Rev. Wright’s speech: unifying or divisive?

Watch this speech: Rev. Wright Speech at NAACP

Despite your views on Rev. Jeremiah Wright, despite your political stance, despite your personal like or dislike of Wright’s religious or political views, one has to admit that his speech last night at the NAACP dinner delivered one, if not many powerful messages. Both directly and indirectly.

Wright’s speech attempted to illustrate the need for change, by revisiting the past, and illustrating what Blacks have endured, and have had to systematically overcome. To do this, he used the ‘writing for the ear techniques’ (rule of 3, repetition, anaphora, imagery, metaphor, hyperbole, balanced phrase) to grab your attention and give a very descriptive history lesson on Black history in America. Wright’s tactics definitely are memorable, and aim to entertain.

To get his point across, he sings classical, jazz, gospel, even beat-boxes at one point, he references and cites ALL Faiths, noted educators, linguists, and accounts in recent political history. His highly animated dancing, acting, yelling, joking around and sharp sarcastic remarks all work together to deliver quite a profound performance, despite how obvious the messages may be.

But…he’s been criticized for being divisive, among other things. And I think it’s worth examining. I mean, how can you honestly get away with saying, in the 21st Century, that “Black people learn differently from White people.” I take personal offense to that one. If that’s not divisive I don’t know what is. And the term “yellow” offends me too. Don’t use it again, Wright.

His his various bold and offensive remarks, may or may not detract from the overall tone of his speech, that’s for the individual to decide. However, I can honestly say that his reinforced key phrase, “Different, not deficient,” and the main theme, “I believe a change is going to come…” is still relevant and still very much needed in Black America today. This is sad, and true.

I really urge you to watch all parts of the video, you’ll definitely be entertained. After you’ve watched it, let me know your thoughts…

Thank you!

Staffeen

allow me introduce you to ms. defroig…

This is my chosen CSI: NYC Avatar. Her name is Ninna Defroig.

I was so unshocked to discover that tonight’s episode of CSI: NY was built around Second Life. (For the record, I wasn’t really a fan of CSI: NY. I’m partial to CSI: Miami.)

But did you know?

CSI: NY also has a Virtual World, that’s based on New York City. In this world you can play games and puzzles and play detective in this “murderous world.” Oh, and then there’s the “murder a month,” where you can actually become the CSI! You can fly around the city, look for crimes, solve crimes, do tests, and fingerprint your own perp! I mean, who wouldn’t want a chance to deconstruct a crime scene? C’mon, you know you want to…

Ah, virtual worlds…

Art & life virtually meet…is it all just too much?

For information on the experience visit:
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_ny/

don’t worry, even spongebob has writer’s block

In an episode of SpongeBob Squarepants, Procrastination, Mrs. Puff (the boating teacher) has assigned an 800-word essay to the class, with the topic, “What not to do at a stoplight,” which is due the next day. Sponge is thrilled at the chance to display his writing skills, but then realizes that he has writer’s block!

He does everything to put it off - he cleans the pineapple until it’s spotless (his home), feeds Gary (his pet snail), and finally falls alseep with nothing but the word “the” written on the page. He wakes up minutes before the essay is due, after having an agonizing dream about having not written the essay, and quickly scribbles elements from his dream down on paper.

After rushing to school, satisfied with what he’s written, Sponge learns that Mrs. Puff has cancelled the assignment and will take the class on a field trip to a stoplight, instead.

What a fitting story, for the times!