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James Armstrong II

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You'll get emails whenever I post articles on OpEd News

I'm a homeless student, writer, and activist... currently panhandling my way through school (and life.).

OpEd News Member for 632 week(s) and 0 day(s)

44 Articles, 0 Quick Links, 14 Comments, 24 Diaries, 0 Polls

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Partay.... if you're white and privileged, From ImagesAttr
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Wealthy College Kids Versus Poor Street Kids This piece is about inequality and application of certain aspects of our society. And how when it is money it is looked at differently than it would be if someone behaves in the same way only they have some pull either politically or financially. The Kennedy's and Bush's are a prime example of how money does what it pleases and gets away with whatever the crime. Both sides of the aisle... this is a bi-partisan issue.
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 29, 2012
Another Cheesy Hollywood Parody: Republicans are the Keyser Soze of Politics This article is another Republican parody but shows how dumb some people can be... how some people can be manipulated by "faith," instead of using "logic" and "reasoning." Instead of using what God gave us all, the ability to decipher lies from truths... is being wasted on the "faithful."
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, April 11, 2013
Entitlement Mentality I had to write this or kill someone.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 20, 2013
Appearances Are Deceiving There's a lot of Creeps out there, and MOST OF THEM LOOK LIKE THE "AVERAGE" PERSON. The "normal" person. Appearances can be deceiving.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, October 7, 2012
"Civil Sidewalks"?!-- From a Homeless Person's Point Of View This article shows the lies and corruption of the city of Berkeley and the implementation of scapegoating the weakest in our society -- the homeless.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 16, 2013
Abortion and Murderers Who *Claim* "Pro-Life" Status I had to write this article because I'm tired of people talking about both sides, especially religious-type people who can't seem to grasp that we live in a SECULAR NATION, not a RELIGIOUS one.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 13, 2013
Peet's Coffee I write this article to set the record straight, since I wrote an article chastising the manager of Peet's in the past, for how she dealt with me and a friend of mine... I was wrong, even if she was wrong at that time. Life is strange, and so is Berkeley... unless you understand her.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Measure S: "Mentally Ill, Addicted, Homeless and Other People" This is yet another article on Measure S, to show how the homeless and mentally handicapped are being scapegoated, and how "'fixing' the problem" entails more than just "shoo[ing]" it from your (businesses) front doors.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 8, 2013
Movie Review: Stand Up Guys This article is a movie review of the film "Stand Up Guys." I decided to write this review because I read the East Bay Express's review and felt the writer did not give this movie enough respect.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, March 1, 2013
Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Funding This article is about money, and how little is spent on "homeless" human beings while the animals get $12 million more.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 26, 2013
Serious Trouble in Syria I had to write this because I go to school with a lot of folks who have family in this region of the world. These are beautiful human beings, not cannon fodder, and it angers me to see children being murdered, all in the name of world domination and the exploitation of regional natural resources... ALLEGEDLY.
Happy Skywalker, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 9, 2013
Berkeley Profile: "Happy" To Know Ya! I decided writing positive stories because the negative ones were getting old and the world needs flowers as much as they need daggers. My very first profile is about my new friend, "Happy Skywalker." No, it's not her birth name, but the one she chose because it best fits who she is. I agree with that stance. Her energy exudes positivity and her soul plays with your soul and then laughs it, loudly and awkwardly, which Iove
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, March 11, 2013
Lack Of Information Leads To Confusion, Frustration, and Further Disenfranchisement I write this article because I see the big picture and see how the thinking at the bottom exists and know that is how the thinking everywhere permeates and manifests itself. We need better leadership. This isn't a knock on any one person specifically. Our "system" needs overhauling. It may be too late, it may not be too late... but as long as I draw oxygen, I will b*tch when I see problems and answers being ignored.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, March 4, 2013
Mental-Health Tragedy I'm tired of people bitching about the mentally handicapped running around, throwing marbles, toy cars, and swinging at the air, but never wanting to pony up to fix it. You have to pick one, people. You have to either pay or shut up. Because if you're not going to fork it over to fix it, you really can't expect it to just vanish into thin air, can you?
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 13, 2013
Helping the Homeless Will Take Fresh Thinking and a Focus on Mental Health: Part I It's the same tired song and dance. The Berkeley (California) City Council is considering a "Compassionate Sidewalks" proposal to improve the lot of homeless street people. Evidence suggests, however, that the ultimate aim of the plan is to "disappear" street people in the vain hope of stimulating local business growth by attracting consumers in their place who are now themselves facing tough economic times.
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 8, 2012
Being "Drunk In Public" Is A Subjective Thing... If You're Not Homeless... It's Even Legal On Some Occasions! This article is simply about how poor people are treated differently those those who have means.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, November 5, 2012
Politics 101: Posturing Just Before an Election This article highlights how obvious the (unimaginative) Fascists like to come out and perform (fake) functions, like "cleaning up the downtown area," just before an election. Taste fake. Taste phony. Taste obvious. Taste the DBA's Lies.
The Future Is Here Everyone!, From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, February 2, 2013
Still Not Getting It This article is about the disconnect that comes from those who claim they would like to help "homelessness," and those who need the assistance. The disconnect comes because of a lack of comfort level, I believe, where those who try to help cannot help because they are afraid on some level, of those they would like to help. Of course, that is only one part of the overall problem, which I try to address.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 27, 2013
Barry Lamar Bonds This article had to be written because of the inherent hypocrisy of the participants involved. There's enough moral ambiguity to this story to drive legions through... it's a friggin' joke, and I'm tired of the phony, selective morality play that pushes it.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: Rebel Girl: An Autobiography; My First Life (1906-1926) I write this article in honor of "International Woman's Month." I also would like to point out the nonsense Capitalism System that preys on the weak and rewards the predatory douche bag.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, March 28, 2013
"Little Eichmanns" I had to write this because, again, a corporation is TRYING to tell American Citizens what they can and can't do in the PUBLIC SPACE. It's harassment, pure and simple. He's a janitor... not a law enforcement agent nor is he a security guard, because the public space is not a mall, and it's not PRIVATE.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, March 1, 2013
Full of S#!*!: *Who* Started All [of] This Again? The more I read (and dig) the more I see just how full of crap people can be. Pushing and shoving and not knowing the historical context of the neighborhood you extract cash from is ridiculous and unconscionable.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 29, 2013
Corporate Harassment: WHAT YOU LOOKIN' AT?! I'm tired of the bullshit.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 8, 2012
Another Cheesy Hollywood Movie Parody, Part 1: I See (Through) Corrupt Politicians! This article also shows the mayor of Berkeley, Tom ('Master') Bates as he squirms and attempts spinning the truth for lies he would rather you follow. The reason money would have to be diverted from "city labor" is because the mayor has been siphoning cash from said labor pool, according to my sources. Therefore, transparency would land the good mayor in jail, most likely, if enacted.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 26, 2013
"Fear and Loathing" in Berkeley, California I write this article because of the way people (police and unenlightened) like to word things, to achieve certain ends. They manipulate situations to get people who are not ordinarily savvy in such things to give up their rights by using fear-based language and tactics of ordinary crime that occurs every year to push their agenda. In other words, they're full of crap. Dedicated to Berkeleyside.com contributors, too.
(6 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, February 18, 2013
Droning On and On and On and On and On.... This was something I starting writing a few weeks back and never got back to it. My point is always how this stuff gets by us. We allow it to get by us. Any time they try telling us it's basically for our own good you know it's nonsense. They want more of your "rights." But like George Carlin once observed, "They're not really 'rights' if they can be taken away. They're 'privileges.'" Truth.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, April 4, 2013
Slithery When Wet: Tales From The "Slippery Slope" I had to write this because if I hadn't my head would have exploded and I wouldn't have to be worried about the government sodomizing me further.
From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The People Have Spoken! This article includes other activists and their take on this abhorrent Measure the Citizens of Berkeley will most likely destroy... and it will show these Fascists who is STILL in charge of this nation and its government, local and Federal.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, April 10, 2013
It's Time To Help, Not Harass, the Homeless This article was written because... it's the same, stupid crap, over and over, and I'm tired of it.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, April 11, 2013
"Luxury" Alley This article comes from reading the latest "Street Spirit," where Carol Denney points to the inequities of our day and the constant attention out-of-town folks get and how the locals get screwed.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 8, 2013
"And Justice For All!"? This article shows the separation between the poor in our communities and those with political power; those with money. It shows the disconnect we need to bridge in order to get a fair shake from our "'justice' system." I'm tired of Moral Ambiguity by some while others run roughshod over those without means or a voice. "And Justice For All" used to mean something in this nation... I guess it was only platitude.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 19, 2013
The DBA, Their "Annual Report," and Mine... I can't believe the obfuscation in this "annual report." I don't know WHY this shocks me, since I know how these Bastards (DBA) operate... but it galled me into this column, I guess.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Blues-Slide Guitar > Car Alarms This article is how selective the city of Berkeley is being with artists. The city and the DBA *claim* they care about artists, but they do not care on iota. They only care about profits, period.
#homeless person in LA, From ImagesAttr
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 10, 2013
"Transitional Traveler" This article is about changing the perception through euphemism. We have changed the wording of "Genocide" to "Ethnic Cleansing." We have changed the wording of "Shell Shock" to "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." And, as much as I do not like this practice, I believe it can and does work on some level. So I wish to try it with "homeless," and change that to "Transitional Traveler." There, I wrote it.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, April 14, 2013
If We Street People Don't Fight Back, We're Culpable for Our Own Misery! This is Part II of a previous article entitled "Helping the Homeless Will Take Fresh Thinking and a Focus on Mental Health." I had to write two articles, because there was just too much left over from the first one that also needs to be said. Here, the emphasis is on the vast gulf that separates those who make the rules in our society and those that are victimized by them. The latter must gain their rights by fighting back!
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 9, 2013
In Trash We Trust; Free Advertisement; "Corporate Personhood" I'm writing this one because it's old, walking past all this corporate garbage, when they CLAIM they are "people" with "Corporate Personhood." So we should treat them like people... people who litter. Fine them like people. Individual stock holders can be held liable. We send them the tickets.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, October 16, 2012
"Sunday Shattuck Shutdown" This article is to show everyone that, we can all get along with one another. Homeless... mentally handicapped... citizens, tourists. Unless the city plans on actually spending money (they don't want to spend), they should get used to all of us. Fix the problem, or shut the hell up.
From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, November 2, 2012
"Unfounded Fears: Why the Controversy Over a Berkeley Measure That Would Ban Sitting on Sidewalks is Overblown." This article deals with Measure S in Berkeley, California. This article also deals with the East Bay Express's and Rachel Swan's article, respectively. This is about how one-sided "reporting" looks, sounds, feels, "tastes," "creates," and was "experienced" by me and other homeless American Citizens (Artists)out here, how are on the verge of being told they cannot live freely, to find their "pursuit of happiness
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 6, 2013
Saturdays With Ford I wrote this column for two reasons: one because of what my friend Ford does for me... and how he has helped me become a better human being and has taught me patience, something I sorely need at this juncture of my life. And secondly, because these Block By Block janitors don't seem to understand that they have no authority over us out here, in the public space.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 1, 2013
They're Putting Together A Committee! This article is about how people say they want to help, but don't actually want to help. It's about how people form "committees" and always ask the wrong questions. If you do not understand about how to begin, how are you to proceed with any quantitative and conclusive effort? You're just banging your head into the same stupid door jamb. After a while, you need to duck!
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, December 7, 2012
"$12 Million Animal Shelter Opens" This article talks about how the "homeless problem" gets ignored while the city voters decided that animals were way more important, spending $19 million on that issue, and virtually nothing on human beings.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, April 4, 2013
"Legitmacy" Means Nothing The "news" media has lost its legitimacy, if it had any to begin with.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 19, 2013
Nature Versus Nature I like analogies.
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 15, 2013
Fundamental Differences This article shows more disconnect between those who claim they want to help and those who need the actual help. It highlights that when you swing at the wrong pitch you usually strike out or ground out or pop up in foul territory. The only way to hit the ball is to keep your head down and keep your eye on that ball. And stay back. Otherwise, you whiff.

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