Friday, January 23, 2009

Amen (to Change)

After taking his oath of office President Barak Obama addressed the nation and the world laying out his plan for the next four years. He diplomatically called Bush out on his lack of leadership and poor decision making. He let the American people know that our financial woes had a lot to do with our own unabashed greed and made it clear we share in the responsibility and the tasks at hand in order to clean it up. He laid the ground work for our international diplomacy by letting the countries around the world know that while we won't bully, we won't be bullied or terrorized either. "We will extend our open hand to your clenched fist" that profound statement speaks directly to his approach and style. And then, he made the most inclusive statement in his speech: "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers". Never before has a president referenced any faith group but Christian in their inaugural speech. And just when you think we are on the right path, it is interesting to see who takes offense with this inclusive recognition of our countries religious diversity; the black clergy. The same folks that stood shoulder to shoulder with Martin Luther King fighting for civil rights for blacks in this country don't seem to think that those same rights and recognition should be extended to those that believe other than they do.... Bishop E.W. Jackson of the Exodus Faith Ministries in Chesapeake, Va. stated that with that one line, the president "seems to be trying to redefine American culture, which is distinctively Christian," He went on to say "The overwhelming majority of Americans identify as Christians, and what disturbs me is that he [Obama] seems to be trying to redefine who we are.’" And then further stated that President Obama had no right to imply that all beliefs lead to the same end -heaven, paradise, the hereafter with GOD.

Where does Bishop E.W. Jackson get off? If Bush had identified our country as one of overwhelmingly white people or ancestors of European decent, folks would all be up in arms. But what is the difference. Just as our country is not all white, that we are a melting pot of races and cultures we are not all Christians. We are a land of Christians and Jews and Muslims and Hindus and yes there are also non-believers. Because people don't like the fact that not all of us identify with Christian beliefs should we ignore who we are as a collective population. Newsflash - no faith/belief or religion has the hold on GOD. We believe what we believe because it is what we were raised with, what we are comfortable with, and what best represents what we believe as a higher power or, lack thereof. Unless you have died and had a verifiable conversation with GOD don't tell me my non-Christian beliefs won't lead me to paradise. I believe in GOD and while I may not subscribe to your dogma, practices or rituals, I pray, I believe Satan and hell exist, I practice charity and forgiveness... so, tell me why wouldn't my path lead me to the same end as a Christian?
Bishop Jackson who are you to define what is our countries religious characterization? Practice what you preach and get off your high horse. Because once we get this race and religion thing squared away I am sure you will find another reason to discriminate or exclude...like those of us with hazel eyes v. brown eyes or maybe those of us that lock our hair vs perm and press will be ostracized.... Tolerance comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and religions. Let's spend our time focusing on the issues of a crumbling world economy, war, genocide, hunger, and illness that affect all of us and leave our spiritual decisions and beliefs out of it...



Amen (to change)...

Don't Play the (Bi) Racial Card...

On January 20th when Barak Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America it was a major milestone in our history as a country and, as a people. One hundred and forty four years ago the 13th Amendment was made to the Constitution of the United States. The highest law of the land outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude. Five years later the 15th Amendment was made to Constitution, giving the right to vote to "all citizens of the United States regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude". However it was only 45 years ago in 1964 when the twenty-fourth Amendment to the Constitution was passed. Amendment XXIV Section 1 states:
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other
election for President or Vice President for electors for President or Vice
President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll
tax or other tax."
And, less than 50 years ago there were cases still being heard by the Supreme Court Justices of the United States that would determine that it is unconstitutional to deny service, accommodations, education, medical care and basic human rights based on ones race, creed or color.



So, on January 20th, 2009, 144 years after slavery, the genesis of the black holocaust was outlawed, a black man was sworn in as the President of the United States of America. I repeat a black man.



Do you remember when it was the law of the land that stipulated if you had one drop of black blood in you, you were black. And this one drop was sufficient to shackle you, rape you, sell you, kill your children, hang you if you looked at a white woman, hang you because they [white people] were bored. It was sufficient to deny you the basic human rights granted to you by GOD and the Constitution, it was sufficient to place you in a position that was less than a "full" human and just above animal. One drop of black blood was sufficient to deny you an education, make you sit in the back of the bus, have your churches burned and your land taken.



When I refer to President Obama as the first black president there are those that quickly correct me and say, "actually he's bi-racial, his mother was white and his father black". That may be true however, 50 years ago if he lived in the south and attempted to vote he would have been told "boy get your black ass outta here, you know niggers can't vote". In the year 2000 it would have been sufficient in Texas to get him chained to the back of a pick up and dragged until he was physically ripped apart.



So, don't play the bi-racial card now. Tiger tried it, no one cared, they still call him black.

At the end of the day the bottom line is the United States has our first African (can't deny that) American president, a black man named Barak Obama.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Grass Doesn't Grow Where Real Kids Played

Another Christmas has come and gone and, as I look at the toys and electronics that the kids now ask for and receive I am convinced that they have been cheated out of the best part of childhood; using their imagination to create real fun. There have been great books such as the Harry Potter series, but as soon as the book is published a movie is released; and the movie leaves nothing to the imagination or wonder of a child.

The imagination has been replaced with reality TV, MTV, movies and XBox games. There is the iPod, PSP, Wii, and dolls that actually pooh and pee. Even Candy Land has been digitized and Scrabble can be played on an electronic board. When we tell kids to use their imagination it is viewed as punishment or, they think their parents are poor or cheap. Kids think reading a book and trying to visualize what the author has written is boring; they don't know how to escape through books.

When we used our imagination it was unbelievable fun. And yes sometimes, actually most times, it was dangerous as well.


When my husband was growing up every Monday morning after the weekend card games he would take his "tips" from running back and forth to the store and buy about 10 G.I. Joes, they were about $2.88 each. Now we are talking the full size doll,excuse me, action figure. When the Last Stand took place Ty probably had about 200 of them and his friend David had another 200. At the time they were collecting these dolls they really didn't know what they were going to do with them. But the guys were at a turning point, they were making that transition from kid to teenager and they wanted to mark this rite of passage with a memorable event. He and David could not imagine just boxing up the action figures or giving them away. Instead they planned the epic battle. We are not talking some small scale skirmish. We are talking a full fledged battle. A Band of Brothers battle, a Saving Private Ryan battle, a Full Metal Jacket battle, A When We Were Men battle. Do you get it?... I am talking that kind of battle. They named it the Last Stand.



The battle would take weeks of planning. There were the logistics, the supplies, picking the date and setting up. This was no small feat. First there was the location. Of course it would have to be Ty's backyard which was a good sized yard (about 30'x60') with a huge barbecue pit that sat dead center. There were two trees that would be critical to the battle. The logistics required enhancing the landscape. Trenches were dug, hills and mountains formed. The end result was a pretty sophisticated layout that covered the whole backyard. With that done the focus then moved to the supplies. Of course they already had the armies. But it was a process of collecting lighter fluid, cherry bombs, and firecrackers. They crafted mini bow and arrows and booby traps with trip wires and of course they needed flame throwers -aerosol cans and lighters. Are you starting to visualize how this thing was shaping up.
Finally it came, battle day, the Last Stand. It was a Saturday, the morning started off a little hazy, but the sun was bright and slowly burned the haze away. The final preparations were underway. The G.I. Joes were strategically placed all over the yard, in the trees, the barbecue pit and behind mounds of dirt. Next, muffin tins were pushed down in the earth to form pools for the lighter fluid, the booby traps were laid and the trip wires set. The bows were loaded with the mini arrows. The cherry bombs were piled into the little triangle stacks and the firecrackers were hung in the trees, along the fences and along the ground. And then it began. It was shortly after 10 in the morning, the battle would rage for hours. It can only be described as a firestorm and as much fun as any two 13 year olds could possibly have and not get arrested. Bombs were set off, flame throwers ignited the wicks of the firecrackers which sounded like machine guns being fired. Cherry bombs were tossed and exploded in the pools of lighter fluid. G.I. Joes and mini arrows were flying through the air. The action figures were being blown to pieces and melting everywhere. It was a magnificent scene. At the end of the day as the smoke began to settle and the fires burned low, the stench of melting plastic and polyester fatigues stung your nose and eyes you could look out over this burned out yard and know for a fact that two young boys experienced as much fun as they could imagine (and yes destruction) and 40 years later the story is still the highlight of family gatherings. The yard, well it was never the same after that day. Although the barbecue pit still stands in the center of the yard not a blade of grass has grown there since that hazy Saturday morning. To this day if you walk through that famed battleground you may still find a rubber boot or, arm. When folks walk past the house they point at the backyard and tell the story of why grass doesn't grow where real kids played.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Do not make someone a priority that only makes you an option

Are you that friend that drops everything to help someone in need? Are you the one that gets the call at 2 a.m. from the friend saying they need a ride home or, they have a flat... and you get out of your warm bed to go help. Maybe you are the one that gets the call from your friend complaining about their spouse or partner and oh, the drama... so much drama. But you listen, you are there for them, always. You would give the shirt off your back or your new dress (with the tags still on it) out your closet so they can look hot for their date. Or better yet, maybe you are the school volunteer that there is never a full time paying position for, but always a volunteer opportunity and, they even call you when you are on vacation because they just need a "minute" of your time.

And then......
Good friend that you are ...when you call them, maybe needing a shoulder or just someone to listen or that ride because your car broke down, you get the response that "they'll get back to you" or, "I'm in the middle of something but I have a few minutes" or even, "did you call so and so maybe they can pick you up - I don't have any gas".

Well if this describes you, I pose the question: Why are you making someone a priority that only makes you an option?

There are those of us who are natural givers. And, there are those of us that are natural takers that give nothing in return (y'all probably don't recognize yourselves but I think you know who you are).

To you, the good friend, the one that will do anything for anyone, give that last dollar or the shirt off your back it is time for you to exercise your options. I am not saying go against your nature of being a giving and nurturing individual, I am saying don't allow your energy to be drained by those that don't give anything in return. You are so dependable and predictable that your friends always know what to expect... that you will be there.

If it does not feel good at the end of the day . Change it. Don't be someone else's option. Re-establish your priorities.

Make those a priority that treat you as if you are a priority.