by B.J. on 11/29/2002 04:49:00 PM 0 comments Print this post

Personally, I was just content with sitting down all day and studying up for the finals on Monday and Tuesday. But wow, out of the blue. . .Thanks Keith, Bel, and Jason for making an otherwise moderate Thanksgiving a super happy one. I hope you guys enjoyed the scenic, tree-filled, dirty walks and drives from the empty East Remote Parking Lot to my shitty empty dorm (Cowell) and back to the empty East Remote Parking Lot to the hippie-laiden, people-empty downtown SC to the chilly boardwalk to the dead wharf with expensive, half-assed food and a gay waiter who wouldn't smile at Bel back to hippie-laiden, people-empty downtown SC in the dark to my shitty empty dorm on the Eastside (Cowell) to the spacious, people-filled dorms on the Westside (Oakes) to the dimly-lit pool lounge where that fat fuck told us to shut up because he couldn't concentrate on watching the SUBTITLED version of Y Tu Mama Tambien, back to my shitty dorm on the Eastside (Cowell) and back to the parking lot. HELLA walking, and you fools stole my bed. Thinking about that makes me mad. You boisterous bastards won't be able to stay next time unless you bring a certain someone. HAHA. Kidding about the part that I'm mad. Awesome weekend, now it's time to talk about AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY and LAW !

Labels: Life's Stories

Read Entire Post...

by B.J. on 11/27/2002 06:51:00 PM 0 comments Print this post

Not thankful for anything ?

Why don't you go cry about it ?!

Labels: Tributes

Read Entire Post...

by B.J. on 11/16/2002 12:51:00 PM 0 comments Print this post

My sister just doesn't get it.

QTpnySMILE (11:13:06 AM): did you read my e-mail yet?

Auto response from DArkB L u esmOKE (11:13:06 AM): 10:30-12:30 Subject A

QTpnySMILE (11:13:24 AM): BJ!!!
QTpnySMILE (11:13:42 AM): I need your help on this problem
QTpnySMILE (11:14:12 AM): well...if you do read this im then, check your mailbox
QTpnySMILE (11:14:19 AM): for my email
QTpnySMILE (11:14:24 AM): ok?
QTpnySMILE (11:14:31 AM): and did you notice?
QTpnySMILE (11:14:44 AM): Missy Elliot lost a lot of weight
QTpnySMILE (11:14:58 AM): and can you get me "Work It" by Missy Elliot?
QTpnySMILE (11:15:02 AM): thanx
QTpnySMILE (11:15:20 AM): and also that new song by Craig David
QTpnySMILE (11:15:30 AM): i don't know what it's called
QTpnySMILE (11:15:54 AM): but if it helps, it contains the words:
QTpnySMILE (11:16:07 AM): what's your flavor? Tell me what's your flavor
QTpnySMILE (11:16:12 AM): ok?
QTpnySMILE (11:16:14 AM): ok
QTpnySMILE (11:16:16 AM): bj
QTpnySMILE (11:16:23 AM): i hope you get this message
QTpnySMILE (11:17:04 AM): and also "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
QTpnySMILE (11:17:17 AM): and the song from the Pepsi Blue commercial
QTpnySMILE (11:20:36 AM): BJ!!!!
QTpnySMILE (11:20:41 AM): Where are you!!!
QTpnySMILE (11:20:52 AM): ???
QTpnySMILE (11:21:23 AM): oh yeah
QTpnySMILE (11:21:25 AM): and get me
QTpnySMILE (11:21:39 AM): JLo - "Jenny from the Block"
QTpnySMILE (11:22:48 AM): ok?
QTpnySMILE (11:24:29 AM): and
QTpnySMILE (11:24:48 AM): Newfound Glory - "My friend's over you"
QTpnySMILE (11:28:27 AM): Vanessa Carlton - "Ordinary Day"

Auto response from DArkB L u esmOKE (11:28:27 AM): 10:30-12:30 Subject A

QTpnySMILE (11:28:41 AM): i don't care
QTpnySMILE (11:28:44 AM): you're my brother
QTpnySMILE (11:32:51 AM): and Avril Lavigne - 'Skater Boy"
QTpnySMILE (11:37:13 AM): and the new song by Sum 41
QTpnySMILE (11:39:12 AM): and nelly - "hot in herre"
QTpnySMILE (11:43:35 AM): sum 41 - fat lip
Auto response from DArkB L u esmOKE (11:43:35 AM): 10:30-12:30 Subject A
QTpnySMILE (11:49:26 AM): oh woops
QTpnySMILE (11:49:33 AM): it's not my friend's over you
QTpnySMILE (11:49:38 AM): it's my friends over you
QTpnySMILE (11:49:40 AM): ok?
QTpnySMILE (11:55:52 AM): i wish i was brave i wish i was stronger i wish i could feel no pain
QTpnySMILE (11:56:06 AM): i wish i was young i wish i was shy i i wish i was honest
QTpnySMILE (11:56:21 AM): i wish i was you not i cause i feel so mad i feel so angry
QTpnySMILE (11:56:43 AM): ....
QTpnySMILE (11:57:27 AM): Donde eres tu?
QTpnySMILE (11:57:30 AM): does that make sense?
QTpnySMILE (11:57:34 AM): well i'm trying to ask
QTpnySMILE (11:57:39 AM): where are you?
QTpnySMILE (12:00:23 PM): geez...bj..... � eres antipatico!

Auto response from DArkB L u esmOKE (12:00:23 PM): 10:30-12:30 Subject A

QTpnySMILE (12:00:29 PM): just kidding!
QTpnySMILE (12:00:54 PM): mama es en clase
QTpnySMILE (12:01:10 PM): mama es ne clase hoy
QTpnySMILE (12:01:24 PM): i think that's how you say it
QTpnySMILE (12:01:50 PM): no trabaja hoy
QTpnySMILE (12:02:38 PM): hoy mama no trabaja porque ella estudia en clase
QTpnySMILE (12:03:25 PM): me gusta hablar espanol
QTpnySMILE (12:03:45 PM): he�
QTpnySMILE (12:04:09 PM): hola! me llamo Camille
QTpnySMILE (12:04:38 PM): � Como te llamas?
QTpnySMILE (12:05:23 PM): � De donde eres tu?
QTpnySMILE (12:06:10 PM): soy norteamericana
QTpnySMILE (12:06:53 PM): mi familia vienen de Philippines
QTpnySMILE (12:06:58 PM): i don't think i said that right
QTpnySMILE (12:07:20 PM): soy mornena, baja, y delgada.
QTpnySMILE (12:07:38 PM): �Y tu?
QTpnySMILE (12:07:51 PM): hace calor
QTpnySMILE (12:09:53 PM): Es treinta grados bajo cero.
QTpnySMILE (12:10:21 PM): hoy es el diez y seis de noviembre de 2002
QTpnySMILE (12:10:26 PM): hoy es sabado
QTpnySMILE (12:11:09 PM): la estacion es el otono
QTpnySMILE (12:11:37 PM): it should translate to:
the season is fall/autumn.
QTpnySMILE (12:13:07 PM): �Estudias mucho a UCSC, BJ?
QTpnySMILE (12:15:34 PM): eres un muchacho y estudiante.

Auto response from DArkB L u esmOKE (12:15:34 PM): 10:30-12:30 Subject A

QTpnySMILE (12:15:49 PM): soy una chica
QTpnySMILE (12:16:27 PM): �Tienes que estudiar?
QTpnySMILE (12:17:44 PM): tu eres el muchacho que escuchas discos.
QTpnySMILE (12:18:21 PM): eres aburrido
QTpnySMILE (12:18:33 PM): no interesante
QTpnySMILE (12:18:45 PM): ok bye bj
QTpnySMILE (12:18:52 PM): i hope you get this message
QTpnySMILE (12:19:00 PM): =)
QTpnySMILE (12:35:16 PM): hello bj

Auto response from DArkB L u esmOKE (12:35:16 PM): 10:30-12:30 Subject A

QTpnySMILE (12:35:19 PM): where are you
QTpnySMILE (12:36:10 PM): es la una menos cinco
QTpnySMILE (12:36:20 PM): that translates into it is 12:55
QTpnySMILE (12:36:31 PM): where are uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu??????

AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK THE FRIVOLITY STOPS. . .

QTpnySMILE (1:55:38 PM): ok

Auto response from DArkB L u esmOKE (1:55:38 PM): Food. . .not hun.

QTpnySMILE (1:55:38 PM): ok
QTpnySMILE (1:55:59 PM): so that's all that we're learning
QTpnySMILE (1:56:06 PM): i'[m bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:10 PM): i'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:13 PM): i'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:17 PM): i'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:19 PM): i'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:23 PM): I am bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:26 PM): I'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:30 PM): I am bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:39 PM): I'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:42 PM): I am bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:46 PM): I'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:56:49 PM): This is boring
QTpnySMILE (1:57:02 PM): Maybe I'll play hangman with Austin Powers
QTpnySMILE (1:57:09 PM): no that's boring, too.
QTpnySMILE (1:57:14 PM): dad bough a guitar
QTpnySMILE (1:57:18 PM): isn't that great?
QTpnySMILE (1:57:26 PM): he saw it on television
QTpnySMILE (1:57:35 PM): and he's gonna pay 108 bucks for it
QTpnySMILE (1:57:39 PM): approximately
QTpnySMILE (1:57:43 PM): i'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:57:46 PM): i am bored
QTpnySMILE (1:57:49 PM): i'm bored
QTpnySMILE (1:58:00 PM): my teacher once said that only boring people get bored
QTpnySMILE (1:58:09 PM): so i guess that means that i am boring
QTpnySMILE (1:58:30 PM): hey that can be used as conditional statements
QTpnySMILE (1:59:25 PM): let's try it!
QTpnySMILE (1:59:33 PM): If a person is bored, then the person is boring
QTpnySMILE (2:01:06 PM): yay! i did it1
QTpnySMILE (2:01:17 PM): If sirens shriek, then dogs howl
QTpnySMILE (2:01:23 PM): if dogs howl , then cats freak
QTpnySMILE (2:01:29 PM): if cats freak, then mice frolic
QTpnySMILE (2:01:37 PM): you can make a logical chain
QTpnySMILE (2:01:46 PM): if sirens shriek, then mice frolic
QTpnySMILE (2:01:52 PM): hooray!
QTpnySMILE (2:01:56 PM): I'm bored
QTpnySMILE (2:03:02 PM): me gusta bailar
QTpnySMILE (2:03:06 PM): me gusta cantar
QTpnySMILE (2:03:16 PM): me gusta escuchar musica
QTpnySMILE (2:03:27 PM): no me gusta estudiar
QTpnySMILE (2:03:36 PM): no me gusta trabajar
QTpnySMILE (2:03:39 PM): me gusta viajar
QTpnySMILE (2:04:06 PM): espero visitar Nueve York
QTpnySMILE (2:05:03 PM): deseo ganar mucho dinero
QTpnySMILE (2:06:21 PM): Hay la chica que toca la guitarra.
QTpnySMILE (2:06:45 PM): �quien es la chica que toca la guitarra?
QTpnySMILE (2:08:25 PM): Se llama Juanita.
QTpnySMILE (2:08:51 PM): Es inteligente, �verdad?
QTpnySMILE (2:09:16 PM): no, no es inteligente, pero ella es simpatica.
QTpnySMILE (2:09:26 PM): ok
QTpnySMILE (2:09:32 PM): hasta luego
QTpnySMILE (2:09:37 PM): adios
QTpnySMILE (2:10:42 PM): twinkle twinkle little star how i wonder what you are up above

Auto response from DArkB L u esmOKE (2:10:42 PM): Food. . .not hun.

QTpnySMILE (2:10:57 PM): the world so high like a diamond in the sky twinkle twinkle little
QTpnySMILE (2:11:04 PM): star how i wonder what you are
QTpnySMILE (2:11:23 PM): rock a bye baby on the tree top when the wind blows the cradle
QTpnySMILE (2:12:07 PM): will rock when the bough breaks the cradle will fall and mommy
QTpnySMILE (2:12:09 PM): will catch you cradle and all
QTpnySMILE (2:12:41 PM): jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way oh what fun it is the ride on a one horse open sleigh hey
QTpnySMILE (2:12:41 PM): jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way
QTpnySMILE (2:12:53 PM): oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh!
QTpnySMILE (2:13:17 PM): jingle bells batman smells robin laid an egg the bat mobile lost
its wheel
QTpnySMILE (2:13:25 PM): and joker got away
QTpnySMILE (2:13:27 PM): hey
QTpnySMILE (2:13:53 PM): jingle bells batman smells robin laid an egg the bat mobile lost
QTpnySMILE (2:14:08 PM): its wheel and joker got aaaa wwaaaaayyyyyyy!
QTpnySMILE (2:14:38 PM): deck the halls with boughs of holly fa la la la la la la la la
QTpnySMILE (2:14:57 PM): tis the season to be jolly fa la la la la la la la la
QTpnySMILE (2:15:31 PM): don we now our gay apparel fa la la la la la la la la
QTpnySMILE (2:15:38 PM): troll the ancient yuletide carol
QTpnySMILE (2:15:49 PM): fa la la la la la la la la
QTpnySMILE (2:16:17 PM): lunes martes lunes martes miercoles miercoles jueves viernes sabado juevs viernes sabado domingo domingo
QTpnySMILE (2:16:42 PM): enero febrero enero febrero enero febero marzo abril mayo
QTpnySMILE (2:17:05 PM): junio julio agosto septiembre octubre noviembre deciembre
QTpnySMILE (2:17:10 PM): ok
QTpnySMILE (2:17:10 PM): bj
QTpnySMILE (2:17:15 PM): i'm going to go now
QTpnySMILE (2:17:16 PM): ok
QTpnySMILE (2:17:22 PM): i'll sing

QTpnySMILE (2:17:25 PM): some more
QTpnySMILE (2:17:49 PM): happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday dear __________ happy birthday to you!!!
QTpnySMILE (2:18:51 PM): London bridge is falling down falling down falling down London bridge is falling down
QTpnySMILE (2:18:54 PM): my fair lady
QTpnySMILE (2:19:08 PM): take the key and lock her up lock her up lock her up take the key and lock her up my fair lady
QTpnySMILE (2:19:34 PM): row row row your boat gently down the stream merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream
QTpnySMILE (2:21:02 PM): ok bj
QTpnySMILE (2:21:04 PM): g2g
QTpnySMILE (2:21:12 PM): and thanx for helping me on the problem
QTpnySMILE (2:21:16 PM): so bye
QTpnySMILE (2:21:36 PM): and remember to get me all those songs i asked for on the last im in which i sent 84 ims
QTpnySMILE (2:21:39 PM): ok
QTpnySMILE (2:21:39 PM): bye
QTpnySMILE (2:21:42 PM): bj
QTpnySMILE (2:21:43 PM): have fun!

Ladies and gentlemen, my sister !

Read Entire Post...

About the LA Riots

by B.J. on 11/15/2002 09:10:00 AM 0 comments Print this post

Hey B**ch Motherf*ckers, this is about the LA Riots so enjoy.

Social Inequality
In 1992, an explosion of violence channeled itself through the decrepit neighborhoods of Los Angeles because of a non-guilty verdict read for four white policemen beating a black man named Rodney King. A videotape of the event clearly showed that the police officers mercilessly, needlessly pounded on King. The ensuing explosion of violence manifested itself through lootings of stores, protests, vandalism, shootings, and physical attacks. In Anna Deveare Smith�s Twilight, a compilation of interviews regarding these riots with first-hand observers of many different backgrounds, the people generally speak of the riots as a release of ignored, mounting racial tensions.

As much as people see the riots as an explosion of racial tensions, the problem is truly the result of socioeconomic inequalities, in which race becomes incorporated to easily identify and blame a problem on. In the story, a disgruntled Korean Lady named Mrs. Young Soon Han expands on the point of racial tensions, but mainly highlights the struggle between blacks and Koreans over how much Koreans dominate the businesses in black neighborhoods. In contrast, thinking that the problem is generally white and black, the whites in the story, best represented by the Anonymous Hollywood agent, still contend that the riots are primarily a result of the privileges denied urbanites that white people have. The third opinion, this of the African-American Paul Parker, militant chairperson of Free the LA Four Plus Committee, reaffirms the two previous characters saying that the Los Angeles riots result because of the ongoing tension by the police in the urban slums. In sum, the different characters cite different battles of racial tensions, but all come to the conclusion that the riots result because of socioeconomic inequalities within the urban setting. Though racial tensions may have taken the blame for the riots, the real problem lies within the social inequalities presented within the vast pastures of Los Angeles.

Struggling for influence in the decrepit neighborhoods, Koreans and blacks battle for influence because of the lack of black businesses in the neighborhoods. Ninety-eight percent of the businesses robbed and run to the ground by rioters were Korean owned (Smith 175). A sorrowful Mrs. Young-Soon Han claims that while she admires America, she wonders aloud about the status of Koreans (Smith 245). While she does appreciate blacks for opening the door to freedom for other minorities, she still maintains that the lack of racial acknowledgement from the mainstream results in their being forgotten, and thus increases anger and frustration within the Korean community (Smith 246). Asserting that Koreans do not get the same benefits as blacks, she angrily pounds, �Many Afro-Americans who never worked they get at least minimum amount of money to survive. We [the Koreans] don�t get any!� (Smith 246). She asserts that while Koreans do not get the same benefits as the blacks, they still tolerate the same second-class treatment (Smith 248). In response to this second-class treatment, the Koreans make the blacks feel insufficient in their own neighborhoods by monopolizing the businesses and making the money, as Katie Miller, a black account claims (Smith 129). Even though Mrs. Young-Soon Han likes to acknowledge racial tensions as the root of the problem by nothing the violence of blacks, she acknowledges that the problem lies within this struggle for influence and power within their own neighborhoods between Koreans and blacks --- social inequalities.

Thinking that the riots are fostered mainly between blacks and whites, the anonymous Hollywood Agent highlights all the advantages he has over minorities. He underlines the guilt he carries as a white man, �All the, frankly, the white upper class, upper middle class---whatever your, the definition is---white successful . . .spending too much money, too ya know, too good a restaurant, that kinda thing. We were just getting ourselves into a frenzy, which I think a lot of it involved guilt, just generic guilt� (Smith 135-136). Essentially, the Anonymous Man absorbs generic, indirect guilt because of his powerful, unearned status as a white man. Like Mrs. Young-Soon Han, he acknowledges that the system fosters the riots because of its mishandling of the urban inhabitants. However, unlike her, he lumps the minorities into one group and cites that the problem lies more deeply between the whites and blacks, which oversimplifies the problem (Smith 139). The idea, however, remains consistent with Mrs. Young Soon Han�s view --- urbanites struggle to address socioeconomic inequalities (Smith 139). Further addressing the lack of socioeconomic equality, Peter Sellars, a director in the Los Angeles Festival, best affirms America�s ignorance of urbanites when he describes a metaphor about a house, representing America, being reluctant to address a fire in the basement, which symbolizes America�s urban scene (Smith 199). He asserts that ignoring the fire will only cause it to ignite even further (Smith 200). Race and socioeconomic inequality intertwine because minorities seem to lose out to whites.

Lastly, the African-American Paul Parker asserts that the riots will go on as long as peace is denied the urban scene. He diminishes any argument of the riots being mainly about racial equality when he claims victory over the business-owning Koreans (Smith 175). By claiming the victory, he implies that only the strugglers, not necessarily the minorities, deserve the chance to be heard by rioting. He reflects with disgust at the attention Reginald Denny, a Caucasian male, receives from the media after being beaten by black men in the midst of the riots, �If Denny was Latino, Indian, or black, they wouldn�t give a damn because many people got beat, but you didn�t hear about the Lopezes or the Vaccas or the, uh Quintanas or the, uh, Tarvins� (Smith 172). In Parker�s eyes, darker people suffer from police brutality because of their standings as minorities, which connotes socioeconomic insignificance and powerlessness (Smith 178). Expanding on police brutality, Teresa Allison, Founder of Mother Reclaiming Our Children, recalls �They [the police] used to take our kids from one project and drop �em into another gang zone and leave �em in there and let those guys kill �em and then say it�s a gang-related thing� (Smith 38). Basically, she underlines that the poor children in the housing projects suffer from police brutality. Even black middle-class children become shocked at the poor quality of life in the projects (Smith 208). In having even black middle-class children being shocked at the turmoil of South Central Los Angeles, the argument that the riots result because of racial tensions diminishes as the black children inadvertently claim no relation to the inner-city cause with their surprised reactions.

The Los Angeles riots resulted because of the social inequalities within the urban system, which in turn fostered much of the racial tensions inherent in Los Angeles. Before the riots, most Koreans simply fought to keep their businesses safe in their own neighborhoods and in the process alienated the blacks. Mostly distant from the inner cities and feeling guilty about the riots, most whites simply offered suggestions from afar for social reform. In response to the turmoil with Koreans and ignorance from the whites, urban blacks saw their actions as justified because of their plight in the inner cities. As long as even just a bit of minorities are kept subverted in the system, people will continue to complain about racial tensions as the main problem.

Labels: Gang Violence, Los Angeles

Read Entire Post...

by B.J. on 11/14/2002 04:03:00 PM 0 comments Print this post

Do work in your sleep.

Read Entire Post...

by B.J. on 11/14/2002 10:26:00 AM 0 comments Print this post

Artist: Raekwon
Song: Determination

[Intro: Raekwon]
I really don't need to be *fuckin* wit ya right now
I need to movin' around in the air, circlin' Manhattan
Real smooth

[Raekwon]
Here we go again son, black Harrison *Ford* on the run
One, beef in the field, it's real
Highly recommend shield, Lee rocks, still he rock
Got the blue lazer, grill, like Martin *Scorcese*-ah
Jumpin outta limo's, *expos*, black rentals
Chasin *niggas* through the projects, polex
Moseyin', 15 of us, five trucks
Crazy deluxe, bound by honor, *nigga* what?
Tailin' us in boats and land, *40 caliber* in my hand
Made the left... Lex fam
Sho enough what, *Hummer* craft lookin up, what?
Kid the chipped out *flex* now I'm stuck
Bounced on him, public announcements say they want him
Any ideas? Where he at? Cops want him
Changin' the gear the same foot wear
Runnin like a crook, yea, no love here
*Fuck* yea, we up there
Had a little *drugs* there, they was there
Pass it kid, *Novacain* caught a slug there
Had it mastered in fleis-school, *nigga* go whip a plane
Drivin land, map *shit* out, go to night school
Bronze star, feelin who we are
Half animal, whole lotta love, black God
Standin' front and center, from here to winter
Grip the *splinter, shoot it sideways, nozzle on, pop-it*
(nothin' but determination)
Ready to hit somethin, pop *shit* wit somethin
Blow *blimps* on the mad rubber grips, big lips on it
Rollin wit top rank medals, hands is like *Greg Neddles*
Bright link, purple heart, swim bezzle
Hearin' the horn of Josh, movin' like the moss
Executive decision play large
Caught a blip on the radar, screen him out
Fightin' like like Julio *Cazar*, blaze y'all
May day, may day, chasin' me, CIA, KGB, FBI, DIA on they way
Trynna chase down the God, this Afro-African'll lace ya

[Chorus 3X: Raekwon]
Nothin' but determination

[Raekwon]
Part two kid, establish brain power, truth did
Yo it's realer than a *fuck* now, ain't stupid
Trash, three hundred thousand in cash, guerilla mash
Brass this gat, TNT *niggas* on my *ass*
Play for real, Lex will, I suggest still
Clear my own *shit*, let the press ill, let's bill
Make it to the UN, doin bout a thousand in the blue M
Frogmen, repped out cluein, *left all the American Express cards*
Left the passports, time share, *shit up on* in *Escort*
Bail 'em, bustin his *joint*, Chief O'Heara
That old, *Louis McDarren*, see the waves through the mirror
Spot that, hop that, through the top back
Ready to lock somethin', down for the cause, stop that
You play the king, I play the *pawn*, who the king of the Swarm?
You wrong, where's the evidence, watch the *fire* arm
Wit eternal affairs there, I knew I had little bits of love
Hopin it'll be fair, he watch me, heavy roxy scene
He clean though, American *Cream* Team let him leave
See the moral of the story, feelin' me like
Mordon and Glory when they came for me
Had fifty on the line, look at mine, all dressed down
Handlin' nines, know the time

B**CH !

Labels: Mi Musica Represent Represent

Read Entire Post...

by B.J. on 11/03/2002 07:30:00 PM 0 comments Print this post

Subject A is coming up on November 16th. Damnit. IF YOU EVER GET the time to READ, give me your honest opinion on my tag-board or message my ass. Even if you just read a SENTENCE, I'm still open like Christina Aguilera after seeing Fred Durst in a thong to your suggestions.

Conventional Justice Versus Universal Justice

Without universally accepted rights and wrongs for different cultures and generations to draw upon, the idea of conventional justice cannot exist. Universal justice defines itself as justice that extends to every culture and every era. In sharp contrast, conventional justice is justice that fluctuates with every culture and/or era, which applies only to varied customs and laws. As humans, our senses of wrong revolve around the basic rule that no one can or gets hurt as a result of an action. Thomas Jefferson, writer of The Declaration of Independence, exploits the idea of universal justice first and foremost to implant into the audience�s mind that the cry by the tiny colonies represents a broad common problem of injuries committed against men in general. Even the foremost champion of conventional justice, Thrasymachus, antagonist to Socrates in Plato�s The Republic, concedes to the idea of a universal thought process. Neither Maxine Hong Kingston, author of No Name Woman, nor Elizabeth Cady Stanton, writer of Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions would have been able to determine the wrongness of their subversion as women had it not been for their trust in the universal truth that no one gets hurt. In general, different cultures and eras, interpret right and wrong differently with ongoing developments in their respective societies, which is where conventional justice blurs the line with universal justice. Conventional justice judges new issues itself primarily on universal wrongs such as stealing and cheating, on whoever is violated, the results of the subject getting violated, and the frequency to which the subject gets violated. However, not many cultures and/or eras view their justice as conventional justice, which if unacknowledged would cease to exist.

In determining wrong for a certain action, all cultures and eras center the basic, universal rule that no one gets hurt. In the midst of an era that accepts the subversion of women as norm, Stanton states, �The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her� (Stanton 173). In the preceding paragraphs, she submits the concrete effects of how women have suffered as a result of their subversion to men, such as man making her morally irresponsible (Stanton 173). Like Stanton, Kingston defies the conventional thinking on women�s roles, this of her own Chinese ancestry, by devoting a paper replica to a forgotten aunt, lost because of village-wide resentment (Kingston 16). She knows the neglect is morally, universally wrong, which is why she devotes her narrative to the forgotten aunt (Kingston 16). The audience also sees that Thomas Jefferson defies Britain and the world�s conventional thinking of the time that no harm was done to the colonies, by complaining that the universal truths of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were stripped away by Britain (Jefferson 78). Like Stanton, he names all the harm, in this case, Great Britain has committed upon the colonies (Jefferson 79-80). Even Thrasymachus, sole believer in conventional justice, believes in the notion of determining justice by gauging if anyone gets hurt. �And when it [governing body] passes these laws, it�s defining the honest thing for a subject to do: what benefits the ruling class; and when someone breaks these laws they whip him and call him a criminal and dishonest,� notes Thrasymachus (Plato 338). He concedes to Socrates that as a result of the selfish people always in power, the weaker people get hurt (Plato 339). By simply acknowledging that weaker people get hurt, Thrasymachus admits that it is wrong to exploit weaker people. In conclusion, the generic way in determining rightness and wrongness lies within the simple premise of anything getting hurt in the process. However, the simple premise complicates itself when people try and determine exactly what gets hurt in the process.

Different cultures and eras interpret universal law differently in regards to various developments within their societies, making tangible the notion of conventional justice. For example, Jefferson uses the fact that the King of Great Britain refuses compliance to laws as a conventional concern, based on the universal right that they are being denied liberty (Jefferson 79). He uses concrete, conventional details such as the King of Britain imposing taxes on them without consent to further his argument of abuses while basing his argument on the general, universal idea that people deserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (Jefferson 80). Similarly, in The Republic, the quick-witted Socrates throws Thrasymachus off with specific, conventional examples of how those in power primarily address the needs of the incompetent rather than addressing themselves first and foremost (Plato 343). Socrates inquires, �Is the doctor you mentioned a while back a businessman earning a fee, or a healer of sick people,� to which a confused Thrasymachus confirms as a healer of sick people (Plato 343). In effect, Thrasymachus agrees with the specific, conventional example that doctors are healers of sick people and, eventually the universal principle that honesty in whatever a person does sets that person free of restraints (Plato 348). Stanton, in Jeffersonian fashion, cites the conventional wrong that man �Allows her in Church, as well as State, but a subordinate position, claiming Apostolic authority for her exclusion from the ministry, and with some exceptions, from any public participation in the affairs of the Church� (Stanton 174). Some people, in the current day and age, may not care one bit of the church, but her problem centers itself in the universal truth that the women are being subverted and forgotten (Stanton 172). Similarly, Kingston�s perceived dilemma of combating Chinese tradition by making mention of her forgotten aunt, centers itself on the universal truth of not hurting her aunt anymore by ignorance (Kingston 16). As much as conventional justice is omnipresent in conjunction with universal justice, many people do not view their justice as conventional, homely, and near-sighted. Jefferson and Stanton both claim that everyone is created equal and establish that principle as universal truth (Jefferson 78, Stanton 172). Depleting their establishment is the fact that not everyone believes that we are created equal and underneath God. Even Thrasymachus, father of conventional justice, when asked to �Look at any form of knowledge and ignorance and see if you think that anyone at all who knows what he�s doing would choose to do or say any more than just what anyone else would do or say. Wouldn�t he act in exactly the one who like him would do,� to which a dazzled Thrasymachus replies �. . .Well, I suppose, in cases like this, he�d have to act like that,� admitting a sense of universal action given a world with eerily-similar people (Plato 350). Thrasymachus shows his own bias for his own time and age, discounting other possible factors in that perfect world. Unlike the other three writers, Kingston makes no establishment of universal law because she does not argue a point, but rather reports occurrences in a spontaneous fashion. However, she relies heavily on the basic, universal principle that no one gets hurt when she establishes that her aunt has been wronged.

The idea of universal justice upholds any type of conventional justice to be served because people outside of a circle of society can relate to a general aspect. As humans, laws and whatever is right and wrong is determined by if anything is harmed. People then misinterpret whether or not anything gets harmed, which leads to discrepancies between universal and conventional justice. Further complicating the situation is the fact that not many people believe that their ideas of justice may be short-sighted. Without this acknowledgement of conventional justice, it cannot exist.

Labels: Philosophes de Vita