Avatar Commentary

I got a chance to see Avatar over the holidays…I was really excited to see it and it did not disappoint!  The cinematography and special effects were awesome! I saw it in 3-D, but I would love to see it in IMAX just because I think it would have been even better on such a large screen. But beyond the graphics and the special effects lies a story that has been told and retold countless times.  A brief synopsis of movie: 

“When his brother is killed in battle, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.”  Written by The Massie Twins  

Does this story sound familiar to you??

After the movie was over, when we were walking out of the theater, I overheard a man say, “back to reality.” But I couldn’t help but think, was the movie really a break from reality or a story of what has happened countless times and is still happening today? A prime example, the Native Americans. Check out this clip with the sound bite from the Avatar trailer over top of Disney’s Pocahontas trailer.

But even deeper than the familiar story, lies a nugget of knowledge that looks far beyond the love story that develops between the Na’vi princess, Neytiri and the avatar, Jake. The knowledge that unfolds is the connection that the Na’vi people have to their world; Their understanding that they are a part of a greater whole and not separate from it. This is what the princess shows the avatar and it makes him fall in love with not only her, but the world around him. Humans used to have this same connectedness to Earth. Many ancient peoples were aware of our connection with the Earth. We have been taught that they were savages and that they just aimlessly roamed the Earth. But many ancient peoples in Africa, Asia, America and South America had technologies and knowledge well past what we have today. Why is that so hard for us to believe? We are so lost…the person that knows something, knows that he knows nothing at all. But one thing that is evident is that ancient peoples were advanced enough to build architectures that still amaze and wonder us today. 

The Earth is our mother and we are destroying her. We are a PART of a BIGGER whole. Not greater than that whole. We have been deceived. They are wandering through space with their tools and technology searching for God. But they refuse to see that God lives within. Every human has the capability to do god-like things. Even in the bible, God says man was made in his image. And according to the bible, Jesus was sent to show us that the greatness of God is within us. Do you know we only use something like 10% of our brain? So what is the other 90% for? I believe that that is our connection with God and to the world and universe around us. We have been deceived by the devil for so long that we have been cut off from the God within us. Can you imagine the greatness that could BE if we learned to LOVE ourselves, number one, and then truly begin to embrace the greatness of God that lives within. But we live in FEAR and it is FEAR that paralyzes us and corrodes the mind….and I’ll leave you with that for today.

My Father speaks...

My father wrote this piece...I had to read it a few times to grasp the depth of what he is trying to convey...powerful message...feel free to comment...

“Father Forgive Them; for They Know Not What They Do,” said Jesus Christ with his last breath as he hung on the cross.  According to the bible I might add.

Forgive them for they know not what they do?  They had just killed the ‘Son of God.’  I recently asked myself what was God’s response to his son’s request?  “Father Forgive Them; for They Know Not What They Do?”  After all, he wasn’t telling or commanding his father to do it because Jesus would never do that.  So what was God’s response to his son’s request?

Obviously I don’t know because I wasn’t there.  However, I can look at the data available and come to a logical conclusion.  From what we’ve been taught God is almighty, all knowing, all wise, and the creator of ALL THINGS.  That’s some of the data we have to look at to conclude what we think God said to his son.

Looking at what I have before me I have concluded that God told his son, don’t be FOOLED my son because they know exactly what they do and they also know what I will do!  To tell him anything else he would not be God.  Not the God Almighty, all knowing, all wise, and the creator of ALL THINGS including the creator of the people who just killed his son.  God has to say that they do know what they do OR admit He didn’t give them the ability to KNOW what they did.  And, if that’s the case he can’t blame them for killing his son and Jesus would not have to ask him, “Father Forgive Them; for They Know Not What They Do,” because God would already know. 

Now, I don’t think God would do that because I would then have to ask what kind of games are God playing.  God wouldn’t create some people who are crazy as hell: Murderers, thieves, whores, liars, homosexuals, child molesters, etc., etc., and then don’t tell them about Him until He sends his son to tell them to see how they react.  And what do they do? They kill him.  So I guess the forgiveness comes if they repent and join God’s religion and confess Jesus as their lord and savior, then they can spend forever with Jesus and God in heaven.  Don’t do that to God.  Whomever or whatever he/she is.    Not the almighty, all knowing, all wise, and the creator of ALL THINGS, loving and caring God!

He told him, son, don’t be fooled by them. They KNOW exactly what they did.  Let’s not make God Almighty a chump, or a fool or just someone who says one thing and does another.  We need to start analyzing everything we’ve been taught and truly look at the real lessons being taught by our teachers. 

So remember, Jesus asked “Father Forgive Them; for They Know Not What They Do.”  And based on the data God has to respond “Son, They Knew Exactly What They Did and They Shall Be Punished!”

~B. Chambers 

SADE IS BAAAAACCCCKKKKKKK!! YES!!!!!!!!

One of my favorite artists of all time is back and I LOVE this song...Below is the lead single off of Sade's forthcoming album, Soldier of Love, dropping February 8, 2010!!

I'm still waiting for love to come and turn it all around too girl!! Beautiful song, brought tears to my eyes when I heard it the first time...she couldn't have said it better.

Check This Out...Black Ice

The Destruction of Black Civilization

I read this book about two years ago...and I think it is a must read for all black people and any who are interested in learning the truth about African history from a non-euro-centric point of view. The book is by Chancellor Williams, a scholar, anthropologist, historian and professor at Howard University. Chancellor explains how there were many great African empires and civilizations that existed long before Christ and even the ancient Egyptians. These ancient empires were where people from all over the world came to learn...Below is a video interview with him from the late seventies, talking about some of the major themes from the book. These topics touch mainly on the little known African history that seems to be left out of the Euro-American HIStory. So my assignment to you is to read this book over the holidays! I'm going to re-read it myself. The only way to learn and grow as a people is to first learn the history and the truth of ones self. Knowledge of oneself will then empower you....SANKOFA! (Go back and claim it!)

Also, I think Nas summarizes it best in the third verse of his song "I Can":

Be, be, 'fore we came to this country

We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys

There was empires in Africa called Kush

Timbuktu, where every race came to get books

To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans

Asian Arabs and gave them gold when

Gold was converted to money it all changed

Money then became empowerment for Europeans

The Persian military invaded

They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred

Africa was almost robbed naked

Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships

Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went

He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces

Shot up they nose to impose what basically

Still goes on today, you see?

If the truth is told, the youth can grow

Then learn to survive until they gain control

Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes

Read more learn more, change the globe

Ghetto children, do your thing

Hold your head up, little man, you're a king

Young Princess when you get your wedding ring

Your man is saying "She's my queen"

For those of you who want to listen to the song:

Monday Morning Mocha

I went to see Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” yesterday with my two cousins and their young children. The movie is historically significant because it features the first black princess of the Disney movies. The movie was really cute and my little cousins really seemed to enjoy it! The basic theme of the movie was to dream BIG and work hard to make your dreams a reality. Although I enjoyed the movie I couldn’t help but think that sometimes Disney movies inspire false hopes in children. I grew up watching Disney movies, my brother and I; we had them all, my favorite of all time was The Little Mermaid (my very first Disney movie) and The Lion King of course. So I was truly excited to see this movie myself because I had grown up on Disney movies and was interested to see the story of the first black Disney princess. After leaving the movie though I began to wonder why we take our children to see these fairy tales. I mean I know we want them to be amazed but at the same time are we giving them false ideas of reality? I think that by watching a lot of the movies I did as a child, it made me believe in ideas that weren’t necessarily true; such as, my prince in shining armor would come rescue me and I would become a princess and live happily ever after. But does happily ever after really exist?

Also, dreaming BIG and working hard in a capitalistic society does not promise everyone a path to success and riches. It’s just not possible in a capitalistic society because in this type of social system there has to be a class order, and that means poor people, individuals in the middle, and those on top. I am just saying, we are taught all these things as children but then as we get older, we realize that obtaining our “dreams” may not be as simple as we have been led to believe and most of us just settle for the status quo. And then we wonder why we are so messed up as adults, because we have been fed a bunch of BS and lies our whole lives. We live a life of freedom as children and then we are thrown into the slavery of the system in having to work to survive and take care of a family. 

Of course there are those who do make their dreams a reality, but this is just not possible for everyone, especially if those dreams include being rich. Another under-lying theme in the movie was the idea that money is power and if you don’t have the green, your dreams are impossible to make a reality. So the movie contradicts itself by saying in the beginning that if you dream big and work hard your dreams will come true, but then it says, wait, but not without MONEY! Everyone cannot be rich in a capitalistic society because then there would be no such thing; money would lose its value if everybody had it. This system is designed for people to fail and the people that make it all the way to the top usually lied, cheated and stole to make it there.

You may be thinking, how I could get all of this out of a Disney movie but most of the time the truths are presented to us in the form of a story or cartoon so that we will be so amazed by the tricks and illusions we look past the truth that is there. If you don’t believe me, go watch the Lion King and listen to the STORY that is being told, look past the illusion that we see in the animation….Now I’m not saying not to take your children to see animated movies but what I am saying is to listen to the real story and message that is being told to your children. Present them with both sides of the spectrum, especially as they get older. You have to give your children some realities, so that it won’t hit them so hard when they are faced with the true realities of the world we live in.

~MONDAY MORNING MOCHA~

About two weeks ago, I was walking on campus and as I was getting ready to cross the street, a lady was turning the corner and nearly ran someone over right in front of me! On top of that there was an old man, following closely behind the guy that she almost hit. Now I know that us VCU kids walk with no fear when we are on campus, daring people to hit us, but this woman was way out of line because the pedestrians had the right away. When I got to the parking garage the old man that was crossing the street got into the elevator with me. He looked at me, shook his head and said, “Where’s the Love?” So simply stated, but those three words carried so much impact on that day.

On black Friday, I was out shopping with my aunt when the same thing almost happened again, except this time it was to me. We were crossing the street to go into a store and after looking both ways I proceeded to cross the street. All of a sudden my aunt starts pulling me across the street in a running fashion and I notice she is hurrying us along because a car was flying through the parking lot and nearly about to hit us. Only because I was with my aunt, did I not curse that young girl out. I did turn around and stare her ass down and she just looked all silly. I couldn’t believe it! I was so hot! She was really about to hit us!

I mean, was she in such a hurry that she was willing to run us over to get to where she was going? Was she trying to hurry us along in her own way? Or was she just racist and purposely trying to run my aunt and I over? But even worse, why did I let that get me so worked up? I mean I was ready to pull her out of the car and beat her down (although I would never do that, I’m a lover not a fighter), but it got me to that point where those images flashed in my mind! 

I just don’t understand why people are so angry at each other! If you don’t like your situation don’t take it out on the next person. Most likely they are in the same situation as you. Or can at least identify with what you’re going through. Love comes with first respecting yourself as an individual. And until we can learn to love ourselves for who we are as individuals we will never be able to respect and love one another. And until we are able to love one another, we will never be able to WORK TOGETHER to change our situation. We’ll all go on continuing to exist as individuals, divided and conquered, and unable to change our situation for the better.

I don’t even have anymore words, the old man in the elevator couldn’t have said it better, “Where’s the Love?”