The Stove Has Been Turned Off

An interesting point was brought to my attention while I was at a local café. America is no longer a melting pot. Do not get me wrong, it is true that we are a country of immigrants and different nationalities. But do we really live together? Do we have a common goal? Or do we isolate ourselves to our own culture?

I often record in one of the poorest parts of San Francisco. One day I had to take my children with me until their mother could pick them up. My son looked at me and said “Daddy, there are two different Californias”. I looked at him and his wide eyes scanning the scenery, and said “yes son, there is”. This is one of those moments as a father you are waiting for. The moment to explain some real shit to your child.

My children have not been exposed to the real world. They’ve never seen streets filled with trash, homes that looked like they were going to collapse and police cars every 10 minutes. But this was nothing new to me at all. I was exposed to this as a child, and I knew that this was the real world to the black community. Even though my grandmother moved me away from the city when I was in kindergarten, I still had the black experience growing up.

My father use to take me to the barber shop in the Fillmore. I would buy clothes and shoes right next door. I would visit my Grandmother in the Bayview district and walk to the store for 10 cent candy. Then I would return home to stare at the ocean and fall asleep to the sound of the waves hitting the shore.  I grew up knowing that I was in one world but there were others struggling and suffering in another.

This is not about staying in the Asian, Black, or Latino community, but rather assimilate and become one. America should be a country with a common goal to make things better for everyone. What is our common goal? Do we have one at all? Can we please pick- and soon- before we have no chance at all?

In order for America to return to glory we to need to come together and realize that we are repeating history. Sure it may not be full out Civil Rights in the streets, but some of the scenes in the news could be changed to black and white and we may not be able to tell the difference.

While I lived in Texas, every day I would see the Texas flag everywhere I turned. It was sort of like a cult thing in a way, but it worked. I had pride for the state of Texas, and was proud to be a Texan even though I was a transplant. There was common goal in the Lone Star State pride, the pride of being a Texan. My son and daughter still have that pride to this day. They enjoy California and family and their new friends, but when you say “Texas” it makes them smile. The pride they have should be the same pride that we have when we see the American flag.

But in order for this to truly happen we have to assimilate, we have to define an American culture that has rituals that embrace our different cultures but remains focused on us being united. Without all citizens of a country being behind one goal we will accomplish nothing. We will continue to be divided by politics, religion, sexual preference, gender, and last but not least, class.

I am proud that my children have lived in Texas and California. I’ve learned how to assimilate myself in an environment that was not known to me. I knew that in order to be successful and to make it in Texas I would have to assimilate. Assimilating is not destroying your own cultural beliefs, but rather accepting the community that you live in and becoming one.

We do not need separate classes for children that speak one language; we need classes that teach our children all languages, so that we can compete in a global world. In order to return to number one we have to realize that we are no longer the top dog- we need an objective.

A melting pot is something that takes ingredients from all over the world and makes one delicious dinner- a common goal.

Remember Me?

Alright fans, Winters Writes is back and ready to talk politics, race, sex, car accidents, tattoos, and sports cars. No, seriously, I have neglected my favorite passion of all time- writing and sharing thoughts with the rest of the world. As some of my fans know I have moved from Texas back to California. But no worries, my conservative values are still in place, even though I switched from calling myself a conservative and now wear the badge of a Libertarian.  But let’s talk politics later.

I would like to catch up on a few things that I missed, like the NFL lockout. What the hell was that? They had the NFL Draft on schedule and got us hooked like medical marijuana card holders. I am glad that football is back, but too bad my team sucks and there may be no end in sight. A mighty empire falling, no not America, the 49ers; but we play in the NFC West so I am hopeful- oops I mean Faithful.

And I can’t forget to mention the politician that got booted for sexting (there is your sex). Man that old dude spent a lot of time doing some real important government things, yeah things, they do nothing but talk and sign their name and we pay them. Most of the time they do not know what they are writing their names down own. You often hear it in their speeches, “I did not support that part of the bill at all”. But Misses, your John Hancock is right there in black and white.

With the election heating up you know the keys on my laptop will start to sound like rain on a tin roof. Yes I am still waiting for the government to create jobs and watch them fall from the sky (most know I believe it is not the responsibility of the government or the president). Yes they can make policies and rearrange the tax structure, but that leads to nothing but more fat cats on the top of the food chain collecting huge profits while the little guy or girl embraces six figures like they hit the lottery.

 I sit in amazement because that guy we started two wars to look for, was not in a freaking cave, but a mansion like Charlie Sheen watching porn and the occasional clip of himself on FOX…  All the time telling us we needed more money for the war, or for another x-ray machine at the airport, or a reason to pat down your kids before you visit the happiest place on earth.

For some, America is the definition of freedom. People have died all over the world to achieve the type of freedom that we have.

So let us really demand freedom. The freedom to love who the heck you want, as long as he or she is not in my bed that is not my problem. Go ahead smoke a little bit if you feel the pain of Capitalism. Let children be children and do not be scared to tell them the truth, even though you might think they are not ready to accept it.

In closing, I would like to give a shout out to Bill Brenner. I admire his tenacity and dedication to letting the world know who he really is, and sharing the challenges and obstacles he has faced.  

Defriend, Delete, Disconnect

I enjoy social networking sites; they are great for connecting with “real friends”. I have been defriended by some people because of what I say, and will continue to say. I have also defriended people as well because of their constant talking of nothing. I have dealt with the stalkers, the haters, and enjoy the congratulators.

I do not mind when I get defriended, and do not act like a baby whose lost his binky. That is the beauty of social networking sites- you can control access if you are intelligent enough. I ran into a situation where I deleted a person because we continued to fight all day long, but I still valued the friendship. Just because we are not friends on a social networking sites has no connection with how we act in the real world, or so I thought. 

I was defriended by an individual, and later, saw them in the local supermarket. Did I ask them why they defriended me? No. I just had a friendly conversation and moved on about my business. There needs to be an understanding that some people do not need to be friends on social networking sites and can still have a personal friendship. No matter how much we think we are being real, or being ourselves, on social networking sites, I call “bullshit”.   Sometimes we are nothing but superficial avatars of ourselves, clamoring for attention.

There are some that keep it real. They will let you know when they are having a bad day, or if their day is great. But that is not the majority. Most people are trying to pawn their music, or promote a shoe company that they don’t even get incentives from. 

The power of social networking sites is not being used to its fullest potential, but rather for farming on farm town, running around in mobster-land, or for just plain old fronting.  Social networking sites are a tool to inform, educate, and yes share those special moments. But there are some things that social networking sites are not for. Like arguing with your spouse or claiming that you are what you are not.

The option of defriending, blocking, and deleting is one that is important and should be exercised as often as possible. (I’m sure I’ll lose a couple after this post) For example, the friend that always has something negative to say about every post you make, well friend; you are now blocked from comments.  What about the friend that always tags you in images you’re not in, or those monthly birthday calendars… cool, all 50 of us are Virgos, that’s great to know! 

So no, you are not my social networking or virtual friend, but rather, negative energy that could cause cancer, a tumor, or some unknown disease that will be diagnosed in the next few months. Sure, we are not supposed to always agree on everything- what is the purpose of that? But to always be instigating an argument on the internet is pathetic. If you do not like what someone says feel free to defriend, delete, or block- that is why those options are available to you.  Or, like you mom always said, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

If you get deleted, be an adult about it and move on. Do not ask why; do not send a message through the same social networking site that you got deleted from. Take it personal if you want because your friend count is down one. I am sure that there are a few supermodels that would like to be your friend and link you to pictures of tennis shoes.

Donald and Ronald

Alright boys and girls, let us take a trip down mind control road and explore something that I think is rather strange. Now we know that we are currently involved in a mind war. A mind war that has plotted half of the country against the other half. A war that uses statistics and personal beliefs to destroy the concept of reality. We all love reality; you know- American Idol, Survivor, The Apprentice.  That reality that catches us humans in our most glorious moments like when we are given thousands of dollars to drink at a club and fist pump all night. How is this a connection to Donald-the-landlord-Trump and Ronald-the-drug-lord-Reagan?

This war is played out in our minds. The values and statistics are twisted and calculated. Issues are thrown around like newspapers on Sunday morning. Most of you may forget a few key facts, but I will explain- hold on. Now to some, Ronald Reagan was the best president in the world. Of course an actor and a spokesman for General Electric would make the perfect candidate for governor. Never mind that he totally switched his political affiliation. With a degree in sociology, and being an actor over the years it would not be hard to deploy mind control tactics. Ronald could be considered a real Sith Lord.

These are the same tactics that are being used by Donald Trump.  How is this? Well first off, he owns his own Entertainment Company, secondly he is a spokesman for Capitalism that is often more of a conservative concept if you look at political figuring and positioning. Donald Trump has switched like a light switch powered by a G.E. light bulb. Donald is the perfect candidate for the Republican/Conservative that has been trapped in a cave forced fed hours of reality television. Never mind the fact that Donald has been married to more women then at the local brothel, oops I mean message parlor.

Trump will not even shake your hand. He says that it is because of germs, but I think he does not want to leave any evidence or DNA when he stabs us all in the back. One day he attacks China and says that they are trying to take over America (true in my opinion), but then behind closed doors he is trying to strike deals to get a version of the Apprentice in China. So there- money is important to you, never mind the lead in the toys or the fact that we keep crawling to them to borrow money. Sure China manipulates their interest rate. As an owner of a casino I think you do the same thing? What are the odds of your slot machines?

So how will it be if Donald Trump is president?  It would be a little different then the Reagan era or would it? The drug lord Reagan did create his own economic system. Reagan deployed a war on the people with the slogan of “Just Say No” as the war cry heard in the streets. More people will be out of work because the big guy hates the small guy. The small local café shop on the corner will have to pay an increase in rent after the Trump remodel. Medical Marijuana farms would be replaced by Rogaine and Viagra plants, and electric cars would be replaced by the new Chrysler 100m- an electric version of the 300m. The car would have a human pedal mode, in case all the recent skyscrapers block out the sun.  Prisons would be filled with individuals evicted from their homes. All programs dealing with addictive gambling would be reduced and replaced by more Donald Trump Casinos.

They have us programmed to believe in stars. We are not running this country and often not involved in any of the decision making responsibilities. The old truth that we are a Republic and not a Democratic society often is forgotten. We leave the decision making responsibilities to someone else by default remember? But how can any of these clowns represent us when they flip like an “In and Out Burger”- the only time they stay still is to take on the cheese. Even Obama has changed his formula like Coca Cola, and I am waiting for the original to return.

Donald said it himself "One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace, good people don't go into government."

Please let us not forget that we are about to hate each other even more for the next year or so. The right side will say this and the left side will say that. But we have to support the people that have us in the forefront. Not the oil companies, banks, or other corporations that pillage the people. Do not fall for the next Reagan. The charismatic, economical, political, puppet controlled by the unknown selling us out looking out the penthouse window.

Leave My Penis Alone

This is the problem with our society and the government. We Americans pride ourselves on the concept of freedom. The freedom to worship the God of our choice or even Satan if that is your thing. The freedom to be somebody or strive to be nobody- the choice is ours, right? Nope, that is not the case at all. We have a segment of our society that is worried about the penis of a child, and the issues of a circumcision ban in the good old city of San Francisco. So we have people in a city that are worried about little newborns penis’s while we are in a deficit and there are tons of homeless people?

Look, this is the problem with our laws, and the things that are approved to be on ballots. While we spend our time worried about small issues, like a penis (lol), we could spend that money and time trying to reform education, or stopping wars. But no, both sides would rather pick their battles and clamp down on our so-called freedoms. But this is how the Patriot Act passed. It is easy, in my opinion- instead of fighting over a penis of a newborn how about we stop killing babies with bombs from drones. How about we respect other religions like the Jewish faith, and the Muslim faith, that see the issues of circumcision as a religious act, but nope if you are not a Christian your religion is often void.

I can hear the arguments, “it is a child, they have no say in the matter”, well of course, but the child also had no say in the matter if they wanted to be here in the first place. I am sure that a child is terrified for the rest of their life because a portion of their penis has been snipped away. I am sure that in 18 years the little boy that has a circumcised penis will have to take Prozac because he is the only one in the Stadium circumcised.  I mean, penises are ugly enough, I know- I have one, I would hate to see the thing if it was not trimmed up a little bit.

Look, if you do not want to circumcise your penis because that is your thing- then fine. But for 10,000 or so silly Californians to think that they can control all the future penises is ridiculous. Some believe that it is genital mutilation; alright I see your point, but what is slicing open a breast and putting in some silicon? That is mutilation, in my opinion but I am sure that they will never ban breast implants in the city of San Francisco. I mean, there are a few men out there that have added a pair of Double D’s in the once flat chest of theirs.

So to the Democrats, worry about the real issues, like educating children and letting the parents make some choices of their own, please. For the Republicans, figure out a way to stop Global Warming and save the environment by not emptying shells all around the world with countries that do not believe in the same things as you. I know, the more people we kill overseas the safer we are and the more access to oil we have. But it seems if that plan did not work out very well at all. Just made taking a plane take longer then standing in line at the DMV, and the opportunity for molesting children to become a full time occupation. (That is directed to the TSA).

Let us remember the goal of American freedom. Not determining who can foreskin, and who should not foreskin. Just leave the foreskin alone. If foreskin challenged freedom then I think they all should be destroyed- no I am joking. Can we worry about some other crazy issues, and put those on the ballet? For example, paying the homeless to clean up their own pee, or maybe even making all mom and pop shops accepting A.T.M. cards and Debit Cards. I can not stand walking into a store and not being able to spend my money.

    

Here's the link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=87788#ixzz1KgAChNeL