The POWER journal: July 2009

Saturday, July 18, 2009

In Order To Get Props In Death, You Must Report The News – Not Make History!

“So take my strong advice…just remember to always think twice!” –Michael Jackson

It was the evening of July 17, 2009 when we learned that the legendary journalist Walter Cronkite had passed away at 92. I agree, the nation suffered a loss. Journalists wish they could be even 25% as great as he was; but Cronkite gave the news, he didn’t make it. Go ask someone in Madagascar if they know who Walter Cronkite was and they will look at you like you’re stupid. But I bet they can perform the routine to Thriller. Regardless, less than 24 hours after the death of Walter Cronkite, “President” Obama appears to have knocked his poor wife Michelle down the White House staircase trying to get to the video camera in order to tape a statement about Cronkite. Yet, he never issued a formal statement about the death of the most famous person in the world, Michael Jackson. Hell, Cronkite died just before 8PM Eastern Time and the White House had a written statement out before midnight the same night.

Anyone see a problem here? Anyone noticing the Manchurian yet? http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2012480281/ Somebody check and see if Air Force One is stocked with Cup a Noodles or crack, cause Smokey Chops is on some serious bull$hit now. Just watch…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdjXYUxEcD0 [Warning, if you love Michael Jackson -this $hit’s gonna really piss you off.]

Its kind of like when one of your elders tells you that something ain’t right because they have an achy ankle or their gout starts acting up for no reason. Something like a premonition, but not quite. More like something just isn’t kosher, yet you can’t put your finger on it.

I knew it then.

Then was the day that I voted for Hillary Clinton in the Presidential primary. Oh yeah, I am BLACK as they come (so Black I'm blizzack), but I didn’t vote for Obama in the primary. Something wasn’t right. It was a feeling in my motherfu*king ankle. I knew that every politician is a politician and that means untrustworthy. At least with Clinton, I knew what I was getting. But it doesn’t matter if you add color, can’t find where they cheated on their spouse or give them two cute kids, a wife and a Portuguese Water Dog - they are all pandering hypocritical liars by nature.

Now I did try to shake the feelings I had about this dude. When Hillary lost in the primary, I ended up voting for him (as if I had a choice when he ran against those two Republican kooks). I didn’t say anything about his first 100 days. I didn’t judge him when he sped past the reasonable amount of time in which to say something about any issue, to the “got-damn Negro” are you gonna acknowledge that North Korea is firing shit off or not? I kept my mouth shut! But no more dammit! No more!

Perhaps you have already read my coverage on Obama’s lack of proper protocol and down right bad manners in the wake of Michael Jackson’s death. If not, take two of these and get back after the break…

http://thepowerjournal.blogspot.com/2009/07/bet-obama-and-hatas-that-hate-truth.html

http://thepowerjournal.blogspot.com/2009/07/and-answer-to-your-question-isno.html

Through my sorrow, sadness and tears that came with the passing of the most famous talent ever to walk the earth (that would be MJ), I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the “President” had not made any official statements about Michael’s death.

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/06/26/obama-on-michael-jackson-why-no-official-statement/

Then, when he finally did make his shady on-camera disingenuous comments, they came 7 and 11 days later. And boy, were his comments “heartfelt”. Not! He called Michael Jackson’s music “stuff.” He made sure to include a negative whenever he was gracious enough to possibly sound like he was giving Michael Jackson a compliment. He sat there in the chair giving the "interview" looking and sounding like Silly D. Williams without the wavy hair. (He probably wishes he had naturally wavy hair though, then he wouldn’t have to sleep with a doo-rag on like normal b-folk do.)

The unified excuse from all the "Obamanators" was, “he’s got more important things to do.” Really, So on June 26, 2009 he had more important things to do like this? Oh no wait, wasn’t he trying to give amnesty to all the illegal aliens that day?

What's so got-damn funny?

Now I thought on July 18, 2009 he was trying to screw up my healthiness-er health care? Guess he got finish with that early enough to go official on Walter Cronkite.I think we should take a second look at Obama’s Cronkite homage and break it down...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdjXYUxEcD0

***

Obama on Cronkite: “In an industry of icons, Walter set the standard by which all others have been judged.”

Obama on Michael Jackson: “Michael Jackson is…ah…will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers.”

WASET: “Tha fu*k you mean ‘one’ of the greatest entertainers? Nobody has or will top Mike. Do you not get that?”

***

Obama on Cronkite: “He was family.”

Obama on Michael Jackson: “I still have all his stuff on my iPod.”

WASET: “Stuff? You must be out of your damn mind, cause this is Thriller up in
here. Michael Jackson was like my cousin. Yeah, that odd cousin, but cousin nonetheless.Walter Cronkite was the man in the TV! I guess you never closed your eyes and let the rhythm get in to you”

***

Obama on Cronkite: “That’s why we loved Walter, because in a era before blogs
and email, before cell phones and cable, he was the news.”

Obama on Michael Jackson: “I’m glad to see he is being remember primarily for the great joy he brought to a lot of people.”

WASET: “Oh, he brought joy to a lot of people? How about the World you im-be-cile (channeling Cicely Tyson in Hoodlum)? We are the World you simpleton. MJ raised millions upon millions of dollars for Africa. You went to Africa last week and said, ‘Africa's future is up to Africans.’ Thanks for the help cousin.”

Yeah sure, I got grief from people who took it personally when I called out the President over Michael Jackson. But, do you really think I give a….? Don’t stress yourself, cause you already know the answer. As a matter of fact, I went to the grocery store early this morning and bought two walnuts for the next person who wants to get “these nuts!” And Mr. President, if this slips past your handlers and you see this…I’m Dave Chappelle, but with a white glittery glove on - you are the other guy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKT3-FdOLYM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdjXYUxEcD0

***

Obama on Cronkite: “In an industry of icons, Walter set the standard by which all others have been judged.”

Obama on Michael Jackson: “Michael Jackson is…ah…will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers.”

WASET: “Tha fu*k you mean ‘one’ of the greatest entertainers? Nobody has or will top Mike. Do you not get that?”

***

Obama on Cronkite: “He was family.”

Obama on Michael Jackson: “I still have all his stuff on my iPod.”

WASET: “Stuff? You must be out of your damn mind, cause this is Thriller up in here. Michael Jackson was like my cousin. Yeah, that odd cousin, but cousin nonetheless.Walter Cronkite was the man in the TV! I guess you never closed your eyes and let the rhythm get in to you”

***

Obama on Cronkite: “That’s why we loved Walter, because in a era before blogs and email, before cell phones and cable, he was the news.”

Obama on Michael Jackson: “I’m glad to see he is being remember primarily for the great joy he brought to a lot of people.”

WASET: “Oh, he brought joy to a lot of people? How about the World you im-be-cile (channeling Cicely Tyson in Hoodlum)? We are the World you simpleton. MJ raised millions upon millions of dollars for Africa. You went to Africa last week and said, ‘Africa's future is up to Africans.’ Thanks for the help cousin.”

***

Yeah sure, I got grief from people who took it personally when I called out the President over Michael Jackson. But, do you really think I give a ….? Don’t stress yourself, cause you already know the answer. As a matter of fact, I went to the grocery store early this morning and bought two walnuts for the next person who wants to get “these nuts!” And Mr. President, if this slips past your handlers and you see this…I’m Dave Chappelle, but with a white glittery glove on - you are the other guy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKT3-FdOLYM

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

WASET speaks to the Los Angeles Times about Michael Jackson Memorial

It was not my intent to do press yesterday. I was clearly dressed for radio. Nevertheless, I'm glad I said what I said. I meant every word. Love u MJ! More later, including pics...

Just moments before Michael Jackson’s body arrived near the 11th Street entrance to Staples Center, a subdued crowd of about 400 people without tickets were bellying up against the guardrails, straining to catch a glimpse of something, anything going on.

Waset Regir, 38, a freelance writer from Los Angeles, took stock of her emotions and anger as she stood with the sparse crowd at the corner of Flower and 11th streets. She said the city should have given fans a place to gather and grieve.

“For days, they’ve drilled it into everyone: Don’t come out. It’ll be better to watch it from home. For now, everyone is in their living room, crying at their TV screens rather than coming together here as Michael would have wanted it,” she said. “Look around, we’ve got hundreds of police being paid overtime with nothing to do.”

Regir, who was surrounded by vendors hawking T-shirts, posters, buttons and soft drinks, said she wasn’t discouraged by the warnings by city and police officials.

“There was no way I wouldn’t get as close as I possibly can,” she said. “They didn’t try to discourage people from paying tribute to Princess Di when she died, did they?”

--Louis Sahagun

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/michael-jackson-17.html

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

This Is Where I Stand!

I’ve never cared for politicians, however my disdain for them has been growing like a rabid toe fungus in recent months. The sight of these people breaking their necks to appear on camera to promote all things anti-me and anti-citizens of this nation is abominable. These “people” have the audacity to tell the citizens what they have decided for us and that we should just sit down, shut up and get fuc*ed.

They tell that you shouldn't smoke. Then they tax cigarettes. Only to then themselves get caught on camera smoking crack. They preach that prostitution is illegal - right before they jaunt off to Argentina to trick. They tell you that there is no money in the coffers and demand more tax money from you. Then, with your tax dollars, they authorize the killing of citizens of other sovereign nations (Iraq); or, they use your tax revenues to pay for the benefits of people who have entered this country illegally. Yet, when you need help and pick up the phone to call your representative, they don’t pick up, or they answer the phone with a got-damn attitude like you are disturbing their crack smoking when you ring-a-ding ding.

Simple inquiry: How can you be governor of a State that you cannot pronounce the name of? It’s C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A you Austrian moron – not “Kaulifornia.”

As if this weren’t enough. As if enough of our jobs have not been handed away to India and Sri Lanka. As if our tax dollars aren’t going pay for people who broke law after law after law by showing up here uninvited, we come to this night. This night and the eve of the burial and laying to rest of the most prolific artist the world has ever seen: Michael Joseph Jackson. While I should be here writing about the great things Michael Jackson accomplished, I am forced to write about matters that should be obvious to even the dumbest among us. As a US citizen and native of Los Angeles, California, I think it is disgusting how city officials are handling this tragic event.

Los Angeles City Council members have been sniveled all over the news about how much it will cost the city to provide police protection and traffic control around the Staples Center because of Michael Jackson’s memorial service.

Well to each and any one of the Los Angeles City Council members or other government “officials” who opened their fat greedy gums and mention the cost of this memorial, I dedicate all seven of those items I flushed this morning to you. This memorial isn’t a party because a group of dudes put more balls into the net than another bunch of dudes. This is the culmination of a talented life that the world cherished. I don’t see these same politicians and city authoritarian douche bags complaining about people selling corn with hot unpasteurized cheese on the street corners every damn day. I don’t see them rushing to clean up the sidewalks or ensure that US citizens have adequate access to health care and oh yeah, SCHOOLBOOKS! I don’t see them filling up the potholes on Slauson Avenue. Therefore, I invite them all to become one with both of my middle fingers.

See this is the problem, these imbecilic politicians forget who they are working for. It’s called: No taxation without representation bi*ch! Look it up and check the relevance.

Los Angeles Police Department chief Earl Paysinger said, "I would encourage all of the Michael Jackson fans and well wishers to take advantage of the TV broadcast.” Well, I would encourage him and any others who parrot his sentiment to put two packets of STFU in their morning lattes!

"Well wishers?" Did he really say "well wishers?" Well, if Michael is gone, who are we wishing well? See, idiots!

Funny, I don’t recall Great Britain telling its citizens to remain in their homes when Princess Diana Spencer died. No, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets for miles and miles to honor her for the gracious humanitarian she was. But, that can’t happen here in this ghetto a$$ place. In the City of LA, we are being "encouraged"to remain indoors and honor Michael Jackson through out television sets.

To hell with them I say. I pay $25.00 a month to have my trash picked up even though property taxes are supposed to have allocations to cover trash collection. Now they want to tell me where I can stand? First, we experienced how repulsive it was to have the President of the United States fail miserably to pay proper tribute to Michael and now we have to deal with this treachery.

“Check the rhyme you beastly ogres, Michael Jackson made more of a difference in the lives of people across the world than did any of you politicians serving in the United States combined. Therefore, at 5 AM this morning, I will rise, shine, venture and go forth to pay homage to a soul lost before his time. You fu*king politicians can pay for any “expenses” out of the trash collection fees you are double charging us for.” -- WASET

WASET © 2009

Monday, July 06, 2009

The Starting Lineup - RIP Steve McNair (you would have been an All-star)

-----------------THE STARTING LINEUP Pt. 1
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Game Time. Damn he’s fine!
I’ve been waiting for this moment for such a long time.
Quarter one
its just begun
I got a call to hook up with Allen Iverson.
Quarter 2
and I’m about due
to fly to D.C. to see Larry Hughes.
Cocktails, expensive dinner and a movie
far from a groupie, but
I’m feeling kinda tipsy and I know he wants to do me.
But hold up!
Before any copulations
I’ve got to verify your health certifications.
Ooh yeah, now pull my hair
Chris Webber, Roy Jones or Steve McNair.
Right there.

Shhhhhh…
It’s late in the evening
and you know I’ve been thinking
in my room I could sneak in...
Fres Oquendo
that fine ass Puerto Ri-can
D-A-M-N
It seems so nutritious, that chocolate Mike Vick looks quite delicious.
I know he’s young, but I’m a cut him some slack.
I might even let him kiss me between my haystack
or give him permission to unzip my backpack.
And just in case baby boy gets sacked
I want Dante Culpepper as my quarterback
he can throw
I’ll catch
turn my back
he can fetch
he’s got me singing “thoia thoia thoia thoia thoing”
he’s got me cleared for a landing like a plane from Boeing.
Right now, I’m in the zone
I keep my treasures in a vault locked up like Al Capone’s
but I’d give my combination to Eddie Jones.
I don’t fu*k with the Lakers cause they traded my baby.
I’d rather fly like an Eagle with the Steelers Duce Staley.

-----------------THE STARTING LINEUP Pt. 2
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
…Mmmm mmmm
It’s so tasty
the thought that Derek Jeter can’t wait to taste me.
I can’t believe, the way he swings his bat
in Armani or his cleats cause he’s got it like that.

H-A-L-F-T-I-M-E

I’ve got to make a decision.
Do I let Robert Horry stick his key in my ignition
while we listen to R. Kelly sing Sex In The Kitchen?
Hell yeah… Aw baby faster
make me come hard like a beat from Trackmasters.

3rd Quarter on the road and it’s getting late
I think I need Paul Pierce to help me navigate.
I pull over, to the side of the lane
and get a lift from Mike Rucker and Sugar Shane
in a field with a hut and some sugar cane.
I go back to the city and I’m feeling like a winner.
Put on my throwback cause it’s time for dinner
and I’m getting served by Sugar Ray Leonard.
In the 4th, the game is almost over
I reach down in my jeans to find my four-leaf clover
make a wish “snap”
and just like that
I’m pinned down by The Rock
on a wrestling mat
in Brazil
on the side of a hill
we don’t have on any clothes just to keep it real.
We kiss, because he’s got it all
and I feel myself coming like a waterfall.
I’m wet!
But it’s only my sweat?
That was just my fantasy team
but sometimes…I forget.

WASET - from The POWER journal - Chronicles of a Revolutionary Black Woman - go get THAT!

Saturday, July 04, 2009

And the answer to your question is….NO!

No, Barack Obama’s counterfeit comments about Michael Jackson on Thursday, July 2, 2009 do not satisfy me. They do not make up for his insensitivity and insolence and they do not erase the fact that it took him seven days to make the ridiculous statements in the first place. [Cue Toni Braxton: “Seven whole days…and not a word from you! Seven whole nights…ah, and I'm just about through!"] Yeah, I’m on this story like Divine Brown was on Hugh Grant in the middle of Sunset Boulevard.

His campaign ran on the audacity of hope. Yet, I was hoping Obama didn’t have the audacity to come out and make comments after people complained about his abysmal and wholly disrespectful lack of proper etiquette in the wake of Michael Jackson’s death. I had actually wished upon a star that Barack Obama would just continue to ignore the death of The King of Pop so that whatever I had already stated would be the last of it. Now, because he popped his chops again, and let out new batch of pontifical “Presidential” blither, I find myself right back at my pc.

Note: For those of you who feel Obama was dammed if he did and dammed if he didn’t when it came to the Michael Jackson matter, don’t bother telling me about it. I already have the soundtrack to The Wiz and ‘you can’t win’ this argument.

Oh we all know what happened – how it came to be that Obama decided to publically grace us all with a few words about Michael Jackson. Somebody told someone (because many of us have been talking about this since day 2) and they told somebody else and it got back to the White House. Then the clean up crew started spinning like a Kenmore dryer. First, they sent David Axelrod out to tell us that the President had sent the Jackson family a letter. How nice. Well, I can name that tune in one note cause Bill Clinton had already called the Jackson family twice by the time Obama’s “letter” arrived at Hayvenhurst (the Jackson family compound).

If you have not yet heard Obama’s “Presidential” vocal remarks about the death of Michael Jackson from July 2, 2009, you can read all about them here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=7987225

Per the AP, “Obama didn’t see any controversy in the fact that he did not issue a formal public statement upon Jackson’s death, and said he was unaware of any dissatisfaction in the black community with his response.”

So just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, at –2:28 on the tape, the reporter tells Obama that she’s been receiving emails from Black folks who are upset about his lack of proper protocol regarding Mike’s death. Obama then states, “You’re the first person who’s actually asked me about it?” Really? I believe that like I believed Phil Spector really had shaggy hair.

Obama talked to Press Secretary Gibbs about it on June 26, 2009 We all know Gibbs probably asked him if he was going to make a public statement and he said no. I guess he thought we wouldn't notice... FAIL!

“THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 26, 2009

PRESS BRIEFING
BY
PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS

Q Okay, I will ask. The President has talked a lot about his love of music. He hosted Stevie Wonder here. He has talked a great deal about what's on his iPod to Rolling Stone Magazine. Well, what's his reaction to the death of Michael Jackson?

MR. GIBBS: I talked to him about it this morning. Look, he said to me that obviously, Michael Jackson was a spectacular performer, a music icon. I think everybody remembers hearing his songs, watching him moonwalk on television during Motown's 25th anniversary. But the President also said, look, he had -- aspects of his life were sad and tragic. And his condolences went out to the Jackson family and to fans that mourned his loss.

Q Why not a written statement, then?

MR. GIBBS: Because I just said it.

Q And you say he did send condolences to the family -- did he call the family personally?

MR. GIBBS: Not that I know of.”

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Briefing-by-White-House-Press-Secretary-Robert-Gibbs-6-26-09/

RESPONSE FROM:

THE WASET HOUSE
Office of the President
_________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release July 4, 2009

PRESS BRIEFING
BY
WASET

On President Obama’s catastrophic failure to properly recognize the death of Michael Jackson:

Mr. President, as a former law professor, I suspect you will attempt to split hairs about what was said. I know you will maintain until the end of the world that you weren’t aware of the public outrage about your failure to properly acknowledge Michael until the AP reporter mentioned it. For one, if your staff is/was so stupid that they couldn’t see this anger coming or that it already existed, then they all need to be fired on the spot! Everyone in the White House can’t be that damn dumb.

You also said in the July 2^nd interview that not only were you unaware of the outrage in the Black community over the Mike slight, you said: “I know a lot of people in the black community and I haven’t heard that.” WTF? That’s like saying, "one of my best friends is gay," or, "I can quit whenever I want to." Was that supposed to be funny? Do us all a big fat favor and leave the jokes to Chris Rock. Had I been conducting that interview with you and you started with all of that analysis on the ups and downs of Michael J., I would have said “Ni66a please” right to your face and took off my microphone. Each time new information has come from your office about you mentioning Michael, you have gone out of your way to mention something negative. And, for the record, Michael Jackson is a global figure, so there are people from Bangladesh to Bulgaria who think you suck right about now.

As I wrote in prior reports, your response was no longer needed 3, 4, 5…days after Michael died. Then only thing that was left for you to do when you failed to acknowledge him properly by day 2 or 3 was just face the fact that you fuc*ed up and then admit it. You were a law professor, so if you were scared that someone would be upset about you giving Mike his due because of the previous allegations against him; you should have immediately referred to: http://dictionary.law.com/ and looked up the word "Acquittal."

Personally, I never cared what you thought about Michael Jackson. I never cared if you had his “stuff” on your iPod. I have his music everywhere, not only on my iPod, I got Mike on wax, cassette tape, CD and in my heart. Nevertheless, what you showed me that if you couldn’t get this right, what else will you get wrong? Were you really that mad because Michael wouldn’t perform at your inauguration?

http://myreader.co.uk/msg/1212654921.aspx

I’m glad Michael refused you because you aren’t worthy of the moonwalk. You said Michael Jackson’s music is “stuff.” Well, just as an fyi, Michael Jackson’s “stuff” is the classical music of the last 40 years and will continue to be such. Learn your HIStory. Speaking of history, I was talking to my Mom about this issue. My mother suffers from Obamania, yet she was truly troubled by your lack of attention to detail here. That really means something. My Mom tried to help you out by suggesting that maybe its because you were raised differently and didn’t face the same struggles as the descendants of slavery that you don’t get it. (By the way, I heard you hemming and hawing when asked about Affirmative Action – yeah, I caught that too.) Anyway, since you don’t seem to get it, perhaps you should confer with Mrs. Obama.

From now on though, just keep Michael Jackson’s name out of your mouth. In your AP interview on 7/2, you had time to speak fondly about Kobe (I’mma hit it from the back in Colorado) Bryant. Curiously, I didn’t hear you mention his woes. You called Michael Jordan the greatest to every play basketball (wrong again, that would be Magic Johnson). Funny how you didn’t speak of his gambling issues. Do you see now? Since you went to law school, you might not know that this is called “dropping science.”

Finally, not that it matters in the grand scope of life; but while we still have this feature called the First Amendment to the US Constitution, I am going to call it like I see it. You were wrong when you miserably failed to make a proper statement about Michael Jackson’s death. So, don’t you blame it on the sunshine, don’t blame in on the moonlight – just blame yourself!” –WASET

-end-

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

BET, Obama and the "hata's" who hate the Truth.

The word “ASCENSION” might just be one of the most underutilized words in the Black American dictionary. It signifies a climb, an elevation and an ability to rise upwards. Sadly, in so many areas, our people have made the decision to do exactly the opposite.

We have whittled away our core values to the point that we cannot even see how desperate our situation has become. Even still, some of us tend to lash out at the few people who will actually tell the truth. Bill Cosby went from being a really funny guy to the guy who called us out. People would walk out of auditoriums when the truth came out of Bill Cosby’s mouth. They called him names and said he was too hard on "us." Said he was "hatin!" Really?

Personally, I don’t think he went far enough. I mean, are our faults supposed to be kept confidential? Must we be quiet about all of our dirty little secrets so that others don’t find out how fucked up we are? Too late, they already know.

This brings me to the 2009 BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards show debauchery. Oh, but first there are some words that we need to memorize, hold close and retain for the future.

· Class
· Dignity
· Pride
· Self-Respect
· Protocol

The BET Awards failed to exhibit any of these, which is all the more important reason that I must feed these words into the mouths of the hungry and unsustained.

The biggest star/icon/personality/entertainer the world has ever seen and probably ever will see, died on Thursday, June 25, 2009. His name: Michael Jackson. No need for me to delve into his achievements, I can do that in another piece. Let’s just say for now that the world has never seen any person larger in status than Michael Jackson. Which is why, BET felt that they should pay tribute to the fallen performer by revamping their award show to capture this sad and historic moment in time.

BET said that they tried really hard to produce a quality show. Granted, they only had three days to completely overhaul the show from whatever it was initially supposed to be to whatever that was it ended up being. Maybe they really did try, I’m not sure. But, when you have Soulja Boy (Tell them ni66as something or whatever his name is) on the same stage as people trying to pay tribute to the King of Pop, all of your efforts should be immediately given the side eye. Yes, Soulja Boy! The purveyor of songs such as “Kiss Me Through The Phone” and “Booty Meat.” He shouldn't have been been allowed in the parking lot - at least not until he learned English.

Then you have Beyonce - wearing a wedding dress slash wedding night hotel housecoat. How was that a tribute to Mike? In that outfit, I might have understood had she snatched off all that brick-a-brack and performed a cover of “Shake Your Body Down.” Her singing was good, but I just didn’t get how that related to Michael Jackson.

The night was supposed to be filled with tributes to Michael, but the sad fact is, many performers sounded like they were singing underwater. Was Gloria Allred the soundman? So what you ended up with was a tragic event in history being chronicled by tragedy. BET President, Debra Lee claimed to CNN before the show began that so many celebrities had contacted BET regarding participating in the Michael Jackson tribute. Clearly BET didn’t pick up the phone when they called.

Was Jill Scott busy? Ya’ll couldn’t find my girl India.Arie? I had her number if you needed it. Brian McKnight was out of town? Boyz II Men couldn’t sing “Its So Hard To Say Goodbye?” Yes, I love New Edition, but Bobby Brown beat up Whitney Houston and you let him huff and puff on the stage, yet you let Jay-Z punk you into rescinding your invitation to Chris Brown. Michael Jackson tribute you say? You mean Wyclef didn’t have a banjo or a ukulele in the trunk of his car? T-Pain had a Michael Jackson t-shirt on – under his “BIG A$$ CHAIN.” I’m thinking we should all pitch in and buy him a big IGNORANT A$$ BELT.

So now is the time to start building with those words I listed earlier. Its time to start looking at the got-damn Man In The Mirror. Clearly, the BET Awards had no CLASS “a’tall.” Was the fact that the rapper Drake had half naked pre-pubescent little girls dancing around him like sex slaves supposed to be part of Mike’s tribute? Have we lost our entire parcel of God given SELF-RESPECT?

CNN found themselves on the red carpet reporting live before the show began. I know right? If you had asked somebody a month ago what it would take for CNN to actually broadcast from the BET Awards, that person would have laughed, bent their wrist forward and said, “Chile, Michael Jackson would have to die for that to happen.” DAMN! But, it’s true and I’m sad. Initially I was excited to see CNN there, but only until they started to venture into the crowd to interview people. I yelled out at my TV, “Nooooooooooo,” but they found Kackalisha anyway. She had 10-inch fingernails. Her weave was crooked. Even worse, she was 22-years-old and had not mastered the English language. She spoke like she had a mouth full of Thunderbird and two bushels of chewin’ tobacco. Yeah, kind of similar to Tiny when she accepted the best rap something or other award for T.I. Now don’t you worry about Tiny though because BET has bestowed her with her very own show. Have some of us just no remaining DIGNITY? Don’t bother to answer. Refer to paragraph one. But I'm just 'hatin' right?

Tip: When CNN puts their microphone in front of you, and you know you’re not “worldly,” just decline to be interviewed. Tell that reporter - no matter how much you yearn to be seen by the people in the nail shop and the halfway house - no matter how bad you know that reporter wants all the white people watching to find out “our” secrets that I thought you wanted to hide, please tell him that you are just too sad to comment. And then, just walk away.

Michael Jackson may have been a lot of things. However, his accomplishments and the barriers he broke down for Black people are immeasurable. Yet, all some of “us” could focus on in the wake of his death, were unproven allegations. The people who called him horrible names just moments after he was pronounced dead could make jokes, but they didn’t care to mention that he gave away more than three hundred and fifty million dollars to charity. No proof of harming children, but there’s plenty proof of his humanitarianism. Nevertheless, the ignorant tend to focus on what they know best – more ignorance. Has every drop of our PRIDE evaporated? I’m mystified and troubled. When I saw the line up of new shows premiering on BET (Tiny plus that other girl and Keisha Cole’s mama’nem) I truly contemplated seceding from the union.

And what about the President of the United States – Barack Obama? What the fu*k was that *****’s excuse? Yeah, I said it. The most famous person in the entire world died and he couldn’t even utter two words about it. Meanwhile, people cried rivers of tears throughout the world.

“Mr. President, you couldn’t recognize an American treasure? I thought you were the leader of the free world? He’s not coming back either dude, it was a now or never moment and you blew billions of us off. Whether you like him or you don’t is irrelevant. The relevancy lies in the fact that so many people cared about him and his contributions to the world. The fact that a multitude of other world leaders publicly recognized Michael Jackson’s passing; while you let your Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, parrot some rather unflattering commentary that you made under what seemed like duress is an outrage. Not only did you fail to follow the most basic rule of PROTOCOL, you managed to break the whole code. Please turn in your badge at the front desk because you’re feeling real BET to me right now. Your Black is wack. Michael Jackson was my civil rights movement, but clearly you don't get it. Maybe you’re waiting for somebody more famous than Michael Jackson to die before you address your subjects, followers and constituency? Oh wait, there is no one more famous than Michael Jackson.” --WASET

For those who believe Obama didn’t have 10 or 20 seconds in his busy day to address the world in regards to the King of Pop, he was on CNN for 34 minutes the day after Mike died.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/26/AR2009062602257.html

I could write for hours about the President's disrespectful actions in the wake of Michael Jackson's untimely demise, but I was thinking of leaving room in cyberspace for all the people who are going to argue that he had better things to do than provide a 25 second blurb about the death of the most famous person in the world. On second thought, surely it would be Black people who would try to attack me for calling Obama out on his egregious faux pas. Yet, we all know that many of “us” don’t read articles with this many words in them anyway. Just in case though, if you made it this far and you know somebody who's gonna have beef here, you can Soulja Boy tell them that they don't have to read about Obama doing Mike wrong, I added pictures for their ease.

Off to watch the Cosby show…

WASET © 2009

The POWER journal