|
G
R
E
E
T
I
N
G
S
ON
L
I
N
E
F
A
M
I
L
Y
|
Todd Mangatal
Greetings to all of you My On-Line
Family: We hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving!!!!
The last few weeks have been very  .
The first big controversy started when OJ Simpson announced he
had written a book about the killings of his ex-wife and her
friend that took place more than 10 years ago, which he was
ultimately cleared of all charges. The book was entitled
"If I Did it, Here's How It Happened". To me
this seems very foolish from his stand point, it would have been
a lot better for OJ to have written a book about his experience
of being accused of murder and what he went through for the
months he tried to prove his innocence. This would have
been a lot more interesting and not made him look like a
"big clown" (which most Americans perceives him to be
anyway). One thing I find interesting about this whole OJ
case is the fact that he was "tried" for these
crimes and was found Not Guilty, but America still sees him as
guilty. To me this seems like a modern day "lynching".
We are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, at least
that is what they always said on TV, but I guess we should never
believe what we see on TV. In OJ's case it was never
proven that he committed these crimes, yet the world believes he
is guilty. Well, only he knows the truth or the real
killers!!!!
The next thing that happened which
was really crazy was the outrageous racist rantings of comedian
Michael Richards that took place in a comedy club in LA.
You may recall Michael Richards was one of the stars of the
popular comedy TV show for 9 years "Seinfeld"
(character Kramer). (Season 6 of the "Seinfeld"
show was just about to be released on DVD for the holidays),
which by the way sales are up 75% from last year when the 5th
season was released and 90% of the year before.
Personally, I think it might have been a major publicity stunt,
per the statistics I listed above, simply to increase the sales
of the DVD. A lot of people are saying Michael Richards
career is over, and maybe so, but remember he made lots of money
from "Seinfeld" for the many years while it was the
top rated show on TV, so I'm sure he's set for life, not to
mention the proceeds he has received and will be receiving from
the sales of the DVD. Wake up America everything isn't
always as it seems. Most of the time it's always about the
dollars!!!
The next crazy thing that happened
was the shootings of 3 unarmed young men in New York, resulting
in the death of one on his wedding day (Groom to be Mr. Sean
Bell who was only 23). His other 2 friends survived, but
is critically wounded, Joseph Guzman, who was hit 11 times, and
Trent Benefield who was wounded in his leg and other
areas. This one is truly crazy, 50 rounds of bullets shot
into a car??? What I find strange about this is the Police
officers didn't even "throw down" a weapon to make it
look like these young men were armed. This is really
strange, what were they thinking? The other amazing thing
about this is how quickly Mayor Michael Bloomburg addressed the
public and stated the shootings was unjust. I think that's
a first, but it's a good thing, because for too long the Police
believed they are "the overseers" and they are not
here to protect and serve, which is something else they have
said on TV. Again, I guess we shouldn't believe what we
see on TV. It seems the world is outraged about this and
rightfully so, because there is simply no reason to shoot 50
rounds of bullets to anyone unarmed.
Since all of the information I have
heard about this incident have been in the media and we can't
believe anything we can see on TV, I know a lot of you among our
on-line family are in New York, and I'm sure a few of you are
from the area where this happened, so please let me know what
you know, so we can make a better assessment of this terrible
situation and try to understand exactly what is going on!!!!
Really and truly this shooting
incident is extremely outrageous, but the one good thing in this
situation is that we all know who committed this crime...the
Police, and I'm sure the families will have the opportunity to
sue "the pants off" the New York City Police
Department, and I'm sure they will win. Of course, this
will not bring back their loved one, nor heal the other 2 who
are wounded but they will be compensated well.
This is a problem that we need to
rally and get outraged about, because many of the problems,
killings, etc. that affects us daily never gets any
attention. I'm talking about the senseless killings that
takes place in our communities on a daily basis, and are being
committed by our children to our children. Yes, these are
problems that affect us daily, but instead we rally against
Michael Richards and OJ. No doubt, this shooting in New
York absolutely require attention, because for far too long we
have been victims of police brutality. However, OJ and Michael
Richard does not even warrant the type of media that it was
given.
As you know I constantly talk about
these senseless killings that takes place daily in our
communities, and what really angers me is that it has gotten to
the point lately that many of these killings go
unreported. Most importantly, when I sit back and think
about the people I know in my immediate circle that have been
killed or wounded in the last few years in the Washington DC
area is sickening, and in these cases usually there is never any
suspects apprehended and convicted, there is no way for any
source of compensation, the families are strapped with the loss
of their children, mental distress, as well as the ones who
survive - just imagine the type of medical bills these families
are faced with.
Let's try and find a way to stop the
violence on our streets!
From time to time we have people in
our community who has real good things to say, and there is
really no outlet for them to express themselves, which is why I
am so excited about what we have created here at Arious
Entertainment - a means of communication and an outlet not only
for us but for those of you among our on-line family that have
issues that are plaguing your mind. This week we received
a nice commentary from Brian Jordan of ICE Entertainment, who
has been promoting Soca music and the culture of Trinidad and
Tobago for many years in our community. I would like to
commend Mr. Jordan on all the work he has done promoting many
events and artists in our community. One great thing about
Mr. Jordan is whether the shows do well or not so well he never
gives up and he keeps promoting the culture he loves. As
many of you may know it is not easy to do something you love,
you always encounter the haters, back stabbers, and parasites
pulling you down and don't want to see you succeed.
Anyway, Mr. Jordan's commentary moved me, so go ahead and read
his commentary below "The Challenge" , and I
hope it moves you enough so that we can make a change in order
for us to uplift each other.
|
"The
Challenge"
By Brian Jordan
aka ICE
As kids growing up in
the Caribbean, and in my case Trinidad & Tobago, we
learned about our heritage and the heritage of all of the
various groups that came from, and to the Caribbean. We
learned that in the Middle Ages, Africans sold each other
into slavery and that tribal warfare was used by the
Europeans to prosper and fuel the Slave market. That
seemed so long ago and if you were like me, you might have
said a silent prayer of thanks that you weren’t born way
back then into a system that seemed so desperate and so
unforgiving. You might have imagined your ancestors being
dragged, beaten and mistreated in a way that today seems
so inhumane. Makes you shudder to think about it doesn’t
it??
As a man, I’ve come
to realize that some of us still blame the “White man”
for our lack of progress. Others have deemed themselves
“successful” and look down their noses and shun their
“less successful” brethren. They would rather be a
negative than be a positive force in their communities.
How easy is it to criticize? How easy us it to laugh when
another man falls? How easy is it to judge another without
taking the time to get to know them?
As a promoter, and a
businessman, I’ve seen people lie, cheat, steal, fight,
and even threaten to achieve some small financial gain. I
cannot speak for all promoters in the area, but we all
have been blessed to some degree. Some have been blessed
with the financial wherewithal to produce great shows;
some with organizational skills; and others with great
friends and supporters. One thing I know is the business has its ups and downs, and
the people in it for the right reasons tend to be
community (people) oriented and not necessarily
money-oriented. You might agree that without promoters,
all of our lives would be much less enriched both
culturally and from an entertainment perspective.
Why can’t we all
realize that if we used our God-given talents together, we
would all prosper. Certainly, our lives on earth are
fairly short and it stands to reason that we all know
right from wrong, and good from evil. Why then can’t we
seem to come together and live a more peaceful and
fruitful existence? Is it still the “White man”? or is
it we don’t want to come to terms with our own failings?
If it is still the “White man”, then we must truly be
weak minded and unable to break free of a history that has
long since past. Our “mental shackles” seem as strong
today as they were back in the Middle Ages, given the
mentality that we observe even today.
I for one don’t
believe blame falls anywhere today, but on our own
shoulders. No one, white or otherwise, man can stop me
from saying something nice to, or about, anyone. For that
matter, no one forces me to do anything. I am my own man
and if we all become our own people and every day decide
to say something nice to, and about the people we meet, we
can start to change our own future. If we do something
good for one another, and resist the impulse to denigrate
and to insult one another, every day, then we might all
begin to practice love of self. Our challenge is to
support one another in this exercise. It is said that
nothing worth having comes easy. I know that a life of
promise, peace, love and comfort is worth having and I
invite anyone else interested in this type of future to
support your community in a more positive sense of living.
I challenge everyone to stop dragging, beating and
mistreating one another, both physically and mentally. Why
not try saying something nice to your neighbor, and to
resist the temptation of negativity every day?? I’m sure
we’d feel a refreshing sense of self worth and who
knows, it might spread to the next generation and our
children will be enriched by it. As calypsonian, Chris
“Tambu” Herbert sang in the 80’s, “The journey now
start!”, so let’s enjoy the short journey of life
together.
www.icecarnival.net
www.myspace.com/icecarnival
|
Susan Mangatal
 Highlights
of Capital Star Competition
One
Heart Charities has decided to take a small break during the
holiday season. Therefore, the Capital Star Competition
will host it's 8th show this Tuesday, December 5th at Oasis on
the Occoquan and it will take a break for the holidays.
One Heart will resume in January 2007 with its 9th and 10th
Capital Star Competitions.
So,
this week is your last chance before the new year to take part
in this Competition. If you would like to be the
next Capital Star contact Toni Samuel for all the details
703-405-7061 or oneheartcharity@aol.com.
The show will resume in January after all the holiday
festivities have been completed. Then they will go into
the semi finals and finals to crown the next Capital Star
If
you like talent or you just like to witness a great show, come
out to Oasis on the Occoquan at 13188 Marina Way, in Woodbridge,
VA for week 8 of Capital Star this Tuesday December 5, 2006
Congratulations
to the winners, of course all the contestants made our judging very
difficult (myself and the other 2 judges Mr. Robert Bates and Mr. J.
R. Fenwick). We had a difficult task, but we had lots of fun
sharing and discussing our thoughts about each contestant and their
performance!!! It was a pleasure to have Sidrach Franklin (WPFW
89.3FM)
host this week's show. Mr. Franklin did an excellent job!!!
Check
out the winners bios from last week's show (Week 7) below:
1ST
PLACE - A.J. FOURTE
A. J. Fourte started comedy as Marine in stationed in
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He was well received by the
Marines and the Hawaiian Natives. Suddenly tragic struck
and he left Hawaii never to return. He went back to
Chicago where again became well known and liked as a
comedian. He created his own public broadcast show
while attending School of Broadcasting. A. J.
quickly start catching the eyes of other up and coming
comedians. A. J. was cast as an extra for a number
of episodes for the new hit Prison Break. A. J.
recently left Chicago to follow his dreams of becoming a
well known comedian. He mention Tuesday's competition was
a measuring point. He envisions taking the Comedy
Club in DC by storm. You can also visit his myspace
web page to see other comedians he has interacted with and
the trailers of independent movies he had an acting role.
2ND
PLACE - MARCELLA JONES
A born performer, Marcella has loved to sing since her
first words at age 2. Though her first language was
Spanish, her love of the English language shortly followed
in school with poetry and prose, winning her first place
in a middle-school writing competition from among the
entire DC area parochial school system. Since then,
she has picked up the guitar and gone on to perform her
original songs at talent shows and DC-area open mics.
Marcella is a two-time 1st place winner of Syracuse
University's Talent Competition (1999-2000) and 2nd place
winner of Syracuse University's Annual Campus Cabaret Show
in 2000. She has appeared on the popular Syracuse
University campus TV show, "After Hours" as the
musical guest in 2001, and has also opened for fellow
singer/songwriter and New York native Amanda Rogers that
same year. Since graduating from Syracuse University
in 2003 with a B.S. in Psychology, Marcella has returned
home to the DC area, and performs often at Jammin' Java's
Open Mic Night in Vienna, VA. More of her original
songs can be heard on www.myspace.com/marcellajones
3RD
PLACE - DEBBIE CHARLES
This Brooklyn native describes herself as a 'city girl
with a hint of island spice'. D' Charles started her
musical journey when she joined the New Utrecht High
School Choir in NYC. This step helped her to gain
recognition as a vocalist, which then led to days full
of solos and musical leads in various high school
productions. Her song writing ability was also
acknowledged and rewarded when she entered the
Bertelsmann World of Expression Music competition and
won a college scholarship sponsored by Sony and BMG
Music Entertainment. In college, she was inspired to
join and tour with the United Soul Ensemble for 3 years,
a Penn State University based gospel choir; an
experience that landed her more acclaim as a vocalist.
She has also performed at public venues such as Miss
Black Penn State, Unity in Christ, and a Multicultural
Evening. Currently residing in Maryland, D' Charles
keeps her time occupied writing lyrics for herself and
other aspiring artists, performing at public venues, and
working on musical collaborations and making more
connections in the music arena. D*Charles just
recently found out that she made the list of
semifinalists in the Disc Makers Independent Music
World Series 2006 music competition.
 Our
heartfelt condolences is extended to the family, friends and
bride-to-be of Sean Bell who was killed by New York Police
Officers this past weekend, and we
pray that his friends who were shot and wounded fully recover -
Mr. Joseph Guzman and Mr. Trent Benefield.
Thanks for the Support and being a
part of our on-line family!!!!
|
STAR?? 
