Shadow Left II: "The anti-Anti Fascist"

Muhammad Rasheed - This was drawn in response to this linked toon that was posted as a comment under my 'Russian Agent Baby Hands' post.

Bakkah Rasheed-Shabazz - Trump treats racism and even the murder of peaceful protesters like a joke. Those caught up in the rhetoric are acting out of emotions instead of moral conscious.

Richard Sherman - The art is good, but the inking needs work. Vary the line width and you'll get a better effect, concerning depth.

As to the content- well, either you're simply completely self-absorbed, or blind. No telling, really, which it is, as they both stem from the same place.

Muhammad Rasheed - My lines are varied, Sherman. I got the depth that I wanted by using the texture and grey lines in the background, and silhouettes in the foreground, giving the impression that the mid-ground figures are on their own cell layer.

And you should know by now that I am never interested in your opinions regarding the content. Even less so than normal since you, as a Jew, is siding against the anti-fascism group. How do you justify that? Is it a demonstration of cowardice, or are you actually pro-Nazi? Don't bother to respond, since I still don't care.

Richard Sherman - Well, since you've just outed yourself again, as a racist and an anti-Semite, I will let your own ridiculous words speak for themselves.

As to the line width, work on that. It might improve things a bit. Just a suggestion. One your massive, unwarranted and unearned arrogance will likely ignore.

Muhammad Rasheed - Meanwhile, I am neither a racist (whatever that means when you use the term) nor an anti-semite, and nothing in my response suggested I am. Your odd stand suggests you are a self-hating Jew though. You may wish to make a better effort in cleaning that up. FYI.

Your artistic suggestions are suspect and unwanted based on our history. Go away now.

Richard Sherman - M.Rasheed wrote: "And you should know by now that I am never interested in your opinions regarding the content. Even less so than normal since you, as a Jew, is siding against the anti-fascism group."

You've gone from simple-minded denial to full-blown stupidity, now.

Your own words convict you, Muhammad.

Try vary line width. Just once. Condescend to see if it makes a difference. Not for me. For your artwork.

Muhammad Rasheed - Antifa... yea or nay?

Choose.

Richard Sherman - Anti-Semite... yea or nay?

Richard Sherman - You first.

Muhammad Rasheed - I've already denied your false anti-semite accusation.

Muhammad Rasheed - Are you blind, too?

Muhammad Rasheed - Or just illiterate?

Muhammad Rasheed - Antifa... yea or nay?

Choose.

Richard Sherman - Good for you.

Then you'll be happy to stop acting like a fascist and demanding that I be quiet because you reject my views based on my being a Jew.

You'll also likely stop trying to silence me because you think i disagree with your view on the world.

Muhammad Rasheed -I don't reject your views because you are a Jew. That is a straw man effigy typical of you. I reject your views because they are both hypocritical and anti-Black. Do YOU even know what the Jewish nation is supposed to believe in? I doubt it.

Muhammad Rasheed - Antifa... yea or nay?

Choose.

Richard Sherman - "The fight against fascism leaves no room for humor, Nazi-lover!"

You're simple-mindedness and child-like view of things would almost be endearing, if it wasn't so obviously deliberate.

Muhammad Rasheed - Antifa... yea or nay?

Choose.

Richard Sherman - The irony is so thick you could cut it with a knife!

Muhammad Rasheed - Antifa... yea or nay?

Choose.

Richard Sherman - What, exactly, does Antifa stand for, and what are its goals?

I cannot choose, because I do not know.

I was referring to your stupid balloon caption, about armed people silenceing unarmed people, beause they disagreed with them.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman, it is obvious you don't want to choose because it will out you as a Nazi sympathizer because of your own commitment to anti-Black racism.

Take a bow.

Richard Sherman - @Muhammad... I thought you uneducated before. You've proven that, now. Please explain to me- in simple terms, as you would to a child- or one of your ilk- What, exactly, does Antifa stand for, and what are its goals?-

Muhammad Rasheed - You've heard of "Google," yes?

Try to spend less time being slimy and intellectually dishonest and go work on your cartooning, please. Thanks.

Richard Sherman - M.Rasheed wrote: "it is obvious you don't want to choose because it will out you as a Nazi sympathizer because of your own commitment to anti-Black racism. Take a bow."

The problem, you see, Muhammad Rasheed, is that the Antifa people you have, chasing the other people, in your cartoon, are not black. Neither are the people they're chasing. If, as you suggest, I am anti-black, based on this cartoon, how, exactly, does that work?

Muhammad Rasheed - Didn't I say I was uninterested in your opinions regarding the content? That window has closed on our relationship based on your history of proudly spewed filth & slime.

Go work on your art now. Go on.

Richard Sherman - M.Rasheed wrote: " You heard of 'Google,' yes? Try to spend less time being slimy and intellectually dishonest on work on your cartooning, please. Thanks."

If you can't explain it, because you yourself do not know, please just say so.

Otherwise all your posturing and preening about a topic you are ignorant of, is simply absurd.

Now, please stop the name calling and do something useful- explain your position.

If you're actually able to, and it's not simply for show.

Muhammad Rasheed - You called me "racist and an anti-Semite" and are thus the first one to call someone a name in this thread. Hypocritical much? Or is this just the latest demonstration of your routine sliminess?

I can't tell at this point...

Richard Sherman - @Muhammad Rasheed... Let me add, then, unoriginal, predictable and not very clever.

Still, you're continuing to spin around rather than explain what Antifa is, does, wants, and stands for.

Please stop posing long enough to explain.

Richard Sherman - Because basically, if you're going to draw political cartoons, it would be good to understand the topic you draw about. I don't think you do. I think you're simply being a populist parrot, right now, and that inpugns the integrity of the field I have worked in, diligently and professionally, for 40 years.

Please either explain the premise, or stop pretending to be among the politically educated.

Muhammad Rasheed - I've already explained the reason why you refuse to publicly choose a definitive Antifa stance. Since you decided to respond with straw men and over-confused babbling, that means I was correct.

Elementary, Watson. 🧐😎

Muhammad Rasheed -    *thunk*

Richard Sherman - @Muhammad Rasheed... Well, it looks like you've won before you've won.

I told you I cannot intelligently choose a side, concerning your Antifa crusade, because I don't know enough about it. I have repeatedly asked you, cajoled you, implored you, for an explanation, and instead, I get the same, repetitive, tiresome, tedious, ridiculous, ignorant responses. Please explain Antifa to me. If you can't or won't, then that's completely on you.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "I told you..."

Well, you may stop now, because I told you I'm not interested in your opinions. I'm allergic to hypocritical slime. ew.

Richard Sherman wrote: "...because I don't know enough about it."

So that's a "no" on knowing what 'Google' is then? Then why do you believe you are qualified to have a normal human conversation?


Go away, Sherman. You are even more tiresome than I remember.

The Liberating Power of Earnest Study

Mohammad Abduluzzah - Why do non-Muslims refuse to believe that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) split the moon even though NASA has proved it happened during the prophet's lifetime?

Muhammad Rasheed - Please note that the Qur'an is full of references to the people of olde and their continuous pleadings that they would indeed believe if only the prophets would show them a miracle. They did not believe, but only made up some "moving the goal post" excuse for why the miracle wasn't good enough for them. When the Christ Jesus came along (peace be upon him), he point blank told the Pharisees and scribes among the children of Israel that "an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a miracle."

So it shouldn't be a surprise that in the prophet Muhammad's day (pbuh), Allah wasn't putting up with the request at all. When the prophet would break down under the continuous requests for a sign, Allah would tell the legend of a previous prophet who performed miracle after miracle to no avail... the people would not believe. Verse 6:109 below shows Allah telling the prophet what to say to the believers who were also assaulted with such requests from disbelievers, seeking to have the sahaba pressure Muhammad into performing signs for them. Verses 29:50-51 shows Allah proclaiming that the Qur'an itself is miracle enough!

Allah's answer to the numerous requests was a clear "No!" and yet we have Muslims even today somehow believing in this "split the moon" miracle during the prophet's lifetime. This is absurd. It is clear that 54:1 is a reference to the unseen future when the great cataclysm that heralds the resurrection of humankind for Judgment is upon us. The moon will literally be smashed into two chunks, like from an impact of cosmic proportions. Those who insist that the prophet "split the moon" as the very miracle that Allah refused to perform, only reveal themselves as that "evil and adulterous generation" that the Christ described.

O ye who believe! Stop chasing after foolishness in perfect mimicry of the disbeliever, and focus instead on keeping your feet firmly upon the Path as our Lord requires of us all!

_________________________

54:1-8
1. The Hour of Judgment is nigh, and the moon is cleft asunder.
2. But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, "This is but transient magic."
3. They reject the warning and follow their own lusts but every matter has its appointed time.
4. There have already come to them Recitals wherein there is enough to check them,
5. Mature wisdom;- but the preaching of Warners profits them not.
6. Therefore, O Prophet, turn away from them. The Day that the Caller will call them to a terrible affair,
7. They will come forth,- their eyes humbled - from their graves, torpid like locusts scattered abroad,
8. Hastening, with eyes transfixed, towards the Caller!- "Hard is this Day!", the Unbelievers will say.

6:109
They swear their strongest oaths by Allah, that if a special sign came to them, by it they would believe. Say: "Certainly all signs are in the power of Allah: but what will make you Muslims realize that even if special signs came, they will not believe"?

29:50-51
50. Ye they say: "Why are not Signs sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "The signs are indeed with Allah. and I am indeed a clear Warner."
51. And is it not enough for them that we have sent down to thee the Book which is rehearsed to them? Verily, in it is Mercy and a Reminder to those who believe.

Dave Roberts - As a born again Christian, I read your answer with interest, Muhammad. You have correctly quoted Jesus’ rebuke to those who sought only miracles, instead of what He was sent to the world to deliver; forgiveness of our individual sins. The following story from the Bible illustrates the point;

“And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.”

Muhammad Rasheed - Hi, Dave. Thanks for reaching out.

As a Muslim, I have to disagree with your assessment of why the Christ was raised up among us. His mission was no different than that of all of the other prophets of Abraham’s Lord, from Adam to Muhammad, may peace be upon them all. Their sole job during their lifetimes was to preach God’s Word; to instruct us in scripture and wisdom. That’s it. They held no special authority to perform any aspect of Allah’s Divine Duties, they were only the messengers of what Allah revealed to humankind.

I will also use your biblical story to illustrate my point. Jesus’ job wasn’t to forgive us of anything. As the prophet, his job was to pass onto us the scriptural message revealed by his Lord that told us about the tool of repentance, and then instruct us in how to perform it correctly. Each believer has been instructed in what to do in order for their sins to be forgiven. It is written, that we must believe in the One God, repent of the wrong, and use faith, courage & integrity to do it no more (“Amen”). Do this, and Allah promised that the sin would be thrown into the Sea of Forgetfulness, and it wouldn’t be mentioned at all on the Day of Judgment. The Christ didn’t have the authority to forgive the man’s sins, but as one of the anointed master teachers of sacred scripture, he certainly held the ability to evaluate a believer to tell whether he had performed the repentance ritual correctly. The tale said that Jesus “saw their faith,” which means he saw that they — like the rich young ruler in the other tale — knew the rights and rituals of the Word from of olde and knew what to do. So upon confirming that all was right, and the paralytic was in compliance to the Word’s requirement, the Christ was able to comfort him and let him know that yes, “your sins are forgiven.”

The lesson is that we have the revealed scripture of our Maker among us, and we have the knowledge we need to be saved if we but study to show ourselves approved. The age of the prophets has come and gone, and the One God of Abraham confirms that they did indeed perform their earthly duties excellently. Now it is our duty to know what we are commanded to know so we may stick to The Straight Path and please God.

Thank you so much for an interesting topic, Dave. Peace.

Dave Roberts - You seem like a man who’s desire is to please God, Muhammad.

The Fundamental Sin of Racism

Q: "Are racists who believe in the God of Abraham saved by grace?"

Muhammad Rasheed - They will be saved only if the Day of Judgment finds that their righteous deeds outweigh their evil deeds, per the requirements of the One God of Abraham.

One of the requirements for passing the Final Judgment and winning through to paradise is one must "love the next life more than this life." That means, the believer must have faith that the next life is the eternal perfect realm that God promises, and long for it more than what your senses tell you to the knowing certainty of the material life you hold NOW. You do this by establishing regular charity, and setting aside a portion of the bounty God has provided for others less fortunate. In other words, the believer proves Belief in the Afterlife by not being attached to any of his or her possessions, and does not have a problem "letting go."

For the racist, this poses a dilemma. The systemic racism of Western Civilization is based upon the materialist's hoarding monopoly of wealth & power for the dominant rule of elites among the European ethnic groups under the banner of White Supremacy. The foundational philosophy and ethic of the West is the subjugation and exploitation of the poor and non-whites to uphold the White Supremacist Ideology that a handful of white legacy families benefit from in particular, and the majority whites benefit from as tickle-down residue. The refusal to let go of this "whitopian" system's racism, and for preventing the African-American from building wealth over generations by using terror and grifter confidence scams built into national policies, the racists at all class levels prove that they prefer the sinful man-made "heaven" on earth that benefits only them over the promise of God's heaven.

Whether the compounded force of this race-based selfishness sin will be enough to prevent those who willfully support systemic racism from entering paradise remains to be seen. Somehow they seem to think that being nice to all the cutest animals will be enough to cover over their many atrocities committed against their fellow humans so they can personally live the high-life, but this doesn’t seem very likely. Remembering the Christ's instructions to the rich young ruler, I would think they will be rebuked. The wealthy ruler admitted that he had kept the commandments "since he was a boy," so Jesus (peace be upon the messenger) told him he had to give up his wealth. In doing so he would both amass enough good deeds to outweigh his evil, and he would also prove that he held no attachment to the material realm that outweighed his love for God's promise. As you may recall, the rich young ruler refused to give up his wealth and preferred hellfire. The situation with the modern day racist is the same in their refusal to cease their subjugation/exploitation of the Black race, and their refusal to pay them Reparations for economic-based wrongs both old and new perpetually committed upon them in the last 500 years.

Using logic and reason in an analysis of the material, I cannot see how the committed racist would be saved at all, but of course only God knows best.

"You're Trying to Kidnap What I've Rightfully Stolen!"

DiDi Delgado - So WHAT I don't like to hear the truth. I don't like getting my period every month but I bet you I'm grateful for that shit once it's done and over

DiDi Delgado - I think you can not like something and still need it to survive

DiDi Delgado - That's the title of my next poem-- I'm in an abusive relationship with the truth

Muhammad Rasheed - *stolen*

Muhammad Rasheed - *starts new career in poet-ness*

DiDi Delgado - How you gonna tell me in advance you're stealing something

Muhammad Rasheed - IT'S IN THE PAST, DIDI!!!

Muhammad Rasheed -



DiDi Delgado - I can't stand you

DiDi Delgado - Now you have to make me one

Muhammad Rasheed - What do you mean...?

With MY new poem title??? Get your own.

DiDi Delgado -

via GIPHY

Muhammad Rasheed - OKAY FINE!!!!

DiDi Delgado - Thank you! Why am I excited why is about to be my next profile picture

Muhammad Rasheed - wow. no pressure or nuthin.'

Muhammad Rasheed - (how the hell am i going to get those eyes on one sheet...?)

DiDi Delgado - 

Muhammad Rasheed - lol

Muhammad Rasheed - Here... (you can borrow the poem title from me, DiDi.)

Weapon of the People: "Favoring the Consumer"

CITATION

Rasheed, Muhammad. "Favoring the Consumer." Cartoon. The Official Website of Cartoonist M. Rasheed 22 Sep 2017. Marker w/Adobe Photoshop color.

Muhammad Rasheed - The counter move for the bad guy is for him to get rid of that competition that's being used as leverage over him. The free open market that classic capitalism requires to function favors the consumer, so the business guy has to close those markets with a monopoly, then the consumer will have no place else to go except to his store (with jacked up prices).

In other words, to get the upper-hand over the consumer, business must wage war on capitalism itself.

Schemes of the Top Russian Agent

Muhammad Rasheed - Stop calling Russian Agent Baby Hands stupid all the time when it's clear he only plays the fool for the camera. His sole aim from the beginning is to exploit the White House seat so that he and his cronies will be trillionaires when he finally leaves office.

When your plans are WORKING, then how does that make you stupid? Do you think he REALLY gives a shit about those empty political talking points? Obama's the only POTUS who ever actually cared about his campaign promises, using them as an agenda checklist for how he governed. Trumpamania was just running his mouth while playing his true game of "wealth-grab." If he can get one or even two of the most high-profile campaign promises done just to mess up Obama's legacy it will boost his ego, but he really doesn't care about that stuff because he doesn't have to. It was never the point of why his handlers pushed him to become the president.

Emmanuel Marquez - Would you vote for Donald Trump again, after all we know about him now?

Muhammad Rasheed - I didn’t vote for him the last time, and it turns out, neither did most of the eligible voters. The reason why we have Vladimir Putin’s number one asset in our White House today is because the GOP suppressed millions of Black & Latinx Democratic Party ballots, literally cheating Trump into office.

Fortunately former president Obama and former Attorney General Holder are leading the efforts to control the GOP’s diabolical and unpatriotic sabotage of our democratic traditions, and hopefully it’ll be enough to keep Trump from doing it again.

The Righteous Anger of the Wronged

Muhammad Rasheed - Recently I came across the article that revealed that Charlie Bucket, the protagonist of Roald Dahl's Charlie & the Chocolate Factory story, was originally intended to be Black. His agent talked Dahl out of it because the thought police were still in the process of indoctrinating the populace into believing that white is default normal, and they didn't need anything creating any glitches in The Matrix, so to speak.

I thought about the controversy around it for a while, particularly how white racists enjoy pretending that the white-washing of Black characters is 100% equal in every way to making white characters Black, and how they act like both scenarios are equally wrong. This cartoon explains my thoughts on that weak, gaslighting foolishness.

                               

The first one is evil, while the second one is justice -- the righting of a wrong -- and is actually a light form of reparations.

Victor Burciaga - I'm not white and black washing makes me mad.

Ben Jones - I just wish people would quit with the racism stuff. As long as both sides promote it it will not go away.

Muhammad Rasheed - ???

                                         

Muhammad Rasheed - Do you really think racism is being "promoted" with these cartoons?

Muhammad Rasheed - I thought it was clear that I was 100% against racism.

Ben Jones - Promoted isn't the best word. I do think that taking jabs at people isn't really the way to open lines of communication.

Ben Jones - True racists won't be reached by your cartoons. All it will do is anger them.

Ben Jones - I could be wrong, but I know those people. I've seen how they react. They need a serious change of heart and I really can't recommend the best way to reach them, but this doesn't seem like it.

Muhammad Rasheed - That's what I want. To provoke their anger. The idea that I should instead coddle their feelings so they won't feel bad -- while they continue to oppress my people mind you -- will only maintain the status quo.

Muhammad Rasheed - When has anything ever changed for the better by coddling the bad guy's feelings, Ben?

Ben Jones - But butting heads with them will achieve the same. It's a sad fact.

Ben Jones - The race war hasn't gotten any better. Anger sure isn't helping.

Muhammad Rasheed - Can you think of any time period in history in which the oppressed class won their freedom by kissing the bad guy's butt?

Muhammad Rasheed - Even within the European historical record?

Ben Jones - Nope, but have you seen the problem getting better or worse in the last decade? People are getting madder and listening to each other even less. Why is that happening?

Muhammad Rasheed - The race war hasn't gotten any better because the oppressed class has been subjugated into silence so that the bad guys get their way unopposed.

Muhammad Rasheed - The problem has been stagnant since the civil rights era because the conversation abruptly halted.

Muhammad Rasheed - This enabled the bad guys to gain ground.

Ben Jones - Anger doesn't create useful commentary.

Ben Jones - How do you get both sides having a productive conversation?

Muhammad Rasheed - You admit to me that at no time in history, even among the centuries of European history, has an oppressed class ever won their freedom by coddling their oppressor, and yet here you are advising me to coddle my oppressor's feelings so they don't get mad about it.

Ben Jones - There's a difference in coddling and conversing. What's your solution? Civil War II?

Muhammad Rasheed - Speaking for my ethnic group, I've spent centuries being run over and exploited by these people, they have grown obscenely rich from their diabolical activities (while telling me I'm lazy mind), and you think I shouldn't be angry about it.

Muhammad Rasheed - Their anger is based on their entitlement. They believe they are entitled to a right to exploit me any time they want to. Naturally, I have zero respect for that faux-anger.

Muhammad Rasheed - The normal and natural bad feelings generated by centuries of horrible treatment is 100% part of the Candid & Courageous Conversation that needs to happen, Ben.

Ben Jones - Doesn't really matter what the anger is based on. As long as either side approaches the issue with anger in their heart then there will be no solution.

Muhammad Rasheed - I disagree completely. The anger is righteous, and to me it is due.

Muhammad Rasheed - Just as I am due compensation for the great wrongs done to me.

Ben Jones - Have you ever opened useful dialog with a racist with that approach and changed their mind in the process?

Muhammad Rasheed - To be honest, considering the nature of the offense in question, simply talking to this figure and somehow convincing him to give up trillions of dollars in wealth he exploited from me, never seemed realistic.

Muhammad Rasheed - Has he not proven that he will literally kill, steal & destroy for this massive wealth he's hoarded at my expense? Logic, reason and civilized discourse never seemed to be a true goal for him in any way.

Muhammad Rasheed - It seems to me, that what he wants to negotiate is for the educated middle class Blacks to accept a tiny little piece of the wealth he has amassed from his exploitation, and in exchange, for us to agree to allow him to continue to exploit the poorest Blacks so he can continue to grow that wealth. That's what he actually wants.

Naturally, this is 100% unacceptable for me, but I expect him to fight to the death to win that scenario, since he only cares about wealth.

Ben Jones - So we're just talking about Trump here? Yeah. I'm pretty sure neither of us will change his mind on pretty much anything.

Muhammad Rasheed - lol No, we're not just talking about Trump, Ben.

The figure we're talking about is a symbolic representative of a collective. The one that fought the bloodiest war in American history because he didn't want to give up his trillion dollar economic slave system. The one that repealed all the Reconstruction laws in fury when he saw the former slaves controlling their own lives in politics. The one that imposed jim crow laws, and terrorized the Black people with white supremacist guerrilla warfare. The one that used gerrymandering and redlining to exploit Blacks through the real estate game, which destroyed Black neighborhoods and plummeted them into perpetual poverty (while calling them lazy, of course). The one that unleashed the designer drugs into Black communities to feed Slavery 2.0 of the mass incarceration for-profit prison system (while blaming the Blacks for it).

THAT guy. You know him.

Muhammad Rasheed - You think that figure wants to actually have an empathetic heart-to-heart with me, when for centuries he's only ever seen me as prey?

Muhammad Rasheed - You know, during the height of slavery and jim crow's brutality, the word he used for my righteous anger was "uppity."

Muhammad Rasheed - As a slave, and as a 2nd class citizen -- legally -- I didn't rate the righteous anger of a full U.S. Citizen to him, you see.

Muhammad Rasheed - So telling me TODAY that I have no right to be angry at centuries of evil inflicted upon me, is to deny my manhood, my citizenship, and my humanity, Ben.

Muhammad Rasheed - His anger is false, and based on the spoiled, savage entitlement of the devil's imp.

Mine is the righteous anger of the wronged.

Ben Jones - And your solution is?

Ben Jones - Sounds like your solution is to be mad. And he'll be mad and everyone will be mad and we'll just keep what we've got now.

Muhammad Rasheed - No. I haven't been allowed to be mad, remember? People like you are always calming me down. lol MLK's "non-violent" tactics were used to sap my anger just in time for the assassinations and COINTELPRO plans of the enemy.

Muhammad Rasheed - You asked me "And your solution is?" because you know I am right about him. You know he will never willingly give up that wealth, nor the means to maintain it.

You KNOW that in the end, there will be only one solution, and my freedom will come at only one price.

Ben Jones - Is there any solution to your anger?

Muhammad Rasheed - Sure. Justice.

Muhammad Rasheed - Tell your pharaoh to let my people go, and pay us our Reparations.

Muhammad Rasheed - Do this and my anger will downgrade to merely the academic kind one feels abstractly from reading about distant historical lessons. Make the wrongs right, and what use will I have then for my anger?

Do this. Free me of these shackles, and free your soul, from the white man's tyranny, please. Thank you.

Muhammad Rasheed - If you do not, then I'll have to take it. The White Supremacist Age is drawing to its close. Aquarius is upon us, and it is time for new things. As an African-American, freedom will be new for me after half a millennium, and the laid up wealth of the wicked is my birthright, you know?

Ben Jones - In other words end racism and you won't be angry anymore. Well that's where we started. Open hearted conversation is the only thing that will affect the future of racism in our country.

Muhammad Rasheed - Define "open-hearted," Ben.

Muhammad Rasheed - I found a racist radio talking head named Rod Dreher about a month or so ago. He believes that racism is the sole fault of "Black resentments." He believes that if only Blacks would simply forgive racist attacks and just don't think about them, racism will be cured.

In other words, he wants us to stay in "our place," and accept our subjugated/exploited state as the natural order of things.

Ben Jones - But that's just stupid, right?

Racism is only a one sided problem is only one side is being racist.

Muhammad Rasheed – "Is that stupid"? I consider his comments to be no less than a declaration of war. If such filth were to assault my ears during this "open-hearted" dialogue you envision, there would be problems.

Muhammad Rasheed - What I expect for him to negotiate at such a dialogue is a limited reparations for the Black middle class in exchange for us to sacrifice the Black poor to his Slavery II sequel. That's what he wants IF he is forced to negotiate at all. Naturally he'll prefer to have his agents continue telling me not to be angry so he can duck ever needing to have that meeting. Only my anger, and the economic force at my command that such anger will wield, will finally get him to sit for that dialogue. Force is the only language he'll snap to over, and economic force more so than any other secular blade.

Ben Jones - If we do true Reparations as a country we will return this land to its original inhabitants, correct?

Muhammad Rasheed - I'm not interested in that. The First Nations may negotiate their own stuff. I'm only concerned with my own.

Muhammad Rasheed - The First Nations deserve their own space for the righting of their wrongs, not as a tack-on to mine.

Ben Jones - Racism man. Maybe it'll never go away.

Ben Jones - Gotta get some work done. Interesting debate. Have a good day guys.

Muhammad Rasheed - Have a wonderful day, Ben. And thank you.

Ben Jones - @Muhammad Rasheed… You do the same.

Who is REALLY African-American?

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - When African Americans advocate 4 their own Civil Rights, some people (even some Black ppl) assert that we are being "divisive," rather than promoting "unity. In REALITY, however, it's just politics; meaning that if U want the support of our communities (Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, et.al), the A.American community needs 2 see, & EXPERIENCE Ur support of our economic advancement. No more "freebies." THAT's Black Politics, not "divisiveness," just like with the LBGT's or any group of people.

Tanya Lamphier - Kamala Harris didn't do anything for the state of CA as AG and I dealt with her office (whilst she was AG and now that no AG has really been named in title least that I know of) while she held the title and it was (and still is) a mess. Many people I know (fellow survivors of homicide and victims advocates alike) couldn't believe the horrible things she advocated for.

What I don't get is I never hear any black people mention Condie Rice. I think she did a fabulous job as Secretary of State and is qualified for position as First Lady POTUS.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - Yes, Condie is fab. DK 'bout Kamala; I, also dealt w/her Office in Callie, & didn't leave feeling warm & fuzzy. Guess she's currently advocating 4 some bail/prison reform, which is good. We'll see. 😒

Tanya Lamphier - Prisoners get better medical attention than our military on taxpayers dime. She also advocated AGAINST the death penalty. Prison reform is not her job to advocate for as AG. Her job as AG was to defend the law and interests of the state, no more no less.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - Yeah, I know, but her sights are on the White House, so ... She's trying 2 set herself up 2 secure the African American vote --- even though, like Prez O., she's not African American. That's the game that they play, but people are wising up. 😉Not being "divisive," but people who were not raised by African Americans, in African American communities, especially, are less likely 2 fight 4 these communities. We saw this with Prez O, & hope 2 not make the same mistake with Ms. Harris.

Muhammad Rasheed - LaTonya wrote: "even though, like Prez O., she's not African American."

How is a native born US citizen, who is the descendant of an African, who self-identifies with the African-American culture, who physically passes for an African-American, not an African-American?

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - Her mother was East Indian & her father, Jamaican. Additionally, she was raised by her mother; barely spent time with the father, so basically, she was raised Indian. Because she's half Black (father), she opted to attend Howard U, & pledge AKA, prob because she intended political pursuits.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - She was not raised by people who endured Jim Crow, segregation, redlining, lynching, civil rights, & others struggles specific 2 African Americans. She identifies as Black, because she IS (like Obama), half Black, but she IS NOT African American (like Obama). ☺

Muhammad Rasheed - There are quite a few people who have made up the African-American Experience in the last several centuries, and they all did not directly experience all of the Black tropes in their lives. All combined, their experiences make up the Black Experience -- from the bourgeoisie to the striving poor, from the Black militant, to the passing Black Republican. They are all African-American, with no one more authentically Black than another based on some arbitrary, subjective measure -- especially considering the history of items like the "One-Drop Rule."

Please stop. Both Obama and Harris are African-Americans.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - They are Black, yes. But, their ancestors were not enslaved in America. THAT is what defines African Americans. The "one drop rule" has nothing to do with it. Yes, they are Black, no question, but being African American is not a "subjective opinion." Either your ancestors were Africans enslaved in America, or they were not. This is not a "subjective opinion, but rather, a very precise fact. ☺

Muhammad Rasheed - Not all African-Americans experienced slavery, and some -- for a variety of reasons -- were even slave owners themselves. Some African-Americans were wealthy business owners DURING the height of the slave era. None of these are what we immediately think of when we hear "African-American" yet they are true, real, and authentically part of the Black Experience.

The LAST thing we need is someone propagating subjective, arbitrary reasons why some are magically less African-American than some others. Those are no less than tactics of my active enemy as a Black American when #BlackUnity is what I need to be a fully free US citizen.

Please stop.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - No one is "debating" the Black experience. The definition of African Americans is specific. Even if "some Africans in America were not enslaved," THEIR ancestors WERE, there4, ALL are descendents. This is not a debate about "the Black experience". You are correct; the Black experience is vast. But AfricanAmericans, whether they be upper, middle or poorer classes are ALL descendents of Africans enslaved in America. Kamala, & our beloved former POTUS DO NOT fall into this category, which is largely why Obama's focus was "global," rather than advocating 4 the specific needs of African Americans.

Muhammad Rasheed - No, not all African-Americans are descendants of slaves. That is not true. Some were actually contemporaries of the original founders, and benefited from legacy wealth, or even the indentured servitude program. There are actually legacy family Black families here who never knew the shackles of chattel in their line.

Your artificially strict definition of the ever-controversial term "African-American" is a political fiction.

Please stop.

Muhammad Rasheed - How are you supposed to be "promoting unity," while spreading misinformation that only nitpicks along lines that the African-American didn't do among themselves during the worst eras of American history? Our unity was our strength in those days, and here you are on a soap box specifically designed to split the African-American apart along nit-picky irrelevances while making like it's an important big deal. What's the point of doing this, LaTonya, if not to spread a toxic divisiveness?

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - This is not "my definition," but rather that of those well versed, & active in Black politics. I am not just "making this up" off the top of my head. Also, of those U reference who "did not experience slavery in America," do Obama, & Kamala hail from those people? No. Also, while they might not have endured chattle slavery, I GUARANTEE they eexperiencd the other discriminations against African Americans. I guarantee it. There4, their experiences, & that of their descendents is specific, & unique. Question: what exactly is Ur issue with admitting that the African American experience is unique, & like no other? What about that truth bothers you?

Muhammad Rasheed - "Well versed, and active in Black politics" that still doesn't agree it's even a term we should be using, yet you want to artificially chisel it into granite as if there is some universal consensus. lol You're not making it up all by yourself, but you are taking a stance that pretends something about the topic that isn't real.

The point is that there are numerous micro-experiences within the greater Black Experience, and NO ONE has the authority to determine who among us is African-American or not. In a fundamentally racism society in which #BlackUnity was our greatest tool to enable us to survive through it, such talk is only the toxic divisive tactic of my active enemy.

Please stop.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - The reasons 4 making these dilineations are long & detailed: much longer that can be shared in a Facebook thread. If U're REALLY interested, & not just being emotional, I can refer U 2 some resources where U can begin to become educated. This is not "misinformation" that I am sharing. The goal is to educate, so that as a race, African Americans can elevate, & yes, there are specific & sound reasons 4 making these distinctions, so stop being so emotional.

Muhammad Rasheed - LaTonya wrote: "Question: what exactly is Ur issue with admitting that the African American experience is unique, & like no other?"

This is a straw man effigy, since I have no such issue. My issue is with your attempts to dissect the African-American experience into divided sections, isolate one particular chunk and uphold it as the only legitimate African-American experience of the lot. That's evil.

Please stop. Please stop spreading this divisive, partisan talking point flavored misinformation in the guise of resourced knowledge. Pretty please? Thanks.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - Also, U are the only one who is being "toxic" & angry on this thread. I am simply sharing information. The fact that it is upsetting 2 U is a clear indication that U are operation from "emotion," rather than education. Once U TRUELY become educated about these matters, then U will not be so emotional, but will simply relay facts that U have studied. If I am so toxic, then why do U bother visiting my Page? I see MANY things on FB, & I just pass right on by. Why did U stop, here, 2 comment? Why not just keep it moving, if U don't like what's being said?

Muhammad Rasheed - It always upsets me when people are promoting divisive misinformation that adds to the pool of toxic materials that make the Black American more vulnerable to their enemies, while pretending they are helping.

Should I not be upset about that? I thought my response was perfectly reasonable considering. lol

btw, I think you're just using that "emotional" line because, as an intelligent Black Woman, you probably get attacked by guys who use it on you all the time, so you call yourself doing it to me first. Well, you can quit because I'm not that guy. I love my Black Women, and celebrate her powerful mind and world-smashing force.

Muhammad Rasheed - lol I stopped here to comment because that's my duty when I see toxic nonsense being spread by those pretending it is nutritious food. It's my job as a socio-political commentator to push-back against that stuff and challenge you on it.

You can either support it and prove it is real or you can not. Telling me I'm emotional just because I challenge you on it isn't how you prove it's real, you know?

Throw Down Your Rod. Let's see what you have.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - I have no idea what U're saying Muhammad Rasheed. It's late; I'm tired; and I've said as much as I can say. If U would like referrals 2 some of my resources, I am happy 2 provide. Nothing I've said is fabricated, made up, nor intended to divide, but rather 2 educate. Personally, I hope Kamala gets wind of some of these threads; perhaps she will alter her approach. This would probably garner more support for her then she thinks. Nothing I've Posted here are lies or fabrications. It's all simply Black politics.

Muhammad Rasheed - I agree the argument itself is a part of the body of Black politics, which in itself is an aspect of the Black Experience. Here in the 'integration' era, on the other side of the time when it was common sense knowledge that we HAD to stick together in order to survive, live and even thrive as an African-American community, we now found ourselves in the illusion of "progress" where we are under the impression that toxic, divisive talk is somehow educational and empowering to us as African-Americans.

Education into what we are dealing with is the key for throwing off these new mental shackles, and I have faith that eventually this too we shall overcome.

Have a good night, LaTonya.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - I am not bothered by being "challenged," but rather these emotional accusations. Resources can be provided 4 all that I've shared, but until this final Post of Urs, U didndidn't ask 4 it. U simply proceeded 2 accuse me of being "divisive." THAT, my friend, is an emotional response. It's not Ur duty 2 do anything, except live, & laugh , & love, so I don't buy that line about why U stopped here. I think, deep down, U, like everyone else, wants 2 know the truth. No one is saying Kamala can't run 4 Office, but it will benefit us all when these Politicians begin being more truthful. ☺

Muhammad Rasheed - Let the record show that -- not only are your claims that the proudly African-American Barack Obama is somehow not an African-American based on subjective, arbitrary partisan talking point nonsense -- but at any time along the way you could've provided the proofs of your claims, and if strong, would have stopped me dead in my tracks. Instead I find you talking about it a lot though, when the proof is actually within the pudding itself.

Consequently, at this point I'm finding you all hot air & empty bluster, with no rod to actually throw, while accusing me of emotion. And here I thought you were better than that.

A pity.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - Lol, U're funny. I am too tired too engage further, & like I said, there are numerous resources, since we have touched on several issues. It's late, so I am not prepared to pull out resources right now, but I will provide. I just can't right now. I have an early morning, & I am tired. To be continued? I promise 2 "show U what I've got" once I'm rested. LOL. I promise.

LaTonya Rosetta Reed - Good night.

Muhammad Rasheed - Have a good night.

Adventures in Free Speech: Personalized Self-Censorship

U.S. cartoonists self-censor themselves all the time. Sure they do. Everyone has a line they won’t cross, even when the bulk of their work is in a genre traditionally considered risqué or hardcore raunchy.

Cartoonists spend a great deal of time mining their brains for ideas to wrap their art around, and they spend the majority of that time discarding concepts they personally consider ‘bad’ or ‘no way.’ This vetting is highly subjective, of course, as a cartoonist like R. Crumb would probably consider the hastily discarded ideas of a Jim Davis to be a gold mine.

The Actions of Belief

David Baldwin - Is it my fault I don't believe in God?

Muhammad Rasheed - According to scripture, "Belief in God" is a body of actions, a deliberate lifestyle choice that requires continuous maintenance throughout your lifespan. The actions that prove belief per God's criteria include continuous re-affirmations that you agree that God is indeed the Creator Supreme of reality, rejection of the temptations and sin that God commanded the believer to avoid, and the performing of righteous deeds per God's checklist. Scripture explains that "faith without works is dead," with the message that merely saying one believes will not be counted as belief on your record if such a thought is not joined by the Actions of Belief as described above. Even if one harbors secret doubts, and yet still faithfully performs the actions in one's life until death, one will still be rewarded by the Creator as a believer. You'll have everything to gain if you give God the benefit of the doubt that God's message is true, and you'll have everything to lose -- beyond your wildest imaginings -- if you reject the truth of God's existence.

Based on this understanding of the message of sacred scripture, it's your record of actions in life that will reveal that you did not believe. Belief in God is 100% choice, and to not use your Free Will to make the choice to commit to the lifestyle of that belief will absolutely be all your fault.

David Baldwin - This is a scary answer because it's not like I actively pursue disbelief. It just happened over time. I'm still basically a good person. Scripture is a big part of why I reject God. It's so contrived to me. What you've written just sounds like Pascal’s wager recycled. Ugh.

Muhammad Rasheed - Once you’ve become aware of the message of scripture, not actively pursuing belief is active pursuit of disbelief by default, David. You have to work to guard your believing lifestyle, and reject the temptations that attack it, even when they come from the depths of your own treacherous mind. On Judgment Day you will certainly be asked if you heard the message, and what you did once you heard it.

Rejecting God’s Call once heard is the very wrong answer.

David Baldwin - If there is a god, I choose to believe I will be judged as a good man. If that is not enough - if I will be damned to eternal suffering because of my disbelief - then I choose to also believe that god is not just nor good. Thank you for your answer and response to my question / comment.

Omg I just watched that video it was beyond corny.

Muhammad Rasheed - During the Judgment Event of the All-Knowing God — the One truly unique Being in all of existence — your deeds will be evaluated according to the parameters set by God, not the subjective, significantly less all-knowing whims of any members of the creation. You are not God’s peer, David; God doesn’t require your input into how things will/should be done.

Take heed.

Muhammad Rasheed - lol I was trying to find a clip composed ONLY of the hands dragging her down into the pit. hahaha I didn’t really want all the corny parts in it.