The Obamas released their latest family portrait just in time for the holidays. This is a really good picture displaying a solid black family that exudes love and happiness. With all of the political drama and backlash for President Obama, it’s great to know that they always have on their game face and keep it moving!!
Courtesy of Whitehouse.org
Without mention of the controversy surrounding rapper Common’s participation, President Obama welcomed an audience to the White House’s “Evening of Poetry” Wednesday night, revealing that he, too, considers himself a poet.
“I have actually submitted a couple poems to my college literary magazine and you will be pleased to know what that I will not be reading them,” President Obama joked from the East Room of the White House Wednesday evening.
The president also spoke about the emotion of poetry.
“The power of poetry is everybody experiences it differently. There are no rules on what makes a great poem,” Obama said. “Instead, a great poem is one that resonates with us and challenges us and teaches us something about ourselves.”
Some critics of the participation in the White House event by Common were upset that the rapper and actor — who has recently appeared in a romantic comedy opposite Queen Latifah and contributed to a Jonas Brothers song — has previously slammed former President George W. Bush in his poetry.
During Wednesday’s celebration, Common recited lyrics to a rap song in poem form, which tipped his hat to the nation’s first African American president and started and ended with words of Martin Luther King playing over the loud speaker.
Here’s the poem in its entirety:
“I woke up with the sunshine. A sunshine I had never seen. There was light at the end of it. Reminded me to forever dream. I was dreaming I walked into the White House. With love on my sleeve. And love for each and every one of you. Reminding you to believe. These are the words of a believer achiever. Leader of the globe, feed the souls of those in need. I bleed the blood of the struggle. Walking over troubled puddles. The hustle is in my chest. No hustle no progress. Extremities of life in this process. The birth of a son. The death of another. With love I caress both mothers. And told ‘em whose in control is the one that’s above is. I walk where money talks and love stutters. The body language of a nation. Going though changes. The young become dangerous. Spent into anger. Anger gets sent through the chamber. It’s tough when your own look like strangers. We are the sons of gangsters and stone rangers. If he could how would Ernie Barnes paint us? Look at the picture. It’s hard not to blame us. But time forgives in the shy where the young die often. Do they end up in a coffin because we haven’t taught them? Is it what we talkin’, we really ain’t walking. Dudes, hustlers, paid. How much did it cost them? I find myself on the same corner that we lost them. Real talkin’ in their ear like a walkman. My thoughts been around the corner to the world. So when I see them I see my baby girl. The Lord lives among us. The youngest hunger, recover. Means to get it by anyways necessary under pressure. Children feeling lesser with the spill upon the dresser. Killer, willer aggressors. Destiny’s children, survivors, soldiers. In front of buildings their eyes look older. It’s hard to see blessings in a violent culture. Face against rappings. Sirens holsters – that ‘aint the way that Langston Hughes wrote us. So controllers on the shoulders of Moses. And Noah. We go from being precious to Oprah. Cultivated to overcome. Ever since we came over. Seize the day in the way that you can see the determined. The soul that keeps burning. Shorty’s know to keep learning. Lessons in my life are like stripes that we earning. I took Grant’s advice that Christ is returning. Like a thief in the night. I write for beacons of light. For those of us in dark alleys and park valleys. Street hits spark valleys of the conscience. Conquerors of a contest . Even the unseen know that God watches. For one King’s dream he was able to Barack us. One King’s dream he was able to Barack us. One King’s dream he was able to Barack us.”
“Thank you and God bless,” Common said at the end of his poem, without referring to the controversy. “I appreciate being here.”
After Steve Martin’s band played following Common’s performance, President Obama stood up, clapping, and then brought everyone back onstage, thanking all of the performers by name.
Before exiting the stage, Obama gave Common a big hug.
Definitely, making a copy of this poem! Real, true, deep stuff!! Gotta love it!
The head of the union that represents the New Jersey State Police has spoken out against Common’s visit to the White House tonight (May 11th).
Common is among the guests to attend the White House celebration of American poetry, which is being hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
In addition to Common, Aimee Mann, Jill Scott, Elizabeth Alexander, Kenneth Goldsmith, Alison Knowles, Bill Collins and Rita Dove are scheduled to give poetry readings.
During an interview with NBC New York, David Jones, President of the State Troopers Fraternal Association Union, took offense to the lyrics in Common’s track “A Song for Assata.”
“The young people who read this stuff, hear this stuff, are getting a very dangerous and deadly message,” David Jones, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association union told NBC.
“A Song for Assata” pays homage to Joanne Chesimard aka Assata Shakur, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey Police officer during a controversial trial in 1973.
Shakur escaped a prison in 1979 and is currently residing in Cuba under political asylum, although the United States Government is still offering a $1 million dollar reward for her capture.
The State Troopers Fraternal Association Union are upset because Common’s visit comes as they prepare to head to Washington, D.C. to honor slain officers at the National Law Enforcement Memorial.
VIA: CNN WIRE PRESS
(CNN) — Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil, is dead, officials said — almost 10 years after the attacks that killed about 3,000 people.
The founder and leader of al Qaeda was killed by U.S. forces Monday in a mansion in Abbottabad, north of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, along with other family members, a senior U.S. official told CNN.
In an address to the nation Sunday night, U.S. President Barack Obama called bin Laden’s death “the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.”
Half a world away, the scene outside the White House was one of pure jubilation.
Hundreds reveled through the night, chanting “USA! USA!” Others chanted “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye!” in reference to the demise of bin Laden. Many also spontaneously sang the national anthem.
In New York, a cheering crowd gathered at ground zero — the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood. Strains of “God Bless America” could be heard intermittently trickling through the crowd.
As for America’s position on Mubarak’s reign, neither Barack Obama nor US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have declared a definite position publically.
Source: CNN
First Lady Michelle Obama along with daughters Sasha and Malia Obama were spotted in front of the White House full of holiday cheer. An after Thanksgiving Day tradition, Mrs. O and her daughters received the 18 1/2-foot Douglas fir that will become the Official White House Christmas Tree. The fir comes from a farm in Lehighton, Pa., belonging to Christopher Botek. This is the second time that a tree from the Botek family farm has become the Official White House Christmas Tree.
St. Louis has just been named the most dangerous city in the nation. It has been reported that St Louis has four times as many crimes as the national average.
There are some questions around the methodology of the study itself, which was conducted by CQ Press (Take a look here). The test was based on FBI statistics on numbers of rape, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft.
St. Louis city officials are disappointed that they keep ending up on the list although the crime rates have continuously decreased since 2007.
Following St Louis on the list of most dangerous cities are Camden (NJ), Detroit (MI), Flint (MI), and Oakland (CA).
In the ongoing adventures of Jack Johnson, Prince George’s County Executive, federal authorities picked up both the county executive and his wife, on destruction of evidence and evidence tampering, during the initial phase of the investigation. Jack Johnson had little to no people who could straddle a fence about him. Folks either love him for his beguilement, energy, and charm. Or, they hate him as the personification of a politico enjoying graft by way of hiring “friends” to do government jobs and arrangements with developers.
The Washington Post covers how both Jack and Mrs Leslie Johnson landed in the hoosegow. The FBI had already been watching the couple, and had them under wiretap when the Feds came calling. According to the online newspaper’s accounting, Leslie Johnson called Hubby for advice when agents appeared at the family door.
Before Jack or Leslie Johnson even spoke with agents, they sunk themselves.
With federal agents tapping the line, Jack Johnson instructed his wife what he wanted done with evidence of payments like cash, and where to find and flush the check from one particular realtor. With that, the two had acted in cahoots to cover up any suspicious activity before answering the door to the FBI. Authorities and investigators had already been observing and monitoring the politician-on-the-take for some time. These recent actions merely give investigators probable cause to look into everything else possible.
Should County Executive Jack Johnson go to prison?
US Attorney Rod Rosenstein added the recent arrests are likely only “the tip of the iceberg.” And to “expect defendants and additional charges.” If Prince George’s Jack Johnson, County Executive does find himself in trouble, should he do time? Or, do you feel mere expulsion of office to be enough punishment? Does Jack Johnson affect your attitude towards politicians?
Sources:
Personal opinion, and
The Washington Post
Dre Black So Fresh 
