5 Current Stories That Prove America Isn’t Always So Beautiful

0
125
america

They lyrics to “America the Beautiful” read as such, “O beautiful for spacious skies/ For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties / Above the fruited plain! /America! America! /God shed his grace on thee /And crown thy good with brotherhood /From sea to shining sea!

“The entire song is meaningful but the lyrics, “And crown thy good with brotherhood” need to be revisited by many of us that call America home. The fact that many people were outraged by the Coke commercial that featured many ethnicities singing the song in their native language as well as a gay couple is evidence of our ignorance in this country and that we don’t truly reflect the words of song. The irony of it all is the songwriter, Katherine Lee Bates, actually lived 25 years of her life with Katharine Colman in a lesbian relationship.

I wonder if all the Coke commercial haters and critics know that. I doubt it! Don’t get me wrong, I do think America is absolutely beautiful in many regards and I love it. Because of that aforementioned love, I have the right to criticize or critique her when she is wrong and not living up to her own premise, just as I would a child, family member, woman, or friend that I love. This Coke controversy is enough on its own to justify that American isn’t so beautiful but if you need more convincing, here are 5 other stories that prove we have a long way to go. 

Michael Dunn Murder Trial Begins

michael-dunn-jordan-davis

In the (Allow me to clear my throat) post-racial Obama era of America, the opening statements began Thursday in the trial of Michael Dunn, who fatally shot a teenager in Florida following an argument over loud music. Dunn has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Jordan Davis, 17, and attempted first-degree murder for shooting at three friends accompanying the teen.

In Dunn’s case, he said he asked the four teens to turn down their music after he got annoyed by how loud it was or how the bass was pulsating from the vehicle. He told police that when he asked Davis and the three teens parked next to him to lower their volume, he heard threats and saw a gun in their car. Apparently fearing for his safety, he said, he grabbed a gun and fired into the vehicle eight or nine times.

Although Dunn said he saw a gun being drawn, authorities found no guns in the car the teens were riding in. Another mom lost her son over some bullsh*t and it seems as if we are about to witness the Zimmerman trial over again. Hopefully the results are different and justice is served.

Ted Nugent calls President Obama ‘an avowed racist’ for Showing Sympathy to Trayvon Martin’s Parents

09_ted_nugent_605_ap_605

Rock musician Ted Nugent has called President Barack Obama “an avowed racist” for showing sympathy to Trayvon Martin’s parents over the death of their son. Nugent was representing the Outdoor Channel at a February 5 gun show in Harrisburg, PA when he made the comment.

So let me get this straight, the President shows remorse for an unarmed kid getting killed and he is the racist? That was a rhetorical question. If you don’t remember what President Obama actually said his official statement is below. “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” the president said in March 2012. “And I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and that we’re going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”

When Zimmerman was found not guilty of second degree murder or manslaughter, the president told reporters, saying “Trayvon Martin could’ve been me 35 years ago.” In previous interviews Nugent has criticized Trayvon Martin, calling the deceased teen a “dope smoking, racist gangsta wannabe.” Everyone is entitled to their opinion but if we can’t have remorse for any kid that gets killed over nothing then we definitely have a long way to go. There is so much ridiculous irony surrounding this story that I don’t have words to continue.

The George Zimmerman “Celebrity” Boxing Match with DMX

DMXandGeorgeZimmerman

Do I really even need to comment on this? I think kevRoss said it best in his previous article (George Zimmerman Fight Story) he posted about this atrocity. George Zimmerman is an absolute idiot and a$$hole for trying to capitalize off killing a kid. I’m sure DMX really wants to see Zimmerman get his a$$ whooped just as many other people do but he is wrong if he decides to accept this fight.

DMX recently commented on the fight saying he would love to beat the sh*t out of Zimmerman but only if all the money went to charity. I personally don’t like it at all and refuse to watch it if it happens. The fact that we are even considering it shows me that America, once again, has a long way to go.

Unemployment Bill Not Approved By the Senate

The-Issue-Extended-unemployment-benefits-when-will-Congress-act

I’m a person that believes that if you work hard you should reap the benefits of your effort or be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. I’m not big on handouts but I do see the need for government assistance when absolutely necessary. Besides, if you have worked damn near your entire life, you have paid into unemployment indirectly in my opinion so the money should be accessible to you.

With that being said, Republicans have blocked legislation from advancing in the Senate to restore benefits for the long-term unemployed. I know a young lady with a Master’s degree and a PhD; she has been looking for a job for over a year and yes, her benefits have been cut off. I also know four other individuals with Master’s degrees and they also have been aggressively looking for jobs for more than a year with no results. They have also been cut off.

Why should people who have done the work, paid all this money for college, and paid extensively (indirectly) into unemployment not be able to rely on their government when needed. As far as the legislation is concerned, it’s the second time this year that Democrats have sought to move the bill along, and they say they will try again.

An estimated 1.7 million jobless have been affected by the expiration of a program that once provided up to 47 weeks of federal benefits after state-paid assistance ended, generally after six months. Four Republicans voted to advance the legislation, which all 53 Democrats and two independents support. Ordinarily, that would have left the bill with 59 votes, one short of the 60 needed.

However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada then switched his vote, which made the final tally 58-40, and will allow him to have the issue reconsidered in the future. When political agendas constantly overpower the needs of the people, America has a long way to go.

Teen Slain at McDonald’s,

How many more headlines do we need to read like this before we do something about our inner city communities, gun laws, and the mental/emotional health of our kids? That wasn’t a rhetorical question? Let’s be honest – The city of Chicago has become synonymous with murder to the point it is now being labeled as “Chiraq.”

The death toll by murder in Chicago over the past decade is greater than the number of American forces who have died in Afghanistan since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to a police analysis.Unfortunately we have to add Markeyo Carr to that appalling death toll. The 17-year old was shot dead when a masked gunman opened fire in the parking lot of a McDonald’s Wednesday afternoon, also wounding three other teens.

Carr’s older sister, Dysheka Bibbs spoke on her brother’s behalf. “I know this neighborhood, Rogers Park, is heaven for gang ties and gang affiliations, but Markeyo was not one of them,” said Bibbs, 28. “He never hung in the streets.” Police say Carr and the three teens were in the McDonald’s parking at 6740 N. Clark St. around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when there was an argument and then gunfire. Carr was shot in the head and collapsed in a driveway next to a strip mall with a pizza restaurant, a dental office and a dollar store.

This story along with so many others is so sad. I’m personally tired of stories like this one and the previous four. All I want is for us as Americans to live up to the words of Katherine’s song. “O beautiful for spacious skies/ For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties / Above the fruited plain! /America! America! /God shed his grace on thee /And crown thy good with brotherhood /From sea to shining sea!”