Armchair Dialogues

Let us discuss.

[armchairdialogues]

By this point, you've seen the video for Kanye's "Bound 2."  Of course, there were the inevitable parodies.  But have you read the compelling argument for the direction of Kanye's latest video?  Read it here and decide if you agree. 

[think-progress]

Your shopping guide to stores that won’t ruin their workers’ Thanksgivings.

[businessinsider]

Just to put another perspective on how bad Thanksgiving & Black Friday shopping really are, read some of these retail workers’ horror stories.

[newshour]

It’s the holidays, so you know what that means: It’s time for uncomfortable political discussions with your distant relatives! 

Don’t know how you’ll survive? Have no fear, Mark Shields and David Brooks have you covered. They’ll tell you how to quickly shut down an argument on health care reform, change the subject from the economy and let you know when you should pretend to hear the fire alarm.

Get your (downloadable) civility guide here.

[justjasper]

[armchairdialogues]

I know Shemar Moore is the focal point of this picture, but let's not neglect Tyrese and Boris Kodjoe in the back there. -Christina

[flavorwire]

The Catholic Church, that “Cadillac of all religions,” — their words, not ours — is not down with David Bowie’s newest video ‘New Day’. Words have been hurled, bows loosed — read the whole ridiculousness on Flavorwire. 

[armchairdialogues]

Suzy Lee Weiss attempts to explain the intention and motivation behind her open letter

[armchairdialogues]

...Weiss rants about the fact that she didn’t get into any good schools because she’s not a minority and she and her entire generation were 'lied to' because they were always told to 'just be yourself' and you’ll get into school. I’m not sure what the adults in Pittsburgh are smoking, but I’ve never heard of teachers or parents telling kids to 'just be yourself' to get into school. That’s the most horrible advice I’ve ever heard and I don’t believe that’s the refrain Weiss heard all throughout her life. I also didn’t believe that her real name was 'Suzy Lee Weiss' since that sounds about as real as 'Billy Jo Witherspoon,' but it turns out Weiss is real and that’s her name.

Dina Gachman

[armchairdialogues]

I know this with absolute certainty. On my acceptance letter from Harvard, your name had been crossed out and mine had been written above it.

Aaliyah Martin

[armchairdialogues]

And it’s moved beyond petitions. Y’all are in the Supreme Court now. I’m looking at you, Abigail Fischer, claiming that Affirmative Action and the need to meet federal quotas took your rightful spot at the University of Texas. Never mind the fact that you had an average GPA of 3.59, below average SAT scores of 1180, and weren’t in the top 10 percentile of your class. There’s nothing wrong with any of those numbers I just mentioned– plenty of people with those scores and grades are going to go onto college and very successful futures. They just may not be going to the University of Texas.

Kendra James

[armchairdialogues]

Suzy Lee Weiss: To (All) the Colleges That Rejected Me

We didn't even know about her video interview with The Wall Street Journal.  Watch it here.

[armchairdialogues]

The case has also been hypersexualized. The media needs to know, is she a victim or vixen? Saint or slut? Whore or Whore-ible Murderer? We cannot seem to disassociate ourselves from the element of sex.

Andrea Ayres-Deets

[armchairdialogues]

Jodi Arias concludes testimony in Ariz. murder trial

[armchairdialogues]

[armchairdialogues]

Stephen Colbert weighs in on "Accidental Racist"

[armchairdialogues]

‘What we’re trying to do is explore what happens when two people have a dialogue,’ Paisley said. ‘The entire album Wheelhouse is meant to touch on some themes that I think aren’t normally touched on in music, and in the context of the album, the song makes a little more sense.’

Brad Paisley, on The Tonight Show

[armchairdialogues]

When I say, 'If you don't judge my gold chains, I'll forget the iron chains,' I’m not lessening the weight and severity. I’m not trying to trivialize slavery, that would be horrifying. I might as well be a serial killer. But what I am saying is that, okay, those things happened, but instead of me walking around being bitter about the past, my thing is this: Don't run up on me about being a crack dealer or pull me over and illegally search me just based on my appearance. Judge me by the content of my character, not the color of my skin. Not my hoodie. Not my do-rag. That's how we find peace.

LL Cool J, in an interview with Spin 

[armchairdialogues]

"The apology is deeply conditional, though: Paisley calls himself a 'proud rebel son' in the first verse, and feels as though he’s being 'blamed' for what he considers ancient history. Why isn’t it OK to wear a Confederate flag without getting blamed, anyhow?"