Shooting today around 11 am Franklin Lincoln NW corner

Anyway, I heard today that it was gang related. That there was some turf fighting going on, that the guys at that corner sell more than just weed; they also sell crack apparently. I also heard that the cops caught the person who did it. Has anyone else heard that? My source comes from a third party who has a direct ear from the brothers who hang out in the African restuarant. Of course, ALL of this is 3rd or 4th hand information. I cannot verify ANYTHING, but I thought it would be better than not saying anything at all. I also heard that it was over some girl, so I have no idea what to believe. Someone said that the fact that there is a red shirt hanging in memoriam seems to signify the gang the dude belonged to, or the passing of blood. Maybe it's my snootiness but I am not inclined to believe the symbolism of red for blood, unless we're talkin' about the 'Bloods'.

But here's the thing, what alternative exists for these guys? And this isn't liberal claptrap. Just pragmatism. Seriously, suppose by the powers of He-Man, the Thundercats, or whomever, suppose these guys are moved from that corner, or from the weed or crack sellin'? What are they gonna do for money? It seems to me that they are going to start stealing or robbing. I mean, it sounds horrible, but there drug activity is the least of all the evils. It's like having a mouse/rat hole you have no access to. The best thing to do is to put the glue trap outside the hole and wait for something to nibble. And I hate to make a comparison to PESTS here, because we are talking about PEOPLE after all, but, a grandmother, mother and child were just feet away from this horrible crime. Suppose one of them got hurt? I live in close proximity of some of the filthiest people you could ever imagine, and it makes me incredibly angry, but at the same time I have to ask myself, what kind of world could these folks be living in that could make them perceive this as normalcy??! And that's what boggles our mind in this neighborhood, is my guess.

I've been fortunate to have travelled a bit, and I have seen real poverty. I have seen people take flattened cans within which one might find peas, or corn, or tomato paste, and they are attached end to end to make a wall, or a roof of a shack. I've gone into small circular houses made up of nothing but dry grass and cow dung, and the tenants a family of three or four, a mother with a withered breast upon which the child still suckles, and with a thin dirty shard of cloth she did her best to clean the mud and dung -based floor. That's more humanity and self awareness than some of our neighbors! What antecedents in this urban environment make someone become so brutal and uncouth? I really want to discuss that. More than my own very entertaining witticisms, and responses that are no doubt also interesting, jeepers-creepers man, there are some really crazy people out here.

What drives me crazy is that my attempts to link this to history and public policy are seen as imaginary, and I can accept that some of it is, but damn, all of it? I mean, I know you folks get tired of the race argument, but that doesn't make it less real does it? When I hear the lack of a reasoned response to my conjecture, it makes me realize what the solution to these urban problems will be. It will be an increasingly intolerant police force, and citizenry which will look the other way when heads are smacked together or simply broken. I gotta tell ya; that bothers me. As a lay student of history, it feels like a horrible resolution for a people who are without doubt the gypsies of the New World, and it makes me think very little of the self congratulatory progressivism of many 'folks. That's why I get angry, that's why just say it like I feel it.

Anyway, I'm steppin' away.

MHA wrote: When I hear the lack of a reasoned response to my conjecture, it makes me realize what the solution to these urban problems will be. It will be an increasingly intolerant police force, and citizenry which will look the other way when heads are smacked together or simply broken. I gotta tell ya; that bothers me. As a lay student of history, it feels like a horrible resolution for a people who are without doubt the gypsies of the New World, and it makes me think very little of the self congratulatory progressivism of many 'folks. That's why I get angry, that's why just say it like I feel it.

(emphasis mine)

Hold up a minute, check out Cory Booker...

http://www.newsweek.com/id/238118

That's definitely a good start....perhaps plenty to learn from what's currently going on in Newark (of all places).

I'd add that, if they can make it there, they can make it aaaanyyywhere...
(and so the song goes :-' )

Trolls are very special people, and one of their characteristics is that they often take views they know will offend people, just to raise the ire of others. ...they don't necessarily actually believe the views they are taking.

It's been a fun week or so. I've learned MHA believes:
a. White people should never say hi or smile to black people. (whatchuwant is wrong)
b. Jewish people must all hold pro-israel views in order to remain true to their identity. (lnelson is wrong).
c. White people should never say a black person is smart or well spoken. (whynot is wrong)
d. Black guys should not date white women (CTK is wrong)
e. Black guys who have achieved success and are from Ghana, should be angrier at white people than they seem to be (CTK is wrong again)

troll?

...that would mean he is writing things to deliberately annoy his readers.

No, I agree with you: I think he is just expressing himself.

...I'm sure others may hold the same views, just like others hold the same views as lnelson, whatchuwant, ctk, or myself.

It's all good. Readers get to decide who they want to believe and how they want to live their lives. We've got a pretty bright group of regular members, they'll take MHA's opinions into account and weigh them against their life experiences.

It's NYC....
just about all of the readers on this board work in diverse places.

just about all of the readers live in buildings that are composed of diverse groups of residents.

just about all of us (either in grad school or undergrad) have been taught how blacks have been treated in the country over the past 400 years.

....a troll? Nah, he's just one guy with a set of opinions.

I haven't called him a troll yet.

....maybe whatchuwant believed he was just trying to annoy people because his views were so different than her experience.

Like I said, I'm with you, I think he genuinely believes what he is writing ...people just don't understand him.

It's tough to be mha.... but we shouldn't worry.
He'll be ok.

MHA wrote: When I hear the lack of a reasoned response to my conjecture, it makes me realize what the solution to these urban problems will be. It will be an increasingly intolerant police force, and citizenry which will look the other way when heads are smacked together or simply broken. I gotta tell ya; that bothers me. As a lay student of history, it feels like a horrible resolution for a people who are without doubt the gypsies of the New World, and it makes me think very little of the self congratulatory progressivism of many 'folks. That's why I get angry, that's why just say it like I feel it.

Anyway, I'm steppin' away.

:-k Hum, I think that's already happening. So did we find the solution then?
(Tongue in cheek)

I am torn about responding to Whynot_31's whimsies or to address a more pressing issue. I will choose life over ego. I am very concerned about the potential for collateral effect because of this recent shooting.

Case in point: I live not too far from a Crip safehouse, if I can use that word to describe where some Crip gang members reside. I have no doubt that the comrades (if I can use that word to describe the Bloods) of this fallen 'soldier' are plotting reprisal. That means that there is great potential for more bloodshed in this neighborhood, and on MY block.

Already there has been pullback from Bristen's and Nairobi's backpack -- both of whom had planned a whole day of activities including live music, clowns, and other forms of entertainment for the summer. Their cancellation should not be confused with the Kid's Day event that is being engineered by Kevin of 'About Time', the t-shirt boutique also on Franklin; moderators, please forgive me for mentioning businesses. My attempt is not to plug for them here. I am not affiliated with them. The joint affair planned by Bristen's and Nairobi's backpack could not receive a music permit, for the fear was playing 'certain music' would attract a certain element. Given recent tragedy, both have relented and decided to just chill.

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=Outside Child][quote=joe1121]does anyone know why it happened?

damn i live on that block and walk my dog past that store twice daily. i am thoroughly freaked the fuck out!

Hey, realize that anything can happen anywhere!

um, let's be honest: Things happen in CH more often.

But Joe1121, your chances of being a murder victim may be very low if you use common sense. http://projects.nytimes.com/crime/homicides/map

Very few strangers are murdered in NYC.

Pro-tip: Remain a stranger!

You can continue to be a stranger to those who are likely to murder you by taking simple steps:
avoid dealing drugs.
avoid dating felons.
avoid buying drugs.

robbery, on the otherhand, is far more frequent occurence ...and it involves strangers far more often. Anti-robbery Pro-tips:
avoid being intoxicated outside at 1 AM
avoid dealing drugs.
avoid dating felons.
avoid buying drugs.
avoid displaying shiny things: jewelry, iphones, etc.

Great advice. Be aware and proactive.

^ Somebody seriously needs to Slap Chop Hip Hop that thing...

(Sigh).... Park Place I'm not gonna answer that. Not because I can't, but it's my hope that some other Black person will step up to the fore and answer it, or disagree with me. It's weird. When I stated it, part of the reason was to incite debate, but to also state a truth. What I received in response -- if you recall -- was a seemingly unanimous disagreement -- from whitefolks. My guess is that the all Black people had correctly guessed that I was channeling Paul Mooney or Richard Pryor, and they were all laughing. Maybe I am wrong here, but I don't recall anyone who has stated they are BLACK disagreeing with me! Ain't that somethin'? Doesn't that stand for SOMETHING? That's SOME eerie shibang-bang, no?

On one hand It could mean that there are so few Black people here (why is that?), or it could mean that I expressed something that is agreed upon, unanimously, or it could mean anything, actually; but still, what's weird is that NO other Black person said ANYTHING --- THEN(they might NOW, but it won't count either way in my book: space-time continuum , et. al). Hey, did CTK say anything about it?
.......
Okay, Park Place, I relent. I will tell you one reason why we don't like it when whites smile at 'us'. To do this I will channel my best Black 'Joe bag-o-donuts' (ahem):

"WTF you smilin' for?
You KNOW me??
Unless you know me there ain't no reason to be all up in MHAgrill with yo' smilin'!
It don't come off as rispek, it be seemin' FAKE!
Ergo Why is yo' fakeass smilin' at me?????

And, please pardon the strong language. I mean no disrespect, I am simply telling you like it is.

Okay, another reason: Whitefolks love to see 'THEIR niggers smilin' -- this is what Black Joe Bag-o-Donuts would say. The Black SERVILE smile(D). I've had whitefolks say to me, 'Why aren't you smiling?' and I felt that imprinted genetic code I speak about begin to roil within me. You never tell a Black person to smile. That's YOUR culture. Black people smiled with whitefolks because they often HAD to. If they didn't seem happy and jolly, well, you know what would happen. And if OTHER Black people see you smiling with whitefolks, they are gonna think that you are their house/field nigger, and doing their bidding.

Now, I know some of you don't think I have the ''aw-thara-tay'' (channeling Cartman from South Park here) to speak for Black people (i.e., Holla Peno, and pornomacallit), but this is MY experience. And when y'all say that I don't have this right, then you are saying I didn't have this EXPERIENCE, and that all of the Black people I know with whom have also had similar experiences -- they don't count. I thought long about Holla Peno's comment somewhere that I cannot speak for an entire race of people. He/she is right, but I sure as hell can speak for those members of my race who agree with me, and I guarantee you, that's a LARGE percentage of Blackvolk.

I read somewhere in Nietsche (I believe the Etymology of Morals) that smiling is just bared teeth. When you smile at 'us', this is what we see.

Outside Child, I am assumin' that you got a lil' color to ya! Am I making sense here? Is there some veracity in MHA audacity??

MHA wrote: (Sigh).... Park Place I'm not gonna answer that. Not because I can't, but it's my hope that some other Black person will step up to the fore and answer it, or disagree with me. It's weird. When I stated it, part of the reason was to incite debate, but to also state a truth. What I received in response -- if you recall -- was a seemingly unanimous disagreement -- from whitefolks. My guess is that the all Black people had correctly guessed that I was channeling Paul Mooney or Richard Pryor, and they were all laughing. Maybe I am wrong here, but I don't recall anyone who has stated they are BLACK disagreeing with me! Ain't that somethin'? Doesn't that stand for SOMETHING? That's SOME eerie shibang-bang, no?

On one hand It could mean that there are so few Black people here (why is that?), or it could mean that I expressed something that is agreed upon, unanimously, or it could mean anything, actually; but still, what's weird is that NO other Black person said ANYTHING --- THEN(they might NOW, but it won't count either way in my book: space-time continuum , et. al). Hey, did CTK say anything about it?
.......
Okay, Park Place, I relent. I will tell you one reason why we don't like it when whites smile at 'us'. To do this I will channel my best Black 'Joe bag-o-donuts' (ahem):

"WTF you smilin' for?
You KNOW me??
Unless you know me there ain't no reason to be all up in MHAgrill with yo' smilin'!
It don't come off as rispek, it be seemin' FAKE!
Ergo Why is yo' fakeass smilin' at me?????

And, please pardon the strong language. I mean no disrespect, I am simply telling you like it is.

Okay, another reason: Whitefolks love to see 'THEIR niggers smilin' -- this is what Black Joe Bag-o-Donuts would say. The Black SERVILE smile(D). I've had whitefolks say to me, 'Why aren't you smiling?' and I felt that imprinted genetic code I speak about begin to roil within me. You never tell a Black person to smile. That's YOUR culture. Black people smiled with whitefolks because they often HAD to. If they didn't seem happy and jolly, well, you know what would happen. And if OTHER Black people see you smiling with whitefolks, they are gonna think that you are their house/field nigger, and doing their bidding.

Now, I know some of you don't think I have the ''aw-thara-tay'' (channeling Cartman from South Park here) to speak for Black people (i.e., Holla Peno, and pornomacallit), but this is MY experience. And when y'all say that I don't have this right, then you are saying I didn't have this EXPERIENCE, and that all of the Black people I know with whom have also had similar experiences -- they don't count. I thought long about Holla Peno's comment somewhere that I cannot speak for an entire race of people. He/she is right, but I sure as hell can speak for those members of my race who agree with me, and I guarantee you, that's a LARGE percentage of Blackvolk.

I read somewhere in Nietsche (I believe the Etymology of Morals) that smiling is just bared teeth. When you smile at 'us', this is what we see.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong , but in some previous post of yours, perhaps in another thread, I seem to recall you stating that you did not in fact speak on behalf of any one group.

Based on the above, sure seems like you believe that's not the case anymore.

Tsarina, unfortunately my 75 year old mother has to work two days a week taking care of a Jewish kid with a bunch of congenital issues. She cannot bring non-Kosher food into the household without the mother of this little boy having a caniption(not to sure if I spelled that correctly). My mother isn't too keen on Jewish cuisine, as she is a vegetarian. My mom has to adhere to the tenets of her employer whether she likes it or not.... If she can be insincere and eat furtively, I am sure that you can bear the burden of treating Black people the way they want to be treated; NO SOUP FOR YOU!
....


I started this thread by saying that it would help if one could get into the shoes of the Black people who have lived here to get a better understanding of the scowls and yes, the spitting. The argument I proposed was shot down. I tried to provide context for the affront, and what's weird is that there has been little Black affirmation of my own theory and seemingly one black dissent. Upon reading your scenario, I think that the Black persons scowling at you are pissed off because simply, you are here. Were I you I wouldn't walk around in sandals. There might be collateral fragmented sputum that makes contact with your purdy white toes. Be wary.

Reading this entire thread reminds me of why people will never co-exist the way they should. Sad.

Also, I'll smile at whomever I want to, and I'll smile back at whomever smiles at me. If they don't like sharing a sense of friendliness and community, that's their problem, not mine. I receive smiles - often before I smile - from people of all races, religions, and ethnicities . . . usually those who are older in age. Maybe the older you get, the more you realize that it's better to feel like a part of a community than it is to hold a single individual accountable for the crimes of others. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, and if someone doesn't do the same for me, oh well. I'm mildly disturbed by the suggestion that smiling is viewed by an entire group of human beings as condescending, uncalled for, or in any way race-baiting and disrespectful.

Also, no one color is better than another. Capitalizing the color of your skin, and not the color of another's ("whitefolk" vs. "Blackvolk"), is inherently segregating, even if it's for the purpose of empowerment. I'm white, and if anyone ever suggested I refer to myself as "White" (capital W), I would probably puke on their face.

I think there are many black people who do not align with MHA's way of thinking.

MHA you are free to have opinions & reactions... but I don't think it's fair for you to generalize black people in such a manner. In all my time I don't think I've ever encountered another black person who's subscribed to such a theory (at least openly)

Though I admit this may be some humor I am missing.