this is… The Neighborhood
the Story within the Story
THE RIGHTEOUS JUXTAPOSITION OF THE PUSILLANIMOUS KIND
“The greatest talkers in the days of peace
have been the most pusillanimous
in the day of temptation.” – Jeremy Taylor
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from Sidewalk musik
You Against Yourself
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THE RIGHTEOUS JUXTAPOSITION
OF THE PUSILLANIMOUS KIND
by Kendall F. Person
In 1831, an enslaved man named Nat Turner would accomplish the unthinkable. Galvanizing 70 other enslaved men, and no longer believing life was worth living in chains, in a violent and deadly clash, they rebelled. As many as 60 white people were slaughtered, however, rather they were slave owners, racist or abolitionist of the American Institution of Slavery is unknown, as is how the team of backers were chosen. But what is known is that 2 months later, when Nat Turner was captured and hung, the pusillanimous kind, who chose to live shackled and beaten, without a legitimacy of reason, were either killed in retaliation for a crime they did not commit or devoured whole by the conscious of mind.
“The FBI assesses it is very likely Black Identity Extremist (BIE) perceptions of police brutality against African Americans spurred an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely serve as justification for such violence.”
The FBI must have their reasons, or the conspiracy theories may require a revisitation. But according to Foreign Policy*, this newly designated term for Black activists, was the brainchild of pusillanimous thinkers based upon one very tragic occurrence, committed by a lone gunman: The Ambush of Dallas Police Officers**. Rather the officers that were slain, were good men or corrupt, makes no difference in the end. I do not condone violence or the cowardly murder of the unsuspecting, rather the officers are the victims or the perpetrators of such a pusillanimous offense. But a brand new, untested, undefined term, ratchets up the danger to American Black men, rather they love & honor their country or hold mistrust.
now and then
In the late 1980’s, as a student at the University of California Davis, and while exiting an on-campus party invited and hosted by the UC Berkeley chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, my fraternity, without warning, we were met with scores of riot police, who moved in and attacked. It was without provocation to us, but maybe they saw an identity in a classification that we were not and never made aware of. One of my extended line brothers, much smaller than me, absorbed the worse of each baton blow, so I rolled over on top of him, for it was no more his burden than mine. I was immediately arrested, charged with inciting a riot and resisting arrest.
I did not attend the actual sentencing, so I do not know if the sentence was official, handed down by a judge or the toothless ramblings of a commissioner, but either way, the transcribed narrative was meant to turn a young college graduate into an angry Black man. ‘Banned from California for one year’. I was living in New England, but making plans to move back home, when the letter arrived. The sentencing was retroactive, but there was still 3 months before my banishment was up. So rather than become disenfranchised and bitter, I spent three unforgettable months, rolling through 42 of the lower 48 states.
As I drove across the Louisiana Bayou***, I could almost see the ghosts of the runaway enslaved. An experience of sacrifice enriched my love of self & nation. I have never felt inferior or blamed nor judged, but I could also see the ghosts of men, chasing them down with dogs, and it forced me to accept the fact, that there are those who would turn back time.
“Infuriated by Center for Disease Control (CDC)-funded research suggesting that having firearms in the home sharply increased the risks of homicide, the NRA goaded Congress in 1996 into stripping the injury center’s funding for gun violence research – $2.6 million. Congress then passed a measure drafted by then-Rep. Jay Dickey (R-Ark.) forbidding the CDC to spend funds “to advocate or promote gun control.”
click to enlarge
Without any data from the nation’s premiere research organization; with but a single incident by a Black man, who acted alone in a terrorist-style attack against law enforcement officers; with the President of the United States – in a formal address to Long Island cops – stating ‘not to worry about injuring suspects during arrest,’ and later calling Black athletes sons of bitches before a revelling all white crowd. With the Berkeley memory still a conversation on the rare occasions, we are all together; and without any knowledge whatsoever, except variations on the same leaked document, how does anyone know, what the hell anyone else is looking for? Who in God’s name or in the name of science is you prefer (all-inclusive here) is identified as a Black Identity Extremist, when we have never heard the term before. And unless we go back to 1831, a violent mass killing by an African American, specifically targeting men who he must have imagined were his oppressors, has occurred once. And I have never heard anyone defend him.
A creation of a scapegoat? A new boogeyman or worse yet, a trap or a jedi-mind trick, meant to blur reality into the chicken or the egg?
From the Latino onslaught, to the banning of Muslims and the attempted undoing of transgender military rights. From the attacks on a woman’s choice, to the systematic abolishment of science, and the continual debasing of grown White men in the Legislative Branch and within his own chambers, that do not idolize him, to the designation without a definition of a new terrorist threat, the view from down here feels like the Stockholm Syndrome.
If you trust and support the current administration, and comprehend what a Black Identity Extremist is – through the eyes of them, you are invited with open minds – leave the gauntlets behind – into The Neighborhood for an open discussion, on a platform of peace. But please be respectful, and before you arrive, make the righteous juxtaposition between the peaceful and the pusillanimous kind.
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.”
skeeze w/ flag – fallen by illustrade
— an editorial from thepublicblogger
thepublicblogger recommends…
Marshall Mathers delivers a brilliant and necessary breakdown, and out of nowhere, he becomes the conscious voice of a generation in resistance to a man named Trump.
References
*The FBI’s New U.S. Terrorist Threat: Black Identity Extremist,
Foreign Policy
**Five Dallas Officers Were Killed as Payback, Police Chief Says
New York Times
***The Recording of History: History’s Ghosts,
The Neighborhood
****The NRA has blocked gun violence research for 20 years.
Let’s end its stranglehold on science.
Los Angeles Times
*****Psalms 112:6, Daily Versus
Holy Bible
fallen by illustrade
flag by skeeze
32 at start. 12 went down in the knockout round. 5 more went out the door, for not telling us something good. 15 remain, but only The Top 10 Cities can make a difference and win the game.
OCT 15: CITIES RD3 ‘Causes’
Question: A challenge your city faces, but has not imagined a solution, yet?
A HERO EARNS HIS WINGS AND THE BLINDED SOLDIERS SEE
Our once a year reminder:
Heroes exist, both in and outside of dreams.
“Please keep The Neighborhood open
because of the many wonderful ideas
still coming up in your mind.
You’re an inspiration.”– Lovegeria
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A Hero Earns His Wings
by Kendall F. Person
based on real life heroism
On January 2, 2007, a man named Wesley Autrey would earn his wings. Underground, with his two young daughters in a Manhattan subway station, he would witness a stranger fall, landing three feet down on train tracks.
The stranger had a name, Cameron Hollopeter, landed on his back and while no bones were broke upon the fall, he was suffering from an epileptic seizure, and unable to stand up. And to the rising horror of the crowd, it was at that moment, things went from bad to worse, for on the approach, and right on time, was the Broadway – Seventh Avenue train, with no time to slow down.
Wesley Autrey, who would come to be affectionately known as the subway hero, would entrust his daughters into the kindness of strangers, and with only one thought, he dove over the platform, quickly covering Cameron’s body up, and kept them both still while the train, with five cars attached, passed overhead within a millimeter of their life.
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from Sidewalk musik
You Against Yourself
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and the Blinded Soldiers See
by Kendall F. Person
Engrossed in bitter debates, divided by senseless hate, overwhelmed by a thunder not from the sky, but by differences of opinion, that mattered not in the sanctity of life. From the corners of their eyes, they could see them on the rise. Scores of men, women and children from all around the world. Sounds of peace echoed from their voices, each holding the hand of another, refusing to give up on peace. The feuding men, with indignation rising from their voices, and the slow blowing wind, giving way to gusts of gale forces, had only a moment to lay down false bravado, calm their angry voices and resolve their small differences, in the wake of the force that was coming, but they were blinded by the soldiers of peace.
The wind would swirl into an inferno, carrying the voices of the polarizing faces, clashing in the middle, drowning out the anger but also overshadowing the sounds of peace. But the voices of reason would not give in. They would raise their level, now in battle against the howling wind. The indignant ones, refused to stand down, and what began as a disagreement among old friends, morphed into an explosive commotion that neither side would win. And when the frontline became weary, the children, our future would take the lead, somehow knowing that if peace were to be saved, it would come out of the mouths of babes.
In the same world they live, but innocence still belongs to them. The scary monster under the bed, they find comfort in discovering, it was only a bad dream. They play with one another, unknowing one day they will expected to be foes. Their eyes still sparkled with wonders of an expanding life. But there existed wisdom in those kids, far beyond their age in years, and they saw a world, they longed to change.
Why is world peace a notion celebrated only one day each year? Why can we all imagine a world war, but laugh at the idea of world peace? Why would the men with anger in their voices, not reach out and grab it, when it was in arm’s reach? Why do we sing with such beautiful voices, and paint with such amazing color, and dance with inspiring grace, and write words of uplifting spirit, if we refuse to fight hate?
But the story would not end, as you may have feared, because the tiny tots, would form a rainbow, by holding hands. They stood shoulder to shoulder and sang at the top of their lungs. As if tamed by the sound they made, the storm of wind, would fizzle. The sun fell with grace upon the land, and the hatred between men screamed its last breath. Defeated by voices of reason, and the blinded soldiers, could finally see.
–The Neighborhood
WHAT CAUSES
What Causes: A Video Post
*cover image causes by Alexa Mazzarello
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Special Note: If you live in one of the remaining 15 Cities, your voice is wanted and needed. Respond in comments or message or a blog post within your online community. Via words (500 max) or video or audio (3 minutes max) or 4 photographs.
DEADLINE: 10/13 by 11:59pm EST
Hope all is good in your neck of the woods (big smile).
WHERE DO THE BUTTERFLIES GO?
Butterfly illustration by Jack Moreh
When it’s time to leave,
the destination of the
caterpillar is well known.
But when the world is angry,
where do the butterflies go?
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Sean Rowe
To Leave Something Behind
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Where Do The Butterflies Go?
by Kendall F. Person
July 18, 1984:
The first thing he said, when he arrived at his destination in the border city of San Ysidro California, was also his last. “Freeze!” But before a police sniper, placed him in the crosshairs of a rifle, James Huberty massacred 21 people, at McDonald’s no less.
It was a small group at first, so no one really noticed them leaving. Sent here on a mission to spread beauty upon the nation, but one day the butterflies simply gave up. Then vanished without a trace.
San Ysidro was the first mass shooting by a sole gunman in my generation, and it stunned a shocked nation. But prior to 9/11 (2001) and the elevation of a rarely used word terrorist, to an every occasion, there was no reason to look for a deeper meaning; nothing to see passed the madness of a lone gunman, since there was nothing in comparison.
April 19, 1995 (the date American terrorism was born)
On that day, Timothy McVeigh did not use rifles, but bombs, that blew out the exteriors of buildings in the surround, but blew the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City sky high. 168 American people lost their lives.
When they arrived home, a small convoy appeared before the council to tell them hope was gone. The response was without hesitation, for the good of the universe, they had to go back. They had to complete their mission.
The origins of the Oklahoma City bombing were drawn to Ruby Ridge, the site of a deadly face-off between FBI Agents and Randy Weaver, an alleged white supremacist. Armed with this knowledge, it rang no bells, even while locked into an intense discussion with a member of an American militia, who raged a defense. It did not occur back then, that if there were defenders, then there were more just like McVeigh.
September 11, 2001 a date that lives in infamy
The first International terrorist attack to penetrate home turf, took the lives of nearly 3000 people. But the damage kept digging, going deeper inside our psyches, until the rallying call of nearly half the nation was to blame all our woes on ‘the others’. From a National Tragedy of which every American mourned, we did not simply lose the aura of invincibility, but we lost the meaning of ‘a great nation’, replacing it with a slogan.
Each time we conjure up the ghosts of real people, attached to a real emotional moment in American history, to use as a shield, then search out a bogeyman to bare our burden, we cast ourselves as eternal victims (we are by far, not the only nation to feel such pain) If we do not face the truth of our own dilemmas, than how can we uncover solutions to what plagues us?
A divided nation, we are united in grief, yet living in confusion. Perhaps, no tangible link exists, no way to connect dots or put squares into circles. Maybe there is nothing to learn, nor solutions to glean from the San Ysidro massacre to the detonation of Oklahoma City to the killing fields of Las Vegas, but how do we know, if we return to the same debates, where everyone talks, but few search for answers.
How can we not reflect during this time of national grief, and imagine together something that works. If we do not stop analyzing and comparing everything to a President, who we all know (even Congress) is just an entertainer; but magnetic enough to draw us into a dangerous reality show. If we continue to see our communities as us against them; if we do not push out goodness from the heart into the atmosphere; if we do not utilize the mind to communicate inspirational, positive vibes, and blow them into the air…
…than it does not matter where the butterflies go. For if their mission fails, the next time they disappear, we will never see beauty again, and ugly rules the world.
We are truly sorry for the loved ones lost in Parkland and Las Vegas and Aurora and Charleston and Orlando and Sandy Hooks and San Ysidro and Blacksburg and Oak Creek Wisconsin and Oklahoma City and New York and….. – The Neighborhood
this is… The Neighborhood
CITIES RD 2: TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD
Joe Johnson with Something Good About Columbus Ohio
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CITIES ROUND 2
Tell Me Something Good (about your city)
G1:
Columbus Ohio ∞ Tampa ∞ Phoenix ∞ Montreal
Michael John Mele
The Insane Asylum
If you like theme parks we have a whole bunch of them here, and Tampa is easy to spell.
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Cassandra Miller Mims
Facebook
There’s a lot of opportunity here, and it’s beginning to seem like crazy people are very pleasant and respectful. There’s a real great College here: Grand Canyon University. Lots of entertainment, depending on what people are looking for and want. Me? I love our weather especially the winters. Come down and check it out.
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Frances Waterman
Facebook
Every year there are festivals and activities to tickle a variety of tastes! Like the Comedy Festival Montreal 2017 Just For Laughs Juste Pour Rire and the Jazz fest, which attracts millions of people. There are also food festivals to satisfy every palate; from one end of the city to the other! Montréal is a city of love. Multiculturalism, a melting pot of different, welcoming cultures. It only takes one visit and you just never want to leave!
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G2:
Detroit ∞ Dallas ∞ New York ∞ Baltimore
“Well we got the new Basketball stadium
downtown The Lil Caesars Arena. The Lions are 2-1,
and Detroit got the most original underrated artist in cities.”
– Hussle Crowe, Detroit
[parental discretion]
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Shawn Griffith
Down Home Thoughts
Dallas has every type of restaurant you can imagine! Lots to do including hiking, kayaking, symphony, line dancing you name it!
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Bmore Birdz
Google+
My Baltimore – Culturally diverse, with a blue collar edge of gritty urban drama that transcends all stereotypes. Vigilant pedestrians who refuse to be considered 2nd class citizens.
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thoughts in bubbles’ by geralt
New York City – OUT in Rd 2
1st glitch in an otherwise, feel good day.
nonetheless, The Big Apple, has been undone
G3:
Los Angeles ∞ Vallejo ∞ Oklahoma City ∞ London
LinkedIn
“Something good about the city of Los Angeles… It’s a city that gives people the opportunity to become any and everything they could dream of. From Doctor’s, lawyer’s, to entertainers it’s all here.” – Jakeem Hawkins
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Diane Ray
Facebook
My baby girl is attending Langston university she was valedictorian when she graduate and got a full ride.
I have a new grandson.
And my son Brandon opened a food and beverage company. It’s called Ray’s Skillet Soul Food & Catering. Oklahoma City is good right now.
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‘thoughts in bubbles’ are only good
if you tell us something about them
A pleasant surprise to see them make it this far,
but both the north bay city and the city across the pond
Vallejo and London – are both gone.
G4:
San Diego ∞ Houston ∞ Oakland ∞ Atlanta
Billy Rojas
Facebook
Soy poblano mexicano
Y se celebra 5 de mayo la batalla de puebla donde derrotaron alos fraceses. Tanbien comida el mole poblano muy delicioso. Los dulses tan deliciosos los camotes poblanos. Referente a temblo. Mi familia esta muy bien gracias a. Dios
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“Hey you! Houston strong! Me and my family came through well; so many others have lost so much, so we spend much of our time helping others, making Houston stronger than it was before the storm. So nice of you to ask, and I am glad to have something good tell you about my city.” – Becky Brown, Facebook
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Wendell Olden
Facebook
It’s the new Hollywood of the south. Many companies from around the country (LA, NY, etc.) are filming out here. I can tell you a lot! Lol
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Danielle Riley
Facebook
Oaktown. The incomparable beauty of Oakland. A birthing place of resistance. A place where you don’t have neighbors, you have brothers and sisters. Oakland has its own language, attitude and reputation. Being from Oakland can allow you to go anywhere in the world and fit in everywhere. An appreciation for home grown. A culture that encourages individuality, without any judgement. Oakland is a feeling, you know it when you see it.
&
Greg Shine
Facebook
When it comes to Cities, Oakland California is as Good as it gets. Oakland is only 8 miles away from San Francisco and you can get there by taking either one of the nations coolest commuter trains, Bay Area Rapid Transit aka BART, under the Bay or by driving over the iconic Oakland/San Francisco Bay Bridge. Home of The Oakland Raiders, The Golden State Warriors and The Oakland A’s, Oakland is known the World over to be where some of the best Sports teams on the planet call home.
G5:
Amdavad ∞ Wichita ∞ Portland ∞ Florence
Keyur Panchal
Keep Picturing
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Michele Ryan
Facebook
Wichita Although known as the Air Capital of the World, and harvesting tremendous amounts of wheat, Wichita is superior in the engineering field as well, and WSU offers one of the best engineering programs in the world! Wichita is constantly growing and evolving, while still holding true to small town values and local businesses.
It’s not uncommon for business deals in Wichita to be sealed with a handshake or gentlemen’s agreement. Your word still means something in Wichita.
We are a culturally diverse city, which brings fabulous celebrations of different ethnicities. Wichita is so culturally diverse, we are often a test market for new products and services. All ethnicities are well represented here and the word in marketing products is “If it will walk in Wichita, it will fly everywhere else.”
It’s been a pleasure to bring up my 3 boys here.
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when ‘thoughts in bubbles’ do not venture
out, how do strangers become friends
Portland is the 4th of 5 cities
to go down without a fight. But
on Oregon’s coast, they show us
what’s good about Florence
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A path thru the woods by Alicia Hickson
“Love the bikers” by Alicia Hickson
The Annual Rhododendron Festival (Rhody Days)
‘Sunrise at Siuslaw’ by Ned Hickson
32 at start. 12 went down in knockout round. 4 more had nothing good to say. On Oct 15, we will learn about the causes of the sweet 16. But the finals is vip, reserved for only… The Top 10 Cities
but thoughts never go away,
and there are times when we must speak up.
CITIES RD3: THE CAUSES – OCT 15
*CITIES
–created by Kendall F. Person
–produced in The Neighborhood
–made possible, by you
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