Clinton & Modern Day Imperialism & Colonialism

First, let me applaud President Bill Clinton for having the courage and gumption to admit the error (I would like to say malice, albeit unintentional) in our foreign aid policies. As Clinton stated, "We all blew it, including me when I was president...Food is not a commodity like others. We should go back to a policy of maximum food self-sufficiency. It is crazy for us to think we can develop countries around the world without increasing their ability to feed themselves." By treating food crops as commodities instead of as a vital right of the world's poor, we have in effect castrated agricultural self-sufficiency. This is particularly egregious in nations with regimes of dictatorship, corruption, and coercion, which unfortunately are the norm in Africa. Let me also, applaud President George W. Bush for having the foresight and the integrity to introduce legislation which would have positively altered this policy.

Please allow me to impart the wisdom of the statements that will follow through this cursory history lesson. During much of modern history, that is, for the 15th - 20th centuries, imperialism and colonialism were the paramount "diplomatic" strategies of European nations. The American Heritage Dictionary in essence defines imperialism as extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations. It defines colonialism as "a policy by which a nation maintains or extends its control over foreign dependencies". The British, the Dutch, Germans, French (not an exhaustive list)--all of the world's most powerful nations exercised such policies and successfully garnered control of many African, South American, and Asian nations. Just Google Cecil Rhodes for whom Rhodesia was named (now Zimbabwe), or the Sepoy Mutiny to get a picture of the gravity of these policies. Colonialism and Imperialism are the very policies which have resulted in the Haitis of today.

I'm certain that most would find my analogy of imperialism/colonialism to our foreign aid policies a bit too grave, but let's call a spade a spade. By the very definition provided by the American Heritage Dictionary or any other reputable reference of your choosing, we are in effect extending our authority by the establishment of an obvious economic hegemony through the elimination of agricultural subsidies & education in poor nations. Moreover, we have been acting to strengthen agricultural output in our own nation by requiring that all aid be from our coffers. The result has been, as you would certainly understand it if you are familiar with our subsidies to US farmers, agricultural, economic, political, diplomatic, social, and philanthropic (for the sake of image) rise for our nation.

For the nations receiving the aid, we provided them with the proverbial fish and fed them for symbolically a day, and literally for a few days. What we have failed to do, is empower and educate these nations and their people towards self-sufficiency. Like the days of overt colonialism and imperialism, we have executed policies which are inherently designed to drive other nations towards dependency on foreign governments. You have so many ignoramuses, who will cry aloud in anger as to why these countries or those people cannot help themselves. They have not been given the tools necessary to do so. We deprived them of not only the fishing lesson, but the rod as well.

The Tooth Fairy...

and other mythical creatures or legends. Like so many other Americans, I was reared in the Xian tradition. Everything about my family was pretty typical--enormous Thanksgiving meals, Easter dresses and ring curls, and of course Xmas. Included in these traditions are the figures of myth and legend that are infused in the lives of children--figures with whom we become more familiar than some of our actual relatives.

Every Easter for perhaps the first decade of my life the Easter Bunny visited my home and left a basket full of goodies that surely contributed to my adolescent weight problem (along with the every other day Suzy Qs). My older cousins teased me with tales of the Boogey Man, the Tooth Fairy and of course there was Santa Claus.

My husband and I decided before embarking upon parenting that we would not impose such farces upon our children. They are the foundation of lying. How are we to impart honesty within our children if we compose and or participate in the grandest of lies to our children? Moreover, why would we want to give credit to mythical beings for our laborious efforts?

I recall so vividly the devastation of learning there was not Santa. I lie. It didn't really matter, nor did it leave even the slightest impression. I actually pitied my mother who had worked so diligently to maintain the charade for so many years and yet, I was elated to see the relief on her face that she would no longer have to continue it. Now she could relish in all the much deserved credit for the gifts I'd received. So, no, we do not lie to our children about some fat dude sliding down our chimney with frankincense and myrrh. We don't even purchase gifts for Xmas. Engaging in that sham is the greatest marketing ploy ever, but I digress. Saving that for the special Xmas edition.

Well, we stood our ground firmly until our beloved child with XX chromosomes lost her first tooth. Typically, I'm rather steadfast in such affairs, but for whatever reason, I lost composure. I thought of how much I might rob our children because of my chastisement of the establishment, my abhorrence of insane tradition. Had I sentenced my children to lives of complete depravity all for my personal need to appear rational?

I thought long and hard (long enough for that tooth to fall out) and decided to surrender this once. I recalled how much joy believing in magic brought me. How ecstatic I seemed to always be to believe in the myth of the Tooth Fairy honoring my transition from baby teeth to permanent ones. I want my children to experience this kind of myth that isn't steeped in religious dogma and mortal damnation. Yes, the Tooth Fairy is the safer legend. And for a little while, before her life spins into an oblivion of the real world, my daughter can believe. My son can too if his roots ever lose the kung fu grip they have on his teeth.

Photo Blog

If you have a Negro child, you will surely relate. No time or cerebral capacity to write tonight, so enjoy the photo blog of my evening. I shampooed Six's hair tonight and no Mom, I did not cut Five's faux hawk.

Okay, so I am unable to even organize the photos in the right order. So, it begins with the fro and ends with the drink.

ta da.

A King's Prey

As a child and now as an adult, I thoroughly enjoy National Geographic. My grandmother would bring me the magazines and I would study the habits of creatures not very different from us. Lions and hyenas have been a particular fascination for me. Specifically the juxtaposition of their hunting styles, the respect or lack thereof they display for their prey. These two animals' hunting rituals mimic the preying rituals of their kingdom cousins--the human male and their female preying rituals.

Let's begin with the hyena. The hyena is a scavenger, an ugly creature which typically feasts upon the remains of other predators. There is no real selection, no ultimate design or honor in its method. It preys upon the stench of death in the same fashion that lesser men prey upon weak and vulnerable women so they can further mutilate the spirit of an already spiritually decapitated woman. This is its nature, its role in the circle of life. This behavior is expected of the hyena. For the men who exhibit these behaviors, there must be no greater expectation. They are who they are and I do not fault them. I fault the women who lay in waiting for them. The ones who release the scent of frailty--the scent that beckons to be devoured by the lowly hyena.

The lion, though it will scavenge, is a majestic beast of legend. It lay in wait as part of its pride's strategy to capture and voraciously consume the fruits of its labor. Though it too will search a pack of animals for its weakest member, it still engages in the hunt. In its chase it demonstrates its prowess, the reason for its reputation. The deftness in its tact and the potency of its jaws strike fear in many prey and submission in its mates. This is what you expect of the lion. You expect the chase. You expect to be caught, labored after. You aren't rotting leftovers, you are a feast.

At the end of the day, men will prey. Whether they are scavengers or predators depends upon the prey. Any self respecting woman would rather be hunted and feasted upon by the lion--the king, the one who makes it his endeavor in life to bring the game of predator and prey. What woman wants to be the meal of some slovenly hyena that primarily seeks death?

I provide this analogy for someone who is very dear to me. She waits, spiritually defeated --attracting the bottom rungs of the animal kingdom providing no challenge to the lowly predators. Why not be subdued by higher forms? If you are going to be the prey, be the prey of the lion, a respected beast. Be chased, be a challenge, a feast. Make him work for you. I don't say this to belittle anyone. Men will hunt; it is their nature. Some are hyenas, some are lions and surely a few in between. Be the spoils of victory--well designed strategy, not the spoiling carcass of defeat. Until you resurrect your spirit, you will only attract those seeking death.

Be a king's prey.

Is the Thrill Gone?

What happens to people, particularly women when they marry? Why do they suddenly become old maids? Why do men suddenly become sports watching couch potatoes? This homeliness that sets in must be to what B.B. King is referring when he sings The Thrill Is Gone. Couples frequently reminisce about the times of fun and spontaneity they experienced before they exchanged the "I Do" shackles. Does the weight of a marriage license and all the responsibilities it entails preclude fun and enjoyment? I encounter so many couples who do absolutely nothing with friends that they did before they married. I've heard that this is the way it must be. It seems so silly to me. Why marry someone only to have them change into someone else?

My husband still hangs with his same crew--some members married, well most members unmarried, one married. They still do the same things--clubbing, football games, card games, and cook-outs. I still hang with my same crew--most divorced or contemplating it, one married, two single (not counting divorcees). We still kick it the same as before--clubbing, shopping, girls' night outs, etc. It is a release. It is a necessity. It keeps us sane. We didn't become different people because we said I do. We only became committed to each other, not committed to a life of boredom and insecurity. A colleague remarked once at how fortunate I am to have a husband who does not hound me about where I've been and with whom. "Fortunate", I thought?? Is this not the norm? Why are women with insecure men? At the end of the day, I'm a GAW (Grown Ass Woman) and he is a GAM (Grown Ass Man). We do not live with our parents, nor do they provide any financial security for us. Hence, we are not obligated to answer for our actions. What this gets down to is trust and respect. Why live with someone whom you are unable or unwilling to trust? Where is the peace in that? Without a peace of mind, there is nothing.

An acquaintance is in the midst of some drama with her husband who returned from a guy's weekend hurling accusations of lying and emotional indiscretions. Seriously, I have little tolerance of such crap. My husband and I have an understanding, a mutual trust. I'm not going to fore go fun because you don't trust me. Bounce. Be out. Don't holler back. I'm a GAW. Believe what you want to believe. I shall not dignify insanity with a response. I am not responsible for any one's insecurities or shortcomings. How 'bout that?

That's all I have to say about that.

The Unnatural Disaster

It is impossible to visit any news site, read any newspaper, or sit in any shop without encountering at least one conversation about the financial crisis. People are discussing it as though it formed out of thin air. No one is willing to acknowledge their culpability in this. Ignorance is no excuse for many of those who benefited for they were well informed of the risks of playing the housing market. Flippers multiplied like fleas and everyone was taking their slice of American Pie. The banks are certainly complicit in this debacle. Every day became Christmas for even those with sub par credit. The Federal Reserve even joined in and "made it rain" like Lil Wayne dropping interest rates like they were hot. Where is Alan Greenspan now? Who is that you ask? Well instead of following Obama as if he is the messiah, perhaps it would better serve you to become more acquainted with the powers controlling the money. Now, poor Ben Bernanke has inherited a mess not entirely of his making.

What is important now is where we go from here? What lessons have we learned? These are lessons we supposedly learned following The Great Depression. As Dave Ramsey says, "Cash is king." Yet, we continue to favor leverage or debt over reason. I predict, that we'll learn and exercise this lesson for a little while that is until our impulses once again override our sense of reason. We must acknowledge the fact that humans are very emotional beings. Though we would like to believe we act rationally, every action is the result of either a motivation or a barrier. This financial mess has been motivated by a need to belong, a need to feel like a successful person, the kind of father or mother that can "do it big"--this culture of materialism.

My greatest sympathies go to the already disadvantaged and disenfranchised who will be further pushed into the oblivion of socio-economic despair by more stringent lending practices. These practices would be good for all if an educational and economic framework existed which imparted the wisdom of financial management. However, with a multi-billion dollar war and now a multi-billion dollar bail out, where are we to get the money for that?