We love this country why don't you?

By Matthew Bright

It's 2017 and we are a part of a social climate that claims black and brown people do not know what it means to fight for their freedom. 

When you're exercising a freedom, then to be told you're not doing it right is like being an actor your whole life then your President of the USA, your bound to fuck shit up. When you're told to respect the flag first before your freedom regularly, As a barometer for what makes you more American. 

It turns respect into a term for false nationalism and repugnant patriotism. It comes before being a truly free American of any political class or social standing in our country. It makes me ask, we love this country but why don't you? 

We're like a broken car with a noise and know what the problem is, but we're going to just ride it until the engine blows cause it still gets me to the noon kickoff on Sunday. 

In this country we continue to keep telling black and brown communities they don't understand what it means to fight for freedom. When the very soldiers you speak of are also black and brown as well as white. When the lineage of black and brown American citizens is fighting for FREEDOM from actual slavery. 

You're just trying to deal with what you equate to as annoyance, which is incredibly misinformed and utterly out of touch. 

People from the Civil Rights era still exist to this day and some serve in Congress and find the state of our nation in dire circumstances. While people forget the infamous quote "Segregation now, Segregation forever." There are people alive who remember this. Racism is not a distant memory, it just has a mortality rate of a sea turtle, like 400 sea turtles. 

History shows us that the enslaved communities of America learned how to fight for freedom and up to this point those strategies have worked and continue to make headway. We want more strides and with that desire comes resistance (of the supremacist ilk.) 

I don't want to get into detail (again), about the black and brown people being shot unarmed by law enforcement (again). The predatory practices of law enforcement giving more fines and tickets to people that are black and brown (see Ferguson Missouri findings of justice department case and many others like it) again. 

I shouldn't have to. There's no counterpoint needed. If you bring up that white people die by police too, then let's address that as well. No one is trying to exclude white people. We can't. They're everywhere. They literally make up the majority of the population. No one should be trying to win the "Who gets killed by police more" award. 

To demand that they stand for the flag, to have a president that also demands it, is by definition, fascist. 

Somehow this Millionaire entertainer reality show star President gets the country but millionaire athletes whom engage in political activism don't. 

I'm just saying if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it's probably lacking self awareness that it's a duck. (Duck means racist.)

Overhauling a law enforcement system would benefit us all, right now it's costing, at a much higher rate, black and brown citizens of this country. It's why we're the loudest about the systemic problems. This is why we chose to be on the frontline of a very real issue. I would like to digress and take a second to address this buzz phrase: "perceived oppression." What the hell is that? We're not making up oppressors to make whiteness the villain for our demise. That's in their playbook, remember Emmett Till's accuser came forth and said she made it up. Perceived Oppression is your definition, what is used by those who don't even understand struggle let alone experienced it. Even then, quick to believe the bullshit. The more things change, the more things stay the same. Digression over. 

Implying we don't love this country because of silent non-violent protests but in the same breath make an argument for Nazis and White supremacists "freedom of speech" and protecting their rights. Who wouldn't wave a USA Flag if their lives depended upon it. The Leagues with majority people of color decide to (finally) take a stand (oh wait, not you Ray Lewis. You can have several seats.) against the very things that plague the communities they came from and give back are told "stick to sports." Treating them less than human it's what you're use to doing. 

NASCAR issued a statement they assumed would excite their fan base, to be honest it probably did, but when the Golden Boy of NASCAR and super fan of Ricky Bobby, Dale Earnhardt spoke out against this very statement in a tweet, I'm sure he'll be untouched. NASCAR will make excuses for him, his fans will say "that's how you protest." 

We will all be screaming after nothing happens to him and he is applauded for his bravery: 

ITS BECAUSE HE'S WHITE. THAT'S A WHITE THING. 

Amongst all this the reason for Kaeptain America's protest is being lost, black and brown people's plights are being washed up in the media storm of what is more important, a piece of cloth or an entire group of citizens protesting flagrant injustice, tonight on CNN. That conversation is nothing new to us, it's status quo. It's exhausting, but we fight on. 

Let's not forget the "why" they are kneeling and boycotting. We love this country, it's ideals, and we want to see them actualized. We really do love this country. A lot of us are worried that people in opposition of racial equality, dealing with police brutality, and killings of unarmed citizens do not have any love for our country, what are democracy strives to stand for, but also that they don't love themselves. 

My hope one day is you find love for your fellow citizens that make your country, that made your country, before love for your country. 

Talk it Out (Opinion)

by Matthew Bright

After all the rhetoric and all the outrage from Charlottesville simmers a bit, what do we do? What can we can we do? Activists whom feel words from the sympathetic are not enough. That action needs to taken by donating to causes and organizations. That is a valid point. They put themselves in that position for me, for us really, to progress this country in the right direction. So that type of direct action has the quickest impact. The question I pose is: Why is it bad to just be a concerned citizen and speak up passionately about oppression to people in your proximity?

What's wrong with openly talking to people in your proximity, known or unknown if they are willing to have a discussion for progress and change? I'm not talking about a debate about why you believe something isn't true or not. Facts are facts, they don't change because you don't like them.

You can deny racism, sexism, and bigotry all you want, but they exist. In my discussion with you I hope you become aware, you begin to point it out, and that it changes your perspective to something more inclusive, curious, and more encompassing.

This isn't about our public officials, this piece is about us. Those of us who stay silent, who know they don't believe in the things that happened in Charlottesville but will let someone defend the position of White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis, and The KKK without contention to keep things civil. Explain that away as "it's their perspective."

I also don't mean silent by not donating to groups. Donating to progressive groups that promote equality for all is part of the solution and surely doesn't hurt, but Donald Sterling gave too, its anecdotal but many people think donating is enough. Honestly it's not. It's part of the solution but it's just not enough.

We condemn people who speak the loudest about progressive topics and say talking isn't enough. That words aren't enough. We can not be silent. In our physical proximity challenge hatred, defend the peace, and protect each other from verbal attacks.

What I mean by being silent: When you do not check that relative on their belief that both sides are assholes, that can not happen. We can not hear blood and soil without using our freedom of speech to shout it down. We can't lose our way in right and wrong under the guise of ideology, philosophy, and fair debate with those who are intolerant.

I'm asking to challenge ideas not incite violence. Ideas that slow progress or cultivate a breeding ground for hate and fascism. Ideas that reinforce a system to suppress women and people of color must be challenged and destroyed. Online, in your home, challenge the culture around you to make it safer for your friends and loved ones and so that micro-aggressions decrease, that it's safer for our counterparts.

To defeat things like this it'll take more than donations and petitions. It'll take all of us affecting people in our proximity with awkward, most times, difficult conversations.

Yes it's exhausting, and with that in mind take time to energize yourself with nights out with friends, shows, movies, books, whatever keeps you sane.Whatever it is that gives you hope that what you're speaking out against will change. Keep fighting, keep speaking up.

Words Matter? Let's prove it.

Justine & Jason: Color Coordination

by Matthew Bright


I want to start by saying there's so many layers to this Justine Damond shooting. The politicized nature of it, the real issues surrounding it, and how this perfect shit storm dispels things for some and frustrates others. There's another story on my mind as well that happened in Indianapolis about another shooting. First Justine Damond. My thoughts go out to her family.

Justine Damond is the most recent police shooting (Chicago Tribune), there's a lot to go over:

A woman, a white woman was shot by a police officer, in most people's minds that officer will only get the distinction of being black. He was Somali and that's okay just like the victim being white is okay. Racism is a reality. Unfortunately because such a tragedy, the characterization of it ,and these narratives we prescribe It's problematic but you knew that already if you're reading this, I think.

She was Justine Damond and the officer's name is Mohamed Noor. However she'll be known forever as the Australian White Lady (In some cases just a white lady, cause Merica.) that was killed by a black cop for some #AllLivesMatter Pion to use as a way to "intelligently" have a discussion about race. Digressing...

There's no video of the encounter because Police officers did not have their body cams on. No video evidence and with what is known so far about the latest police killing one lawyer claims Justine Damond was "the most innocent victim."

THE. MOST. INNOCENT. Not even seeing the video, this ordeal could of went down like those fights that Peter Griffin had with The Giant Chicken, or the fight Peter Griffin had with Homer Simpson, or the time Peter shot Lois by accident.

First thing, Peter Griffin has a history of violence that gets laughed at or not seen as a big deal which is also not surprising because well, he's a cartoon and seeing white guys injure people on camera isn't new.

Second, reports say that Officer Noor did shoot her by accident. He was startled by something and he ended up shooting her. He's a police officer and I've seen Walter Scott have a weapon planted on his dead body after being shot in the back, so I don't know how much I'd trust that. How's that song go? Something about no justice no peace, I think that's the chorus or the coup...it might be both. It's important either way. Digressing...

Political narratives by some were drawn immediately cause what else are human lives used for in a 24 hour news cycle amirite?
"Where's #BlackLivesMatter on this shooting?"
"Why aren't they condemning this shooting?"
"Where's Jesse Jackson?"
 (Maybe this last question is early generation 24 hour news cycle shit when code words like "thug"worked.)

As far as the official Minnesota chapter of #BlackLivesMatter is concerned; it's present, in support, and having mixed emotions. (Mic.com)

Imagine talking to your neighbor for the first time about the ills of public education and they've been a teacher in the public school system for 20 years. They remind you they've had this conversation with you before at dinner, in your own home, and all you had to say then was: "really, what a shame." The teacher of 20 years listens anyway so that your onboard and maybe together you can change the way at least your public school functions, but that teacher rolls her eyes when your back is turned. That's the Minnesota chapter.


It's odd as always that Blue and All lives matter groups proclaiming equality are nowhere to be found. All lives matter doesn't even have a representative or website for comment on this killing. The group only exist in ideology and hashtag only. Mostly like Jesus, without a book written by his homies.

The Blue Lives Matter site (Justine Damond Thread), well....reading through some of the posts about other shootings and then reading about this one, the tone is much different than the others and the comments, oh man, the comments. The shooting becomes an afterthought at one point. It's YouTube comment section PD.

I have nothing but empathy for this killing as I do for the ones caught on video. This is a travesty and an absolute failure to the citizens in Minnesota and another chapter in the ongoing saga of much needed police reform. Still...

She is THE. MOST. INNOCENT?

What is so frustrating is the public acknowledges her humanity because she fits the stereotypical description of innocent, hopeful, and happy. Her look and smile is familiar to you, that you're thinking now that maybe, just maybe it could be me. How much can a movement count on someone if they only see flagrant injustice when it meets the necessary pigment requirements? How can anyone count on that? Stop skipping the important parts of the book just because they're words you don't understand like "#BlackLivesMatter" or "I can't breathe."

Now I want to talk a little bit about another story and the narrative and the depiction of one Jason Brown by local Indianapolis media and national media (The New York Times) not by just the reporting of Fox 59 but The witnesses and the police department.
“I don’t think he had any idea what he was getting into and didn’t have a chance to defend himself.  It was a cold blooded murder. It’s a shame that it happened,” said Cocke. Here's Jason Brown's Photo:

Picture chosen for actual killer of cops and shitty piercings, Jason Brown
Credit FOX 59 Indianapolis

The above picture the media outlet used that was provided by the family was released with a report of Jason Brown shooting and killing a Police officer after he helped them out of a car wreck. This is the level of humanity given to a white killer through visuals. The first released photos of Trayvon, Michael Brown, and others you didn't even know they had teeth.

Other examples like the article about marijuana using Moms can be a good parent and Philando Castille is demonized for marijuana use around his child and used as reason to why he couldn't even be trusted during a traffic stop. His blackness received aggression and whiteness gets you benefit of the doubt, respect for your life after you have taken one even when it's people of high regard, and overall humanity.

The New York Times doesn't even make mention of a white male shooting a police officer in the headline. However "White Cop shoots" or "Black man shoots" in a google search you'll get plenty of results from large news organizations but if you directly search "Jason Brown Indiana" it's the FOURTH result!

A white male that shot a police officer 14 times in America is a fourth search result on google, and no, the other hits are not ad hits either.

I'm illustrating something here for you, when you're white being the victim is justified and being the assailant is of little consequence no matter if you have little evidence or overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

In the case of Justine Damond, The same lawyer that defended Philando Castille in the same state was the one that said Justine Damond was the most innocent. He goes on further to say so was Mr. Castille. It was too late by then and it was plastered on every medium. What makes her the most innocent? The language we use to explain this is drastically different from the descriptions of other victims.

More innocent than these people doing normal everyday things that didn't even call the cops. The cops came to them? The Memes below show what was reported, what the victims said in their last moments, or what the officer said. Below is the
"Most Innocent Victim." Scroll through these and see why it's easy to understand the characterization of one and the other.

A 12 yr. old boy in a park alone with a toy gun. Shot two seconds within police arriving on the scene. The quote from the shooting officer. #TamirRice




 A 22 year old man in Wal-Mart killed for holding an air soft rifle, a product the store carries, that he was leaning on at the time. The 911 call description: #JohnCrawford



A Minnesota resident reaching for his ID after notifying the officer of his permit to carry. A quote from the defense lawyer. #PhilandoCastille



Chicago woman asked to step out of her car was then arrested and later committed suicide according to reports. This is the quote from #SandraBland.



You can visit https://www.blacklivesmatter.com and see for yourself what type of organization they are, what they stand for, and how an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. #LetsMaash

That could of been me

I like to laugh. I typically write truth and some comic relief in my observation of whatever story or topic I choose to comment on or analyze to make it easier to swallow. There's just opinion today.

The verdict of Philando Castille was reported. No charges could be made.

I thought one thing, genuinely and whole heartedly. I don't have this inflated sense of importance. I'm merely a blogger, an amateur content creator trying to find an avenue, and an audience that will appreciate my views and engage in conversation that creates a strong culture of critical thinkers. It is my hope. I still had this thought today after that verdict came down.

That could of been me.

And they all probably thought the same. Remember the meme that came out about the talk black families have to have with their children about how to conduct themselves with police.

That was before Tamir Rice. Then black children were man handled at a pool party alongside more police shootings of more black people. Walter Scott, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, and the scores of people who all had that same thought.

That could of been me.

In my opinion this oppressive system: does the wrong, tells the story, and turns dead black people into political narratives.

I'm tired of hearing what not to do to not get killed. Only to see those very instructions fail. Watching broad brushes paint this mosaic of a community they've never seen. They'll continue to look at their artwork and really appreciate the realism.
Through at that static noise I see it written on the walls of society.

That could of been me.

I recall a night when it was two of my friends (who are white) and myself after leaving a bar I was DJ'ing in Cedar Lake, IN. At 2:00am during the ride back we were pulled over. Yes, the driver had a few drinks. I was in he backseat nervous, as all police officer interaction makes me nervous. He asked for our I.D.'s He asks if we had been drinking, he replied that yes he had been drinking. My other friend in the passenger seat complied.
I told him I had not been drinking that night, I was DJ'ing. The driver of the vehicle continues to say he has a firearm in the glove compartment. Opens the glove compartment where it is located and gives the police officer his registration. I was in disbelief. I was angry. I also was not surprised. I know now things don't end that way if I'm the driver. Philando Castille showed me what doing everything you're told to do as a black person. If I were to be compliant in the same position my friend was in, I'm likely not to live. No benefit of the doubt is likely. I'm not safe.

That could of been me.

We're corralled by the acceptable martyrs in Martin Luther King Jr. And Malcolm X. The anger and outrage isn't acknowledged and we're massaged into docility.
Until more bullets land and more videos are strategically released. Now under this administration the feeling is there's no one fighting for you. The realization of this catastrophic supremacist cocktail even now more than ever I think....

That could of been me.


Maybe it'll be different tomorrow but as I finish this post, today. It just feels like a matter of time. Maybe it's just fear today, but today it feels all to possible.

That could of been me.

Aaron Nealson, a blue life

By Matthew Bright

Aaron Nealson, a blue life, was born March 3rd, 1991 to the parents of Ford Glimmerman and Shelby Betty in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. 

Aaron was born among his family of blue lives that understood what he would go through and they tried to prepare him for the world. 

Elementary school began a tumultuous journey through blue life. He had become accustomed to the taunts of "pig" and "oink oink" til the fifth grade.

When Aaron reached high school he knew it'd be hard making the team in a non-blue life high school in Falcon Heights. Only one blue life in its history has made the team. As a Blue life, he dealt with multiple struggles from starting a bank account to 

Purchasing a home or even getting a car. He didn't want to live a stereotypical blue life experience so he applied to Harvard, skipping The Academy.

He spent most of his time studying on becoming a lawyer but was met with constant criticism and prejudice. Saying one student once said: "Get a badge loser!" Also another replied with: "Blue lives, always playing the victim."

Aaron said when he was a kid he reminded lots of students and teachers that his blueness mattered. That it was what he came from and what made him. 

Aaron said quote: "People sometimes are like Demons and just don't know how dangerous they look to blue lives." 

We spoke with Rebecca who called Aaron a friend, and a sympathizer to Blue life.

She said: "We agreed on a lot of things but it was just different. We went to a party once and he just kept trying to tell people how he was in constant danger. All I could think was you were born that way, no one blames you for it. Maybe he didn't have a father, or drug use was a factor. Rebecca added: " I asked him if all lives mattered."

He said: "My blue Life has to matter first." She admired that about him.

His parents pressured him as he got older. They knew life would be much harder for him as a blue life, everyone viewed him as dangerous so he found himself playing basketball more often and dancing a lot to make other lives more comfortable with his existence. 

Aaron to this day isn't sure if the Blue Life lawyer with Bachelors Degree will be treated like everyone else.

Only time will tell.

Trumps Takeaway: I love Wall

The Orange, The King, and The Weapons Deal
by Matthew Bright

Trump travelled across the world and landed in cognitive dissonance

He met with Saudi Arabian King to open an anti-extremist center.

In Saudi Arabia. That's right, people directly responsible for most of Americas past and current turmoil opened a center about anti-extremism. 

A center to combat extremist ideology. They have churches already. They have scientific journals about it. Only two megalomaniacs would think opening one building in a country suppressing women harder than republicans would do this. Or forty I don't know. 

Yet here we are, old dudes proclaiming to fight the idea of terror. Like kids playing in a backyard taking on the spaceships in the sky right before lunch. 

They put all their hands on that mind melding orb, or globe. Whatever, this is only phase one of Project Desert Cheeto. 

Saudi Press Agency

After that incredibly dark and ominous photo you know they waited for the return of The Dark One. He just stood around aimlessly like: You promised us we'd see him. I came all the way from D.C. I literally dragged  Melania here, it was great. She was in the 24k bathroom, the best bathroom, hiding behind Ivanka who looked great. You told me to just touch this light bulb and he'd show. Just believe a little harder next time Donny. 

He also went to Israel to become the first sitting President to visit the Western Wall. To anyone that's not watching the 700 club 24/7 that headline reads: First sitting President to admire Wall. He loves wall. Great, America Elected the Orange version of Brick Tamblin. 

Government Cheese ( It's what I call #45) didn't just come to resurrect the Bringer of Death, he came with a tank full of cash to give to the Saudi Arabian King for...tanks. 110 billion dollars for arms on the same day you open a center against extremism. 

If you missed the irony, well the air in the land of cognitive dissonance is pretty thick.

Get out while you still can.