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Distraction to Humanity

3/28/2016

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Writing a piece on Rob Ford, easily Canada’s most polarizing public figure ever, pointed to the crux of the matter that keeps us divided and it works like a charm.

Atheist, Muslim, Christian, Gay, Hetero, Black Lives Matter, Civil Rights, Monsanto, The IMF are a tiny few of the distractions that we all face daily, keeping us away from humanity.

This dude Rob Ford was far from a perfect soul.  He almost singlehandedly set the negative tone towards the gay community, a part of the community that he swore to serve.  His dealings with humans there were blatantly disrespectful!  And he seemed to have no fucks to give about it and I don’t know if there was ever a ‘softening’ between him and the LGBT movement...ever.

He smoked crack, admitted alcoholic and probably touched all kinds of drugs which his upper middle class status allowed him to have.  His behavior as mayor was no different to any other part of his life which became apparent in his reign as mayor.  Reported domestic abuse of his wife, links to a homicide and a host of other heinous behavior that many in this city / country are fully aware.
What Ford did was for many of the lower income people of the city, the ghettos, and government housing, people on welfare / social assistance.  He gave dignity to a few people.  People who don’t make the news unless there is a shooting or stabbing in their neighborhoods, he gave them some dignity.  Some working class people who went behind on rent or facing evictions he was able to aid a few.

What my point on Ford is that within all of his hateful behavior he also did tangible good for humans.

I am not a fan of Rob Ford’s actions or his behavior!  I am a fan of kindness to humanity that he showed to lower income people who are showing their love and respect in his death.

As I have said repeatedly, ALL of the negative things said about Rob Ford are probably ALL true.  Yet I see a side of the ‘underprivileged’ in this city showing their love and appreciation.

I am NOT a fan of any of those negative behaviors!

I’m a fan of the acts kindness to the poor who don’t have a voice and we can tangibly see the results by the homage that they are paying to him.

The ‘return’ hate at Ford have folks around me now “unfriending” me or upset that I don’t side with their opinions of him which in many ways, I so agree with all of their stories and thoughts, yet as an underdog myself, I like that someone did something for lower income Canadians.

I lose no sleep over some of these sheep.  I focus on the outpouring of love and gratefulness from these Canadians towards a public figure / politician.  Outside or Pierre, Jack Layton, Ford’s popularity to the underdog and the regular people is undeniable and many of the other ‘respected’ politicians don’t do a tenth of what Ford did for his constituents but they are better behaved even if some are actually inept and or racist.  They say and do all of the right things.

I have seen hate crimes towards humanity by public figures throughout history.

I don’t have too many stories of or examples of public figures that do anything for poor people.

Ghetto people!  That’s what I rate!

Because I elevate this positive, those with beefs about the vast numbers of his negative behaviors run to attack.  I say again, everything that you say is true!  But it will not distract me from a glaring positive that a public official can give lower income Canadian people a little dignity, a little hope and self pride and when that is done, they respond in this way to him.  I know that it will not encourage any of his past peers to take a closer look at the lower income homes in their constituencies and step up to the plate, because that is not a part of the colonial plan to keep the poor...”keep them in their place”.  The distractions continue to work well.

This number one asshole of Canadian politicians helped poor people.  What does it say for the rest of them who don’t rival his work to the poor?  To the underdog!





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Rob Ford ~ Man of The People

3/27/2016

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Rob Ford was a man of the people.

That is what the colonialists don’t want us to celebrate.  Normally a man like me, born in Jamaica, now a Canadian citizen has not much love for the Progressive Conservative party as they are akin to Republicans, The Tea Party, the KKK as far as I am concerned.  After Harper’s reign that was confirmed to me and many others, with his overt hate towards Muslims, Native People as well as immigrants like me! (Take a closer look at Bill C-51 & Bill C-24 if you are not white, Canadian born should you not believe me).  The NDP should be more my style yet because of our fan worship of Pierre Elliot Trudeau, I have basically remained a Liberal supporter for most of my life in Canada.  Rob Ford had Jack Layton / NDP type behavior within his Conservative values.

He was truly a man of the people.

Look at the outpouring of emotion and love by Canadians of poorer circumstances of all races, speaking of personal stories of Rob’s on hand support of their personal issues, whether replacing appliances, replacing bed bug infested mattresses, rent control issues, landlord issues, football / youth support...the list is pretty long.  These people looked past the spoiled, rich kid behavior of alcoholism, partying, crack smoking, buffoonery and focused on his personal touch with them.

A simple thing like returning a phone call!  EVERYONE speaks of that trait which Rob was doing before, during and after being a mayor.  He was a problem solver; unlike the majority of useless politicians we have currently representing us.

For instance, Mary Margret McMahon, the openly racist Councillor of Ward 32, threatened to cut Afrofest by a single day (a two day festival) because of “noise violations”.  If Rob was around, he would have kicked her ass!  Yet the current mayor John Tory when asked to step up to the plate said, “It is not my jurisdiction”.  Really?  Mayor of the city of Toronto and Ward 32 is not your jurisdiction?  Then whose responsibility is it John?

There would have been zero issues if Rob was still at the helm.

His public persona and behavior could not be excused or tolerated yet the “man of the people” will always be in fashion no matter what one’s politics are.

No politician before, and I’m sure it won’t happen for McMohan or Tory, have been laid in state at City Hall.  NONE!  The droves of people already flooding City Hall to sign his books are unheard of!  Rob Ford was real to the people and let us know through his work and his behavior, even being a part of what seems to me as a white supremacist party the PC Party, he was a real human being, caring for other humans.

Rob’s children can be proud of who their daddy was and what he represented as a human being.  Don’t let the negatives take away from a man who cared about humanity.  Even as a “drunk” and a “crackhead” he is far more a real person than the numbers of the hypocritical assholes who only point out these his negative traits.  I am more proud of Rob Ford than I am of any of his detractors!
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Racism in Music Canada ~ Backlash from attempted sabotage of Afrofest

3/24/2016

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One has to be thankful for all stimuli!  This current situation of Councillor Mary-Margret McMahon against Afrofest is a perfect example.  Her deeply racist behavior had her hiding behind 8, EIGHT complaints about this ‘noisy’ festival!  EIGHT!  So in her best judgement, her only course of action was to punish 100,000 people from attending on the 2nd day by making it a one day event!!!  8 against 100,000?????  This 'rational' individual is the councillor in that area of the city.

Her other cowardly, racist act was to hide behind “several yearly violations to the city noise ordinance!” That one always makes many of us black people smile and laugh at times at their / her pathetic, ‘covert’ racism.  Huge secret, same sound company that does the Jazz Festival services Afrofest!  Another secret, EVERYONE likes their music LOUD at a festival or concert!   But not so loud that it wrecks the party.  We fans love it loud yet like to hear the lyrics, the bass, the drum / s, the horn sections separated yet syncopated so it can’t be offensively loud!  We want to dance and have fun!  But not to the racist!  They hate black folks and their music so much that any playing of it is too loud!  Well in that case lady, just stay away!  Don’t go where you can hear our celebration!  Stay in your rigid safe world and stay out of human, spiritual celebration.  It is certainly not your scene.

The decibel level of Afrofest is nowhere that of KISS or many heavy metal bands still performing today.

This is in fact the subliminal policing of the black race, letting us know that they have the power to not only have us turn the sound down, in an attempt to kill the vibe but also to let us know that they can always take the festival / any festival  away from us on a whim (Who remembers Caribana?).  Don’t fool yourselves into thinking that their “message” wasn’t sent.  They are still our decision makers.  They tell us when to party, where to party and how loud to play our music.  Fuck her!  Her scrawny racist ass should hold no power over a culture that she hates.  You can bet she WARNED the committee that this is “their last chance to comply” like she really gives a shit about the festival!  This is our Canadian “government”.  These people “govern” me / us!

Another example is that moron, City Councillor Jim Karygiannis, who is doing a back-slide on his statements about Beyone’s dancers’ costumes supporting the Black Panther movement.   His idea was to ban Bey from coming to Toronto!  THAT is hilarious!  And there are no repercussions from the Prime Minister's or the Mayor’s offices for this idiot’s blatant racism!  He won’t lose his job...he won’t even be reprimanded for the act because he is just another of this racist culture.  One of many!

Let us discuss what the Black Panthers represent to black people.  They want us to focus on the “violence” part of the Panther movement which for us is a source of pride: black people standing up against white supremacy, teaching defense of self to black children worldwide (I know that is dangerous in white world making black people think that they have power).  Did this idiot not see the civil rights movement in the US in the 60s to the 70s where german sheppard dogs, high powered water hoses and police batons were turned on hundreds of thousands of innocent black people?  The Black Panther movement made racist authorities think twice about attacking certain neighborhoods for a time.  That’s what the Panthers mean to many of us.  We were proud that Beyonce shows a level of consciousness in her art to bring that black pride forward, at the most watched event in North American world, the Superbowl!  Beyonce Knowles should be applauded for her intelligence and self pride Mr. Kasrygiannis!  But your racist ass would not know that.

The other aspect of that is that I didn’t even cast a second thought about their uniforms as I was watching the halftime show.  I found out the next day that Councillor Kasrygiannis had an issue with the costumes.  Two different worlds through two different set of eyes.  To me it was cool costuming and an entertaining halftime show.  Even today it stirs no feelings for me or any other black person to riot in violent support of the Panther movement.  It was just costumes, dance and entertainment.  This racist Kasrygiannis made it out to be something else.

Afrofest is a deeply cultural and spiritual experience for people with open minds and open hearts of all races, creeds and colors.  It is by far the most so called ‘multicultural’ (detest that word / term) event in Canada today, pulling thousands of guests for twenty-seven (27) years.  It isn’t just about black people if McMohan took the time to attend the festival.  It is a family festival that is loved by all races.

As a matter of common decency, she should be made to make a public apology to the people of Toronto on the main stage of the festival this coming year.  On both days!

She is a microcosm of Canadian government.  There are MANY more like her!

Councillor Mary Margret McMahon should still be investigated as a racist public official in my humble opinion but folks will be so happy that the festival is back to a two (2) day thing, so this piece of crap individual will be forgotten about. Yet there are patterns in life and we will see her again I'm pretty sure!

There is also a real upside to her racist act.  I can lay bets that this year’s Afrofest will have its greatest attendance so thank you McMahon for the financial boost that you have provided to the coffers of the festival as well as to the city of Toronto.
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I had a conversation with a high ranking City official about why there is such a disconnect to black music, black culture and more closely to my work, reggae music and my answer to this person was “n*gger fear”!  He knew exactly what I meant!  Not that he could do much about it but I’m sure that he overstood my meaning.  For those that do not get what that means, it is because you have zero interest in even hearing about it or exploring it.  Racism works because it is a part of the fabric of Canada and those in power would prefer me and others to just accept our place in the large scheme of things. 

“Heck, if you don’t like it, go back where you are from!”  No thanks.  I love Canada too but I do not have to love racism and I don’t and it is deep rooted into this culture.  Folks are always asking me to “shut up” about it because they “are tired of hearing about it” yet I have no fucks to give about these people.  I’m tired of living it!  Daily!  And expected to “accept my place”!

Well, the people have spoken.  McMohan now has a target on her back!  The people wrote tweets, retweeted, cried injustice in all kinds of social media to the offices of her and Mayor Tory.  The people spoke!  She was made to back down by the outpouring of support from many areas of the city, from all races of Toronto.  Got to be proud of that aspect in Canada where some of us still want to believe in a democracy and one of the things that make many of us proud to be Canadian.

We should use “the people” more often for other important things like the treatment of our Native populations.  The improvements we need there will not come from “government”, as it never has.  It must come from “we the people”.
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Reggae Is A Blessing

3/12/2016

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So grateful to have been born in the country that created four distinctive forms of music!  Mento, Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae!  FOUR distinctive styles of music that have stood the test of time and though Reggae music is the most popular of the four, all are still played and fulljoyed by fans the world over.  We need to pass that pertinent piece of information to our children so that we are able to continue that level of creativity.  With no apology!

​What is it about Jamaica, Ras Tafari and Reggae music?  What is the connection to the people?  All of the people!  Japan, China, Brazil, Africa, Europe, Australia & New Zeland, The US & Canada all have pockets, provinces, states, towns and cities that jam reggae music daily!  This is not news to anyone worldwide.
I believe that it is the “root” of the music.  I believe that it is in the clarity of the drum and the bass.  Something about those two instruments can rock the joint.  Then we produce a great keyboardist like the late, legendary, jazz master Jackie Mitto who did things on a keyboard that further elevated the music right from the Ska era right through to Rocksteady and Reggae, leaving a legacy for so many others to follow.

​There is also the “truth” of the music!  Marley, Tosh, Silk, Spear, Joseph Hill, Buju brought certain truths to the world that are totally undeniable.  Buju said, “Only RasTa can lead the people over hills and valley too...”  and RasTafari circles the world from continent to continent and is still growing.  Spear and Joseph spoke of Columbus as a rapist and liar thirty and forty years ago and now Americans are ‘suggesting’ that Columbus Day should be abolished.  You think?
Peace & Love

What does that really mean?  We hear it in so much of the music in reggae and other genre as well.  Same message, day in day out, year in year out!  The “message” isn’t getting to the right people?  Could it be that the message is wrong?  Is peace and love a pipe dream for some of us sheep who keep praying for a better day?  “Betta mus’ come” attitude that many focus on in times of strife, believing that the sun will always come out?!  Peter believed that that concept was a pile of crap anyway.  “Equal Rights and Justice” was his message!  A far more practical message since we are aware that from our biblical teachings that Cain killed Abel (his own brother, Adam and Eve’s sons) that neither peace nor love was ever in store for this life form from the get go.  It is an impossible concept for humanity.  That’s what I took from that parable anyway which some may consider as a cynical approach yet I say for the 2016 or so years since that time, we have found numerous ways to hate and to war.  “Proof in the pudding”!  Without the biblical references the results are still the exact same.

Equal Rights & Justice ~ Peter Tosh
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Seems to be probably the more impossible option of the two because it puts the onus on individuals to exact equal rights and justice to each and every individual that we meet...all 8 billion of us!  Each person is accountable for him or herself.  You hate or love because YOU choose those options and not led like moronic sheep to hate and fear one race or one religion or a specific skin color.  Yet I know that this does not suit the systemic agenda but it is the path that I personally choose to follow.  Every life deserves the same respect as the next life which includes plant life, animals, insects or humans.  Not one of those is above any other and humanity should dictate that.  That should be our message.
The gentrification of black culture and black life is a constant in all caucasian societies.  Just a mere forty to fifty years ago, black artists could not enter the front doors of establishments and their musical albums had white people on the cover just to sell the popular songs.  The really popular ones were covered by the likes of Pat Boone so that Little Richard’s and Chuck Berry’s tunes could receive more airplay... I guess or a ploy to steal their royalties more likely?  In the early to mid-seventies in Toronto, we could only go to hear R&B, Reggae and soul music on Sundays because those tunes were not played in white clubs and many of us were not even comfortable in those environments.  They became so popular, it broke the “color barrier” because white folks started coming out on Sundays to hear real ‘soul’ music.  Right here in the good old Tdot!

Joss Stone is a wonderful artist and person I’m sure yet she aint no reggae artist of ANY year, no matter which biased, racist publication named her as such or invented the criteria based on “sales” as to why she was chosen.  What these chumps don’t tell you is that they do not count or recognize or promote any other reggae from any other place, so that they can get the results that they wish and put a white face beside reggae music.  The eternal ‘subliminal’ message of ‘whiteyfying’ another aspect of black culture that we have all seen SEVERAL times before, decade after decade!

The success of the music is in the spirit of the people!  In the spirituality of the music!  They will try and try yet they will never gentrify a music that glorifies a God.  No, I’m not stuffing religion down anyone’s throat, I am clearly stating that reggae music is a spiritual music and those with no soul, will never be able to feel it and deliver it.  They will forever try but they will never rule reggae music.  Memba dat!

Stand fast, be bold, be proud and allow the vibe and the spirit to flow.


Blessings,
 

JuLion

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