Motor City Blues

I grew up in a family full of auto workers. My grandfather was among the thousands who migrated up north for a job with Ford. I also had 2 uncles that worked for Ford, another uncle that worked for Chrysler, and I myself worked for GM. So the financial crisis with the big 3 hits home. But the big 3 only have themselves to blame. Being that I am from an automotive family...Suggesting that I drive a foreign car is analogouss of disrespecting your parents. You just don’t do it and not expect an ass whoopin’. I am somewhat loyal to the big 3, as is a lot of the old school auto workers that came up in my parents and grandparents’ generations as well as a lot of good old fashioned Detroit muscle. And before I drive a Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi or Honda, I’d rather not have a car at all. With that being said, The big 3 hasn’t been very loyal to us over the last few years. They didn’t understand that everyone does not want an SUV with gas prices as unpredictable as they are. They don’t understand that not everyone can afford a decent GM vehicle unless you are a rapper signed with a major label, a pimp or a drug dealer. Ford makes shitty cars, and no one wants to keep taking their Ford whatever to the shop because of another recall, and Chrysler products are just butt ugly to begin with in addition to being prone to recalls. So what happens? People stop buying them. And before you UAW members start with your amens and hallelujahs, you all have a lot to do with the automotive crisis as well. You already make a decent living and have decent benefits but your wanting more has placed a tremendous burden on the industry by way of astronomical labor costs and simultaneously cock-blocking those who are willing to work for half. And because of it, the entire US economy which largely depends on the auto industry will be fucked (and guess what city will be hit the hardest). In a way I hope that the government bails out the big 3 but in another way I hope they don’t. I saw first hand how an economy that depends on the auto industry can be devastated when Chrysler left Highland Park back in the early 90s, and it wasn’t pretty. I don’t even WANT to think about if it were to happen to the entire state or the entire country. But on the other hand if they do get the bailout money, will they really get their shit together? Or will they be back a year later trying to hit us taxpayers up for more money to pay for their fuck-ups.

Where’s the outrage (pt. 2)

I’m back and I have to get on the hip hop bashers (read: hypocrites) once again. I mean the ones who claim that hip hop is a 21st century minstrel show, playing on negative stereotypes. Again I have to ask the question: Why are rappers condemned to be minstrels or “coons” but black comedians get a pass. Now I will admit part of this rant is because with the exception of the late George Carlin, I’m not a fan comedians of any race, but I especially loathe black comedians. Why? Well first of all there’s nothing funny about racism. It wasn’t funny when the guy from Seinfeld made jokes about black people, or the fat Italian woman (whose name escapes me at this moment) who makes jokes about black men and it’s not funny when Chris Rock or any other black comedian makes jokes about white people. But my main beef is how these Step and fetchit wanna-bes get on T.V. and set us back to the Amos and Andy era. What’s worse is people are so caught up in bashing hip hop that they don’t see it. Everyone and their mother wants to denounce hip hop and yet are literally splitting their sides laughing at black comedians who perpetuate worse stereotypes than any rapper (gangsta or otherwise) would ever do. No, hip hop is not perfect by a longshot. However like I said last time, if you are going to get on one, then get on the other too.

Let it go dog, it’s over.

Tiger Stadium is nothing more than an abandoned building. And like any other abandoned building, it should be torn down. They claim there’s a lot of history on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. But you know what? That was then...This is now. What good is it doing for it just to sit there? Okay, some guy hit a ball there some 70 years ago...SO WHAT? Whooptie damn doo. What about homeless people who could benefit from housing that could be built there? What about the unemployed people who could benefit from business that could be built there? Not to mention the revenue that could be generated to the surrounding businesses as well as the city by building housing or businesses. But I guess none of that matters. All some care about is the history...Well you know what? Fuck your history, and fuck your memories. It’s time to move forward.

Where’s the outrage now?

Over the years, hip hop and hip hop culture has been under attack by self-righteous media whores, armchair revolutionaries and sideline activists for the way women are portrayed. It is a legitimate argument, Although I personally think that sometimes hip hop artists DO go a little too hard on the sistas, but every woman I know (and some that I don’t) that I have talked to about this very subject has said the same thing: They are not referring to THEM, so they don’t find it offensive. And as far as the so-called "video hoes" go, personally, I think it's uncalled for a lot of times, but facts are facts. No one puts a gun to these women's heads. They WANT to be in these videos...this is what they do to support themselves and further their careers. And in my opinion there is nothing degrading about a woman being on her grind, or a man supporting her grind. Hip hop has been blamed for every single thing that has ever gone wrong in the world. Everything from the crack epidemic, to the Beatles breaking up, to 9/11 and everything in between.



But these same hypocrites go home to watch dumb ass shows like that top model shit. Supporting an industry whose very existence was BUILT on the degradation of women...Depicting them as brainless eye candy. Encouraging bad body images by creating impossible standards of beauty that cannot be attained, and making girls and women feel like they ain’t shit because their butt is a little to big their skin is too dark, or whatever. But where is the outrage in that? A guy even SAYS the word bitch even if he is referring to his pregnant female dog, and there’s all kinds of hysteria. But some designer can have a simulate GANG RAPE....yes you read it right...check the picture...GANG RAPE, and no one bats an eye.

Fair is fair, gotdamnit! If you are going to get on one, then get on the other one too if he’s just as wrong. Otherwise, shut the fuck up.