X marks the spot...

Malcolm X- considered one of the most influential human rights activists of the 20th century on African American rights, he ranks right up there with Martin Luther King Jr.

He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925 as Malcolm Little. (He changed his last name to 'X' later on in life after he became a member of the Nation of Islam.) He was raised in foster homes most of his life, after his dad was murdered and his mom was admitted to a mental hospital. In the 40's he was involved in some hustling and other criminal activities and was sentenced to 8 -10 years in prison. During his imprisonment he became a member of the nation of Islam. He changed his name to 'X' like many other black Muslims of the time because they believed it represented the name of their true African ancestors.

In some sense, Malcolm X was sort of the "anti-Martin L. K." because he spoke against the non-violence teachings, saying African Americans should be able to protect them selves however they can. He also believed in segregation, even going so far as to say that Black people should have their own nation. He was strongly against white people. He believed that they were devils, and that the demise of their race was eminent.

Later in life he married Betty X and had 6 daughters Attallah, Quibilah, Ilyasah, Gamilah Lumumba, and twins Malaak, and Malikah, who were born after Malcolms assassination in 1965.

It is hard to describe your feelings toward Malcolm X. He had the right sentiments, but he was wrong. True, white people are not better that black people, but black people are not better than white people. White people are not devils, and black people are not sovereigns, we are all equal. That was the part the Malcolm X did not understand. He had the wrong vision for the world.

Through it all though he was very influential, and had the ability to mold a whole group of people.

~K.C.

to be, or not to be...

That is the million dollar question. Does our country have morals? Values? Beliefs? Many say yes, many say no. So which is it? How can we tell?

mor⋅al
–adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.

2.
expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work; moralizing: a moral novel.

3.
founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom: moral obligations.

4.
capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct: a moral being.

5.
conforming to the rules of right conduct (opposed to immoral ): a moral man.

6.
virtuous in sexual matters; chaste.

7.
of, pertaining to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character *derived from personal conscience*: moral support.


8.
resting upon convincing grounds of probability; virtual: a moral certainty.
*taken from the Encarta Dictionary: English (North American)

morals. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved September 22, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/morals


Well I believe as a country we do have morals. We do value things. Maybe not always the right thing or have the right morals, but we do have a strong sense of right and wrong, justice and bias. Compared to other countries we do have a fair country for the most part. We always have a few that slip through the system, and we always have the corrupt and the conspirators and the terrorists, but our country was founded on checks and balances that keep our government accountable. On a set of religious principles that believe in loving each other, taking care of one another, and following ideals to serve one god together, to be a leader among nations. In the past (and I mean the way, way past) we have been known as an independent people. To trust yourself, to believe in yourself, to have a sense of your own rightness, your own beliefs and values- yet we still keep each other accountable. We still expect each other to follow the laws and to respect the rights of others. No matter how independent we get, the boundaries of our independence are still based on the rights of others. So how can a nation so intent on being their own, being independent, each individual having their own beliefs, be so caught up on helping each other? [I’m not saying its wrong to help others, I’m just playing devils advocate here] WE, the people of the United States of America, who want liberty and justice, who want national healthcare plans for ALL, want to be independent and only looking out for number one. It seems rather contradictory here. The definition itself contradicts the different meanings. In the dictionary definitions number 5, it says that we conform to the rules of right conduct of society. As a nation that is so proud of our morals and our nonconformity, we have a lot to think about.

"Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right."
Isaac Asimov
US science fiction novelist & scholar (1920 -1992)

This might be a topic for another time as well… who knows?

~K.C.