Skyler Saunders
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I will be publishing a story every Tuesday. Make sure you read the exclusive content each week to further understand the stories.
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Stories (2928)
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Reason First: Semper Fidelis, Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand once wrote that it was either “fate or irony... to be born, of all countries on Earth in the one least suitable for a fanatic of individualism, Russia.” My story is the direct opposite. Call it emphasizing the obvious that a fierce egoist like myself was born in the capital of the First State on an Air Force base in the United States of America. And that was just the beginning. By choice, I chose to serve in the United States Marine Corps. To take those polar opposites together, one must know that no unknown or unknowable was involved in Miss Rand’s birth or my own. She chose to come to America to facilitate her life as a rationally selfish human being. I decided to become a Marine because I wanted to not become human chattel.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Serve
Reason First: Is It Proper for Rapper YG to 'Stay Dangerous'?
The bullets, gun battles, and animosity associated with the hip hop genre hinder it from being a culture. For rapper Slim 400, who survived over nine shots to his body, the whole gang mentality should be put to rest. As his associate YG has said that he will “stay dangerous” this only perpetuates the back and forth between gang members. With the shooting death of Nipsey Hussle, YG explained that the slain rapper was a “brother from another color,” referencing the fact he is a Blood and Hussle was a Crip. But with Slim 400 expected to make a full recovery, the winds of vengeance may begin to blow. Hopefully, guns remain cold. When asked by a TMZ reporter if he has “any message for the people that did it” YG just waved off the question with a “C’mon man.”
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Criminal
Reason First: Should A$AP Rocky and Crew Be Let Off Because of Poor Camerawork?
There ought to be lessons in elementary school on up to PhD-level on how to best hold the camera when shooting footage on a cellphone. The latest video to go all shaky and distorted purportedly presents A$AP Rocky and crew assaulting a man in the streets of Stockholm, Sweden. The brief melee is difficult to decipher, as the amateur videographer shimmies with the videophone. Poor quality doesn’t help the matter much. When law enforcement arrived, they wanted to see the evidence in living color. What they didn’t want was jerky picture that looks like a war film where there’s no Steadicam.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Criminal
Reason First: Can Someone Be Too Black or Not Black Enough?
The issue over how “black” an individual is should be nil. Whatever the people who say that they’re “black” is actually a floating abstraction or concept are not grounded in reality. What does it mean to be “black?" How does someone qualify for such a tribalist notion? Presidential candidates and Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris have both been accused of not being black enough. Most recently, Senator Booker has stated that senator Harris has nothing to prove. It’s as if to be black means you must subscribe to the unknown and unknowable, know who Playboi Carti is dating, and enjoy pig feet smothered in hot sauce. What it means to be black should pale in comparison to being a rational, confident individual.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
Reason First: Is 50 Cent a Rolling Stone?
If you owe 50 Cent money, he’s going to let you know about it. If you claim to be his alleged son Marquise, he doesn’t want anyone to know about it. The young man was disrespected, many people hold, by the Queens, New York City rapper, who will tell you in strong language that he is not the father. Should this be a clear indication that 50 Cent’s stability within the hip hop sphere may be in question? Because he is so well known on the mic and on screens large and small. This is a telling turn of events that leads to the question of fathers in rap. Most dads like Nas, Jay-Z, Ice Cube, Master P, and Eminem (to name but a few) excel at being fathers. The cliché that runs through not only rap, but other genres as well is that fathers are merely sperm donors who may or may not stick around to see their seeds grow.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Reason First: Should the Government Be Involved in Cornrows and Afros?
Nonessentials, like hair texture and skin color, should have no bearing on whether an employer hires a candidate or not. And there definitely should be no laws for or against natural hair. In reality, in a fully free laissez-faire capitalist society, there would and ought to be discrimination against race, color, sex, sexual preference and anything else that really doesn’t matter among private citizens. All that should be considered is the competence of a given potential employee.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
Reason First: Is Rapper Russ Right?
Russ is white. He’s also a rapper. He is also a one man band phenomenon who sells out shows, and knows his way around a mixing board, engineering equipment, and production studio. So, why is he concerned with the black rap community? Russ says that the business of music is designed to cull young, financially illiterate blacks to make old white men wealthy. Also, he says that such youths “perpetuate negative black stereotypes.” So, why would he voice these ideas? Is it merely white guilt rearing its ugly head again? What Russ is speaking is somewhat true although severely misguided.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Reason First: Who Punches a Cop in the Face and Runs?
The life you save may be your own if you want your life. Surprisingly, a Pennsylvania man tested the men in police uniforms by taunting and running away from them. While (of course) the footage failed to convey the beginning of the incident, it is a relief that this scene did not end with gunshots between the alleged perpetrator or the cops. In the video, the man is seen “squaring up” with cops after the policeman allegedly cold-cocked the man in the face. Supposedly, the man received the taser treatment. From Eric Garner to Tamir Rice to Michael Brown to Freddie Gray and so many others, the black man seems to be a target in the United States. However, if it is true that the unidentified man, black, white, red, brown, or yellow should have met the cold hand of justice from the start with an arrest.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Criminal
Reason First: Is Jeezy the Greatest Hip Hop Entrepreneur in the South?
You still can’t ban the Snowman. Especially, you can’t stop Jeezy from partnering with Freddie Figgers and Figgers Communications. While the platinum rapper is known for collaborations with fellow hip hop artists, he has had side hustles, like Avion Tequila (for which he sold his equity) and American Cut Steakhouse. Jeezy’s mission is to show street fellows that it’s okay to embrace corporate America. His thirst for economic excellence has even extended into the drinking water market, with Defiance Fuel Water. From selling crack cocaine on Atlanta street corners to a baron of real estate development, Jeezy has reinvented himself. He has provided a roadmap for other hustlers to take their money from the black market and transform it into legitimate businesses. As a force on the microphone, Jeezy has established himself as a motivator. Whether it’s a rap or a real estate project, Jeezy invests not only his money, but his time into these endeavors. The various ventures all stem from the way that Jeezy has put intellectual effort into the way that money is made.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Journal
Reason First: Do Cardi B's Accusers Hate Her Because She's Beautiful?
Before roving mobs start chanting “lock her up!” Cardi B should be given her chance at due process like any other rights holding American citizen. A Grammy, a husband, a baby, three number one singles, and an ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Award, and a number one album all set up Cardi B to be amongst the wheat while other female rappers have become the chaff. The indictment regarding her allegedly attempting to “assault two women with intent to cause serious physical injury and other charges like misdemeanor reckless endangerment, assault, criminal solicitation, conspiracy,” and harassment all amount to hate. It is the hatred of the successful for being successful. If Cardi B would have been a dancer still sliding down poles with a few thousand dollars attached to her name, would she be in this conundrum?
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Reason First: ESPN Drops Ball
If you’re going to ban LaVar Ball, do it for the right reason. Do it because he is slightly deranged and out-of-control when it comes to evaluating all of his sons’ basketball skills. In a decision made by ESPN, Ball may no longer appear on any of its network programs due to a comment he uttered to sports anchor and moderator Molly Qerim. The quote from Ball to Qerim was that she could "switch gears with [Ball] anytime.” Qerim (who is married to former NBA player and fellow ESPN co-worker Jalen Rose) and the network took offense to the line and have barred him indefinitely. In the video, Qerim took the language in stride. She actually switched gears! Ball is a fool and a delusional dad who says and does things without a filter. What he said may have been off the cuff but his statements about how son Lonzo Ball is better than Steph Curry and Lebron James was particularly ghastly. He was wrong about the UCLA Bruins winning the NCAA championship. Though he was right about Lebron James going to the Lakers. Fast forward and one finds LaVar Ball in the most trouble for words that he spoke.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Unbalanced
Reason First: Can the Jordan XIII 'Lakers' Bring an End to Violence Over Sneakers?
The Anthony Davis trade to the Los Angeles Lakers may prove to be a boom for the Jumpman brand. With the duo of Davis and Lebron James on the same squad now, the Air Jordan “Lakers” sneakers might be a hot seller. Fans and supporters will have the opportunity to match the exclusive kicks with those purple jerseys. Because James already wears a 23 on his jersey, Davis will be in a position to change the number, as he once played with the figure popularized by Mr. Michael Jordan himself. The internet has already devised a plan for Anthony to take the number 21. From the brain of legendary designer, Tinker Hatfield, and Jordan the sneaker, which was popularized in the Spike Lee film, He Got Game (1998), saw inspiration from the paw of a panther. Complete with a hologram and the Jumpman symbol, a basketball, and the number 23, the sneaker have been reissued numerous times. Now Lakers fans can sport their Lebron or Davis jerseys to the game, at the bar, or in the comforts of home. On July 20, these faithful will be able to witness a possible playoffs run, and maybe even a Finals appearance during the 2019 to 2020 season.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Styled
