Written: 07/10/08
Revised: 02/12/10
In the madness of these current times, I am amazed at how gullible citizens are to the lies of those who use religion to manipulate and create fear. For instance, a year or so ago Rachael Ray was signed to do an ad for a commercial entity but because she wore a scarf similar to those worn by Muslims, including the extremists, someone became hysterical, made some calls and next thing you know the ad is yanked. What is going on here? The most unfortunate part of this is the role that a certain group of "Christians" play in these scenarios as well as their Jewish counterparts. These two groups of religious piousness assume that they have a monopoly on the Creator and that leads me to explain the reason for the title. Our Creator, who has no favorites, is known by many names yet it seems that one particular group doesn’t have the right to call His Name in their given language and that Name is ALLAH. Christians call Him GOD or JEHOVAH which was derived from the Jewish YAHWEH. Who gives anyone the right to decide who can call on GOD and what name can be used especially when so many in this nation profane His Name? I remember GOD told Abraham that he would be “a father of many nations[1] ”, of which one is the Muslim nation. Christians tend to forget that Abraham’s first son was Ishmael (a Muslim) and although he was not the son of promise, GOD promised Abraham, “Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondswoman because he is your seed[2]”. So, let me clarify this again, Christians say, “GOD is great” and Muslims say, “ALLAHU AKBAR”; it’s exactly the same thing just in different languages. Why is one better than the other? Muslims, unlike Christians, have tenets that they live by. They have the “5 Basic Duties” also known as “The Pillars of Islam”. 1st is the profession of faith; 2nd is the five daily prayers (if we prayed as they do, how much better our lives would be but I digress); 3rd Muslims must give charity to the poor. By giving part of what they own to the poor, Muslims unite the community; 4th fasting and 5th the Pilgrimage (which is no different from Christians traveling to the Holy Land). Just as many Christians, not all Muslims adhere to their profession of faith but does that mean one is better than the other; especially when many conservative "Chrisitians" choose to ignore the plight of the weak and poor?
I am thoroughly disgusted by those who manipulate religion and their views of what is right and wrong when it completely goes against what is read, be it in The Bible, The Koran or The Torah. If one feels another is misguided, one should lead by example but I’m guessing these groups of pious people are forgetting the many sins their groups have committed. The Jews, with the assistance of the Roman government, did crucify JESUS and far too many "Christians" have murdered in the Name of GOD to pursue their own agenda. Muslims extremists make no mistakes on disclosing their thoughts and feelings while this certain group of "Christians" deceive with their words. For those of us who read The Bible, whom do we know as the deceiver? There are Muslims extremists and conservative "Christians" and the only difference between them is what they call the Creator. Both groups want to deny the right of an individual so that they could dictate and control how everyone should live. Terrorism comes in many forms such as the economical and educational inequalities within a nation that is the richest and strongest on this orb. Being classified by one’s race and ethnicity and being denied justice is another form of terrorism.
I will close by stating that there is evil in every form and in every religious arena, and no matter how much certain folks protest against it, it is a war on the Muslim religion. It is a war on what doesn’t fit into conservative "Christian" America's way of being and that is a form of terrorism, no one wants to admit it but it is so. GOD is no respecter of persons and only He alone has the right to judge as He created us all. In the movie “Robin Hood” with Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman plays a Moor. In responding to a child asking why he looked as he did, he stated, “ALLAH likes variety”. Need I say more?
[1] Genesis 17: 5
[2] Genesis 21:13
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Passing of An Icon
Written: 08/26/09
The end of a legacy and an era has come about with the passing of the beloved “Lion of the Senate”, Senator Edward “Teddy” Kennedy. His passing ends a time for citizens, such as myself, who came up hearing about the Kennedy’s; about JFK, Bobby, Jackie and Camelot. I was in 3rd grade when the nation lost JFK.
The legacy of the Kennedy clan was not only in politics but in the manner and the issues which Teddy chose to get involved with and for which he fought. From the start, the Kennedy lads were taught that since they were from a privileged family, they had to give back and give back is exactly what Teddy did with much compassion and gusto. To digress a little, it’s too bad more parents with wealth don’t share the same philosophy with their offsprings, then maybe someone such as Paris Hilton and the many like her, could actually do something for others not so privileged instead of trying to hawk camera time for their vanity. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who died a couple of weeks ago, devoted her time to address the needs and the relevance of citizens with impediments. The three Kennedy sons, Jack, Bobby and Teddy used their political positions to fight for minorities and anyone who had no voice; something that those of the right-wing persuasion should learn since they alleged that they’re religious. With the passing of the “Lion”, the old politics is out the window. The conservatives no longer want to meet halfway, they want the ability to have the entire cake and the passing of the “Lion” comes at a most critical time because health care reform is most definitely needed for the vast majority of citizens, children and adults alike, who are suffering from lack of medical attention. Poor and middle class families are going into bankruptcy and becoming homeless due to medical bills, while doctors and insurance heads are becoming wealthier yet not providing the best of or the necessary medical care. Senator Kennedy fought for issues that addressed the poor more often than some of his learned colleagues on either side of the aisle. Who now will carry that torch? Who now will be bold enough and fearless enough to take on the tasks that were so dear to Teddy’s heart? With a modicum of sarcasm, I note that Teddy fought for the issues that affected poor African-Americans more often than some African-American politicians. He never failed to recognize that equality has still not been achieved even with the election of President Barack Obama. He recognized and knew that Obama was a man after his own heart, thus throwing his support behind then Senator Obama. In actuality Obama could be a long-lost brother of the Kennedy clan as his and Teddy’s vision were so similar, it’s a little eerie.
In closing, I restate that an era is over. Teddy Kennedy wasn’t just a senator but an icon with power who wielded it correctly. As I was raised in Massachusetts, his doggedness reminds me of another former icon who was Speaker of the House during the Reagan administration, Tip O’Neal. Those Irishmen were tenacious to say the least, like pitbulls, you couldn’t shake them from their positions to help the underclass. If these new breed of politicians, from both sides of the aisle but more so the right-wing elements, had half the honor and dignity of Teddy Kennedy, what a difference it would make for our country; but as they’re more concerned with pleasing those with wealth and power and the almighty dollar, one could only dare to dream.
Domestic & Foreign Policies - How They Hurt
Written: 03/30/08
I love the movie “300” not only because the men have 6 or 8 pack stomachs but for the action as well; it’s quite violent and bloody as it is about war. The Spartans, were fighting against a man who thought he was a god-king and wanted to dominate them. The reason I bring this up is to discuss our domestic and foreign policies and how they hurt us.
The second title for the leader of this nation is “Commander-in-Chief” and I wonder if the person holding that position, especially Republicans who love to flex their military muscles, had to lead the military, would they be so quick to start a fight. I find it so ironic that someone like George Bush, who found a way to escape Vietnam, would put this country and Iraq into such a quagmire and the loss of so many, on both sides, albeit more Iraqis have died, still be able to sleep at night. This quagmire has lasted longer than World War II, it’s insane and folks lie to themselves that our military is protecting us. None of the hijackers were from Iraq, most of them were from Saudi Arabia but because the Saudis are “wink, wink” allies, we leave them alone even though they also treat their women just as the Taliban did in Afghanistan but it’s okay because they’re our buddies. Whether we like it or not, we have invaded a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 under the guise of WMD’s and because of that insurgents have entered the scene. The interesting thing is that those insurgents wouldn’t even have thought of entering Iraq if Saddam was still in power. Not only that, at some point, as much as the Shiites and Sunnis hate each other, there’s an enemy they both hate, the U.S. There’s a saying that goes, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. If actions are not taken soon to withdraw, to re-establish a more politically and religiously diverse and definitely more competent government,these two warring factions will join forces to destroy us because, to them, we are the infidels and we must be purged. Kind of what happened to the Native Americans but that’s another story.
Although there may be some Iraqis grateful for the invasion, (we don’t even protect those who’ve helped our military by giving them shelter as they are marked for death for collaborating with us), we have to recognize that there are those who don’t want us there and this takes us to how it hurts us. In watching the national news a few months ago, ABC did a story on some of the families who have fled Iraq to Syria and Lebanon. The majority of these families are headed by husbands/fathers who had professional careers and lived a middle class lifestyle. Now they are no more than beggars and the breadwinners for these families are now the daughters and I don’t mean just the daughters 18 and over, but girls as young as 12, who have to sell themselves in order for their families to eat because many Iraqis are not permitted to obtain jobs, as they are foreigners in these countries. Some are fortunate enough to open a market stand but not all. Consider the sons who see the resignation in their fathers who once had pride and dignity as the man of the house, the breadwinner taking care of their families; consider these same sons as brothers who have to watch helplessly as their sisters become common whores for foreign men and losing not only their virtue but the honor of the family. Explain to me how this would win the hearts and mind of anyone. These boys will become young men who will hate this country for what has happened to their families and even now, some have joined with the insurgents and then they’ll teach their children to hate the U.S. Over 8500 Iraqis have died and they have been violated as a nation; as a people, even with the sectarianism that divided them; they had their homes, their lives. People of this nation react intensely when the flag is defiled. How would we react if a more powerful nation did to us as we did to and in Iraq?
I am bemused that so many citizens seem to think that the hatred of this country has only recently come about and am just as bemused that of the entire world’s nations, the citizens of this nation are most unaware, or don’t care, of the history of actions and policies of this nation. Many will be angered at what I’m about to say but if you do your research you’ll know that I’m not blowing hot air and for many alleged Christians, it is our responsibility to hold to the truths of things, spiritual/religious as well as secular, no matter how painful. Since the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock, the refusal to accept others different from themselves started. The Native Americans helped the Pilgrims and how were they repaid? Wherever the U.S. has gone, especially as missionaries, to clean up everyone else’s act, there has been pain and bloodshed. It was done to the Native Americans first in this nation, then to the African-American race and it continues for both. Do you think that other nations don’t pay attention as to what‘s going on here?
The foreign policies of this country amounts to bullying. If a country or leader doesn’t want to do what we want, we blacklist them and call them derogatory names. A couple of examples, Fidel did what the U.S. couldn’t; he rid Cuba of the dictator Batista, who for years provided safe haven for the Mafia. Our government gave Fidel and Che Guevara the weapons and money to complete the job, once done, we said, “okay Fidel, this is what you’re going to do for us”. Fidel said no, so we called him a Communist when he turned to the Russians and then we slapped Cuba with an economic embargo and I have to say this, that as poor as that country is due to our embargo, everyone has access to medical care and a college education. Manuel Noriega, was a powerful military leader of Panama and an ally for a while. We told Manuel what to do and he did for a while but at some point, things fell apart.
Daddy Bush then had our military invade Panama, surround Noriega’s compound, bombarding with loud music and weapons until Noriega was captured. Now he sits rotting in a U.S. prison somewhere in Florida unless he’s been moved. We supported the Shah of Iran, who was just as evil as Saddam as well as Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines and when things went sour, American tax monies were spent to ferry these despots, families, and cohorts out of their countries. When Reagan was president, we were friends with Iraq and Saddam was up to his devilish ways then as he was when we invaded his country, yet we turned a blind eye. Why? He served a purpose. We hated Iran, Iraq hated Iran, and so we figured he’d help us topple that country; we gave him weapons and money. Hey, he was our boy until he decided he didn’t want to be our puppet anymore. He was naughty so we did Desert Storm and we even got some insurgents who wanted to throw a coup but we didn’t back them and you can figure their final ending once Saddam found out. Then there’s Osama Bin Laden. Does anyone even know why he hates us so? During the 1980’s, the Russians were in Afghanistan, trying to take over, (did anyone see Rambo 3 or was it 4, or the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War” which depicts the event?) Osama and the Mujjadin were going to liberate the country and since we hated Russia, we armed Osama and his boys with weapons, we even gave them money. Our fatal mistake was disrespect for someone else’s culture and tradition. During Desert Storm, our military was on land considered sacred to the Muslim religion which offended many and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, however, that’s not the only thing that feeds the hatred of Bin Laden and others; our foreign and domestic policies are economically, racially or religiously motivated. Why didn’t we go to South Africa during the apartheid, the Sudan, or even Darfur? Because these are Black people annihilating each other even though in Darfur, it’s racial cleansing but we went into Bosnia because of racial cleansing. We choose where we go and now it’s usually when it benefits those in power, (Dick Cheney, Haliburton, etc.). Russia and the U.S. are the two bullies on the world’s playground; you have to side with either one or the other. Again, do you think others aren’t watching?
I do realize that there’s no perfect country, however, we proclaim that we are the nation built on “Christian” values, yet we don’t live it and we don’t want to be reminded of our sins. An example is during the uprising of the Iranian people after we got the Shah out of there. Iranian students took over the American Embassy with hostages and we were incensed but what really burned this nation was the pictures of Black men dangling like rag dolls from tree limbs that these students hung up in their square. Boy, did we react, denouncing those pictures with more fury than there was in denouncing apartheid in South Africa because of the shame; we were being shown who we really are. My son watched a program on PBS and this program highlighted the fact that many Black families in towns in the South, owned properties which Caucasians wanted. First, a certain legal loophole was established that if, you didn’t sign certain papers and then deserted said property, it could be taken over by someone else. Black families were threatened with physical harm and out of fear, they left the towns and then the property was taken over by the Caucasian families that wanted it. These things are still happening in this country. In parts of the deep South, there are citizens, albeit mostly Blacks, living in conditions similar to Third World countries. What kind of domestic policy is racism? What kind of domestic policy is economic injustice? It’s quite interesting that at the time we remember the 40th anniversary of the slaying of Dr. King and what he fought for, George Bush is out in Eastern Europe fighting for the political rights of entities such as Croatia who are trying to break away from the grips of Russia yet this very Christian president refuses to address racial and poverty issues in this nation and makes life better for the rich in the tax breaks he’s created for them.
The Bible says, "GOD shall not be mocked, whatsoever a man sows, that will he reap,(Galatians 6:7)”. What has this country sown? Hate, racism, exclusion to list a few. As Christians, we have a responsibility to decry the injustice, the inequality, and the racism in our nation. People vote for morals values and patriotism and for the life of me, I don’t remember seeing any of those words nor do I remember reading about this country or the flag in the Bible. CHRIST, for Whom CHRISTianity is named, died for people, those who suffered spiritually and by society’s ways. He broke all the molds and He informed the conservatives of His day to show mercy, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,(Matthew 12:7/Hosea 6:6)”. We have no excuses. Both the domestic and foreign policies of this nation are creating a very divided, unfair and unjust world that we blame others for. We don’t have the right to be dictating to anyone else about justice, equality and democracy. CHRIST said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use; it will be measured back to you,(Matthew 7:1 & 2)". We have a responsibility. In FATHER’s eyes, this country is no better or worser than any other. “And He has created from one blood, every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth,(Acts 17: 26)“; so where do we get off thinking we’re superior? Patriotism, values and all those nice sounding words won’t get us into heaven. We can no longer be blind to the truth, no matter how ugly it is. Our domestic and foreign policies do us more harm than good. In the words of Dr. Phil, “How’s it working for us?”
I love the movie “300” not only because the men have 6 or 8 pack stomachs but for the action as well; it’s quite violent and bloody as it is about war. The Spartans, were fighting against a man who thought he was a god-king and wanted to dominate them. The reason I bring this up is to discuss our domestic and foreign policies and how they hurt us.
The second title for the leader of this nation is “Commander-in-Chief” and I wonder if the person holding that position, especially Republicans who love to flex their military muscles, had to lead the military, would they be so quick to start a fight. I find it so ironic that someone like George Bush, who found a way to escape Vietnam, would put this country and Iraq into such a quagmire and the loss of so many, on both sides, albeit more Iraqis have died, still be able to sleep at night. This quagmire has lasted longer than World War II, it’s insane and folks lie to themselves that our military is protecting us. None of the hijackers were from Iraq, most of them were from Saudi Arabia but because the Saudis are “wink, wink” allies, we leave them alone even though they also treat their women just as the Taliban did in Afghanistan but it’s okay because they’re our buddies. Whether we like it or not, we have invaded a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 under the guise of WMD’s and because of that insurgents have entered the scene. The interesting thing is that those insurgents wouldn’t even have thought of entering Iraq if Saddam was still in power. Not only that, at some point, as much as the Shiites and Sunnis hate each other, there’s an enemy they both hate, the U.S. There’s a saying that goes, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. If actions are not taken soon to withdraw, to re-establish a more politically and religiously diverse and definitely more competent government,these two warring factions will join forces to destroy us because, to them, we are the infidels and we must be purged. Kind of what happened to the Native Americans but that’s another story.
Although there may be some Iraqis grateful for the invasion, (we don’t even protect those who’ve helped our military by giving them shelter as they are marked for death for collaborating with us), we have to recognize that there are those who don’t want us there and this takes us to how it hurts us. In watching the national news a few months ago, ABC did a story on some of the families who have fled Iraq to Syria and Lebanon. The majority of these families are headed by husbands/fathers who had professional careers and lived a middle class lifestyle. Now they are no more than beggars and the breadwinners for these families are now the daughters and I don’t mean just the daughters 18 and over, but girls as young as 12, who have to sell themselves in order for their families to eat because many Iraqis are not permitted to obtain jobs, as they are foreigners in these countries. Some are fortunate enough to open a market stand but not all. Consider the sons who see the resignation in their fathers who once had pride and dignity as the man of the house, the breadwinner taking care of their families; consider these same sons as brothers who have to watch helplessly as their sisters become common whores for foreign men and losing not only their virtue but the honor of the family. Explain to me how this would win the hearts and mind of anyone. These boys will become young men who will hate this country for what has happened to their families and even now, some have joined with the insurgents and then they’ll teach their children to hate the U.S. Over 8500 Iraqis have died and they have been violated as a nation; as a people, even with the sectarianism that divided them; they had their homes, their lives. People of this nation react intensely when the flag is defiled. How would we react if a more powerful nation did to us as we did to and in Iraq?
I am bemused that so many citizens seem to think that the hatred of this country has only recently come about and am just as bemused that of the entire world’s nations, the citizens of this nation are most unaware, or don’t care, of the history of actions and policies of this nation. Many will be angered at what I’m about to say but if you do your research you’ll know that I’m not blowing hot air and for many alleged Christians, it is our responsibility to hold to the truths of things, spiritual/religious as well as secular, no matter how painful. Since the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock, the refusal to accept others different from themselves started. The Native Americans helped the Pilgrims and how were they repaid? Wherever the U.S. has gone, especially as missionaries, to clean up everyone else’s act, there has been pain and bloodshed. It was done to the Native Americans first in this nation, then to the African-American race and it continues for both. Do you think that other nations don’t pay attention as to what‘s going on here?
The foreign policies of this country amounts to bullying. If a country or leader doesn’t want to do what we want, we blacklist them and call them derogatory names. A couple of examples, Fidel did what the U.S. couldn’t; he rid Cuba of the dictator Batista, who for years provided safe haven for the Mafia. Our government gave Fidel and Che Guevara the weapons and money to complete the job, once done, we said, “okay Fidel, this is what you’re going to do for us”. Fidel said no, so we called him a Communist when he turned to the Russians and then we slapped Cuba with an economic embargo and I have to say this, that as poor as that country is due to our embargo, everyone has access to medical care and a college education. Manuel Noriega, was a powerful military leader of Panama and an ally for a while. We told Manuel what to do and he did for a while but at some point, things fell apart.
Daddy Bush then had our military invade Panama, surround Noriega’s compound, bombarding with loud music and weapons until Noriega was captured. Now he sits rotting in a U.S. prison somewhere in Florida unless he’s been moved. We supported the Shah of Iran, who was just as evil as Saddam as well as Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines and when things went sour, American tax monies were spent to ferry these despots, families, and cohorts out of their countries. When Reagan was president, we were friends with Iraq and Saddam was up to his devilish ways then as he was when we invaded his country, yet we turned a blind eye. Why? He served a purpose. We hated Iran, Iraq hated Iran, and so we figured he’d help us topple that country; we gave him weapons and money. Hey, he was our boy until he decided he didn’t want to be our puppet anymore. He was naughty so we did Desert Storm and we even got some insurgents who wanted to throw a coup but we didn’t back them and you can figure their final ending once Saddam found out. Then there’s Osama Bin Laden. Does anyone even know why he hates us so? During the 1980’s, the Russians were in Afghanistan, trying to take over, (did anyone see Rambo 3 or was it 4, or the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War” which depicts the event?) Osama and the Mujjadin were going to liberate the country and since we hated Russia, we armed Osama and his boys with weapons, we even gave them money. Our fatal mistake was disrespect for someone else’s culture and tradition. During Desert Storm, our military was on land considered sacred to the Muslim religion which offended many and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, however, that’s not the only thing that feeds the hatred of Bin Laden and others; our foreign and domestic policies are economically, racially or religiously motivated. Why didn’t we go to South Africa during the apartheid, the Sudan, or even Darfur? Because these are Black people annihilating each other even though in Darfur, it’s racial cleansing but we went into Bosnia because of racial cleansing. We choose where we go and now it’s usually when it benefits those in power, (Dick Cheney, Haliburton, etc.). Russia and the U.S. are the two bullies on the world’s playground; you have to side with either one or the other. Again, do you think others aren’t watching?
I do realize that there’s no perfect country, however, we proclaim that we are the nation built on “Christian” values, yet we don’t live it and we don’t want to be reminded of our sins. An example is during the uprising of the Iranian people after we got the Shah out of there. Iranian students took over the American Embassy with hostages and we were incensed but what really burned this nation was the pictures of Black men dangling like rag dolls from tree limbs that these students hung up in their square. Boy, did we react, denouncing those pictures with more fury than there was in denouncing apartheid in South Africa because of the shame; we were being shown who we really are. My son watched a program on PBS and this program highlighted the fact that many Black families in towns in the South, owned properties which Caucasians wanted. First, a certain legal loophole was established that if, you didn’t sign certain papers and then deserted said property, it could be taken over by someone else. Black families were threatened with physical harm and out of fear, they left the towns and then the property was taken over by the Caucasian families that wanted it. These things are still happening in this country. In parts of the deep South, there are citizens, albeit mostly Blacks, living in conditions similar to Third World countries. What kind of domestic policy is racism? What kind of domestic policy is economic injustice? It’s quite interesting that at the time we remember the 40th anniversary of the slaying of Dr. King and what he fought for, George Bush is out in Eastern Europe fighting for the political rights of entities such as Croatia who are trying to break away from the grips of Russia yet this very Christian president refuses to address racial and poverty issues in this nation and makes life better for the rich in the tax breaks he’s created for them.
The Bible says, "GOD shall not be mocked, whatsoever a man sows, that will he reap,(Galatians 6:7)”. What has this country sown? Hate, racism, exclusion to list a few. As Christians, we have a responsibility to decry the injustice, the inequality, and the racism in our nation. People vote for morals values and patriotism and for the life of me, I don’t remember seeing any of those words nor do I remember reading about this country or the flag in the Bible. CHRIST, for Whom CHRISTianity is named, died for people, those who suffered spiritually and by society’s ways. He broke all the molds and He informed the conservatives of His day to show mercy, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,(Matthew 12:7/Hosea 6:6)”. We have no excuses. Both the domestic and foreign policies of this nation are creating a very divided, unfair and unjust world that we blame others for. We don’t have the right to be dictating to anyone else about justice, equality and democracy. CHRIST said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use; it will be measured back to you,(Matthew 7:1 & 2)". We have a responsibility. In FATHER’s eyes, this country is no better or worser than any other. “And He has created from one blood, every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth,(Acts 17: 26)“; so where do we get off thinking we’re superior? Patriotism, values and all those nice sounding words won’t get us into heaven. We can no longer be blind to the truth, no matter how ugly it is. Our domestic and foreign policies do us more harm than good. In the words of Dr. Phil, “How’s it working for us?”
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Trojan Horse
Written: 2/16/09
At the end of Black History Month this year, I marvel at the fact that the more things seem to change, they actually stay the same. Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor for Maryland has been given the honor of being the Chairman for the GOP. I’m sorry but when I hear GOP (Grand Ole Party), I hear racism. I know that’s a bit harsh but come on folks, no one can be so optimistic to think the GOP has changed its color; it has not. The only reason he was given this position is that he is the only African-American Republican well-known in this area.
Mr. Steele and all his Black Republican cronies may be rejoicing but again, there is a purpose in this madness and that is because President Obama is a Democrat and a Black man; they’re trying to keep up with the Jones’. The selection is disingenuous and for Michael Steele, Black Republicans and anyone else to think otherwise, the headiness of this faux power has scrambled brains. The GOP hasn’t changed its stripes or its ways, they didn’t want a Caucasian man going after President Obama because it could be perceived as being racist, so they get a “house Negro” to do their job for them. Can I remind folks of the sea of Caucasian faces that were occasionally dotted with a face of color during the ’08 Republican convention? What the GOP fails to realize is that citizens, across the board, of their own free will, elected President Obama not because of his ethnicity but because of his character and that has never been one of the Republicans’ forte. They are, to say the least, the most divisive, egotistical and self-serving group of people. Not to say that the Democrats do not engage in similar activities but the GOP has them beat on nastiness even though the GOP like to represent themselves as the group with “Christian/family values and patriotism”. Where are the Christian values in their behavior?
My mother used to say, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink”. Many African-American citizens are not fooled by this move. One doesn’t need a college education to think and this race has been through enough to know when they’re being played. What has the GOP done for the Black race recently, if at all? They don’t fight for urban communities and its inhabitants; don’t fight for single moms and their kids. They’re the same group who has fought against DC having representation. Hey, they’ve even fought against women having financial equality in the workplace. Yes, if you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.
At the end of Black History Month this year, I marvel at the fact that the more things seem to change, they actually stay the same. Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor for Maryland has been given the honor of being the Chairman for the GOP. I’m sorry but when I hear GOP (Grand Ole Party), I hear racism. I know that’s a bit harsh but come on folks, no one can be so optimistic to think the GOP has changed its color; it has not. The only reason he was given this position is that he is the only African-American Republican well-known in this area.
Mr. Steele and all his Black Republican cronies may be rejoicing but again, there is a purpose in this madness and that is because President Obama is a Democrat and a Black man; they’re trying to keep up with the Jones’. The selection is disingenuous and for Michael Steele, Black Republicans and anyone else to think otherwise, the headiness of this faux power has scrambled brains. The GOP hasn’t changed its stripes or its ways, they didn’t want a Caucasian man going after President Obama because it could be perceived as being racist, so they get a “house Negro” to do their job for them. Can I remind folks of the sea of Caucasian faces that were occasionally dotted with a face of color during the ’08 Republican convention? What the GOP fails to realize is that citizens, across the board, of their own free will, elected President Obama not because of his ethnicity but because of his character and that has never been one of the Republicans’ forte. They are, to say the least, the most divisive, egotistical and self-serving group of people. Not to say that the Democrats do not engage in similar activities but the GOP has them beat on nastiness even though the GOP like to represent themselves as the group with “Christian/family values and patriotism”. Where are the Christian values in their behavior?
My mother used to say, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink”. Many African-American citizens are not fooled by this move. One doesn’t need a college education to think and this race has been through enough to know when they’re being played. What has the GOP done for the Black race recently, if at all? They don’t fight for urban communities and its inhabitants; don’t fight for single moms and their kids. They’re the same group who has fought against DC having representation. Hey, they’ve even fought against women having financial equality in the workplace. Yes, if you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.
Foundations
In order for a nation, any nation, to be more cohesive the citizens’ must know the truth, all of it, in order to move ahead. Yes, there are different nationalities and ethnicities but at the end of the day, the question should be was I fair today? A fork, spoon and knife don’t look the same but they all serve the same purpose and fall under the title of cutlery. We look different and bring different experiences to the table but we all fall under the title of “human being”, what else should there be but the truth?
Being educated in this country means that we are schooled, from kindergarten to high school, of the history of this nation but it is, for all intent and purposes, lies. Why do I say they are lies? Because history favoring only one race or group while neglecting the others,is a lie. Look at the body, if one part is missing, one doesn’t see them as being whole, does one? Well, the same applies to history. There shouldn’t be an “ethnic” history month because every ethnicity had a hand in creating this nation but even more so, the ancestors of African-American citizens. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not siding with one or the other, fair is fair, equal is equal. The Underground Railroad couldn’t have been successful without the aid and abet of Caucasian citizens as Negroes were not homeowners. Many Caucasians have died supporting the cause of the Negroes, of which the most infamous was John Brown on Harper’s Ferry. Can the denial of the truth of African-Americans be as W.E.B. Du Bois stated in 1910? He stated, “How the facts of American history have in the last century been falsified because the nation was ashamed. The South was ashamed because it had fought to perpetuate human slavery. The North was ashamed because it had to call in the Black man to save the nation, abolish slavery, and establish democracy”. It is interesting that even now in the 21st century, we’re still hearing about the first “African-American” this or that. The words of Thurgood Marshall, when he argued Brown v. Board of Education in 1953 was, “Why, of all the multitudinous groups of people in this country, do you have to single out the Negroes and give them separate treatment? It can’t be because of slavery in the past, because there are very few groups in this country that haven’t had slavery some place back in the history of their group. It can’t be color, because there are Negroes as white as drifted snow, with blue eyes and they are just as segregated as the colored man. The only thing it can be is an inherent determination that the people who were formerly in slavery, regardless of anything else, shall be kept as near that state as possible”.
I'd like to share with you the ingenuity of the contributions of African-Americans that we all take for granted. The classics of “The Three Musketeers” and “The Count of Monte Cristo” were written by Alexandre Dumas, a Black Frenchman. Whenever you turn on the light, know that Lewis Latimer worked with Thomas Edison and he invented the first carbon filament. The term “the real McCoy” was termed for Elijah McCoy who invented automatic lubrication systems essential for the operation of steam-powered engines. For you drivers, as I don’t have a vehicle, when you come to a traffic light, know that it was invented by Garrett Morgan and Frederick McKinley Jones invented the air conditioner for vehicles. Benjamin Banneker constructed the first clock made entirely in America. Before Avon and Mary Kay, there was Madame C. J. Walker, who became the first female millionaire in the beauty industry. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the world’s first successful open heart surgery. Dr. Charles Drew was the first person to set up a blood bank. It was he who discovered that blood plasma could supplant whole blood in transfusions.
In every area of our lives, many of the inventions we utilize today were invented by African-Americans but that’s not acknowledged. Many of the “first” families’ children were cared for by African slaves who weren’t allowed to give their children the same amount of care. When the foundation is faulty, whatever is built upon it, is sure to crumble.
Being educated in this country means that we are schooled, from kindergarten to high school, of the history of this nation but it is, for all intent and purposes, lies. Why do I say they are lies? Because history favoring only one race or group while neglecting the others,is a lie. Look at the body, if one part is missing, one doesn’t see them as being whole, does one? Well, the same applies to history. There shouldn’t be an “ethnic” history month because every ethnicity had a hand in creating this nation but even more so, the ancestors of African-American citizens. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not siding with one or the other, fair is fair, equal is equal. The Underground Railroad couldn’t have been successful without the aid and abet of Caucasian citizens as Negroes were not homeowners. Many Caucasians have died supporting the cause of the Negroes, of which the most infamous was John Brown on Harper’s Ferry. Can the denial of the truth of African-Americans be as W.E.B. Du Bois stated in 1910? He stated, “How the facts of American history have in the last century been falsified because the nation was ashamed. The South was ashamed because it had fought to perpetuate human slavery. The North was ashamed because it had to call in the Black man to save the nation, abolish slavery, and establish democracy”. It is interesting that even now in the 21st century, we’re still hearing about the first “African-American” this or that. The words of Thurgood Marshall, when he argued Brown v. Board of Education in 1953 was, “Why, of all the multitudinous groups of people in this country, do you have to single out the Negroes and give them separate treatment? It can’t be because of slavery in the past, because there are very few groups in this country that haven’t had slavery some place back in the history of their group. It can’t be color, because there are Negroes as white as drifted snow, with blue eyes and they are just as segregated as the colored man. The only thing it can be is an inherent determination that the people who were formerly in slavery, regardless of anything else, shall be kept as near that state as possible”.
I'd like to share with you the ingenuity of the contributions of African-Americans that we all take for granted. The classics of “The Three Musketeers” and “The Count of Monte Cristo” were written by Alexandre Dumas, a Black Frenchman. Whenever you turn on the light, know that Lewis Latimer worked with Thomas Edison and he invented the first carbon filament. The term “the real McCoy” was termed for Elijah McCoy who invented automatic lubrication systems essential for the operation of steam-powered engines. For you drivers, as I don’t have a vehicle, when you come to a traffic light, know that it was invented by Garrett Morgan and Frederick McKinley Jones invented the air conditioner for vehicles. Benjamin Banneker constructed the first clock made entirely in America. Before Avon and Mary Kay, there was Madame C. J. Walker, who became the first female millionaire in the beauty industry. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the world’s first successful open heart surgery. Dr. Charles Drew was the first person to set up a blood bank. It was he who discovered that blood plasma could supplant whole blood in transfusions.
In every area of our lives, many of the inventions we utilize today were invented by African-Americans but that’s not acknowledged. Many of the “first” families’ children were cared for by African slaves who weren’t allowed to give their children the same amount of care. When the foundation is faulty, whatever is built upon it, is sure to crumble.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Guess Who?
Written: 05/11/09
Although this article was written last year, the subject matter hasn’t changed one iota. I read an article in the Mother’s Day edition of the Washington Post regarding the Taliban and the havoc they’re trying to wreak in Pakistan. Then I heard snippets of Dick Cheney’s Q & A on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and you know what? His first name adequately describes him but not to digress, I do that so often. I have stated before and I will continue to reiterate the similarities between Muslim extremists and the "Christian"conservative right. Folks, it’s downright scary that these two groups want complete domination of not only their respective countries but also any other country they can get their greedy little claws into, not caring about who they hurt. It’s all about the power of control for them, not religion; religion is the umbrella that they use trying to persuade folks of their zeal. If you don’t believe me, let me count the ways:
1st: Both groups believe men and only men should have the power.
2nd: Both groups believe women have a “certain” place and should obey them.
3rd: Both groups, not being redundant here but it can’t be stressed enough, denies a woman the right to do with her body as she chooses.
4th: Both have a tendency of falling back on “religion” to make their point, although it is ALWAYS misguided.
5th: They both believe their way is the one and only way.
6th: All outside their realm of thinking are either infidels or socialist liberals.
7th: Both groups have no problem with starting a war, if need be, to flex their ideological muscles.
8th: Neither group has a problem with pointing fingers or throwing stones at their respective enemies.
9th: Both groups know how to weave a lie into their respective “religion” to garner more followers.
10th: Both groups know how to use fear to gain any form of control.
You may not agree with my observations but the reality is that the similarities cannot be denied. The only differences between them are the languages and their way of dressing. Any group of people who are quick to deny “free will” to anyone for any reason, is a group one must be cautious of following and a group that any government should keep an eye on. No form of democracy or religion should ever be used as a cloak for any groups of people to get their way. In this country, the government was established because the King of England was trying to force the citizens to do exactly what the conservatives are trying to re-create. Do we not have brains and common sense for ourselves? Are we really going to allow our “free will” to be denied because of fear? Christians know that “GOD has not given us the spirit of fear1" and so, knowing that, how can one say the conservatives really have a leg to stand on?
[1]2 Timothy 1:7
Although this article was written last year, the subject matter hasn’t changed one iota. I read an article in the Mother’s Day edition of the Washington Post regarding the Taliban and the havoc they’re trying to wreak in Pakistan. Then I heard snippets of Dick Cheney’s Q & A on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and you know what? His first name adequately describes him but not to digress, I do that so often. I have stated before and I will continue to reiterate the similarities between Muslim extremists and the "Christian"conservative right. Folks, it’s downright scary that these two groups want complete domination of not only their respective countries but also any other country they can get their greedy little claws into, not caring about who they hurt. It’s all about the power of control for them, not religion; religion is the umbrella that they use trying to persuade folks of their zeal. If you don’t believe me, let me count the ways:
1st: Both groups believe men and only men should have the power.
2nd: Both groups believe women have a “certain” place and should obey them.
3rd: Both groups, not being redundant here but it can’t be stressed enough, denies a woman the right to do with her body as she chooses.
4th: Both have a tendency of falling back on “religion” to make their point, although it is ALWAYS misguided.
5th: They both believe their way is the one and only way.
6th: All outside their realm of thinking are either infidels or socialist liberals.
7th: Both groups have no problem with starting a war, if need be, to flex their ideological muscles.
8th: Neither group has a problem with pointing fingers or throwing stones at their respective enemies.
9th: Both groups know how to weave a lie into their respective “religion” to garner more followers.
10th: Both groups know how to use fear to gain any form of control.
You may not agree with my observations but the reality is that the similarities cannot be denied. The only differences between them are the languages and their way of dressing. Any group of people who are quick to deny “free will” to anyone for any reason, is a group one must be cautious of following and a group that any government should keep an eye on. No form of democracy or religion should ever be used as a cloak for any groups of people to get their way. In this country, the government was established because the King of England was trying to force the citizens to do exactly what the conservatives are trying to re-create. Do we not have brains and common sense for ourselves? Are we really going to allow our “free will” to be denied because of fear? Christians know that “GOD has not given us the spirit of fear1" and so, knowing that, how can one say the conservatives really have a leg to stand on?
[1]2 Timothy 1:7
Monday, February 8, 2010
Obnoxious Citizens
Written: 4/17/09
Ah, yes, April 15th, 2009, another day for the IRS, another day for procrastinators to scramble. What floored me though was watching both local and national news about the “tea party” being thrown by citizens who are tired of the bailouts of the banks and big companies and paying taxes. I found those protestors to be annoying.
It is most interesting that these protestors seem to be mostly middle-class and I have to agree that the idea that the GOP is behind it. Might I point out that these same protestors weren’t having a fit when Bush was wasting money on an ill-fated war or when Cheney and his cronies in Haliburton was ripping off their monies. The real purpose wasn’t about the bail-outs though, it’s because they’re afraid that President Obama is going to try and help the poor off the backs of those living within a certain income bracket and that to me, is obnoxious. These protestors and many like them across this nation have not been wise with their money. They’ve been living high off the hog, if you will and now that times are tight, they have to blame someone. It is quite interesting that those who should be protesting are the poor. They live a daily life of struggle, knowing that because of their socio-economics, their voices are not heard nor their lives and needs considered.
I’m quite sure we would find that at least 95% of the protestors consider themselves Christians but the Bible tells us that we should be content with what we have; JESUS even told us to “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s ” regarding taxes. It is obnoxious to me that there are those televangelists preaching about financial prosperity when the Bible tells us not to focus on those things yet many of the poor will send monies in hoping and praying that maybe GOD will open the windows of heaven and make them rich. Having wealth is not a sin, mind you, but the Bible clearly states, “the love of money is the root of all evil ” and when you consider that people break laws and sometimes take lives to have it, is it not? Again, being prosperous is not a sin in itself but we will be held accountable to how we used the wealth. It’s one thing for secular entertainers to have more than one home, I personally think it’s disgusting and obnoxious, but when those who are preaching the Word of GOD live the same way, it’s troublesome. Why? Because one cannot live in two or three homes at one time and aren’t they supposed to lead by example? Again, these people are getting monies from the poor yet I don’t hear anyone of them preaching about being our brothers’ keeper. I don’t hear them preaching about helping those in need and I clearly remember CHRIST saying He would ask, “when I was hungry, did you feed me; when I was homeless, did you house me; when I was naked, did you clothe me? ” We have families across the nation where parents are not eating so that their children can eat. We have many families across the nation existing on hardly anything yet they work hard. The nation didn’t care about addressing this issue until the middle class started experiencing what the poor have always experienced.
We are an obnoxious nation because we want what we want when we want it. There are pets that live better than the poor, obnoxious. Greed demands that we protest for more pay, obnoxious. Greed demands that we have the best, obnoxious. Greed is why we have the poor whom we neglect, obnoxious. Greed demands that professional athletes and entertainers get exuberant pay while teachers barely make the cut, that’s beyond obnoxious. Greed demands that children are getting everything and anything their parents’ can afford thus creating a “me” society, that’s obnoxious. Until this nation’s citizens eat humble pie, they will be obnoxious.
Ah, yes, April 15th, 2009, another day for the IRS, another day for procrastinators to scramble. What floored me though was watching both local and national news about the “tea party” being thrown by citizens who are tired of the bailouts of the banks and big companies and paying taxes. I found those protestors to be annoying.
It is most interesting that these protestors seem to be mostly middle-class and I have to agree that the idea that the GOP is behind it. Might I point out that these same protestors weren’t having a fit when Bush was wasting money on an ill-fated war or when Cheney and his cronies in Haliburton was ripping off their monies. The real purpose wasn’t about the bail-outs though, it’s because they’re afraid that President Obama is going to try and help the poor off the backs of those living within a certain income bracket and that to me, is obnoxious. These protestors and many like them across this nation have not been wise with their money. They’ve been living high off the hog, if you will and now that times are tight, they have to blame someone. It is quite interesting that those who should be protesting are the poor. They live a daily life of struggle, knowing that because of their socio-economics, their voices are not heard nor their lives and needs considered.
I’m quite sure we would find that at least 95% of the protestors consider themselves Christians but the Bible tells us that we should be content with what we have; JESUS even told us to “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s ” regarding taxes. It is obnoxious to me that there are those televangelists preaching about financial prosperity when the Bible tells us not to focus on those things yet many of the poor will send monies in hoping and praying that maybe GOD will open the windows of heaven and make them rich. Having wealth is not a sin, mind you, but the Bible clearly states, “the love of money is the root of all evil ” and when you consider that people break laws and sometimes take lives to have it, is it not? Again, being prosperous is not a sin in itself but we will be held accountable to how we used the wealth. It’s one thing for secular entertainers to have more than one home, I personally think it’s disgusting and obnoxious, but when those who are preaching the Word of GOD live the same way, it’s troublesome. Why? Because one cannot live in two or three homes at one time and aren’t they supposed to lead by example? Again, these people are getting monies from the poor yet I don’t hear anyone of them preaching about being our brothers’ keeper. I don’t hear them preaching about helping those in need and I clearly remember CHRIST saying He would ask, “when I was hungry, did you feed me; when I was homeless, did you house me; when I was naked, did you clothe me? ” We have families across the nation where parents are not eating so that their children can eat. We have many families across the nation existing on hardly anything yet they work hard. The nation didn’t care about addressing this issue until the middle class started experiencing what the poor have always experienced.
We are an obnoxious nation because we want what we want when we want it. There are pets that live better than the poor, obnoxious. Greed demands that we protest for more pay, obnoxious. Greed demands that we have the best, obnoxious. Greed is why we have the poor whom we neglect, obnoxious. Greed demands that professional athletes and entertainers get exuberant pay while teachers barely make the cut, that’s beyond obnoxious. Greed demands that children are getting everything and anything their parents’ can afford thus creating a “me” society, that’s obnoxious. Until this nation’s citizens eat humble pie, they will be obnoxious.
Pt. 1:An Open Letter to Those Who Oppose Healthcare Reform
“Whatever you do to the least of these my brothers, you do also to Me”, is a quote from Jesus Christ, the foundation of Christianity of whom many claim to be a part of, politicians and laymen alike. What preceded this statement were a few questions of which one was, “when I was sick, did you come to care for Me?”
It is the responsibility of government and why it was created, to be the power for the powerless, to be a voice for the voiceless, to fight the good fight for what is right and just in the eyes of our Creator. The currency states, “In GOD we trust” yet we deny what He has told us to do and that is to take care of the poor, the fatherless and the widows. In the four (4) Gospels, we read of people having health issues going to Christ for healing, did He turn them away? No, He had compassion, which we should have but those of you who oppose this reform, have no compassion because you have lost sight of what is most important. The golden rule states “do unto others as you would want others to do unto you” yet as much as you preach about moral and family values, you are denying the poor and disenfranchised citizens, of which many are children. Where are your morals, your family values? Oh, I forgot, it only applies when it’s useful to your cause.
What is it that you fear that you can’t look beyond your agenda? Is it because of who the president is? Is it because the majority of citizens this bill would help are minorities? And if you want to throw in that there are minorities who side with you, they are just as self-serving as you are and trust me when I say they do not represent the common folk.
There’s a quote from Machiavelli which states, “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things, because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions and lukewarm defender in those who may dwell under the new”.
In closing, I will say that nothing about your actions or lack of, relates to a religion you are quick to fall upon whenever you want to garner votes. You use terms like “liberal” and “socialism” concerning the reform but let me remind you that these terms can also be applied to Christ. Liberal means to freely give, which He did, turning none away; socialism means, for all intent and purposes, to share the wealth, to distribute to a community rather than to private entities. You need to go back to that “Good Book” to remind you that your stance has nothing to do with moral or family values. WWJD?
11/20/09
It is the responsibility of government and why it was created, to be the power for the powerless, to be a voice for the voiceless, to fight the good fight for what is right and just in the eyes of our Creator. The currency states, “In GOD we trust” yet we deny what He has told us to do and that is to take care of the poor, the fatherless and the widows. In the four (4) Gospels, we read of people having health issues going to Christ for healing, did He turn them away? No, He had compassion, which we should have but those of you who oppose this reform, have no compassion because you have lost sight of what is most important. The golden rule states “do unto others as you would want others to do unto you” yet as much as you preach about moral and family values, you are denying the poor and disenfranchised citizens, of which many are children. Where are your morals, your family values? Oh, I forgot, it only applies when it’s useful to your cause.
What is it that you fear that you can’t look beyond your agenda? Is it because of who the president is? Is it because the majority of citizens this bill would help are minorities? And if you want to throw in that there are minorities who side with you, they are just as self-serving as you are and trust me when I say they do not represent the common folk.
There’s a quote from Machiavelli which states, “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things, because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions and lukewarm defender in those who may dwell under the new”.
In closing, I will say that nothing about your actions or lack of, relates to a religion you are quick to fall upon whenever you want to garner votes. You use terms like “liberal” and “socialism” concerning the reform but let me remind you that these terms can also be applied to Christ. Liberal means to freely give, which He did, turning none away; socialism means, for all intent and purposes, to share the wealth, to distribute to a community rather than to private entities. You need to go back to that “Good Book” to remind you that your stance has nothing to do with moral or family values. WWJD?
11/20/09
An Open Letter to Republican Senators
Dear G.O.P. Senators,
I write this letter with heaviness in my heart due to the loss of the “Lion of the Senate” Teddy Kennedy but as a Born-again Christian, both my heart and spirit are heavy from your lack of not stepping up to the plate and supporting “Healthcare Reform”.
Your party touts of its “values” and religion yet ignoring those you are to fight for, “the least of these”. Senator Kennedy didn’t tout his beliefs as you all do; he lived it. He lived fighting for what is right for “the least of these”. He lived a life true to the teachings of Jesus Christ in his love and compassion for “the least of these”. Jesus spoke plainly, when He stated, “whatever you do to the least of these My brothers, you do also to Me[1]”. Have you not read the four (4) Gospels? For whom did Jesus have compassion for, the religiously educated Pharisees and Sadducees or the least of the citizenry? What you stand for very much reminds me of the prophesy of Isaiah, “these people draw near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men[2]”. Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee (GOP and followers) and the tax collector (liberals) because of some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. The Pharisee lauded himself because he did the “right things” while the tax collector acknowledged that he was a sinner. The purpose of this parable is that “everyone who exalts himself will be abased and he who humbles himself will be exalted[3]”. Your party is like an untamed tongue, “but no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison[4]” and your party and its followers knows well how to use that poison as you use lies, fears and deceit to have your way; very un-Christian like behavior.
“You are those who justify yourselves before men but GOD knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of GOD[5]”. If you look up the definition of “liberal” and look at Christ’s life, He was the very first. Look at His life, He freely gave to those who asked or needed His time, never turning anyone away; healing anyone and everyone who had a sickness or disease. Conservative however is defined as keeping things the same old way which would be most horrible for minorities and women but I digress. If you truly knew Him, why do you not follow His ways? Is the student wiser than the Teacher; is the servant smarter than the Master? There are citizens of this powerful and wealthy nation, suffering because they can’t afford health insurance. Families are going bankrupt and homeless due to medial situations, yet you sit on your hands because things aren’t the way you like it. You, who can afford the best medical care, in choosing not to help garner relief for these citizens are being malicious in your lack of action. Just because you and your cronies don’t have the same problems doesn’t mean the disparity is not real. It reminds me of when Ronald Reagan put a committee together to see if there really where poor people in this country. Are you kidding me? President Franklin D. Roosevelt quoted perfectly when he said, "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, never learned how to walk forward".
It’s most unfortunate that the most negative and ugliest, who disguise themselves as supporters of truth and family values, are heard more loudly than those with a compassionate heart. Tell me; “What Would Jesus Do”?
09/08/09
[1] Matthew 25:32-46
[2] Matthew 15:8- 9/Mark 7:7
[3] Luke 18:9-14
[4] James 3:8
[5] Luke 16:15-16
I write this letter with heaviness in my heart due to the loss of the “Lion of the Senate” Teddy Kennedy but as a Born-again Christian, both my heart and spirit are heavy from your lack of not stepping up to the plate and supporting “Healthcare Reform”.
Your party touts of its “values” and religion yet ignoring those you are to fight for, “the least of these”. Senator Kennedy didn’t tout his beliefs as you all do; he lived it. He lived fighting for what is right for “the least of these”. He lived a life true to the teachings of Jesus Christ in his love and compassion for “the least of these”. Jesus spoke plainly, when He stated, “whatever you do to the least of these My brothers, you do also to Me[1]”. Have you not read the four (4) Gospels? For whom did Jesus have compassion for, the religiously educated Pharisees and Sadducees or the least of the citizenry? What you stand for very much reminds me of the prophesy of Isaiah, “these people draw near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men[2]”. Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee (GOP and followers) and the tax collector (liberals) because of some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. The Pharisee lauded himself because he did the “right things” while the tax collector acknowledged that he was a sinner. The purpose of this parable is that “everyone who exalts himself will be abased and he who humbles himself will be exalted[3]”. Your party is like an untamed tongue, “but no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison[4]” and your party and its followers knows well how to use that poison as you use lies, fears and deceit to have your way; very un-Christian like behavior.
“You are those who justify yourselves before men but GOD knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of GOD[5]”. If you look up the definition of “liberal” and look at Christ’s life, He was the very first. Look at His life, He freely gave to those who asked or needed His time, never turning anyone away; healing anyone and everyone who had a sickness or disease. Conservative however is defined as keeping things the same old way which would be most horrible for minorities and women but I digress. If you truly knew Him, why do you not follow His ways? Is the student wiser than the Teacher; is the servant smarter than the Master? There are citizens of this powerful and wealthy nation, suffering because they can’t afford health insurance. Families are going bankrupt and homeless due to medial situations, yet you sit on your hands because things aren’t the way you like it. You, who can afford the best medical care, in choosing not to help garner relief for these citizens are being malicious in your lack of action. Just because you and your cronies don’t have the same problems doesn’t mean the disparity is not real. It reminds me of when Ronald Reagan put a committee together to see if there really where poor people in this country. Are you kidding me? President Franklin D. Roosevelt quoted perfectly when he said, "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, never learned how to walk forward".
It’s most unfortunate that the most negative and ugliest, who disguise themselves as supporters of truth and family values, are heard more loudly than those with a compassionate heart. Tell me; “What Would Jesus Do”?
09/08/09
[1] Matthew 25:32-46
[2] Matthew 15:8- 9/Mark 7:7
[3] Luke 18:9-14
[4] James 3:8
[5] Luke 16:15-16
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Economy
I did not watch President Obama's first "State of the Union" on Wednesday,1/27/10, not because I dislike or disrespect him but my life, my world is not dependent on any flesh and blood so that I'm not freaking out as so many fellow citizens are regarding the economy. I and many other citizens are economically challenged but we're not the ones freaking and if anyone has a right to do so, it would be, should be us. Poverty is not a choice, neither is laziness the reason behind poverty, although for some it is the main criteria. However, this is not a modern day issue, if one reads the Book of Acts, in the Bible, you'll find that there were those among the followers of Jesus Christ lived in poverty and those who had shared with those who did not but I let me get back on track.
All these citizens who are now complaining, where were they in the eight years Bush was running this country into debt? Obama is not a deity that he can erase in one year what it took eight years to screw up. All you whiners, especially the "tea" party folks, need a refresher on the economy. Do remember that when Bush inherited the position, this country was in a surplus and it was no accident. After two terms, eight years of Ronald Reagan and one term, four years of Daddy Bush, this country was bleeding, for lack of a politically correct terminology, an unstoppable menstrual cycle. It took Bill Clinton, a Democrat, two terms, eight years to stop the bleeding and stabilize the economy. So when GW moved into the White House, there was a surplus, we were in the black. Some use the 9/11 incident to justify Bush gutting the pig until it bled dry but he didn't stop there. After listing China as a county within the "axis of evil", he started borrowing money, so now we are indebted to a country his own party despises.
What is wrong with you people? Don't you realize that you are not just part of the problem but the problems as well. Many of you have bought children cell phones with amenities when it should be used for emergencies only but no, you go into debt trying to keep up with the Joneses for your adult ego as well as your childrens'. We wouldn't want them to learn about hard work or about earning what they want, would we? Many of you live beyond your means to be accepted, to be placed into a certain bracket in society. Money is not evil, it's the love of money and for many of you, it's an addiction, no common sense at all.
So before you continue to bad-mouth an honorable man when you did not do that to one who had less integrity, wash out your mouth with soap and as the Bible tells you, "be content", be thankful.
All these citizens who are now complaining, where were they in the eight years Bush was running this country into debt? Obama is not a deity that he can erase in one year what it took eight years to screw up. All you whiners, especially the "tea" party folks, need a refresher on the economy. Do remember that when Bush inherited the position, this country was in a surplus and it was no accident. After two terms, eight years of Ronald Reagan and one term, four years of Daddy Bush, this country was bleeding, for lack of a politically correct terminology, an unstoppable menstrual cycle. It took Bill Clinton, a Democrat, two terms, eight years to stop the bleeding and stabilize the economy. So when GW moved into the White House, there was a surplus, we were in the black. Some use the 9/11 incident to justify Bush gutting the pig until it bled dry but he didn't stop there. After listing China as a county within the "axis of evil", he started borrowing money, so now we are indebted to a country his own party despises.
What is wrong with you people? Don't you realize that you are not just part of the problem but the problems as well. Many of you have bought children cell phones with amenities when it should be used for emergencies only but no, you go into debt trying to keep up with the Joneses for your adult ego as well as your childrens'. We wouldn't want them to learn about hard work or about earning what they want, would we? Many of you live beyond your means to be accepted, to be placed into a certain bracket in society. Money is not evil, it's the love of money and for many of you, it's an addiction, no common sense at all.
So before you continue to bad-mouth an honorable man when you did not do that to one who had less integrity, wash out your mouth with soap and as the Bible tells you, "be content", be thankful.
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