Entries Tagged 'Random Thoughts' ↓

Barack Obama’s national address on the state of race relations in America was a shrewd move to undercut the backlash stemming from comments made by his minister Jeremiah Wright, but also seems to have taken the wind out of the sails of the Hillary Clinton campaign, which has repeatedly injected racial (if not downright racist) undertones to their criticism of him. The question I have is, when will Hillary give her address on race issues? Why was it necessary for Obama to repudiate Rev. Wright when Hillary has so reluctantly distanced herself from racist statements coming from her camp? Why is it Black people always have to take on the responsibility of educating the rest of society on race?

And if we’re going to have a real discussion about race relations in this country, why don’t we begin with the arrival of Europeans in North America. The White man killed off Indians by the thousands, stole their land, put whomever was left on reservations, and created a system of laws and governments to justify it all. If we aren’t capable of talking about the basic injustices relevant to the formation of this country, then any other conversation on race is just an academic exercise.

New York’s state government seems to be settling down after a week and a half of sex-tinged controversy. First, former Governor Eliot Spitzer resigns in shame after his involvement in a high-end prostitution came to light. Now this week, his replacement, the new Governor David Paterson and his wife Michelle Paige Paterson both admit to having had extramarital affairs during a rocky period in their marriage. While some people want to get their noses out of joint over the mere suggestion of sexual impropriety, let me say first the latter scenario is nothing like the former.

Eliot Spitzer’s greatest offense was hypocrisy and infidelity. The self-proclaimed corruption fighter who was going to clean up Albany, forgot to start with his own closet. But the Patersons had a difficult phase in their relationship, which they’ve both acknowledged to one another. Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce and one of the top reasons is sexual incompatibility. Someone isn’t satisfied and starts looking outside the marriage. To their credit, David and Michelle Paterson are working to address the problems in their relationship. To our knowledge, Spitzer never told his wife Silda he was paying for callgirls.

In theatre news, a revival of August Wilson’s Fences is headed for Broadway. The play won four Tonys and a Pulitzer Prize during its original 1987 run. While it is great to see Wilson’s work get more exposure, is he destined to be, even in death, the only Black playwright able to get produced on Broadway? Producers need to know there are other Black writers out there.

Sundays are boring without pro football.
But March Madness is right around the corner.
The NBA totally bores me.
The New York Knicks are a sorry excuse for a pro sports franchise.
I’ve actually seen several of the movies nominated for Oscars this year.
No Country for Old Men was electrifying.
There Will Be Blood was intense, but I think a bit overblown and overrated.
I may or may not watch the awards.
I’m growing anxious as The Wire winds down.
I’ve already watched this week’s episode on HBO on Demand and I’m saddened by what happens.
Sometimes I wish David Simon was a more traditional producer who wanted the show to last forever.
If he were, then Stringer Bell should have been kept alive and Marlo Stanfield should have been killed.
Stringer was a criminal with a larger vision. Marlo is a psychopath.
Why did George Bush go to Africa last week?
Lame duck presidents should not be allowed to travel or introduce new legislation.
Is Hillary Clinton willing to fracture the Democratic Party to prevent Barack Obama from winning?
Excited Obama supporters need to realize that John McCain can still be our next president. This is still America people.
I don’t like the use of Super Delegates. The Democratic Party should do away with the practice. My vote is just as important as these so-called VIPs.
I’m back on a treadmill to nowhere, professionally. Gainfully employed and bored to tears.
I need a creative outlet. Writing and completing a play is a priority this year.
So is developing a podcast.
I think this blog will focus more on the arts and culture around NYC.
Why do I and so many of my friends over 40 feel no great connection to a gay community?
There is so little going on in the community that appeals to who I am at this point in my life.

I’m back from a busy, productive and dare I say it, fun business trip. I’m now playing catch up with a lot of stuff but I’ll try to post something soon. If nothing else, you know I”ll get my Super Bowl pick on the record this weekend. 

I’ll be out of town on business until next week. Don’t look for anything new in this space until I return. Help yourself to any of the old entries. 

Sunday was my birthday. I turned 48.

It’s not one of the big milestone birthdays like 40 or 50, just a run of the mill day that went largely unobserved. I received cards from family and friends, a bunch of emails and phone calls, even some instant messages wishing me well on my day. In between watching the NFL playoffs including my Giants’ exciting victory over the suckass Cowboys, I managed to treat myself to some homemade lasagna, a dish I enjoy but which takes a lot of time to prepare. My birthday gift to me.

But every birthday presents an opportunity to reflect on the past and contemplate the future. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions as much as I set out goals and objectives for the year. Pardon me for sounding so business-like, but helping nonprofit boards do strategic planning is what I do for a living so it stands to reason that I might also guide my own life so logically. As it so happens, a few weeks ago, I sat down and used the same procedures I use with organizations to set out a 3-5 year life plan for myself. It has more to do with putting my personal finances, career plans and home life needs in order.

As I plan for tomorrow, I do so with the awareness that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to any of us. Even though I probably have fewer years ahead of me than I do behind me, today’s birthday allowed me to think about some of the fun dreams I still have and experiences I still want to have.

So, borrowing a page from the new Jack Nicholson-Morgan Freeman movie (and no, I’m not being paid for this plug), here are some of the things I still want to do before I “kick the bucket.”

Buy a house. Home ownership is still the American dream. I grew up in a house but ever since I was in college, I’ve been an apartment dweller. I presently own my apartment and plan to leverage it for my retirement in years to come, but it is still an apartment. A house has land around it.

Travel. I want to drive across country. My family did that when I was four years old and even at that young age it was one of my fondest childhood memories. I want to do it again as an adult. I also want to go abroad, visit London, Paris, South Africa, Brazil and China.

Write a stage play. Or more accurately finish writing a play and see it staged. I’ve got self-discipline issues when it comes to my writing. Deadlines help. I’m working on it.

Get licensed to sky dive solo. I’ve already done a tandem jump a few years ago and plan to do another probably in the spring. But I’d like to go through the process of learning to jump solo. Coupled with that dream, I’d like to

Learn to fly an airplane I probably need to do that sooner rather than later while I still have some eyesight left. But it’s a dream I’ve had since high school.

And just for the fun of it, I’d like to get my commercial drivers license. Not that I have any plans to be a truck driver, but I’ve always wanted to learn how.

Of course now, if I win the lottery, then I’m gonna get my CDL, buy one of those rock star tour buses and drive cross country, then learn to fly and take my self to Europe, Africa and South America, while my play is running off Broadway. You just watch me.