>If Martin Luther King were asked to <BR>>speak at the White House would <BR>>we have been mad at him???? <P>Having Martin Luther King speaking at the White House would definitely have been a statement AND a very political one too.<P>>Are we mad at Jesse Owens for <BR>>running in the 1936 olympics and <BR>>grinning at hitler when he won <BR>>his gold medal???? <P>Again, Jesse Owens made a clear statement then, he didn't just do his running, he realised it was a political act at the same time himself. Same thing for the 'Black Power' symbol (the I-don't- remember-what-year Olympics)<P>>I think it is good that you <BR>>are going to perform at the <BR>>white house Quest. I think people <BR>>are really missing the point of <BR>>the whole thing by getting upset <BR>>by it. <P>Then what is the point ? <P>>I'm not really a <BR>>fan of political statements and protests. <BR>>I think they had their place <BR>>but we live in a different <BR>>time now. <P>If this is a different time, do we need different ways ? Do you have any alternatives in mind ? <P>>Someone said that they <BR>>felt your comparison about wearing clothes <BR>>made in sweatshops is a bad <BR>>one, but I agree with you. <P>The comparison was correct 'an sich', but not as a way to defend a certain decision that has much more impact. <P>>The US Government does many many <BR>>corrupt and evil things in this <BR>>world, and has done many evil <BR>>things to us black people. I <BR>>understand that people feel that it <BR>>is offensive for you to perform <BR>>in the place that symbolizes that <BR>>corruption. But let's get real here. <BR>>Life is not a political statement. <P>I wish it wasn't either, but I believe that our actions reflect a certain mentality/opinion. <BR>Most people don't think about their actions, so they don't see this. <BR>Once again, I'm not referring to ?uest here, cos it's obvious he cares (else he wouldn't have bothered to answer).<P>>As we have been persecuted and <BR>>wronged by this system. We have <BR>>also partaken in the corruption. We <BR>>have drunk heavily from the bloody <BR>>cup that is American society. That's <BR>>why I always have had problems <BR>>with people who protest policies, and <BR>>actions which when it comes down <BR>>to it, they benefit from. <BR>>Face it, we can't even be having <BR>>this discussion over the internet, in <BR>>our nice homes, on our expensive <BR>>computers, wearing our hundred dollar sneakers <BR>>with our 15 dollar roots cd <BR>>blasting in the background without the <BR>>injustice which is american policy. <P>PLEASE read my 'Politics Pt. 1' post : <BR><a href="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/general2/3063.html">http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/general2/3063.html<;/a> <P>Does 'benefiting' from this inhumane system (by living in one of the 'WTO-countries') mean that we should all be silent and express no criticism, because we're all accomplices ?<P>This is the same argument that's being used by those who have power to tell dissident people to shut up. 'Don't complain, you benefit from this system too'. <P>I think that NOT reacting expresses much more approoval with how things are going. <P>I'm not some kind of 'Internet-intellectual' reading 'the right books' and preaching to other people. This is reality to thousands of people and me, every single day (in my job, in buying food, clothes, studio equipment, ...).<P>>Where am I going with this <BR>>you ask?? Here's the bottom line. <BR>>Life is about moral character and <BR>>not political affiliations. <BR>>NO politics in <BR>>the end benefits all so all <BR>>politics is bad. You must dig <BR>>deep within yourself and reach up <BR>>to GOD to learn how to <BR>>be the best that you can <BR>>be and love your neighbor as <BR>>yourself. So he is playing the <BR>>drums in the white house. Does <BR>>that make him less than those <BR>>who would refuse. <P>Of course it doesn't make him 'less' (which I never insinuated).<P>>I won't judge <BR>>Quest by where he plays his <BR>>drums just as I won't judge <BR>>anyone by what they say on <BR>>the message board. <BR>>The key is <BR>>this, is Quest a loving person, <BR>>does he help his fellow man??? <P>I feel that not playing at the White House could be a symbolic way of expressing concern for his fellow man.<P>>If he doesn't, then God will <BR>>judge him accordingly. <BR>>We are all <BR>>hypocrites people, even though Rages against <BR>>the machines, and dead prez's out <BR>>there. We pick and choose our <BR>>battles purely based on our likes <BR>>and dislikes. Let God judge who <BR>>he will judge. <P>I'm sorry, but I disagree. I respect anyone's beliefs, but I feel that this can not be an excuse for not taking initiatives oneself. We control our own lives.<P>>if we all <BR>>worry about loving each other more <BR>>instead of figuring out what is <BR>>the proper political stance to have <BR>>about something then we won't have <BR>>to worry about these matters. <P>The reason why I posted is exactly cos I got love for ?uest. If I didn't , why would I have bothered posting this ?<BR>At the same time this 'political stance' someone takes affects his/her life and the interaction with other people.<P>>I'm <BR>>gonna stop now before y'all think <BR>>my peel is getting soft or <BR>>something. <P>That's OK <img src="http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/Images/happy.gif"><P>>Peace, Stevelove AKA The yellow <BR>>wonder <P>take care,<BR>krewcial<BR><a href="http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators">http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators<;/a><P>'We've got to change our own minds about each other. We have to see each other with new eyes. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. We have to come together with warmth'<BR>