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First time ever… 2009 presidential inauguration ceremony live streamed on Hulu.com.

Ok, I’m taking a big risk here talking about politics on my blog, but this article really hits home with what America is all about. Millions of Americans can identify with Obama’s identity. He’s neither black nor white. He’s in between. So are millions of Americans today. 

Roger Cohen: A chubby Obama’s ‘unity in diversity’

Note: I do not affliate myself with any political party. I am a unbiased bystander in American politics. I am pretty sure a lot of readers will consider this a nod for Obama as president, but I make no such claims.

I don’t normally talk about politics but this excerpt from the 80-20 Initiative email newsletter I subscribe to just made my blood boil over. On 101.5 FM in NJ, the following conversation took place.  The Jersey Guys, Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, were spreading anti-AsAm sentiment centered upon a Korean-Am political candidate running for office in Edison, NJ.  A listener called in on April 25, 2005.

Caller: Hi, I love you
Carton: Thank you.
Caller: You just said it all, the last couple of…callers, I guess they don’t know that they live in America & WE’RE BEING OVERRUN.
I had just moved out of Edison because of what has happened in the past 10 years… ORIENTALS ARE ALL ALONG, THE WHOLE
COMPLETE ROUTE 27 AND INDIANS HAVE TAKEN OVER EDISON IN NORTH AND ALL OVER.
Carton: DAMN ORIENTALS AND INDIANS.
Caller: I..I moved out..36 years I’ve lived in Edison
Carton: And what was the biggest problem you had with the Orientals and the Indians?
Caller: I can’t handle them! THERE’S NO AM. PEOPLE ANYMORE.
Carton: Eh..
Caller: THEY ARE SHOVING US THE HELL OUT!
Carton: It’s like you’re a foreigner in your own country isn’t it?
Caller: You go to own store and you can’t even see American people, you don’t see our own kids, American kids, working in stores anymore…
Carton: Like the next time you see an American, you think you’ll probably hug him or high five him or something?
Caller: Oh, that’s why where I moved too, that’s all I have, thank God for now anyways.
Carton: YEAH I’M WITH YOU… SHARON, WE’RE JUST THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, and I appreciate your call.
Caller: Keep up the good work.
Carton: All right, you got it baby… I think the quote was DAMN ORIENTALS AND INDIANS.*

* See entire transcript: http://www.80-20initiative.net/jerseyguys.pdf

In this day and age, I find it quite appalling that this kind of thing still happens in America. Apparently, the 80-20 group targeted 3 of the radio programs’ largest advertisers and asked their CEOs to stop their ads.  In 2 days, two of the three advertisers responded positively.  On the 3rd day, the “two guys” agreed to apologize on air.  In addition, the station manager agreed to take 4 other measures to prevent future reccurence.

More information on how all of this got started and the steps taken for the resolution can be found at the Cease Racism blog.

Kingdom of Heaven (IMDB review) is a recently released movie romanticizing the old Crusades of the middle ages. I highly doubt this movie will be a hit with the Islamic population in the United States, since the Crusades really left a scar in not only Islamic culture, but also Jewish, and Orthodox Christian culture. Anyway, I think that before going to see such a movie, we should learn more about the realities of the Crusades and not what the movies want to portray. Interestingly enough, some historians are even saying that Bush’s War on Terrorism is really the Tenth Crusade in our world history. I realize that whenever religion and politics mix, it can be a recipe for disaster. The Crusades proved that.

Imagine there’s no countries, It isn’t hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for, No religion too,
Imagine all the people, living life in peace…

Now I understand what the lyrics from John Lennon’s Imagine are talking about.

Here’s a breakdown of how Americans voted based on their racial profile. Interesting to see that Latinos and Blacks had the biggest impact in swing votes for Bush.  

In 2004, the Bush: Kerry ratios were Whites (57:42); Blacks (14:86); Latinos (45:54); Jews (26:74) and Asians (34:64).    

In 2000, the Bush : Gore ratios were Whites (54:43); Blacks (9:90); Latinos (38:61); Jews (22:77) and Asians (37:62)

Source: http://www.80-20initiative.net/

In a not-to-be-taken-seriously-segment, here’s some political humour reported by The Register, titled “Reach out and sneer: Dem radicals speak to the Red States“. I think this letter would probably not be well received despite it’s good intentions.

In wake of the results of Election 2004, some interestingly funny and disturbing news tidbits have surfaced.

On the funny side of things… According to The Register, Canada offers refuge to distraught Democrats. On the Marry An American website, (motto: “No good American will be left behind”), an initiative has been designed to give marital sanctuary to Democrats for whom the USA has become just too, well, Republican.

On the disturbing side of things… According to The Register, on the day Kerry conceded the Netscape/CNN website article displayed a picture of George W and Laura. What most people didn’t know was that the name of the image file was “a–hole.jpg”! Well, needless to say, the employee responsible for that act of stupidness was fired for their actions.  

On the somewhat serious side… According to The Register, they explain how organized religion, not Net religion, won it for Bush.