Cleveland Councilman Zachary Reed Bears Striking Resemblance To Digital Underground's Humpty Hump

The big difference, however, is that even Digital Underground's Shock-G knew that Humpty was a joke. The Councilman hasn't caught a clue yet.

I wonder when he will realize that whenever he shows up at the bars on West 6th Street, there will be someone there to videotape his every move. Just so that the media can prove him to be a liar.

The councilman said that he frequents the bars to mingle with his constituents. Even if you ignore the fact that his ward's western-most boundary is East 93rd Street, you cannot overlook the fact that whenever he sees a black female while on the prowl, ahem, while mingling, his face sours as if he has just gotten a whiff of his political career.

Poor, poor misguided Zack.

Maybe he should have to use the breathalizer before voting in City Council meetings also. I would hate for him to make a mistake on the behalf of the citizens of Ward 3. It's obviously important for him to represent them well and get a good sense of what they need since he visits W.6 so often to get a feel for them.

So, for Zack, here are the lyrics to My favorite Digital Underground song Humpty Dance

The Humpty Dance
Digital Underground

Aa'it stop whatcha doin' cause I'm about to ruin
the image and the style that ya used to.
I look funny, but yo I'm makin' money so listen up world I hope you're ready for me.
Now gather round, I'm the new fool in town
and my sound's laid down by tha Underground.
I drink up all the Hennessee ya got on ya shelf so just let me introduce myself.
My name is Humpty, pronounced with an umpty.
Oh ladies oh how I like to frumpty,
and to the rappers in the top ten, please allow me to bumpty.
I'm steppin' tall y'all and just like Humpty Dumpty you're gonna fall
when the stereos pump me.
I like to rhyme I like my beef funky. I'mspunky. I like my oatmeal lumpy.
I'm sick with this. Straight gangsta mack. But sometimes I get ridiculous.
I eat up all tha crackers and tha licorace.
Hey yo fatgirl commere are ya ticklish?
Yeah, I called ya fat, look at me I'm skinny.
It never stopped me from gettin' busy.
I'm a freak. I likethe girls with the boom.
I once got busy in a Burger King bathroom.
I'm crazy. Allow me to amaze thee.
They say I'm ugly but it just don't faze me.
I'm still gettin' in tha girls pants and I even got my own dance.

(chorus)
The Humpty Dance is your chance to do tha hump. Ohh do me baby.
Do theHumpty Hump. Ohh ohh do me baby. Do the Humpty Hump.
Do ya know whatwere doin'? Were doin' the Humpty Hump yall.
Watch me do the HumptyHump. Just keep on doin' tha Hump.

People say "yo, Humpty you're really funny lookin'"
That's aaiit 'cause my body's in motion.
You stare, you glare, you try to compare me, but ya can't get near me.
I'm on the floor, bein' at the bars and see all the ladies adore me.
Oh yes ladies I'm really bein' sincere 'cause in the 69 my Humpty nose will tickle your rear.
My nose is big. Uh uh I'm not ashamed, big like a pickle, I'm still gettin' paid.
I'm gettin' laid by the ladies, you know I'm in charge.
Note how I'm livin' and my nose is large.
I get stupid. I shoot an arrow like cupid. I use aword that don't mean nuttin' like loopded.
I sang in Dowhatchalike and if ya missed it,
I'm the one that said "just grab 'em in tha biskets".
I also told you that I like to bite well yeah, I guess that's obvious Ialso like to write.
All ya have ta do is give Humpty a chance and now I'm gonna do my dance.

(chorus)

Oh yeah, that's the breaks. Let me get a little of this base grooveright here.
A dooreaar dooreah dooreaar dooreah.
Ah yeah, now I told y'all a little about myself, lemme tell y'all a little about this dance.
It's real easy to do, check it out.
First I limp to tha sounds like my legs is broken,
shakin' and twitchen' kinda like I was smokin' crazywhack funky.
People say you look like MC Hammer on crack Humpty.
That's aaiit 'cause my body's in motion. It's supposed to look like a fit or a convulsion.
Anyone can play this game. It's my dance y'all Humpty Hump's my name.
No two people will do it the same, ya got itdown, when you appear to be in pain.
Humpin' funkin' jumpin' gig around shakin' your rump
and when a dude or chump ups and points a finger like a stump
you tell him to step off I'm doin' the hump.

(chorus)
Puerto Ricans do the Humpty Hump
Samoans do the Humpty Hump
Let's get stupid
gimme the music, do the Humpty Hump

And to all the ladies, peace and Humptiness forever.

Peace.

Judge Gaul Says Unwed Mothers Root of All Cleveland Ills

This is an article from Friday's paper. The news video of the judge dogging this woman played on Thursday night. I could not believe what I was seeing and hearing. I searched for the video link, but couldn't find it. So, first the article,and then the commentary.






Cleveland mom gets prison for slicing ear of her infant
Friday, September 22, 2006
James F. McCarty Plain Dealer Reporter

A judge sentenced Tonya Edwards to four years in prison Thursday for slicing the ear of her young son.
Edwards, 35, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to felonious assault at a hearing in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
She initially denied cutting the ear of Micah Belcher Jr., who was 10 months old at the time of the June incident. But after being pressed by Judge Daniel Gaul, she confessed to the crime.

She said she was arguing with the boy's father when she snatched the child away from him and ran into the kitchen. Then, she cut her son.
"I slashed him . . . I don't know [why]," she said. "I wasn't trying to cut his ear off. I might have been trying to cut his father."
Doctors used 15 stitches to repair the boy's ear.
Gaul criticized Edwards for giving birth to nine children with six different fathers - none of whom was her husband. She has four convictions for drug abuse.
Children and Family Services took custody of Micah and all her other children because of neglect and abuse.
"Tonya Edwards is the poster child for unwed mothers and irresponsible parents," Gaul said. "I pray that you don't have any more children."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
jmccarty@plaind.com, 216-999-4153

WELL, ALRIGHT THEN!

I wonder if Judge Daniel Gaul has any idea how many single mothers vote. It's amazing how everyone gets lumped into the same category for the sanctimonious to sit on their soap boxes. How many men have been asked how many children they have fathered, by how many women, and if they are financially responsible for them? I would bet that Gaul has never had the gall to ask even one. But, he surely could not help but grandstand when faced with a woman with a history of drug abuse.
Surely, his judgment is better than to believe that this woman is the reason Cleveland is the poorest city in the nation. To my recollection, there has never been an unwed mother to head the Board of Education, nor be Mayor of our down-trodden town. Clearly, Cleveland is ill-prepared to compete with the rest of the nation, let alone prepared to be a part of a global market; but does that burden really rest on the poor? I would suggest that it is not the poor who are the problem, but a symptom, or side effect, if you will, of a much larger problem. It takes a village to succeed or to fail.
Anyone who abuses or neglects children should have their parental rights severed. Drug abusers need assistance, and that right to assistance should not ever override the well-being of the children. The punishment should fit the crime, but clearly this woman has enough on her shoulders without the added burden of being the sole reason for the failure of this city.
There are thousands of unwed mothers who work hard, love their children, and are law abiding citizens. Most of these women will never see the inside of a criminal court room. Clearly, the problem with the city will have to be found without the use of classism, sexism, and racism.

The link will take you to a video of Judge Gaul in action. http://www.newsnet5.com/news/9905115/detail.html#

Pope Benedict XVI Suffering from Gibson's Diseaes

Is Pope Benedict XVI on crack? Isn't the fire of religious fervor burning hot enough? Did he really have to add C4? Is it arrogance that takes over, or is it that people just cannot help kicking the underdog?


I mean, really, he just jumped on the Mel Gibson train and took it all the way to the end of the line. Obviously, the head of the Catholic Church is going to have a point of view that differs from the followers of other religions. But, most of the problems would be remedied if people could just be diplomatic. I mean, there are lots of catholics who disagree with some of the views of the church, and there are lots of people who still refer to their preists as "Father", and not "Pedophile/Predator", so I say popes who live in glass Vaticans....I must have missed Ben's comments about that. Is he really surprised that his apology was not accepted, he did not apologize for his outrageous remarks, only for the response to his remarks. "Wow, I'm sorry that 'those people' got upset about my words". He sure sounds contrite to me. It's amazing to see such short-sighted arrogance. He must have learned from our president.

The sad part is that so many people agree with this twisted, and prejudiced view-point. Any time you judge all of a group by the actions of a few, you are making a huge mistake.

Peace be with you.

What Year Is This?

Isn't it 'funny' how some conversations are timeless. Things just do not change as rapidly as you would think. While browsing the news on msn.com, I noticed a category called "Race in America." The article begins with a description of a lawyer, who is garrulous and talks with his hands. He is 6' 7" tall and black. 'Many people find him threatening. He works hard to prove otherwise.'

And right there, I'm lost. Why is he threatening, because he is tall, his profession, no because he is a black man. His very being is threatening. It does not matter that he is intelligent, accomplished, just that he is black. I would say his height adds to it, but that is such a small issue that it really is a non-issue. He could be 4' 8" and still be 'threatening'. But my question is why is he the one who has to work hard to prove otherwise.

Yes I know that he has to make a living, may have to wine and dine clients or the boss, but they are not saying he is inarticulate, crass, bigoted, or anything except black and male.

No, I am not some Pollyanna who was unaware how difficult it is to walk around in this world. I live in beautiful "copper tone" skin that the world translates as otherwise. It is just frustrating. Infuriating. It makes me want to scream and cry and throw things. But, that would just mean that the stereotypes about my skin are true, wouldn't it. Oh, it is so confining to live in skin that defines without ever saying or doing anything. It is a damnation to the rest of the world. And, if one should dare express an honest and well-earned frustration about the absolute unfairness of it all, then it means you have too much rage and must calm down. It is never viewed as a fair and understandable reaction to an unfair and irrational assumption that is shoved down your throat, day in and day out.

Why should I have to keep a smile plastered on my face because I don't want to be viewed as an angry black woman? To be frank, there are days when I get angry. Not everyday. Not always. It is not an indictment on every other black person just because I may challenge you for some bullshit that you try to shove down my throat because you are ignorant. How is it OK to lump people together.

I love in the suburbs. I am brown-skinned with long (beautiful) dreadlocks. Today, I went to the market. When I walked in the 'store security' officer was staring at me. Not, 'hey, good evening', but 'oh, look, here come the usual suspects.' I was in the store for about 20 minutes when I made it over to the lotion. Who comes into the aisle, very interested in toothpaste but 'Officer Friendly', I just looked at him like he was nuts. I continued to hunt and gather, and remarkably, he decided he did not need toothpaste just as soon as I left the aisle.

BULLSHIT.

Whatever, he thought he was looking at, I am not it.

What an asshole.

ASSHOLE.

Whatever. I hope he doesn't get hurt by the real thing one day, obviously he hasn't a clue what to look for. It's sad for us all.

I guess in his mind dreadlocks don't say taxpayer, but that is just too bad for him. I was hoping he would say something to me. But he thought he was being intimidating.

I work with 'da po-lice', I am not easily intimidated.

Maybe I am supposed to put on a nice blond wig before I go shopping.

I guess it just proves that you cannot change human nature. People will always look down on others to make themselves feel better.

What year is this?

Peace.

Inhumanity: A Prayer

I received an email with a picture of a famished toddler in Sudan struggling to make it to food, with a vulture some yards behind her,waiting for her to die. The point of the email was that we cannot ignore the plight of others. After the photo it had a supposed diary entry that seemed too contrived so I decided to look for information on the photographer. The photographer, Kevin Carter only scared off the vulture after waiting to get a perfect shot, he did not help the girl. Kevin Carter won a Pulitzer for this photo, and a few months after receiving the award he committed suicide.

I understand that for a photojournalist there is a fine line they must walk. Often they are witnessing history. Do you get the shot or do you intervene? But we are all human first. I do not fault him for getting a heartrending shot. The fault is that he did not see his subject as human, just as a shot. The fault is in not reacting to that which is heartrending. If you see her struggling to get to food that just might keep her alive another day, would you turn your back to her and leave her to muster the strength on her own?

My focus is not on Kevin Carter, he has been dead since July of 1994. The point is to look at it, frankly and honestly. What could you do to help her if you were a witness to her struggle? Can you even see her as being just as human as you? Would you help your daughter, niece, cousin, sister, a stranger? Is she less worthy of life because of where she was born, because of the color of her skin, because she cannot call out to you?

Bless us all. I pray that I never walk by someone who is mustering their last to just get through the day and fold my hands rather than offer some help. I pray that I am aware enough to see.

Lord, Please bless us all.

Peace.