The Official Melafela Weblog

GHANA AND SLAVE PAST

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:32:21 -0400

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nospam@example.com (melafela) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:27:40 -0400

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Word Press: www.melafela.com

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:41:15 -0500

It's official melafela.com is now using wordpress . You can simply find me at www.melafela.com

Many have asked me... why do you ever use this inflexible blogging platform known as serendipity. I can only answer... "it was the first one available". I was spoiled because the control panal is awesome.

I recently switched to word press and I love it. It is an awesome platform and I can see why New York Times , CNN , Tiger Direct and so many others use it . It is flexible and everything works with it. Sorta like a P.C. or Blackberry. (just got one of those too.. .. and don't you know I should have waited on the Blackberry Storm but oh well ).

Serendipity served its purpose. It got me blogging. I feel quite comfortable now just jumping right into the thick of things and letting the rants fly as they may.

That being said. It is time to move one over to new and better things .. so check my new blog out at www.melafela.com

Now its really on..... and poppin'

Mela out

Now That's whats up !

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:59:04 -0500

I am not even going to say too much about this picture.. there is about 1 Million words to describe what is going on in this picture... I can only say.. Reach for the stars and you may just hit the moon...

On October 17th 1995 over 13 years ago a younger ambitious, forward thinking Obama said this following his attendance at the Million Man March " at age 34.

"What I saw was a powerful demonstration of an
impulse and need for African-American men to come together to recognize
each other and affirm our rightful place in the society," he said.
"There was a profound sense that African-American men were ready to
make a commitment to bring about change in our communities and lives.

"But
what was lacking among march organizers was a positive agenda, a
coherent agenda for change. Without this agenda a lot of this energy is
going to dissipate. Just as holding hands and singing 'We shall
overcome' is not going to do it, exhorting youth to have pride in their
race, give up drugs and crime, is not going to do it if we can't find
jobs and futures for the 50 percent of black youth who are unemployed,
underemployed, and full of bitterness and rage.

"Exhortations
are not enough, nor are the notions that we can create a black economy
within America that is hermetically sealed from the rest of the economy
and seriously tackle the major issues confronting us,"

That is what you call dedication .. sticking to a goal, not complaining but doing something about it... The bar has been raised brothers and sisters.. there is NO, NONE, ZERO, Nadda, Nill , Null, Zippo, Zed, ... escuses..

If a 34 year old Obama took it upon himself to do something about what he thought then.. enough said.

What's in a name:

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:32:55 -0500

When the rolls of the United States presidential history is read there will no doubt be a pause at number 44 . All prior names will all share one thing in common they are of European extraction.. the 44th will not be, nor will it ever be unless there is a future African conquest of Europe and subsequent subjugation, humiliation of that continent with the renaming of its people. Under such a cenario maybe that would be possible .

If the rolls were to eventually stretch to 1000 at number 44 there will be a glaring difference and no picture will be needed in order to understand that that name didn not belong to anyone of European decent.

Malcolm X was once ask what his name was and he replied "Malcolm X" he was asked to clarify it on the legal basis to which he replied that it was not under legal means that the previous name assigned to him (Little) was given. When asked what his father's name was he replied .. my father didn't know his real name, this was a name passed down to him by his father who didn't quite know his name either. In fact The name of his furthest reaching anscestor in this hemisphere ( he had parents of both African American and African Caribbeaen extraction ) would have gone back to a man whos African name, which dated back many centuries or more, was taken from.

The beauty wonderful beauty of Barack Obama being the first United States President of African Descent is that there is no legacy of wearing a name derived from slave masters attached to it. It's symbolic power will eventually stand the test of time.

Michelle Obama, who was subsequently Robinson will be mother to children who will forever have the Obama name attached to them. It would be good for them to at least hyphenate their name if they were to remarry and have (likely given the reality of this country another European surname attached to theirs in the future)

George Washington, Samuel Adams and John Adam's , Thomas Jefferson and others whos anscestor live today can not only look back at the direct line to these prominent men in history but beyond to even a time before America.

When John McCain stated " I come from a long line of Mccains who served this country" he said it with a pride knowing that his anscestry , dutifully preserved, traced back to "the old country" and royalty , no doubt.

The name Obama, leaves America's shores immediately and reaches clear across the Atlantic to the region of the world, scientist now will say is the cradle of civilization... the Leaky's did .

Barack's name is the name of his father, and his father before that and his father before that. It tells of his cultural and even the spiritual legacy of his family. The first president would not be a Sharpton or a Jackson.. not related to Andrew Jackson..

with 4 or 5 generations would be cut short at the point where some anscester like Barack's father, upon arriving on the shores of North America was forceably stripped of that name and the legacy attached to it. The name would end at a sharp point , denoting an event where his anscester for cut off , permanently from his own heritage and past at the feet of a slave owner who now denoted him property.

Many will miss the point and answer that they want to hang on to the European name because it reminds them of their family... their unique family history based on the region in which they were born. I would suppose if two black people with the name Brown or Washington met up they could readily therefore assume that they came from the same place, or the same family maybe...Unlikely.

I am not saying that there aren't good pragmatic reasons to hold unto the name of at least your American anscestors. I am saying look at the difference.

The most poinient scene in Roots by Alex Haley had to be when Kunta Kente of Gambia had to give up his name of his people, his father , his family , his culture and all that goes with it.. it's spiritual ties to be named for ever Toby.

His children would have no sense of their place , relative to anything but that name. The Kente line would be forever severed, their birthright forfieted by one simple act.

Not so with Obama, somewhere when the roll are read and his answered, even if their names are again europeanized will be able to trace their roots back to one continent... Africa. It is befitting theirfore that history will record the African intervention in the affairs of the west without question.

That is what is in a name

Continue reading "What's in a name:"

A time of reflection

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:10:14 -0500

source: USA today

It may seem hard to imagine but the whole world isn't celebrating Barack Obamas win. There are plenty of people out there who had their hopes and dreams pinned on their candidate John McCain winning. They would seemlingly be in the minority .... by a releatively slim margin here but most definiteiy world wide. That in itself will have to give those with even an inclination towards introspection a need to pause.

The questions may be "Does it mean I am wrong if I voted or supported McCain rather than Obama ?" .. " does it mean I am, god forbid , a racist ?" ... "why does it seem that the world world seems to be so happy" ?

It may feel to some like being in a room where everyone but them are laughing at a joke. It is that feeling of unexpected isolation that may be the underlying danger in this country. A quick view of the electoral map from the election should show that the country, though demonstrating some important shifts is likely quite polarized. With John McCain had 55 percent of all white voters and 58 percent among so called working class white voters. In fact with less than 5% of the black vote, less than 20% of hispanic vote, Mccain was the ticket representing the majority white population.

This makes it one of the most polarized races in decades. Minorities tend to vote a block throughout the world because it is the natural inclination of the minority to try to achieve solidarity to gain socio-policital and economic strength.

What is disturbing is when the majority population begin consolidating.

The encouraging part of it is that 45% of the white vote did choose to side with the opinon at on average 4 to 1 of at least 22 other nations polled and vote for the African American to be the leader, as they say , of the free world.

It is a time for reflection then and not blame.. because what does it mean. I think Obama as he alluded to in his philadelphia speech, knows. This country has a history and now , unexpectedly , when everyone was willing to say that race and racism was an illusion it is the spector that looms most prominent..... yes in 2008.

No one wants to really look at it... but guess what ? it will be looking right back at us for the next four years, barring any ridiculous, unforseen event. The image of this African American , this Black.... this African couple with both european and african anscestory, American as apply pie.. with the graham cracker crust, instead, will be the mirror for the nation.

The reflection will be personal. The response will be , like in reconstruction, visceral for some. It means confronting demons hidden deep within our collective and individual psyche.

Blacks who are elated today , may find that , the incredible, dauntingly high expectations placed on Barack Obama are now being placed on them. Living Vicariously through Barack wont be an option. Barack is Barack...

He has seized on the promise he discovered in the American ideal and ran with it. A clear template has been left for those who wish to follow. The key will be if Black people in America , like white Americans realize what has in fact occurred for both of them.

Both sides may in fact retreat , at least in the short term, into a complacency that will be detrimental to progress. It will be easier for most to just let the Barack Obama presidency stand for all the reconcilation that will still have to be done.

It is not likely that the calm even tempered black man from Chicago will make everyone spontaneously of kindred heart and mind.

Those who voted for McCain and feared they are racist... should not feel alone. The fact is it is not the conscious racism that needs to be expelled it is the underlying thread that is intimately interwoven into our collective psyche that it blends so seemlessly we hardly can acknowlege it..

Obama therefore is the not the solution , it is the focus point allow us to actually reflect.

President elect Obama, needs to continue to live his exemplary HUMAN life and challenge the nation to determine who much longer this will matter. The hard work has only just begun.

Polls polls and more polls

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:09:35 -0400

Son of William F Buckley pays the price for endorsing Obama

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:13:51 -0400

Apparently the more logical you are and rational you are in thought the more offensive you are to those who only understand jingoistic patriotism- mela

For years my favorite conservative was the late William F Buckely Jr. and his show on PBS called Firing Line.. and for good reason.. though I fundamentally disagreed with most of his points , and I do mean most of his points.. My first book I read of his " Up from Liberalism" Mocked Booker T's "Up from Slavery " . I knew then that this was someone whose view point I had to consider while forming my own political view point as a sophmore in College.

.. he was careful to always remain open minded and willing to concede a point if defended in a reasonable manner. His visitors routinely included people from the so called Far left in particular members of the ACLU which to most conservatives in the country could just as well spell C-O-M-M-U-N-I-S-T .

The fact is though... he was confortable in his position enough to hear others. No ridiculous rants..

but well thought out positions that required engagment of the mind in order to counter.

Unfortunately now .. the "Kooks" as he put it are now considered the mainstay of conservative thought.. even to the point that his own seed of his loins can't stand it..

I again will reiterate..

Obama is not the answer for all that ails the world.. but I would say he would be a good balm as we work towards the cure. McCain and his side kick Palin (who clearly has agendas of her own.. talk about blind ambition) are ready to pour more salt in the wound for the sake of a good fight..

The world is not up for a good fight right now... it's up for a good stretch of peace..and prosperity. Humans could use a break from the norm and actually a chance to see whether or not they are doomed to perpetual conflict or if in fact they can rise to their greatest potential..

After all... is there any thing wrong with "pursuit of happiness ?"

Buckley leaves National Review after Obama endorsement

Posted: 10:12 AM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Buckley has resigned his post from the National Review.

(CNN) — Christopher Buckley, the son of conservative icon William F. Buckley, said Tuesday he's resigned from the conservative National Review days after endorsing Barack Obama's White House bid, among the most powerful symbols yet of the conservative discontent expressed this election cycle.

In an online column, Buckley said he had decided to offer his resignation from the magazine his father founded after hundreds of readers and some National Review colleagues expressed outrage he was backing the Illinois senator.

"While I regret this development, I am not in mourning, for I no longer have any clear idea what, exactly, the modern conservative movement stands for," Buckley wrote.

"Eight years of 'conservative' government has brought us a doubled national debt, ruinous expansion of entitlement programs, bridges to nowhere, poster boy Jack Abramoff and an ill-premised, ill-waged war conducted by politicians of breathtaking arrogance. As a sideshow, it brought us a truly obscene attempt at federal intervention in the Terry Schiavo case," he also wrote.

The resignation comes four days after Buckley formally endorsed Obama on the Web site The Daily Beast, writing the presidential campaign had made John McCain "inauthentic," and Obama appeared to have a "first-class temperament and first-class intellect."

In a statement posted on the publication's Web site Tuesday, National Review editor Rich Lowry noted Buckley was writing for the magazine on a trial basis, and took his offer to resign with the "warmest regards and understanding" sincerely. Lowry also took issue with Buckley's contention the magazine had been flooded with angry mail over Buckley's endorsement, saying it had received a relatively small 100 e-mails expressing disapproval.

"It's an intense election season and emotions are running high," Lowry said.

Matt Lewis, a contributing writer to the conservative Web site Townhall.com, told CNN the National Review made the right decision in quickly accepting Buckley's resignation.

"While it is acceptable for a conservative to vote for a third party – or to abstain from voting for McCain – no real conservative could cast their vote for Obama," he said. "The conservative movement didn’t leave him, he left it.

But in his column Tuesday, Buckley expressed disappointment the magazine, and conservatives in general, were not more open to dissenting opinions that his own father once championed.

"My father in his day endorsed a number of liberal Democrats for high office, including Allard K. Lowenstein and Joe Lieberman," he said, adding later, "My point, simply, is that William F. Buckley held to rigorous standards, and if those were met by members of the other side rather than by his own camp, he said as much."

Buckley is only the latest among several prominent conservative to express dissatisfaction with McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin. David Brooks, Kathleen Parker, David Frum, Peggy Noonan, and George Will, all high-profile conservative thinkers, have each openly criticized the ticket over the last month.

"Sadly, I think Christopher Buckley is merely the latest example of the 'conservative' avant-garde who has succumbed to a common temptation: Becoming more liberal is tantamount to becoming more open-minded. There is a palpable elitism among some of the conservative panjandrum," Lewis said.

Zogby Polls still bullish on Obama

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:45:51 -0400

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The most significant figure so far in the polls is one conducted by Zogby which showed:

Among those who have already voted - about seven percent of the sample - Obama leads by a 52% to 42% edge over McCain.This is very significant because it supports the idea that if people get out and vote as they have registered there will be a clear margin of victory for Obama. In the end even if on Nov 4th , the race is close , the early voting will be the potential game changer.

This is directly from the Zogby site : The Democratic Party presidential nominee Barack Obama moved outside the margin of error in his race against Republican John McCain, leading now by 6.2 percentage points in the latest edition of the Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby daily tracking poll.

In this latest report, Obama gained 1.1 percentage points, while McCain lost 0.8 percentage points in the latest rolling average. Obama's 6.2 point advantage is the largest lead so far in the tracking poll. McCain has come within 1.9 points of Obama early on in the tracking process last week.

The rolling telephone tracking poll included a sample of 1,208 likely voters collected over the previous three 24-hour periods spanning four calendar days - approximately 400 per 24-hour period from Oct. 10-13, 2008. The poll was conducted by live telephone operators in Zogby's in-house call center in Upstate New York and carries a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points.

Obama's overall edge is linked to his strong performance among independent voters, where he retains a substantial 17-point lead. Both Obama and McCain continue to do well in winning support from voters in their own respective parties - Obama wins 86% support from Democrats and McCain wins 87% support from Republicans.

Three Day Tracking Poll	10-13	10-12	10-11	10-10	10-9	10-8	10-7	10-6
Obama	49.0%	47.9%	48.9%	47.6%	47.6%	47.8%	47.1%	47.7%
McCain	42.8%	43.6%	42.8%	43.8%	43.4%	44.2%	45.2%	45.3%
Others/Not sure	8.2%	8.5%	8.3%	8.6%	9.0%	8.0%	7.7%	7.0%

Obama leads McCain by a statistically insignificant one point among men, and also leads among women by 11 points.

Liberal voters support Obama over McCain by an 85% to 10% margin, while McCain leads among conservatives by a 72% to 19% edge - but it is notable that Obama is winning 19% of the conservative support. Among moderates, 61% support Obama, while 32% support McCain.

Among those voters who said they have registered to vote in the last six months, Obama leads McCain by a 53% to 37% margin. Daily Tracking Continues

This daily tracking telephone poll will continue each day until the Nov. 4 election, keeping in touch with the daily twists and turns in the race for the White House. With each new day of polling that is folded into the poll, the oldest third of the survey is replaced with the fresh data, so the poll "tracks" changes in voter attitudes following events and developments in the campaigns. Keep up-to-date every day by visiting www.zogby.com.

Mental Finesse is the next level

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:08:07 -0400

There used to be an old adage that said " If you want to hide something from a black person.. just put it between the pages of a book " Apparently John McCain didn't get the memo.. that there are more than a few avid readers ... like "THAT ONE "...

nothing can be taken for granted any more..

It may be worth realizing that Barack seemingly came out of no where..

guess what .. there are a million more to come.. This is just one dent in that deceptively thin armor of assumed supremacy..

oh by the way .. not only Vernon but Barack Can Read !

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Take a lil break....

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:03:55 -0400

This is no time to panic.... Surf's up .. .. get on your board and surf

So much trouble in the world now [ repeat ]

Bless my eyes this morning

JAH sun is on the rise once again

The way earthly things are going Anything can happen

You see men sailing on their ego trips

Blast off on their spaceships

Million miles from reality

No care for you, no care for me

So much trouble in the world now [ repeat ]

All you've got to do is give a little Give a little,

give a little One more time ye-a-h! ye-ah!

So you think you have found the solution

But it's just another illusion So before you check out your tide

Don't leave another cornerstone standing there behind

We have got to face the day, ooh we come what may We the street people talking, we the people struggling

Now they are sitting on a time bomb Now I now the time has come

What goes on up is coming on down.. What Goes around comes around

So much trouble in the world So much trouble in the world So much trouble in the world There is so much trouble, there is so much trouble There is so much trouble There is so much trouble in the world There is so much trouble in the world

Only the comedy shows tell the truth it seems

nospam@example.com (melafela) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:44:33 -0400