THOUGHTS from The HEADoc

I logged on this morning and to my astonishment discovered subscriptions to Quest 4 Sanity had increased by 6 fold.

I have continued to refresh the screen all day to try and be sure that an error hasn't occured. Things of the sort just don't happen for me. If it does turn out to be true I fear the pressure may increase for me to produce more quality entries. In the words of Homey The Clown, "I don't think so!" I'll just keep right on writing what I feel as it comes to me. I'll continue to ramble, rant, rave, preach, and teach in my own unique little way. Still there will be those who insist I'm so wrong about certain issues and get bent out of shape and not read another word I write. This buds not for them anyway. There will also be the faithful few who find what I write to be as intended which is entertaining, informative, and thought provoking. You know who you are.

I know I'm not always completely right about some topics and my views are usually modifiable when the evidence supports that. I do pride myself in having a keen sense of things that are simply wrong in principle and not negotiable. This is usually what sparks my interest in politics, or politicians more so. Politicians are just characters who play a role in a system that boasts more than it ever delivers. The system really does little for the people until it is forced to do so. This goes as far back as The Emancipation Proclamation. I doubt much of the Civil Rights legislation would have been passed had Dr. King not been murdered and angry rioters threatened to end the peace for all. The killing of Dr. King actually backfired if the goal was to halt progress for minorities.

For many years I have studied Dr. Kings life and his effect on people and the nation in general. I learned every word of his I Have a Dream speech and used to recite it before audiences to an amateur music track. This helped me to feel and understand the greatness of this man. Of interest, he never even set out to become an icon of greatness but accepted the call when others insisted he lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the rest is history. He lived daily with threats against his life and the lives of his family. Sure he felt fear, as any human would, but he possessed the courage to face the danger anyway. He knew that his life would be short but he was committed to accomplishing his mission. His mission wasn't to deliver Black Americans, but to heal relations between all people and make it possible for all to have access to the American Dream. Has this really occurred?

If the question is approached from the perspective of "has racism ended?" the answer is obviously a resounding NO. Racism may never end but its power will one day be neutralized if we choose to carry on Dr. Kings legacy. Many dislike Rev Al Sharpton, but credit must be given where it is due. He led an impressive and effective protest against the injustices brought against Michael Bell, the college student/athlete charged with capital crimes unfairly, recently in Louisiana. The case made it clear that racism is alive and well. The protest made it clear that it can be defeated. The KKK will march on Dr. King Day Monday, and it is their right to do so. But who really cares? I view the KKK as a perverse organization of cowards with damaged self esteem and too much paranoia. Just like the stepfather who molests his stepdaughter, there is no more power and no more terror when the truth comes to light. At that moment he is exposed for what he really is. That stepdaughter will now be protected by adults who really care for her. Without hoods, darkness, and secrecy, the KKK is rendered impotent and irrelevant.

As I do every year, I will celebrate King Day by going to work. I know that Dr. King would be proud and that this is what he would expect of me. Had Dr. King not lived, I most likely, would not have the job I have to go to daily. I am an African American Psychiatrist with a patient base that is mostly Caucasian. I don't think it's naive for me to believe that, for the majority of my patients, my race is not a major factor. Whether I can help solve their problem is much more important. Most of the attitude I get has traditionally been from those of my own race. This, I believe, supports the theory that the best way to keep Blacks down is to keep them fighting amongst themselves. Sad but unfortunately, I believe  that to be true. Thus, gangsta rappers are provided a platform of priority to Black professionals or intellectuals (except Clarence Thomas and Condoleeza Rice). The media does dumb the public down but that is a topic for another time.

Hope everyone has a Happy King Day! Do something he would be proud of.

Posted on Fri, January 18, 2008 at 06:17PM by HEADoc in Weekly Entry | Post a Comment | Email | Print

|  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this

• #2 Comment from yourphantom007 
  3/4/08 11:11 AM | Permalink

  Been reading your blog and find it very interesting.  I myself as well as my children are not racist.  I did however grow up in a somewhat racist family.  In a sense I guess.  But racism is racism no matter big or small.  The fact of the matter is some racism is out of fear of something unfamilar and some is by taught hate.  My family had the unfamilar thing going on.  Myself, I just don't have time for such ignorant thinking and will not have my children take part in it as well.  My youngest came to me a few years back and said she was not sure if she liked a boy in her class or if she liked brown people.  I asked her why did she feel this way.  And she really didn't know.  So I explained to her that we are all different but yet the same.  That we all come from different parts of the world and it is kind of like the pengins.  They are the same but yet some are different.  She got over her fear because I did not have the fear. Good week to you doc. Phan
• #1 Comment from katerh99 
  1/19/08 3:43 AM | Permalink

  I was leaning toward  Barack Obama until a lightening thought hit me. As long as he would be in office, that travesty, Big Mouth Al Sharpton would be roaring along, explaing everything to lesser beings like us. On a scale of obnoxious, he ranks right up there with King Idiot Bill O'Reilly. Too bad MLK isn't still with us.