Watch until the end.
BTW the song "Ben" is just about my favorite Micheal Jackson song of all time.
And this young man certainly used it to great advantage.
(Oops I wrote another "gay" post so I guess all of you will be inundated with homosexual advertising. LOL!)
I just noticed this morning that the hate-filled One Million Moms are at it again. This time they are attempting to boycott JCPenney over their inclusion of lesbian moms in a mothers day ad. I hope this boycott is a failure just like their boycott when Penney's hired Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson. I think I will go on a shopping trip to JCPenney today.
ReplyDeleteI never liked Penneys, but you can be damn certain I will be shopping there now!
DeleteI feel the same way. Way to go JCP!
DeleteYour daughter is SO FORTUNATE to have you as her daddy! Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteOMG, I have listened to this over and over and over again. I am not a fan of rappish music, but this was really catchy and more importantly, the message is excellent and like the song says, it's time.
ReplyDeleteTears. Such a powerful message. 'Ben' is also one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. I miss the remarkable talent of Michael. This artist uses his music very well within his own message.
ReplyDeleteWOW! This is awesome, thank you so much for sharing it here. I got goosebumps and teared up. I'm not a hip hop or rap fan (I'm a 53-year old white gay guy) but this broke thru all the crap that perhaps had prevented me from enjoying it more. This gives me hope. Bravo to this brave and talented young man! The ending just killed me - beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThere is hope friend! The large majority are very accepting these days. Just don't flaunt it but keep it to yourself and it will get even better. But then you probably already know that don't you.
DeleteWhat do you mean "don't flaunt it?" You mean don't walk around holding hands like straight people do? Don't hug or kiss in public like straight people do? Don't get married like straight people do?
DeleteIt will get better only when gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and queer folks can "flaunt" all these things. Just like straight people do.
Flaunt away... there is just not enough love in the world. Why would it be better if people didn't express their feelings? Personally, I would so much rather see a couple (gay or straight) embrace, hold hands, kiss... than a one that glares, insults, or fights with each other. Beauty is where you find it and an expression of love is so beautiful. When you deny someone their rights as human beings, you create hate. Stop the intolerance "friend". Maybe I'm being too judgmental; maybe "friend" is just uncomfortable with PDA regardless, and that's OK.
DeleteSniffle. Yeah, I got some tears. Suck it up hateful tea. Real men can cry!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great song and positive message.
Gryphen: MJ's Ben was also one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. From my junior high days in the very early 1970s. I've also never seen the film it the song was used in ... rats, ugh, shudder.
Yeah, I know, so I'm a big old wuss. Frigging get used to it. I'm here, I'm me, I'm sometimes a wuss around rats and mice.
Also, tea trolls, don't bother asking Gryphen if he's gay again because of this post. You want to pick on someone gay, pick on me, a gay Minnesota bear. Grrr.
sniff.. sniff..
Deletedang..
I'm right there with you.
I married late in life. To a woman who raised her girl and gay son alone. A while back the kids found some "artifacts". A old tape of their mom... standing on the street fighting off several parents who felt a need to bully the boy.
Lots of yelling in the tape. Lots of moving back and forth. But its like the world stood still when a man steps forward and gets in my wife's face and yells above everyone "keep your fruitcake son off the street".
Like a cat cornered by a pack of mean dogs, you could see my wife jump all over that man. It was physical. It made me cry, get angry and all that.
My wife doesn't watch the tape. I guess a neibor taped it thru a screen door.
Our girl had the tape digitized.
And mom doesn't understand why because things are somewhat fuzzy in the tape. But if you listen, you hear my wife defending herself and little family from some god awful hateful racists voices.
My wife went to jail for that. The kids, after spending 2 weeks in foster care, went to live with the grandparent, back in the village.
The wife says they accused her of drinking. It was not true, but the neiborhood bullies out numbered her and the kids.
It breaks my heart when I think of how she was punished for sticking up her son.
My wife calls that time, the worst time of her life and doesn't want to revisit it.
Great song gyph.
sniff. sniff. thank you for the morning wonders.
And Paul, "a big old wuss", I stand with you 100%. I got you back.
I've never picked on any gay and in fact I accept them for what they are. I have however been vocal of jesse's 'in your face' and frequent gay posts and I'm just working on figuring out the reason why. Will he have the courage to let the conversation flow or will he need to censor out the side of it that he doesn't appreciate? Just in case, let me know how you feel about that. Are yo the sort that would march in a gay pride parade or would you be the type that keeps it a personal thing. Sort of the way I keep my sexuality a personal thing?
DeleteI'm not marching about sex. My sex life is a personal, quiet thing.
DeleteI'm marching so people don't treat me like crap because they have problems with what they assume I might do or not do with my sexuality, body, sexual bits, etc.
In the past, I've been fired from a job for being assumed to be gay (I didn't come out to anyone in that job, I didn't talk about being gay, I didn't demand anything at all, nor anything special or unique). I didn't talk about my sex life, sexual preference. Yet because I didn't rant on about my weekend prowls and studliness, any kids (legit or not legit) or grandkids. I didn't do like other people at work, heterosexuals, who talked on (and sometime gave too much detail) about their boyfriend or girlfriend, or person of the moment, exs, or current wife or husband or whom with they were having an affair.
Even though I didn't complain when someone with kids got extra time off from work, while at work, to deal with family issues and problems with their kids. Sometimes hours extra without using up sick time, vacation or floating time as I had to do so when dealing with my own personal problems.
Oh yeah, I also got the same, I was worth to pay less as I didn't have a family or kids to support.
Somehow, I was the problem even though I just showed up to do my job and NOT discuss my personal life or personal business or ask for anything extra other than respect and the ability to do my best in my job and workplace.
I'm marching so LGBT people in other generations don't have to go through the same bull droppings as I did because of other people's assumptions, yucky feelings, dislike, hate of anyone different from them.
And it's more than just me. A lot of my past Upper Midwest/Intermountain Western USA employment was around vast majority of people (co-workers or people I supervised) were were white.
The same heterosexually inclined and boastful about it types also had problems with people who weren't born in the area, were considered one of those funny city people. They also didn't like people who weren't Christian (or Christian like they were/same branch or sub-branch), were other than white/Caucasian or a certain country of origin re: their whiteness, and lots of other differences (a longer list than I feel like making at the moment).
So the question is, do you keep your sexuality a personal thing. Really? All of the time. Well, then, good for you. We probably would have gotten along well as co-workers.
8:36 am.
DeleteYour story (wife's story) breaks my heart.
I'm glad though she stuck by her family and did the right thing for her kids (now your kids too).
I can see where she wouldn't want to watch the video again. Especially when it cost her so much.
I can totally understand your wife's protectiveness. The people who should have been charged were the bullying and abusive parents. Not your wife defending, and rightly so, her children.
She's gone through a lot (including the children, other extended family members). Yet like her, you're a good person for marrying her, standing by her now, helping her be in the present in a good way.
Bravo for you and also to her.
Thank you for your story and I wish you, your wife, your children, all the best.
Also, my hope is that a lot of these other parents, who are bullies, have children who don't follow the same path. I think kids/teens are getting it. Thankfully, about time, getting it. I'm optimistic about the future based on real good and positive change coming from many people, especially from younger generations.
Thanks again for your comment and sharing.
Also thanks for having my back. I'll also help other people as when we stand together against the bullies, their power is diminished and defeated (though I wished dropping a bucket of water would also work on them).
:)
Paul and 8:56 Thanks for sharing part of your lives. I live in the burbs of Philadelphia, and have taken all three of my kids to Gay Pride and The Equality Forum (It's an annual event that celebrates LGBT history, art,music, poetry, literature, education, and all aspects of LBGT life).
DeleteI've been through the wringer with people who think it will turn my kids gay, become part of the gay agenda, etc etc.
Here's their link if you haven't heard of it yet, I highly recommend them
http://www.equalityforum.com/
I want them to feel comfortable with all people's culture and if they happen to be LGBT, I want them to know my love for them will never change, and my Husband feels the same way.
OK, I have to say that made me tear up, and feel really grateful to this young artist. Not only has he sent a very important and poignant message, he has done so with the assistance of a great musician and artist, Michael Jackson, thus commemorating Michael's open nature AND bringing it current to today's anti gay climate.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant stroke of musical and social genius. I really hope that this can go viral.
May this start a trend in the rap community and in every other musical community.
ReplyDeleteThroughout human history, it's music that has sent some of the most important messages of the times and this message is awesome!
Bravo to this young artist for standing up for what is right.
Love it! I also teared up..........Ben was also my favorite Michael Jackson song.
ReplyDeleteSigned:
White, straight, middle-aged grandmother of 3.
8)
Don't know if you saw it Gryph, but the young man from Iowa who so eloquently spoke in front of the Iowa Legislature was on Jon Stewart and wrote a book about his moms. Their love for each other is quite profound.
ReplyDeleteI hope this young rapper can make a dent in the misogony and gay bashing common in rap. With the Republican Party taking such a stand against women and gays, maybe rappers will step up and take the opposite approach.
ReplyDeleteIf the republican party didn't think these tactics are winning tactics then perhaps they wouldn't be using them? And perhaps if they continue to use them they are hoping that the left plays their game?
DeleteMy hunch is that Rachel Maddow is coming off as 'over the top' with her frequently gay commentaries on her program and that is resulting in a net loss. So is it worth it to the gays to play the game during a presidential campaign, which of course this is all about? Maybe to them but maybe not to the left and the Dem party.
Rachel Maddow is NOT 'over the top' - she speaks to truth.
DeleteI am an old, white woman of a certain age who totally believes that all people should be supported as they are - white, black, brown, red, green, purple, straight, bi-, gay. None of these descriptors make a difference. A person should be judged only on how they act and how they live. If they are hateful and mean, then that is what they get back. If they are loving and caring,then they should be cherished and supported.
We are each unique in our own right.
I think your "hunch" is over the top. Rachael isn't "over the top", Have you SEEN Michele and Marcus dance?
DeleteLOVE it. LOVE you for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI think Bristol who sold her house for less than she paid and Sarah who never lived in her house in Arizona, by the way, did they even buy furniture?
ReplyDeleteI think these people got calls, etc. telling them they were not welcome in Arizona. Why would Bristol and Sarah suddenly leave? No way will the Palins run for any office there and they know it. Plus Sarah knows Meghan and John will not help her.
Here's an idea! Let's make the Democrat party the gay party and see if that brings it into the solid majority category. Bad idea? Well, if so then consider that's what you're trying to do.
ReplyDeleteThe Democratic Party is made up of Americans who never forget the truths that are self-evident "that all men are created equal....."
DeleteIf you don't fear, don't discriminate, don't need to feel you are superior to anyone else just by virtue of being white, straight, Christian or whatever parameters you have chosen to make yourself special, it's all very simple. And so much less work. Try it.
I think the bottom line is the Democratic Party is inclusive, while the Repub1%cant's are exclusive (and elitist). The Democratic Party is tolerant and the Repub1%cant's are intolerant of anyone not white, Christian (except for Catholics), male and wealthy. They'll allow others to vote but not have a voice in g NO p policy. The Democratic Party is the party of compassion, while the Repub1%can't Party is the party of hate, waging War on Women, War on Gays, War on Children, War on the Elderly, War on Minorities, War on Immigrants, War on the Sick.
DeleteNeed I go on?
November will be very interesting.
Sorry, Gryph. Hope that doesn't put too much weight on Anonymous. (Buy some stretch pants. And add a layer to the tin foil beanie.)
This song was the 'anthem' for Hope and Change in 2008. I still get goose bumps when I hear it. Yes indeed music is very powerful. And I will stand by our President Obama in 2012.
ReplyDeleteStand By Me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM
Gryphen, thank you so much for posting this video.
ReplyDeleteI'm the one who has been posting it on the blog, and I'm so pleased you felt it important enough to showcase.
I have been listening to it for days now, playing it over and over again, each time feeling such an appreciation of the young artist and a recognition that I don't hate ALL rap music.
This song is healing, loving and necessary.
Good stuff Gryphen and it's on iTunes too for those who wondered. Thanks! Stop the hate.
ReplyDelete(Oops I wrote another "gay" post so I guess all of you will be inundated with homosexual advertising. LOL!)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've noticed quite a few, my fave "Whiner" admonishes you on your posts all the time, usually adding the word "krystiuns" or some form of the word. I happen to like gay ads;o)
I don't usually like "rap" music, but if it's done as well as this one, maybe I'll start listening to the words more.
Thanks, this one's a gift, I watched it twice and it made me tear up and smile at the same time. My first daughter had a major crush on MJ as a young girl. Me? I'm a huge "Ben" fan - especially crisp new ones!
I must have missed it, but what was written on the bill that it kept being refused? There must have been something written on it.
ReplyDelete