ETHOS

By Paul Pennington

Pull out the black nail polish and hide the sharp objects kids, The Roots have gone emo…Well not really, but The Foundation has taken their sound to a new stage of vehement expression. I suppose that we should have seen this coming.

“If I ruled the world”…Black people would def fly around chasing white people…

Considering the melancholic sound of their 2006 release, Game Theory, which was fused with more of a rock-feel than any of their prior albums, Rising Down, their most recent effort, is the next logical stop on their pathway of progression. I will admit, as I have before, that I loved Game Theory, which along with Common’s Electric Circus and Mos Def’s New Danger, was the perfect blend of hip hop and rock sounds that is able to transcend genres. Rising Down, which drops today, falls into such a category, while carving out its own niche in The Roots’ discography. I can honestly say that this is the rawest, grittiest checkpoint on their eight-album journey. The hype around the album was partially diminished considering the Roots Crew released a new track every other day. The precedent was set with the release of “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)” followed by the more recent release of the popish “Birthday Girl” (unfortunately not on the American release) featuring Fall Out Boy lead singer Patrick Stump. Shout outs to Sasha Grey in the video…I see you girl!

Birthday Girl featuring Patrick Stump

“She has a good head on her shoulders…”

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By Eric Augenbraun

Check out this Good Morning America interview with Hillary Clinton from Tuesday:

Clinton’s hard line on Iran shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone at this point, but I do find this nonsense about an attack on Israel rather disconcerting – meant only to stir up people’s fears and provide a pretext for actually beginning to have a discussion about OBLITERATING an entire country (for the record, Iran, contrary to popular belief, does not possess nuclear weapons; Israel does). As an aside, Obama too has made his intentions clear for Iran, and they don’t stray too far from Clinton’s path. I do think, though, that sometimes Clinton’s position as a female candidate competing against men for an office that has been held by nobody but men forces her to perform certain rituals of masculinity – hence, the tough talk about murdering 71 million people on a whim.

But obliterate is a REALLY strong word and I can only assume that a Clinton presidency will look something like this

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By Cami King

A group of my friends attended a Barack Obama rally on Friday where they managed to claw their way to the front of the crowd and take their place at center stage for the event. Upon their return, I asked about the rally, and one of them exclaimed, “WE TOUCHED HIM!” She then explained that they were given the opportunity to shake Obama’s hand and tell him how much they love him. I took issue with the description of their interaction with the presidential candidate for it bore an eery resemblance to a familiar story. If the woman with the issue of blood (the one who touched Jesus and was healed) had been a college student, the aforementioned encounter would fit seamlessly into either of the synoptic gospels. However, I doubt touching the hem of Barack’s garment (or even shaking his hand) will produce similar effects.

The media is having a field day with what they’ve dubbed Obama’s “rock star status”. His competitors have also latched onto this idea in their attempts to discredit his ability to lead the country, attributing his success during the election to the fact that he is a rock star (which implies that Paul McCartney could too run for president and give Hillary Clinton and John McCain a run for their money. I am not sure what they are attempting to say about themselves with this argument.) As far as policy is concerned, the only person who should be worried about this pedestal Obama is being placed upon is the man himself. It seems nearly impossible for him to live up to what some are expecting of him because the expectations can only come to fruition by the stroke of some minor miracle.

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By Paul Pennington

Well folks, unfortunately I’ve been pretty busy with papers and final as this school year ends. However, expect a new post very soon. In the mean time, I figured I would give you all something a bit more personal. The following transcript is from an email exchange between me and a young, white college female. To set the stage, I was sending out an email on the Penn SLAP listserve to coordinate our next meeting…hilarity ensues.

————————————

Paul:

So we (SLAP) are going to meet this Sunday (2/22) at 7 P.M….this is very very
extremely important…so basically show up. Seriously. The entire movement
depends on this meeting. If you don’t show up then millions of people will
perish. It is our time as elite and privileged students of an ivy league
institutions to lead these poor people to the promised land. We are the
Talented 10th the best and the brightest folks. Let’s make the movement happen.
Most importantly it’s time to fight the Man. Down with Whitey (Sorry Eric) So
grab your old negro spirituals, picket signs and costumes and meet in room ***
of Du Bois…WORKING CLASS PEOPLE UNITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. bring your kufis, africa medallions, sandals and radical/”Why I Love Black
Women” pieces for an impromptu, yet necessary poetry slam

Paul:

My apologies for offending anyone who rocks kufis, believes that they are in the
talented 10th and exclusively loves black women…It has been a very long
day…seriously though be at room *** in Du Bois this Sunday (2/24) at 7
PM…otherwise I actually will be slightly annoyed and/or openly abrasive and
hostile towards you.

MaDWhitEWoman783@ihaveadream.com:

Paul et al,

I must admit I was not only offended but disappointed in this e-mail that I assume was mistakenly sent to me. I may be, by face, a “whitey” or daughter of “the man” but, at heart, I am an activist. Furthermore, I have devoted the past two and a half years of my life to this campaign and in no way has elitism, privilege, or bigotry advanced our goals. Your university may lead you to believe that by the location of your classroom and the tens of thousands of dollars you pay them, that you are entitled to so deeply insult those who have worked to improve the conditions of their neighbors. The movement is all encompassing and work is work no matter how you are educated. I refuse to believe that since we go to a school and not an “institution” we are somehow unequal in our abilities. The labor movement is not about the “best and brightest” leading the “poor people”. It is about communion amongst people Black, White, Hispanic, poor, rich, or otherwise. Did Dr. King refuse a hand extended in friendship because it was white? Did Lucy Parsons find herself any less of a revolutionary because she married Albert? Only when we begin to look at ourselves as people and not as classifications can we progress. I hope that some of you will be attending the GROW today and that we can work as equals to do what we have come to do: attain justice.

Paul:

Well then…I suppose the right thing to do would be to lean towards the side of
optimism for the sake of reconciliation and “solidarity”. So with that in mind
I cannot simply assume that you understood my email to be completely sarcastic.
Although basically everyone else that read the email laughed at my dry wit and
what they saw as blatantly obvious sarcasm, I can not make the assumption that
you would see it that way. I suppose humor is defined by the person. I suppose
I cannot assume that one would note the sarcasm in lines such “If you don’t
show up then millions of people will perish.” and “Down with Whitey (Sorry
Eric)”, the latter literally referencing my roommate, my dear friend and most
importantly my lighter hued comrade Eric. I suppose that my references to “old
negro spirituals, picket signs and costumes” was not blatantly sarcastic enough
and for that I apologize. However, I believe that it is important to clear up
some of the contentions made in the rebuttal. I apologize for the “Down with
whitey” comment, I’m sure that stings in a place that I as a black person can
never fully understand. I apologize for not referring to Temple as an
institution, the next time I make an abrasively humorous email, I will make a
special note to call Temple an institution (although Temple was not even
relevant to the comments made in my email). I also apologize for making any
references to Penn students as the “elite”, It’s not like anyone in these
organizations have called themselves “Working Class Heroes” and thusly I should
not even joke about such elitism and romanticizing as a student. Sincerely (note
there is zero sarcasm here), we believe the exact same thing, outside
“interestingly” placed evoking of MLK I’m sure I would have written the same
type of email that you did. That is why this whole situation is utterly
perplexing. Again I cannot assume that just because everyone else understood
the email as being crazy sarcastic, including people who don’t really know me
that well, that you would either. Really it’s all love. Next meeting we can
sing the chorus of Ebony and Ivory or something I guess…(sarcasm)

.

Eric:

.

Wait…so you weren’t being serious in the part about bringing my
medallions, sandals, dashiki, and kufi? Damn it!

MaDWhitEWoman783@rainbowcoalition.com:

I understood the sarcasm. I just didn’t appreciate the joke. I’ve been burned a few too many times. I appologize for the offense.

.

FriendlywhiteMan2008@notmail.com:

.

I don’t know. I thought it was funny.

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In no way was this incident fabricated or taken out of context. This ish really happened. She actually attempted to invoke the name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the way only her white, liberal, “colorblind” demographic has been able to do. What I find funny is that out of everyone mentioned in my first email, (Spoken Word Poets, Black Nationalists, Elitist “Working Class Heroes, etc.) it was the young white female who took most offensive. As usually Whitey McWhiteman always has to be number one (sarcasm.) I actually love the white man. Well at least his women (sarc…on second thought never mind).

By Chloe Wayne

I’m a business economics student, and at some point, I came to view the standard pedagogy of economics as somewhat disconcerting—why, I have wondered, do our professors spend so much time explaining outcomes under “ideal” market conditions that never actually occur in the real world? Why are we so hesitant to fully scrutinize so many signs that these hypothetical models are materially different from the real-world market structures in which we daily operate?

Perfect competition & Pareto optimality: This rarely ACTUALLY exists in real life. So why are we taught otherwise?

Neoliberal economics preaches the sanctity of free markets, and operates on the assumption that everyone competes on equal footing, and that markets function efficiently and fairly when left to their own devices. We are obsessed with the divine gift of capitalism—a forever-burgeoning “middle class” with bourgeois sensibilities—thus, it is no accident that standard economics ignores the fates of the marginalized, and instead focuses on the “average” individual.

Maybe I’ll call the author of my textbooks and let them know that we are not all educated white males; ergo, shit isn’t as simple as they make it seem.

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ERYKAH BADU has done it again. Proven her genius.

If you’re a female, and you’ve ever wanted to make it in the music business, make sure you peep this video.

P.S. Everyone should have her latest album, New Amerykah, Part. 1: 4th World War, on repeat.

Butt Nekkid Wednesdays?

By Paul Pennington

In light of Chloe’s recent posting on California-based rapper Blu’s new video, I feel that some minor points of confusion need to be cleared up. In and around my circle of friends there has been much debate regarding Blu’s position as the best rapper in our generation; at least in the 18-25 age range. I believe that this is a fallacy of monumental proportions. It is with great pleasure that I introduce the true holder of the Hip-Hop crown: Dwayne “Lil’ Wayne” Carter. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Lil’ Wayne, affectionately known as “Weezy” is the top MC in the game, at the very least, according to Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Best of Rock” issue. In this, their most recent issue they placed Weezy at the forefront of the rap game as top spitkicker. Again for any of you that may have missed my several affirmations of the God MC: Lil’ Wayne is the best rapper alive. And I am the King of France.

I am the King of France
I am the King of France
I am the King of France
I am the King of France…

The “Lil’ Wayne Theory of Pompous Repetition” states, “If any one individual or collective body perpetuates any absurdity and/or braggadocio about the former, said statement will ultimately be deemed true.” Under this theory, one can only assume that if I continually claim to be the King of France, maybe put out some mixtapes called “The Greatest King of France Alive”, have MTVu flaunt me as the Greatest King of France Alive and hopefully get on the cover of XXL wearing an “I Am The King of France” t-shirt, I will ultimately become the King of France.

“We are all Hip Hop.” At least that’s what the white kids with dunks, book bags and “J Dilla Changed My Life” t-shirts tell me as I laugh at their commodification of a great art form (pause).

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By Eric Augenbraun

“Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people.” -Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right (1843)

“You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” -Barack Obama at a San Fransisco fundraiser, April 6, 2008

Can’t you see the resemblance?

By now, you would have to be living under a rock not to have heard the media backlash over Obama’s recent comments at a San Fransisco fundraising rally in which he ascribed the embrace of religion, guns, and bigotry among small town whites to their “bitterness” over being screwed by American capitalism over the last 25 years. While the media, HRC, and Old Man McCain have blasted him for being ‘elitist’ and ‘condescending’, as a self described Marxist I was more struck by the eery similarity between Obama’s statements and Karl Marx’s now (in)famous materialist analysis of religion. Of course, Obama added the nuance that people turn to guns, too, out of bitterness – though I can think of reasons other than bitterness that people might own guns.

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