Just being cynical

The mansion used in the '60s comedy show, The Beverly Hillbillies, was owned and occupied in real life by the Kirkeby family. The family agreed to let the producers of the show use pictures and camera shots of the mansion until 1965. But after the show's fourth season, the Kirkebys broke off the agreement because people were visiting their home all the time, asking for "Jed" and "Granny," believing the hillbillies really lived in the mansion. Now that's crazy!

Can you believe it?
At one time, the majority of African-Americans were registered Republicans. Today 90 percent vote as Democrats. Maybe, just maybe, African-Americans are getting closer to creating their own political party.

Can you believe it?
Back in late 1979, on the soap opera General Hospital, the character Luke Spencer raped the character Laura Baldwin. She shouted "no, Luke, no!" He hit her, ripped her clothes off, and forced himself on her. Can you believe a year and a half later, the "Luke and Laura Wedding" was the highest rated daytime episode ever, with 80 percent of viewers being female? And some people talk about the rappers being violent towards women.

Can you believe it?
Can you believe that 90 percent of BET programming consists of music videos and infomercials?

Can you believe it?
There are more African-American females dissatisfied with their bodies today then ever before. In the last ten years, the media has glamorized thinness and linked images of thinness to other ideals of prestige, happiness, love, and success. African American celebrities in the spotlight, such as Janet Jackson, Salt n Pepa, Toni Braxton, Kelly Price, and Oprah Winfrey, are constantly dieting and reshaping their bodies. Hey, maybe they watch the music videos (with those skinny girls in thongs) on BET too.

Can you believe it?
After everything African-Americans have been through, including slavery; being stripped of our culture, language and family; drugs in the community; diseases; AIDS; discrimination; and racism, African-Americans are still standing! Got some issues, but who doesn't?

Can you believe it?
After all African-Americans have been through, they treat each other with prejudice. If you don't believe that, think about what happens when a Crip walks through a Blood neighborhood, or when a brother with a curl and gold teeth tries to talk to a sister in a suit. Long haired vs. short haired; dark skinned vs. light skinned; educated vs. non-educated. And don't forget how some African-Americans refer to each other by the N-word or the B-word. How can we expect others to respect us when we can't respect ourselves?

Can you believe it?
When asked about his chosen profession, an African American drug dealer once said he sells drugs because he doesn't want to work for the "white man." This is actually a common mode of thinking. The media has led us to believe that illegal drugs are controlled by South Americans. But this is a fallacy, precisely because it ignores the fact that the same people who controlled alcohol during Prohibition have and always will control drugs-there's just too much money involved! Regardless of where the perpetrators set up shop. As one of the Dons said in the movie The Godfather; "I want it controlled, and kept in the 'darkies' [black] community. There animals let them lose their souls".

Can you believe it?
Can you believe AIDS is growing faster in the African-American community than any other? African-American children represent almost 65% of all reported pediatric AIDS cases. The two main ways adults contract the disease are Injection Drug Use (IDU) and unprotected sex. Don't you think these AIDS statistics are strange when there are just as many or more whites using injection drugs, such as heroin, and there are many other groups having unprotected sex? And people wonder why many African-Americans think AIDS is a man-made disease. So, not only should you have safe sex and not use dirty needles, but you should also make sure you know what the doctor or clinic is injecting into you or your child. Just being cynical!

Can you believe it?
The media STILL reports everything that O.J. Simpson or Darryl Strawberry does!

Can you believe it?
The media practically has a tizzy every time a young black man goes into the NBA (which has a majority of black players) straight out of high school or leaves college early to pursue an NBA career. But when a young non-black hockey player or major league baseball player (which has a majority of white players) does the same thing, it barely raises an eyebrow.

Can you believe it?
We call this a democracy, yet we live in a system where one man, Alan Greenspan, can make decisions that affect 200 million people. Doesn't sound like the people rule to me!

Can you believe it?
The majority of African Americans still believe the only way Africans got to America was by being stolen from Africa. African Americans got here many different ways-some were stolen, others tricked, still others came of their own free will-but the majority were bought and sold. It's common sense. Do you believe 10 white boys in a van can go to the south side of Chicago and bring back to the north side 1000 black men? Well, what makes you think 100 white boys on a boat can go to Africa and bring back 100,000 strong Africans? Moreover, slaves, and slave ships, were insured by British insurance companies. Slaves were considered property. So when have you seen somebody insure stolen property? You usually insure something after you buy it. You have to do like Alex Haley and check YOUR own Roots.

Can you believe it?
In a recent Internet poll, 1000 people from all over the country were asked about two things they have never seen, a Martian and a witch. Question one was: If you were to see a Martian, what color do you think it would be? Ninety-five percent said "green." Question two was: If you were to see a witch, how do you think she would travel around? Ninety-nine percent said "broom." How could almost 100 percent of the people who have never seen a Martian or a witch come up with the same answer? See how the media works on the subconscious?

Can you believe it?
Yes, for many parents, their kids are their pride and joy. Yet these same parents have no problem with the concept of letting some stranger on television, whom their children have never met, be their children's role model. Don't we tell our children to "never trust a stranger"? Can't we find any better role models-ones closer to home whom our children actually know?

Can you believe anything you see or hear from the media?