Okay, I don't think I have to write much on this one. Whitney and Bobby are divorcing. What I would like to know is how did two stars like these two end up going so far off the deep end. Doesn't it just make you so sad?

In my past critiques of hip hop culture, I have pointed out many of the negative aspects without presenting an even-handed argument. Given that hip hop has permeated American culture, and to a large extent world culture, I choose to provide a new analysis of it's effect on the world. In an attempt to be brief I will provide two lists, one for pros and the other for cons. Perhaps I will point out some aspects that may pique further interest.

CONS
(1) It over-glorifies the gangsta mentality. Kids watch and want to emulate what they see.

(2) Although it helps a bit with employment and career development, the women in the vidoes (called Video Hoes) are often barely clothed, simulate sex acts and appear to be only for the amusement of the rappers (artists). And sometimes they will even be called "bitches, hoes, or chickenheads" in the song.

(3) If often glorifies getting high, use of alcohol, carrying weapons, and fighting. These things don't promote healthy values.

(4) Major emphasis is given to material things like million dollar cars, thousands of dollars of grill work to put in their mouths, huge chains around their necks, and the dreaded, and truly a fashion faux pas - The Baggy pants. Kids see this and want to dress that way, but don't realize that they are targets to be robbed when they walk around "iced out" like rappers. (That means adorned with lots expensive jewelry.

(5) They are obsessed with sex. Too many lines like...let me stick it, let me lick it, I'm gonna split it, then I'll quit it. Come on! This is not good for our youth! They could be a bit more subtle. I could go on with this one but I will stop it here.

(6) My hip hop artists get street credit for either having already been to jail, or doing something outrageous that lands them in jail. Notice how Diddy became even more popular after he beat the assault with a deadly weapon charge, Snoop Dogg, beat a murder charge. Biggie and Tupac died from gunshot wounds. C-Murder went to jail for murder, although cleared on a technicality, he shot a video in prison, R-Kelly is a sexual pervert. Mystikal went to prison for his sexual perversion. Proof, Eminem's sidekick was murdered in a nightclub following a fight. Okay, okay, there's more but I will stop here. There is too much criminal activity associated with hip hop. It can be cleaned up, but it helps to sell cds so it does not need to be cleaned up.

NOW FOR THE PROS

(1) It generates money, and lots of it for some who might be otherwise disenfranchised. So it provides hope.

(2) Some of the artists actually give back to their communities in a big way. Master P, Ludacris, Jay-Z.

(3) Some have used their fame to break into the movies. Will Smith, Queen Latifah, TI, The Game, Snoop. Some of them actually have good acting skills, so they are opening up Hollywood and adding more diversity in movie stars.

(4) The astute ones use their money and become entrepreneurs. Jay-Z has amassed an empire and so has Diddy. The new clothing lines are so strong that they are carried in all the major stores.

(5) Hip hop as an art form can be used to bring people together. Hip hop is no longer a "Black Thing". Its accepted and copied world-wide. It in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia....okay maybe not Antarctica...rappers not likely to do shows there.

(6) It has been tapped into for educational use. FLOCABULARY is used as a hip hop tool to help kids study for the SAT. It actually works and has been proven to help improves scores by up to 50 points or more.

I have said my peace on this issue. Your turn to respond if you so desire.

Why do we call them terrorist. Why not something more appropriate and creative like Dead Men Walking (DMW)? They might get the message.

I never imagined that I would react to 9/11 individually in such a defensive way. When I get on planes, sadly, I look around to see who looks like a terrorist (no color, no race, but anyone who just looks like a killer. I don't know what I killer looks like but I figure I may know it if I see one. I am always prepared to fight, to die if necessary because I do not intend to let some DMW just take my life and think he has created fear in me. Oh no, I will fight till my dying breath. If I can, I intend to put a little fear in him also. I do not believe I would be alone. I havent seen any of the 9/11 movies because I am afraid my grief will be too overwhelming. I do not want to relive that tragedy again.

If you were on that plane, or maybe a train, or bus with me, would you help me fight? Please share your thoughts.

How do you view the world and it's leadership? There are Black leaders, White leaders, Tan leaders, all sorts of colors. While I would love to sit here and write about Kwame Nkrumah or Abe Lincoln, or Teddy Roosevelt, Simon Bolivar, or Lord Walpole; the greatest leaders of our time have not been politicians. They have been those people who stood for something so strongly that they motivated people to believe in a cause. So I call the name of Martin Luther King, I call the name of the reformed Malcolm X, I call the name of an enlightened Ronald Reagan (while in Europe), I call the name of a Mother Theresa, of Ghandi, Sun Yat-Sen, Mandela and DeClerq, Molly Yard, William Lloyd Garrison, Sojourner Truth, The Quakers, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, Hapshetsut, and even to Richard Nixon. Review the lives of these individuals and you will see how much good they did for society. They all had their faults, but true progress cause by an individual is often not recognized until long after they are gone.

My point here is that leadership has no color. It has no gender, it has no religious denonimation, or sexual orientation, if the messenger is selfless instead of selfish. When the masses can be inspired because one stands up to tyranny and injustice, then the person is truly a leader. Too many follow and follow like blind turkeys happily on their way to the Butterball Factory. If you see someone offering leadership, be it however small, thank them, encourage them, and protect them. The world needs more leaders.

COMING SOON - HIP HOP CULTURE: PROS AND CONS

I would like to get straight to the point. Perhaps President Bush's policy on raising the minimum wage has worked in part. A few states raised it without him. These states however are already high cost of living states. Major corporations have made billions under this administration while the average family continues to struggle. Sure I received a tax rebate check for $600 twice, but GAS PRICES nearly tripled in my state (NC at the time).

I cannot imagine how low wages and high gas prices have affected the poor. The gas prices also caused inflated prices for other goods and necessities. All of this while Congress gave it self several raises to offset inflation. What did the poor get to offset inflation. Nothing! Something is wrong when Congress says it will not raise the minimum wage because rich business men will lose profits. What about when poor people loses their cars and homes?

There is no legitimate reason why the minimum wage has not been increased in 10 years. It is morally reprehensible and it is the shame of America.