"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit"

Okay, since this damn journal entry software just lost my original post, here's the fuckin' short version of the story.
On Easter, while I was looking at my little brother's iPod, he asked me if I was familiar with the Black Eyed Peas; did I like them and what not not. I jested with him telling him I didn't feel inclined to support their latest CD, but I had their first two. I then stated that he didn't know about the BEP's until Fergie joined them. At which point, he states, "I know who they are, they used to be A Tribe Called Quest, right?"
Pure. Unadulturated. Blasphemy. If he had said that shit around anybody but family, I'da had to disown his ass. In his defense, he has lived in Centerville, VA all his life.
Talk to your kids and younger siblings about hip hop awareness. Don't let ignorance affect them unnecessarily. This has been a PSA from Lee (the Poet)

So, I was cruising through allhiphop.com and read up on a statement from Chuck D regarding Flavor Flav's recent coonery (as some see it) on VH-1's "Dr. Strange Love" reality series. I personally haven't seen it, but it does bother me a bit because of what Public Enimy historically stood and stands for in hip hop...the black political conscience. Dude's actions seem to have offended a few, and is viewed as hypocritical to others. But, to be honest, I'm not really that bothered by it. Frankly, if it were Chuck, I'd be fuming. But, everybody knows Flav ain't too right, and I don't think I ever took him seriously. In retrospect, son added the comic relief to make what Chuck said easier to swallow. However, I'm curious what ya'll hip hop heads think about it?
HollaBack!

Now, I'm torn on this issue. There are many ways to view this touchy issue. The husband who has seen his wife in this state for 15 years or so, and probably wants this issue, and her to rest in peace. The family who remain optimistic and sentimental, for a woman that for all intensive purposes, died 15 years ago. The medical bills. I believe both sides have valid perspectives; and then there's Bush.
Here's where we get touchy. Warning, this is not Bush bashing, this is simply the fricking truth!
I am not Pro-Life. I am not Pro Abortion, either. I know people who are Pro-Life, and I respect their opinions and beliefs...even understand that some view the Pro-Choice stance as "Pro-Abortion". I...am simply for a woman having the right to choose what she does with her body. I do not think a woman should use abortion as a form of birth control, just as I do not believe that a rape victim should have to bear a child out of rape if she doesn't want to. Truly, we could go back and forth all day on the issue, and still remain at an impass. I respect ya'll shit, I do. I also unerstand that Democrats are traditionally viewed as Pro-Choice and Republicans are viewed as Pro-Life. SO...as I watched the footage on the 10 o'clock news regarding Shiavo and observed the interesting paralells between her case and the age old issue of Pro-Choice and Pro-Life, it hit me.
Bush...(sigh)
This man was recorded as saying "...it is always better to err on the side of life." Okay. That mothaf**** need never open his mouth on the issue of erring on the side of life. We won't even look at the obvious war issue...no, let's look at how Mr. Pro-Life made sure he fried everybody on death row who was in-waiting befoe he left his station in Texas. Don't tell me about Pro-Life when your ass is for the death penalty ya f****n' hypocrite! When all you had to do was pick up a phone before 12am and didn't. Pro-Life means all life...so don't play like you're concerned with the well-being of life and you can't take the consideration of ALL life. Heck, I'm torn on the death penalty for a couple reasons, but mainly because I know for a fact that there are a lot of men on death row, or who were killed who were innocent.
Back to the Pro-Life issue. I think to take away a woman's right to choose whether or not a woman can have an abortion is a very large women's rights issue. There is adoption, but the over-all system needs to be closely examined, as we have all seen and heard terrible stories about poor conditions in foster homes, abuse, etc. Adoptive parents aren't always the best, but, that's not always the case of course. I guess the point is...yes, the ability of birthing a child from your womb, women, is truly a gift. But the reality surrounding the circumstances of how that child was conceived and what it will be born into is the real issue for many. I can't sign a piece of paper that says a 15 year old girl will have to carry a reminder of what her father (or uncle, brother, friend, teacher) did to her for nine months.
Scenario: Maybe a not so known fact is, during times of slavery, some women would ingest certain roots that would help their chances of miscarrying. As a mother, I'm sure no choice could be harder; to say I'd rather end this pregnancy than to birthe what slave owners didn't even view as a man, but 3/5's of a man with less worth than their dog. Now, as we may or may not know, many slaves (women and men) were raped by their owner's, the men to emasculate and the women to breed more free labor. Were these women wrong for the choices they made? My point (as I see it), is that as long as there is an exception, then there must be choice.
Most of the women who are raped are raped by someone they know...often even love. Many women do not report their rape, they keep their shame to themselves. What if it was your sister, what if it was your wife, your girlfriend, hell, even your mother? Would the line be so crystal clear then? This isn't about running from responsibility or scorn, this is about admitting that atrocities happen to women every day. One of the biggest is telling a woman that her body is not her own. Giving birth is a gift, as being pregnant, an (expectant) mother, etc. But the woman should always have the choice whther or not she wants to accept that gift.

Open (Senryu)
Trying to behave
Caught between beauty and words
Damn she is so fine

Open (Tanka)
Hope she doesn’t see
My attention keeps drifting
I can’t help it
She need not look that damn good
Her eloquence knows no bounds

Check it out, I've been nominated for a few National Underground Spoken Word & Poetry Awards (NUSPA) awards, and I need your help to win.

My nominations are for:
Babylon Songs was nominated for Best Book!
All Seasons was nominated Best Album!
illpoets.com was nominated more like family poetry troupe!

If you agree, please clck on the (above) nomination(s) you agree with and send your email ballot today, or email spokenwordawards@yahoo.com directly and let them know by writing me in for one, two, or all of the above nominations. Please not that I can only be voted for catagories I've been nominated in. Votes are being accepted through March 25th. Don't forget to tell your friends!!

Thanks!

Ebony Enunciation
Pantoum #1

With full lips she spoke
Exposing a knowing tongue
Full of wisdom and grace
Enchanted with black magic desire

Exposing a knowing tongue
Wise in the arts of fellatio
Enchanted with black magic desire
She drowned me with her words

Wise in the arts of fellatio
Sucking on each syllable
She drowned me with her words
The purest incarnation of foreplay

Sucking on each syllable
Full of wisdom and grace
The purest incarnation of foreplay
With full lips she spoke

Space Traveler
Pantoum #2

I'm pushing out space
Making room for you
Swallowing nothing
Makes you easier to consume

Making room for you
Inebriation and libido
Makes you easier to consume
Swallowing your khalua and spitting up milk

Inebriation and libido
The labia sub mariner salivating for your secretions
Swallowing your khalua and spitting up milk
69 degrees of satisfaction

The labia sub mariner salivating for your secretions
Swallowing nothing
69 degrees of satisfaction
I'm pushing out space

If I said it once, I ain't said it enuff-- Amerie has some beautiful legs, man!
What's crackin', folk? Me? Just doin' what I do, waiting for the work whistle so I can Yabba Dabba Doo and roll the fuck out of this 9- 5. 'Til then, figured I'd at least say "what up".
Interesting things going on-- Some cat from the UK emailed me on some, "I want to play some of your music on my radio show" business, and another cat emailed asking how much it'd be to book ALL the illpoets. We shall see what happens... Also, it has become abundantly clear that I need to diversify my marketing strategem for the illpoets.com CD, as folks are still raving over it, but it's not in enough hands. Here's one way you could help:
For those who have copped the CD, email two friends you think would enjoy the CD and encourage them to buy it from the site. Should they enjoy the CD, ask them to do the same thing. If you have not bought the CD, buy the joint, I'm positive you'll enjoy it!
Content news: leethepoet.com revamp process hit a stand still as I got a bit lazy, but I should be doing some work on it over the weekend, and definately next weekend. illpoets.com- wise, I'm trying to post a new book, game & music review every month, but it's kinda hard to do, so bear with me on this.
Also, I ain't heard from anybody on the scene...what's the deal, am I in quarantine and nobody told me? Holla Back!
Rebecca- Thanks for that link you put me on to (the comic book stuff), it was pretty damn dope, as are you.
Hey, would anybody care if I got rid of my resume and online portfolio? I was thinking about seriously shrinking that down, man...
Okay, so, I also have ADD when it comes to reading, as my imagination will begin to wander, BUT, I'm reading this joint called, "Against All Enemies". A recount of the events leading up to and surrounding the 9/11 tragedy by someone who was a part of three different white house presidencies including the first G Dubya term! It's interesting thus far; Seems to be respectful of G Dubya (even though it seems he disagrees with him on some things), but doesn't seem to like Rumsfeld. We'll see.
Also, since this is my journal, I'd also like to note that I recently installed a new processor in my G4, so it's 3 X's faster than before! Yeah!! I was going to buy a Mac Mini, but decided the upgrade would be cheaper and more efficient. I also am going to be battling for the first time on X-Box live, as soon as I cop Halo 2! So, ya'll can look for me under my rhyme alias.
PS- Amerie can get it!

PROFILE OF THE EPIDEMIC

DC has the highest rate of new AIDS cases per 100,000 population in the United States -- a rate that is 10 times the national average.

It's estimated that one in every 20 adults in the District of Columbia is infected with HIV. Up to one-third of them do not know they are HIV-positive.

In DC, the greatest increase in AIDS cases is occurring among people of color, women, injection drug users and through heterosexual contact.

In DC, new AIDS cases among women occur at 10 times the national average.

In DC, 79 percent of all AIDS cases are among African Americans.

More than 11,000 people in the Washington metropolitan area live with AIDS. Tens of thousands more people are estimated to be infected with HIV.

Nationwide, someone under the age of 25 is infected with HIV every 30 minutes.

It's estimated that as many as 25-30 percent of those who are infected are unaware that they are HIV-positive.

Statistics provided by the WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC

Yeah, I know I've been negligent and all, and I apologize. That said, ya'll don't holla no mo' either, so we're ji' even. Okay, so ignore that...I'm in an awkward yet semi-euphoric mood seeing as though I recovered my missing cell phone. I was about to be heated, man. But I stayed cool; speaking of which, I'm trying to see Be Cool this weekend. I kinda feel like it's going to be bad just because it has all those names, but it may have a good story, too. Who knows? Besides, F. Gary Gray does do his thing with the movies, man, I'll give him that. I'm so glad it's pay day today, I've been so broke this last couple of weeks, it ain't even been funny. Still broke, just not piss poor. Upset that said lack of finances will most likely prevent me from partaking in the debauchery of my boys Bachelor party in the Dominican Republic later this month. That's probably a good and a bad thing, though.
More later.