Tag Archives: Dawoud Kringle

Legalization.

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I have something to say regarding drug laws.

Cocaine and opium (and opium derivatives) have obvious side effects, and this contributed to it’s legislation. But there is another factor that must be examined. A program by a man named Harry J. Anslinger whose outrages against cannabis were overtly and openly racist, was financed by the Herst Corporation. Cannabis and hemp products derived from it threatened the paper industry; so the public opinion was “altered” via racist and sensationalist propaganda, and later made into law via the “Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.”

Any undesirable side effects from cannabis use are, in light of this, rendered irrelevant when considering the real reasoning behind prohibition. Anti-cannabis laws have generated billions and billions in profits for corporations and law enforcement (the line between them having become indistinct). The only real reason why the legalization process is moving ahead is due to the potential of greater profits. Within the government / corporate world, different groups are fighting over the potential profits and losses from cannabis laws or their repeal: public health concerns are a mere pretext. The prison industrial complex stands to loose money, and the fledgling cannabis industries stand to make billions.

It’s as simple as that. We the People are barely on their radar as anything except potential customer base or livestock for corporate owned prisons.

It is a terrible mistake to assume that the laws against these drugs were enacted only for concern for public health. One must always assume two motives: racism and profit. The USA suffers from a racist mindset that spilled over from Europe, and became epidemic. We have not recovered from it; it still contaminates our thinking, and only an idiot would fail to see this.

The other is profit. An even greater stupidity would be required to believe that there is no concern on the part of law makers for profit and / or acquisition of political power. There is no depths to which most humans would refuse to sink if it promised an increase of power and wealth; and no government or corporate entity is truly trustworthy.

As far as the legislation itself, I offer food for thought. ALL this legislation, without a single exception, makes a serious error. NOT ONE of these laws actually does anything to address the urge within humans to get high. What makes a person wish to smoke a blunt, sniff cocaine, allow him / herself to become addicted to opiates, pickle their brains and livers with alcohol, and smoke industrial grade tobacco? What fuels this motive toward self ruin? And how is it possible to redirect that urge toward something socially and spiritually beneficial to humanity? The lawmakers have NO answer for this: and they NEVER will.

This, for no reason other than that the most spiritually and psychologically base and perverse people on the planet have laid their hands on the instruments of political, economic, industrial, and military power.

Put that in your bong and smoke it.

Islam and Racism

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Islam forbids racism. Not by insinuation (i.e. “brotherly love.” or the like), but in specific terms impossible to deny or contradict.

“And one of the Signs (of Allah) is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your colors (i.e. races) and languages. Surely there is a Sign in this for those who have wisdom.”
– Qur’an 30:22

I take this as meaning (among other things) that, since the creation of heaven and earth is mentioned in the same sentence as the different languages and races among humanity, that this diversity exists as in integral and indispensable component of creation. Humanity NEEDS a variety of people; without it, we couldn’t exist.

The Prophet Muhammas (sas) said, in his last sermon:
“The while man has no superiority over the black man, and the black man has no superiority over the white man; and the Arab has no superiority over the non-Arab, and the non-Arab has no superiority over the Arab, except in (individual) piety / nearness to Allah. And the best among you are those who remember that all people are descended from Adam (as) and Adam (as) is created from dust.”

Hard to get more obvious than that. But it didn’t stop there. In the Prophet Muhammad’s biography, there is a striking example of walking the walk and not just talking the talk.

Bilal ibn Rabah (ra) is one of the greatest saints of Islam. He was an African slave who accepted Islam when there were maybe two dozen Muslims in the world. His owner beat and tortured him to get him to renounce Islam. Bilal refused, despite the unspeakable agonies inflicted on him. The Prophet (sas) asked if anyone would purchase Bilal, and his companion Abu Bakr (ra) did so, and immediately freed him. Bilal became one of the Prophet’s closest companions, the treasurer of the Muslim nation, a great warrior, and was the first to make the adhan (call to prayer).

One day the Prophet (sas) said that he had a dream that he was about to enter Paradise, and heard footsteps of someone ahead of him. The companions were amazed, and asked who it was. He said “It was Bilal.” Consider what it means when the Prophet (sas) sees a vision of a former African slave entering Paradise before him; and makes it a point to happily share the news.
Muslims must cure their hearts of the cancer of racism, without hesitation or condition.

Now, permit me a “secular” analysis.

Racism is a disease that extends to both the psychological and spiritual dimensions of a human being. It is based on a number of factors all racists have in common:

1. Fear of surface appearances that differ from their own, or do not conform to paradigms of human cultural or physical manifestations that do not resemble imagery in the mind (which, by the way, only exists in their mind, and has no correlation to anything in reality).

2. Fear of loss. Exposure to some anthropological “other” triggers a reaction wherein the “other / different” is associated with the threat of being forcibly or cunningly deprived of possessions, social status, or some personal sense of pride or honor. This is similar to that found in many species of animals.

3. A lack of perspective and insight. This is either the conditioned behavior, or hard-wired incapacity to recognize similarities between people of different persuasions, and to understand on a deep and fundamental level that differences in humans / a multiplicity of manifestation, is essential to the structure of the existence of the universe. This is a subtle form of polytheism in its most degraded form. Polytheists look at unity and see multiplicity, whereas a true monotheist looks at multiplicity and see unity (lest you think otherwise, external appearances of polytheism or monotheism may harbor a very different internal motivation).

I must point out that some people associate all this with a lack of intelligence, however, this is a mistake. While you will certainly find morons among their ranks, many racists are extraordinarily intelligent people. They are not stupid: they’re insane. Such people are extraordinarily dangerous, because they usually have the capacity and the will to attempt to shape social order to conform to their insanity; and know how to incite other less intelligent people to do their dirty work for them.

(PS: yes, racists, I just dissected you as if you were laboratory rats, and exposed your inner dementia to the world. My assessment is true, and you are powerless to defend your position with anything but lies or violent outbursts, which only prove my assessment to be correct.)

I challenge anyone to prove what I posted here to be wrong.

Part of the Mystery

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Once a part of the mystery has been revealed to you, the mistake most people make is thinking that this is the end of the process. No. This is the beginning of the ordeal of learning what to do with it. Most people stumble, create disasters they must clean up later, or fall utterly into ruin. Tragically, among the later, many are so deluded by self flattery they’re not even aware of their own ruin.

Musician’s rant

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I must offer the musicians and artists who visit my wall some food for thought.

After DECADES of participating in performances (using my musical skills it took even more decades of hard work and sacrifice to acquire), to offer yet another performance in hopes of “exposure” leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I did my first professional gig when I was 14. I’ve done dozens, maybe hundreds of gigs wherein I was promised “exposure.” It produced absolutely no result at all.

Permit me to share a personal anecdote with you.

Some years back, I was part of a music collective that traded musical directorship between members. We got a call for the Disney Corporation. They were holding a corporate function at a hotel in midtown. We spoke with them, got the details, etc. Then, we asked what the gig paid, their answer was this: NOTHING. Not a penny. But we were told it would be “good exposure.”

I told them “NO FUCKING WAY!!” From that moment, I had a personal vendetta against Disney.

Think about this: Disney (whose corporate earnings in 2013 was $90.1 million) were renting a hall in one of Manhattan’s most expensive hotels, paying for caterers, paying security, limo company, etc. etc – and they wouldn’t scrape a few thousand for the live music.

Try telling a catering business or a security firm they should work for free because it’s “good exposure.”
The reason is obvious: they have NO respect for us. They, and hundreds of others, see us as chumps who will work for nothing if they dangle the prospect of “exposure” in our faces.
Power respects power. We need power, or we will be doing free gigs and going to people like this with our hats in our hands and walking away with nothing to show for our work the rest of our lives.

I learned this lesson late in life: I’ve been making music for 44 years. It may very well be too late for me. Don’t make the same mistake I made.

Epitath for a Friend.

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The morning of March 24th, 2015 was difficult on me. Imam Salihohu Djabbi; Imam and founder of Masjid Imam Ali in Brooklyn, Imam at the GMDC-C73 facility at Riker’s Island Prison Complex, and Amir of the Council of African Imams of New York City died after a four year battle with ALS. I knew Imam Salihou’s passing would not be far; the last time I visited him, he didn’t look well. Watching his health deteriorate was heartbreaking, Yet throughout it all, he never lost his faith, nor his good humor.

And now, Allah called him home. He made it; and we’re still here, asleep and dreaming our dark dreams. 

Imam Salihou  was a man of great spiritual attainment. Sitting with him, one shared in his blessings, and learned some very deep lessons. He was a wise and kind man whom I learned a great deal from. I worked with him for many years at the C73 building at Riker’s Island, and I can never forget how he always went out of his way to place me in a position of honor and status (which I was always worried about how I merited this).

But one thing I fear may be lost among the statements shared about him was his great sense of humor. He was a lot of fun and would often share a good joke! Once, when I bought a sarangi, he asked me why I did that. I told him I found one for a good price. He said “Man, there must be something wrong with you!” I laughed until I could barely breath. He and I shared many light hearted moments.   He was a friend and teacher; a man of immense spiritual knowledge and authority who commanded great respect, and who was nonetheless humble, charitable, and filled with love and good humor.

Many people talk about being spiritual. Some cast derision on people who fake it for gain. Some search and search for it. Imam Salihou was the real thing; he was absolutely authentic, and exemplary as a real spiritual leader. To him, all men and women were his brother and sister. His heart was full of compassion. And a no one could ask for a better friend.   I haven’t the nerve to say what Allah will or will not do. But if Allah welcomes him among the ranks of the elite on the Day of Judgement, it will not surprise me in the least.

I salute him, and thank Allah for his life.