"Let Me Get Something Off My Chest"

“Let Me Get Something Off My Chest”

It was 9:25 A.M, class is almost starting, and I’m walking on my way. 

Strolling across the street, underneath the Union Ballrooms,
across the courtyard, to the HCB building. 

I had just woke up at 9:00, but I was in a thinking mood.

I always was in a thinking mood, especially when I go on walks. 

But I was feeling it this time; must have been a dream I had or something.

Let me get something off my chest real quick.

It’s something real pressing, something real important, especially to my people. 

Let this be a disclaimer, because there’s no doubt that I may be preaching to the choir.

In the Black community, there are so many problems, so many issues haunting us.

These same issues give way to and/or heightens the impact that they have. 

If that wasn’t bad enough, these ain’t no new trends. 

They’ve been around for as long as I, or anyone for that matter, can remember. 

But I definitely have to speak my piece in this conversation. 

I got to get a little something off my chest. 

What’s up with this competitive atmosphere? 

Of course, this ain’t everybody,
but there’s too many people trying to prove that they’re better than the next.

It’s clear and reasonable for people to want to do well,
that’s the move everybody’s trying to make. 

But it’s something different. 

We’ve been doing this from the playgrounds to the real world. 

It started out, “I got the better toys”,

“I’m stronger than you”,

“I’m faster than you”, “I’m smarter than you”, and etc. 

Nowadays, it’s all about, “I got more money than you”,

“I got the better clothes”, “I got the newest whips”, “I got the baddest chicks”,

“I got the better job”, and etc.

There ain’t nothing wrong with a little competition.

But even air and water are deadly without moderation. 

But moderation ain’t what’s on the mind.

It’s the money, the cars, the clothes, the power, the status,
the glitz, and the glamour, which is all fine. 

To keep it 100, they’re on my mind, too. 

It’s good that we use it as motivation, but it has worked its way too well. 

In fact, so well that some of us have taken to adopting the “by any means necessary” mantra

and took it to a whole ‘nother level. 

It used to be to protect one’s self whoever one can. 

Now, it’s do well, whatever that means for us individually, at all costs. 

Posting pictures with jewelry and cars, glorifying the rich lifestyle, when it’s not theirs. 

Flexing on Instagram with nice clothes for the likes and followers,

when the numbers in the bank account is on E. 

These were the thoughts I had in my head when I was sitting upfront taking notes

in INR 2002 (Introduction to International Politics). 

Professor Souva was up explaining countries misrepresenting information

to each other and the incentives that come with it. 

I’m sitting taking notes on the different examples. 

The one that stood out was President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev during the Cold War. 

Both sides flexing how much nuclear weaponry they have and willingness to go to war. 

The funny thing was they didn’t have as much as they said,
and war was the last thing they wanted. 

But it’s just that, all of this misrepresentation of information,
the distortion of facts, the lying. 

For what? Of course, it’s all to gain something. 

Security, opportunity, an advantage, or something else good. 

It’s no wonder why there’s no trust anymore.

Why does the success of one reflect the downfall of another?

It’s great for people to shine and get their respect and recognition.

Lord knows that isn’t given out as much as it should be.

However, it almost seems that as one gains praise, another gets criticism. 

“So and so’s a starter on the Varsity team and he’s raw.
Why ain’t you playing ball?” 

“You sticking to the books.
Well, so and so just got a full-ride scholarship. Where’s yours at?”

“So and so just got a job at Home Depot and is out here making money.
Why aren’t you working?” 

There’s a lot of talk of people getting jealous and envious when someone else does well. 

Everybody needs some shine and glory. 

But it’s no wonder why people feel a certain way when somebody else is winning.

It’s also no wonder why people end up getting hurt over.

All those scenarios where people want to get violent, fight,
or do even worse over something like this.

This whole thing reeks of toxicity. 

It’s all the talk of jealousy and envy that’s got me thinking.

A lot of people have some negative stuff to say about it, as they, perhaps, they should. 

However, sometimes, I can’t take it serious. 

All this talk about jealousy is about the same as talk about some other negative thing. 

A lot of people disapprove of it, sometimes vehemently up

until they find themselves on the worse end of the same scenario. 

It seems like no matter what, there will always be winners and losers.

That sounds like something I heard when Professor Kern was talking about policy proposals

in CPO 2002 (Introduction to Comparative Politics).

“There will always be winners and losers”. Of course, there will be, I thought. 

As long as enough people hold on to certain ways of thinking, this won’t ever change. 

Sometimes, I think people just need to think more.
Maybe, then, they’ll be more understanding. 

Maybe, then, we won’t have to worry so much about all this. 

But of all the things I’ve learned, it’s that life is like driving. 

So many people think there’s just one or a few answers. 

However, there are so many ways of trying to get to a particular destination,

and there are many ways of actually getting there. 

We’ve decided where we’re trying to go. 

We just have to decide if we’re all riding in the same car; and if we’re not all in the same car,

are we all taking a right way to the destination? 

One, a couple, or some cars arriving are better than none. 

But if we all don’t show up, than is it really better?