WTF Moment of the Day

{Fedora Tip to Melissa of Shakesville.}

Usher:

The comments made during a recent recording session amongst friends were taken out of context and blown out of proportion. I apologize on behalf of myself and my friends if anyone was offended. The intentions were not to pass judgment and we meant no harm. I respect and wish the best for all parties involved.

Here’s what Usher said, which apparently warranted an apology:

“I’m a little disappointed in this photo,” Usher says about the shots of Brown, as singer/songwriter Johnta Austin bounces around the room and makes some off-color jokes about boxing. “After the other photo [of Rihanna's bruised face posted by TMZ last month]? C’mon, Chris. Have a little bit of remorse, man. The man’s on jet skis? Like, just relaxing in Miami?”

So yeah, Usher rightfully calls Chris Brown out, and he’s the one that ends up apologizing?

There should be no respect and no best wishes given to Chris Brown at all. Chris Brown should be continually called out for the abusive ass that he is.

Updates on LaVena Johnson

The drive to get justice for Pfc. LaVena Johnson and her family is in full force. I learned today that Danielle Vyas’ petition is a mere 110 signatures away from reaching its 3000 signature goal. Please go and add your name if you haven’t already. Once the goal is reached, Danielle will be hand-delivering the petition to her Representative, Shelley Berkeley.

Via Shakesville, I learned of retired Army Colonel Ann Wright’s account of the Department of Justice’s refusal to allow a witness to be heard.

Color of Change now has a petition up as well, which you should also sign.

There is also now a pdf available, which you can use to help spread the word.

Eddie Griffin has written Congress. My letter is on the way. You should consider writing your own as well.

A quick check of Technorati and the Google Blog Search shows that more and more people are becoming aware of and speaking out about this.

Poet Luke Easter has written a poem in memorial

Prometheus 6 also has an open letter, which, as he says, “is worth email AND a stamp” .

Please take the time to take action on this. It’s only right that the family of Pfc. LaVena Johnson know the truth about their daughter’s death. This cover up is despicable. That it is indicative of a larger problem of violence against women in the military makes it all the more important that we force the military to be held accountable and that justice is served.