Reflections From a Murky Pond

On February 8, 2009 R & B star Chris Brown is “alleged” to have beaten and threatened to kill his girlfriend and fellow R & B artist Rihanna. The media frenzy surrounding the incident continues to this day (March 14, 2009).

The latest furor – small and localized as of yet, but it will most likely grow – is over the findings of a survey conducted by the Boston Public Health Commission in the immediate wake of the Brown v. Rihanna altercation. It seems that almost half of Boston area teens think Rihanna is to blame for the assault. Some people are dismayed by the responses of the 200 Boston youths (ages 12 to 19) surveyed last month by Boston Public Health Commission.

Among the findings:

• 71% said arguing was a normal part of a relationship
• 44% said fighting was a normal part of a relationship
• 51% said Chris Brown was responsible for the incident
• 46% said Rihanna was responsible for the incident
• 52% said both individuals were to blame for the incident
• 35% said the media were treating Rihanna unfairly
• 52% said the media were treating Chris Brown unfairly

Since 51% + 46% + 52% = 149% (!) the findings listed were either the result of separate questions or a deliberate overlap / massaging of the results by the BPHC.

Additionally, a significant number respondents in the survey said Rihanna was destroying Chris Brown’s career, and it was shown that females were no less likely than males to come to Rihanna’s defense in this matter.

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Sen. Barack Obama is here and like all personages who’ve gained “rock star” status his entourage or “posse” is here as well – and they’re doing their best to feed off of Obama’s celebrity fame. Sycophants and leeches are one of the unavoidable prices of being in the limelight; sadly such parasites often kill their host.

Obama current problem is caused by the poison dripped from the slack lipped orifice of one parasite in particular – the rapper Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris. Ludacris has released a new rap spiel entitled Politics as Usual which is also frequently referenced as Obama’s Here.

Ludacris’ “Politics as Usual” Lyrics

I’m back on it like I just signed my record deal
Yeah the best is here, the Bentley Coup paint is dripping wet, it got sex appeal
Never should have hated, You never should’ve doubted him
With a slot in the president’s iPod Obama shouted ‘em

Said I handle my biz and I’m one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I’m ever in the slammer
Better yet put me in office, make me your vice president
Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant

Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?
If you said it then you meant it how you want it head or gut?
And all you other politicians trying to hate on my man,
watch us win majority vote in every state on my man

You can’t stop what’s bout to happen, we bout to make history
The first black president is destined and it’s meant to be
The threats ain’t fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
So get off your ass, black people, it’s time to get out and vote!

Paint the White House black and I’m sure that’s got ‘em terrified
McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped
Ball up all of his speeches and just throw ‘em like candy wrap
’cause what you talking I hear nothing even relevant
and you the worst of all 43 presidents

Get out and vote or the end’ll be near
The world is ready for change because Obama is here
’cause Obama is here
The world is ready for change because Obama is here, yeah
cuz Obama is here

Two quite easily expected things happened as a direct result of Ludacris releasing his latest example of hip-hop filth: a large number of civilized people complained about Ludacris’ vile, jabbering mouthings, and Barack Obama’s campaign staff very quickly condemned the rapper’s piece and attempted to distance the Presumptive Democratic Nominee from his “friend” Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris.

As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to.

This song is not only outrageously offensive to Sen. Clinton, Rev. Jackson, Sen. McCain and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics.

– Bill Burton
Obama Campaign Spokesperson

It seems that once again the Senator’s biggest image problem is his friends and the sort of people who go to great lengths to support him – or feed off of his fame.

Stop Snitching? I would have liked to think – especially after reading the Pew Research Center Report that there would no longer be much of market for this filth. I guess I got my hopes up to soon and forgot that the new hopeful division in Black attitudes would still leave many with dangerously antisocial mindsets. I’m hoping these ghetto thugs can only market their sedition amongst their own constituency. What’s truly disturbing is that this is the sequel!

Stop Snitchin’ refers to a controversial campaign used by criminals and the hip-hop and rap industry to frighten people with information to stop “snitching,” or reporting criminal activities to the police. It’s is essentially a method of witness intimidation. This subversive and dangerous criminal phenomenon became mainstream in the hip-hop and rap communities as many rappers express support for this method. It specifically refers to a Baltimore-based home-made DVD that threatened violence against would-be informants.

Why is this atrocity allowed to continue? This isn’t – or shouldn’t be – protected Free Speech; it’s sedition and advocating and endorsing criminal acts. The people producing and disseminating this filth need to be rounded up and incarcerated.