DAY 2: on my "QUIT"

"I refuse to accept the idea that the 'is'-ness of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the 'ought'-ness that forever confronts him."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

let freedom ring

...an unattractive poem for an unattractive situation

i'm one of those...

black power sistahs....
all-about-liberation-so-let-freedom-ring sistahs
a nobody-owns-me-or-tells-me-what-to-do kind of sistah

i refuse to be used by "the man"
or be considered a slave by society....
but i find that i'm a slave
to this stubby white thang....
and would even hurt somebody
if they interfered with my master and me

come between me and my fragile fag
and i will insult you,
threaten you,
and out of my way I will forcefully push you
i will stand outside in the freezing cold
looking like a crack head
toking their first hit for the day....
i will rummage the closet
for change in pants pockets
to come up with the price
that could cost me my life...

no man
no boss
NOR my own mama
can usurp my authority
and still i will pucker up and suck the breath
out of my stubby
white,
power hungry,
addictive laden,
make a nation admit to cravin'
paper and tobacco creation.
.
..
...
just past me that cigarette
before i choke you.
----------------------------------------

I am so thankful that "Spirit" is with me thru this journey!

DAY 1: I'm NOT Going to Smoke TODAY because...

"Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; they are but the instruments of the wise."

- Samuel Lover

Let the HEALING begin!

First read, "HeRe CoMeS tHe JuDgE"

Then read, "scales oF JUSTICE"

The Judgmental gene is not yet gone. But, I am aware of its existence and I make consistent efforts to rid myself of this flaw in my personality and my spirit. When I look at J, I don’t see a tragic disaster of motherhood. I see a mother overwhelmed with grief. Her daughter has not left her; but, the daughter she anticipated will not ‘be’. It’s a true loss when compared to the natural expectations and wishes of any mother. Because of the overwhelming nature of it all, there SEEMS to be a level of denial as well. Choices made by J are not thoughtless, but based on the thoughtfulness of another situation and set of circumstances…. circumstances that involve a ‘typical’ child.

My interactions with J are based my support of her efforts to effectively parent her child. I actually do what I can to help J to manage SiSi’s behavior. I listen more and appreciate her efforts to a greater degree than ever before. I don’t just sit back and pity her; I work with her and act as a liaison between her and her fears. Not only have I extended my help to her, but I have made her feel comfortable about telling me when she needs me to step out of a situation to give her the opportunity to work out the situation.

I am not being helpful in order to work my way back into the good graces of the Creator; I am not trying to earn browny points with my peers. What is done is done. I can’t earn self-righteousness with good deeds. I am simply responding to my true realization that J’s situation did not deserve to be judged by me and was given (what I believe to be) a poor judgment at that. I am only behaving as I always should have because I know it’s the right thing to do.

I am very conscious of the fact that an explanation was never something to which I was ever truly entitled. Suppose, she never revealed the truth regarding to her fear and inability in dealing with SiSi’s discipline? Would I have made this realization of my judgmental-ness? Probably not. Would judging her have been any less wrong? No. But I have already begun scripting for the appropriate response for me in any situation where I find myself tempted to allow a judgment to run through my mind or across my lips. My one and only concern should be nothing more than, “I hope they are comfortable in their circumstances.” Or, “I wonder what circumstances allowed (whomever) to feel this way… or be that way.”

There was only one missing piece of the puzzle that changed my whole perception of the big picture. I made the mistake of allowing my brain to make assumptions that distorted the picture. I allowed my ego to size it up and put the puzzle piece in place. It was my own imperfection that allowed the flaw to take root and grow.

What I DID find interesting is that the whole relationship with J changed when I alone changed. The rewarding part of it is that SHE changed once I changed. The effort has been reciprocated. That is the icing on the cake… but I was not basing my change on any offer for desert at all. She is more open and receptive. Rather than see me as a threat – as someone who is trying to take over her daughter, she sees me as someone who is trying to help her get closer to her daughter.

Yeah, yeah… there are still some challenges that exist where J & I are concerned. And these challenges are not based on my thoughts on a matter, but on things that I have actually heard J admit about herself. But I still don’t feel a need to judge her. I simply make a decision whether or not I want to be a participant in other aspects of J’s life and J’s decision making consequences or rewards. There is nothing there for me to like or dislike because it only has an affect on me if I decide for myself to be involved.

Since this defining moment has occurred, I have seen my judgments magnified in other situations and it is amazing how it kind of blazes like a mirror reflecting the sun. My past attitudes were such a waste of energy and effort… not to mention that it set me back spiritually. A spiritual set-back is not a method of staying on one's spiritual path.

I have already accepted change.

the scales oF JUSTICE!

Justice, as our society recognizes it, is symbolized by the Scales of Justice or Lady Justice. Lady Justice, or "Justicia", is most often depicted with a set of weighing scales suspended from her left hand. Justicia is a Greek Goddess of mythology. Supposedly she measures the strengths of a case's support and opposition; hence, the symbolic scale. She is also often seen carrying a double-edged sword in her right hand which symbolizes the power of Reason and Justice, which may be wielded either for or against any party. Sometimes she is seen wearing a blind-fold which represents her blind impartiality regardless to fear or favor, wealth or poverty, or weakness or strength.

THIS manner of Justice is one to which I am accustomed and accomplished. But this manner of Justice is one that is spiritually debilitating to me.

The manner of Justice that I focus on today, is a part of KARMIC teaching. With the Creator as the judge, the scales will ALWAYS be balanced... but based on what? Well, if I am judged, I will be judged by others. ... and their judgements against me or for me WILL count because I have qualified myself for this opportunity and evaluaton. If I judge harshly, the opposite side of the scale will cause me to be judged me harshly. If I choose not to judge, but assign myself to humility and respect, I will be like-wise compensated for my expenditure of an act of love. In other words, I set the rules for judgement.

If you have not read Part 1 of my Judgement series, please do. 'HeRe CoMeS tHe JuDgE !' shares the life experience that brings about my ephiany and direction to bring judgement to another level.

Yep! You heard me. I am keeping my judgmentalness, but I am going to graduate it for better use. I was born with this power. I am just going to train myself to use it for 'good' instead of 'evil' - figuratively speaking. Spiritually speaking, I am going to use my powers in bringing judgment upon a person in a way that improves that person instead of destroying that person.

I know this sounds a bit "high and mighty", but it is more humbling and more helpful than you may think.

I read something that another author put before supposition:

If one considers it a sin to judge another, does that philosophy itself bring about judgement to the judger? If I exclaim that something isn't "fair", am I passing judgement on this "thing"? So, carefully, I begin to dissect the many ways in which I'd maintained my judgmentalness even while considering myself not standing in judgment of anyone.

Here are MY steps to control this behavior that is not like that of the woman I aspire to be:

1. RESPECT OTHERS DIFFERENCES. When I say to myself that I respect everyone's beliefs even if they are not my own, I must be careful to note that the differences do not eliminate the truth of their belief, but I can JUDGE for myself whether their truth is good for me or resonates with me as a personal understanding and state of existance. Peace comes when I say that I see this thing or that thing as being a truth that I don't embrace for myself. It is not for me on the path that I am on in this life. But it IS true for you. I say this to myself of course... for myself... because my saying it to any other person is not necessary for it to be valid for them. It is true for them whether I have this understanding or not.

2. NEVER ASSUME. When witnessing someone else's circumstances, I am not guarenteed to have all the facts to judge THEM. I can only observe, with the rights to speak on my observations. If I have not cleansed my understanding of the fine line between speaking on my personal convictions of a circumstance and judging that person... I should just shut up! With J (referenced in Part 1), I can speak on the fact that she didn't participate in behavioral control of Si. This is a fact. But to assume that it is "because of" ANY reason, is judgmental.

3. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME. Someone else's behavior is their own life lesson to have. If she didn't tell me why she was unparticipative, that is her business and privilege. I must still refrain from coming to a judgment on the situation. I may never know the motives that drive another to perform a certain way.

4. USE "RIGHT JUDGMENT". The bible is not my only source of spiritual understanding, but it is a source that has some familiarity to most people... so, I use it.

- “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment” (John 7:24).
- If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18)
- They should live “peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim. 2:2)
- Ephesians 4:15 refers to—”speaking the truth in love.”


In summary, to use Right Judgement, would mean to not judge a book by it's cover, live in peace with EVERYONE, live a peaceful and quiet life (living without drama and chaos) in all godliness and holiness... (live according to your understood spiritual purpose or path) and speak truth in love.

5. JUDGE YOURSELF. Harshly judge only yourself. If you have a conflicting situation or have a conflict with a person - judge yourself by your reaction to whatever is going on. When I examine/judge myself, the reflection in the mirror appears more clear and I can fix or enhance what I see about myself!

Whenever I have had a conflict and I am at the height of my agitation and anger, my sister-friend, Temple, ALWAYS says to me, "Ask yourself, why you have chosen to have this experience?" The first time she told me to do this, I was pissed! CHOOSE THIS EXPERIENCE, indeed! I didn't hardly choose to be miserable and unhappy. Like I chose to have been in emotionally and abusive relationships... or have to deal with selfish, idiotic people who didn't have a clue! ehem. That is what i thought and said to her. Her only counter was, "Why did you choose to share experiences with the type of people you are describing?" No, she wasn't calling them idiots, but by my own description... with my own experiences.... dealings with these folks were on me!

We are all born into lives that are laden with the choices that we have made to have the type of human experiences that bring us the understandings and healing that we need to make us more like the Creator to whom we are all connected and of whom we are made up. This is true for your mother, your friend, your nemesis, your attacker, your children... the list goes on. This is MY belief and she rocked me at the core of that belief with her question. I could have slapped her - but she'd have slapped me back, you think? (smile)

So, to this day, I continuously ask myself, in regards to J and SiSi and even her father, my husband... everybody & everything..."Why have I CHOSEN to have THIS experience?" Surely, there is a reason. It's not about them; it's about changing something about myself... to become more "me"...to become a more spiritual being.

So let me judge not, that I be not judged. Let me examine myself and speak the truth in love, compassion, and understanding. Let me not present myself as the "last word" on someone else's circumstances and let me go on unto perfection!

My healing has not yet come into play just by this recognition of new laws for judgment in my life. I will apply what I've learned without any expectation of compensation from another. And if I DO receive a form of compensation or recognition, I will not become haughty with self-importance - but even more humbled that the Creator has allowed me to become a participant in his teachings in someone else's life. I will be appreciative that the Creator finds me open to receive the teachings that I need to stay on MY own path.

I acknowledge that my previous vision of my self should be ammended and be replaced by a NEW vision; a RE-vision so-to-speak.

The Scales of Justice will now be used to balance the weight of MY essence and not someone else's.

------------------------------------

PART 2 of 3.

Part 1 - HeRe CoMeS tHe JuDgE !

Part 3 - Let The Healing Begin. (coming soon)

HeRe cOmEs ThE jUdGe !

I have made a horrible RE-discovery of myself.

First, let me give you a little bit of background.

For 7 years I have shared a challenging relationship with my daughter’s biological mother. I am not describing my daughter’s mother this way to signify anything about her relationship with her daughter. I am describing myself to signify MY relationship with her daughter. We both love her. But, we both have different experiences with SiSi. Because my experience with her seems to demonstrate more control over SiSi and SiSi tends to be attentive to me more-so than her own mother (we’ll call her “J”), I found myself in a place of judgment … again. Yes, this is a roller coaster ride that I’m on. I judge J and then I chide myself for this and try to work thru my issues with J’s lack of participation… then I would find myself judging her all over again.

It seemed to me that even when we were in the same company, SiSi, who is autistic and has behavioral challenges, can make anyone present a potential focus and victim to her tantrums, was left for me to govern. J would back off or just sit there and I was the one who would manage and control the activities that would quiet SiSi.

I found her guilty of being slack.
I judged her as trifling.
I sought maximum penalty for J not WANTING to take care of her own child. I once told her that I would gladly take custody of SiSi and she could be free! I judged her for having the nerve to be angry with my suggestion.

~yeah! al-righty, then...

I just judged her… again and again.

Judgment is a form of prejudice. It’s when you form an opinion of something or someone without having all of the pertinent information.

So, let me get to the meat of this blog. This IS NOT a "bash J" blog. It’s an eye-opener for me and it leads me to a place to improve and heal MYSELF.

This past Saturday, J busted her ass to provide a children’s type birthday party for SiSi. She had not had a party of this sort since she was a baby. Normally, her father and I would provide her with a meal including her favorite food… chicken. We’d have loads of balloons and we would invite her mother and brother over to share in the celebration. We’d cut the cake, open some presents, talk loud with much animation, and call it a night. But J wanted to throw her baby a party.

She had her apartment nicely decorated… with 2 bowls of snacks on the table. Children’s music (not grown up music) was blasting from her stereo. Streamers. She invited guests.

I was impressed and angry at the same time. Impressed with the effort and care with which she decorated and planned. Angry because the snacks on the table were not on the diet that I THOUGHT she agreed to support. Trust me, I am judging the hell out of her for that.

Then I saw the people coming in. I saw a child running in and out of the house. The mother of the child just sat back and talked on the cell phone. J didn’t say a word. I got up and stood by the door because SOMEBODY had to be a “po-lice”! There were very small children present and SiSi does NOT tolerate too many small children. Why are all of these people here? Why am I hearing that she’d invited other co-workers with small children… but FORTUNATELY were unable to make it. THIS is truly NOT SiSi’s scene! There are too many people. Too much noise. Too much activity. She is AUTISTIC! Duh!

Yeah. I went there. Only in my mind, but, I went there.

I “made nice” tempered SiSi through 3 tantrums and then snuck out of the apartment because she had been saying, “Car please. Shoe please. Car please,” for the past hour.

My husband and I get home. Sit in the van for 30 minutes (until it sounds like SiSi is STARTING to calm down - we'd been checking by phone). We go upstairs, lighten the load of our clothes, and get into bed to take a nap. The whole while we are discussing SiSi's obvious displeasure at being left behind. Does this say something about her mother? I don’t think so. No judgment there. But, it does speak to SiSi being spoiled and knowing that she can bully her mother into giving SiSi her way.

Sure enough. I pull the covers up and the fricken phone rings. It’s just what I thought, but then again “NOT”. J was saying that she needed us to pick up SiSi. There is a tirade of screaming going on in the background and it’s obvious that J has been crying for a while. She admits that she can’t do it. She can’t manage SiSi.

Obviously we go and pick up Si from her Mom’s house. There was so much pain in J’s eyes. She sat on the bed and just shook her head and cried… “I can’t do it”. I gave her a hug and a kiss on the forehead. I felt her in a way I never had before. Sure, there will be some times when J pisses me off again about something else… but THIS situation would be off limits to my need to express my “piss-ti-vi-ty”. Speaking with her closest friend later (she has become a friend of mine, too – I’ll call her Lena), Lena told me more of the conversation she’d had with J. J admitted to feeling guilty about SiSi’s autism. So guilty that she could not get tough with her, strongly discipline her, give her boundaries. She was in denial about having an autistic child…. One day SiSi wouldn’t be “like that” and everything would be OK. Hence, the invitation to loads of people who could in no way understand the severity of SiSi’s mood swings, because her Mom wasn’t making truthful admissions to herself or anyone else.

She could not face the fact that her daughter’s father had to be the custodial parent… had to be. Nor that a woman who came in to the scene later was able to do what she couldn’t do. There was no animosity spoken about me per se, but the comparison of ability would always be present.

Humility is a great healing power. That doesn’t mean feeling sorry for J for her hurt feelings. It means being humbled by the truth of what really made J seem uninterested in taking care of her daughter. She felt ill-equipped to do the job. She was afraid that being forceful with Si would make Si not love her. She really CAN’T do "it". And she really WANTS to do "it".

And I felt like an ass. Nope. I’m not gonna have a “beat-down-shYne-party”. That would draw attention to myself in a way that would make me seem like I needed pity and empathy and support in seeing myself as an OK person. I will pay attention to myself and address MY issue.

I did not have all of the facts when I judged J as trifling.

I am prejudiced.
I AM judgmental.

Ilk! (That admission put a nasty taste in my mouth.)

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 - The Scales of Justice. (coming soon)

Part 3 - Let the Healing Begin! (coming soon)

I am Athena.

The doctor gives one last command. “Push! There you go…” The mother, father, and other birth delivery attendees are witness to a little bit of hustle and bustle.

Slap!

“It’s a girl!”, the doctor proclaims. Just like that a little girl, who will grow up to become a woman, has been exposed as ‘one with powers’ extraordinaire!

But do we use our powers for good or evil... so-to-speak.

You, who have been given the exclusive rights of power as a woman, are blessed with a goddess energy. Maybe even a combination of goddess energies.

Goddess Energy… the study of it and the full understanding of it are not really my forte, but truth resonates within me when I read or hear about goddess archetypes and I can see that they are very descriptive of attributes (both beneficial and debilitating) of women that I know.

I can, if I want to, summarize what has already been written. But, this is a case that I don’t have a personal experience to give this the relevancy that is due to it. I will provide a link to a site that I found and let you study it for yourself if you are interested.

What I will contribute to this blog entry is some self-work that I am doing of myself. I will take a look at some of the archetypes and discover one I feel best describe me. I can actually see a little of me in several goddess archetypes, but there is one that stands out the most.

I won’t go into full detail about the origination, childhood characteristics, adult characteristics and list of experiences that this goddess has reportedly had, but I will offer some comparison to the goddess most like me… the goddess most like Sheila, as shYne, as Mom, as Wife, and as Friend. These are only some of the personal relationship roles that I have been assigned in this lifetime. I am going to journey towards discovery of the goddess energy that best describe how I behave and how I see myself in these roles.

Look into my heart as I look into the mirror.


I feel most like Athena. I am extroverted and independent when I am an artist, when I am called upon to give advice as a counselor, and when I work. Sometimes I am so focused on a task, whether it be a presentation, or whether it be in “fixing” something or someone, I alienate others with by being or appearing judgmental. I so desire to prescribe a treatment that I give a diagnosis which is really a judgment. I desire and work towards freedom and enlightenment for diverse cultures and women. I will use the arts, dabble in politics, bathe in sociology, and now I have encountered and begun to study humanitarianism.

I don’t feel that I am particularly close to my mother and I have not learned a lot about womanhood as I feel and experience it from her. I do, however, feel a different kind of connection. Of course, as I get older and experience more, I am continually feeling closer and more connected to my mother.

I want to know a lot about the things that have meaning to me or that have become a part of my life. I will research on the internet, watch relative programs on TV and order books related to my interests and life dealings from Amazon.com.

I am a fighter. I am a survivor. I am an ambassador of the things which I’ve learned.

I am creative in communication.

I have my share of masculine characteristics. I see myself as forceful, I see myself as strong, I see myself as a protector. I have a side that is not concerned with romance, but relationships of all types are important and are revered. I also use my more masculine charactersistics to cover up some of the soft mushiness that dwells within... as though I see it as a weakness.

Like Athena, my connection with that which is patriarchal, makes connections with that which is matriarchal a challenge. Also, authority is a challenge. Freedom and emancipation is a strong part of who shYne is as a woman.

As a mother, I am endeared to the small baby, but the young child years are trying and sometimes burdensome to a degree that has made me feel incapable of providing the level of nurturing that is needed. I tend to enjoy my children more as the mature and become adults. I like having conversations with them and seeing where they are as young adults.

As a wife, I am close, yet distant at the same time. I will always protect myself… protect my heart. I love my husband as a partner, but not so much as a “Provider of All Things” to me. I have to be able to provide for myself in order to be happy.

As a friend, I am dedicated to a fault. The fault is that I am a “fixer”, which can at times be the “controller”. Abstaining from this behavior takes great effort. But the effort is worth it because when my friends are in need they feel freer to lean on me if necessary. My friends are those that I share common causes. Sine their cause is my cause, I will work for them as I work for myself.


Athena’s dark side: Medusa - intimidating, critical, judgmental toward weakness in others, her air of authority and inapproachability keep others at an emotional distance.

Athena’s wound: Her heart -- out of touch with the two goddesses of love: Demeter, the maternal love, and Aphrodite, sensual love - Her masculine image concealing her vulnerable, underdeveloped inner feminine self--She is emotionally hypersensitive.

Athena’s gift: Today, is to empower women’s contribute to the political, intellectual and creative life of our cities, therefore, elevating the integrity and quality of our civilization by bringing forth the qualities of the feminine which have long been suppressed

I have Athena energy.

With whom do you share the most in common in regards to energy?

http://goddess-power.com/index.htm

Age Before Beauty

Dedicated to TheActress.

shYne

Many people feel that once we’ve reached a certain age there are personal accomplishments that we should have made. If not, we are past our prime… we’ve missed the boat…

But I've got to tell you, "Age ain’t nothing but a number!"
.
It is important for all of us who want to truly “live” for the duration of this lifetime with continued success and opportunities for success – to make a decision about the reality of AGE. Ask yourself, "Is it a clutch or a crutch?" Do you embrace your age, which brings experience and maturity, and wisdom… or do you use your age as an excuse for not trying to make your dreams and aspirations a reality.
.
Are you
..........past your
.....................prime?

--------------------------------

~Past Your Prime~
You know you're past your prime when,

if you brag about having an affair,

someone asks who catered it.
--------------------------------

Girl, It’s Prime Time!

I’m going to share with you a story of someone with whom we are all familiar. I am going to “tell the story” in a chronologically bulleted format so that the focus of my point will really come together...

1917 – Isabel Sanford was born

1930’s - Isabel is a teenager
Isaebel Sanford, a New York native always wanted to act. Because her mother didn’t find it a “realistic dream” for her no-long-hair-dark-skinned but attractive daughter, Sanford would sneak out of the house at night and perform in the local nightclubs. She only confessed to her nighttime activities after winning third place in an amateur contest at the Apollo Theatre. Still, she made her next step into the working world as a cleaning lady instead of an actress.

Around 1940 or so…
Sanford married, had three children and worked in the New York City welfare department as a keypunch operator. Her desire to act didn’t become a reality until she was in her late twenties when she joined the American Negro Theater.

1946 - Isabel is now 29
In 1946 Isabel made her stage debut.

1960 – Isabel is 43
She moved to Los Angeles in 1960 with the hopes of launching a movie career. Sanford acted in bit parts on TV shows such as "Bewitched" and "The Mod Squad," and had a semi-regular spot on "The Carol Burnett Show,"…

1967 – Isabel at 50
It was her performance in the 1965 Broadway production of "Amen Corner" that caught the eye of director Stanley Kramer. He cast her as the sassy, sharp-tongued maid playing opposite Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, in the 1967 film classic "Guess Who`s Coming to Dinner?"

1970 – Isabel is 53 years old
Three years later, TV producer Norman Lear hired Sandford to play the recurring role of Louise "Weezy" Mills Jefferson, Archie Bunker`s neighbor on the hit TV show "All in the Family."

1975 – Isabel is the tender age of 55
In 1975, the characters of Weezy and her husband George Jefferson (played by Sherman Hemsley) were given their own spin-off sitcom. "The Jeffersons," ran for 11 seasons.

1981 – 66 year old Isabel get’s her “due”.
Sanford won the Emmy for the Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981.

Sometime during all of this activity, Isabel was divorced – becoming a single mother of three children.

Although, we may have spotted Isabel Sanford here and there in “other people’s movies” and shows and broadway plays … as an extra or having a “bit” part, most of us consider THE JEFFERSONS her “ship that came in”. Honey, her name was in lights! This role is what put her in Ebony, Jet, and other media formats that graced our coffee tables, end tables, and kitchen tables when WE were growing up.

SHE WAS 53 YEARS OLD when she got this part.

AND for an actress, recognition for your work as an artist would be in the form of an Emmy Award and she was 61 before she got this recognition. Also a part of "her-story" is Isabel's ultimate recognition… she received her star on the Hollywood walk of fame when SHE WAS 86 YEARS OLD.

And in the SAME year - - - she died.

Now, I ask you… are YOU past your prime?

Isabelle was never past hers in regards to her dreams and aspirations. She continued to progress to the end. She was NOT a superstar at the age of 20 or 30 or even 40. But she craved those bright lights and stayed in them or around them as much as she could… even when she worked as a maid… even when she worked as a keypunch operator… even at the risk of getting a beaten by her Mama for sneaking out of the house… even when she was a divorcee raising her kids as a single parent…

Truly her journey in "age" came before the "beauty" of her success….

Or did her journey toward the success of her dreams

cause her to age beautifully?

I’ll take it either way!

----------------------------------------

Quick Success or Progressive Success

In the 80’s there were singing groups and bands that made BIG hits. They made a record with very little recording experience and history (and in some cases, talent) and it was truly a hit… they were known as ONE HIT WONDERS… you know… Anita Ward – “Ring My Bell”, Stacey Lattisaw recorded a few remakes that had her in the limelight for a minute, Amy Stewart remade “Knock On Wood”, Sarah Dash from LaBelle recorded “Sinner Man”. They would shake things up a bit and *poof* they were gone!

And then there are artists like Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross.. there are too many songs to list for over too many years. They just got better... no, they GET better with age… but then they were on a creative path with a particular style that they were born with and refined thru the years… old or new… you know when it’s one of these aged genius’ that is singing…. It is THEIR OWN style.

And what about Apple or Dell? Apple brought this computer age in to the light… but Dell (and other such companies) is keeping the light burning. Apple made it big as a baby in the industry… actually giving birth to the industry… but they can’t touch the success of Dell today!

The interesting thing about the Apple and Dell comparison is that Apple “stumbled upon” success and Dell had to work to overcome the previous success level and exceed in order to become more successful; hence the pay-off is greater for it.

And for Golden Oldies like Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou... the world is truly an oyster! They are icons of their art!

Going back to the singers - the "get-it-quick artists" stumbled upon a successful tune (that may have been pre-recorded) and that’s all the wind they had. But the long timers are the artists who are having their songs re-made. Occasionally, you will find a singer who starts off on other people’s material and takes it to another level, like Luther Vandross. Remember “A House Is Not A Home”? Well that one was recorded by Dionne Warwick another long-time Diva of the music industry. But noone seemed to realize just how empty that house was until Luther used his artistic creativity to take a “done” song and bring it to where it has never been before. He put that empty home right back on the market and then he went on to his own level of perfection.

It doesn’t matter if you make it as a newcomer or as a matured dreamer… just don’t stop going until you achieve your goals – and make it.

But most importantly… ENJOY THE TRIP! I believe that Isabel enjoyed hers. I don’t think she would have changed the timing of her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star… how can a woman born in 1917 - aspiring to be an actress when working as a housekeeper - living the African-American-limited-opportunity-and-be-a-woman top that?

Exit stage right, I say!

...and no encore necessary!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

As a child, I enjoyed Christmas trees! I enjoyed decorating them, looking at them, smelling them (the "live" trees, that is), and I loved the anticipation and build-up of what was going to be under them on Christmas day.

But, as a young adult I began to question the relevance of the Christmas tree in respect to the birth of Christ. I mean, what is a Christmas tree REALLY about? During the brief time that I lived in government assisted apartments, I began to question the validity and righteousness of spending lots of money on a tree, decorations, and lights during a time that my sons and my peers children needed new coats for the winter. That was the first year I refused to put up a Christmas tree. I was lucky that I didn't have to look into the dissappointed eyes of my young children. They were going to my mother's house and she always made a grand event out of the Christmas tree tradition.

Chrismons™ are handmade Christmas tree ornaments of various Christian symbols. My mother makes her own Chrismons and take great pride in adorning her tree with these white, gold, and chrystal beaded beauties. I must admit, her tree does have an extraodinary aesthetic beauty... but what is it beautifying? What does it MEAN? From whence did this worship of a "tree tradition come?

How many people perpetuate this tradition as a must-have-meaningful symbol of Christmas and the celebration of one known to many as "Christ"... how many people have a clue? How many people continue the tree tradition because of the nastalgia of it all? Who want to bring to their children some of the experiences they had as children...? They pass the baton.

I know that some people have at least a clue, but most of these informed folks STILL continue the tradition in spite of the fact that they have become aware that the tree tradition is in direct contradiction with their spiritual/christian beliefs and upbringing.

Read the synopsis of the "Christmas Tree Story" that is written by another author. Then, study to show thyself approved... and rightly divide the word of truth for yourself. -- 2 Timothy 2:15

------------------------------------------------

The Story Of Nimrod, As It Relates To Christmas And Easter
Wilhelm J Wolfaardt

Nimrod, the grandson of Noah, became the first king known as Sargon I. He built Babylon and Nineveh. Being warlike, he wore a type of helmet with a horn in the front; a trait inherited by the druid Vikings of the Celts, descendants of the Assyrian line.

.
Nimrod means "tyrant". He led the Sumerians of Babylon to pay tribute to the skies (sun, moon, stars, and planets) with the sacrifice of their children. The Tower of Babel was built for this purpose, echoed in other cultures such as the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas. Since the head of this government was such an idolatrous tyrant, Shem (Nimrod's uncle) killed him. Nimrod's mother, Semiramis, consoled the people by making them believe the child she carried was Nimrod "reincarnated" -- And named him "Duzu" (Tammuz), Babylonian for the son who rises. This Duzu went into the groves (forests) and placed a gift on a tree to honor Nimrod each year at the winter solstice. It has been said that Duzu was the offspring of Nimrod, who mated with his mother. Nimrod became known as Baal, meaning LORD, and was worshipped by the Babylonians as the sun in the sky -- thus the origin of "going to the heavens" at death.
.

Trees and branches became symbols of Nimrod. Because Nimrod was "cut down" by Shem, a tree stump became a place of honoring him. Thus, the Hebrew Scriptures speak of the pagans going into the "groves", and bringing a "branch to the nose", and going into the forest and cutting down a tree, decorating it, and propping it up a so that it will not totter. The winter solstice was the time when the sun was thought to be "reborn", so December 25th was celebrated as Baal's (Nimrod's) birthday. By tradition, the artificial idea of a New Year following this birthday celebration became an integral part of every human culture, based on this pagan idolatry. Generally, all mankind is fast asleep, dreaming this old Babylonian dream.

.
Christmas is an attempt by Catholicism to revise and adopt this paganism. In the year 525, a Scythian monk named Dionysius Exiguus visited Rome. He witnessed the ancient pagan celebration of the winter solstice (then called Paganalia or Saturnalia), and this offended his devout sensibilities. Scripture itself demands that we observe the Messiah's death, not His birth. But, since the pagan mind was so oriented around fertility and birth, it developed the way we see it today, blending the most important features of pagan interpretation. "Babel, the Great Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth" -- has intoxicated the masses, and she herself is drunk with the blood of the set-apart ones.

.
What is her name? It's Easter! Semiramis, Nimrod's mother, became known as "Magna Mater", the "Great Mother", and was worship-ped as Mother Earth. The Sun "mated" with the Earth each spring, and the "Rites of Spring" symbolized by the "May Pole" and "Easter" came 9 moons/months before the December 25th "birth" of the winter Sun. Her Assyrian name, Ishtar, gives us the word "Easter". The Romans called her Astarte, and the Phoenicians used Asherah. The Hebrews called her Astoroth, the consort of Baal. Her emblem is the flower of the lily. She is the "goddess of the dawn", and her statue stands on a bridge in France. The French made a colossus of this image, and it now stands in New York Harbor, facing "East" -- in itself a word referring to the rising son/sun -- from which her name springs!

---------------------------------------------

So, you tell me... is the inclusion of the tree tradition with Christmas a compromise or confusion?

I have no desire to participate in the tree tradition. I CAN'T participate in it for fear that I will feel as though I am celebrating incest... worshipping someone who was considered a tyrant and thought himself wise enough to have his followers sacrifice their children. I refuse to sit in judgement of Nimrod. But, I do not have a desire to worship him and revere him as an example of my own aspirations.

-------------------------------

Creator,

Continue to bless me to be able to "rightly divide" truth. I've only just begun and I've a long way to go, but thank You for keeping me on "the path".

peace.

shYne

Toxic Shock: Relationships with Toxic People With Toxic Energy

Toxic relationships can create energy forces that squeeze your spirit tighter and tighter and stunts your spiritual growth. It's a Toxic Shock! We are in "times of transitions" and many of us are seeking spiritual enlightening. Relationships can bring you face to face with the lessons that we need to learn about ourselves ... that is, if we are willing to turn the mirror to face ourselves instead of focusing on our partners or friends or co-workers. But, relationships can cloud the picture and cause more set-backs - that is, if you are with someone who doesn't share the same or similar beliefs. The bible terms this as "un-equally yoked".
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Who are the "toxic" people? They are the ones who complain all the time. They are the ones who always blame you. They may always turn things around so things you feel THEY did are YOUR fault. They overreact to unfavorable events. Does he/she seem more cheerful after arguing with you or complaining to you? Is your partner jealous, selfish, or bossy? If any one or more of these is the case, you likely have a toxic person on your hands.
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Toxic people drain your energy. It may be that they get you to spend a lot of time and emotional strength trying to cheer them up. They may bombard you with so much of their negativity that you have to spend energy trying to fend it off. Perhaps their constant pessimism infects you, or they always make you angry. They may be leeches who feed themselves by making you give them your positivity.

'
No matter which type of toxic partner you’re facing — there are positive steps you can take to neutralize the problem partner so you can deal with yourself:

'
Don’t take it personally! Do not let toxic people touch your self-esteem. Their screaming, demeaning, cynical poison is about THEM, not you. Consciously manage your mental and emotional boundaries so the toxins can’t get in.

/
Don’t compromise your values in the face of other people’s toxic emotions. It’s surprisingly easy to slip and do things we would otherwise never do — so monitor your reactions carefully.

'
Be mindful of the (natural) urges you have to fight back vindictively, to sabotage, to get revenge. If you do this, you become part of the problem.

2
Fight the temptation to feel victimized by the anyone with whom you interact. Victims feed the poison. Victims can not lead. Recognize and act on your personal power and resilience.

'

2
Do all these steps AND take a hefty dose of self-control? Yes.

They are better than the alternatives: lashing out or crawling into bed and hiding under the covers all day.

But at the END of the day, ask yourself, "what have I learned about myself?" If you find yourself in similar conflicts regularly, ask what you are putting into the recipe that creates the same reactions and response. This does not mean that someone else's behavior is YOUR fault.

;

But it does mean there is a lesson in "it" for you!

-------------------------------

peace,

shyne

~with whom we do assemble, we soon resemble!~

Creator, hasten to me that I resemble you... and may all others find you on their path.

If We Build It, They Will Come... If Not, They Will Take It!

Indulge me.

Politics is not my game..... but spirituality and social consciousness are (my game).

I started Nov. 4th out with an alarming awareness that I was getting "up" in age. I called my 18 year old just after 7 a.m. that morning and he was in line at a voting site in South Carolina. Then I called my 21 year old son and he was on his way to a voting site. My first thought.... I am old as hell if I have 2 sons 0ld enought to vote. I called my 20 year old daughter, but was unable to reach her.... possibly 3 out of 5 children.... old enough to vote and actually voting.
.
IF WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME... IF NOT, THEY WILL TAKE IT!

Thinking about this brought tears to my eyes and I cried all the way to work.... "Pride" is an understatement of the emotions that I felt at this time.

But now, at 12:48 a.m., on Nov. 5th, after having heard Barack Obama's first speech as our Presidential Elect of THIS United States.... I am overwhelmed with emotion.

Statistics show that our youthful voters, aged 18-35, voted an overwhelming 66% in favor of Obama.

IF WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME... IF NOT, THEY WILL TAKE IT!

I am reminded that this election is so very similar to the times of presidential campaigning and elections during the Vietnam War. The campaigning presidential candidate, Bobby Kennedy, spoke of and represented positive changes in the racial environment of our country and was assassinated for his efforts. The youthful citizens of this nation rebelled against the war and against the oppositions of change... by any means (other than voting).

This election presents the same challenges .... change of our cultural diversity tolerance, as well as the War In Iraq.... the youth serve as the advocates of this change.... but instead of being in total rebellion of our system, they USED the "socially acceptable" system to administer change. They VOTED.

IF WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME... IF NOT, THEY WILL TAKE IT!

For all that we have wanted to do for our children and have not been able to provide... they are getting what they need, on their own.... or are they? I have raised my children to be responsible thinkers and to represent themselves as activists for social change and upliftment! This is exactly what they are doing.... taking care of themselves and of society, in the best way they know how... and I was a tool of the Creator to teach them.

It is historical

Emotional

Inspirational and

Motivational.

Barack Obama has made us a proposition

to reposition

our reputation

within our community

and throughout the world

as he promises to unfurl

our issues, challenges, and problems

he suggests that the way that we will solve them

is if WE solve them.

If he's true to his word

our interests won't be deferred

but preferred

over the the interests of a few

Whew!

I am believeing in relief

no grief

no governmental thief

to steal

our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

---------------------------------------------
peace,
shYne

Why? Because it's cute!

I thought this a job well done, but watch the little girl get caught out there!
(Don't forget to put my music player on pause at the bottom of the blog page!!!)



Lyrics:

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

(McCain supporters)
McCain’s the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They’ll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might

(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama’s new, he’s younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He’ll bring a change, he’s got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame,
Iraq’s a shame
Four more years would be insane

Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won’t
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won’t!
Have enough experience - you know that they don’t
STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won’t

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you’re going to have some drama
We need it
HE’LL BRING IT
He’ll be it
YOU’LL SEE IT
We’ll do it
GET TO IT
Let’s move it
DO IT!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like,
I saidYou can vote however you like, yeah

I’m talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice
But to do it right
we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways
that are here to stay

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN’T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like,
I saidYou can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like,
I saidYou can vote however you like, yeah

Are We Experiencing A Paradigm Shift Towards Communitarianism?

.
.
I first caught wind of "communitarianism" after I heard a political speech given and I commented to myself that this person sounded like no Republican OR Democrat that I've ever heard.... not to this extent!

I am not going to pretend that you are dumb, because it is going to be obvious who I am referring to, but he shall still remain nameless on this particular blog. It is not the individual that is so important, but the life altering philosophy.

When the speech was given, I remember thinking.... "he should start a new Humanitarian Party!"

So, I googled the candidate's name (it's almost a shame to call him a politician, given the connotations given to such a job category) and humanitarianism... both together. Although I got many hits, when I opened one of the links.... I saw his name coupled with the term "communitarian". The article really intrigued me and motivated me to dig a little deeper.

That is when I began googling "communitarianism" and came up with The Cumminitarianism Network.

Now, I haven't spent enough time reading and researching this philosophy to truly be able to give you a knowledgeable blog, but I CAN say that a sense of "truth" and "human destiny" resonated with my personal spiritual vibe.

It seems that when I wrote my blog about "Ubunto" and "...Am I My Brothers' Keeper", as well as, "Dear Mr. President, What About Autism" and my poem, "A Keeper's Keeper", "...Big Mama"... hell, I guess I wrote something that resonated with Communitarianism in all of my writings, because this philosophy is "truth" for me!

It seems that there is a paradigm shift towards this train of thought. Once you look into it for yourself, you will find that it isn't anything that is really new. In spite of the conception of this particular Network in America.... with all of the intellectual types ENDORSING this train of thought, communitarianism is as old as the tribes that originally (and still) inhabit this contenant and others. This is an ancient train of thought.


PARADIGM SHIFTS
If you understand anything about "paradigms", you would know that it is something like a hypothesis... or the road traveled to a hypothesis. You may have an understanding that something is correct; true.

In the refining process, the reality of the journey may bring about results that do not resemble the hypothesis and in its practice, it will prove itself to be "the truth" or ineffectual, harmful, unstable. If it proves itself untrue, as you continue refining the process, you can end up with something totally different than what you anticipated, OR you can return to something more like the original version. It can be a new improved version of the original, with improvements and modifications made necessary based on the metamorphisis that has occurred during the trial and error of other ways in addition to new developments... in this case... new developments in humanity... Social ills, technology, scientific understandng, greed, etc.

examples:









a) a shift to a new reality (same man - but different facial characteristics)










b) the picture remains the same, but with a "shift" in your brains perception, you can see a duck or a rabbit.... but it's the same... kind of like...the Matrix.

There seems to be a new wave of spirituality... not religion... but spirituality.... only it's not "new".... it is a return to spirituality that, in my opinion, is supporting the paradigm shift from selfishness and individuality back to caring and community.

The shift back to communitarianism started with all of these "new wave" thinkers who have taken the time and done their part by putting the idea back into the universe... from grass roots level to an "upper class" politicians and scholars ripe with educational pedigrees... I mean... degrees.

Well... that is enough from my "opinion"... form your own. Just click the hyperlink words earlier in this blog and then search for your own.

Then come back and talk to me about it.


-----Part of the Comm. Network Platform below:






Preamble
American men, women, and children are members of many communities--families; neighborhoods; innumerable social, religious, ethnic, work place, and professional associations; and the body politic itself. Neither human existence nor individual liberty can be sustained for long outside the interdependent and overlapping communities to which all of us belong. Nor can any community long survive unless its members dedicate some of their attention, energy, and resources to shared projects. The exclusive pursuit of private interest erodes the network of social environments on which we all depend, and is destructive to our shared experiment in democratic self-government. For these reasons, we hold that the rights of individuals cannot long be preserved without a communitarian perspective.

A communitarian perspective recognizes both individual human dignity and the social dimension of human existence.

A communitarian perspective recognizes that the preservation of individual liberty depends on the active maintenance of the institutions of civil society where citizens learn respect for others as well as self-respect; where we acquire a lively sense of our personal and civic responsibilities, along with an appreciation of our own rights and the rights of others; where we develop the skills of self-government as well as the habit of governing ourselves, and learn to serve others-- not just self.

A communitarian perspective recognizes that communities and polities, too, have obligations--including the duty to be responsive to their members and to foster participation and deliberation in social and political life.

A communitarian perspective does not dictate particular policies; rather it mandates attention to what is often ignored in contemporary policy debates: the social side of human nature; the responsibilities that must be borne by citizens, individually and collectively, in a regime of rights; the fragile ecology of families and their supporting communities; the ripple effects and long-term consequences of present decisions. The political views of the signers of this statement differ widely. We are united, however, in our conviction that a communitarian perspective must be brought to bear on the great moral, legal and social issues of our time.

Other points discussed in the platform:
Moral Voices
Within History
Not Majoritarian But Strongly Democratic
Restoring the Moral Voice
Start With the Family
Schools--The Second Line of Defense
Within Communitites: A Matter of Orientation
Duties to the Polity
Cleaning Up the Polity
Freedom of Speech
Social Justice
Public Safety and Public Health
The Human Community
In ConclusionA Question of Responsibility

The Longest Line

Saturday, I woke up with a mind to vote. Voting early seems to be the “in” thing now in Florida… and after my long wait in line, early voting is a good damn idea!

The elements definitely worked in my favor. The temperature was a nice, non-humid-pleasant-breeze 70-something degrees at its warmest. Just days before, Floridians suffered from sweltering temperatures of high 80’s and 90 degrees.

But my first view of the line was when I was in slow traffic pulling into the area of parking lots and recreational centers and fast food joints around the hosting library. I continued to move ahead; determined to have my energies intertwined with the paradigm shift of an historical event and a new sense of hopefulness in our society. I parked my car, thinking it strategic to my ultimate destination. And I walked to the library entrance with a stoicism that probably far exaggerated my individual importance. But this event IS important.

I walked around the corner and saw at least 2 hours waiting worth of people snaked through the driveway area and into the wooded lot next to the library. Although, I didn’t physically stop, my mind came to a screeching halt! I thought that I was out of my mind for walking ahead toward the back… (Where was the back?!)… the back of the line! I know darned well, I can vote another day. It’s too nice out here to spend the time that was unavoidably necessary, in a line outside of a library on a cool, breezy, Saturday.

I don’t know if you all believe in any type of negative spirits, and I certainly don’t, but doubt entered my brain, because SURELY this was the devil talking to me! DELAY my opportunity and right to vote because it was too nice outside?! This weather was a blessing for the long wait I had ahead of me.

I got in line. Made some phone calls. I had to let folks know how incredible this line was! I was really in awe of it… AND the fact that so many people (besides me) were willing to wait! After the dust settled on my incredulity, I just looked around. I listened to a few people in front of me chatting benignly about … you guessed it – the weather. It’s like everyone was hesitant to discuss the main thing that had drawn them to this location. A voting site volunteer gave us all a heads up on a voting location that was getting the voters in and out with much less wait. He even offered additional encouragement, by letting us know that shuttles had actually come to pick up the voters from our chosen site to go and vote at this other site earlier in the week.

Secretly, I hoped that half the line would go for it so that I could move up quickly. It was apparent that it wasn’t much of a secret when a fellow voter of Jamaican decent shouted out, “Tell those people down there, so we can move up faster!” Our end of the line laughed in unison, because we were obviously sharing the same thoughts. A few people were willing to give it a go, but not too many.

That was about the time, an African-American couple ahead of me and a Latino gentleman, started discussing the obvious in a not-so-obvious way. They talked about the amendments that were going to be on the ballot. The Jamaican and I got in on the conversation and finally, so did the African-American English teacher who was behind me.

We talked about the significance (or lack there-of) of same sex marriages becoming an uncontestable part of the constitution and the financial impact that a “yes” or “no” decision would have on society and economy. We discussed whether or not the most immediate and legally correct action in regards to illegal aliens who have lucrative American businesses, would be to just send them all packing or find an alternative method in working them into our system… legally – and what type of financial impact these decisions would have. We discussed the variance in proposed tax structures of real estate property based on its usage.

Finally, we discussed our economy, our political nominees and the current events surrounding them. We all found out that we had so much in common in regards to this season of politics. We all confessed that this was a rarely discussed topic and it was a relief to know that we could discuss it with strangers without some of the absurd reactions of violence that the news has been reporting lately. By the time we’d reached our 2nd hour (still outside of our appointed destination), we were very satisfied with our choice to remain in line and the chance we took in getting to know each other. The camaraderie added so much to the experience that we were having and the memory that we were creating. THIS truly was a spiritual experience!

After I got home, I called my Sister-friend in South Carolina to tell her about my day. I spoke of my 3 Hour wait. I made her laugh at how, by the time I had grandchilren old enough to kind of "get it", I would be exaggerating my wait-time to 10-12 hours instead of 3… all to create this new world for my bratty, ungrateful, grand-brats! Although I made her laugh, my laughter ceased when she said, “you think 10-12 hours is a long time? Girl, we’ve been waiting for over 400 years!”

Think about that.

"We've been waiting in line for over 400 years."

‘Nuff said!

It Just Ain’t Economically Correct

In order to fix this economy, we need to ‘fix’ how we LIVE in this economy. In school we learned all about ‘supply and demand’. But, something about that ain’t economically correct!


Is it ‘supply and demand’
Or ‘demand and supply’?
I think that supply and demand
Was a well perpetrated lie.

Maybe our educators were mis-educated
And a subliminal message was intrunkated
As our texts
Contain facts
That are whack
And our industrial giants are
Spending the money that we lack!

Because MY demand, Mr. Industry,
Is no longer based on what YOU supply.
I will no longer stick my head in the sand
And refuse accountability for accepting your lie.
With business handled your way
The world’s gone awry!

I won’t support the methods you use
Or the products you choose
And I won’t stand by as you continue to confuse
Others who may snooze
And don’t see your henchman’s hatchet.
We should stop buying your widgets and gadgets,
Your gizmos and devices.
And my insistent advise is…
For consumers to use thought and care
On how they buy
And know ‘when’, ‘why’ and ‘where’
Regarding the sources it takes
For you to create
the products we THINK we need and
you generate.

If we want to go ‘green’
We should not remain ‘red’ (with blood on your hands)
We should keep in mind - the destroyed lands
And the animals that bled…
(Just for the sake of a decorated paper wrapper adorning a burger in a Happy Meal.)

If we want to minimize wasteful products
We should stop spending our bucks
On meals and merchandise
That come with a price
That we won’t want to pay
When Karma-comes-a-callin’ one day!


Mr. Industry,
I demand and YOU supply!
Don’t get it twisted
Or try to sneak things by
We won’t keep walking down the same path that you lie!
(and you do lie)



Now, the money you made from which you invest
Spend for redevelopment and clean up your mess.
.

Out of respect for OUR ancestors,
Refrain from your dirty, little industrial secrets
And make it happen with ‘clean’ green…
The transition will be more profitable than it seems.
And, if you refuse
Methods and products I choose
Nothing you attempt to industrialize
Will ever be realized
Because a new world of consumers
Will make materialize
A Change…
of their Own …

-------------------------------------

Economical correction would call upon a new and necessary way of thinking. Well, the philosophy itself isn’t new; but, for it to be truly practiced and positively functioning, it would need to be incorporated by many people and held on to for dear life. Make ‘the changers’ of industry make a change! … and THEY will be grateful for it in the end.

My perception of a correct economical answer to today’s economical challenges would be “commu-nomics”….. As a poet, I have the write and the responsibility to make up new words (smile) if I maintain integrity while doing it.

If you look up the definitions of the words community and economics and put them together, you will have the answer. I won’t give you my perspective because I don’t want to influence my readers who may not have given this idea though. Develop your own understandings. But make sure you step quickly and definitively towards committing to your ideals and allow the transformation of your family, community, and country to begin and to be complete.


Definitions from Rhymezone.com:

Economic:
adjective: financially rewarding
Example: "It was no longer economic to keep the factory open"
adjective: concerned with worldly necessities of life (especially money)
Example: "He wrote the book primarily for economic reasons"
adjective: of or relating to the science of economics
Example: "Economic theory"
adjective: of or relating to an economy, the system of production and management of material wealth
Example: "Economic growth"
adjective: using the minimum of time or resources necessary for effectiveness
Example: "An economic use of home heating oil"


Community:
noun: (ecology) a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other
noun: a group of people living in a particular local area
Example: "The team is drawn from all parts of the community"
noun: a group of people having ethnic or cultural or religious characteristics in common
Example: "The Christian community of the apostolic age"
noun: a group of nations having common interests
Example: "They hoped to join the NATO community"
noun: common ownership
Example: "They shared a community of possessions"
noun: agreement as to goals
Example: "The preachers and the bootleggers found they had a community of interests"
noun: the body of people in a learned occupation
Example: "The news spread rapidly through the medical community"
noun: a district where people live; occupied primarily by private residences

----------------------------

peace,

shyne

Keeping a Keeper

Dedicated to my Covenant Sisters.

I am a defender of my agreements
A steward of my pledges
And a caretaker of my allies…
Even as they ad-vise…
Me.

When I make a promise I keep it.
I focus on it.
I cherish it.
I seek assistance of spiritual sisters and brothers
to support me as I become ‘one’ with it.

They express their devotion for me
By encouraging me
To keep my pacts intact
Because keeping a Keeper is an act - - of love,
In fact…

They keep me - keeping my covenant
With the Creator
And I find my purpose to be much greater
Than I first thought
Because if I live as I ought
I will be keeping my Keepers as they keep me.
I will be keeping my Keepers as they keep-THEIR-covenant
As they were meant
To have their lifetime spent.

The Hebrew word berith, (covenant),

occurs over 280 times in the Old Testament.
And translates in English to mean

"a coming together."

So I contrive to strive to continue my journey
To “come together” with my purpose
To be one with my spiritual understandings
To join in harmony with my convictions
Without carnal contradictions
That makes a purposeless life
Worthless.
And I know all the hard work is
worth this…
Covenant Keeping.


shYne
10/21/08

BEWARE: The Color-Blind !!!

"A Dangerous Race of People!"

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BE AWARE! There are people among us who are a danger to all of us! They are even a danger to themselves and to others of their race. (Webster definition 2 : a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock b: a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics - I will signify this definition with a lower case 'r').

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These dangerous people are "Color-Blind". I know that it seems like I am over dramatizing, but give me a minute to explain.

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First let's understand the meaning of the word as well as its usage and insinuations.
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According to Webster "color-blind" is defined as flollows:
col·or–blind
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Function: adjective
Date: 1853

1: affected with partial or total inability to distinguish one or more chromatic colors

2: insensitive , oblivious

3: not influenced by differences of race ; especially : free from racial prejudice

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The first definition refers to "color-blind" as it relates to a physiological condition. THIS is not dangerous.

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The second definition COULD indicate a dangerous attitude if "insensitivity & oblivious" means that you could care less about how things are said or done and one could be hurtful and offensive. Insensitivity in the wrong environment could even bring about danger to oneself.

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The third definition plainly points out a "train of thought" that no consideration is to be given for Race ( I'll signify the 'Race' that means a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits with a capital 'R'). A person who is 'not influenced by differences of 'Race' has a color-blindness that will accept no accountability for acts committed by themselves or others they associate with that are perceived as unkind and insensitive.

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They just "don't get it".

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A person who is truly color-blind to race may seem to be a Hero of sorts. I mean, "WOW", CeeBee (color-blind... c-b...cee-bee) will see me as just another person. My Race means nothing to her... my Race means... NOTHING... to her.
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Many people will say that it doesn't matter, but it does. When I get to know someone, I know more than just their name. I learn about their family, their habits, their likes & dislikes... what makes them "tick". What makes them happy and what makes them sad or angry. If I really like a person, I stray away from the behaviors that are upsetting to them because I like and respect that new friend or friendly acquaintance. If I am not too keen on incorporating them into my tribe of friends, I won't go out of my way to hurt them, but I won't worry about a lot of self-sacrifice to insure that they are in their comfort zone. So, you can't tell me that you like me, a Black person, the same way you like people of your own Race, if you do not try to get to know what makes ME "tick"... and respect "who I am and ALL that I am".

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Even now, you may say, "But, I know people who are like this... you know, color-blind and they truly don't get the 'Race' thing. They are good people."

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New book challenges conservatives’ call for color-blind society
Whitewashing Race attributes gap to legacy of policies that favor whites, not personal prejudice or blacks’ failures.

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For you to be color-blind would make us an invisible Race of people... we would cease to exist.

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Guess what. I know some people "like that", too - "good people". Now HERE IS THE DANGER of-it-all.

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There are wolves in sheeps clothing among CeeBee and her friends. The wolves PRETEND that they are like CeeBee. They proclaim their innocence of racial upheavel that they've induced. And they only proclaim this when someone catches them and calls them out... puts them on blast. If no one says anything, they will chuckle along with their jokes and cartoons and off-colored statements. Once they are called to the carpet... they proclaim, "I am with CeeBee!" And what can we do after that? We know that CeeBee is really a "good person" -- and doesn't really... "get it".

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Now I am putting CeeBee 'on blast'.

The REAL CeeBee.
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CeeBee, things that happened in the past and happen today are NOT your doing. But you do owe it to me... as an your African-American friend, your teacher, your co-worker, (hell, your daughter-in-law or sister-in-law, half-sister, or aunt) to get to KNOW me. To be responsible ... not for the acts of some possible distant relative, but responsible for your self-awareness of why I am being treated a certain way (because of my Race) -- no matter how close or distant we may be. You ARE being held accountable for laughing at the jokes that you didn't THINK were racial (and didn't think I would find out about) - because if you watch the news or payed attention in history class, you would understand what is really going on in these chain emails that you receive -- and pass on.

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You, Cee-Bee are giving cover to the perpetrators and thieves of YOUR identity. Allowing them to pretend to be you (while they hurt me) should piss you off and make you want to know how to protect your own image and character and not just mine.

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Get to know me. Know what puts the move in my groove. And the nitty in my gritty. Know who I am and where I came from... and how I came to be HERE.

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I once had a supervisor who didn't "get it". I truly believe that he got very little of "it" and, thankfully, refused to participate in any of "it". But I opened his eyes one day because I got him to realize that his not "following it up" didn't change the INTENT of those who would bring about Racial dis-harmony. I had a Chinese co-worker who said, "...you people..." I am aware that our conversation, at the time, could in no way imply any negative racial meaning, and I understood that she was farely new to the United States. But, I was also aware that if she said those words in the wrong place and in a slightly more questionable context, she'd find trouble. She didn't "get it" when I explained it to her, but she was grateful none-the-less because her intention was not to make any Race uncomfortable or angry.

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CeeBee, I mean no harm... as good a person as you are, I don't want you as my supervisor, my President, my Judge, or any position that gives you the authority to rule for or against me. I don't want you to patrol my streets because you won't understand or "get" the danger that could be right in my face. You won't be able to determine that I am truly being harassed, disrespected, and discriminated against for jobs.

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You only bring more harm to me. Be responsible. Pay attention. Be accountable for your self-education. That good friend on your job "that happens to be a Buh-lack person" will undoubtedly be more than happy to answer your questions instead of the questions revealing your awe of "how we get our hair THAT way" when we wear natural styles. We want you to know us and understand us... but you just aren't interested.

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I like who I am. I like who you are. We couldn't be who we are without the influences from each other. An individual Race should not be ignored or "pretended that they don't make a difference", because if who I am no longer 'counts',

than I will no longer BE who I AM.

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AFTERWARD

I don't want to blog directly on political issues.

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And I won't start with this one.

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But it just so happened that this "color-blind" issue has raised it's beastly head again in one of the latest political blunders during the current Presidential campain.

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The Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated Newsletter was sent out this month (October) stating that "if Obama is elected his image will appear on food stamps -- instead of dollar bills like other presidents." The newsletter then sports an illustration of the "Obama Buck", which is an obviously a phony $10 bill with a picture of Obama's face on a donkey's body. He is surrounded by a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken. The denomination is written on the "money" alongside a label reading, "United States Food Stamps."

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200 members and associates of the group received the GOP newsletter by e-mail and regular mail last week. Because of the harsh criticism and the outcry of racism, Diane Fedele, the President of the the group, claims that she will send a letter of apology TO HER MEMBERS, and offer an apology at the next meeting.

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Many of her own group members, as well as elected leaders, and party officials are among the complaints that she hears. It seems that she has not considered the fact that Senator Obama is deserving of an apology nor other African Americans who are offended (whether rightly so or not) by what many perceive as a blatant act of racist disrespect.

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Ms. Fedele seems to be of the "color-blind" race.

Click here to read about the details of the "Obama-Buck-Dianne-Fedele-You're-F***ed!" incident:

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http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_buck16.3d67d4a.html.

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Are people "Color-Blind" or

are they perpetrators of

"Polite Genocide" ?

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Well, here is a kinda-sorta example of the acceptance of "polite genocide"... I just looked up the word "genocide" in http://www.webster.com/. Guess what... the finding came up "no entry"... but the related links came up with "Darfur". The webster site has not eliminated the possibility of there being a valid reference, but they chose not to provide a definition of a word that has a lot of meaning and usage for many of us in today's world. It was polite, but it did nothing to provide service for anyone inquiring the meaning of the word "genocide". Very "Polite" genocide of the reality of Racial conditions in our world and society today.

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And by the way, genocide is "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group. This word has been in use since approximately 1944.

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Let's put our energies toward "Cultual Diversity" and not "Polite Genocide".

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Peace,

shYne