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‎The Time And What Must Be Done | Saturdays @ 6PM Central | NOI.ORG/THETIME

The Time And What Must Be Done | Saturdays @ 6PM Central | NOI.ORG/THETIME

Louis Farrakhan on American Foreign Policy and Special Interests

Highlights from the January 1, 2013 interview conducted with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan are available online. Here is the transcript from a question I posed to him regarding international affairs. Read it and share. It contains guidance for Republicans, Democrats, Tea Party members and all those who are concerned about America's future.

Ashahed M. Muhammad: "You've always spoken honestly and courageously regarding the hidden realities of America's foreign policies; you've discussed the unintended consequences of the so-called Arab Spring; the continued efforts aimed at regime change in Syria.  And as for Iran, the saber-rattling and continued drum beats for war.  How are we to view these global realities, these global events?  And what is the responsibility of the American people to speak out against these things that are done by the government in their name?"

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: "The American people need to be awakened.  If the American people really understood how evil their government and its policies have been toward people not only outside of America, but inside America, they would awaken!  And out of them will come a 'patriot' who will speak Truth to Power to free their minds from the manipulation of those who are in positions of authority and power--but [who] are corrupted to the core by the moneyed 'special interests' that 'govern' the governors, 'govern' the senators; 'govern' The Government of the United States of America....And The Wicked, and the warmongers and war makers, and mischief makers will be set down; and a Brand New World, with Brand New Leadership that are rooted in Principles of Freedom, Justice, Equality and Peace, will be The Leaders of Tomorrow.  Let's prepare them today."

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The Final Call's 2013 Exclusive Interview w/ Min. Louis Farrakhan [FinalCall.com]

Final Call 2013 Interview w/ Minister Louis Farrakhan

'The Time and What Must Be Done'

In New Year’s Day interview, Minister Farrakhan announces 52-week lecture series

CHICAGO--In a wide-ranging year end interview, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan offered analysis of the year that was and insight into what is to come in 2013. He also announced an historic 52-week series of messages, “The Time and What Must Be Done,” which will officially begin January 12 and be available via the Internet, YouTube, cable access television, radio and on DVD.

Among the issues and topics addressed were concerns about the misuse of entertainment and culture, the serious implications of the popular movie Django Unchained in the current racial climate, rising violence in a society spinning out of control, challenges facing President Obama, international affairs and the Nation of Islam minister’s continued effort to reach Black youth.

Min. Farrakhan, in answering a question, encouraged single Black mothers to stand firm on solid spiritual and moral ground in raising their sons. Meanwhile, he said, the efforts to remake Black men properly to care for their women and children must be dramatically increased.

“The New Year should be a time of deep reflection and commitment, praying that God will help us go through this year and bring us safely into the next,” said Min. Farrakhan, in a New Year’s Day round-table discussion conducted by the editor of The Final Call, assistant editor Ashahed M. Muhammad, and staff writer Starla Muhammad at the newspaper’s offices.

“We intend for the next 52 weeks to deal with the subject that was given by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, The Time and What Must Be Done. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad finished his time among us with a series of lectures called the Theology of Time. And we in this time want our people to understand that time is the yardstick that judges our actions,” said Min. Farrakhan. “If we understand that we are supposed to be free men and women, then we must not act as slaves, that as the Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught me is not good subject and verb agreement. We are in the present and our actions should not be of the past mentality of a slave who sits around begging others, ‘give me,’ ‘give me,’ ‘give me,’ ‘give me.’ No. I’m free now; let me do something for myself. But you (America) should help us—because we gave you all that we had, 310 years of chattel slavery, 150 years as a free slave. We built the economy of the South that fueled the industrial revolution of the North. We fought in every war that America has had, not for our freedom, but for America’s freedom and for the freedom of others who came to America and found the American Dream and built it on the nightmare of Black existence. It’s time now for the Black man and woman to realize it’s on us to make a future for ourselves, and our children and our unborn generations. And I will be doing everything I can in this year to provide that guidance but I am telling you as the Qur’an says, ‘By the time surely man is in loss, except those who believe and do good and enjoin one another to truth and enjoin one another to patience.’ The time will judge our actions and if our actions are not correspondent to the time we will continue down the road of intense regret over great loss.”

The full interview will be available for viewing for the very first time Saturday, January 5, at 6 p.m. Central at http://NOI.ORG/THETIME

The Man With the Iron Fists [Movie Review]

Movie Review: The Man With the Iron Fists

If you are acquainted with Hip-Hop, you are probably already familiar with RZA’s discography and undoubtedly aware of many of his works. His accomplishments are almost too numerous to list. He created and led to prominence what many consider one of the most influential Hip-Hop groups ever, The Wu Tang Clan. He is an award winning music producer, author of two books (The Tao of Wu and the Wu Tang Manual) and a film and television actor. Like all members of the Wu-Tang Clan, he has several aliases, an alter ego (Bobby Digital) and he seems to always be involved in a new project.

You have heard his music on soundtracks for martial-arts themed and inspired movies such as Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Kill Bill and the anime series Afro-Samurai. His musical compositions have always had depth and cinematic quality that one could easily see transferred to the big screen, and with the film The Man With the Iron Fists, RZA, in his feature directorial debut, allows all the creative energy within his aesthetic mind to spring forth into a marvelously enjoyable motion picture.

The Man With the Iron Fists is a modern take on the old style kung-fu flick however, unlike many of the kung-fu flicks of the past which bring back feelings of nostalgia for fans of the genre, this movie is not campy, not corny, well-paced and well organized. In some action movies, there is so much going on during the fight scenes you are unable to see what is really going on. I don’t like that. In Iron Fists, the fight scenes are definitely fast moving, however, they are shot in a unique and visually striking manner that allows you to appreciate the hand-to-hand combat, transitioning nicely from one panoramic view and landscape to the next.

The Lion Clan during a scene from 'The Man With The Iron Fists' (Photo courtesy: IronFists.com)

We are familiar with the manner in which Hollywood’s film creations are used to propagandize and the sophisticated ease with which the film industry maximizes its awesome ability to create images. Pick any movie aimed at young viewers and you are likely to witness oblique references to the Holocaust, or even aspects of that specific portion of the historical narrative woven into the story lines of the characters. For examples of this, consider Inglorious Basterds, the X-Men series of films and most recently The Avengers, all movies I thoroughly enjoyed. With great skill, RZA authentically and effectively weaves in aspects of the Black slavery experience in a manner that is neither overbearing nor preachy. In this way, he uses entertainment to also educate and does it in a way I wish more Black musical artists, authors, and screenplay writers would emulate.

As if writing and directing wasn’t enough, RZA held down the lead role as the reflective Blacksmith, the leading weapons maker in a rural area of feudal China called Jungle Village. His ethical cognitions and symbolic transformation prove critical in the film providing keys to understanding the entire plot. The struggle for tribal supremacy provides unpredictable plot twists. With so many intriguing parallel story lines, Iron Fists will maintain your interest throughout.

The excellent character development and realistic interaction between them will surely make for interesting analysis and endless discussions by movie fans late into the night and for days and weeks to come.

Byron Mann was outstanding as the callously villainous Silver Lion, and the well-known former professional wrestler Dave Bautista works as the despicably brutal and seemingly indestructible Brass Body. Russell Crowe was cruelly calculating as British soldier Jack Knife, and Lucy Liu was superb as the devastatingly devious Madame Blossom. Rick Yune should also be commended for a good job as Zen-Yi, the deadly X-Blade.

RZA has spoken of how much he learned as an observant pupil during his apprenticeship under acclaimed film director Quentin Tarantino, and it shows. Co-writer Eli Roth’s valuable expertise and experience contributed to the enhancement of the project as well.

For Iron Fists, there is a soundtrack as well as a musical score both available through iTunes. Posters, action figures, books, and undoubtedly sequels will surely be spawned. RZA’s trailblazing and powerful entry into this aspect of the movie industry should be celebrated within the Hip Hop Nation. I think an entirely new movie genre has begun which will provide a source of thought-provoking entertainment for decades to come.

(The Man With The Iron Fists is showing in theaters nationwide. For movie trailers, bios and photo galleries visit www.ironfists.com.)

Smart'n Up Black Male Summit - NOV.17 in Houston, TX

ACTIVIST DERIC MUHAMMAD HOSTS SUMMIT TO ADDRESS DROPOUT RATE, and the UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF BLACK MALES

HOUSTON-- Deric Muhammad and Lone Star Community College will host the 3rd Annual Smart’N Up Black Male Summit on Education.  The event will take place at the Lone Star College Victory Center, 4141 Victory Drive, Houston TX on Saturday, November 17, 2013.

The Black Male Summit seeks to inspire and encourage Black males to diligently pursue the acquisition of knowledge in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom. We believe that education and the proper use of knowledge is the key to stopping the downward social trajectory of the Black male in America. Statistics show that several states have poor graduation outcomes for Black and Latino males.  Fewer than 60% of Black and Latino students in Texas earn regular diplomas alongside their classmates.  A recently released report from the Schott Foundation shows that only 52% of Black and 55% Latino males graduate high school in four years.

Lone Star College-North Harris, part of the Lone Star College System, is passionate about providing quality educational opportunities for the successful development of knowledge, skills and attitudes for a rapidly changing world. At all levels, educational institutions across the country are coordinating activities to promote multi-level success for African American males. Lone Star College-North Harris is proud to partner with community leaders like DericMuhammad in this effort.

This year's program features a diverse group of motivational speakers and will be hosted by Activist Deric Muhammad.  Registration begins at 9A workshops will begin at 10A  On site positive male “day mentors”, GED and college entrance information, door prizes and an iPad Giveaway will take place.

Individuals and groups may register online at www.BlackMaleSummit2012.EventBrite.com.  For more information, please call Alicia Jackson (832) 338-6719 or contact Deric Muhammad directly at (713)539-1079.

Jill Stein, Green Party: Mobilizing the Dissatisfied

2012 Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein

I really enjoyed interviewing the 2012 Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein. I've stated this to many who have asked me about it that it was one of the most interesting interviews I have ever conducted with a candidate for political office. The depth of her sincerity and conviction is not something you see everyday from those in the political realm, with whom I come into contact often.  I'd like for you to read the interview, share it with others, and as always, let me know your thoughts. 

The full interview can be read here: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_9303.shtml

An excerpt is below: 

On the international front, Dr. Stein is highly critical of Pres. Obama’s expansion of drone wars in Yemen and Somalia, as well as sending armed troops into parts of Africa, which she believes was hastened once it was discovered that there was oil in Central Africa. She is firmly against a war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. She is also in favor of the creation of a “nuclear free planet” and having the same rules for all nations, across the board.

“A war in Iran would be a disaster, an unmitigated disaster in terms of the chaos in the Middle East, what it would do to global energy supplies, that alone is reason enough not to go there. This would be extremely destructive to U.S. interests alone, so from the point of view of just enlightened self-interests, this is an insane thing to contemplate,” said Dr. Stein. If the spread of nuclear weapons is to be checked, other nations should be examined as well.

“Iran is certainly not the first here. There’s a long line of other countries including Israel and Pakistan and India which contain enormous potential for destruction already, not to mention the fact that the United States is the only country that’s actually used a nuclear weapon already,” she noted.