Mind of an Airwalker

For some of you, this might be a problem, but I have to call it out. There is a systemic problem in this country with race in this country. I know that conservatives will say we are “post racial” and that people who are civil rights leaders that have been asked (whether you wish to believe it or not) to come to the places like Baltimore, or Ferguson to lead or help lead protests. I know that the right will say that these are “race baiters” and other vile things.  But it still does not change a thing: black people are still constantly being targeted by police more than whites, we are being killed by the police (not all.. please don’t think I am against all cops, because there are some genuinely great cops). 

Then, I see these posts littered throughout facebook from some of my friends from both school and just friends and they say things like “Looting: When Free things aren’t enough”. Or other things that are just so vile. My question to my friends that are on my facebook is this: Do you not see that you have African-Americans on your facebook? Hardworking, bettering themselves African Americans? The answer is simple: You don’t. Everytime that I try to post something, I think about how my friends view whatever I post, and there is copious amounts of Left Wing Propaganda I could post, but at the same time, I don’t want to just post something, and start a war on facebook, or don’t respond to something that I strongly believe in. 

For some of you, I may be a token black person on your page, or you love my daughter for some misplaced way of saying “You like black people.” I am going to share with you a story: I also was stopped by cops, in the state of Rhode Island...three times, and once in Connecticut. The first time was when I was a teenager, walking to my friend’s house, and a cop stopped me and asked where I was going, and that I fit the description of a person that was accused of stealing a purse from their house.  (I was not the one that committed this crime). In Rhode Island, my wife was speeding as she was bringing me home from her house when we were dating, and I was given a hard time from the State Police Officer and he took my information, again nothing to do with it. When I moved to Rhode Island, my first time walking around West Warwick, I was pulled into the police station and my picture was taken because I again.. .fit the description of a person committing a crime. Again, no crime was committed, and then one time in Warwick, I was with friends who were bringing me home from work and I was patted down, and I was taken out of the car because I was the only black person in a car filled with whites, and it looked suspicious, the car was searched for drugs (those of you who know me, I am not into drugs, and neither were my friends). Do you all see a pattern? 

Do you ever go on to your facebook feed, and you see images spouting untrue thoughts about people that others admire, for example... okay let’s cut to the chase, the President of the United States? What does this man have to do to prove that he’s a citizen? That he’s not Muslim. I know Muslims, I go home to my family in Connecticut and there are some in my family. 

I see pictures people post, showing “proof” that he is, for example, I saw a “video” (it wasn’t a video, it was a fake link for a conservative site) that was supposed to be a video of President of the United States prostrating in Salaat. The sad part of all of this is people will click the link, and show it to others as proof. 

It’s sad that people in this day in age hate our President. I never hated Bush, just didn’t like his policies, and the way that he acted, or not using the intelligence that he has to tell Dick Cheney that he’s not a meat puppet, and that he’d open his eyes to the people. I never turned my back on my President, no matter his policies. I disagree with Obama, just as I did with Bush, or Clinton, or George Herbert Walker Bush. But I never attacked his citizenship, or that he kissed the hands of Saudi Princes. And if I was invited to meet the President, guess what? I’m going, regardless of who is 

But those of my friends on facebook do. But that’s the point of America, we have the freedom of speech. But unlike the speech that these people of the right: my dear friends, it’s my own, and I need to say it’s really disgusting to hate someone because of his ancestry, or his mother or father’s religion (even though it’s incorrect, or his father became an atheist), or because his father or mother comes from another country. Just come clean, and say it... just say it.. you don’t like him because this is an African-American running the country! I mean his term is almost over. 

Last night, Gina Raimondo, Democrat of Rhode Island won the Governor's election from Allan Fung and Robert Healey. Last night also, I saw some of the most vile comments be said, and comments like "We are fucked..." and other things. Then, even though I supported Gina Raimondo, people said "I'm leaving the state, this is bullshit". Here's my response to this whole Gina-hate: I am not completely sold on her either. 

What I mean is this, and I will break it down using the facts one-by-one and interject my thoughts in some of the responses. (Note: I am using facts from their debate on wpri.com): 

Paying back your debts(Namely 38 Studios)- My opinion: Bad Idea that 38 Studios was allowed to borrow from the state without a referendum, or something on the ballot), but I am for paying back your debts. Raimondo stated that she was for it where both Healey and Fung were against it. Once again, you want to get your ass out of debt Pay your debts! 

Lowering the states Income tax- My opinion: It is better to have a surplus any day, than a deficit, if you don't think so, look at the debt clock for our nation. Yes, the tax is higher than my birthstate of Connecticut (6.5% for Connecticut to our 7%) but you also have to know that in Connecticut, and Massachusetts there are bottle deposit taxes on bottles, and also taxes on clothes. Gina Raimondo did not specify where both Healey and Fung both stated they opposed it. 

Decreasing the Corporate tax- My opinion: Corporations should be held to the fire when they outsource overseas, move corporate headquarters out the United States, or even do underhanded things to cheat the country. After all, according to Citizen's United, "Corporations are people too, my friend." and therefore should be handled the same way as if a person defrauded the country, or pay their fair share here. Personally this is where Raimondo, Healey, Fung and I differ: Raimondo was unsure, while Fung and Healey both supported this. Further response: It is the Middle Class who are the consumers, and the Corporations who generate the products, no matter what industry that bring jobs. Let's not forget this point. I'd be protesting this matter if Raimondo acts like a true Corporate Democrat (one that supports the notion of listening to the Corporations rather than the constituents of Rhode Island, while toting a liberal or progressive base). 

Increasing the minimum wage in Rhode Island- Currently, the State's minimum wage is 8.00 per hour, and I remember that when I came to Rhode Island it was 7.40 per hour. Let's face it, This is not a living wage. People at times have to scrape by with two or three jobs just so they can support themselves, let alone a family. Many other states have a minimum wage that is a living wage, and while Raimondo supports it, both Healey and Fung do not. Let's face facts, it's not teenagers living on this wage, it's adults that are living on it. 

Licenses to undocumented immigrants- This is major: I know it's a hot button issue, but I have to say this: while I support giving amnesty to people who are undocumented already, we have to look nationally, and we definitely need to revisit this matter immediately. I have to say that if someone is coming from a country where if they were to be deported back to would cause them to be imprisoned or killed they should be granted asylum. As a father, I can only sympathize with those who are brought here illegally trying to save their child from a life of terror, and wish nothing more than prosperity for them, and their new found home. Gina supports this fully, I do not for people who want to abuse our public systems. I believe they are there for people to raise themselves out of and give back to the system. 

Pension Reform Law- She agrees with making this happen, I don't, and others don't. This is one thing, out of the other points that have to be looked at, and talked about, and fought about and debated not just by politicians, but by regular people as well.

Instead of attacking my friends on facebook and their candidates or sending rants fueled by emotion, I just want to state this with facts. There were other facts that were there, some that were unclear or unsure of, but I just wanted to make a point.

In the words of many "If you don't vote, don't complain" and in the words of George Carlin, "If you vote , you have no right to complain." here's my take: If you vote without facts, and just emotions, you have no right to complain. The reason why I supported Gina Raimondo is because as a Progressive she was the one candidate that I saw had a view of Rhode Island that wasn't leaning towards the right. What do I mean? Let's look at Allan Fung's quote after winning the Republican Nomination for Rhode Island (paraphrasing): "Let's make Rhode Island a right to work state." What does this mean? Right to work means that unions who would collectively bargain in their jobs would have no power, and it's as Rhode Islanders are famous for saying in this market, "You get what you get." Does that work? No. All you have to do is look at Wisconsin, and their debacle with Scott Walker. Healey also leaned right, though admirably, he spent his own money to support his own candidacy. 

As far as stating that you'd actually leave the state, that is your own prerogative. Me, personally, if a job opportunity arises, I would leave, but as far as the present time, Rhode Island is my home, and I, like anyone anywhere else will stay and hope that I can somehow have my influence be heard at the statehouse, and in the country. If I don't like what I hear from her, you better believe I'll be signing petitions, marching and protesting against things that affect people in this state. This country, let alone this state does not run on a remote control. We The People have a voice, whether it is through our voices, our taxpayer dollars, or our signatures. We collectively can have an impact on what they do on Smith Hill, and in Capital Hill, even though there are those voices that say "Our voices don't matter." That is a cop-out, it's a message to discourage us from the greater mission. If that is true, then civil rights would not exist for men and women of color and different sexual orientations in this state, there had to have been people to fight for these laws, and more importantly people that said time and time again that our voice will be heard and you will listen because We The People elected you there. 

Lastly, some people say the two party system doesn't work. They're right. That's why I call myself Progressive rather than Democrat because Progressivism transcends Republican and Democrat. It was started by the early Republicans, and was stolen by Democrats as of late when Republicans went hard right. I know that there are some out there that are Progressive or Rooseveltian Progressives (Teddy Roosevelt was a Republican who became Progressive). If I see someone that is forward thinking, and look towards hearing what the people want, then I have to say that this is a person that I want running a political office, and correctly running government. There are many parties out there including the Green Party, The Moderate Party here in Rhode Island. One day, though, I hope that Rhode Island has it's own Progressive Party like in Vermont where Senator Bernie Sanders has. 

In about twenty hours, I'm going to be graduating from CCRI. It's so amazing that a school like the Community College of Rhode Island made me a better person than I could ever possibly imagine. It is surreal that two and a half years ago, I was planning to go back to college after Sam's Club closed. 

It is surreal that I worked hard, harder than I ever did in High School. Pushing myself to the limits here at CCRI, and no matter what, no matter who said it was impossible for me. Tomorrow will be the message to all the naysayers, to everyone that through hard work, and cooperation of good people, and the love and support of my wife, and others that I can accomplish the impossible. I know that this adventure is just beginning, and I know that I have a longer road to go. 

Hello From Nerd Nation in Beautiful Sunny Orlando (well..it's nighttime here in Orlando). And here I am drinking some tea, and well.. staring at a monitor and also thinking about two speeches that I may give in the coming graduation season. One of which is for an organization near and dear to my heart: Access, which is the Community College of Rhode Island's local Student Support Services division of TRiO. I owe them a lot, for if it wasn't for them, and the love and support of my wife and family, there would be no me as a student, and also not a Phi Theta Kappan, I owe them all that, and if any educator, any politician is reading this blog, and reads the words that are coming out of this, I speak from experience and from the heart, the slogan "TRiO works" is not a slogan, it's a way of life, and it is a truth beyond truths. What began as a flame, a single solitary flame, with a little nurture and love, became a full fledged firestorm of imagination, and as Stan Bush says in that great song he created back in 1986, "You can win if you dare!"

It wasn't TRiO, or family alone though, or even my own heart, but it was the power of all the teachers, my friends, and faculty members that believed in me, who made me a better student, a better person, a better leader. From Bruce Herrick, to Dr. Edmund Zuromski, who taught me to speak for myself, and gain strength and say what I want to say, to Stephanie Cruz, Gail Sidney who looked at me and saw potential, and fueled the fire, (and gave me a lot of tea and coffee in this last semester). Through all this, the most greatest achievement is something much more special: the birth of my daughter Giselle, who has fueled my passion and need to achieve that which I failed at before, and that is reaching for greatness, and doing all that I can to win and strive for my dreams, which as this time here at CCRI is finally being realized. 

So in closing, I say this one thing to all, both graduating, and also those who are moving on to four year colleges and universities, those who are still going to CCRI and those like me, who are entering their careers, and in the words of Stan Bush, I say again, "DARE! Dare to believe you can survive, you hold the future in your hands, the power is there at your command." 

When working on this latest program for Common Controls, I was trying to figure out why the program would execute correctly, the menus would come up as they were clicked on, and the right clicked controls came up as they would be clicked on, but then I discovered a flaw in the program: The clock was stopped at the time of execution. So I went through all the debugging, trying to figure out what was causing it, and after the standard 30 Minute debugging, I was just about to e-mail Mr. Basilico, when it dawned on me: The Timer. I looked back at the earlier code done in the class, and saw that the Timer was Enabled, whereas my Timer was disabled. I remedied this problem simply by reenabling the timer. 

The following is a letter to MSNBC, stylized in the way Melissa Harris-Perry would do on her show: I love MHP, she's one of my favorite people on the weekend (Next to Karen Finney) 

Dear MSNBC, 

Hi there, I am a like minded Progressive that watches your programming and a proud member of the MSNBC Community online. I was shocked to see that yesterday's talk about the NSA spying on Americans was disrupted promptly by the "breaking news" of Justin Bieber's arrest for drunk driving, Clearly, a discussion of the NSA snooping on millions of Americans is not as important as the breaking news that a singer getting arrested for drunk driving. 

This latest move from the great channel of Progressivism has shaken its commitment to the 99%, the people that dare to call themselves Liberals, Progressives, Democrats, as the alternative to the Right Wing hatemongering that Fox "News" displays, and proves that unless you are of the upper crust, you mean nothing, and that although we have the same political ideas, this channel serves as nothing more than a channel for the Corporate Elite, and the rich.

Now, I am just one voice, but I do believe this point of view that was skipped on the show Angela Mitchell Reports for this "breaking news" was irresponsible news, and furthermore, in the words of my father-in-law, it proves just what this channel, and all other 24-hour newschannel is all about: sensationalism. 

I hope that this letter finds you well, and that it makes you think about what you do in the future, and what weighs more to you: the people who turn on your programming, or the rich. Your call. 

Sincerely,