It's probably more appropriate to say what didn't happen right? Kanye a few weeks ago was a felony suspect for attempted robbery. According to TMZ.
The Paparazzi being who they are followed Kanye around, and of course people were asking questions. Kanye apparently from the video had it and then this happened:
Now according to NY Daily Times Kanye won't have felony charges put against him. The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office says there isn't enough evidence against Mr. West.
Now anyone can make their own claims, as where some say he's pretty eccentric and controversial. Other opinions of Kanye West deem him to be for lack of a better word: asshole. Now with the raw footage video alone I have to ask: What the hell happen to Kanye West?! Why did he go off the henge on the Paparazzi, dude you just had a baby with the mosted wanted behind in the world (opinion). You aren't use to being hounded by people with cameras constantly repeating questions? Even if you aren't charged with anything, come on Yeezus don't act like you are brand new to being famous. Follow me on Twitter
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Like many other Americans I also was watching the case of Trayvon Martin, and the verdict that was passed down. I don't want to get into details about the night that Trayvon Martin's life was taken to much. However, I do want to talk about a few things. The Young Turks and actually in the following video there is an image of Trayvon Martin the night of his shooting. Now while many have seen many images of Zimmerman all bloodied and trying to make a case for his self-defense claim which was held up in court by the State of Florida, it seems that we have forgotten one thing. Trayvon Martin is not here to make a case for himself. There isn't anyone to dispute Zimmerman's claims, because the one person that could is no longer with us. In the days after the verdict comparisons of other unarmed children being shot for example a story about Marley Lion, not receiving the same amount of media coverage. Here is the Meme created by Elizabeth O'Neil according to upi.com
Also another Meme that depicts another terrible crime of an unarmed Mother of Three who was shot and killed for her tip money according to reports from The Post-Tribune:
When people ask the question what's the difference? I answer by saying, these men who shot Jacqueline Gardner and Marley Lion are real criminals who were out to do harm to people. Both instances started with the aggressors attempting to rob Marley Lion and Jacqueline Gardner, who ended up taking their lives. Video evidence in the case for Marley Lion and fingerprint matches for the three men who killed Jacqueline according to reports from the cities respective news stations.
Trayvon Martin was not doing anything other than leaving a store with some snacks. As images were framed of Martin by media and correspondents, this is the image that still to this day stuck with me:
And this is what Marley Lion looked like, this is what Jacqueline Gardner looked like. This is what many people in Chicago see with dead bodies from gun violence. So when I then ask myself what's the difference? There isn't one, reality check: we don't respect life. We say live as you see fit, however we as a society try to demonize races, creeds, and religions that we feel are inferior to our own. Real self-defense is an excuse to take life in any instance. There are many options to defense out there, yet we result to the ultimate resolver. We then validate violent, life taking actions by framing the aggressors as if you were given no other choice. We even have laws in place that set the precedent to make it excusable to take life. Cause we should be respecting the lives of Marley Lion, Jacqueline Gardener, Trayvon Martin, The Children of Sandy Hook, The people of Aurora, Virginia Tech, Columbine, and the list goes on. As we lay them to rest, the nation moves forward, but we don't check ourselves. We accept the outcomes, but we never ask the question: What can we do so this doesn't happen again? So that their aren't anymore Trayvon Martin's, Marley Lion's, and Jacqueline Gardner's of the world. I'll ask it, what are we going to do about Guns? We don't want to talk about that though. What hell happen to reality checks? Well it's pretty simple: we fear a better world. Please follow me on Twitter and like us on Facebook at Our Neighborhood Times
I want to first start by saying I love Tunnel Vision. Great tune with amazing music and lyrics. Not to mention two of my favorite producers of all time in Timbaland and Pharrell respectively. It's not the songs themselves I am worried about as much as it is the visuals. "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke has an unrated video on YouTube: here it is. Again it's unrated so be warned:
What's the eye catcher? Well obviously these ladies are nude so that's the draw. As far as Blurred Lines go, there isn't anything distorted at all here. Now yes I know people will say it's "art" however the lyrics "I know you want it" and "Talkin bout getting blasted, must want to get at me" I don't see the artistic view point here. Now here is Tunnel Vision by Justin Timberlake same warning:
Again the video has the same visuals. It's a little more elegant in the ladies are dancing not as playfully I guess. Also Justin isn't shot at the same time or in the same room. However these women are naked as artistic value right? Define the value? If the answer is: It just is. I would have to say it is lacking artistic value. Justin croons "You give me that Tunnel Vision" yet you see multiple images of different naked women, so maybe they all give him that Tunnel Vision? I don't know.
Why do I pose the question of what happen to these two? Well music is all about trends. "The Sound of now" in this case the "visual of now" it sets a precedent. That precedent in turn impacts our social culture. Naked Women and Clothed Men. That's my issue. Visually it sets women again as a product or eye candy. "Admiring the female form" is still possible without these types of visuals. Objectifying probably about as simple as it can get. Robin Thicke's video at times seems uncomfortable, people will say "These girls wanted to feel sexy or be sexy." And that may be true, but stripping them down to nothing around a bunch of males who apparently aren't willing to do the same wouldn't be in my opinion the best approach. What is the obsession with women being naked? Watch Porn, no really watch porn. You want to see naked people: watch porn. That's what shouldn't be weird. Because this is weird. The men wear clothes the girls prance around or dance like toys or something. Yes, I get it is a personal choice to do what these women did. I also understand that money plays a factor. However people aren't going to go look at the most recent interview of Timberlake and Thicke's direction of the videos. According to Pitchfork.com JT's video was banned a whole day. I can see a little artistry in JT's but not by much. Pitchfork referred to the women as "props" and there lies the problem. We end up talking about women as beautiful creatures and so forth. Let's start with talking to them with respect and being beautiful isn't the only thing in the world. What the hell happen to JT and RT? (sounds like two characters from a Star Wars Movie) Not upholding a real standard to equality in my opinion. Leave comments, follow me on Twitter and like Our Neighborhood Times on Facebook
A video today came out of Yasiin Bey formerly known as Mos Def. The video shows how Guantanamo detainees are force fed. It's pretty graphic and seriously if you cringe easily, be prepared. Why are they being force fed? 44 of them are on a hunger strike. I also found this video on Current TV's The Young Turks where Cenk Uygur interviews former chief prosecutor at Gitmo. (Shown Below).
Back to Mos Def. His bravery to show what our government is doing to people in our name. These people haven't been charged in the cases of detainees on this strike but they won't be set free either. What the hell happen to Mos Def? He changed his named and basically showed us something all Americans need to see. Make sure you follow me on Twitter and to like Our Neighborhood Times on Facebook.
