I'd like to thank the fabulous Ms. Osborne at Truthfully, Mo for this hilarious video
This guy cracks me up!!! But what he says about self esteem is right on point. Don't let someone else control how you feel about you.
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Lusting for Love
I was reading a very interesting article the other day, about Dr. Cornel West. He is certainly a personal hero, as well as an inspiration. As the article goes on to show, Dr. West is one of the most charismatic and intellectually gifted people of our time.
It was a delightful read, which I would recommend each of you check out, when you have some free time.
The Supreme Love and Revolutionary Funk of Dr. Cornel West, Philospher of the Blues (I'm seriously geeking off this title, by the way....lol)
My purpose for writing this is not only to inform you about some fantastic reading material, but also because this article got me to thinking on multiple levels. One of the more surprising thoughts was inspired by this section:
This section not only provided insight into the personal bearings of a remarkable man, but it also made me wonder. Is it the curse of the male to make mistakes in relationships? I mean here is this highly educated, deep thinking Princeton professor, no less awry in the love department than I am. Which forces me to believe that there must be some greater cause. It has been documented throughout history, the triumphs and tragedies of great men, when it comes to love. It was seen in biblical days, from the very beginning with Adam to the tales of King David. Mighty rulers such as Julius Caesar and Henry VIII have fallen victim. Sports greats such as Joe Dimaggio and Wilt Chamberlain epitomize the role of hopeless playboy/hapless romantic. Great novelists, inventors, athletes, politicians, corporate executives, unknown blog writers (that's me...lol), and even intellectuals with world renown such as Cornel West, have all run into complications in the area of romance. It seems that men have been struggling with love and lust since the dawn of time. In fact, perhaps the only man to never struggle was Jesus Christ, and historians continuously try to either denounce his existence, or couple him with Mary Magdalene. That in itself speaks volumes.
So, how do we fix this?
Frankly, if I had the answer, I would have not only corrected it long ago in myself, but would have been telling other men the secret. There is a sexual nature within men, not merely natural but also acquired. From the moment we are old enough to desire, men are taught to aggressively seek those things that we desire. We are taught to nurture only after we are taught to conquer. The hunter mentality transfers over into everything that we do. Lust is still glorified in men while being ridiculed in women.
How many times have I heard the statement "He's just being a man", and been forced to scratch my head, because it was a woman saying it? Sadly, far too many. Even women embrace the fact that there's supposed to be this battle between lust and love within a man. But the problem is that to love is a testament of being vulnerable. And men are taught to challenge their vulnerability from about the same time they learn to pee standing up.
Lust, on the other hand, is instinctual. It is embedded in us from the moment we recognize we have a penis. I have to pause and laugh, thinking of my two year old son, who has already learned of his own masculinity. Diaper changing sessions just are diaper chasing sessions without asking him "could you please stop grabbing that?!" And I realize that even at his young age, their seems to be an understanding in males. I recall him watching a music video, featuring Nicki Minaj. And in one scene, while Ms. Minaj was crawling on her knees, large breasts partially visible through her V-neck top, my son stared and pointed. "Oooooooh!! That's pwetty!!"
I laughed, shook my head, hoping that maybe he meant her lime green wig, but my maleness makes me doubt that. And oddly, I realize there was also this sense of pride. While I do not want my son to objectify women, I do want him to appreciate their beauty. Somehow, as we grow older and wiser, we are supposed to learn the difference.
Most people will not argue with me when I say that being in love is complicated. There's this constant give and take that requires a responsibility that we sometimes fail to apply. But interestingly enough, lust is complicated too. Especially when it is so often applied to those who we do not love. Because it is a matter of instinct, present in women but perhaps stronger in men, we forget that there is a responsibility there as well. They always say be careful who you love. I say they should add those who we lust after as well.
Will men forever be romantic misfits, dangling and adrift as Dr. West so eloquently put it? Perhaps. But just like him, I hope someone's praying for me as well.
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
It was a delightful read, which I would recommend each of you check out, when you have some free time.
The Supreme Love and Revolutionary Funk of Dr. Cornel West, Philospher of the Blues (I'm seriously geeking off this title, by the way....lol)
My purpose for writing this is not only to inform you about some fantastic reading material, but also because this article got me to thinking on multiple levels. One of the more surprising thoughts was inspired by this section:
West has a reputation as a ladies’ man, but it’s hard to believe—how romantic can it be to crawl into bed with your lover and a copy of Georg Lukacs’ 1923 History and Class Consciousness, one of the many texts West rereads every year? Married three times, with a 31-year-old son, Clifton, by his first wife, and separated from the mother of his eight-year-old daughter, Zeytun, West is cagey about his current romantic condition. “I’m just dangling and adrift, in a certain sense. I’m hoping somebody’s praying for me.” In his voiceover commentary for the DVD box set of The Matrix trilogy—a brilliantly free-form conversation with spirituality writer Ken Wilber about the movies’ philosophical roots, from Plato to Schopenhauer to William James to West’s own writing—West strikes an oddly mournful note when Neo and the love interest, Trinity, get intimate. “Love itself is a certain kind of death,” he muses. “That deep sense of lack and loss are part of the structure of desire.”
This section not only provided insight into the personal bearings of a remarkable man, but it also made me wonder. Is it the curse of the male to make mistakes in relationships? I mean here is this highly educated, deep thinking Princeton professor, no less awry in the love department than I am. Which forces me to believe that there must be some greater cause. It has been documented throughout history, the triumphs and tragedies of great men, when it comes to love. It was seen in biblical days, from the very beginning with Adam to the tales of King David. Mighty rulers such as Julius Caesar and Henry VIII have fallen victim. Sports greats such as Joe Dimaggio and Wilt Chamberlain epitomize the role of hopeless playboy/hapless romantic. Great novelists, inventors, athletes, politicians, corporate executives, unknown blog writers (that's me...lol), and even intellectuals with world renown such as Cornel West, have all run into complications in the area of romance. It seems that men have been struggling with love and lust since the dawn of time. In fact, perhaps the only man to never struggle was Jesus Christ, and historians continuously try to either denounce his existence, or couple him with Mary Magdalene. That in itself speaks volumes.
So, how do we fix this?
Frankly, if I had the answer, I would have not only corrected it long ago in myself, but would have been telling other men the secret. There is a sexual nature within men, not merely natural but also acquired. From the moment we are old enough to desire, men are taught to aggressively seek those things that we desire. We are taught to nurture only after we are taught to conquer. The hunter mentality transfers over into everything that we do. Lust is still glorified in men while being ridiculed in women.
How many times have I heard the statement "He's just being a man", and been forced to scratch my head, because it was a woman saying it? Sadly, far too many. Even women embrace the fact that there's supposed to be this battle between lust and love within a man. But the problem is that to love is a testament of being vulnerable. And men are taught to challenge their vulnerability from about the same time they learn to pee standing up.
Lust, on the other hand, is instinctual. It is embedded in us from the moment we recognize we have a penis. I have to pause and laugh, thinking of my two year old son, who has already learned of his own masculinity. Diaper changing sessions just are diaper chasing sessions without asking him "could you please stop grabbing that?!" And I realize that even at his young age, their seems to be an understanding in males. I recall him watching a music video, featuring Nicki Minaj. And in one scene, while Ms. Minaj was crawling on her knees, large breasts partially visible through her V-neck top, my son stared and pointed. "Oooooooh!! That's pwetty!!"
I laughed, shook my head, hoping that maybe he meant her lime green wig, but my maleness makes me doubt that. And oddly, I realize there was also this sense of pride. While I do not want my son to objectify women, I do want him to appreciate their beauty. Somehow, as we grow older and wiser, we are supposed to learn the difference.
Most people will not argue with me when I say that being in love is complicated. There's this constant give and take that requires a responsibility that we sometimes fail to apply. But interestingly enough, lust is complicated too. Especially when it is so often applied to those who we do not love. Because it is a matter of instinct, present in women but perhaps stronger in men, we forget that there is a responsibility there as well. They always say be careful who you love. I say they should add those who we lust after as well.
Will men forever be romantic misfits, dangling and adrift as Dr. West so eloquently put it? Perhaps. But just like him, I hope someone's praying for me as well.
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
Monday, January 17, 2011
Trying to Get to the Mountaintop
Today, around the nation, most of us are recognizing the Federal holiday observing the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To some, this means much. To others, it means little. But even those unmoved by this remarkable man would be naive without acknowledging the fact that Dr. King will always be one of those figures throughout history who made amazing impacts in the lives of others.
Dr. King was a celebrated pastor, an excellent orator, a determined scholar, a social reformer, an activist for the wronged, a steward for the poor, a confidant for those seeking counsel, negotiator to those tired of injustice, and an organizer for those determined to stand up for what they believed was right. He was not a perfect man by any means, and his naysayers like to point out negative characteristics of the man rather than focus on the example that his life became.
Few people dedicate the time, effort, or energy to causes that they believe in with the same fervor and selflessness shown by Dr. King. Few people dare to face the criticisms and daily threats that he endured. Few people are willing to, in a sense, become a martyr for what you believe in, in order for that dream to live on.
But Dr. King was more than simply some martyr. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by Black people who actually marched with Dr. King, who endured the same tortures that are written in the history books I read as a child, and who selflessly fought so that their shared dream could be a reality for my generation and those to follow after. To these people, Dr. King was the catalyst that the movement needed. He was intelligent, well spoken, charismatic, and had the backing of some of the nation's most powerful Black organizations. More importantly, he was entirely committed to the cause.
I remember when I was younger, proud of the vigor with which children my age, who couldn't really begin to understand the magnitude of the struggles that Dr. King and others endured, were trying to learn more about the man, the times, and his legacy.
I also think that while it is very important to commemorate his life, I feel that in celebrating that life, we must look at his death. It saddens me that a man who stood for nonviolence was gunned down in such a violent manner. It angers me that we may never know the real story of what happened that day. It motivates me that, in the wake of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech we have seen the election of a Black president. But it confuses me when some people immediately assume that the dream has been envisioned. We still have a long way to go in an America that still has people persecuted because of race, gender, creed, beliefs, etc. I hope as we celebrate the legacy of a remarkable man, we realize how far we've come while understanding how far we have to go.
While the speech that I mentioned earlier is by far Dr. King's most famous, I am more inclined to include the following one. To me, it fully embodies not only who he was, but explains what motivated him, and why he was willing to die for the cause.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. --- I've Been to the Mountaintop
I hope to live to see the day that, not only this great nation but, every nation can witness this promised land Dr. King speaks of. Continue to be a service to others, therefore being a service to yourself. Dr. King's memory continues to live on because he stood for something far greater than himself. He was a man who believed that no one should suffer injustice, that no one should endure hate, and that one day we all could live together, in harmony, peace, and love. We must continue to live towards achieving these things.
Remember the Dream
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
Rare Groove, Jan. 16-17, 2011
Unfortunately, yesterday wasn't a great day for blogging. I found myself preoccupied with other things, and never able to remove myself from them. But here are two rare grooves to make up for it:
Michael Jackson --- Xscape
MJ had an incredible ability to relate to the desires, struggles, and hopes of everyday people. Even though his iconic image made him larger than life, there was a familiarity and personal touch to his music that made him even more loved.
Nujabes ft. Cise Starr & Akin of CYNE --- Feather
Those who were familiar with the amazingly talented Japanese DJ/producer, took a soulful jazz from his music that always seemed to uplift and sooth. Just listening to those piano keys makes worries seem as light as feathers floating in the sky.
R.I.P. to both Michael Jackson (1958-2009) and Nujabes (1974-2010).
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
Michael Jackson --- Xscape
MJ had an incredible ability to relate to the desires, struggles, and hopes of everyday people. Even though his iconic image made him larger than life, there was a familiarity and personal touch to his music that made him even more loved.
Nujabes ft. Cise Starr & Akin of CYNE --- Feather
Those who were familiar with the amazingly talented Japanese DJ/producer, took a soulful jazz from his music that always seemed to uplift and sooth. Just listening to those piano keys makes worries seem as light as feathers floating in the sky.
R.I.P. to both Michael Jackson (1958-2009) and Nujabes (1974-2010).
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Photo Poetiks #3
Another set of photo poetiks....this time in the form of haiku!! Enjoy.
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
around here, we stand,
knee deep against the shadows,
as we pray for light
number six. been gone.
seems I'm steady chasing tracks.
lost my way again.
suicide is cute....
five nine Asian with red pumps...
death is a pale smile...
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