Oscar Grant: A Case of Pre Meditated Murder?

I've been thinking a lot about the issue of Oscar Grant, watching the YouTube clips over and over again and wondering what could have gone on in the police man's mind and make him reach the conclusion that it was alright to reach for his gun, cock it, and shoot Oscar Grant in the back. I know about police brutality. We see it on the news almost every day. But this was not a case of police brutality. This was a case of cold blooded murder. What is worse, was the excuse given. To me, mistaking a gun for a taser would have been the same thing as mistaking a gun for a cell phone. That is beyond ludicrous to me. They do not look or feel the same, they do not work the same way, you do not hold them the same way let alone in the same hand and you surely do not get up to position yourself, and cock it if it's a damn taser! This officer should be sentenced for first degree cold blooded murder!

CAUSE Kids: A Campaign to "Save" Africa

I don't usually post twice in one day but I just had to. Check it out.

"The perfect gift will not be under your tree this year, it will be in West Africa. Give the gift of lasting joy to an African family." (http://www.causekids.ca/christmas2008)

It's outrageous I know, but it is also a real advertisement. Targeted at "good" Canadian families who "really want to make a difference" and "help save Africa." Well, you know what? We don't need saving, let alone "lasting joy" from you! A couple of months ago, the New Scientist Magazine (not that I'm a big fan of science) reported a survey on the happiest people in the world and you know who they turned out to be? Nigerians! YES! Surprise surprise! NOT North America, or Europe or Australia, but NIGERIA! So really, African families don't need your gift of "lasting joy" ok? And then the BBC article on the survey says "The survey confirms money does not buy happiness." As if we didn't know that already. Unfortunately, CAUSE Kids is not the only problematic organization around. I see so many advertisements like these on an everyday basis calling out for people to help and save Africa. Most international and non-governmental organizations have very problematic ideologies that only feed and foster the oppression of people from non-western countries. And frankly, I'm getting really sick of it. If you want to take a look at the article on the survey I've posted a link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3157570.stm

Riding the Rocket is NOT the better way!

NO ONE should have to wait one whole hour for a bus! Especially on a cold cold snowy winter's night! Yuh heard?! Last night I thought my toes would literally freeze up. And they almost did. This particular bus that I take home everyday is notorious for keeping people waiting but yesterday I think it must have hit it's best record yet with ONE HOUR! Well, in actuality there were two buses in one hour. The first one arriving after thirty five minutes quickly filled up as was to be expected and who knew the next one would take so damn long?! Downtown for goodness sake? And what makes this whole thing worse, is that it is not an irregular occurrence. Some particular streetcars are also infamous for this! Arriving after half an hour and all three of them turning out to be suddenly full! It's absolutely ridiculous! Can anybody say structural violence?? The TTC system really needs to be revamped so that it can actually work! Because as of now, it's not working and Riding the Rocket is definitely NOT the better way! I don't know why anybody who has the power to do something about it, does not realize this. Probably because they don't have to take the TTC on a regular basis. I am up to my neck sick of waiting and waiting in the cold for that long! Especially now that temperatures are dropping. What are people supposed to do? Seriously, the TTC needs to get it's act together! The current one is growing old and it won't be too long before people have had enough.

The World’s Greatest Poet

You say the World’s greatest poet is William Blake
I say the World’s greatest poet is a sistah with no name

You say the World’s greatest writer is Shakespeare
I say the World’s greatest writer is Zora

You proclaim Karl Marx to be the World’s greatest theorist
I proclaim Audre Lorde

You say the World's greatest speaker was Martin Luther King
I say it was Sojourner Truth

You insist on giving me Rudyard Kipling and T.S Elliot and Walt Whitman
But what about all my African sistahs whose voices were stolen from them?
What about the pieces of scrap paper on which they struggled to write on?
While their husbands beat them mercilessly
And their colonizers brutally raped them
What about them?
What about them?

You say the World’s greatest poet is William Blake
I say the World’s greatest poet is a sistah with no name