Coloconnect (Second Chances) made a comment on my blog about "my words about New Orleans". And, I appreciate them, she has a way of looking at things from a "different perspective" that is one of the things I like about her blog, however, "I've never really said anything about New Orleans".

What I did do, was to "post" 2 articles about the tragedy in New Orleans. One written by "far right conservative Pat Buchanan", who, I usually "disagree" with, but in this case, I think (he) makes excellent points, and I think the "article" is a "must read", in my humble opinion, and if you want to read it, it's title (on my blog) is "Failure of an idea...a people."

The 2nd article that I posted was written by the Rev. Jesse Lee Peters, who by the way is black. I also liked this article, and felt as if the author made some valid points, and perhaps gave us "a different perspective". His article,(on my blog)is titled - "Moral Poverty Cost Blacks in New Orleans".

Are both of these men writing "opinions" that are "cemented in concrete" with my ...own? No. But... to a "certain extent" I do agree with them, which is in line with my "philosophy" that there is "good" in most everything, you just have to look for it, and more importantly - "give it credit when you find it". It is interesting (to me) that neither of these blogs received a comment, and that may be because some times "it is better to let something alone," than to stir up things. By writing this blog, I am not "trying to stir" anything up. Mainly, it was to let Coloconnect, and the rest of you know that these 2 posts are not necessarily my "exact" feelings, but, that they did resonate with me. One of the "disadvantages" of being the "middle of the road" guy that I am, is sometimes - I step on the feet of "both sides" of an issue. But, I just believe that when the day comes that we can "combine" our strengths, instead of "fighting over our differences", then we will be able to move forward in a positive and constructive effort to bring our world together.

Personally speaking, "New Orleans" is a city that reeks of, "mystery, soulful jazz music (oh how I love the music in that city), fun, excitement, and some of the best food you'll ever enjoy, and a people, with so much 'soul and heart', that no flood will ever destroy their spirit". I am so glad that I was lucky enough to enjoy New Orleans --before-- the hurricane, and I, for one, "want it restored even better than before".

When I started this "blog" I tried to write a post to explain "why", but, couldn't get it down exactly right. Back then, way back in September, I had this idea about doing a blog, to re-invent the "Underground Newspaper" (The Residencia) that I had instigated in Germany, (during the mid 70's) when I was in the U.S. Army.

Perhaps, like many, I also thought that "I had something to say that others would want to read". I believe that to be true. I think everyone has a point of view, sense of humor, or particular insights that others enjoy reading.

However, tonight as I am still up at 1:40 a.m., I have come to a "realization" that the reasons for starting this blog, and what I have gotten from it, are very different. My list of "Blogs I Like" just keeps going and going, and I am beginning to wonder if there will come a point when the Blogmaster tells me I can no longer add a blog to my list.

Tonight, I had planned to "post a new blog", but never got around to it till now, and, what I had intended to write is not what I am writing now. Just dilly dallying through blogstream tonight, commenting on a few, but reading many, I found myself here in the early morning hours - writing this far different post.

So.. "what's the point of this post", you ask?

Shucks, I don't know, but what I do know, is that I truly enjoy Blogstream, and I am glad I found my way here. I just wished that I had more time to read more bloggers, and comment on all of them.

And btw, that brings up another important thing. I read and enjoy many blogs, and often I will make a comment on a particular article, if I believe I can add to it in a positive way (ok,ok I know I lose my head sometimes and go around the bend so to speak, but let's not talk about that now). But, I would imagine that I am like many of you, and "just don't have the time to comment as often as I would like to", for man, I've got to have some sleep, and if I commented on every single one of the articles that I enjoy reading, I would never get any (sleep that is). Also, like many of you, sometimes it is just good (for me) to write something silly, nutty, serious, or just post another author's opinion - period.

"Feedback" is always appreciated in most everything we do, but "just to be able to put my thoughts down on paper/electronic chalkboard", is often enough of a "reward" for me, and any comments I may get are "just an added bonus". I have read many blogs that I thought was well written and made valid point/points, but, although enjoying the read, I "moved on" without comment, and you know what? Some blogs are "so good", that they - don't need a comment. They "stand completely on their own", like a fine wine, aged to perfection.

On the other side of the coin, I have read many blogs written by people going through personal difficulties, some that I cannot imagine the strength they must have "to get up the next morning" and start it all over again, and, I, (along with many, many others) cannot resist "trying to help and comfort them" through comments to their blog. I do not exclude myself from this plight either, because we all have our problems, some just not as big as others, and, I too, have benefitted from a "kind word", or "keep writing, enjoyed your blog" comment.

My ol Grandfather left me many years ago, but before he did, he left me with a few thoughts. Thoughts that are not new, nor unique, but important and "right on target", for every generation. A couple of them were "what goes around comes around", and the one I like best, "there are two kinds of people in this world; good and bad, make sure you hang out with the good."

Like I said, the reason I started my blog and what I am getting out of it, are two different things. What a pleasant and enjoyable surprise this has been, just "hanging around with a bunch of good people".

So.. this is a good time to end this blog and go to bed, eh?

later,

Ice....

It was good. Damn good. "Scratch" was an excellent storyteller. I liked his style, even as I tried to think ahead, to see where he was taking me. I should do something like that, instead of always “chasing Debunk”, and playing games with “time capsules” and such. But, what do I write about; nothing exciting ever happens around here.

Getting up from my desk, I left the computer sitting there, and went into the kitchen. I was keen for a beer, it being 15 minutes till Noon, which was close enough (for me) to be called afternoon. But halfway to the fridge, I heard a feeble pecking at the front door. “Door to Door Jesus Workers” was the first thing I thought of - the second - was the beer in the fridge. I decided to get the beer, and then check the door. Easy decision.

As I swung "open" the big, wood door, cold beer in hand, my first thought was “damn, the sun is bright; my second, "I've no idea", as, all I can remember - is the “sudden terror” I felt. My eyes taking in - the monstrous and evil thing on my porch,

It was a “man child” to be sure. Huge, tree like arms covered in black hair. Chubby, greasy sausage links, “passing for fingers”, attached to monstrous fists, that crashed through glass and metal - coming for me. He was a huge, sloped headed monster alright; his eyes were bulging out, and bloody spittle leaked from a mouth curled inward, over misshapen and ruined teeth.

And inside that same second of cruel recognition, a screeching wail, I’d forgotten, rose up, "like flesh and bone” being ripped from a man’s body, pushing a “chilling wind” of death into my house.

Nah, that was weak, full of clique’s, and anyway, nobody ever knocks on my door but “Door to door Jesus Workers”. What a stupid storyline. Just then I heard a feeble pecking at the front door, and I went out the back door.

Walking down the sidewalk, taking in the birds, and the bright sunlight; I thought “what a beautiful day”! Then… off in the distance, way off in the distance, I saw a strange cloud that seemed to be growing upward, from the ground, a strange shape so familiar…

Nah, that’s weak, who’s going to believe that terrorists dropped a nuclear bomb in my hometown. What a stupid storyline. Just then I heard, or was it “felt” a huge explosion, and the ground trembled under my feet.

I willed myself awake; and while laying in the bed, and “thanking god almighty”, that it was only a dream, I heard “a feeble pecking”, coming from the front door.

Fuck the door.

-----------------

Moral poverty cost blacks
By Rev. Jesse Lee Peters
Say a hurricane is about to destroy the city you live in. Two questions:
1. What would you do?
2. What would you do if you were black?

Sadly, the two questions don't have the same answer.

To the first: Most of us would take our families out of that city quickly to protect them from danger. Then, able-bodied men would return to help others in need, as wives and others cared for children, elderly, infirm and the like.

For better or worse, Hurricane Katrina has told us the answer to the second question. If you're black and a hurricane is about to destroy your city, then you'll probably wait for the government to save you.

This was not always the case. Prior to 40 years ago, such a pathetic performance by the black community in a time of crisis would have been inconceivable. The first response would have come from black men. They would take care of their families, bring them to safety, and then help the rest of the community. Then local government would come in.

No longer. When 75 percent of New Orleans residents had left the city, it was primarily immoral, welfare-pampered blacks that stayed behind and waited for the government to bail them out. This, as we know, did not turn out good results.

Enter Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan. Jackson and Farrakhan laid blame on "racist" President Bush. Farrakhan actually proposed the idea that the government blew up a levee so as to kill blacks and save whites. The two demanded massive governmental spending to rebuild New Orleans, above and beyond the federal government's proposed $60 billion. Not only that, these two were positioning themselves as the gatekeepers to supervise the dispersion of funds. Perfect: Two of the most dishonest elite blacks in America, "overseeing" billions of dollars. I wonder where that money will end up.

Of course, if these two were really serious about laying blame on government, they should blame the local one. Responsibility to perform - legally and practically - fell first on the mayor of New Orleans. We are now all familiar with Mayor Ray Nagin - the black Democrat who likes to yell at President Bush for failing to do Nagin's job. The facts, unfortunately, do not support Nagin's wailing. As the Washington Times puts it, "recent reports show [Nagin] failed to follow through on his own city's emergency-response plan, which acknowledged that thousands of the city's poorest residents would have no way to evacuate the city."

One wonders how there was "no way" for these people to evacuate the city. We have photographic evidence telling us otherwise. You've probably seen it by now - the photo showing 200 parked school buses, unused and underwater. How much planning does it require to put people on a bus and leave town, Mayor Nagin?

Instead of doing the obvious, Mayor Nagin (with no positive contribution from Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco, the other major leader vested with responsibility to address the hurricane disaster) loaded remaining New Orleans residents into the Superdome and the city's convention center. We know how that plan turned out.

About five years ago, in a debate before the National Association of Black Journalists, I stated that if whites were to just leave the United States and let blacks run the country, they would turn America into a ghetto within 10 years. The audience, shall we say, disagreed with me strongly. Now I have to disagree with me. I gave blacks too much credit. It took a mere three days for blacks to turn the Superdome and the convention center into ghettos, rampant with theft, rape and murder.

President Bush is not to blame for the rampant immorality of blacks. Had New Orleans' black community taken action, most would have been out of harm's way. But most were too lazy, immoral and trifling to do anything productive for themselves.

All Americans must tell blacks this truth. It was blacks' moral poverty - not their material poverty - that cost them dearly in New Orleans. Farrakhan, Jackson, and other race hustlers are to be repudiated - they will only perpetuate this problem by stirring up hatred and applauding moral corruption. New Orleans, to the extent it is to be rebuilt, should be remade into a dependency-free, morally strong city where corruption is opposed and success is applauded. Blacks are obligated to help themselves and not depend on the government to care for them. We are all obligated to tell them so.

The Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is founder and president of BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny, and author of "Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America."

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is also black.

now where is he? I feel him, I sense his prescence,shit wish we had spellchecker? Prescence?? Is that spelled right? I could open up "Microsoft Word" and check it, but I won't, cause I be tired and going to bed.

but Debunk is around this blogstream, we just don't know which one of these characters he is. I must say "God's Wife" writes like him, in a way, did you ever notice?

......... Someday.. Someway.. You'll realize that you've been
blind, yes darling you're going to need me again,
it's just a matter of time...