Tuesday, March 25, 2014

SO YOU WANNA HAVE ME 
DE-FRIEND YOU—
ENOUGH WITH THIS 
RACISM CRAP AlREADY
AND THE REASONS WHY 
OUR SO-CALLED FRIENDS 
NEED TO JUST CHILL
PART 1: Isn't life obnoxious enough…
The other day I removed a person from my list of people that I've been communicating with or simply sharing with via Facebook. I usually make my commentaries on Twitter and forward them onto Facebook. Since I’m on both, it makes life easy. Well, as is the case with these so-called social networks, one acquires friends along the way, and/or thru those connections you receive responses that sometimes (A) make no sense, and or (B) can really upset you enough to wanna scream
A simple recap of what happened was, that after sharing an article I had read discussing the history between the Ukraine and Russia. I mentioned briefly how I had found it logical and intelligent how I thought it put what's happening into real historic context. (A copy of the whole conversation is showcased below.)
But instead of a like or a comment of any merit, I received a nonsensical ‘Birther’ commentary about President Obama. Now I can understand a joke, to a degree, but when someone demeans our President by throwing out the Kenyan crap, it begins to dawn on me that I'm not interested in having them in my life, even if its just on Facebook. We are discussing Russia here, not Obama's birthplace.  
So when, still thinking that perhaps the commentary was a joke, I responded with what I hoped was a nice warning... basically, don't go there. Sadly it seems, they did.
This time, upping the anti, by throwing in racist comments. Something that always pushes my button. Growing up in Crown Heights, in the 1960’s, as practically the only white person in my neighborhood, racism was something that was a tangible thing. I witnessed it on a numerous occasions. It is something that has stuck with me my whole life. Just the realization that some people actually believe themselves to be better then others just because of how they looked or who they were has always troubled me. And whenever I hear people use those beliefs as excuses to harm others, it always makes me very uneasy. Especially when they use their so-called religious teachings as their reasoning for their unbelievable racist comments. 
To put it nicely people, enough with the racism. Honestly. I'm sorry but in the year 2014, to have to receive garbage commentary by a so-called friend goes beyond simply making small talk and enters the realm of hate speech. To actually have some ingrate use the term, Negro to describe President Obama, and for that matter, any person of color in the year 2014 as a Negro is simply being a racist. And they are using Facebook as a forum for hate speech. I understand that its the first amendment and its their freedom of speech. But that doesn’t disqualify it for what it is… hatred towards people of color or those who have different beliefs. Its freaking 2014, yet sadly, I guess it could have been a lot worse… 
And then to add fuel to the fire, the fool decided to throw in a few token words to showcase their political and historical stupidity: Dictator, Socialist, Commie,  and best yet, Fascist! all words that the fools like to throw out to describe anyone they don't agree with.
Obviously they were just getting started…
So as the screen cap showcases, I have removed them as Facebook Friends… you will notice that I have covered up the persons name & photo's (sorry, not gonna give them any further promotion). 

PART 2 When Political experts slip and reveal the truth behind their messages…
Sadly today’s reports that Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld slammed President Barack Obama on Monday, saying "a trained ape" would have better foreign policy skills, shouldn’t surprise me. Seems every day we get another comparison of our President and/or worse his wife, to either an ape or something worse. Sadly this racist commentary has only grown louder as the President has continued to serve his nation proudly.
Amazingly the expression he used  to describe our Presidents handling of Russia’s current actions, "a trained ape" actually works as both a metaphor and as a racist commentary, really showcasing how smart Mr. Rumsfeld really is. Which for me, makes it even worse. Somehow covering himself, just in case the mud starts flying his direction because of his obviously racist comment. 
Of course by using the elephant in the room, the term ‘ape’ to describe the person doing the job, and that person currently is a ‘person of color’ as an ape, and better still, “a trained ape” is honestly despicable. Even if said without realizing what you might be inferring, and I’m sorry, Mr. Rumsfeld doesn’t say anything without thinking first. I can already hear, his defenders arguing how wrong I am.
“We have status of forces agreements probably with 100, 125 countries in the world," Rumsfeld said. "This administration, the White House, and the State Department, have failed to get a status of forces agreement. A trained ape could get a status of forces agreement. It doesn’t take a genius.”Quoted from an appearance by Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld "On the Record with Greta van Susteren,"  on Fox News.
When will it stop. It’s bad enough when your so-called friends make commentary that goes beyond common decency, and you can simply remove them from your ‘friends’… but to have public officials, people in real power or those who can sway public opinion throw out commentary that frankly reeks of racist commentary, in the year 2014 is simply beyond reasoning. And those people who throw out crap like Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld just did, should be removed from the public discourse. Enough already. 

To learn more about the Donald Rumsfeld’s quote above, and to also see a video, please check out the link below. 
Donald Rumsfeld: 'A Trained Ape' Would Be Better At Foreign Policy Than Obama
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/donald-rumsfeld-trained-ape_n_5027750.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013

PART 3 Unbelievable, 2000 tweets, who knew?
After I post this commentary, I will be sharing it on Twitter. Amazingly, that tweet will be my 2000th! How the heck is that possible? I Might have to rethink my phone service contract…Either that means I have too much time on my hands, I read too much, I have too many interests and have this need to share my thoughts to the world. Hopefully, as when I originally signed up, really its as a way to stay connected to friends and loved ones about whats up with my life, career and whatever that they might find fascinating. So when I receive commentary from my so-called friends that (as above), it has nothing to do with my share and/or then throw in their personal opinions that franking cross common decency. It forces me to sit back and ponder why I'm even wasting my time and energy… I mean 2000 tweets, maybe someone should throw me a party for being so inclusive with my opinions. 
Just one man’s opinion
© Neil Feigeles, Neilizms, Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Saturday, March 08, 2014

IT'S PUTIN'S WORLD 

AND WE LIVE IN IT

OR IS THAT, YOU SNOOZE, 

YOU LOSE 

So now I get it... Russia has quietly gone backwards, back to the good old days…. It watched, as we wasted the last two decades on military actions that wasted our financial and military capabilities. And worse, watched as the small minded tried to ruin the basic idea behind our great nation's historic meaning. And now, as the petty, and greedy, spew their hatred, causing division and strife, Putin, has begun his attack. First Ukraine and then what, Poland? 
As opposed to the enemy that we've been facing, Al-Qaeda's of the world... Putin's actions with Yugoslavia, along with his current meanderings of the facts, reveals what might be the truth of his plans for the future of his country and for the world. Considering the fact that his time in office, is supposedly ending soon, scarily that could change… dictator perhaps, Czah? He doesn't act like a man whose gonna give up command easily. Perhaps this is the legacy he wishes to be remembered for... the reformation of the Soviet Union. Perhaps he's just testing us to see how far he can go. After all, Georgia, is still under his control.
Scary thoughts I know, but as opposed to the battle we have been engaged in, the possibility of military action between the US & Russia means a real good old fashioned war might be a brewing! And listening to the Republicans, the zeal for that possiblitiy, of war, plus their hatred for President Obama have seemed to merge into one common denominator: whose gonna be taking over the White House in 2016? This possibility of War, could have a major factor in who wins the next Presidency. A women in charge of our nation's defense, during a time of war, against the biggest threat to democracy in our world? I can already see them spewing that garbage. Perhaps Biden might have his chance now? Or perhaps this opens up the Republicans... After all aren't they better at defense? Haven't they proven their military genius the last 15 or 20 years... Maybe, instead, they should take a back seat and let somebody else do the job. 
Maybe just maybe, rational minds will prevail. Right…
Post script
Maybe it's because of Hillary Clinton's recent commentary comparing what Putin is doing to what The Nazi's did... 
“Now if this sounds familiar, it’s what Hitler did back in the 30s,” Clinton said, according to the Press-Telegram of Long Beach. “Hitler kept saying: ‘They’re not being treated right. I must go and protect my people.’ And that’s what’s gotten everybody so nervous.”
Responding to a question submitted at the UCLA talk, Clinton said “The claims by President Putin and other Russians that they had to go into Crimea and maybe further into eastern Ukraine because they had to protect the Russian minorities, that is reminiscent of claims that were made back in the 1930s when Germany under the Nazis kept talking about how they had to protect German minorities in Poland and Czechoslovakia and elsewhere throughout Europe”  
But I just had the most vivid, mini-movie? You know when you imagine an entire moment, and see it in your mind as if it was occurring, anyway...Today's news report of the ever escalating events in the Ukraine, a map of the area, showcasing what possibly is on the horizon, specificity if no one stops, what now seems inevitable. The reformation of the Soviet Empire. A little dramatic, perhaps... And then the mini-movie began. 
The recent Russian Olympic games. Specifically, the opening and closing ceremony's. In my mind I watched as a second scene appeared, this one in black and white, that overlapped the first merging the two scenes together as one. The second scene was of the 1940's Olympic Games, and I imagined Adolf and his brethren, side-by-side with Putin and the guests at the Russian arena.
A little creepy, a little scary but mostly eye-opening. Making it more unnerving is the statements by some of the leading members of the Right Wing. Using their petty beliefs and personal ambitions to go after our Presidents policies and accomplishments. His character and worst, the ones whose tones radiate vile racist agendas. At a time when it feels like the Rise of the Iron Curtain is upon us, to have these vipers in our midst spouting off comments that can only hurt, more they will ever help our great nation. By trying to make our President into their twisted interpretation of who he really is. It is rather ironic that these so-called proud Patriots attack our President, they seem to be praising Putin. Really? What a great leader that Putin is! Lets sing his praises. Well fellas if you keep of the drum beat, maybe you better start learning Russian. Or perhaps some or all of you already speak it!
How do I say this nicely, get your heads out if your asses already! 

* To learn more about the quote above, please check out the link below.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/06/hillary-clinton-says-vladimir-putins-crimea-occupation-echoes-hitler

Just one man’s opinion
© Neil Feigeles, Neilizms, Saturday, March 8, 2014