Monday, July 22, 2013

Obama, Trayvon Martin Could Have Been Me

Shame on you Barack Obama! 
Your speech “Trayvon Martin could have been me” is reprehensible, 
although you did say one thing I actually agree with and that is 
“that it hasn’t been productive when politicians organize conversations”.
 In case you have forgotten you are a politician and your conversation about this has certainly NOT been productive.



 Do you really believe that “black folks” are the only ones who could ever understand inequality? Do you actually think your civil rights double speak is really   “contributing to the peace, and security, and order that we’d like to see?”


Do you think only “black folks” are racially profiled? I am white and I feel racially profiled by you! 


Do you really think Afro American boys are the only ones in the nation who need help? Are they the only ones who need to feel their country cares about them, and values them, and is willing to invest in them?


Ask yourself your own questions, “Am I wringing as much bias out of myself as I can?  Am I judging people as much as I can, not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character?”


Can’t you see your own racial tendencies?


Your comments were slanted, biased, and racially charged.  How does this promote unity?


How can you state in good conscience that “those of us in authority should be doing everything we can to encourage the better angels of our nature as opposed to using these episodes to heighten divisions?”


Didn’t you just contribute to the unrelenting media slant whose primary cause is to stir up the people and cause contention with one another?  Is it by keeping us in a state of unrest that you practice more fully your unrighteous dominion over us, the “less than perfect Union”?


Again I say, put away the race card and let’s look truthfully at what is happening here. 
(That is, if truth is even a thing that can be found.)

And on that note... here is a video that MUST be seen. 


Monday, July 15, 2013

Federal Civil Rights Prosecution Zimmerman-Martin Case

It's been a really long time since I have been on my "soapbox" but after watching the closure of the 210 freeway in LOS ANGELES this morning on the news, because of marching protesters, angry over the verdict of the Zimmerman/Martin case in FLORIDA, I simply had to jump in on the fuss.

I believe that Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman are both victims in this sad affair. It is sad when any person, regardless of race, is lost due to violence of any kind.  My heart goes out to all of the family and friends who are effected on both sides of this tragedy.

I happen to believe in the current justice system that we uphold as a nation, flawed as it is, it is the best out there. The prosecutions duty was to provide evidence beyond a shadow of a doubt that Zimmerman murdered Martin, and did not act in self defense.  They obviously did not provide that evidence.  Period... the end. Then why has this turned into a national crisis over "civil rights"?
Anything to divide. That is the job of the media.

Perspective given by the media.

I posted the following in a Facebook status update:

Seriously, please put away the "civil rights" movement card and the "racism" card as well. This is the United States and we have a black president for heavens sake.

My favorite response came from my son:

Racism does still exist, but it is primarily contained to the hearts of individuals! It is not an institution that is systemic today warranting the same actions as the noble men and women who lead the struggle for civil rights in the US in the 50's-60's! Is the system perfect? NO. Can it be improved? OF COURSE. But today we live in a nation where any ethnicity can become a CEO, Millionaire, Celebrity, or even President of the United States. Today there are probably more intercultural and interracial marriages and unions than any other time in the history of our country. Today a person can improve on their situation no matter their socioeconomic situation, race, or sexual orientation if they are individually motivated and desire to do so! 

So why then are people marching in the name of civil rights and equality across the nation?! Because one person was killed by another person? Whether his death was justifiable or not, it can not be classified the same as the martyrs of the great civil rights movement. When I first heard about the Trayvon Martin case from different media outlets it conjured an image in my mind of an African American child, maybe 11, being gunned down by an old white man who followed him from a store or something in like manner. From images and posts I have seen, I am clearly not the only one who had such an image in their mind. Unfortunately this image is simply not true. In reality, Treyvon was not as young, innocent, or helpless as made out to be and Zimmerman is not the hood-wearing, racist, champion of the white supremacists as he has been made out to be. In fact, I doubt that any white supremest group would even grant him entrance into their twisted backwoods clubs let alone membership! It seems to me that it was two grown men whose individual prejudices resulted in a confrontation that resulted in the tragic death of a young man. It appears to me that both men were neither saints, nor solely responsible for the altercation. Fortunately for Zimmerman and unfortunately for Treyvon's family and loved ones the tragic altercation didn't leave enough evidence for a jury to convict Zimmerman of a crime beyond reasonable doubt. 

This isolated incident has sparked racial tension across the country only because of the media and other public figures like Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, who need to the feed the fire in order to stay relevant in an ever increasing tolerant world! These once great men who learned at the feet of Dr. King and marched for equality have outlived their usefulness and instead of promoting peace and greater tolerance sew the seeds of discrimination and divisiveness in order to glorify their own personal profiles and agendas. And the various media outlets of today only increase the tension by spinning lies and contention to sell a story. These people are the real villains!

 Case and point the carefully planned timing of denouncing Paula Dean because of her admittedly racist comments made 20 years ago. Very opportunistic of the media to place this story in the forefront of everyone's minds just prior to a nationally publicized trial that had been racially charged due to media hype! It is ok to decimate the career of a repentant former racist to justify the means of selling a national story of the need for more civil rights for equality!? What possible outcome can come from people rioting, or marching, or protesting the Zimmerman verdict across the nation? Greater equality in the nation or more fame to the aforementioned parties? I doubt it will change the hearts of individuals in the fight for people to judge other based on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.

 I have read African American celebrities posts saying "obviously they don't care about us" and "We have to take care of our children!" Presumably they're not talking about all American children but African American children. Who are "They" and who is "Us"? This doesn't help promote the civil rights that came at an extremely high cost! This doesn't help people of all ethnicities come together and break down prejudices and other barriers for equality. This doesn't teach the next generation of Americans to be a little more tolerant and a little less racist than each generation before them! 

So what then, does it accomplish!? Put the "civil rights" flag down and go serve your neighbor no matter what they look like! Teach your children to have friends of all shapes, colors, cultures and religions! The ultimate definition of equality can only exist when everyone is able to eradicate prejudices from their hearts. That will happen individually, not collectively at an organized demonstration. It has to happen in our homes and in our families in order for it to happen in our hearts.

 Division will never end racism. It happens in our homes, in our families, and most of all in our hearts.  Love that kid!

Current.http://news.yahoo.com/zimmerman-protesters-raid-la-store-stop-freeway-072536291.html

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Saying Goodbye to World Peace

Amnesty?
It is rumored that the Los Angeles Lakers will use
their one time only "Amnesty Clause" to give 
Metta World Peace,
the player formerly known as Ron Artest Jr.,
a swift kick to the curb.
TheForestLab.com
 Imagine for one moment you are currently employed with a salary of 
7.7 million dollars and suddenly find yourself out of a job.
(Do you file for unemployment?)
I seriously feel bad for the guy.
Thank goodness I invested in this...
   I can tell you one thing for sure, his after game interviews
were my favorite part of the whole game....

 Peace Out!


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Trouting

Trouting

Remember the short lived craze of Planking?


Well, move over Planking and make room for the newest craze
Trouting
"One Fish"
"Two fish"
 

"Red fish, Blue fish"






One may ask, "How did this craze begin?"








 The Trouting phenomena began because of the 
Angels superstar  baseball player, Mike Trout.
Mike Trout, aka "The Millville Meteor", 
has won the hearts of
many a fan of the 
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and 
was even awarded 2012:Rookie of the Year.


Will the phase last?
Only time will tell...
If it will "catch" on.

Shirt available at The Forest Lab
 



Monday, June 24, 2013

Been Trill

Been Trill  

 Slang fascinates me.
It really does.
I don't know why.
But I am fascinated by it.

So when I stumbled across this new term, 
"been trill",
I simply had to figure out what it meant.

Interestingly enough it is so fresh
it hasn't even been defined in
Urban Dictionary.

Perhaps the reason is because
wants it to be a mystery. 
You see, once again Virgil Abloh
teaming up with Matthew William, and Heron Preston
have created a clothing line called
Perhaps part of the mystic that their company desires
is in not knowing exactly what it means...
Or maybe it's a secret that only
a select few knows?

Well... at any rate...

Been Trill 

is a mash up of two words- 
true and real.

true + real= trill

So if you been trill it means you have been true and real.
You don't bend with every new idea that comes along.
You have stayed "true to your craft" or
"true to your self".
 You are not influenced by peer pressure.
You are your own person. 
You are not a sell out.

The Forest Lab is been trill.

Oh yeah... someone said it originated in
Texas!
Figures.. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Free Jake Shuttlesworth for Game 7

That Spike Lee

He Got Game!

With the NBA playoffs in full swing,
EVERYBODY is talking about 
the upcoming GAME 7.

The question is on everybody's mind...
Will it be Miami or San Antonio?
The Heat or The Spurs?

After watching Game 6...
my guess is it's anybody's game. 

If you are on Twitter you might have noticed the new hash tag,
#FreeJakeShuttlesworth

Ray Allen who plays for the Heat also Co-starred
with Denzel Washington, 
in a Spike Lee film called
He Got Game.

In the movie Allen plays Jesus Shuttleworth, a top ranked basketball player
being courted by different colleges to play for them.
His father, Washington, plays Jake Shuttlesworth who is in prison for killing his wife.
Jake is temporarily released from prison by the governor so that he
can influence his son Jesus to go to the governor's Alma mater.  


For Thursday's game the Heat needs to bring it.
They need to #FreeJakeShuttlesworth

As for Ray Allen, it seems that #JesusSaves 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Johnny Cupcakes

Johnny Cupcakes

In the street wear scene there are a few 
companies that have become so popular that
they have an actual cult following.

One of these companies is called
Johnny Cupcakes.



It could be because cupcakes just seemed
Or
It could be due to the sheer genius of
the creator of Johnny Cupcakes,
Johnny Earle.


I vote for the second option... how about you?

At any rate... he is one to watch...very closely.