OF That Champion Spirit

This is Darnell Smith, born August 29, 1974 who is currently serving time in Minnesota's Penal System.

At the end of a Prison Documentary I saw 2 years ago Darnell proclaimed:

" My Motto is 'Chances make Champions' and Imma Always live by that."

Earlier in the program it was explained that this was Smith's second prison term.

His first came, not long before, when he raped a 12 year old girl.

(First of all, what the hell was he doing out of prisonwhile he was still a young man?

In light of America's PENAL system and LACK of a CORRECTIONS system I'd think they would wait until he was too old and weak to rape ANYone ever again before releasing him, if ever.)

During his first stretch he met and manipulated a young, white, female C.O. Tina Leja.

He asked her to be his "lady" and she said yes.

Some time after he was released a young man named Bobby Dee Holder flirted with her, this bothered Smith. He believed Holder intended to set him up in order to steal back some rims Smith had recently purchased from him. Smith convinced his "lady" to encourage Holder's advances and lure him to an agreed upon location. At this location Darnell shot Holder dead and cut off his penis with a pocket knife he found in Holder's pants pocket. Smith's 'lady' and roomate buried the torso in a swampy area in Wisconsin, they then headed west, turned onto an unpaved road and dumped the rest of Holder's remains in a densely wooded area. Which brings me to the POINT of this article. On April 29 Darnell will have 92 years until his release date April-29-2101.

Congratulations Champ, Another Year Down.

-----OF

OF P.O.L.I.T.I.Cs (Wallowing in blatant ignorance)

all rights reserved
All too often we find ourselves looking back, in regret, at mistakes that, for some of us, become lessons learned. But even the most astute of us find ourselves, occasionally back in the same situation we have previously experienced. Hopefully we learn from these experiences and find ourselves repeating this ritual less and less. But our society seems to manifest and nurture this repetition of mistakes we'd all like to avoid.

One example is our 'education system'. Here's a system which stresses memorization rather than Deductive Reasoning and Critical Thinking.

With critical thinking you will learn the reasons for certain outcomes and how to manipulate the outcome. But when the average kid is required to memorize things and not told why, or how these things can help him in the future, his or her mind may not grasp these concepts or value the lesson, particularly in the presence of countless forms of entertainment . But years later, when he's an old man he will be starting to understand the deeper meaning of those lessons, the structuring of a mind around math, language, logic, science, music, He will finally begin to see the connection.

Why can't we show him the connection now? Well, because there's ENOUGH competition among the rich and academic as it IS. If we gave Everyone that quality of education the Kings Mountains would lose too many boulders. And the kings justify their manipulation of public education by telling themselves that every anthill needs worker ants, or "those people aren't civilized anyway", or "quality education's too expensive.

So the 'education' that's passed down traps the masses of the people on the physical plane, in the present moment, on an ego trip, not learning from the past and not concerned about the future.

The young black man depicted above represents this aspect of humanity.

The young man laughs at the old man because he's old fashioned, he is yesterday, the past.

The old man represents the past because everything he knows and tries to impart to the young man comes from his past.

The young man laughs at the old man because he's small, he's bald, his glasses are thick, he's weak, he's slow, his pants are hiked up, his shoes look funny.... He doesn't realize this will one day be him.

The old man represents the future because the young man will one day BE old...if he lives that long. He will one day try to tell a youngster to pay attention to the past, to prepare for the future, to stop reliving the same mistakes.

They're both depicted as black men because the black man is an easy target when you're dealing with a demographic that tends to repeat the same mistakes. How Ever, while many white onlookers sit on the fence and point their fingers at minorities who are living this experience in the most OBvious ways, they fail to realize that, in their Own ways, they're riding their very own merry-go-rounds. If those of us in a position to get off of the ride and stop the spinning of other rides don't do so, we may all begin making those connections AFTER we've become old men.

And this is no country for old men.

------OF

OF Corporal Punishment In Tennessee's Public Schools

Paula Flowe, Founder and Director of The Hitting Stops Here! ( A campaign for teaching kindness and respect in schools everywhere) has been involved in a battle with Memphis Academy of Health and Sciences and the Pulaski School District of Tennesse for the past few Months.

Last Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12, I read a few of the emails Paula Flowe Sent out to keep interested parties informed and felt compelled to write the following letter to everyone on her list of Tennessee officials who are collectively responsible by either action or omission for the perpetuation of the primitive and barbaric tradition of corporal punishment in public schools. So far I have received no responses:

To Whom it may Concern,

The Evolution of humankind is at hand. We are living in times that are pivotal to our future as a race and as a society. Our Technology and Greed have, for a long time, outweighed our spirituality and this has led many of us, as authority figures and administrators, (whether we are authority figures and administrators to institutions or only in our own homes) to value our own reputation and the prestige of our institutions more than we have valued any single unit OF those institutions.

Each Child IS a unit of those institutions. Each Child IS more important than the reputation of the school he or she attends. Each Child IS Humankind. And Each Time we allow a Child to slip through the cracks and consider that child to be spillage, we also spill part of our souls, part of our prestige, part of our reputation. We may sometimes think we've SAVED our reputation at the expense of the spillage because on the surface the spillage has gone unnoticed by others. But the reality is that we can't Lie To Ourselves. We can Attempt to Lie To Ourselves and even reach some level of success in this endeavor, but THIS is where our Supreme Failure actually lies.When we begin to believe our lies we are close to the Point Of No Return.

When children are beaten, when their bodies are subjected to Physical and Emotional Pain to affect change in their Mental processes and behavior, it is NOT respect that is being instilled in the children but fear and confusion. The compliance gained by the person who beats a child is gained through the child's fear that more beatings will ensue, NOT through a new Understanding of the rules or a newfound Respect for the authority figure. Respect is gained by DISPLAYING respect, NOT by coercion.

Some people feel that a child must Earn respect. But the truth is that a child has a clean slate, The Child hasn't been here long enough to show him or herself to be UN-respectable. The ADULT carries that distinction. The ADULT is the one who is interfering with the CHILD's ability and RIGHT to grow up UN-confused by the Hypocritical actions of a Childish and ILL-Equipped representative of a broken power structure like confusing and confused parenthood.

The Heart of Humanity is trying to evolve, at all times How Can ANY Child learn the principles and standards that (Supposedly) make our Country and Institutions Great, Prestigious, Respectable when the representatives OF our Country and Institutions set an example that goes completely contrary to the Ideals to which the CHILDREN are expected to aspire???

A Child who is beaten into compliance either learns to beat OTHERS into compliance 'Aggression' (leading to behavioral problems, violence, frustration, rage, prison etc.) learns to be timid and stay in the SAFE ZONE of non-assertiveness 'Submissiveness' (not knowing how to speak up for him or herself, leading to low self esteem, fear of following one's heart, depression, victim mentality etc.)
learns that his or her body is not his or her own property and who knows how many other effects corporal punishment has? It even has an effect on the mentality of the children who ARE NOT beaten but see it happening or have Knowledge of its occurence.

They Learn " This is the way adults handle their problems."

They Learn " A child is LESS than a whole human Being. For If an ADULT Beats another ADULT, the offender goes to jail. If an ADULT Beats a CHILD, IT IS JUST!"

This Is Confusing to ANYone, not only CHLIDREN, because aside from it's Hypocrisy, It's Illogical. The Child is still developing. These are formative years. Our Justice system say it's wrong to give up and physically abuse criminals, but it's ok to hit children? So close to the source of life? So impressionable? So full of LOVE, ENTHUSIASM and CURIOSITY? Is the disruption of a classroom serious enough to hurt someone? Or can a teacher learn to improvise and get to know the students well enough that they develop MUTUAL respect? Or Is CONTROL the REAL issue? Corporal Punishment is Not Only ILLOGICAL It's DISRESPECTFUL!!!
THOSE WHO BEHAVE DISRESPECTFULLY BECOME UNRESPECTABLE!!!!!!
This is ELEMENTARY!!! Then Again, Perhaps the contradiction, confusion and fear created in our children by this system of "Education" is by DESIGN, orchestrated by someone who benefits down the line, and the ones who carry it out are just Willing Pawns who believe that THEIR way was Actually chosen by THEMSELVES...Perhaps they are now willing to fight tooth and nail to defend this primitive form of MANAGEMENT.

Basically I'm Saying 'If You're Not Part Of The Solution You're Part Of The Problem.' Especially if You Happen to BE an Authority Figure or administrator to something more than YOUR OWN HOME. We're trying to E-Volve Not DE-Volve and De- Evolve.

If Youve made it to the close of this letter THANK YOU For reading this Message. I hope It Means Something to you.
If Not, I PITY YOU.

--O.F.

Hopefully this will stir something in the soul of at least 1 of the 11 recipients .

Recently "Commercial Appeal", A Memphis online newspaper published this story pertaining to the struggle against the attack on the children of Tennessee:

Poor practice persists
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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The breakdown of discipline was under way in Memphis City Schools in 2005 when the Board of Education's corporal punishment ban went into effect.

Spanking wasn't working, and studies showed why: It stops bad behavior momentarily, but in the long run it does nothing to curtail the problem.
Anti-spanking activist Paula Flowe has been picketing Memphis Academy of Health Sciences to call for an extension of that policy to the charter school, where spankings are conducted and students' hands are struck with leather straps in assemblies reminiscent of public floggings.
Her arguments are strong. Charter schools are supposed to be innovative and experimental. They're supposed to develop new methods that will improve academic performance. There is nothing innovative about corporal punishment, a practice with roots in Colonial America that became ingrained in Southern culture during the antebellum era.
Many successful business leaders have testified that they were subjected to corporal punishment as children. So have violent inmates at San Quentin. It has been an easy way to avoid addressing the underlying reasons for bad behavior.
Physical punishment used to be an accepted way to discipline sailors, military trainees, prison inmates and spouses, too. Only in some public and private schools is it still accepted. Memphis charter schools should not be among them.
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COMMENTs left on Commercialappeal.com:
Reply to this post Suggest removal
THANK YOUi for recognizing that children in schools should not SUFFER PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL PAIN AND SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF "EDUCATORS" ENTRUSTED WITH THEIR CARE AND EDUCATION! Discipline practices at MAHS are harmful to children, PADDLINGS/HAND STRAPPINGS OF BOYS AND GIRLS, DONE WEEKLY IN FRONT OF ALL OF THE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS - NOT "BEST PRACTICES" FOR 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION! MAHS must cease and desist IMMEDIATELY with touching any child, IT IS NEVER JUSTIFIED! Our children are NOT receiving EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS TREATMENT, when Corporal Punishment is ILLEGAL IN 29 STATES! ALL CHILDREN MUST HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE AND HEALTH SCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS! Please sign the online petition to Abolish Corporal Punishment in U.S. Schools.
Posted by rcox on April 14, 2009 at 8:02 a.m.
Reply to this post Suggest removal
Why are "Health" and "Sciences" part of the title of the charter school? What foundation of health supports the idea that a more painful and humiliating treatment should ever be advocated when other less miserable means of promoting health are available... means that, at the least, are as effective and often are more effective? No where in the health sciences has corporal punishmnet ever demonstrated any measurable, long-term, positive effect. The sponsors of the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences is selling something that it is not. I am amazed that so many of the primary caregivers of the school's students, their parents, are still willing to be taken in by this sham.
Posted by leftisright on April 14, 2009 at 8:03 a.m.
Reply to this post Suggest removal
AMEN!!!
Posted by desotoguy on April 14, 2009 at 8:22 a.m.
Reply to this post Suggest removal
Someone needs to spank Paula Flowe.
Posted by ChickPea on April 14, 2009 at 9:54 a.m.
Reply to this post Suggest removal
in response to rcox
A charter school that is supposed to focus on Health Sciences that uses corporal punishment???
Sounds totally perverse and twisted.
Is their curriculum is also from the middle ages, then?
Posted by todd on April 14, 2009 at 9:55 a.m.
Reply to this post Suggest removal
Fear of corporal punishment (at school and at home) made me behave. It didn't make some others behave. I expect there are more like me than not... What is the alternative? Time out doesn't seem to work for teenagers... I suggest work detail detention. Make them clean and fix up the school grounds.
Posted by desotoguy on April 14, 2009 at 10:09 a.m.
Reply to this post Suggest removal
If corporal punishment isn't working it's because you aren't hitting them hard enough.Good idea about the work detail, todd. If they aren't going to behave and get an education they better get used to doing real work.
Posted by Thereitis on April 14, 2009 at 7:38 p.m.
Reply to this post Suggest removal
Yawn. Next subject.
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Some of these Comments show concern for children, who could be the disturbed adults of tomorrow, some show the lack of information being absorbed by the average person forming opinions on these and other matters and some show the blatant ignorance in which many people are content to wallow.

Let's hope that ignorance is in the minority and the bleak look on the face of our world is only the facade erected by some (miserable and greedy) to block our view of the reality that human evolution truly IS coming to a Critical Mass.

--------OF

OF Rap's Godfather...Gil Scott-Heron

If James Brown was the Godfather of Soul, Gil Scott-Heron is definitely the Godfather of Rap.

He Pioneered Rap when rapping was just talking, conversing on topics that meant something to the rappers. Rapping wasn't just small talk, chit chat or shootin' the breeze. Rapping was expanding or 'building' on relevant topics in order to see what solutions could be reached.

If Gil Scott-Heron IS The Godfather of Rap then it seems that many of the apples have fallen FAR from the Tree. So far, in some cases, that they seem to have come from totally different orchards.

Born in Chicago on April 1st 1959, spending his early years in Tennessee with his Grandmother, Gil Scott-Heron had a mother who sang with the New York Oratorical society and a father of Jamaican descent who became the first black man to play soccer with Glasgow's Celtic Football Club.

When Gil's Grandmother died, he was 13, he moved to The Bronx NY, where he lived with his mother.

His writing talent was noticed by a teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School who then brought it to the attention of the head of the English Department at the Fieldston School, a private school in Manhattan to which Gil earned a full scholarship. He advanced constantly as he made his way through academic avenues but he never lost sight of the struggles that were being perpetuated in the lives of people whose faces and skin looked like his.

Throughout the years he met more people who shared the passion for freeing the oppressed people who were born in squalor and raised with the idea that this was their station in life.

He's written books and albums with a message of love and equality meant to touch the hearts of the listener and inspire the listener to strive for balance in an unbalanced world.

Some of today's rap reflects this influence, however the majority of rap's fruits seem to have fallen from the tree and rolled down a long, steep hill, maybe it was a cliff.

Gil Scott-Heron is still with us today however not in the best of health. His message and influence lives on in Rap but is often overshadowed by ignorance.

How unfortunate that he hasn't enjoyed the same influence over rap as some other Godfathers we know, such as the influence Vito Corleone held over Luca Brasi. But then again, you can't inspire love with FORCE.

His Music and poetry are available on Youtube.

More facts about his life are available on Wikipedia.

His Books are available on Amazon and Google Books.

--OF