Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson Suspenion Lifted

Mr. Phil Robertson, where do I begin?

Initially, after reading your statement in its entirety and then realizing your place of residency, it was clear to me why you may lack the fundamental understanding of equality and civil rights; especially when you lived during the Jim Crow period, and felt that African Americans were "happy" because they sang and smiled. Where were you when mass lynchings took place, Mr. Robertson? Did you not read the newspaper?

Then again, if you were aware of the period and time due to mass protests of American citizens, fighting for civil rights and voting rights -- you know, those simple laws you already had access to; if you were in their shoes would it have been a "happy" time for you? And labeling yourself "white trash" doesn't mean your treatment was equivalent to the treatment of black people, just in case you were confused by the misguided rhetoric that you speak.

And now today, yet another revelation from the "Phil Robertson's files" shows you teaching young men to hand pick their wives by age -- and underage at that! Oh yea, as long as "you first have the parents permission." 

The fact that young men are encouraged to marry 15 and 16 year old female children, all for the purposes of molding their young minds to fit a man's particular lifestyle screams misogyny! It's literally dictating to a child what they will be, without allowing them to figure it out for themselves. Is that fair? 

Is this the same conservative message Republicans believe in Washington? Well you know, because Robertson is conservative and he believes in -- would you call it "legitimate rape" regarding female underage marriage? Oh yea, parents permission comes first, right?

Is this why women's rights are shot down unanimously by the GOP?

Which gives way to the very real "war on women" stance of the 21st century; rejecting of VAWA and trying to silence women for voicing their opinions. Just saying, Republicans seem to have a real big issue with women's rights.

And recently the A&E Network decided to lift Phil Robertson's suspension, obviously because the high ratings are just to profitable to do what's morally right. However, America has changed and is continuously changing, and it's changing towards the direction of progressiveness, tolerance, equality and love; and those that keep wishing for the status quo, you'll either become non-existent or join what you can't beat.

Get it while you can A&E; welcome back Mr. Robertson.

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

2013 LA

Theresa Caputo Channeling Historical Figures?

Have you ever heard of the psychic medium Theresa Caputo?

She has her own show called the "Long Island Medium" and it airs on TLC. This show will make you a believer if you're a skeptic, and if it doesn't I suggest meeting her to confirm your suspicions. I highly admire the work that she does, and at a time in our society when hate and violence seems to consume our television sets and physical lives -- Theresa is a breath of fresh air with a constant reminder that God does exist and gives reassurance that our loved ones will always be with us. 

Wouldn't it be cool if Theresa could channel great historical leaders?

You know like JFK, Abraham Lincoln, Ida B. Wells, Harriet Tubman, Lyndon B. Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and even Nelson Mandela! It would be amazing if she did an episode meeting the families of great leaders that have past over, as a way of retrieving continuous guidance for our present and future leaders but also for "us" the people.

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

2013 LA

Mother Earth

NOTHING moves Mother Earth, she's to grounded. 

She lays peacefully beneath your feet, your house, and your place of employment. Everyday and everywhere you go she's right there for you, serving the purpose of stabilizing your life. Without her we'd destabilize; might as well live in space!

Mother Earth bears good fruit to all that uses her, but ONLY if you use her well. 

To much picking and prodding could cause sink holes, and to much installing of synthetic foreign matters could push her to regurgitate the poison from within. 

Let's get this straight, Mother Earth will be good to you as long you're good to her. Sow your progressive and positive seeds the first six months of the year and during the last six months, what will your harvest look like?

2013 LA

Windy Moments

Ever have a moment with the wind?

The wind speaks in many ways; it's invisible yet you know it's there, making itself known by using its invisible magic. 

It could be a gentle rustle that pushes dried-out fallen leaves down the street. It could softly whisper in your ear, flirting with the back of your neck. It could bluster swiftly pushing your entire body forward while releasing loud moans, as it whips you with invisible strokes. 

At times the wind could become so powerful that it forces you to take it personal, as it bully's you back and forth while you walk down the street. Or sliding your car into another lane without asking permission first, "excuse me wind, can I get my space back!?"

Personally, I appreciate the wind in all its forms; before a clothes dryer there was wind, before a hair dryer there was wind, before fans and air conditioners there was wind, and before helium and our breath there was wind again -- thus wind forever shall be! 

2013 LA

Cory Booker Headed Towards the Oval Office?

                                   Mayor Cory Booker; President Obama (CBS local news)

Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker, ran in a special election to fill the seat of the late Frank R. Lautenberg. 

One week before the election was set to commence Booker's father Cary Booker, sadly passed away at the age of 76 on 10/10/13. Booker won the Senate election 10/17/13.

During the 2008 Presidential election of Barack Obama, on election eve his grandmother Madelyn Dunham sadly passed away at the age of 86 on 11/3/08. Obama won the presidential election 11/4/08. 

Could the newly 4th black Senator ever in governmental American history, be headed towards the oval office?

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

2013 LA

Antoinette's Tuff LOVE

A tragedy was completely turned around thanks to Antoinette Tuff, a school clerk within the local Georgia school district who put her life on the line while pleading to a man with a gun to surrender.

After listening to the entire tape recording between Ms.Tuff, the 911 operator, and the suspect, it gave me chills to think "what would I have done if I were in her shoes?" 

I commend Ms.Tuff on her bravery and for saving the lives of innocent children, although she herself was scared to death as was heard towards the end of the tape recording. 

What was most amazing about this entire situation is that Ms. Tuff, conquered the suspects' sickness with love!  

Nothing more, nothing less. Simply loving and caring words turned what could have been another Newtown incident, into a victimless happy ending. 

We should all take heed to the power of LOVE and POSITIVE WORDS, as well as its healing properties. And in this instance, love conquers all doesn't seem to be so cliche -- does it?

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

2013 LA

American Flag Opposites?

What do you see different about these two pictures? 

Forget the obvious German Nazi hand salute given by our 43rd President George W. Bush, but what else do you see different about both photos? Look closely.

Do you notice the flags behind our 43rd and 44th president's? 

When I look at President Obama's American eagles at the top of his American flags, they're aligned straight in a row. When I look at George Bush's American eagles at the top of his American flags, they're not aligned straight in a row. One eagle looks up and another looks down, as if it were displaying two different ways of looking at things; up and down.

Have any of you ever noticed this difference

between the two? What do you think it means? Is this just flag tradition with Democrats and Republicans? Let me know if you figure anything out. 

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

2013 LA

It's A Hard Knock Life...

Have you ever found life to be hard at times? 

Struggles in life we usually call obstacles and as humans we should all understand that nothing comes easy therefore, we should be willing to work hard to achieve greatness. 

But what if working hard to achieve greatness is blocked by a system; a system which perpetuates exploitation of a particular group of people? Because this system exists, it can make it unimaginably difficult to have success.

Yesterday the retail giant Target made the news yet again, but this time discrimination against the LGBTQ community wasn't on their agenda. Nope. This time discrimination against Hispanics were on their agenda. 

The Huffington Post reported a discrimination lawsuit against Target, by three of its former employees who were fired as a retaliation tactic. Robert Gonzalez, Bulmaro Fabian, and Pedro Garcia-Ayala, claim in the suit that their supervisors were nearly all Caucasian who frequently used racial slurs when talking to Hispanic employees. 

Gonzalez says that when he went to human resources to report this problem his bosses retaliated, and he and Fabian and Garcia-Ayala were eventually fired. 

According to the complaint Target, gave its distribution warehouse managers a document titled "Organization Effectiveness, Employee, and Labor Relations Multi-Cultural Tips", which featured suggestions on how to manage Hispanic employees. The tips addressed a variety of Hispanic stereotypes from music, to food, to clothing.

The document stated the following according to the lawsuit:

a. Food: not everyone eats tacos and burritos;

b. Music: not everyone dances to salsa;

c. Dress: not everyone wears a sombrero;

d. Mexicans (lower education level, some may be undocumented);

e. Cubans (Political refugees, legal status, higher education level); and

f. They may say 'OK, OK' and pretend to understand, when they do not, just to save face.

This isn't the first nor will it be the last time that a retail giant decides to use a "Paula Deen-esque" work environment, to manage their employees. Because those at the top promote and teach their colleagues to be discriminatory towards those at the bottom, this only continues to breed a negative and destructive cycle which in turn promises that hate towards minority groups will always exist. 

How does one expect to achieve greatness and/or success with such a road block in the way?

Well, because of these major road blocks, detours, obstacles, and struggles, our faith and help from others will

always be a guiding force to achieve greatness. And because we must be exceptional or we just won't be, giving up should never be an option. Yes it's hard, yes we get weak, yes we become fearful, and yes we can even get depressed, but our faith is what eventually snaps us out of complacency and rejuvenates us to carry on. It must, because without faith it becomes easier for the world to chew you up and spit you out. But by channeling that negative energy into a positive, you can guarantee your success because you're the one steering the destiny wheel. Just don't ever give up. 

Gonzalez, Fabian, and Garcia-Ayala, were correct in defending their rights and by doing so they're also defending other Hispanics' rights. They're heroes because being the little guys, it takes courage to fight against a wealthy corporation that has no qualms about replacing you -- especially since you're not a person you're just a number to them. These men could very well have families to feed but took a stand anyway for justice. That's commendable.

My question is: "How can we expect minority groups to ever advance within corporations, if corporations purposely have a "system" in place to block any future success?" 

My answer? "Become your own boss. Everybody's good at something; use that."

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

2013 LA

Twitter Boy Sparks Backlash As He Generalizes All Black Women To Be Difficult

Recently on twitter, a black man posted tweets referring to all black women as difficult and demanding, verses the white women that he dates. 

I'm sure you can imagine how many feathers he rustled by making these comments, but it made me stop to look at my past experiences in dating. Had I ever been called difficult by a partner? Yes. But I only attribute it to certain instances and for specific reasons.

Life experiences have definitely showed me that the color of my skin, my gender, and even the depth of my knowledge, can limit my opportunities in America. Discrimination, sexual harassment, disrespect, physical and verbal abuse, and retaliation, make up my experiences with certain people and certain employers. However, my wake up call of how the "real world" is -- was through my many places of employment.

Getting my first job at the age of 13 years old, I wasn't prepared for the differences in personalities outside of my family and close friends.

I knew people were different but I always assumed everyone shared the same common core values of niceness, fairness, manners, and respect for others. One thing that I learned, is to never expect anyone to be nice to you just because you're nice to them.

Negative experiences in my life often left me with a tiny chip on my shoulder, but the good experiences seemed to outweigh the bad (or that's how I chose to view it), but both opposites taught me meaningful lessons and truly opened my eyes to what the real world looked like. 

Absolutely, it was difficult to deal with hurt and pain that formed from the negative moments -- but I chose to view them just as that; a bunch of bad moments that occurred every now and again. If certain periods of time didn't happen I wouldn't be who I am today. 

I'd rather be aware of worldly things because to not be, only means hindering your life long learning process. The more aware you are, the more you have a better view of where you're going.

Certain lessons learned may have made me sharper, wiser, aware, aggressive, and yes at times "difficult", but it comes from a place of pain. The pain of the struggles endured to get to where I am today, makes me damned determined to keep fighting for it! Fighting isn't easy but since I'm not a quitter, fighting seems to be the only option.

So to the guy on twitter generalizing all black women as "difficult" and "demanding", just remember that our stories are different. We come from all walks of life, are actually a mixture of races (if you want to get technical), and probably have more in common then we have differences.

Try to understand a sista before placing judgement and usually, communication is all it takes.

Communicate witcha girls bruh!

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

2013 LA

LOVE and HATE

We can not move forward in society if a Conservative minority, will do whatever necessary to stop the Democratic majority. 

Let me rephrase that by taking can not out of the equation, because history strongly suggests otherwise. Throughout the years our prejudices and judgements of one another, have long fueled our strongest battles within the United States.

Though these battles still exist, somehow the severity of these obstacles have lessened with each decade that passes. We're beginning to LOVE more than we HATE.

To some it may seem as if HATE takes center stage more often than not due to the recent senseless tragedies that have occurred, but only because tragedy wants a show whereas love doesn't need one.

Because love can be humble and peaceful, people often take it for granted or take its silence as weakness. But love explodes in places unimaginable and can submerge the hardest of hearts.

We're almost there!

The more we work together and sacrifice together, the more we fight our battles together and unite as one around a common sense greater good, the better chance we stand to erode evil and the horrific and loud tragedies associated with it. 

Prayers to Boston, Newtown, Aurora, Oklahoma, Chicago, Columbine and Waco, and to all the countless and nameless faces that also fell victim to such atrocities; we stand with you, we sympathize and empathize with your pain, and above all we love you!

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm...

2013 LA