2018: Fast & Furious Politics?

Happy New Year! 2018 is here, and 2017 closes out the first year of Trump, a devastating hurricane season, more mumble rap, and of course another installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise. Using the “Fast and Furious” franchise as a reference serves multiple purposes. Not because I’m a fan or non-fan, or because I even think the “Fast and Furious” franchise is good. It’s because it’s a good reference when comparing highly predictable actions and others that are completely unnecessary. No “Fast and Furious” movies needed to be made after the very first one back in the ancient year of 2001. Given all “Fast and Furious” movies have the same reoccurring scene with a car flying and Vin Diesel jumping out of it, and not even getting a paper cut in the process, the “Fast and Furious” movies aren’t the most surprising and cerebral movies to watch.

Now back to Happy New Year celebratory feel goods.

2018, will be much like 2017. Don’t be fooled. You just saw “Fast and Furious” 6, don’t think “Fast and Furious” 7 is going to turn into “Saving Private Ryan.” It’ll be another year of a company introducing a new phone and trying to convince us that the phone we already have is worthless, another year of a blockbuster flop and a blockbuster surprise, more mumble rap, a good sports story, a bad sports story, and then there’s Trump. Trump will have a profound effect on the political world, and I when I write world, I mean actual world affairs.

Trump’s first year largely swirled around domestic issues, he couldn’t help himself from not doing anything international. Trump in careless remarks or actions did the following: opted the United States out of the international Paris climate change treaty, one that even North Korea is on board with; during a photo opt shoved world leaders out the way to get in the front row of the picture, and engaged in a Drake/Meek Mill twitter battle with Kim Jong-Un. 2018 Twitter fingers may turn into trigger fingers (to quote Drake), and only Trump will be to blame.

Just like in the “Fast and Furious” movies Vin Diesel and company will not only save the day and get the girl, but will do it in even more of an exaggerated fashion than the previous installment, Trump’s hostile words and eventual actions towards rouge state leaders is getting worse and will continue to get worse by the Tweet.

North Korea is really a sideshow beef for Trump. His true objective is the last truly anti-American state with actual power and influence, Iran. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Trump in the final weeks of 2017 quietly gave the “whole world is watching” spills regarding recent protests of the government in Iran. Also, remember Trump campaigned against the Iranian nuclear agreement made under the Obama administration as being a terrible deal. Trump probably doesn’t know where Iran is on a map, but he does know that not much American business is being conducted there and that’s a problem for him. The extreme right, which Trump is clearly a part of, will lead you to believe Iran is a threat to the American way of life and the world is in danger. Akin to fear-mongering and the drumming of danger portrayed by George Bush in 2002, Iran is as much of a danger to the United States as “Fast and Furious” 7 will be nominated for the academy award picture of the year.

Iran really is an energy superpower with geographical and cultural importance that stands in the way of a complete American influenced middle east. Since 1979, and the fall the American-British propped Shah monarchy, Iran has been circled for revenge. Iran has never been surrounded geographically by American favoring states like it is now. Also, Iran had a strong relationship with Russia, one in which could easily go away with an American led and Russian backed military option against them. This is where 2018 could go from terrible Tweets and tax deals to actual boots and blood on the ground. Any unprovoked military and/or sanctions against Iran from the actual United States is completely unnecessary and can be avoided, just as I avoided “Fast and Furious” 7 for the longest until I saw it on HBO. [It was free, so don’t blame me.

Luckily, the 2018 midterm elections might stop the momentum. The Dr. Dre beats drumming for war can easily go to Great Value headphones if war hawk support for actions against Iran is defeated in November. In the meanwhile, in 2018 enjoy a terrible Super Bowl halftime performance, a viral meme, a catchy mumble rap song, and of course plans for another “Fast and Furious” movie. Things won’t change in Washington, especially with Trump in office.

[2017 In Review] Reactionary Policy Kills Dreams (DACA)

Congress, which has an approval rating less than 20%, now controls the fate of nearly 800,000 immigrants. Time is running out. Considering this White House and everything that’s going on in the world, it’s easy to forget about this critical issue. A few months ago, one of our contributors wrote a compelling piece regarding illegal immigration and why this President is wrong.

Here’s the original article…

“Just as the DEA’s (Drug Enforcement Agency) work in the “war on drugs” is primarily reactionary, meaning most of their enforcement is done to those who do business after narcotics have entered the United States, illegal immigration enforcement efforts are primarily against the illegal immigrant and not against the structures supporting their illegal immigration.”

To further to my above statement (technically a run-on sentence), drug enforcement stops roughly just 1% of the illegal drugs that enter the United States. Since 1972, the United States via local, state, and federal law enforcement has spent over a trillion dollars ensuring little Johnny doesn’t smoke weed. What do we have to show for it? We have more than 2.6 million people in prison and over half of them are there for drug related “crimes.” That’s more than any other nation, a million more than China. Yes, that China, the one with 1.2 billion people. The one where basic freedoms aren’t allowed and anything and everything will land you in prison; yet, somehow their prison population is one million less. I digress.

Back to illegal immigration.

Remember the classic Denzel Washington movie “Training Day”? It’s classic because it came out 16 years ago – newborn babies who just arrived when it hit the theaters are now driving, yikes! Anyway, there’s a scene in which Denzel is sitting in a restaurant with three judges. One of the judges tells Denzel’s character, Alonzo, about a case in which a man avoided prison because he claimed insanity. His proof was spreading peanut butter between his buttocks, and when hearing about this, Alonzo says, “Well, he earned his freedom.”

So, what does “Training Day” and the war on drugs have to do with President Trump ending DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)? First, let me explain exactly what DACA is. DACA is an Obama-era program that shields young undocumented immigrants from deportation. The purpose of DACA is to protect eligible immigrant youth from deportation who came to the United States when they were children.

Now, let’s start comparing. First, let me use the “Training Day” reference, and quite frankly, you can find a “Training Day” comparison for anything. When Alonzo said, “he earned his freedom” in reference to getting out of jail, I compare this to children who arrived in the United States via their parents. The children at 9 obviously couldn’t tell their parents, “Naw I ain’t going,” when forced to leave their country for the United States. For that, how can one realistically penalize them? Furthermore, for those children born in the United States, there’s a thing called the Citizen Clause in the 14th Amendment, in which it states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Even Trump should be able to decipher that one. Constitutionally speaking and common sense wise, the children have earned their right to be United States citizens. No need to join the military, recite the pledge of allegiance backwards, or take a test in which most Americans would fail, to solidify their citizenship.

That takes care of the children, now the parents.

By definition, an illegal immigrant is a foreigner who enters the U.S. without an entry or immigrant visa, especially a person who crosses the border by avoiding inspection or who overstays the period of time allowed as a visitor, tourist, or businessperson. And though many of us as Americans like to think we’re the greatest and most happening; we do have a lot going on for sure, but people aren’t risking it all to come here to just go to Chick-fil-a or watch a ballgame. No. People come here for a very specific reason. Primarily to land work and a chance to better their current situation. It’s as simple as that. They don’t come here to rape and pillage the American landscape.

Just like the DEA’s work in the war on drugs is mostly against dealers and those involved in the drug trade within US borders, enforcement of illegal immigration is mostly against individuals and not the structure or system which enables their efforts prior to illegally entering our country. Efforts against the businesses and entities supporting the lifestyle of one who is illegal aren’t enforced with the same punishment and veracity. Meanwhile, back at your typical Trump rally, the call to round up the owner of Jed’s construction, who employs and pays illegal immigrants, isn’t as loud as it is to remove the workers he employs who made efforts to come to the United States.

In other words, just like the DEA fails to stop the drugs from entering the United States, immigration enforcement fails to truly address the support structures that keep illegal immigration alive and well.

Lastly, I’m one who supports reasonable legal immigration efforts. I understand the need to address illegal immigration; but, unlike President Trump I also understand there needs to be more serious efforts and disdain directed towards the elements behind illegal immigration and not the person simply trying to make a buck… even if it’s only to buy a chicken sandwich.

This article was originally published on 8 September 2017.

More on DACA?

Trump Ends DACA, America’s Top Universities Respond

Just Play, We Know What’s Best

Despite sports by design being inherently fair, the application and business of sports, is yet another subject of the jaded rules and positions designed to help few and hurt many. Though black players have become the face of the most popular sports in America, they seldom share the power when it comes to their respective sport. 

Sports, the actual play of the game, is by design based on meritocracy. Simply put, if you score the most you win. Except in Golf, but that’s why I don’t watch Golf – is Golf really a sport? Anyway, by sports, I mean competition against another human, and said human stopping you from scoring. So that does not include hunting, for the deer did not sign up to get shot, nor does said deer have anything to shoot back with. So, by sports, I mean Baseball, Tennis, Basketball, and yes even Soccer will count as a sport – all listed are inherently fair.

Once the game ends, there’s an entire business behind sport. The business of sports and its unfairness towards black people in positions of leadership has been a practice dating back to the inception of professional sports being one of great profit. For many black men and women in the business of sports, they’ve experienced an all-star performance from the perennial MVP candidate of racism. However, racism might be playing at a hall of fame level when it pertains to professional and college football.

Rolling Stone magazine did an outstanding piece on the mistreatment of black quarterbacks a few weeks ago. Their piece brilliantly highlighted the recent collusion of Colin Kaepernick by the league as just the latest in a long history of black quarterbacks going through treatment unparalleled to their white colleagues. While white quarterbacks who are products of the mediocracy factor stay in the league for years on end, black quarterbacks exhibiting the same statistical numbers or even better numbers lose starting roles, or their careers come to an abrupt halt. Black quarterbacks also have a smaller window of error than white quarterbacks. 

The most recent example was Tyrod Taylor of the Buffalo Bills being benched due to literally one game of poor play. By the way, the Buffalo Bills gave up 47 points on defense that game. But Head Coach Sean McDermott apparently had seen enough of Tyrod’s one bad game and decided to change his starting Quarterback in favor of his white rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman – though if the Bills season ended at the time they would have been in the playoffs. Peterman proceeded to throw five interceptions in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers, more than Taylor had thrown all season, and despite the terrible performance Coach McDermott stated he saw “good things” from Peterman. He saw good things from a quarterback throwing five interceptions in one game over his starting quarterback who had the Buffalo Bills in the playoff hunt? A playoff berth this year would give the Buffalo Bills their first since 1999. Yes, that 1999, the same year Prince sang about and a year in which we listened to downloaded music from Napster at Boarders.

I cannot recall a time in which a white starting quarterback with a winning record was benched in the middle of a playoff race due to one bad performance for a rookie quarterback. This simply doesn’t happen to white quarterbacks.

It’s important to note this article is referencing only the quarterback position for a reason. For possibly in all team sports, the quarterback is the single most important position. It’s the one position in which all offensive plays start with. On a marketing note, the quarterback is the face of a football franchise. And on a football smarts note; the quarterback is supposed to be most cerebral of all players. The marketing and inherent leadership in which the quarterback brings is the crux of the reluctant reason in placing black players in that role. The same reasons why the NFL lacks black representation at the quarterback position, its younger brother, college football, employs the same practices regarding black quarterbacks. 

Countless black players are recruited in high school from top college programs as quarterbacks. Those players are offered scholarships many times on the contingency they change positions.

Why?

This is done for one simple reason, the primary college football fanbase. The most advent fans in college football are southerners, ironically the most recruits come from the south as well. College programs know their audience. Placing the typical 6’3 clean shaving white quarterback fares much better than the longer hair, or God forbid, dreadlock and/or braid wearing black quarterback.

The trials and tribulations of the black quarterback are one thing; but, it pales in comparison to the plight of a black head coach. The NFL has moved up a peg from laughable after the 2017 offseason hiring of the Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph and the Los Angeles Chargers hiring Anthony Lynn. Though roster composition in the NFL is currently 70% black, only 7 of 32 are holding the clipboard, Ron Rivera being Latino, brings the [minority] total to eight. These numbers are rather bleak given there are 32 teams; however, the numbers would be bleaker if not for the Rooney Rule. Instituted in 2003 and named after Pittsburg Steelers owner Art Rooney, the Rooney rule states teams are required to interview at least one minority candidate when searching for a new head coach. Attention is rightfully drawn to head coaches; however, the Rooney rule does nothing to solve non-head coaching positions. Look at the numbers… 80 of the NFL’s current 85 offensive coordinators, quarterback’s coaches and offensive quality control coaches are white, including all 37 with the word “quarterback” in their titles. See a pattern? 

When comparing college to the NFL, college is a much more ugly and unsettling. There are currently only 14 black head coaches in the FBS, which is Division I, a little under 11% of all colleges. 

What gives? Where’s the outcry and questioning on these lopsided numbers?

The numbers are no different in sports than in a sector like education. Most black students in public education are being taught with little representation by black teachers, especially black male teachers. A student is more likely to be taught by a unicorn, than a black male teacher, which makes up only 2% of the entire public-school system from coast to coast.

The numbers are horrendous and need immediate attention. The recent NFL player protest seems to be a stepping stone towards players finally placing a stake in the ground regarding their respect and voice to the owners and the fans. Despite backlash to the player protests, and possibly those protests being shaken up, football highlights are showing no signs of slowing down the showcasing of black players. Only time will tell if more black people end up behind the plays and decisions that make American sports so great. 

Trump is Clearly a Fan of UCLA Basketball

Before I begin this article, I think it’s important to state that I do not have children. I have no nieces or nephews. I’m rarely in the presence of young people. That includes everyone from those racking up Disney points, to those who voted in the 2008 election. My experience with young people is limited to being a long-term substitute teacher for several months, to law enforcement, to well… that’s about it. And it’s been years since I was either one; however, spoiler alert, the acts and ways of young people don’t change. They will always do naive things without thinking.

The most recent news about the Ball basketball family isn’t Lonzo Ball’s league-worst shooting percentage, the family’s terrible reality show, or the Big Baller Brand’s latest attempt to sell overpriced sporting apparel. It may sound like I don’t like the Ball family, which is led by the Don King and patriarch of the family, Lavar Ball; but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I support Lavar Ball and his outlandish acts, even his more than over the top sound bites. History has shown that when there’s a “Puff Daddy” to the father of Venus and Serena Williams to Flava Flav, a hype man/father/loud supporter of a particular talent, said talent generally does very well. Plus, the family last name is Ball – how cool is that? It’s like a military family with the last name “Sergeant.” And yes, I’ve met a Sergeant Sergeant before. Anyway, I digress.

LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley, and Jalen Hill, all three freshmen of the UCLA Basketball team, decided to make the good (insert sarcasm) decision to steal sunglasses from an upscale and well-monitored store in China. Not Chinatown, New York City, but actual China. Not smart, I get it; however, teenagers and young people, until a real-life experience hits them, make a lot of dumb decisions.

To be clear, this isn’t about a lack of intelligence or common sense, but about the notion that young people are very naïve and arrogant at times. Mix in budding basketball stars of a premier basketball school, no life experience or knowledge regarding the nation they were in, and presto! An arrest for shoplifting, in China.

Speaking of the arrest… before anyone goes on a pious rant that it’s because “Lavar Ball is overbearing” and “poor little LiAngelo is acting out,” or the classic, these young black men with the world given to them “doing something stupid just wanna mess it up,” I’m very sure no player has ever wanted to just give back their fame and potential riches. LiAngelo and the others are doing what every other young person, I would say younger than 25, has and/or will do. That is an act depending on the opportunity, situation, person, etc., something very stupid that will either begin the process of true maturity, or will begin a negative trend of behavior sure to render a consequence that jeopardizes everything. It’s not like young people don’t possess the moral power to do right instead of wrong. But they do lack the need to understand that even the littlest wrongs can have a major impact that comes with major consequences, consequences they don’t foresee.

I will bet any amount of money these young basketball players never took into account that they were in a communist country. China’s legal system and procedures are nothing like the United States’. Another factor – they probably didn’t think they would get caught, or were important enough that if they did get caught they wouldn’t get in trouble. Yes, that has much to do with young athletes being treated like royalty early and far too often; however, that’s not that big of a deal. For the most part, most college and young professional athletes, both men and women, behave accordingly, given the circumstances they could easily act a fool.

Fortunately for the players, ole 45 made a few calls and apparently even Lavar Ball knew a few people, and the players escaped a “Midnight Express” situation. 

Once the players settle back in the U.S. their consequences will probably exceed their crime. The moral joke, which is the NCAA, will likely overreach and make “an example” of them.

In the final analysis, all we can do as responsible adults is stress the importance to young people to think beyond the current, and understand their negative acts last three times longer than their positive ones. We must stress that life is mostly about decision making, and the better one’s life, has much to do with his or her choices. I think young people, including star athletes, generally understand that. This incident was a technical foul they couldn’t argue with the refs about. But it didn’t matter, because as crazy as it sounds, Trump was there to help them win the game.

Defining Black Republicans

Two Facebook friends of mine… Catherine Z…. She’s a young black woman who is supportive of the current NFL player protests, solid approval of President Obama, and is indifferent regarding universal healthcare. One of her profile pictures was the 2008/2016 split Obama first family portrait. And her most current post states “Yessss ‘Auntie Maxine,’ get em!” Safe assumption – she either votes Democrat or leans to the left. She also has a master’s degree in finance and works for an accounting firm.
Second Facebook friend… Matt Y… Despite Matt only having a high school diploma with no college education, he actually works for the same accounting firm with Catherine. Surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly), they have the same title and role. Matt is nearing retirement at the age of 56. He thinks the NFL player protests are inappropriate for a sporting event, doesn’t agree with universal healthcare (though will take part in Medicare), and feels the media has attacked Trump more than any other president. His Facebook profile pic is a bald eagle, in fact, none of his profiles pic are of his face, just run of the mill patriotic stuff. His most current post states Trump has eliminated 5 trillion dollars of debt (which if he did do that, it would be 25 percent of the 20 trillion-dollar national debt) since taking office. Spoiler alert, Matt votes Republican.
They argue on Facebook, well, their respective friends argue, about everything from climate change, Hilary Clinton’s emails, and the ultimate fun-filled topic ‘Black Lives Matter.’ Catherine and Matt represent the viewpoints of people who look like them, with very little middle ground.  
So how did we get here as a nation? 
Our nation is divided politically into a two-party system. Both the Republican and Democratic parties have stockpiled their support mainly based on demographics that currently exist due to the racial and gender divisions in our nation’s history. The Democrats don’t make any secrets about who they’re for. They’re for freedom of sexual orientation, women, Black folk, Latinos, and those born after 1970.
The Republican party profoundly professes the opposite. They promote the adages of “small government,” “states’ rights,” and “fiscal responsibility,” and they claim not to see color, gender, or other demographics. However, the recent history of Republican talking points and policies show the exact opposite of the aforementioned adages. Republicans have made significant efforts in derailing the progression of any group or person that doesn’t identify as a White Christian male. Historically, Republicans were the party against prohibition, the party in which 80% of its members voted to pass the 1964 civil rights bill, and of course, started as the party for emancipation. Fast forward, and the Republican party since Nixon has doubled-down on its whiteness in every sense of the word. With that being the situation at hand, “You a Black Republican?,” was a very common response I received from all walks of life between 2006-2012. I know Q Tip on an old tribe record once said,”Never give a date.” However, I want to make it clear that I was a Republican only for a certain period of my life.
So how does a young black man born in the Democratic stronghold of Maryland end up being a Black Republican? Like most Black Republicans, I think it’s important to state that my political ideology at an early age was shaped by personal political preference without the thought of demographics. 
I strongly believe the government should be conservative in its actions. I believe the government should not be quick to act or change without careful review, which is the very definition of political conservatism. I believe the federal government should be small, tax in an appropriate manner, and spend on services that directly benefit the people. Fiscal conservatism and social progression was the hallmark of the Republican party. The party was hijacked by extremists and flat-out racists in the late 1960s. From that point forward, the ranks of Christian conservatives and now the Trumpbots have taken over the party. Black Republicans don’t personally harbor those radical feelings, so they ignore the ape pictures of Obama and extremists like Representative Steve King who pose questions like, “Where did any other subgroup of people (other than white) contribute more to civilization?” Yes, he said that without any pushback or criticism from his fellow party members.
Unlike Trump surrogates, when Black Republicans talk about “fiscal responsibility” it’s safe to assume they truly are talking about the government mismanaging resources. They really do think the Democrat party has been a crux to black people via sponsoring aid programs like food stamps and housing aid. For this, they reject social programs and reject the party of help, the Democrats. Their outlook and desire for a Black America, nondependent of any government resource, is their calling – it was mine. Black Republicans don’t want to tackle racism. They don’t want to accept the fact most political mindsets and policies in this nation are the product of demographics, not pure ideology. Lastly, Black Republicans have a strong belief that overly presenting race as an issue is a pillar of the issue itself. 
The recent surge of radical divisions along demographic lines during the 2016 Presidential campaign has caused many Black Republicans to reconsider their affiliation with their party, or at least with a party that does not denounce blatant racism. Wedge issues like the NFL player protests and the removal of Confederate flags and monuments have exposed the true mindsets of many. A danger most Black Republicans ignored; yet, prominent Black Republican’s like Michael Steele to Colin Powell, have publicly denounced such sentiment and have thankfully not sided with their party. With that being said, they are still Republicans – a decision and position that speaks volumes.  
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Independent Responds to Conservative… Transgenger Ban Revisited

On August 29, 2017, LCR Contributor Right Army Veteran published an article about Trump’s decision to ban transgender service members. He suggested that both administrations (Obama and Trump) dropped the ball regarding the policy implementation and ban. He also mentioned costs as a driving factor for the ban.

“Military service members retire after 20 years and then collect benefits for a lifetime. That’s an expensive investment- especially if 2 years may make them non-deployable for surgery at a minimum, and for years after they continue with guaranteed medical needs and lifetime complications (and sanitary requirements) that may be difficult to ensure in the filthy, harsh business of war in dark places.”– Right Army Veteran

His full article can be viewed here: Transgender in the Military – A Case in Political Hijackings by Democrats and Republicans

I disagree…

This is a farce of epic proportions. Using medical costs as a reason to exclude a person from serving in the military is a coverup for bigotry and hate against a group of people too many are unwilling to fully understand. The medical costs excuse is a smokescreen. If the military really wanted to curb or prevent medical costs they wouldn’t allow our presidents to get us involved in unjust wars. Iraq and Afghanistan are already costing us $1 trillion, that’s with a T, in medical costs. And most veterans from those two wars aren’t even 40 years old yet. If it’s really about costs, then why not completely cut medical benefits after retirement? Find me a profession in the private sector in which merely retiring at any level provides healthcare benefits for you, your spouse, and family, until death. So let’s be honest, it’s probably not about the costs. Becuase if it was then the military wouldn’t spend $41.6 million annually on Viagra alone, which according to the Military Times analysis that figure is five times the estimated spend on transgender transition-related care.

 I could accept a policy of not covering active service members who wanted to have the elective surgery; however, this ban is a universal ban – no matter what, if you identify as transgender you’re not eligible for military service.

 If this ban stays in place, the irony would be noteworthy… We’d be the world’s freest nation, yet not everyone would be free to serve and defend it.

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Sith Lords Run the White House?

Steve Bannon represents a group of people who are the epitome of hate and bigotry, and that coincides with his vision of America being a very extreme place. The problem isn’t Steve Bannon – the problem is, characters like Steve Bannon find employment and comfort in the Trump administration.

Shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration, recently removed White House Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon infamously said this about the media: “They don’t understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the President of the United States.” Those two lines might be the wisest words ever uttered by Bannon. Not only do those lines accurately describe media outlets and the 24-hour frenzy following Trump’s November victory, but it also describes Steve Bannon himself and his role in the Trump administration.

Prior to being removed from his newly created White House position, Bannon was never the face of the administration. But many feared that his influence and most importantly his ideals would weigh heavily on the policies implemented by the Trump administration. Bannon seemed to have the feel of a Star Wars Sith Lord, and he nefariously embraced that image. The fear of Bannon was real, and his background had all the makings of being on the wrong side of history. From his workings at Breitbart to being labeled racist and anti-Semitic – Sith Lord Bannon, I mean Steve Bannon, luckily wasn’t on the job long enough for any of his true influence to transpire.

So, what does this mean?

For starters, a man like Bannon should’ve never held a position in the White House given his history. Imagine if President Obama had appointed the likes of Louis Farrakhan to “anything” in the White House. The outrage would’ve been immediate! If conservatives and pundits can spend weeks talking about a strapless dress worn by Michelle Obama, I’m pretty sure a Farrakhan appointment would be as action packed as the 9th installment of Fast and Furious. Nonetheless, Bannon was appointed under the title “Chief Strategist.” One would have to conclude that by selecting a man with such a past who has strong views and ideologies the Trump administration had plans to carry out or at least incorporate many of the same views and ideologies. Bannon being in the White House really isn’t of consequence, but the notion that he is able to call the White House a place of employment is of major consequence.

Going forward, those not cheering for Sith Lords and the dark side, I mean non-Trump supporters, must not bother with the musical chairs of job placement within the Trump administration. What’s most important is why certain people are there.

Post Charlottesville, Trump has made it clear there isn’t a clear line between which side of right he stands. That ambiguous stance translating towards true policy has yet to be seen, and like Bannon being fired, I hope it stays out of the White House.

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Trump Bans Transgender People In U.S. Military

“What the Commander in Chief did yesterday was shameful. Yes, as a servicemember I am openly rebuking the Commander in Chief. An act of bigotry and discrimination is wrong, regardless who it comes from.” 

On July 26, 2017, President Donald Trump issued a ban on all transgender people from serving in the military. Trump is known for his love of banning and placing barriers on groups of people, so this isn’t too shocking. What is shocking is an all-out ban. One of the Obama administration’s last acts regarding military policy was the allowance of transgender people in the military and persons in the military to transition into a gender other than the one they originally entered the military as.

This move done by Trump flies in the face on a couple of fronts. It goes against candidate Donald Trump who in 2016 stated he would be a strong defender of the LGBT community. It also goes against President Trump by allowing a review of transgender recruiting enrollment into the military, which was slated to end in December 2017. Instead, Trump abruptly broke his campaign promise and ended his own administration’s plans.

Until this ban, the U.S. Military for the first time in its history was truly inclusive. Women could finally serve in combat roles, sexual orientation no longer mattered – we had finally arrived. Many will still say this nation has the greatest military representing the most diverse group of people on the planet. If this ruling stands that simply will not be true. To have any reservation of any group of people entering the military not based on universal standards regarding their ability to get the job done is meaningless, shameful, and discriminating.

The main justification Trump used was “tremendous medical costs and disruption,” which could also be applied to a pregnant woman or to any veteran on disability. Just for number’s sake, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are estimated to cost taxpayers nearly a $1 trillion dollars in healthcare costs alone. If nearly $1 trillion dollars spent on healthcare as a result of two wars isn’t a tremendous medical cost and disruption, I don’t know what is. Does this mean we can expect the Trump administration to withdraw military forces worldwide? Close bases stateside? Shrink the military budget to reflect pre-Reagan numbers? This ban just doesn’t make any sense.

Barack Obama… The Man Vs. The President

“One can have profound respect for Barack Obama the man, and one can also show no support or care for Barack Obama the President.”

A week before leaving office outspoken President Obama critic Tavis Smiley penned a brief, yet direct, letter of appreciation towards President Obama. The message of appreciation was titled, “A Letter to Obama, In Gratitude and Love.” In summary, Mr. Smiley detailed his appreciation for Barack Obama the man and his character and grace as President. There was no mention or thanks regarding Barack Obama’s accomplishments as President. I’d argue that Mr. Smiley’s lack of appreciation for President Obama is appropriate, and similar to Mr. Smiley, I was a strong critic of the President as well. Despite the criticism, Mr. Smiley stayed the course for Obama by voting for him twice, which something I did not do. I know, shocker! A black man who didn’t vote for Obama?!? Yes, and I’ll easily explain.

Like my fellow fraternal brother Tavis Smiley, I appreciated Barack Obama the man. I thank him for his sound mind and spirit and efforts in attempting inclusion of all American interests in his policies. From the moment I voted for him in 2008 to the point I was greatly disappointed followed by his final days in office, make no mistake about it, I admired Barack Obama.

Mr. Smiley was very outspoken against President Obama during his presidency. Obama’s lackluster response to the Trayvon Martin case and the fact that Black Americans lost great economical ground in America during his presidency were two of the main issues in which he criticized Obama.

I personally stopped supporting President Obama due to his failure to pass universal healthcare in 2010. I don’t want to hear anything about what he couldn’t do. Democrats controlled Congress and it could have been done. If he would’ve passed universal healthcare, what’s going on now in the Republican led Congress regarding the healthcare debate would’ve been much harder to do. Moving on… Obama failed to revise the tax code, failed to make social security solvent or even attempt to make it solvent, failed to address the next economic bubble of student loans/education cost, and last but not least failed to address draconian federal drug laws.

Sure, my social media timelines are filled with people posting pictures of the Obama first family and support for Obama. However, I wonder if that support is for Obama the President or Obama the man. Obama the man, from what we know is as honorable as they come. Obama the President, well, I’m glad I can order my politics a la carte. For that’s a dish I prefer not to have.

Tavis Smiley: A Letter to Obama, In Gratitude and Love

“Patriotism, No T-Shirt Needed”

Since my childhood, I’ve had an unadulterated love and support for all my respective sports teams, all of which hail from the DC area. Sadly, outside presidential inaugurations, there haven’t been any parades going down Pennsylvania Ave in quite some time. Like all fans of a respective team, we’re fans of the team, not every aspect of the team. We question player transactions, hiring of coaches, even supporting changing a certain team’s name. (More about that later on.) In the final analysis, wanting better and questioning the ways and means of your team isn’t the characteristic of a non-fan, it’s the opposite.    

So, what does sports fandom have to do with patriotism? In a sense, if you replaced the word fan with patriot in the aforementioned paragraph, all the elements stay true. By definition, patriotism is the vigorous support for one’s country. By definition, a fan is one who is enthusiastically devoted to something or somebody. In my example I used sports fandom to illustrate how it comes with both criticism of your team as well as support for said team. As a fan, being critical of a team, is something as unifying around a team as cheering for a team (see Randy Quaid as Johnny in “Major League II”).

Being a patriot on the other hand, for some, does not engage in critical discussions about their nation. I’ve noticed post 9/11 the term patriotism used as a shield to fend off the need to address and solve real issues and problems. Typically coming from conservative and republican circles, patriotism is many times used as a political guilt trip. The goal being one should feel ashamed for their reason for it goes against the essence of the nation. If that fails, the “If you don’t like it, you should just leave”, standard becomes the last resort.

Being critical of one’s nation is not a loss of patriotism. This is nonsense. Disagreeing with another person on their views of the nation is not grounds to question their patriotism.  

Much like a fan wants best for their team, a patriot should want what’s best for their nation. What’s best for the nation is a little harder amongst social political topics than sports, for the end game isn’t as clear. Thus why many deflect to terms like “if you don’t like it, you should leave”. To figure out the needs of a nation, it requires real work, research, dialogue, and the inevitable debate.  In sports for example, at the time of this writing my beloved Washington Nationals are having the time of their lives trying to save games. So the solution is the need for a closer. Regarding social political issues, it’s not as cut and dry. Standard national issues like healthcare, the environment, and education are contentious and divisive. What each issue means to all citizens and how in the most sensible and feasible way it comes into fruition requires a process. A baseball save is very much defined, something my Nationals seem to have a hard time with; however, it’s still very much defined.