Home of the Free, Land of the Brave.

Tha King would like to remind everyone that while your enjoying your day off tomorrow, those of us that have one, stop and think about the veterans and the people on active duty in the United States Armed Forces. They sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedom that we so often take for granted. So if you see a vet or a uniformed officer tomorrow, stop and tell him/her thanks.
 
Tha King loves going to the barber shop, well not really because it reminds me that my hairline is receding( I swear I'm going to get hair implants, I refuse to be bald.) What I love about the barber shop is the conversation. It's a bunch of dudes from all walks of life, each with an opinion and they aren't afraid to share it. Unlike most barber shops that just talk about sports, music and women, we often discuss world news and politics. I live in a largely west indian neighborhood and the discussion yesterday was between three West Indian gentleman, one Haitian, one Jamaican, and the other from Trinidad. To keep it simple we'll call them Mr H, Mr J and Mr T( I pity the fool!).
 
The conversation started with Mr T and Mr H complaining that America is not the place that it was hyped up to be when they where in their respective homelands. Mr T was saying he was told that all his dreams would come true when he came to America and felt lied to when he did come over. Their complaints didn't sit well with Mr J, who told them to stop complaining and be thankful for everything they have been able to do in America. He said the American was "heaven on earth" compared to where they had come from. Mr T and Mr H disagreed and said that they were told they could find good paying jobs here but once you get here you can't do much of anything unless you have a green card. Mr J's response was that of many people; "If you don't like here, go back where you came from."
 
Contrary to popular belief, Tha King is not West Indian. Technically he is half but I was not raised around that side of my family so my upbringing was in a "yankee" household. That being said, as I've gotten older I've become more and more exposed to West Indian and Caribbean culture. Most of my friends are West Indian as is my girlfriend. I've even taken trips to many of the Islands. Coming from a African American family and being educated in American schools I can say that a partially agree with Mr H and Mr T. If you read an American history book you would get the impression that opportunity is thrown at you the moment you step of the boat(was that not politically correct? Ahhh who cares?) This is definitely not the case, especially if your skin is any shade close to Tha Kings'. If America is being portrayed as this paradise to the people who were born here than I can only imagine how its portrayed overseas. Shit isn't anywhere near as sweet as they make it out to be.
 
That being said, It's still pretty damn sweet. You can do things in America that you could never imagine doing in other countries. Opportunities are abundant here, more than anywhere else, but nothing is given and nothing promised. The misconception is that you will be showered with riches upon arrival, but that's not the "American Dream." The deal is, you can do anything you want in America, but you have to do it the American way. Education, and hard work, maybe just a dash of luck too. Your never going to live the American dream as a high school dropout driving a dollar van. You have to follow the plan. Does it always work? Of course not, but a chance is all you can really ask for in this world. You'll damn sure get a chance here.
 
What do you guys think? Is the American Dream bullshit? Were Mr H and Mr T right? Or is it really "heaven on earth" like Mr J claims it is? 

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