Posted in B's World Blog

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Thoughts on an Interesting Article Regarding White Viewers’ Racial Imagination

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The following thoughts are in response to the Huffington Post article directly below, which was posted by a friend of mine on Facebook.  Thanks Dan.  It made me think.  And I couldn’t help but to write a few words [um, yeah, a few…. 🙂 ] in response to it.  This is stuff I actually find myself observing and thinking about often.  So, this was a perfect opportunity to finally get a few thoughts out.  Read the Huffington Post article first, then my thoughts, and let me know what you think.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia-cole/catching-fire-beetee-race_b_4334585.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=3619638b=facebook

Interesting how much white guilt some peeps have.  Articles like this, although they do strike valid points, mass group peoples too much.  Not every white person thinks like this.  Just as not every black person, or brown person or whatever person thinks a certain way, etc., etc., etc.  However, the author does bring up a certain topic that is truly affecting a lot of the white population nowadays, and that’s the white guilt I mentioned above.  There is a lot of that embedded into the minds of the X and Y generations’ white populace.

White guilt tends to cause the “trying too hard” factor, which I find is when whites go out of their way to be overly nice or overly polite or overly sensitive when around people of a darker skin color than theirs.  It can be funny at times, especially because the peeps that are having it happen to them can obviously tell what is going on.  And it’s not to say that it isn’t a good thing that many whites are more conscious of racism and prejudice.  Of course, that’s great.  However comical it can be at times, who’s to say it’s not needed.  It often takes extremes to embed to be natural.

Nevertheless, this white guilt thing still doesn’t negate the prejudice and racism that is still quite embedded into our society, and around the world, for that matter.  The same white dudes that try to act all cool around black dudes tend to be the same white dudes who, when not around black dudes, use the “N” word and say racist ass remarks.  “Closet racism” when around only other members of one’s race seems to be very prevalent.  I know this first hand, as many of my friends throughout my life have been this way…despite my lack of approval and often vocal fights against it.

But there is no white guilt around when this type of behavior occurs in these more private atmospheres.  It’s so ridiculous and such bigotry.  And this isn’t to say this just exists in white society.  I’m fully confident in saying that it exists in all cultures, races and societies.  Until we rid ourselves from racism and prejudice in all aspects of our lives, no matter in public settings or in private social settings, these dark nuisances will continue to exist.

How can we act one way at home or around certain friends and then act another around other groups and say we aren’t prejudice or racist?  It’s a double standard we have to move past.  …..Easier said than done.  But here’s to moving forward.

 

– B

 

 

Posted in B's World Blog

Health Care Debate….on Facebook

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Today I caught a discussion between a friend of mine on Facebook and a friend of his on Facebook.  They were debating the current health care system debacle and how much government should play a part, one saying he believes government should intervene, more or less, and the other saying the government’s intervention would just take away more of our freedoms and be more expensive, more or less.  My bud quickly made a point of saying the current health care system is, hellooo, already expensive as #$*@!!! and is currently not run by the government; it is broken.   His amigo quickly replied with some hoopla about President Roosevelt attempting to intervene in 1912 and the government having played a role, not being a good one, in health care since.    He is also firm on his stance of health care not being a “luxury” that everyone is entitled to, it not being a God-given right…nothing is for free.

Yes, the political talks are at the forefront with the presidential election just around the corner, hot off the heels of last evening’s first presidential debate.

I had a few thoughts I wanted to contribute to the conversation.  But my “few” thoughts turned into a longer rant.  Soooo, I decided to post on here instead!  The main point I’m trying to make….well, you tell me if you get what I’m saying….

Nothing is for free, true.  But we’re already paying for it…quite a bit.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have affordable health care?  You might be paying for it with taxes.  But you wouldn’t have to worry when an inevitable comes…at least not as much as now.  Who wants to have to choose a life-saving operation over their home?

Not saying the plan is laid out perfectly.  But change is hard fought, especially when it’s never truly given a chance to be effective.  How can we say something won’t work if it’s not even properly attempted?  Too much bickering for self-preservation going on in the government.  Big business scared to lose its place.  Wealthy might not be so wealthy anymore.  Yada yada yada.  Boo hoo.  How about thinking about the overall effect of a nation health care system instead of simply how to stop it from coming into fruition?

Yes, our society takes pride in its freedoms.  However, without government action things would get, well, a bit out of control.  But who is suppose to run the government???  US!  Government is our freedom.  Hence, we are making the decisions through our votes.  It’s our choice to make things happen the way we want them to.  If the “government” is too controlling doesn’t this mean we’re too controlling?  Doesn’t make sense, right?

The problem is there are too many appointed officials in our government that think too much for themselves and not the people they are suppose to represent.  We appoint these officials with the hope and trust they will make decisions worthy of our wants and needs.  So, why shouldn’t these officials, OUR government reps,  intervene at some point with health care?  Aren’t they looking out for us, in essence?  Sadly, that’s not always the case, right?

But there has to be invention at some point.  Guidance and restrictions versus all out rule though, of course.  What’s to stop price increases otherwise?  It should be on more of a local government level for the most part, with the feds implementing certain nationally recognized measures.  It’s a tough thing though, no doubt.  After all, it’s our government representatives that run or have stake in so many of our current health care system providers, which adds yet another layer to the sweet dump cake that is this health care situation.

Why do you think so many politicians are so opposed to the system’s change?  CHA CHING bye bye.  MORE OBSTACLES, hello.  So, they are convincing the people, and themselves, for the most respectable and selfless reasons I’m sure, not to make change (I do hope you get my sarcasm there).

But even if there is change they’ll still have a say in some way or another since, hello, they are within our chosen government.  There will just be more restrictions since they can’t do it in the cooperate fashion any longer, where they can hide this and that, use that loop-hole and this tax cut.  Now they’ll have to make their moves for cashzilla by tip-toeing around government procedures, which they don’t want to have to deal with since it will limit them.

Lord knows a whole slew of new “laws” will be presented out of nowhere to ensure certain aspects of business are “preserved for the people”, aka will keep the doe flowing in the pockets of those that control the big business.  If ever we’re able to push through a new health care administration, just watch how fast bills will be presented to become “laws”.  Just watch.

It just cracks me up how black and white so many Americans think these kinds of issues are.  There are so many levels to take into consideration.  So many details behind the scenes.  Politicians say what you want to hear.  Very few of them actually give a shit about you or your dying mom that you can’t afford to take care of.

So, I laugh, I chuckle, I holler, I sigh at those persons that hold what is said on the outside so close on the inside.  Politicians play on emotions, our emotions.  Set in motion a planted idea and watch the field of battling amongst ourselves unfold.  That’s the plan.  It’s like a fine game of Risk, strategy at it’s best.

These guys make it look so easy though.  You don’t even realize what’s going on.  Instead, everyone is too busy debating what he said here or what he said there.  Listen to what isn’t being said.  Then you’ll have your answer(s).

Our government needs reform, but so does the mindset of its people.  Think of the future, not the present; your children’s children, not yourselves.

 

– B

Believe It.  Do It.

 

***As always, Bryan Bachar doesn’t hold himself accountable for any factual or grammatical mistakes.  T’is what it t’is.  Haters don’t die.  They multiply.  Have a nice day.

 

 

Posted in B's World Blog

Obama’s Speech – 9.6.2012

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Watched #Obama’s speech.  Good stuff.  No matter your opinion or views, the man was dealt a tough deck of cards.  And I do agree change will never happen without struggle, especially if we quit.  We’ll see if he can continue progress….that is if he wins another term.

So far, from what I’m hearing and seeing in the midst of all the political mumbo jumbo, he’s got my vote….again.  All in all, I just hope #America can come together and push.  Nothing is won without hard work and determination, or else we’d all be rich playboys and playgirls who are ex-professional athletes that graduated from the best universities with honors on our way to a Nobel Prize for something and starring in our own movie with a Grammy-winning soundtrack provided by none other than us.

Think with your mind peeps, not with the other guy’s.  Believe it.  Do it.

 

– B

#BryanBachar

Posted in B's Updates

DisHonorable Judge Penis Wrinkle

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You should know: I respect the law and don’t claim to know ish about much of our due process system.  I try to do my best and read up on what I can, follow the rules, you know, not be stupid and cause myself more problems and cost myself more doe.  But I realize I am unaware of mucho.  Nevertheless, I also believe in showing mutual respect.  Some law officials seem to have a stick up their butt and sometimes abuse their power.  But most are coo if you’re coo to them.  It’s all about respect.  Don’t be an ass to them and they won’t be an ass to you.  With this known, read ahead.

Word of advice….even if you go about things in the proper way, getting documents, being respectful, talking to other officers for advice, all in an attempt to learn about our judicial system and current police speed monitoring equipment better, if a judge is a grumpy piece of turd, you’ll get the worst fine he can give you.  He’ll call you out on the slightest of misunderstandings by you, which is his job, obviously.  But he’ll do so in a very snide fashion without any discourse to help further your understanding of where you went wrong as a newb to this kind of stuff.

He’ll also not give you the respect of looking at you while you or he speaks.  Oh, and don’t think your squeaky clean driving record means anything.  All it means is he has the power to diminish it and will do so without any sound reasoning.  Bitter.  Bitter.  Bitter Pepper.

Thanks a lot Judge A. Hole from #YoloCountySuperiorCourt Traffic Division.  Understand the decision with the fine, as I expected the worst there, even if it was cooooold bloooded.  I figured I could get punished through increased fees for trying to get my ticket lowered by providing facts about lidar systems and human error possibilities.  Forgive me for being curious and attempting to use our court system for what it’s there for.  But not allowing me traffic school?  Wow.  That’s just funkin’ uncalled for and, well, just plain ole’ mean.

There goes my clean driving record of 10 years.  And there goes my insurance rates…up, up and away.  If the dishonorable Judege A. Hole was trying to teach me a lesson I did learn something.  I learned that he is a total butthole who doesn’t even acknowledge when a citizen is only trying to go about things in a legit fashion to learn and utilize the freedoms we have as Americans.  I mean, the guy didn’t even look at my evidence.  He just pretty much ignored everything I had to say because he already made up his mind.

The bottom line is there is room for human error with the device in question.  But did he hear that??  Hell nah!!!  He literally told me this is the price I pay for trying to represent myself.  Wow.  Sure, I get that it’s not the most effective method and my argument was probably filled with “ums” and holes.  But it’s a traffic ticket.  Forgive me for not hiring Johnny Cochran’s ghost.  Geez.  Just ridonkeylips.

You know, I get that judges have to put up with a lot of bull.  They have to hear the same crap people try to pull over and over and over.  I can see how irritating it must be.  I also comprehend how much more they know about this stuff than the average Joe, aka muah.  There’s no way I’m going to prove him wrong.  But you know what?  Gimme some respect for going about things in an honorable way.  Don’t take out your bad day on me.  It’s not my fault you’re job is lame.

You’re getting paid by us, the people, to give us a fair shake.  So stop being little baby pissy pants because you didn’t make it to the Supreme Court.  There is no reason I shouldn’t have been allowed traffic school.  That was his call to make since I waived my right to it entering his court room, which I respected.  But I figured there would be some level of mutual respect and understanding as long as my argument was valid, had some sort of evidence and went about things legitimately.  How wrong I was.

Me attempting to do what I did should not be looked at so negatively.  Even the cops there said he was in a bad mood and it was cold he denied me traffic school.  I gave him and the law proper respect and received none by him in return.  No respect.  Straight Dangerfield’ed me.

People are people.  We all have our days.  But leave that shiz at tha door….And now my bitching stops.  🙂  Have a good day everyone.  Just pay the ticket.  It’s not worth it.

 

– B

 

 

Posted in B's World Blog

Productive Social Media Sites

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With so many different avenues for social opportunity on the net, it’s hard sometimes not to get caught up in the hype of various sites.  I recommend choosing the ones most beneficial to your cause.  Example: If you’re in it for the job market, #LinkedIn is a good bet.  #Facebook has become a good outlet for businesses (and everything else it seems 🙂 ).  #Twitter is great for just reaching out.  Other useful sites are #Tumblr for media showcasing, #MySpace for bands & filmmakers and #SoundCloud for getting your music heard.

 

– B

 

 

Posted in B's World Blog

UC Davis Protest Incident – 11.18.2011

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As an alum, I’ve been keeping up on the incident that occurred at UC Davis this past week.  I see both sides, but feel the ending actions of the Campus PD were over-dramatic and not needed.  This event brings to mind concerns of how the UC Davis administration will handle future protests and other happenings of the same caliber.

The UC Davis Chancellor, Linda P.B. Katehi, sent out a statement condemning the Campus PD officers’ actions, even informing everyone that the 2 officers that issued the pepper spray have been put on administrative leave.  She has promised to begin a thorough investigation.  But, once again, this remains an incident that could have been avoided.

Hmmm….what do you think?  Were the students/protesters in the wrong for staying when told to leave?  Or was the UC Davis Campus PD over-ambitious with their power, displaying reckless actions and an absolute recognition that they are not properly prepared/trained for incidents such at this?

We have to have reasonable cause for protesting.  Although it is personal opinion to consider any cause worth protesting for, one must truly think about his/her actions before, while and after they demonstrate.  Perhaps, the smarter action here would have been to listen to the UC Davis administration and then return after the weekend, then carrying on the protest in a the peaceful manner which was intended.

This isn’t to say the protesters were not peaceful.  But they most definitely provoked the harm that came to them.  Was the harm valid?  Most definitely not.  Again, the cops over-reacted.  Period.

We have to be smart in our decisions as people.  I’m all for giving everything to a cause worth giving everything to.  But the question here is was this cause worth the outcome, right or not?  This is the debate that I’m throwing back and forth in my mind.  Was this cause of these protesters really worth putting themselves in the way of the harm that came to them?  The cops were wrong.  But were the protesters wrong for provoking the cops to begin with when they could have went about things differently, possibly even solidifying a more successful outcome?

Now it just seems like another unacceptable occurrence of abuse of power with the true intent of the protest being washed away amid the media’s pouncing and meticulously chosen pin-pointing.  The reasons of the protesters really won’t even be validated.  All that will likely be remembered here is the violence.  Is that what was wanted?

I could think about it for days.  Let’s just hope everyone learns from their mistakes.

With fight comes change.  But that change isn’t always what was desired….or even good for that matter.

 

Go Campus PD….NOT!

 

 

– B