Am I Not Human: Too Graphic for Youtube. Okay for the eyes of Eastern children, regularly.

Warning:

The video posted below is beyond graphic. I wouldn't recommend viewing it with a child under the age of 13 in room, as even with explanation, the developing minds in that age bracket could experience some degree of trauma. This video is that graphic. It is as real as the horrors, our Eastern siblings have faced, regardless of age.
I am not however, in disagreement with the graphic nature of the imagery in this video. In this case it is actually necessary to the point. It is truly revolutionary, as opposed to the buzz generating pseudo-depth media we've been subjected to far too often.
Some have said this vid was made without a point. I vehemently disagree. This vid was made without it's point needing to be sub-titled, or announced at the end to assist us in 'getting the point'. Instead, it requires us to think.


M.I.A- Born Free

I left the below comment @ InnyVinny's spot (and hit enter without thinking-then when I finally hit submit on-purpose I realized the pre-typo fix version had already posted). The commentary below, is a little less fragmented and shares my impression of the vid, and how it relates to the violation of human rights the West commits in a business-as-usual fashion:

[Semi-Spoilers herein]

"Kristine's assessment is spot on.
I definitely felt it was a commentary on genocide, clothed in a Euro case of racial profiling (The abuse of the Gingers might be reflecting on the abuse of the Irish, who were even labeled 'Black' at one time, believe it or not).

I think it speaks to those who may be desensitized to seeing bodies of color blown up by landmines or mulilated by schrapnel, by providing a likeness that is closer to home for the proclaimed-majority in the West.

It's a beyond clever way to speak to power, and privilege, police-state hivemind, senseless abuse of power/the frenzy-state of the power-drunk against the helpless.


I am amazed.


Folks speak of other vids recently released 'being deep', even with those that were remakes, and etc.

Nothing comes close to what M.I.A's placed before us. This is revolutionary, and I am completely unoffended by the graphic nature of the vid. The graphic nature was entirely needed to make the point.

We're so cushioned in the West, from what many of our siblings in the East suffer in horrific norms. I'm all for removing the 'softening' of media-extended realities, where reporting on human rights is concerned. It's a decade into the new millennium, and we're in at least 2 completely unnecessary wars right now. How many people even know that in this country? And of those who know, how many care?


Something has to wake the collective up..."


For those of you who make/made it through the vid, what's your impression?


On behalf of all my human siblings suffering unimaginable violations of their humanity. I ask:

Am I Not Human: The Scott Sisters

How is it possible that even after a signed affidavit by their former accuser, recanting his statement, the Scott Sisters appeals were denied by the Supreme court, and all for a 'robbery' we now know they never committed that amounted to 11 dollars stolen by men allowed to get away on plea deals?

If you're not already familiar with this case which has been dragging on for well over a decade [over 11 dollars they never stole, yes}, the following vid can shed some light.



(note: This vid is a year or so old, but still, unfortunately, relevant)

Were certainly not ignorant of the reluctant-justice in our 'halls of order', having rallied for the release of the Jena 5 who were facing sentences that fell grossly beyond even an imagined scope of proportion, and Troy Davis who even after the recanting of 7 out of 9 accusers who advised officers coerced them into accusing him to begin with was denied justice repeatedly.

But what do we do about it? Outside of thinking high thoughts, and adding our voice to written demands for proportional justice, our only visible choice seems to take action to reform the system itself by utilizing our voices to gain the attention of the commander in chief.

Please utilize the links provided below to do both:


Sign the Petition

I was unable to join the blogging effort on this day
but there are great resources to the Governor and Congressman
that have power to make a change in this case.
Visit here for more intel

Send a letter to President Obama


On behalf of innocents, charged with crimes they didn't commit, or meted out sentences not befitting their crimes, I ask:




Related:

Raye of Hope.org
The enslavement of the poor in American Prisons

Am I Not Human: The roots of Haitian culture versus conversion propaganda

Naomi Extra put together a writing group awhile back that has recently called for stories that raise awareness about Haitian culture. As part of my Am I Not Human campaign offering I'd like to extend more information about the roots of Haitian culture, to help dispel disinformation and encourage dialogue.

I hope you'll submit a story (here )after you view more information via the links and video provided. I plan to update the post with my tale, after it publishes with Lady Nextra, as well. Please share links to yours.

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This offering is extended with the hope that we can brainstorm ways that cultural-discrimination, such as that being seen amongst missionaries who claim they will not likely continue to give aid to Haitian Vodou practioners (forced conversion, anyone? How charitable...), can be thwarted utterly. Your ideas for solutions are most welcome in the comments or in your own blog posts that we can visit through the links you extend.

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Haiti liberated and Rescued Other Nations

(One of the most underknown forces that impacted the end of slavery when it liberated itself as an independent nation)


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Until Haiti spoke, the church was silent, and the pulpit was dumb. Slave-traders lived and slave-traders died." - Excerpts from Frederick Douglass

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Wyclef speaks to Haitian culture about the Toussaint Film



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Some Familiar Faces in the Haitian Diaspora




Please continue to donate to trusted relief organizations on behalf of Haiti.


From experience I recommend MercyCorps (they update you on where the money is going).
Please share aid organizations you trust in the comments <3>

On behalf of my underrepresented human siblings in Haiti, facing threats against integral aspects of their culture, and threat of destabilization by government interference all while struggling to survive and recover from a beyond-devastating blow. I ask:

Am I Not Human: Haiti needs Doctors, The West Sends Soldiers

To date I still haven't wrapped my mind around the devastation the people of Haiti have experienced and seek to heal from. I've made time for the most part daily to send Reiki, prayer, and love over the ethers, hoping it makes even some difference to my human/Haitian siblings struggling to meet the terms of survival in a land impoverished by colonialist agendas and unjust debts, and now the addition of a new highly suspect military occupation it's claimed has arrived to 'help' control lawlessnes and such, when in reality, true help would be medically-related, food-related, etc...

I don't believe in military-occupation. Depopulation-101 tells us historically that most of the 'rebel-based' wars and chaos have been funded by Western interests, no matter who they are able to talk into selling their souls to carry out 'the deeds'. String-pullers are stringpullers.
Our president has even called on historical enemies of Haiti (with serious emphasis on Clinton's past actions) for 'help' (what kind of help, we don't know), which further insults what the survivors of this devastating earthquake --that we're still not sure wasn't influenced by military-drilling/ HAARP 'testing' in the Caribbean-- have in front of them to endure as it is, without the addition of greed/cruelty-influenced interference.

To avoid the crippling kind of anger, I've chosen to look at this as a further opportunity for the world's common-folk to open their eyes to the realities that surround us. If I allow myself to become discouraged, or deeply cynical, my energy will mean nothing in a world that needs folks to shine their lights.
The simple act of refusing to face chaos/hidden chaos-stirring at the hands of government with naive eyes can be the only reason these lessons are appearing on such a large scale.

I won't lecture on the importance of doing something. You already know the importance of action. I will instead hope that you keep your mind open, if it isn't already, to the possibility that very sinister plans are at work to further destabilize Haiti, and keep in mind, voices that refuse to turn a cheek, and know the power of raising awareness (especially when awareness goes viral) can change the world, and in this instance mean the world to the reconstruction and healing of Haiti.

For my human siblings in Haiti struggling to survive, now faced with the concerns a Western military presence poses, while Doctors and aid have had a hard time getting their goodwill to the survivors they wish to extend it to... I ask:

Haitian Granted Temporary Protected Status

It is a great relief that swift action was taken to ensure the safety of Haitians living here in the US. This came after an urgent request made by Hillary Clinton and Napolitano that Haitian immigrants be protected under temporary protected status. A request calling for an end to maritime interdictions was made as well.

We should all take a moment to thank the President, and as well as request the enforcement of a suspension of the interdiction policy endangering Haitians at this crucial time.

Props to Electronic Village for the intel


If you're a Reiki energy-medicine healer sending positive energy to Haiti,
tag your texts with #ReikiForHaiti or #PranaForHaiti, #MeditationForHaiti and so forth. Positive energy makes a difference.

(Unfortunately delayed) Am I Not Human: Wilt-petaled bloom

The 26th of November was troublesome for me. I'm dedicated to publishing an Am I Not Human? campaign post on the 27th every month. Like clockwork. I resented the power cord for dying and rendering my pc useless until I could replace it. Major companies wanted at least 69.99 for a 'universal' model I wasn't sure would work, and they advised they couldn't test it in advance because they didn't have demo models. In the end I opted for ebay and found one for 10. Mark-ups are funny aye?. This meant at least a week's wait due to the seller's location. The library was closed, and the internet cafe in town folded earlier last year. I was smartphone-less (I've since commenced shopping for one), and I
I had to make myself content with handwriting my offering.
Thankfully Mom came to the rescue and posted a notice about what was going on and that my post would be delayed. Everything happens for a reason. I want to thank all of you who were able to post and raise awareness to the many human rights causes in need of more voices.

My belated offering for December is short. Some months I'll be posting an artistic message (much like the Am I Not Human artivism issue). I encourage artists out there to do the same. It can capture attention and help remind folks how easily freedoms can be taken. We should never get too comfortable and forget our human siblings who had the rugs taken from under them. We are one, despite illusion.


Wilt-Petaled Bloom

To eat from your cupboards and leave nothing
To salt your lands and poison the sea
To twist your view of spirituality
so as to alter your recognition of Divinity

These are not acts come from humanity
but hollow-conscienced seeds of depravity
grown into mind-clouding grains arranged
in ciphered dining options
upon the plates of the unwitting
Blooms not fit for consumption
strewn in salads of the genetically modified,
carefully coiffed tortured beasts and their clones.
Seeds making for themselves a hollow home,
when grown and consumed.
Stealing logic, choking air from the heart.
Making the silblings of the tormented forget,
that they're related, and probably next;
if these wilted petals continue to decorate world display
masquerading as 'premium offering'
so few seem still-willing to renounce, for
all the amnesia that has taken us.


For my siblings in lands looted; deprived of rightful resources ripped from its girth, barred from technology, or unable to speak on their own behalf for the stifling force of puppet-tyrants pulled by hidden strings leading to another power, I ask:




Thankyou for reading.

...Returned from teh land of pc- glitches a.k.a Mirthful 2010

Peace and Mirthful 2010 ^_^

I have to apologize for my inability to post on the 27th. PC- related equipment failure on a day where the library wasn't even open rendered me unable to post what I'd written for the Am I Not Human campaign.
I did handwrite a short piece, because I take this campaign seriously and have vowed to take action on the 27th of every month until we see some real changes made in international and domestic human rights.
I will be posting my handwritten entry from 12/27 shortly, but wanted to post and advise that my equipment came in the mail and all is well-again in digital land. I plan to read your entries soon, and am investing in a G1 phone in several weeks, in an effort to prevent any future interruptions with my ability to post a blog entry *_^

Shine bright
-PZ