnel contributions to the same.

You want to be successful? One of the first pieces of advice a motivational speaker will give you is to surround yourself with successful people. Hang around the type of people who have their head on straight, have a plan of action and milestones that will lead to the pinnacle of their chosen profession. Get rid of the dead weight they will tell you. It doesn’t matter if they’re peers, coworkers, friend, family or spouse. Call it collateral damage and move on without them, if you want to have a successful ending.

Those same advisers sometime forget that we are people too and sometimes the dead weight is too close to you. We like to think that if we are going to be successful you can bring our love ones and friends with us to the party. It’s in our DNA to want to help family and friends, provide them with the motivation they lack, point them in the direction that we are going. Because no one wants to reach the height of their career or become rich in their business venture alone, we want to share that success with a love one. We don’t want to become like Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, alone and without feeling. Oh, we want his wealth, but not his original attitude or especially his life of solitude. No amount of money can take the place of another person in your life whether it’s a friend or someone closer.

So what do we do? How can we help these people who have no game and are going nowhere fast? There are several ways you can address the problem depending on the situation. In my capacity as the project manager or facilitator, I learned to quickly identify those people, set up a one on one meeting and lay out my join-us- or-leave-us rule. Some have actually resigned from the project with my endorsement. Those who continue checked their attitudes at the door leading to the meetings.

For those who are family and loved ones I have taken a different route. I remind them, “I’m here for you. I’ve proved that to you in the past and will continue to do the things that will benefit us both on this project.” I continue by saying “I or we are on a bullet train heading for success. Everyone who rides this train has to contribute to the fuel that keeps it going. If you can’t help me with that, we will let you off at the next stop. Either way, this train keeps on moving toward success, with or without you. What’s it gonna be?”

Some may see this as impersonal, cold or mean. You may be right on all three counts. Yet in this day and time, one must keep in mind at all times, whatever decision you make, the economic impact must be taken into account. In this country, life is simple; it’s all about the dollar bill. Nothing gets built, formed, moved, transported, established, licensed, healed, serviced, sold, given away, or paid without the economics’ of the dollar bill entering the transaction at some point or another. And that includes the world of little league sports.

Pssst! Hey you…yeah you…You knew I was talking about you. It cost dollars for you to get up each morning or stay in the bed. This is all the more reason for an unmotivated individual having the capability to take care of business. In fact it’s mandatory that we all have basic business skills in order to function in today’s multi-tasking, web-browsing, multi-unit communication devices, personal and/ or in particular, business applications. Or you may find yourself up that familiar creek without anything resembling a paddle, surrounded by creditors, the IRS, CA Franchise Tax Board, Housing Authorities and God forbid…a 60 Minutes Crew. Do you hear me now?

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment

The Dealer's Repair Cost came with a Sermon

My wife’s Trail Blazer was at the dealer having repairs. In short, our remotes would not lock or unlock the vehicle from outside. You know the kind of anxiety I was feeling that comes along with taking your vehicle to the dealer, high labor cost, etc. etc. Sure as heck, the dealer rep had called to inform me they had found the problem. Asking me if I had tried to lock or unlock the driver’s side of the vehicle manually using the key, I told him I had but the key turned all the way around and would not work properly. “Exactly”, he says. “We have to replace the lock and sensors on the door.” Naturally my next question was how much? “$523.00”, he replied. He hung up after advising me he would call me back in a couple of hours.

He called back within the timeframe previously given to inform me that the remotes were now working with the auto door locks. The problem now was that the tailgate lock was not working. They would have to find what they suspected was a broken wire and it could be anywhere. “How much”, I asked. “$300 more for another two hours of work,” he answered. “Can I manually lock the tailgate?” “Yes you can.” “Then forget it,” I asked him to wrap it up and call me when I can pick up the car. I hung up the phone and started for the kitchen when the phone rang again. “Codis” (by now we are so close we are on a first name basis, at least that’s what he thinks) “the tech found the broken wire while we were on the phone,” he continued. “It’s right in the tailgate area. We can fix that right up for you.” “How much more?” I anxiously asked. “$140, so your total will be $663.12”. At this point I’ve had it with this guy and the repair idiot who were trying to rip me off for another $300, so I told him to fix it and call me when it’s ready. And oh by the way, can you send a driver to pick me up. “No problem” he replied.

I was standing outside of my house when the driver drove up. I had no idea as to the sermon I would get from Mr. Courtesy Car Driver (CCD). As I took the passenger seat in the front beside the driver, I was still reeling from the repair cost, as in what bill I’d have to postpone in order to pay the dealer.

Mr. CCD, (I don’t even remember if he told me his name) started right in on the price of gas transitioning to the political state of the United States. To say this guy was intense while speaking would be an understatement. It was as if he had calculated that our time together would end within the next three miles or 15-20 minutes so he was going to get in all of his talking points within that time. He spoke loud and at the speed of a rambling African water buffalo, meaning that the sound and speed was hard to separate.

You’ve all met these people before. They are the individuals that dominate a conversation, if you let them. You have to be on your guard because they will try to impose their beliefs and reasoning on you. Your attempts to join in the conversation will be met by them ignoring your input or blatantly non-responsiveness on their part, especially if you are trying to bring up a valid point that does not further substantiate their point of view. For instance, I tried to bring up the idea that a US President could not control the price of gas. And that the price always hinged on speculation, consumer usage, and who is threatening to do what in the Middle East oil producing areas of the world.

His comment was, “It makes no difference who’s in office, Democrat or Republican. It just one big rip-off. It doesn’t matter who is president, they are all in for themselves, no matter who gets elected.” He said again just in case I didn’t hear him the first time. “Once they get there, there is a guy waiting in his office. Come here he says. Never mind what you promised during the campaign, here is what you are going to do. Then he pulls out this big list of how to screw anybody but the rich guy’s buddies. He don’t care if there are any jobs or how much things cost, he just want to make more money and the hell with everyone else. If they are careful there is going to be another revolution.”

Once again, I tried to advise him that no organization of hate groups, freedom groups, black panthers, members of the southern way of life, tea party or any other kind of rag tag group with a few semi-automatic weapons and carrying multi-shot side arms would stand a chance of starting a so-called revolution or seceding from the United States. That would be impossible given the firepower of our armed services today. We’ve already had one Civil War; don’t look for another in our or our children’s children lifetime.

His response was…well, he really didn’t have a comment. He continued to speak in terms of how presidential or political office candidate’s promise this and that or whatever they think the populace wants to hear. It used to be that we all knew the top man was going to shovel some of the profits off the top for himself. “It was expected”, he said. The top guy would leave enough of the pie so that we all would be able to eat. Now they take it all for themselves and their friends leaving nothing for the rest of us. It’s like they would leave us enough to buy a cheaper car than the top guy drives, he tried to explain. Now we have no jobs so we can’t afford to buy a car. If nobody is buying, the whole system stops working, he concluded. Wrapping it up because we had reached our destination, he repeated himself by adding, “I don’t care who the president is, and it just doesn’t matter. They all follow the same plan. We need to go back to the old plan. Let the rich get their money but leave some for the little guy.”

I thank him for the ride as I got out of the vehicle realizing that he had heard nothing I said. He smiled and seemed pleased that he had made his point. As I walked to the dealers cashier window, I thought about people like the driver. He reminded me of those who forward us political e mails that are completely false and push a one sided theory that are based on no known facts. His entire conversation referred back to the days when things were different (like in the forties or fifties, my words not his).

People like that driver believe it is their inalienable constitutional right to deny the rest of us our rights. Some of which is to assemble, vote without undue restrictions, form an independent opinion, allow our government to mandate something for the good of us all, expect due process of the law, not just for a privilege few, to outlaw an individual citizen the right to possess, sell, distribute firearms and ammunition that are specifically designed to kill another human being rather than shooting for sport or hunting game.

They think if they talk often, loud and forceful enough, they will drown out the voice of reason, our compassion for others, the fairness we seek in our community and national systems. They mock and scorn our progressive thoughts. They call us liberals, socialist, and (oh shudder the thought) un-American. They seem to be everywhere, on TV and other media. They are our neighbors, friends, some are even family members. They are so noisy they seem like the majority in this country.

They are not. That’s right. Their view is not the US majority viewpoint. There is still a not-so-silent majority views that are captured in polls taken on various subjects. The fact is most Americans believe in fairness and prosperity for all. Everybody doesn’t have to be in the Rolls Royce category of wealth. But we do believe that everybody has the right to rise to their full potential without having their rights denied because of heated rhetoric from the Christen right, ultra-conservative talk radio or even a Supreme Court that time and time again within the last ten years has voted on the side of the political right.

Remember that the next time you meet Mr. or Mrs. ‘Simple Answer For All That Is Wrong In America Today’. We know that life is a gray area. They, in turn, are just loud--that’s all. Our number one weapon against this type of thinking besides voicing our opinion is the right to vote. Use it this year before you completely lose it.

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment

My Trayvon Martin & Fool with a Gun Perspective

Normally, I try not to comment on incidents such as the Trayvon Martin killing until a reasonably complete story of events is concluded. I tried to take my emotions out of this case and look at each known fact up to this point and simply ask if this could have been avoided and by who?

Unfortunately, there is this “Stand Your Ground Law” of Florida that further complicates investigations toward arriving at what truly happened that night. In general the law allows a citizen to use deadly force, wherever you are if you fear for your life from someone. By the way, twenty other states have this same law. Talk about issuing a license to kill.

The Florida law puts the onus on the policemen at the scene to determine if the self-defense claim has any merit. It’s reported that oftentimes the officers will arrest the person making the claim and let the courts decide if self-defense is valid in that particular case. The police on the T. Martin scene decided that the self-defense claim was justified and therefore did not make an arrest.

You want to know how effective this National Rifle Association backed Florida law is in protecting innocent citizens, Google it and read some of the horror stories of how it is been abused in Florida and other states. It would take too long for me to site reasons why this law is wrong in its present form. Let me go on record by saying all 21 states should revisit and drastically modify the law in their effort to protect their citizenry.

It has been well reported that Trayvon Martin was visiting a gated community with his father and a family friend. He went to the store, purchased candy (Skittles) and a can of ice tea and was walking back to the home they were visiting in the early evening wearing a hoodie to protect his head from the rain. Those facts establish his reason for walking in the gated community.

When I think of George Zimmerman, the volunteer watchman, and read of his so called vigilante protections attitude, I’m reminded of a song penned and performed by a man I call the Rhythm Philosopher, Curtis Mayfield. Fans of Curtis know it well and for those who don’t its entitled “Billy Jack.”

The song is about a Billy Jack, a player who got caught up in the street game, evidently angered the wrong person and got shot from across the room and died. Curtis informs listeners that “Too bad”, “Too sad about him. Don’t get me wrong. The man is gone. But it’s a wonder he lived this long.” Further describing this dude, Curtis continues…”Up in the city they called him Boss Jack. But down home he was a alley cat.” No readers, I am not there yet so bear with me. I am just getting your familiar with the song.

On one of the last verses Curtis makes his point that goes “Ah! Ah! Bad bloody bloody mess. Shot all up in his chest. Shot all up in his chest. One sided duel, gun and a fool. What a way to go.” Ladies and gentlemen, that is my point when thinking of G. Zimmerman, a gun and a fool.

He called the police because the 17 year old T. Martin looked suspicious. “He’s black”, Zimmerman told the authorities on the other end of his cell phone call. He advised them that he was following the young man and was told to stop his pursuit. The police dispatcher told him to stop following the young man. “We don’t want you doing that” he said. Had he done as they asked him, Trayvon would be alive today. That is where Zimmerman revealed who he was, a fool with a gun.

As an aside, it was also reported that Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera thinks the hoodie Trayvon wore caused him to get killed. It could also be said that Geraldo Rivera is a fool with a mouth, but let’s stay on point.

President Obama is quoted as saying “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.” The presidents and first family is black. Trayvon was black. In fact, hoodie or not, according to Zimmerman’s own words, he realized that Trayvon was black. So one can rationalize this started as a result of Zimmerman himself committing Racial Profiling, something that many conservative politicians and talking heads would have us believe do not exist in today’s modern society. So the fool with the gun, against the wishes of the police department followed Trayvon.

Gathering from the cell phone call conversation Trayvon had with his girlfriend that night, he knew he was being followed. This brings to mind an earlier couple of lines in the song Billy Jack. It goes, “Bout a buddy of mine. Running out of time. His life’s running out of time.” Here is a 17 year old, minding his own business while walking back to the house where his father and family friend waits and is being followed by a fool with a gun.

Up to this point, this is all on G. Zimmerman. I’m not going to call him a racist. Yet he assumed guilt or regarded an individual as suspicious because of his race and clothing, specifically the hoodie. He revealed his entire attitude to the police dispatcher as he said after spotting Trayvon leaving the convenience store and entering the gated community, “This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something” He then describes him as a young black man and stated “these assholes always get away.”

As a young African American teenager, who was fully aware of how his skin color can affect some people, it is not going out on the limb to assume he felt threaten when confronted by Zimmerman. It’s dark, you are alone in a gated community, and you notice you are being followed by a car, not a police car, a private vehicle. The vehicle stops, a 200 lb. man who looks white get out and start asking you questions. Maybe you see his gun still in the holster or maybe not. All you know is all you have on you is a pack of candy and a can of ice tea and you are cornered. How would you have reacted to being confronted this way? Exactly, that would certainly explain Zimmerman’s bloody nose. Those are facts not in dispute.

At this juncture, I would agree with others, included the parents of Trayvon, George Zimmerman should have been arrested the night of the shooting, regardless of or either because of the “Stand Your Ground Law”. The officers and police chief were wrong. The police chief had the authority to supersede the findings of the officers on the scene but choose to stand behind his officers instead of performing his duties as their chief.

This incident should and will have its day in court so this nation and the world can examine the ramifications of a popular law backed by the National Rifle Association and the sad yet tragic results of racial profiling and what happens when you pair a fool with a gun.

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment

Idea's for a Reality Show

Hey, I got a great idea for a reality show. How about a political party that is trying to nominate an individual to run for the highest office in the land? Say the presidency. Then you could have five… maybe that’s too many. How about four men running against each other while trying to get a certain number of delegates so they will be their party’s nominee? One can be a rich guy and another, an ideological religious man, and yet another claiming to be the only one that has the credentials to debate the incumbent. Or how about the last guy who seems to run for president for a hobby? He has no hope of winning; he just wants to add more comic relief with very serious and not so funny attacks on civil liberty. Imagine them jockeying for position while calling their opponents everything except a child of God. Can’t you just see the comical material that those candidates would generate? Huh? What’s that? Republican primaries you say? oh yeah, I thought I’d heard that scenario lately.

Okay, how about a presidential candidate who wants to win so bad, he picks a woman who is unqualified for the position of Vice President. As time goes on, she is ridiculed as more and more of her ignorance of foreign policy, among other things is revealed. Oh wow? What is wrong with me? I think I just saw a HBO movie about that one entitled Game Change.

I wonder why everything involving politics seem like it’s already been done. If it’s a new idea by the Republicans (first of all if there is such a thing as a new idea), it’s always geared toward people in the upper echelon of earnings making huge profits at the expense of the average earning American. It never seems to make any difference whether you are talking about a cleaner environment, the price of gas, income vs. corporate taxes, defense spending, or the deficit. There is hardly ever a moral high ground by the conservative right. It’s always their way or no way. Why do you think moderate Republicans are leaving office (retiring as in Olympia Snowe of Maine) and refusing to tow the party line? Compromise is a dirty word to the Republican Party and must be avoided at all cost unless it favors their plan. Now there is a real life reality show for you.

Changing the subject, let’s take a look at another reality show playing out in the real world of baseball, specifically Oakland, CA. New Owner takes over the club with a promise to keep the team in the city. That was one of the stipulations from the owners who sold him the team. The current new owner promptly begins to bring up excuses why baseball will not work in Oakland.

Never mind that then owner; Charlie Finely moved the team from Kansas to Oakland for the 1968 season winning the World Series in 1972, 1973 and 174. They were a team of characters who played good defense, hit in the clutch and dominating the pitching game. After a change in players for one reason or another they went through a few dismal years on the field yet were widely supported by fans buying tickets to see the games.

The team was bought by the Bay Area Haas family just before the 1981 baseball season. During their fifteen years of ownership, they bought stability back to the team, a winning attitude and posted winning and attendance records almost every year. They lost a couple of World Series heartbreakers, but made amends by beating the SF Giants in four games in what came to be known as the “Earthquake World Series” of 1989. Over those years of the beloved Haas ownership, the Oakland Coliseum was packed especially for division games and teams visiting like the Yankees, Boston and others. The A’s had a very large supportive fan base and showed that two baseball teams could thrive in the Bay Area.

After Walter Haas died in 1995, the new owners’ first acts were to cut operating cost of which player’s payroll was a part. Players were cut or traded. In the early spring of 2005 the A’s were sold to the current owners who vowed to do everything in their power to keep the team in Oakland. Despite that statement, everything the owner has done since indicates he wants to move the team to San Jose. That’s Silicone Valley folks, sky boxes, new stadium, and supposedly greater wealth for the owners resulting in increased value for the team itself. It does not seem to matter that they have traded away or release most of the players who had the talent to help the team put a winning product on the field. Not to think of the dumb idea of covering half the Oakland coliseum seating area with a canvass to make it look like the park has a lot of fans in attendance. Face it, if your owner has not shown a will to field a winning team and constantly talks about moving to San Jose, would you pay to see this team?

I won’t go into the SF 49ers (my favorite football team) pending move out of San Francisco and 45 miles south to the little city of Santa Clara. No, I won’t go into the deal for a new stadium at Hunters Point in the City. Despite winning approval for a proposition for some public funding that was put before the voters of San Francisco. The team walked away from that deal because of unforeseen issues during the planning stage? Or did they find a better deal in a better area? Vigorously courted by the City Council of Santa Clara, they are due to break ground at the new stadium site in May of this year.

I know you thought I had gotten away from the point but here is my issue with Sport team owners though out the country. And the question should be posed to the commissioners who represent those teams. It’s a given that a sport teams located in a metropolitan area brings in revenue to that particular area. The question is at what cost to the community?

Yet the reality of it is that most teams are asking our community leaders to dig down in their limited funds to subsidize the building of a stadium or arena to house the team for which we in the community are going to pay to watch if they are not on TV. Teams do not even offer a discount for voters in the area who backed their plea for financial help. In California, the favorite buzz word for helping to fund a team is the use of Redevelopment Funds. The facts are that Redevelopment Funds are not being used as intended for building affordable housing or to revitalize small cities downtown areas. No, a large portion goes toward financing a sports team or to be fair other pet projects by city leaders.

With players’ salaries rising and facilities costing in the billions (49ers stadium estimated at 1.5 Billion), I have yet to hear of any sport franchise lower ticket prices because the local community kicked in millions of dollars to help build a facility for an entity in the business of making a profit.

I’m a diehard 49er fan. But if I lived in Santa Clara or San Jose (A’s choice to locate), I would not want to donate one dime to the team owners dream for a upscale stadium or park. These owners are Entrepreneurs which means if they want a new stadium, they should put together the financing for it without asking for public funds. It’s as though they are asking for a silent partner’s money with no other participation except for the maintenance of the grounds and all the responsibility that goes with that. Wow!

This is at a time when local high schools are cutting back on teachers, classes, sports programs, arts and music and other growth and maturity orientated programs badly needed for our youth of today and citizens of tomorrow. Police, Firefighters, city and county workers are being laid off. There are some cities filing for bankruptcy. Yet we as a nation are helping NFL, NBA, major league baseball and hockey owners to build these venues so that they can put a product on the field, court, or rink that we (Community investors of our public funds) then have to buy tickets in order to attend the game. I took basics economics. Was this a theory or chapter I missed that confirms this is the correct thing to do?

All give and no tangible benefit, now there is a reality show that’s continues to play our every year across this country. And you wonder why our children are not as smart as some of their peers in the world. Could it be that we as parents and citizens have our priorities upside down?

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment

Young, middle aged, or old, gifted and Black

I was watching TV One’s Black List the other day. Diddy (Sean Combs), speaking about the first time he met rapper, The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), hit a raw nerve within my thought process when he stated the following. “People were shocked when B.I.G. admitted being young and black living in America makes you wanna kill yourself.” Count me in...as shocked. Diddy says they initially met in early 1993. You would think Biggies thought process was formed while living in the ‘hood and certainly before he became successful as a rap artist.

Yet the quote is troubling and begs for an explanation. Was the rapper voicing his private thoughts, those of his friends around the way, or a generation of young black men throughout the nation? Regardless of the number of local or national young men who harbored this same view, the fact that one did means we as parents and other organizations in the black community have not done our job.

I would be willing to bet, the majority in our communities thought we had raised our kids to rise above the stereotype perpetrated by a racist segment of our society throughout U.S. history and facilitated by all kinds of modern day media vehicles. However, Biggie's words says we missed a group of youngsters or a great many of them, again depending on who agreed with this particular mentality.

We all know of specific events held every year, such as black history month this February, Juneteenth day, Kwanzaa, to name a few. There are numerous outlets, with the internet being the most accessible wealth of information, available where anyone can find a very detailed history of African Americans’ arrival and continued survival in our United States of America.

It boggles my mind why any young black boy or man would have such a thought. Not unless they have bought into the program of divisiveness, bigotry, racial self-hatred that has been systematically and openly pushed by a large segment of this country for its entire existence. The US has gone through a Civil War and a Civil Rights Era to eradicate this racist problem, yet it still exists, although not as wide spread as in the 1800 and middle 1900’s.

I didn’t know Biggie, nor do I know Diddy, who did not elaborate on the quote. And I have never heard this type of self-loathing from any young African American I know. So it makes it hard for me to understand the reasoning behind the statement. Yet, I am aware of the ‘kids raising kids’ element in our communities exasperated by adults who are habitually dependent on drugs, alcohol or both, leaving the kids to fend for themselves. We often see the result of that combination from the offspring acting out of frustration for lack of a better word. One of many examples is senseless violence on another person for no reason. We often find that the perpetrator has no morals or does not really care about themselves much less another human being. Even so, this is still a very small number of people in our communities.

I wonder what Biggie Smalls, whose birth name was Christopher George Latore Wallace, born May 21, 1972 and was, killed on March 9, 1997, later thought and learned about our US Society. Especially regarding the economics of it all after he made BIG money as a black rapper from the ‘hood.

I went through my “woe is me” stage in the late fifties while attending elementary school. That’s when I realize no one cared if I didn’t show up at the special art class in which my school enrolled me. No one was around to mentor me and help me reach my other dream of becoming the next Sam Cook, the soul singer. My father was a laborer working man from sun up to sundown with no money left for extras like instruments, etc. He loved his family, which was why he worked so hard to make ends meet. His wife, my stepmother, was a stay at home wife and not allowed to work in another’s house helping their families prosper. So yes, I learned early on that I would have to make my own way with the little support and a lot of love that my family could provide.

Yet, during that same time, I feel in love with being black. I loved the music, food, culture, my grandma, and all of my relatives, including our neighbors in the community. Ninety-nine point nine percent of my peers felt the same way. We welcomed the challenge to change the status quo. We didn’t have a black history month to point out various contributions made to American society by African Americans. Although I still enjoyed reading about US and World History. I remember feeling protected by family even though I’d experienced racism from a white neighbor family four house away from my front door and in the art class, which I finally dropped.

I can’t tell you how frustrated I get hearing another black person spouting the very line that the racist segment of this society wants us to believe. I use to have a very dear friend who passed away some time ago. He would spend most of his waking hours talking about how the white man has everything sewn up. “You can’t beat the white man at the white man’s game because he has everything,” he would say as if it was his personal mantra that he out of the goodness of his heart wanted to share with me and others within the sound of his voice. And then he would look at me for my input which was always the same. “Stop worrying what the white man has, collect all the assets you can as you move toward the pinnacle of your calling whatever that is…you feel me?”

And sure as the sun rises every day, over time, you will have a considerable amount of assets allowing you to place yourself in position to attain even more. Teach you family members to diversify as your holdings grow, ensure they have enrolled in and graduate from a college (junior or major) that will provide them the basics of business (plus business systems as in computers, etc.), economics and the role of Government in both. Throughout their adult life, they should also continue to upgrade their expertise in the aforementioned subjects applying their knowledge and street smarts to expand their holdings with a family corporation that is separate from their individual business, yet acts as the foundation for the family’s wealth. This is a great formula for building family wealth.

We realize a lot of workable ideas have to bear fruit with this formula. The primary issue would be to keep the family intact, feeling a part of the growing process, and having everyone get along especially in business matters. It would take a strong central figure or figures to make this happen, but we all have them in our family.

So don’t tell me it can’t be done. We witness it every day our in our lives. Ever wonder how the Chinese and Hispanic communities seem to prosper around us? It’s not happing for a lot of black people for a number of reasons. There is so much reflection on negativity and worrying about what the white man has or is doing. Or even worse, they are blaming their inability to prosper on the white man.

I agree, some of it is his or better yet, the systems fault such as lower education standards, no jobs, sub-standard housing. Ok, now that we have admitted that, how much cash did that admission put into Wells Fargo or Bank of America? Exactly! We, and we alone are responsible for our family and community. Any outside help we get should be the icing on the cake not the main ingredient.

And if we are teaching our young to look from whence they came, read and understand how their ancestors took on the direct hate, lynching, nightriders, and accepted low unskilled labor at even lower wages to raise their families. Yet, here we, their offspring are, in an era when the personal computer is no doubt the great equalizer. Are our young really aware of what a personal computer can do besides entertain them? There is no way, no way, we should never hear a statement like the one made by Biggie Smalls. Our young should be thinking in terms of being part of a solution, not the problem. And we as a community should be there to help them when and wherever help is needed. That is our responsible to them and our ancestors.

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment

Trust in me?

Trust is not a favorite word of the general population these days. Yet it is THE FAVORITE WORD of all politicians regardless of party. A great majority of Americans can’t stand the sight of a politician on TV in a spin mood. Just the thought of it now exacerbates one’s trust in any politician whether from the local or national stage. And now we have the power of SuperPAC’S, who are able to say what they want, collect any donated amount anyone wants to spend on political media in order to pound in your head, over and over again, that the other guy or entire political party is (fill in the blank), but you can trust (again, fill in the blank). Even the president has joined the chorus of give to a SuperPAC that supports me. This, after decrying the US Supreme Court’s ruling that opened the secrecy donor and donations flood gates for the SuperPAC’s. Did you notice his change in policy came shortly after the reported $15 million spent by an organization supporting Mitt Romney trounced Newt Gingrich in Florida’s GOP primary? If you were a politician running for re-election what would you have done?

Yet this mistrust of our politicians, strangers, or maybe even family members did not originate in Washington DC. Over the last several decades, Americans trust issues has been eroding throughout our society. All one has to do is read the morning paper, browse the internet or watch news orientated television programs to formulate their reasoning. The stories of hold ups, muggings, break-ins and crooked scams all make us more cautious in dealing with day to day folk we meet. We seldom let anyone but our children or lovers get within one and half feet of our bodies. Hey! For your information, they might not trust you either.

Yes, there are some who can say a perfect example of misguided trust you had in someone is setting across from you at the dinner table. I don’t want to get to personal here, but I did want you to know that I understand. We all have been burned by someone we trusted. If you haven’t you will.

The fine line of telling the truth versus spinning a story to garner support is an age old practice by man. Some do it not to hurt another’s feelings. Others for numerous reasons, most has to do with protecting themselves or some other personal agenda. It is where the word trust, in its most embryonic stage is normally practiced. After trying to convince you with a very short or long version of ‘the reason’ they (your neighbor, friend, lover, salesman, banker, landlord, and other family member) end the explanation or enlightenment by asking you to trust them.

That’s right, if you listen closely, you will hear some of the same spin mastering coming from people you come in daily contact with as you hear from your elected officials throwing the word trust around like it’s a personal possession. Or you can go shopping, that means shopping…for anything.

How about truth in advertising in retail stores? How many times have your detergent, toothpaste, cereal, etc. been labeled new and improved? One thing you can count on is it cost more for less. Ever wonder why the potato chip bag has so much air in it? Same size bag but fewer chips yet cost more when not on sale.

I watched advertisement of new cars breaking through metal doors during the super bowl commercials. I wondered out loud, where is the reality in that little demonstration. You can lean on, or please do not sit on the hood of a 2013 vehicle and cause enough damage whereas the entire hood would need replacing. I’m old enough to remember the tank tough vehicles Detroit use to release for sale.

The fact that we as a nation don’t put a lot of trust in politicians, corporate spokesmen, salesperson for any contemporary product or some representing officials for numerous causes speaks to our current state of minds.

We’re no longer sure we can count on the word of our clergy from our chosen religion. We may trust the word of God, but we are not sure of his messenger if indeed he or she is the messenger. From using the pulpit to back a political position or person running for office to sex scandals between priest and boys it’s been a rough last few years. We even had one evangelist call for assassination of a foreign head of state because they disagreed with the United States foreign policy. He followed the statement with a plea for listeners to send tax deductible funds as a donation for his organization to continue to do God’s work. Say what?

It’s no wonder we have become a nation of cynics who tune out what we often interpret as twisted claims, ideas, or request that are beyond reasonable thinking human beings.

How do we get that trusting nature back? How do you relearn to feel comfortable letting someone like the baker or grocery man into our safety zone? It’s really not a secret, is it?

Time is the operative word. It takes time to get to know a person. And in time, you may begin to trust the person. There will be instances within that time that will allow you to become more and more comfortable with certain individuals and products. Time to learn, time to grow, time to know, time enough to become familiar, in the words of so many songwriters…it takes time.

So there you have it. Time is the answer. Now that you have the answer go forth, support your favorite politician after reading between the lines, checking what they have done in the past and who are his current benefactors. Give your new good friends a loan for whatever they need or want. Buy your lover a present this Valentine’s Day that says simply…I trust you baby. Donate to your favorite charity or pay your tithes willingly in church. Buy that product advertised on TV. It just might work. Believe in and support a pet cause like educating the starving children of the world.

Go out people and trust again. Yet…be careful. You know you can’t trust everybody these days.

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

www.chiia.com http://www.5Linx.net/L460450/

Follow Hamp at https://twitter.com/#!/HampTwo

Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment

Thank God for the Mute Button

I watched the President’s State of the Union Speech last Tuesday. Afterwards, Keith Olbermann of Countdown fame (Current TV program) stated the President hit all of the populist notes. I am a Countdown viewer, although Keith will go off the deep end on occasion.

Olbermann felt and stated that the President was laying out the groundwork for his election year campaign. No doubt, yet at the same time he was painting a picture of the difference between what the Republican nominee, whoever it will be, and his vision of where America should go. I would agree, the President pointed out the “populist viewpoints”. It resonates because most Americans are not as stupid as the tea party led Republicans think we are. You know what I mean, the populist notion that all Americans, including the rich ones should pay their fair share of taxes. Another was Americans should not have to be second to any country when it comes to inventiveness that aids our country to economic stability. We should and do have the will, skill, and ability to manufacture products that not only serve its own citizenry but the world. Or the notion that all our children should graduate from high school and hopefully go on to an affordable college so that we can have home grown personnel able to compete with any nation for engineering, science, and other positions requiring a degree. That, along with the ability to meet the work requirements of government or private sector, will allow the unemployed to become employed.

What the President said about several problem solving issues is common sense. However, each time he mentioned a solution to a problem, House Speaker Boehner, who was sitting to his left and almost directly behind the President, face turned a darker shade of red.

At one point, the President, referring to all the negative talk about America heading for the brink of destruction because of his failed policies or inability to solve our economic crisis stated, “If you don’t believe America is back, then you don’t know what you are talking about.”

Any intelligent person who is honest about what led us to this situation understands that we are far from where we need to be. Yet a little cooperation from the Republican House of Representatives and those in the senate would have had us further along than we currently are.

President Obama has proven to be smarter than I am. I would have given up long ago trying to work with those who vowed to defeat him in this fall’s general election. There is an old saying about giving one just enough rope to hang himself with. I would say the President has provided more than enough rope (attempted cooperation) to the tea party led Republicans and is now primed to benefit from the results.

I had to change the channel. That’s right, immediately after Olbermann made his remark, I did not want anyone interpreting what I had just heard. After all, English is my native language. Nor, did I need the talking heads on other stations like CNN, MSNBC, or their guest commentators interpreting what I’d heard the President say. Most of them are bias, have right wing republican agendas, along with most of their news station editors and producers. You can always tell if you are really listening to what they have to say. Some are subtle and others take their lead from Fox News and don’t really try to hide their hatred of this President.

The next day, I did catch Charlie Rose on the CBS Morning Show interview of Vice President Biden’s take on the State of the Union. After that, the House of Representatives whip, Republican Eric Cantor, was allowed to give his views on the President’s proposals. All I can say about that is thank God for the mute button. Not only did I push my remote control mute button, but I found that to be the right time to take out the garbage. When I returned to my office TV, he was finished and no longer on my TV.

By the way, this bears repeating if you haven’t heard it. A CBS Poll revealed that 91% of the people polled approved of President Obama’s speech. See what happens if you get away from the conservative pundits, talking heads, and right wing talk radio? There is an American public out there that, contrary to the aforementioned idiots ranting and ravings, have a very populist opinion that the President of the United States has mirrored. How about that?

Peace and make it a great day

Codis Hampton II

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Copyright 2011 Codis Hampton II, all rights reserved. A Biweekly blog for your enjoyment