I’m trying to figure out if it’s the fact that a lot of American journalists are banned from getting on the ground coverage of the protests following Iran’s obviously rigged elections, or if it’s just a smug praise gesture towards our new media that has turned a devastating injustice into a promotion for twitter, facebook and youtube. How much do people even know about Mir Hussein Moussavi anyway?
As much as I love the power of the people via citizen journalism…I’m just curious…what’s the bigger story? The fact that Ahmadinejad is a tyrant (that’s not news to anybody); the largest Iranian protest in 30 years; or the fact that new media is changing the shape of news in countries where free speech is not encouraged? I really think it’s the latter. Look at me, I’m a blogger blogging about this communication. And it does excite me to know that I can see videos from a peaceful protest in Tehran that are happening right now. And if it weren’t for youtube, this news may not have had the chance to make it out of Iran.
Police attack peaceful student protesters. Tehran, June 14, 2009
Well, I am a journalist. Smug, perhaps. New era. New media. New age.
Please don’t get me wrong, some trends are cute and rockable. Others are hideous. And some, no matter how high or low on the fly scale, are so ubiquitous, they make me want to vomit. Case in point…
These jeans:
Ironically enough, I don’t mind this over-ripped style on white jeans, which was introduced in Spring 08.
These shoes:
They’re not cute. Just stop.
These shades:
Just put them away. You’re not cool because you wear these!
…had to get that out. A-hem! Now in other news…
I’ve recently been going through hours upon hours upon hours of footage from a documentary I began back in 2005. I took a two-year hiatus from this project (during which time I launched a youth film workshop center ((Lesedi)) and directed/produced a documentary film on survivors of domestic violence ((Strength of a Woman)), among other things) and now, I’m back! This film is my baby. I’m reluctant to go into too much detail about the project at this time, but I will give you a hint: it’s got many facets….
Drama. Lemme try to break it down. So, basically, this is my understanding of what happened…
Republicans tried to Dee-bo the New York State Senate on Monday. This billionaire baller, ya boy Tom Golisano gathered his Republican crew – cuz see, the Democrat crew was ownin’ the block, right? They was holdin’ it down, but you know the Republican crew, they been runnin’ the block like since my Daddy was little, nah mean? So you know, Tom G was like, bet – how ’bout I pay some o’ dem Democrat boys, you know, get some Jacob for dey wifeys and shyt – some Gucci, an’ on Monday, when we open up da block get them to be like ‘yo- peace out Dems, we reppin’ Republican now’. Blahw! Yeah son! Yeah!
Right? So, they got dey boys Hiram Monserrate from Q-boro an’ wassa name? umm…Espada. Yeah Pedro Espada from da Boogie down. The Republican crew and ya boy Tom G sweet talked them two from the Democrat crew to be reppin’ Republican now. So they shocked the shyt outta eeybody on da block cuz the Democrats thought dey was still runnin’ shyt. Yeah, they boy Malcolm Smith was like the king pen. But Dean Skelos was like ‘nah, kiss my pinky ring, biatch. i’m runnin’ this shyt’. Riiiight. Cuz see now the Republican crew think they outnumber the Democrat crew. But they don’t know how hot dis block is. Cuz yo, eeybody been sick of how the Republican crew be runnin’ shyt. Folks was like, nah. Ya’ll some greedy, backward @ss muh fukkas. Your day is done. Done!
The people really run da block. They say who’s the kingpen and the people voted for the Democrat crew. Fair and square. They was like, ‘yo
it’s time for some change up in Albany. Obama and shyt. It’s a new day, nah mean?!’
So they took the shyt to da courts. You know, you gotta listen to ya elders, nah mean? And the courts was like – nah, ya’ll can’t do business on da block. The Republican crew is tryina carry on like it’s just another day on the block, but the Democrat crew is like eff that shyt man – this is OUR block! Recognize that shyt, son!
……….or something like that. And apparently Smith may no longer lead the Democrat crew. Some other drama. Oh, and Hiram? He sliced his girl in the face wit glass. Yeah. Too much.
And the saga continues…
Oh snap! and someone just broke into Espada’s crib!
Meanwhile, if you live on this block, or care about this block, then you should call your Democratic Senator and tell them:
“we voted for a Democratic Majority in November and we will not accept this hijacking of democracy. We will continue to support you and the Democratic Majority we elected.”
Long Island:
Senator Brian Foley: 518.455.2303
Senator Craig Johnson: 518.455.2622
New York City:
Senator Eric Adams: 518.455.2431
Senator Joesph Addabbo: 518.455.2322
Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr.: 518.455.2511
Senator Martin Dilan: 518.455.2177
Senator Thomas Duane: 518.455.2451
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson: 518.455.2061
Senator Shirley Huntley: 518.455.3531
Senator Jeffrey Klein: 518.455.3595
Senator Liz Krueger: 518.455.2297
Senator Carl Kruger: 518.455.2460
Senator Velmanette Montgomery: 518.455.3451
Senator George Onorato: 518.455.3486
Senator Kevin Parker: 518.455.2580
Senator Bill Perkins: 518.455.2441
Senator John Sampson: 518.455.2788
Senator Diane Savino: 518.455.2437
Senator Eric Schneiderman: 518.455.2041
Senator Jose Serrano: 518.455.2795
Senator Daniel Squandron: 518.455.2625
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky: 518.455.3461
Westchester:
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer: 518.455.2031
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins: 518.455.2585
Capital District:
Senator Neil Breslin: 518.455.2225
Central New York:
Senator Darrel Aubertine: 518.455.2761
Senator David Valesky: 518.455.2838
Western New York:
Senator William Stachowski: 518.455.2426
Senator Antoine Thompson: 518.455.3371
