Hopelessness in Poverty

I was speaking with a colleague the other day on the issue of poverty and what can be done to curtail the devastating effects of it. Unfortunately, he like so many different groups of people believes that there can be nothing done for those in poverty because 'they' want to be like that. Upon hearing this, I was shocked to realize that there are people out there like this but kept my composure. I asked them what measures should be taken and they went on to say "there's nothing you can do; they want to be like that." Growing up in the environment they were referring to, I can genuinely say there is nothing desirable about that type of life.

Unfortunately, I feel that there are too many people in this society who not just condone the status quo, but in fact support and embrace policies which leave certain inequalities as they exist today. This needs to change and it's up to our generation to fulfill the dreams of our ancestors and past leaders in their attempts to rid society of poverty. If we tell ourselves we can't do it; nothing productive will get done and we'll forever turn a cold shoulder to those on the streets and the families living in poverty. We'll never progress our communities if we tell ourselves we can't.

We don't need giveaway programs. We need programs that help the impoverished fend for themselves and initiatives that get them back on their feet so they can stand for themselves. Billions of dollars are spent on costs associated with poverty every year; why doesn't it make sense to allocate these funds and expenses on programs that lift these families; some born into poverty, some not. Let's stop pointing fingers. Let's stop pretending the issue doesn't exist. Most importantly, let's stop telling ourselves in our communities that there's nothing we can do about it. There are far too many families without a voice depending on those of us privileged enough to do something about it.

PLEASE READ: Stop The Violence; RIP #6

Over the weekend, my school community was dealt an emotional blow by the loss of Jasper Howard; slain by a violent stabbing during an altercation. There was no need for the loss of life, no need for the violence and no need for the mourning going on back on campus now. The closest friends and teammates of Jasper Howard's will never forget the day they found out their friend's life was taken away. Even throughout the University of Connecticut, the student body will always remember how they felt after the news of the Jasper Howard's death. This has affected me in a number of ways and although I did not know Jasper personally, I know his closest friends and mourn the loss of his life and what that means for his unborn child and family back home. Had I not been here in Washington D.C on an internship, I would most likely have been at this WISAO party; as I had frequently done in previous years. Although I'm grateful I was nowhere around for that altercation, I will never forget that morning. One of my best friends had called me early Sunday morning to tell me Jasper had passed away. What really hit hard for me was that my best friend was a teammate of Jasper's and when he had called me, he was clearly shaken and distressed over the loss of his teammate. This killing could have been avoided and the need for violence; fatal violence at that, was unwarranted and unnecessary.

If we are to progress in society; how can we hold within ourselves such hatred for our fellow man? If we are to progress as a people, we must value the meaning and sanctity of life; not end it. Everyone on this Earth have people who love and care for them and it's imperative that we never forget that. My heart goes out to the closest friends, teammates and family of Jasper Howard's. Most of all, my heart goes out to his unborn child who will unfortunately live their lives without their father by their side to raise them, protect them, love them and watch them grow.

Anyone reading this, if there's anything to take from this, it's this; Love One Another. Regardless of your faith, religion or creed, it can be said that we were put on this Earth to live amongst each other in harmony. Never take your friends and loved ones for granted; no one forecasts the day they leave this world and while he is in a better place where we all hope to one day be, let us live our lives to better the world we live in now. Best of wishes to all. My Prayers and condolences to all.

- David Javier Solis

A Timeless Speech in 'The Great Dictator'

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white.

We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness - not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there's room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate - has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in man - cries for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say: 'Do not despair.' The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you and enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate, only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural!

Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St Luke, it is written the kingdom of God is within man not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful - to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security.

By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason - a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us unite!


Sources: 'My Autobiography' by Charles Chaplin and 'The Great Dictator' on Fox video

Concerns on congress

Washington D.C. has been an experience all its own. I've learned in a short two months that in order to enter the world of politics and hold prestige, networking is key. If one hopes to make a ripple in the political ocean, one must know the fundamentals of what it takes and who to get there with. I've seen that the senate is not so much a chamber of 100 individual mentalities; it is a handful of allegiances. The House of Representatives is a chamber where 435 representatives come together and engage in groupthink; ideas are brought forward and succeed depending on how much the rest of the body of representatives stand to gain from passing it. It is not true that congress is a place full of representatives who don't care. There are a few people who just happen to care much more than the next guy. Congress is a forum where great ideas can become diluted with greed, watered down through procedure and tainted by the interests of a few. Some justify this by pointing out these actions as being democratic processes. While this may be true, there is no saying certain ways and means of congress cannot be changed. The obstacle with doing so, is that congress itself, dictates what congress can and can't do. There are checks and balances yet congress, since its inception, maintains an atmosphere where unethical actions are not only permissible; they are sometimes encouraged in the pursuit of partisan politics. This fact should in effect, serve as a rebuttal to the 'democratic process' legitimization of what happens in congress. Again, this does not go to say all members of congress are illegitimate and unsuitable for representation; they have, for the most part, demonstrated that they can advocate on behalf of the causes they believe. Let's just hope that these causes are honorable ones.

Our Nation's Priorities

When we look all around ourselves in this country, we see groups of people and communities that we don't always belong to. That's the beauty of diversity. When we read and hear certain opinions of different people, we sometimes feel that we can never agree with the ideas they value. When we look to our friends, we wonder why they act the way they do and say things they do. That's the one thing about our society that makes it so unique; we have groups of people from all avenues of life, all levels of education and backgrounds. We are in the struggle of finding ourselves. We know who we are as individuals, we know who we are as racial groups... but do we know who we are as a people? One might say, "We're Americans". While that might be true, the struggle in our quest for a universal identity is that we have in our minds this idea that the label 'American' means one entity; we're not one single entity and we're not one united people with one uniform set of values and principles. To some, family is the overlying number one valuable thing in their lives; to others, it might be their educations or their careers. Each of these things encompasses its own set of things to maintain and with different people holding different priorities, there is much to be debated over. A $1,000,000 dollar grant to a poor rural town is not at the first thing many people think about. Likewise, violence in the urban communities isn't something many people would initially want to address head on. These issues which affect the most isolated groups of people are the ones which aren't thoroughly discussed in all areas of the nation. We seldomly read or hear the stories about the other side's struggle. In our country, we give too much power to the phrase 'Out of sight, out of mind'. We know that which we can see and that with which we're familiar. Who you know that starved today in America? Who do you know that got evicted today? in America? Who have you talked to today that has more than enough intelligence to succeed in college but can't because they can't afford it? These are injustices to those in society. Anytime you succeed, anytime you do well, anytime you achieve an aspiration; know that there is always someone who less fortunate than yourself. What if it was you?

Open and Enjoy, my fellow 80's Babies!

My blog is becoming too uptight for a lot of people who don't necessarily enjoy politics like I do. So what I'm doing is compiling a whole batch of songs that take us 80's babies back. Way Back. BACK INTO TIME. Good music is getting harder to find nowadays so I got a lil bit of everything for yall. Every now and then I'll make compilations of more of these throwbacks over time. Hit me up on the comments to let me know what you all think; hope you all enjoy!

P.S. I don't own ANY of these videos, folks. Please don't sue me. Thanks.

LL Cool J - Loungin


G Dep - Let's get it


DMX - How's it going down


Mary J. Blige - Mary Jane


Sammie - I like it


Soul 4 Real - Candy Rain


Bel Biv Devoe - Poison


Montell Jordan - This is how we do it


Nelly - Ride with me


Method Man & Mary J. Blige


Wu Tang Clan - M.E.T.H.O.D. Man


Dru Hill - How Deep is your Love


Ginuwine - Pony


Next - Too Close


Wayne Wonder - No letting go


Ja Rule Ft. Vita & Lil Mo - Put it on me


Jay-Z Ft. Amil & Ja Rule


Fabolous - Can't Deny It


Cam'Ron - Hey Ma


Cynthia - Dream boy, Dream Girl


Tupac - How Do You Want it


Outhere Brothers - Boom Boom Boom


Blackstreet - No Diggity


Q-Tip - Vibrant Thing


Inoj - My Boo


Limp Bizkit - Nookie