The Rise of Unlikely Heroes

Democracy:

A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.


Vigilante:

a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate.
Any person who takes the law into his or her own hands, as by avenging a crime.

Season one of Daredevil was released on Netflix on April, 2015. Upon its release, comic enthusiasts devoured the season, giving it a rise in popularity, even amongst critics. My friend was among this group and recommended I watch it. I was never into comics nor did I know anything about Daredevil besides the movie adaptation featuring Ben Affleck, so it should be no surprise that I was slow to act on his recommendation. Over a year later, the second season has been released, and I was on the front-line of devours this round. Season two brought about a new character, The Punisher, a crowd favorite and my favorite as well--dude is badass. Suffice it to say, I was interested in the show, especially after season two.

Before continuing, I will give a brief synopsis of the show, familiarizing those unfamiliar with the franchise--skip to the next paragraph if you are familiarized already. The main character, Daredevil, is a lawyer by day and a crime-fighting hero by night. Motivated by the wave of violence that filled his city, which played a role in the death of his father, his goal is to rid the city of criminals. The new character, the Punisher, was a highly skilled military personnel and now a full-time crime-fighting "hero", whose only mission in life is retribution, following the brutal killing of his family. Both characters share a similar mission for justice but vary in their method. Daredevil finds perpetrators and apprehends them in a manner that is usually forceful but never fatal. Punisher, on the other hand, takes a less "conservative" approach compared to daredevil--he locates perpetrators and decides their fate, which is usually death. Dealing with the same groups of people, bad guys, naturally, both characters paths crossed and brought about opposition. This opposition was a major point of emphasis during the second season but will not be as relevant to this discussion.

So, why take the time to explain the plot of this show? And what does this fictional show have to do with democracy? Nothing really--I just think Daredevil is a cool show and I want you guys to feel that way too... Kidding! A little comedic relief to lighten this post (I shouldn't write when I'm hungry, so serious!) Anyways, the point of detailing the show is to make sure we have a mutual understanding before embarking on this leap in comparison I will be making, emphasis on leap. Strap on your seatbelts...

This presidential election period has been novel in many ways. For one, history was made with Hillary Clinton becoming the first female presidential nominee and Donald Trump becoming the first non-political nominee in recent times, as far as I know. Also, both nominees are from the same state. In the words of Future Hendrix, "what a time to be alive." Before continuing with the candidates, let's revisit our heroes.

Both characters force the viewer to question the definition of law, order, and justice. As I've mentioned, both share the same ultimate goal of ridding the city of crime but differ in their methods. Another quality they share is their status as vigilantes, which is unlawful. They also share similar admiration from the public, many of whom feel that they are doing the job that the police cannot do, hence donning them the title, hero, regardless of their tactics.

Amidst the vigilantism and crime is the law enforcement, which I will now address. Even though the heroes were received by the city, the police did not take a liking to them. In fact, the heroes were wanted, which makes sense seeing that they are breaking the law. So, even though the system opposes these heroes, the city has come to appreciate them because they feel the heroes are not bound by the system, allowing them to get things done.

Back to the election. While this election period has brought about novelties, it has also exposed the frustration and distrust Americans have for politicians and the system. Arguably, the two most popular candidates were Bernie Sanders and now republican nominee Donald Trump. These two candidates ran on extreme messages that would traditionally be career suicide in politics but garnered admiration from millions. One preached socialism, another is preaching extreme nationalism, amongst other things. Unlike Trump, Bernie Sanders is a seasoned politician, but similarly, their appeal comes largely from their genuineness and dissociation from the political system and traditional politicians. This sentiment is especially emphasized in the republican party, where a seemingly deviant and renegade bested other seasoned politicians by a landslide. Unlike other politicians, people feel these two are genuine and will actually work to accomplish the promises they make. Similar to our heroes, these candidates are polarizing in the public, some favoring them wholeheartedly while others find them disastrous. As we have seen from the email leaks that showed a lack of support from the Democratic National Committee on Sanders' side, and the lack of endorsement and opposition to Trump by Republicans, it is evident the system is not favorable towards them either.

Cool story, but what exactly does this have to do with democracy? Like Hell's Kitchen, America is in a place of uneasiness and frustration--frustration from unresolved racial, socioeconomic, diplomatic, and a whole lot of other issues, causing Americans to feel desperate. Many feel these issues stemmed from or involved the government and this election period has provided candidates that embody the frustration and desires many feel, hence, leading to the rise of unlikely candidates.

These unlikely candidates are like our vigilantes, providing alternatives that the system would not provide or support.

All of these things taken into consideration, I will leave with a final food for thought. Daredevil and The Punisher did not spawn randomly or haphazardly--the perception of an inadequate system, incapable of addressing the issues of their society was the catalyst that brought about those characters. As the New York Post publishes material to taint the image of a candidate, as other news outlets unashamedly display bias and obvious favoritism, as people on social media voice their distaste for the presidential candidates, so do I urge them to channel that same passion and zeal in criticizing the system that has fostered these candidates, because good or bad, presidential candidates are merely a reflection of a democratic society.

The story behind my bike...

First off, I would like to warn you of the nature of this post before proceeding; it is going to be... busy? Cluttered? Take your pick!

"But aren't all of your posts like that?"

Ah, but this one is different! Follow me and witness the method to my madness... or just my madness *Chrissy Teigen face*

Anyways, if you follow me on social media, you're a real one, if you don't, you're playing yourself (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) #ShamelessPlug #IsItAppropriateToUseHashtagsInThisManner #WelpIt'sHappening #MyBlogMyRules #StopRambling.

The point is that if you follow me on social media, you might have been hinted to my inclination for environmentally sustainable practices. One particular practice I have taken up is riding my bike to church instead of driving. This is no great feat. In fact, the ride totals around a mile and a half-- told you it's nothing impressive. At this point, this practice has become commonplace and I rarely put much thought to it. But today, a lady made a comment that made me question this relatively new habit of mine.

As I unlocked my bike, a lady behind me exclaimed, "you're riding your bike in this heat?"

Looking over my shoulder towards the voice, I gave off my signature "why are you talking to me?" chuckle, topped with my "stop it! look friendly" grin--nailed it!

"Wow, bless your heart," she said.

"Um, thanks?" I said underneath my breath, returning back to freeing my bike.

The weather was well over 100 degrees and my bike had been sitting in the sun for the last hour and thirty minutes, a recipe for second-degree burns. After a few seconds of fumbling with my lock, I finally succeeded in freeing my bike, but the toll was evident as beads of sweat rolled down my face. Handling the metal frame of my bike like a hot potato, I hastily proceeded off the sidewalk. I hopped on my bike and coasted through the parking lot, finding relief in the warm breeze. As my hands gradually acclimated to the temperature of the handlebars, my mind wandered to the lingering echoes of the lady's words.

"You're riding your bike in this heat?" The tone of her voice was like she witnessed me casually drink spoilt milk (horrible analogy, but it's the best I can do right now.)

As I crossed the street, I replayed her statement in my head, to the point of questioning my sanity. I had a perfectly working car with A/C, so why endure this discomfort when there is a much more comfortable alternative?

Cruising past the stop sign leading to my neighborhood, I chuckled because I already knew the answer to this question. The decision to ride my bike to church, instead of driving, did not spur from a desire for convenience, but rather from a need to address an issue that I believe in.

The ride from my house to my church is around a mile and a half total. Sure, the sun is hot and it can get uncomfortable, but the ride from my house to my church is around a mile and a half total. A cause, or goal, does not have to be grand or force you to live a life of burden. But there are some goals that will require you to experience some discomfort to achieve. Although I try to have more sustainable practices, I fall short and I am even wasteful in some aspects of my life. But to me, if one truly believes in a cause or goal, the key is to make repeated efforts to affect that goal, cause, or desire, and not just talk about it, because there is no greater offense in this life than being a hypocrite.

So, I leave you with that; the story behind my bike...

See! There was method to my madness, yes? No?

One Love

The Ostrich

Do you know ostriches can’t fly?

Weighing over three hundred pounds,

Wings spanning seven feet wide,

Standing nine feet above the ground,

The ostrich is the largest bird species.

With phenomenal leg power

The ostriches kick can kill,

Also enabling it to run at speeds over forty miles per hour.

Other birds soar above the ostrich

Amazed of its incredible abilities,
Thinking how nice it would be to possess just a pinch.

But the ostrich stares back wishfully;

The ostrich can do many things

But from the ground, it can only dream,

Because no matter how hard it tries

The ostrich will never fly.

Daily Discourse: Gun Law, Is There a Middle Ground?

Welcome back to another Daily Discourse! Two parts in and I'm already slacking off, oh boy! Maybe I should just make it Weekly Discourse--that doesn't sound as catchy though *Sighs*

Anyways, let's talk guns! Our speaker for this session is the polarizing Ben Shapiro. Whether you hate him or love him, you have to respect the mans debate acumen. The embedment below contains the full interview but this link should take you directly to the gun control segment. They talk about a variety of issues, which I may or may not use in the future, but the focus here is on gun control. He makes key points that I believe both parties can agree on--the prevalence and mismanagement of mental illness in the U.S. 

Thought questions:

• Does solving the mental illness issue solve gun violence? If so, how do we achieve that? If not, why even bother addressing it?
• If amendments were made to the constitution, why can't an amendment be made to this law?
• Criminals don't care about the law, what impact would a nationwide ban have on criminal related gun violence?

Daily Discourse: Is Physical Military Intervention a Sound Solution for Conflict Mitigation in the Middle East

Hey guys!

In the spirit of seeking growth and improvement of this blog, I will be expanding its scope and content. One of the reasons I started this blog was to have a platform to analyze topical issues and have discourse around said issues. Starting with this series, I will officially be taking a new approach to the content of this blog. In contrast to my prior posts, which were more closed-ended in their presentation, this new series will aim to foster discussion from the audience. In order to embrace this, each Daily Discourse post will be brief, only highlighting key points on the topic at hand and posing thought questions. 

The series will feature a speaker who, in my opinion, has an insightful and seemingly unbiased assessment of topical issues. There will obviously be selection bias due to my personal views but I will always present speakers that approach the topic from a logic-driven viewpoint rather than pathos-driven. 

Above all, the ultimate goal of the blog still stands firm, and that is to inspire and seek enlightenment through discussion. I hope the new additions will greater serve this purpose. 

On that note, here is Noam Chomsky speaking on the genesis of Isis. The video is part of a full interview but the point is essentially made in this segment. I found this clip interesting because it gives details on the invasion of Iraq during the Bush era and he speaks on the mechanisms that might have led to the formation of ISIS. 

Some thought questions to consider: based on this knowledge, is physical intervention in the Middle East, like some of the presidential candidates suggest, a sound solution? If yes, what are some factors to consider in order to avoid the recurrence of the consequentional outcomes from the Iraq invasion? If not, what are some viable and effective alternatives to the rising threat of ISIS? 

Give the video a look, and let the discourse begin!

Enjoy

TED CRUZ.

Brothers and sisters, I write this to you in confusion. I had to find a calendar, consult Google, go outside--I needed something to tell me we weren't in the early 1900's. Ted Freaking Cruz! This guy has done it. All throughout this presidential shenanigan, I have reserved my opinions, even amidst Donald Trump’s outrageous comments. But here I am, all thanks to recent statements by presidential candidate for the United States of America, Rafael "Ted" Cruz. Let us start this discussion by viewing the clip that made this post possible:

............WAIT, WHAAAAAT?


#ChrissyTeigenCringe























#NotEnoughPalmsInTheWorld



#WaitingForTheJKLOLLike



#ComeHaveASeatInHereTed

In all fairness, I will disclose that I didn’t watch the full interview, partly because I don’t like the guy and I suspect the conversation only went downhill and didn’t require my attention, so pardon my bias. But I will say my dislike is not entirely unwarranted. Brief example--rather than addressing the deficits that have led to his lagging performance compared to the Donald, his strategy has been to beg voters to vote for him simply because "we can't have Trump as president." This guy’s logic, or lack of, shows me he does not get it. Your approach is not working. You are not appealing to the people of America, and they are not voting for you because they lack faith in your capacity to lead, yet, you continue with the same proposals that garnered no support and simply latch "anything is better than Trump"? Come on man! This post is not to discuss voting or compare the candidates, but rather a critique of Rafael Cruz and more specifically, his statement from the interview—I will now abandon this portion and leave it to the comments section for anyone who feels eager to discuss some more.

Back to the video!

Rafael suggests that Muslim communities need to be patrolled and secured by police enforcement.

*Long sigh*

First off, what in the world is a Muslim community? Maybe because I live in Arizona I am unaware of the phenomenon of Muslim communities. But in my travels around the US, I have never seen a "Muslim Community." Are there areas with larger concentrations of Muslims? Sure, but a homogeneous Muslim community? I don’t think so. But let's agree to these Muslim communities. Rafael suggests these communities should be patrolled and secured, two very active terms that have no clear boundaries attached to their assertion.

*Another long sigh* Do I even need to go into the implications of what Raffy is suggesting? No? Well, I already have my rant prepared, so I shall explain. Raffy is suggesting that a group of AMERICANS (I'm assuming they are Americans since he says the war is with Islam and there are American Muslims) be monitored and secured separately from the other Americans (assuming homogeneous “Muslim communities”). I don't even want to continue explaining this because if you don't get where this is going by now, this conversation is obviously not meant for you. Friends, we are currently witnessing the approach of a slippery slope that poses a threat of dividing this nation, threatening our fellow citizens, and increasing civil tension. In the 1940’s Franklin Roosevelt ordered the relocation and incarceration of Japanese people, many of whom were American citizens. I am not well versed on the history of Pearl Harbor and the Japanese intermittent camps, but it does not take much depth to see similarities to the situation we are facing currently.

And if this is the future of American politics, if the majority of Americans side with Republicans and these are the policies and strategies that will be imposed, then I strongly urge my fellow Americans, especially Muslims, to become militant. They need to exercise the beloved second amendment. They must be prepared to defend themselves against, in the words of Ben Shapiro, a "usurpatious government"---one that is tyrannical and seeks to intervene on the civil liberties of its citizens. Malcolm X, one of the greatest minds to grace this planet and a personal inspiration of mine, said it beautifully “…when one is moderate in the pursuit of justice for human beings, he’s a sinner.” Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” My fellow Americans, be strong, use the constitution as your guide, and do not compromise an inch in protecting your civil liberty. I am sure Raffy will support this proposition seeing he is a constitutional purist, but I highly doubt that.

The fact that Raffy fails to see the hypocrisy, inconsistency, and lack of logic in his ideas, while proudly touting it as a sound solution and arrogantly attacking the Donald and every other person under the sun on how illogical they are, illustrates his cowardice and ineptitude. Part of me hopes it's an act because it would be a tragedy for his loved ones and those that have to associate with someone so blinded by their arrogance that they fail to see their flaws while simultaneously putting others down—pointing out the speck in others eyes while he has a log in his.

You might be thinking, why so harsh on Rafael Cruz? How about the Donald? Trump has virtually no political experience, just his words. He hosted a reality show and his status is essentially boiled down to businessman/semi-socialite. That is who Raffy is competing against. I am not concerned about the Donald. Is he to be taken seriously? Of course. As he has proven in the election thus far, he resonates with the American people and he has the potential to win. But like Pres. Obama said, the American people are smart enough to know the stakes associated with the presidency, and he trusts them not to elect a reckless person to that position (Trump could actually make a decent president, in my opinion, his brashness is all that bothers me, especially in a time where international tension is high.) Rafael, on the other hand, is an experienced politician. An elected official who should display better sense than what he is presenting. Yes, I am holding the bar higher and my critique is harsher towards Raffy. Why? Because this is his field, and he sucks at it. A socialite is beating him. "But they both have questionable propositions, the Donalds even worse", you say. Well, Rafael is a rat posing as a mouse while criticizing others of being rats. We all know what the Donald is, he even embraces it. Rafael, on the other hand, has a holier-than-thou, pompous attitude, and it does not sit well with me. This recent development only solidifies my perception of him.

To conclude my rant, I will part with a final word of wisdom for Mr. Rafael Ted Cruz. "Don't talk to yourself, don't talk ever again." - Kanye West

Response: Rape charges hang over U.N. peacekeepers in Africa

This is a response to the story published in USA Today. The article can be read here: Rape charges hang over U.N. peacekeepers in Africa. While I have been unable to post as much as I would like, I feel this topic is of great importance and attention should be brought to it immediately.

A crime against humanity has been committed. It would be a sin for me to not speak on this topic, especially when it involves my African family. Make no mistake that ALL atrocities on humans are reprehensible, but when it happens to a group that is vulnerable, that on its own is the ultimate disgrace. As if it weren't challenging enough for the people of Central African Republic Africa, who labor to maintain the basics of living, while also dealing with the plague that is civil unrest. The tale of civil strife is one that has filled modern history books of African countries. Many innocent people, a majority of whom are vulnerable, have lost their lives to  unnecessary battles. In the midst of all this, they now have another set of problems to worry about. The people that were supposed to help them are killing and raping them. I have to acknowledge that the evidence, so far, has been anecdotal, but I can't think of a scenario where fabricating stories would be of benefit to the victims. So far, there are multiple people that have come forward with these claims of rape and killings, forcing France to pull troops from the country. This is an outrage and speaks to the repeated exploitation of African countries.

The UN will forgo their investigation, action or inaction will be taken against the perpetrators, the troops will leave, and life will continue. But in Central African Republic, there will still be strife, families will still be missing their loved ones, the victims still living with the memory of being raped. These vulnerable people will still remain. It is a story that I'm getting tired of hearing. But this isn't about me. This is the reality many people live, and we need to do better to protect these people. Better oversight and management needs to be implemented when foreign aid is employed. Most of all, we as Africans need to be at the forefront of these issues. This repeated tale of helplessness and strife needs to end. I blame us for this. When will African governments rise to help its people? When will they stop stretching their hands out, begging for foreign aid? It's not to boast that I say this, but to drive a point home; I have said numerous times, Africa will not overcome the poverty, inequality, exploitation of vulnerable people through foreign aid. African governments need to collaborate and be more vigilant in protecting its people. NO ONE will uphold the best interest of Africans like Africans. We must do better. We must work harder to protect the vulnerable, so things like this never happen.

"The true testament of one's character is what they do when no one is watching. Even greater than this  is how they treat those who are in need and have no way of returning the favor."

One love

I Woke Up at 6 A.M.

This morning I woke up at 6 A.M. I don’t say this to impress you. Actually, my mother was probably clocked in 45 minutes away at her job at that time, some already knee deep in their work. The feat here is not that I woke up at 6 A.M., no. The feat is why I woke up at 6 A.M.

Before I progress, I will need to shed details on my current situation. Last year, which was about a week ago *commences schmoney dance*, I completed my first semester of graduate school. My schedule during that period was highly structured, each day methodological, leaving little room for improvisation, at least if I wanted to be in good standing with the program. The point is that I had a cyclical schedule. Nothing wrong with this. Actually, it was highly beneficial for me due to my scatter-brained nature. It forced me to be organized and work on a set schedule, quite opposite from my usual routine. See, I have what is considered the gift/curse of a creative mind; I relish the calm of the night. Energized by the deadening of my surrounding, my brain springs to life, neurons communicating at unprecedented velocities; I am a night owl. 

While I appreciated functioning on a different schedule and flow (variability is key), it was rather challenging for me. I had to wake up early each day which meant I had to sleep "early" the night before if I was to be marginally functional. This was not the case 95% of the time. While my colleagues complained about going to bed late, usually at times before 12 A.M., I hid my face, avoiding the questioning eyes that observed my compulsive yawning and lethargic state; falling asleep before 12 A.M. would have been a miracle for me! And like my fellow night owls, when asked about my nocturnal activities my reply was simply, "doing stuff." Maybe I should not clump all night owls together as responding this way, but I am going to say a sizable amount respond similarly, especially if their nocturnal inclinations are coupled with a hint of introversion. And sometimes this answer is for the best because "stuff" usually encompasses several activities, sometimes not even related, and can take a while to TRY explaining (which usually fails.)

But, I have been on winter break for two weeks and still have a week to go (is the schmoney dance applicable here?). So, as you can imagine, I'm back to my night owl ways. That is the law of entropy right? A night owl left to itself will stay awake? No? Okay, forget I mentioned that. Anyways, I have been mildly productive over the break, working on different "stuff", all accomplished at night as you will expect. So, this brings me to today. 

I woke up at 6 A.M. As I've mentioned, this is no great feat. I wake up earlier than that during the school session, and sometimes on weekends impulsively. The great feat today was that I woke up "inspired." For the creative mind, inspired isn't necessarily the willingness to do something, although it is a component, it is having the mental capacity and creative energy to do what it is we creatives do. Three days ago I had a rare afternoon where I was completely available. My room was clean and laundry was finished. There was nothing on my to-do list. By to-do list, I am speaking of chores and errands, basics that everyone does to maintain a habitable and functioning environment, hopefully. But, like most creatives, my to-do list for "stuff" was still full and piling up daily. Kanye West once said "does he write his own rhymes, well sort of, I think 'em. That mean I forgot better sh*t than you ever thought of." *Stops nodding to Yeezy* This statement at its essence is a representation of the plight most creatives face especially at night when our activity peaks. Our brain is constantly producing material and ideas faster than we can record or produce them, leaving a bulk of these thoughts lost memories in our head. But the few that are remembered occupy our work time.

Back to three days ago. So, my afternoon was free, which meant I had time to work on "stuff." I sat down for hours staring at my computer and got nothing done! I jumped from project to project looking for something to at least add content to but only ended up adding several mediocre sentences to a book I am writing, which will probably get deleted in the future. I was not inspired. I had the willingness to create, but my mind was not cooperating; my neurons were still slumbering and were adamant on staying that way, no matter how willing I was. 

Coming back to today once again, I sit here writing this post because I woke up at 6 A.M., inspired. It is not uncommon for me to dream ideas, as a matter of fact, it seems quite logical that I do. Left alone, I will be going to bed around 6 A.M. What is uncommon is for me to wake up from these dreams and be inspired to actually work on something. Now, the product of my inspiration was not this post, which is a nice addition seeing I haven't posted in a while and it is the New Year, but other “stuff” which I will be working on throughout the day. I'm not entirely sure what about the dream prompted me to wake up, the idea was quite basic actually, but after laying in bed trying to sleep for ten minutes without success, I figured I might as well make use of this inspiration. 

So, what is the point of this post? Perspective on the mind/personality and life of a night owl? Leisure read for you guys? Filler content? Update on what I’m doing with my life? Truth be told, I have no answer. While I am purposeful in having a lesson or objective in my posts, this one is rather random. What I do know is that inspiration woke me up this morning and I answered. So, here I am.