MONDAYS 'IN' THE UNDERGROUNDRAILROAD --------------------------------------------------------------------Hello and welcome to
Monday's 'IN' The Undergroundrailroad a place, deep inside of DU, where we jump-start our week ahead! To those at home today, welcome and I hope you'll take advantage of your day off and visit the Undergroundrailroad today. If new to the UGRR, I'll roll out the
"red carpet" (yes, it's real) and give you your props. We have lots of love to share so jump down and join us.
Our dessert for today is
Chocolate Layer Cake with alternating layers of fudge cake and chocolate buttercream. Perfect with a little champagne!
So, let's get to it ! Time to travel to the Undergroundrailroad!! ---------------------------------------------------- HE'S GOT GAME -- REP. DENZEL WASHINGTON -- SENATOR DENZEL WASHINGTON -- PRESIDENT ? Can we show someone how to be a President ? How about a Governor? Has politics become the equivalent of teaching someone to drive a stick shift car while having them sit in the passenger seat? I can *hear* THE Arnold bragging, 'watch me, watch me!', quickly popping the clutch, easing the accelerator and moving the gears swiftly into position. BUT? Does the person sitting away from the steering wheel *know* what happened so they can
dupe the same motions? Would you like an airline pilot trained in a similar nature? OK, how about a surgeon? Of course NOT! Yet, CA elected Arnold Schwarzenegger in less than six weeks. WHY? Are celebrities and their name recognition next in line to have mountains named after them, to be elected to Congress, to the Senate *or* to the Presidency? Well, I'm going to throw out a name in the political arena.
Denzel Washington has intellectual weight, spiritual gravity and a powerful sexual presence. Now, what does a "powerful sexual presence" have to do with getting elected???
Ohhhhhh, NOTHING! Disregard that last comment.
Back to intellect. Denzel Washington was born in Mt. Vernon, New York. Denzel, son of a preacher man, wanted a career in journalism. He entered Fordham University in 1972 to begin work on a college degree in premedicine. To pay his expenses, he acquired several loans and ran an afterschool babysitting service at a Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Manhattan. He dropped out of school one semester due to poor grades and worked at the post office and then as a trash collector, but soon returned to Fordham. During a summer job at a camp, he made a recitation on stage that set the direction of his career. He was lauded for his natural acting ability and enrolled in a theater workshop. Changing his career plans, he dropped premedicine as a major and embraced journalism. Denzel graduated from Fordham University, receiving a B.A. in Journalism. His goal now set in a new direction, acting became a focus for Denzel. He took that degree, his imposing presence, that unequivocal speech and headed to the West Coast. In a
Newsweek cover story about the biological basis of the perception of beauty, he was used as a key example in a scientific explanation why he is considered an "extremely handsome man".
PERCEPTION IN POLITICS? Why ????? YES! *I* mean NO, Damit! Dezel's trademark in Hollywood is portraying
real people. For example, Reuben Carter in
The Hurricane, Malcolm X in
Malcolm X, Herman Boone in
Remember the Titans. He once said "I've been fortunate. I don't pick scripts. Scripts pick me." Yet he says: "To be honest with you, I'm not a film buff. I don't watch a lot of movies. I'm just not a movie person. I wasn't allowed to go to movies when I was kid; my father was a minister - 101 Dalmatians and King of Kings, that was the extent of it." Nonetheless, the strikingly handsome leading man has transported audiences time after time, with courageous roles in sweeping dramas, legal thrillers, action pictures and period pieces.
He can also be confrontational. According to a 1995 Premiere magazine article, Denzel confronted director Quentin Tarantino when he visted the set of Crimson Tide. Quentin had done an uncredited rewrite of the script. Denzel lambasted Tarantino about his use of racial slurs in his films. Tarantino got embarrassed and wanted to move the conversation to a more private area. Denzel said, "No, if were going to discuss it, let's discuss it now." Denzel later said he still felt that Quentin was "a fine artist". Further, about race and himself: "I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic makeup, but it's not all of who I am nor is it the basis from which I answer every question." Confrontation and politics, is a "good thing" ? I'll answer pre-emptively, 'YES, YES, YES!'
Denzel's trademark for success in portraying a character has been to learn as much about the individual as possible, including his social, historical. and political environment. With this kind of dedication and zeal to be
true to the character, why not a President Washington, Senator Washington, Governor Washington? IMO, Denzel Washington is just as qualified to become "Governor" (shake me, wake me) as Arnold Schwarzenegger (is the recall over??). Denzel, however, may be reluctant to take on politics as a "character". But I keep telling myself his last name is
*WASHINGTON* (a tricky word).
Have I sold my point DU? Well, if Dezel ever runs for elected office, look for *my* placard.
I'll call it their *MY* votes and I'm keeping them "plan". Check out Academy Award winning actor, Denzel Washington in his new motion picture
OUT OF TIME--------------------------------------------------- Undercover "Brother" COOL CAT ? Oh my, my! It was show time in Harlem a week ago (no, not the Apollo!) for
Ming the Harlem-dwelling tiger and his "brother", Antoine Yates. You know, I just
love this story. A 400 pound tiger in the projects and the cool Antoine Yates who, IMO, handled the public relations end of this story in a "master"ful way! This is how it went. Ming the tiger, Antoine's "brother", (I'll explain that in a minute) bit him in the leg and arm. While Antoine was in Harlem Hospital a tip went to the police (perhaps from the ER Physicians who didn't buy the story that a "pit bull" bit their charge) that a tiger was in Antoine's apartment. Indeed, "Ming" the Siberian-Bengal Tiger, was found and taken to an animal reserve in Ohio. When Antoine was asked "WHY" he kept the tiger, "It was about love. It was about peace. It's about the world. The earth," he said. "My meaning was to show the whole world that we can all get along." "Ming was my brother, not my pet, not my tiger, not my animal . . . I guarantee he feels the same thing inside."
OK Antoine, I believe you! What's wrong with world peace and Tigers as pets ? Well Antoine, it's your world! But if this combination of tiger and man can bring about world peace (because * can't do it)? GO FOR IT! His neighbors vouch for Antoine calling him a caring person who has never caused problems for anyone. Me thinks there is a book, movie and lots of television appearances on CNN (he's on
CNN's American Morning as I type!).
Good luck Antione! I think you are one cool cat ;-)!
------------------------------------------- The Boondocks by Aaron McGruder------------------------------------------------ QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 1.
PROM POLITICS: If you could take a politician to the prom, who would you take and why? Explain things you would discuss.
2. Do you
still have a toy from your childhood? What about comics and baseball/football/basketball cards?
3. What is your schedule today?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------OK, I'm OUTTA. See you next Monday
'IN' The Undergroundrailroad