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Saturday, April 29, 2017

Dear Hannah: Quiet (But Not Silent)


 
Dear Hannah,

education begins when you *finish* school

'cause life gives you the test first
- then you get the lesson ...

Support Our Work - Buy This Song (SEE BELOW)!

Selection
Selection

"Quiet (But Not Silent)"
By Derrick Brown
4-23-2017

education begins when you *finish* school

'cause life gives you the test first
- then you get the lesson

watch
listen

try to see what's missin

look
LEarn

focus your concern

grow
slow

act like you don't know

then
show

switch that status quo

think
wink

make sure you don't blink

sync
link

write it down in ink

pray
weigh

most of all stay

true
blue

make sure you do you

(who else are you gonna be?)

(stay in your lane)

[Chorus] can you hear me now? (twice)

won't let you pick me up
'cause you just might drop me

won't let you start me up
so you cannot stop me

the art of every deal
is bout who's at the table
don't have to be no big wheel
don't need no jumper cable

be willing to enable
no fairy tale nor fable
make sure you read the label
make sure them cats are stable

if not then walk away
if necessary run
do that deal another day
and keep your money, son

there'll be another one
as surely as the sun
sets when the day is done
rises when its begun

(all money ain't good money)

(i know that's right)

[Chorus] can you hear me now? (twice)

got a lot of work to complete
so i sometimes vote with my feet

when i hear that dang parakeet
or that dang groundhog day suite

horsepower's sometimes just heat
move forward - never retreat

winners must conquer conceit
before they conquer defeat

can't win? well you bet not cheat
can't drive? then take the backseat
can't jump? then you're no athlete
can't work? then you may not eat

got skills? then you can compete
ideas? then write nice and neat
solution's the greatest feat
when you get one - rinse and repeat

good questions - just like concrete
solid - never obsolete
useful even when petite
produce a nice balance sheet

(do not mistake activity for achievement)

[Chorus] can you hear me now? (twice)

they say you think too much
lemme help you stand corrected

i think you crossed a line
i think you disrespected

i think this is a sign
i think we not connected

i think the music's fine
i think you misdirected

i think you bout that c# (C-sharp)
i think i'm bout that d-flat

i think you bout that chit-chat
i think you bout that tit-tat
i think you bout that pitti-pat
i think you bout that format

i think you think your role
is all bout that control
not simply of my soul
but my entire whole

but you don't know the half
sentence or paragraph
wrote my own epitaph
"soldier - no man of chaff"

(that means "i ain't one to play with")

[Chorus] can you hear me now?

(conclusion)

listen more than you talk
- and you gon' LEarn today



Love,


Daddy


Copyright © 2017 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.


Dear Hannah: LEarning (Quiet - But Not Silent)


 
Dear Hannah,

I know that I do not know.

So, I need to LEarn and teach.

I cannot LEarn while talking.

I LEarn by listening.

I teach by LEarning.

I teach by listening and talking.

I create change through power and influence.

I create power through efficient work.

I do efficient work by LEarning.

I influence by reaching - then teaching.

See, I am quiet - but not silent.

Here's what I am LEarning ...


Support Our Work - Buy This Song (SEE BELOW)!


Selection

Selection

"LEarning (Quiet - But Not Silent)"
By Derrick Brown
4-18-2017

I know that I do not know.

So, I need to LEarn and teach.

I cannot LEarn while talking.

I LEarn by listening.

I teach by LEarning.

I teach by listening and talking.

I create change through power and influence.

I create power through efficient work.

I do efficient work by LEarning.

I influence by reaching - then teaching.

See, I am quiet - but not silent.

Here's what I am LEarning ...


1. Slavery *began* in 1865.

That was not a typo ...

Follow me ...

Slavery has morphed into a stealth, sophisticated system of oppression and control (as opposed to an overt, brutal system of outright ownership).

This system is fueled by false ideas of equality (rather than outright inequality).

It is also fueled by unspoken bias ...

... and a desire to control.

This desire to control reinforces oppression in a subtle, ironic way.

See, hurt people can hurt people.

Used people sometimes use people.

Controlled people want to control other people.

So we sometimes accept being oppressed as long as we get to be in charge of something (or someone).

Or, we accept being oppressed because it is written into institutional "rules" and culture.

Institutions like family, education, religion, government, medicine, arts & entertainment, and media.

These institutions are smooth with it, but control through education, focus, and finance.

They do not deny my right to education - instead, they offer me one that they designed to facilitate their interests.

If their design is all I want, then that is all I get.

I can be innovative and original - as long as I cite other authoritative sources that validate my ideas.

They do not deny my right to consume media - instead, they hope I consume it in an obsessive, distracting way.

They hope I spend my days talking, stalking, and squawking.

They hope I chase every chicken, and jump down every rabbit hole.

They hope I am so full of opinions that I never learn to empathize, analyze, or synthesize.

They do not deny my right to earn a living - they control the living that I earn.

I earn that living either by working for wages, or by being self-employed and working for my customers.

I sow into the future promises of pensions and 401ks - but know little about how they invest my deferred earnings.

I overlook that ignorance as "unnecessary details".

I can get financing for a car easily.

Getting investors to support my business plan is a little tougher.

Boy, I have painted a dark reality, huh?

Well, this is my truth - my hard truth - about the bad news.

There is good news, though - for those who keep making moves and LEarning.

Here's the good news ...


2. Judo's self-control principles enlighten freedom fighters.


I am not a Judo master - or a Judo student.

I am a LEarner who adapts and applies all lessons.

Judo teaches simple lessons (pardon my paraphrasing) ...

1. Resisting a more powerful opponent will get your behind whooped - or create other collateral damage.
2. Adjusting to and evading your opponent's attack will cause them to lose their spiritual / mental / physical balance.
3. This balance loss reduces your opponent's power - and makes them susceptible to defeat.
4. Maintaining spiritual / mental / physical balance allows a weaker opponent to beat a stronger one.

This sounds real good, Derrick - how do you apply this to real life?

As I recover from many battles (some victories, some defeats, some retreats) ...

I have LEarned that we wrestle not against flesh and blood ...

So I don't argue, scheme and debate - I spit, state and relate.

I am the owner of my education.

I do not allow media to feed, consume, and distract me.

I am self-employed - and have LEarned how to maintain leverage with customers.

See, the customer is always right ... so choose customers carefully.

All money ain't good money.

Sometimes less is more.

Make a living through your giving.

Learn to turn two into four.

I am converting my ideas into intellectual properties - then financing, publishing and marketing them myself.

See, this road is not to the swift ...

... but to the one who maintains ...

... so stay aligned ...

... and on your grind ...

... and stay in your own lane.

Keep it slow and steady ...

... that's it - nice and smoove ...

... always do your homework ...

... believe that God will approve.

What I want lies on the other side of what I will risk and sacrifice.

I will risk being called "crazy" by those who subscribe to conventional wisdom.

I will sacrifice short-term possessions and security for long-term freedom and opportunity.

I will risk my "position" to claim my authority.

Selah.



Love,


Daddy


Copyright © 2017 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.


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