Love and Fear

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"The Unit" has been cancelled. Well, it had four seasons, and in many ways was the first successful dramatic series with a non-white lead...especially if you factor in "hour-long" and "alpha lead" to the equation. Yes, I was never happy that Dennis Haysbert's wife was literally the only woman on the show who wasn't slinky. Yes, I wasn't happy that the other black member of the unit died right after having a dirty weekend with a white woman. That kind of bullshit is just too obvious, and I've dealt with it entirely too long. Despite those things, "The Unit" had the kind of ass-kicking, smart, fierce lead I've been waiting to see for fifty-something years. And he had first billing. So regardless of anything else, it was history. Thank you David Mamet. And thank you "24", without which Haysbert would never have had the opportunity to develop the gravitas necessary to make him a plausible lead.

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Speaking of "24" the season ended Monday. Really liked it, but sure felt sorry for Tony Almeda. And boy, is it obvious that the producers are in an internal fight over the significance of torture as an image system on the show. Still can't believe how many times I've heard people reference Jack Bauer in their defense of "enhanced interrogation." Next time someone asks me about the Ticking Time Bomb scenario, I'm just going to say I'd send for Superman. A fantasy scenario deserves a fantasy solution.

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You know, I'm getting nervous about the "Terminator: Salvation" film about to open. I suspect that we're finding out that Cameron is even smarter than we thought, and that weaving together action, time-travel and genuine human drama on this scale is simply a master's-class in popular film making. Hope McG attended.

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Tananarive is in Florida being famous. Jason and I will just have to muddle through somehow. Chili cheesedogs for dinner! Just kidding.

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"Where Attention Goes, Energy Flows, and Results Show." This is a principle of Hawaiian "Huna" magic. And common sense. Of course, since there's nothing less common than common sense. We have to be very careful where we put our conscious attention. Believe me, the unconscious takes care of its own damn self.

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I was asked about Sijo Muhammad, and how he deals with other human beings on an emotional level. This is an interesting subject, because in some ways he's carrying more potential damage than anyone I've ever met. His grandfather was a slave, and he has endured massive racial challenges: klan murders in Viet Nam, police harrassment, threatened with lynching as a child, unjust incarceration, being cheated in tournaments (Chuck Norris once had to stand up and scream: "will you give this man his damned points?" Good for Chuck, who has a well-deserved reputation as a gentleman.) As a result of these experiences, Steve was considerably radicalized, concluding in joining the Nation of Islam. I'll say a couple of things about that. First, that when I read Muhammad Speaks, the NOI newspaper, back in the 60's I saw things I disagreed with strongly. Second, that I've seen them do an immense amount of good in the inner city.

And yes, they have some attitudes I don't embrace. But if I don't criticize the Mormons, I'm sure as hell not going to criticize the NOI. People are allowed to believe what they want. Behavior is the truth.

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That said: Steve is absolutely polite, and warm to anyone who is warm to him. In fact, he has some of that: "I'll treat anyone 10% better than they treat me" that I aspire to. His specific attitude is "Never, never, never start a conflict. But if the other man starts it, fall on him like a thunderbolt." As survivor of over a thousand streetfights (probably a conservative estimate) his ability to actualize this theory is beyond doubt.

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Not only is he unfailingly courteous, but you really need to see the way people react to him. Women, particularly. I remember my mom seeing his picture, and she was unimpressed, thought him muscle-bound. Then one day she actually met him, and I watched Mommy melt. It was bizarre. Must be pheromones or something. He was absolutely catnip for ladies, but I NEVER heard a whisper of a hint of anything inappropriate at his school. Never. His attitude toward teaching women was simple, and pretty much the same as his way of approaching men. "Fight like a man, walk away like a lady" was his philosophy, and trust me, he had some girls who would break your heart on the mat. Ouch.

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The women I saw reacting to him in Atlanta were either reacting to him like Daddy (a role he understands well--the man has eight daughters!) or as mothers grateful that he treated their daughters like precious little jewels.

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I touched on the racism in his past because it's impossible to talk about someone who created the "Black Karate Federation" in the late 60's without considering his racial attitudes. What his grandfather taught him, specifically, was to NEVER let a white man treat him with disrespect, never bow his head. That whites might try to return blacks to slavery, (and that slavery really didn't end until almost 1900 in terms of the conditions blacks lived under), and that he must be prepared to die before he allowed that to happen.

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I was always interested in the way whites were treated in his school...and white parents sometimes brought their sons (rarely daughters, I noticed) in from the valley to train there. They had seen something in his physical performance at tournaments, and his comportment off the mat, and wanted it for their children. Whites often came down to spar, and train, and I never saw them given cheap shots, or treated like anything less than fellow warriors (BTW--Steve's definition of "warrior" is pretty damned simple. Someone who has been to war. Period. Not someone who has trained for it, or whatever. Someone who has actually been there. Now, I'm sure that he isn't actually that rigid. The term "War" would probably broaden to include people willing to sacrifice, or put it all on the line, for their families, communities, and beliefs. Probably.

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But there are definitely attitudes. When up in Canada with Wesley Snipes filming "Blade" (Steve is Wesley's bodyguard) one of the white technicians noticed how Steve would effusively greet black men on the set, calling them "Brother." The tech asked why he did that, and Steve said, "because they're my brothers."

"Am I your brother?"

"No," Steve replied.

Stunned and hurt, the tech asked: "can we be friends?"

"Absolutely," Steve replied. And meant it, too.

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Looking at all of this stuff, I think that what we have here is a man who was told to keep his head up, no matter how people treated him. To be prepared to die before he accepted dishonor. And through experiences in Vietnam, the South, South-Central L.A., tournaments and full-contact bouts around the world...somehow got his feet firmly on the emotional/spiritual "ground" within him. Not that surprising...if seventy years of constant work can't provide the result of being an awakened adult human being, there's not much hope for the human race.

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So what we have here is someone who can tame gang members by beating their ass fairly. Turn thugs into military officers, police, doctors...and maybe nerds into science fiction writers. A horn-dog who became the safest man in the world to leave your virgin daughter with. I think he is so clear, and so confident in who he is and what he can do that he is able to release ordinary fear and let his heart fill with love for his tribe: black people, martial artists, and decent human beings. Probably in that order, too.

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There is a saying that love and fear compete for the same place in your heart. I believe it, and I've run into a handful of people who exemplify it. Steve is one of them. Damn, I feel lucky to be his friend. And student. And son.