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From the Other Side of the Edge….
Oscars’ “Glory”
: Wrong-Headed, ...Reverse-Hateful, …Unworthy of King
By Joe Facinoli
The Oscars’ telecast last week was, as usual, …way too long, …much too
self-congratulatory, …and filled with more than enough of the normal
preachings and elitist smugness, which too often comes from a gathering
of such pinheads, …having more money and fame, than either talent or
common sense.
But I watched anyway, …as I do every year.
And it was a particularly good season, for taking in some terrific
acting, …along with several outstanding and memorable movies, …in this
long-time motion picture fan’s humble opinion.
But also as per usual, the wannabe scolders and lecturers among this so
very mature group (not) got their licks in, …missing yet again several
opportunities to hit home, with better made points, …to the “captive”
television audience.
By injecting wrong-headed and ill-considered, self-serving and
mob-baiting political opinion, …purely for the sake of inane political
comment, …they nearly ruined, again, what can be a wonderful
celebration of our American culture, …that of the right here, and the
right now.
First, we were subjected to hearing that tale of woe of how actresses
in “Hollywood” don’t make as much as male actors do.
This from several multi-millionaire female thespians, all famous and
fabulously wealthy, who would have us believe they are about one day
away from a soup kitchen, given their current plight.
One of them was Meryl Streep, who stood up during one podium speaker’s
“poor, poor females” exhortation, …yelling and pointing a finger high
in the air for emphasis.
I guess that relieved some of her hunger pangs, standing and stretching
a bit, having missed so many recent meals, …and all.
Another was Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest people (male or female)
on the planet, …and who certainly has missed NO recent
meals. She was clapping, and crying, as if she just
got her first toy at Christmas, …which wasn’t already passed down three
times!
This phenomenon of gender-wage differentiation is undoubtedly true in
our land, and is only somewhat better now, than in preceding
generations.
But having these “well-heeled” (and well fed) ladies, who say and speak
other people’s words for a living, …tell us how awful we all are
because we don’t pay females better, …just rings sort of
hollow.
And of course, gays, lesbians, bi’s, and trans-gender folks all had
their moments and made their points, …and as they should, …but didn’t
go overboard too far, this time.
They still are only a relatively small percentage of the full
population, …although sometimes it’s hard to tell.
But what set me off, and disappointed so much, was the performance (and
lyrics) of “Glory”, the theme song from acclaimed movie
“Selma”.
Once again the continued dredging up of old history, by Black Americans
in a position to make a real and honest difference, was almost
infuriating by its word descriptions of what race relations are today,
…and by one glaring, and constant, factual inaccuracy.
In what should have been a tribute to Dr. King, a great American to
all, …they chose instead to fall back on the tired old lines and
phrases of times passed, to incite the uneducated (or those who refuse
to be), and to perpetuate an unnecessary, and today diminishing,
divide.
Songwriters John Legend (whose real name is John Stephens, which tells
you something about his ego) and the rapper “Common” (whose current
stage name is shortened from his original “Common Sense”, which tells
you something about where he is now) performed “Glory”, just before it
was announced as the winner for the year’s best song.
In their lyrics, presented so pseudo-passionately, and with strained
believability (no charity benefits need to be scheduled for these two,
after all), this humble duo tells of a “war” that needs to be won, to
finally achieve equality.
They mention “us” (meaning Blacks), and “them” (meaning anyone who
isn’t, but mostly Whites) a lot, and the “us vs. them” thing even more,
…the same phrases that Blacks profess to hate, when Whites say the
same.
They promote a continuing divide, even though so much has changed, and
so many initiatives (governmental and private) have been undertaken, to
end this very thing.
They say that “they” (Blacks) are juxtaposed against any real Justice
in this country for them today (assuming Whites, or anyone else,
actually do get it), and declare that the Bald Eagle, the symbol of
America, still wears the face of Jim Crow (the laws and practices of
segregation in the South, for one hundred years following the Civil
War, but outlawed 50 years ago).
I take issue with all of these things, in today’s U.S.A., with full
understanding that they are still far from perfect.
But the one thing they single out specifically in their song’s words,
which really destroys their credibility, as well as cheapens Dr. King’s
efforts, is their line that says they “…walk through Ferguson
with our hands up”.
This line simply incenses me. Because it is based on
lie, ignorance, and fabrication for a false purpose.
It has been shown, beyond any doubt, by coroners and forensic people
brought in by the Black leaders in Ferguson, and from around the
country, and even by Black witnesses, …that Michael Brown absolutely
never stopped being the aggressor, never gave himself up, and never had
his “hands up”, in any sort of defensive posture.
And even if he had, all Blacks and others defending him, forever miss
the real point of that sad event:
The reason this “confrontation” ever took place, was that Brown was
being pursued for suspected criminal activity, and refused to obey even
the simplest request, by Officer Darren Wilson, to simply get out of
the middle of the street.
If you put yourself in a bad place, because of your wrong actions, you
will pay a price. Sometimes a very expensive
one.
Black Americans now have every opportunity to succeed in this country,
…beyond anything that they have ever had, and at any time in our
past.
Even moreso than many Whites today.
I can’t even count how many bids I’m not even considered for, because
I’m not a minority company. Any federal, state, or
local government jobs (and that is a huge amount, here in the Maryland
and DC areas), we don’t even bother with, because we know a minority
firm will always win the bidding.
But the Democrats have played Black Americans so completely, that no
matter what is done for them, no matter what progress is made, they
still paint them as “victims”, and want to keep them angry with the
“System”, and at the “Man”.
And the Dems and Libs continue with the handouts and other de facto
“reparations”, cultivating the attitude among Blacks that there is
nothing they can do to better themselves.
Nonsense.
Anyone who can’t make it today is not trying.
Blacks, Women, Gays, other LGBT folks, Hispanics, Asians, Jews, and any
other cultural or racial minorities.
Anyone. Everyone.
With the Federal Government, and nearly every court in the land,
listening to and ruling for, virtually any social wrong, or even
slight, …new policies and laws are all trying to “…right the wrongs of
history”, which these two pretentious and very wealthy Black men, sing
about.
“Never Forget”, …is a good philosophy, and even a proper
policy. It keeps one grounded, and helps with
perspective.
But it can’t deter future growth, and cannot be allowed to get in the
way of real progress. And it should never be a
hindrance to honest, real, and needed change.
“Those who have forgotten the past, …are doomed to repeat
it.” So said Sir Edmund Burke, …and many others.
So let’s not do either. We need to learn from our
mistakes, move on from them, …and better everyone’s life, …here and
forever.
We can indeed be One America. Now, …more than
ever before.
Anyone who does not see that, nor cannot participate in that, …needs to
sit down, shut up, and let the rest of us pass.
Do you hear me, …Al? Jesse? John, and Common
??? If not, …move aside.
Joe Facinoli
--Joe can be reached at: joefacinoli@gmail.com
Intelligent Response Encouraged !!
© Copyright 2015 Joe Facinoli
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