Dexter Season 1 Episode 10: Seeing Red

I’m on the last leg of finishing up the first season of Dexter.  I’m about 7 years late, but I tend to catch on to popular television shows & movies late.  I had heard about this show, but the explanations didn’t make sense to me.  A popular television show about a serial killer?  I was curious about the contents of the show, but it wasn’t available on my Netflix account until recently, so I didn’t get a change to quench my curiosity.

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but things usually take a while to catch on for me.  Through the first few episodes, I wasn’t feeling it.  I forced myself to continue watching because I figured even if the show wasn’t my cup of tea, I’d eventually figure out why so many people loved it.  Took me 10 episodes, but I fully understand now.  Dexter is really a dramatic, suspense version of The Punisher, whereas The Punisher is more action based.  In Dexter, he only kills people that the viewing audience feels deserves to die.  His behavior is always justified, similar to a Time to Kill, who didn’t think those guys deserved to burn in hell (with the exception of Zimmerman supporters)?

Episode 10 made me think about fatherhood.  I often think about the lack of fathers in the black community and how so many people take on the challenge of having children and abandon the responsibilities that come with it.  Although I find it less prevalent than it is being portrayed in more recent television, it is nice to see that men aren’t always portrayed as negligent and uncaring.  It has been a little bothersome to watch the show and watch how this man really wants to be in his children’s lives and how difficult it gets.  I feel like there is a lot of reality in that, but I don’t think people see things that way (either parent) when they have children outside of wedlock.  I don’t think that marriage eliminates the possibility of the situation, but I think it demonstrates a level of commitment to having a family that should be a precursor to having a child.  Like going to college doesn't decrease the odds of finding a job, getting married doesn't decrease the odds of keeping a family together.  I find it crazy that people are afraid of the commitment involved in a marriage which can be dissolved at any time and a home which is just debt to be added to the unavoidable list of other debts, but don’t fear the lifetime commitment of having a child.

Watching this show makes me wonder about the psyche of some women.  This woman’s estranged husband was abusive to her so I understand the reluctance to have him as a part of her life; however, I feel like she has to know that he should be a part of her children’s lives.  That’s what she signed up for when she gave birth to their children.  She speaks about how she allows him to see his children as if she’s doing him a favor and they aren’t his children too.  I wonder if she had a father in her life or if people are just so detached from the concept of putting themselves in other’s shoes that they don’t think like that even when it’s their own children.  I feel like in reality there are more mothers pursuing fathers to be a part of their children’s lives (at least financially) than there are fathers pursuing mothers to be in their children’s lives.  Either way, that situation has got to be tough.

Ain't Got No Home

The older I get, the more I realize how much my opinions and beliefs have been affected by my surroundings.  It’s funny how many times I’ve had the nature versus nurture conversations and spoke about this exact topic without applying it to so many of my own thoughts.  When I was growing up, not meeting your potential was being middle aged and working at a fast food restaurant.  That is of course assuming that working at a fast food restaurant is a teenager’s job.

I find myself wondering why I never thought about the opposite end of the spectrum.  Since I started working post-college, I have always considered myself to be middle class, not knowing what that truly means or even what upper class truly means.  I don’t think I’ve had much interaction with the upper class to know it even if I saw it.  From my perspective, the upper class if Floyd Mayweather, Michael Jordan and the hundreds of famous persons that I’ve seen on television.  Kanye made a song about living next to Tom Cruise, which makes me believe that there is a section of the country exclusive to actors and the upper class.  But, what about their directors, doctors, mechanics, etc. that are at least semi rich.  Where do I fall in that spectrum?  I figure that the middle-aged fast food worker is the microscopic blip (I’m thinking about the scene at the end of Men In Black, when the world turns out to be a marble that the giamongus alien throws into his marble bag), but the question then become am I even a recognizable blip?

I can’t say that I’ve avoided this question my whole life, but I think mentally I’ve avoided thinking about it.  I’ve questioned who would care when I die every time I see a Malcolm X poster or hear a 2pac/Biggie reference and their memories are probably a blip in reference to their more popular white counterparts.  What would that make my memory?

This is a lot of deep thought that ultimately leads to my current predicament.  The thought of owning property is very intimidating to me.  I think about the nice houses out in the suburbs or those that I see on television series.  On King of Queens, a delivery guy and a lawyer’s secretary own a home in NEW YORK CITY!  I wonder if that’s even possible.  Is it my lack of intelligence that makes it so hard for me to find affordable housing outside of the hood?  I feel nervous seeing all of the foreclosures on the market from people who thought they were middle class (just like me) until their wife got pregnant and they realized they couldn’t live off of one salary or they lost their job that they were counting on and realized that there wasn’t another one waiting on them.

So, now I’m asking myself questions.  If life is temporary, why do I need to own property in the first place?  I’d love to have something to call my own until I can no longer afford it and it’s taken from me, but what’s the point?  Why pour my life savings into a property that I would in turn have to spend valuable life time tending to an ultimately, it can be taken from me after one unfortunate event and I have nothing to show for it.

I’ve heard so many people say that the above is the reason they don’t want to work for a company or a person and they want to work for themselves.  Well, there are a million people in this society that want a million dollars and very few of that million have it.  Is it optimistic or irresponsible to think that I’m going to be that one?  And what qualifies me to be that one as opposed to anyone else?  I guess I’m just torn and frustrated with life.  I hated that while I was going to school for my Masters degree, and working full time, I ended up living in the projects, overpaying for rent and I refuse to be in another situation like that.  The only problem is that even though I recognized the problem from my past I never found a solution.  As a former math teacher, I feel like I’ve figured out what the problem is, but I’m stuck staring at it because I don’t know how or where to start finding a solution.

Judgement Days

Why does the term mid-life crisis exist?  I’ve asked the same question about Napolean complex.  I’ve had people respond by saying that due to the fact that you’re short; if you act overly aggressive then it’s obviously because of your height.  If an average sized person is overly aggressive, then what is the stem of their aggressiveness and why isn’t it considered a complex?  Does anyone outside of me see the word complex as wrong, as a way of making someone feel worse about who they are?

I’m currently watching an old episode of the Steve Harvey show (from back when I thought Steve Harvey was a respectable person).  In this episode he’s having a “mid-life crisis”.  He’s striving to achieve the goals that he set out for himself when he was a kid.  So apparently, when you strive to achieve your goals after 40 (or younger depending on the judgmental and condescending person that’s using this term) then you’re in a crisis.  I’m assuming that this only applies if it’s not a goal like being president considering the younger president was 42.

It’s no wonder the country struggles with depression and self-acceptance.  Attempting to avoid judgment in society will always leave you feeling bad about yourself.  A friend of mine posted a question on Facebook about women putting on makeup for 30 minutes in the morning.  These are the people striving for social acceptance.  At moments like this I gleefully think about songs like Crooked Smile by J. Cole.  I hope to experience a mid-life crisis every day of my life and make the most of all of my complexes. 

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
― Gautama Buddha

Jeremy Lin

A couple of days ago Floyd Mayweather said that Jeremy Lin is only getting the attention that he's receiving because of his race.  I can't say that I agree.  Lin's popularity stems from the fact that he was given an unlikely opportunity and took advantage of it.  He's like the homeless guy with the great radio voice who was discovered thanks to modern day technology.  Or a contestant on American Idol that has a great voice that no one would have heard under any normal circumstance.  He was at the end of the bench and if the Knicks point guards didn't suck and Melo hadn't gotten injured, he and his talent would still be there.  I think everyone likes to see talent acknowledged.  In part because I think most people do things that go unnoticed or unappreciated every day.  I like Jeremy Lin and his story even though I still don't like the Knicks.

With that being said, I do think that his race increases his popularity.  I don't know why people in such a racially influenced society refuse to recognize the obvious.  I am a big Eminem fan.  One of the reasons is because he's one of the most racially conscience white people in mainstream society.  He recognizes the influence that his race plays in his success.  He doesn't apologize for his race or dislike who he is because of his race.  He's a white person that appreciates black culture.  Would people in Taiwan watch the NBA if Jeremy Lin were black?  Would the NBA be any more popular anywhere outside of the US if Jeremy Lin were black? Absolutely not.

Although I like Lin's story, I don't recognize it as a rags to riches story the way that people tried to twist it.  He went to Harvard University.  I doubt that he was hard up for money or that he had to live on a couch.  That was a choice like an actor that chooses to sacrifice in order to chase their dream.

I personally feel that although its unfortunate many of the role models in the black community are athletes.  Athletic ability is one of the few "positive" stereotypes that are associated with black people.  I quote the word positive because the association doesn't negate the negative stereotypes that come along with it.  Many of our athlete's are represented as ignorant and/or criminal in the media just like our musicians and non-celebrity personas.  At times it feels as though the media wants to strip all dignity from black people.  We can't even be the best at our own stereotypes.  The media highlights the mafia and their constant referral to niggers, rich Columbian drug lords and black street corner hustlers, intimidating Mexican gangs and unorganized black gangs.

Granted that I don't know Mayweather personally, I think this is in part why Floyd Mayweather made his comment even though I don't agree with it.  When a white person is a talented rapper, his talent supersedes all the other great rappers.  When a basketball player shows skill, Ricky Rubio or Jeremy Lin, he's now an all star.  When a boxer has a great record, he is crowned the champion, Pacqiao, even if a black person has a better record.  However, when a black person accomplishes something outside of the box that we are put in, there is usually an examination of their blackness or they are simply not given the credit they deserve.  I like to see a person's talent and hard work be acknowledged regardless of race, but inside and outside of America race does matter.

The IT Factor

I don’t understand IT, but I think everyone recognizes IT’s existence.  To a certain extent, I feel like everyone possesses the IT factor.  IT is what helps us to relate to one another and makes Facebook and Google rich.  You can put your friends into circles, just like you do in real life.  Assuming you have friends to put in circles and that you use the circle method.  I’ve been frustrated lately because I’m not sure why I don’t have the IT factor, but I’m sure that I don’t have IT.

Tebow, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos has IT.  Scalabrini of the Chicago Bulls has IT.  IT is not always based upon something, but there’s something about IT that appeals to everyone.  The most popular guy in school has IT, usually the gothic person doesn’t have IT, but in today’s society anyone can find a group to relate to.  Even people that don’t have IT can find other people that don’t have IT and that becomes IT.  I even know people that have an abundance of IT.

I think about how 2pac says so many things I can relate to.

“Ain’t nothing worse than this cursed as hopeless life”
“I ain’t got no muthafuckin’ friends”
“Fuck the world”
“It’s just me against the world”

All of these things from one of the most popular hip hop artist ever.  Kids still talk about him though he’s been dead for over 15 years.  I guess when you’re able to express yourself on a public stage and you have a voice, those people that are tucked away thinking life sucks have someone that speaks their pain.  I think about all the people that hated high school or middle school.  I never hated any of my experiences.  And yet I still find myself sitting here felling like IT doesn’t matter. 

I can’t help but think about how when people ask me about my siblings and I tell them how many I have; they tell me how big my family is.  I always think, ‘Wow, I do have a big family…who woulda knew.’  My “friends” tell me how great of a friend I am, yet we know the same people and I never get the wedding invitations or the same calls they receive.  Quite frankly, I recognize reality. In reality, many words that people consider descriptive are action words.  You can’t be a smart kid and get in trouble all the time.  If you’re in jail, you’re not a good criminal.  If all of your students fail, you’re not a good teacher.  If you don’t have any friends and no one likes you, you’re not a great friend.  You’re not a great catch if no one wants to catch you.  If you don’t have time for a person, don’t show them affection and don’t reach out to them, you don’t love them.  I’ve heard all of the above and honestly it’s a little insulting.  If I were homeless, you would walk up to tell me how rich I am?

So, now I’m thinking about change.  The thing about change is that there’s no easy way to bring about change and change doesn’t always provide the results you seek.  I keep wondering if it’s something about me that’s I’m just not seeing or understanding, but since I can’t figure out how or what it is I need to change about myself I feel that I only have one other choice:  I must change those things around me.  I would like to just delete all of my memories, like a person with amnesia.  But, then I’m always worried about who I should and should not “erase” and how do you live and enjoy life with no memories?  One way or the other, I have to do something.  Like Michael Jackson’s album, this is IT.

Farewell Fair-weathers

One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.

What goes around comes around.

These are statements we grow up hearing, but I find to be meaningless in reality.  I used to get frustrated by fair-weather friends, but they have become such a commonality throughout my life that I feel like I should be used to it by now.  But I feel that the notion is similar to how I tell people you can't get used to cold weather in Chicago, you can only prepare yourself better for the cold.  I feel like I've done a pretty poor job preparing for fair-weather friends.  I've had the conversation with real friends several times and I've been told that I expect too much from people, but it's only because I expect so much from myself.  Unfortunately I bought into the hype of the statements above.

When I first joined my fraternity, I can recall many times when I would meet other people that valued the bond as much as I did.  They all echoed the same feeling of expecting the bond to be stronger generally amongst at least a majority of members, but they failed to meet expectation.  These people would tend to become inactive members of the fraternity and later be asked why then didn't chose to stay active.

I'd need as many fingers as an octopus with human hands to count the number of times I have been stiffed in a "friendship."  When people visit my city, I drop everything outside of the undroppable to pick them up and drive them around touring my city.  If I'm without transportation, I catch public transportation.  When I visit other friends, the story seems to be unchanged.  I have to drive to meet up with them, IF they have time.  They would meet up with me, BUT...for a million reasons its not possible.  I wonder why I even desire friendship sometimes.  With this in mind, I moved back to Chicago to the comfort of family only to discover that the same is true with family.  I've thought about cleaning the slate and starting anew.  I've deleted the Facebook account and revamped the phone book, but its difficult to delete & forget about your entire history/past.  The older I get the more antisocial I get and the more I understand why people don't like people.


Happy New Year.

Beautiful Girls

What is it about a person that makes you think about that person all the time forever?  Why can't you choose who you do or don't think about constantly?  Why can you make the person you want to think about the person you actually think about?  I guess it's just the cruel nature of life that make you fall for the one person that doesn't fall for you.

This isn't based on a current experience, just a thought.  I remember in high school that there were girls that liked me, but when I recount high school I always tell people about my struggles to find a girlfriend.  I'm not sure if its a matter of beauty or just a lack of a connection.  When I was in high school I started talking to two girls at the same time.  I found them both equally attractive, but one took my heart and the other didn't.  Til this day I can't figure out why/how.  The one I didn't chose, was probably logically the better choice, but I still didn't choose her.  I've seen this dilemma in movies, but it's crazy how much it happens in everyday life.  I hear/see the same issue in every day life and it still doesn't make sense to me.  Why do women want a bad boy knowing that the bad boy can't provider her with the security that she desire?

Why do men in prison have so many more children than men that are trying to better themselves and are on the "correct" path?