POST OFFICE CLOSINGS….

I don’t know maybe it is just a sign of the times.  But yesterday when I went by our local post office I was greeted with a big sign on the door.

At first I could barely believe it.  I thought it was something that ‘they’ were just talking about.  I didn’t know that ‘they’ were really thinking about doing it.

It is hard to believe that 1 day this world will be without a postal system… but I see that day rapidly coming.  A day when children will never know what it is to walk into a building called the ‘POST OFFICE’ to purchase stamps… or ship off a box… or express a package.  Gone will be that place where sometimes you ran into a friend or 2.   That place whose rates beat that of  UPS of  FEDEX.  That place where you could go to buy a money order for any amount at a price below a dollar.

Yes, 1 day this world will be without a postal system as we know it.  It will be replaced with over-rated email accounts, SUPER-FED or undoubtably become something… something  just like our current phone system.  It will be replaced by a bunch of people competing for our dollars… when we only used to pay just a few cents.

Yes, what was 42 cents compared to whatever fees they will being throwing at us? 

Gone will be the day you could just walk up to the counter and buy just a single stamp… or pick and chose between the Black History stamps, the flower stamps… or whatever other type of stamp you wanted.

Do you remember when television used to be free?????

I do…and I sure wish those day were back.  Because ounce per ounce who wants to pay for a bunch of re-runs day in and day out.  And with more than 100 channels… you still hear yourself sighing-

“There’s nothing on tonight.”

It is amazing how little we think of things until we loose them.

I like receiving my bills in the mail.  And I like sending off a check in the mail when I pay them.

Have you tried to pay a bill over the phone… only to find that there is a fee for doing so?

Have you ever had a dispute with a company… and didn’t have a detailed record… like your prior bills to prove that you were right?

Recently, we were hit with a major storm that put us all in the dark for a couple of weeks.  Everything was down.  The ATM machines were down, all the restaurants were closed… Walmart and everybody else was closed… and there he was…  that lone man in his uniform delivering our mail.

Treasure them while we still have them.  Because the world is changing.   And changing fast.

I’m missing ours already.

Can’t believe it.

Well, hope you had a good day.  Got much on my mind.  I have no doubt that I will probably write about it at some time or other.  But right now I’m just dealing with it…and depending upon the Lord to work it out on my behalf.  It is good to know that He is on my side.

Hope you had a great turkey day.  We had so much to be thankful for.  In fact, we always do.  And no matter what the situation God is forever good.  He never fails… even if the U.S. Postal system claims they are.

Well, God bless… and enjoy the rest of  your week.  How quickly these days are rolling by.

Almost December now…what am I talking about?  Tomorrow is December… and soon Christmas.  And then we will be into a new year… 2011 certainly did not stay around for long.

And soon… and very soon the rain drops in this picture will be replace by snow flakes.

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

Add a comment November 30, 2011

I DECLARE…It’s my day…

Today was 1 of those rare days.  You know the kind of day you rarely ever get.  A day you wake up knowing that if you don’t get up at all it will be alright.

Didn’t have to rush to go catch nothing.  No buses… no cabs… no car pool… no ride to the store… no NOTHING. 

No need to ask my son for the keys to the car.  No need to beg-

“Can I catch a ride with you?”

“About how long for the cab?”

“Will you come by and get me?”

Yes, I woke up not having to go anywhere… or having to do anything.

I could lay there and there… and lay there enjoying the warmth of my bed.

I didn’t have worry about nothing.  Didn’t have to rush off to finish this… or finish that.

Today was… and is all mine.  ALL  MINE… all by myself.

Nobody to say-

“Auntie this…”

Or, “Auntie that…”

Didn’t have to answer any questions.

Didn’t have to worry aboout getting caught out in the rain.  Or go searching in my bag to pull out my sunglasses.

Didn’t have to search for my keys… lace up my shoes…. or make sure everything I needed was in my carrying case. 

Didn’t have to ask nothing… say nothing… or particularly do a thing.  Just lay back and enjoy it.

A day all to myself.

Don’t you wish you had 1?

When was the last time you could say this?

They don’t come often.  And for that reason I am going to end this blog, and continue to enjoy my day… with me… myself… and I.

Well, God bless… I’ve got a few more hours to this day… and I mean to continue to enjoy them.

And whatever your day is like I hope that you are enjoying it too.

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

Add a comment October 24, 2011

JEDA and WILL… could it be coming to an end… Living in ‘the Life’ …

You would think that 1 of the hottest topics at the Atlanta Hair Show would have been about some fantastic hair-do… but it wasn’t. Way from it.

The buzz on the floor and from booth to booth was about Will Smith and Jeda Pickett-Smith.

I had long ago wrote a glowing blog about them being great role models and a beautiful couple… but who knew that all was not what it seemed?

They seemed to be the perfect couple.  Happy… and certainly with it all going on.  But who knew what dark little secrets lurked deep down within?

Who knew that it was at all as it was made to seem?

I thought them happy.  I thought them perfectly matched.  I thought that they truly loved one another.  I thought that there was nothing that could drive them apart. I thought…

Well, I thought all was well.  But it seems that it wasn’t.  And that it was far from being well.

It was my son that broke the news to me saying-

“It was all everybody was talking about.”

But who knew?

Well… I knew someone who knew… and she told me it many years ago saying-

“Awh, come on, Bern… don’t you see it. If you don’t then you are the only 1 who doesn’t.”

But I refused to accept it. But it seems that she was right… that same friend who I wrote about in my blog about the DeBarge family…  the 1 who I used to laugh with when we would giggle over, and pick fun at how sissy the DeBarge brothers all seemed.  Yeah, her…

So, I asked my son what were they saying?

And why?

And he said they got tired of having an open marriage.

I said -

“What?  What do you mean an open marriage?”

I was thinking he was talking about the usual kind of thing maybe some other woman … or possibly another man. The man part was right… but he wasn’t talking about Jeda.

It was Will.

And my son said that everybody at the hair show was talking about it.  Since the hair show was made up of a large number of gay men… I immediately began to think that this had to be true.  Because  gay men are in the know about such things as this.  And from men to women at the hair show… they were all buzzing about it.

I have yet to pull myself up off the floor behind this. Some things really do come as such a surprise… and this was 1 for me.  Though I have to say it again… my friend had told me it long ago, when Will was playing as the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire.

It was something I guess I never wanted to see… and perhaps way down deep I was hoping it wasn’t so. And I STILL AM.

I really thought Will and Jeda made for a great couple. They seemed to be great parents …and they seemed to place a high value on family.

Though I wasn’t particular about their new found religious beliefs… and how after coming into all that money they decided that they wanted to convert into becoming members of the Church of Scientology. Which struck me as a Hollywood thang… for the $20 million plus crowd. Which Will stepped into many years ago after leaping from the small screen onto the large screen… with a massive following.

It is disappointing really. But I guess we are all chased by demons at some point or other in our lives. The trick is to not allow them to consume us.  And to fight until we win… and not them.

There seems to be a rash of men and women stepping into the gay lifestyle. For some it seems to be hip…even fashionable.  But for others it is something that they have been drawn into … whether by their own fancination …or by some type of inducement… enticement… inquisitive nature … or whatever have you.  And clearly I forgot about acts of abuse as another root cause for some.

But for whatever reason it seems to be growing. Or maybe it is that it is more open. Perhaps, the latter is probably the real case.

And it seems to me that I see so many young school kids making choices at early ages about such things. And many of them… especially the girls are deep into role playing… meaning dressing or acting out the male role.

Having come out ‘the life’… meaning having been gay myself… I cannot help but feel for them. So, I study them and watch them… and can’t seem to take my eyes off them. Because I hate to see anyone commit their lives to something that is so anti-them.

I can’t say that I hated me. But I did hate what I looked like… hated my size… and I can’t remember what else. But I never really liked me.

I never thought I was pretty or anything like that. And my interest were not really in girl-ly things.

But I never desired to be a boy… and certainly not a man. I did like that part about me.

So, I never considered role playing as an option for me… though for most of  my relationships with women …I was designated as what would have been the the male role. Because even in not playing roles… somehow you end up in them. Somebody is going to be more fem …and somebody butch. And it is because that is how life is… and we immitated life and the various catagories of life as 2 people together.

But I really get disturbed at seeing so many young people gravitating towards an alternate lifestyle. And particular those who are so young… young girls and boys in the 7th or 8th grade.

CLICK.  It has just dawn on me that I was in the 9th grade when some girl first started following me around… and later began to stick letters into my locker. How quickly we forget.

I rarely think of it now. Her letters turned into phone calls when she happen to come upon my sister 1 day… telling my sister that I had given her our phone number… and that she had lost it.  So, my sister accommodated her by giving  it to her again… or so she thought.

This is when I found out that all those mysterious letters in my locker were coming from a girl. It is funny because I never ever talked to that girl face 2 face… until much later in our lives. Because for 1 thing I was afraid of her…

I was naive and had never heard of 2 women …or girls doing anything together. .. sexually that is. And secondly… well… I just thought that she was crazy.

Once I realized what was going on I soon began to notice that that girl used to walk pass all my classrooms.  She used to just stand there outside my classrooms looking through the glass door at me.  She also used to sneak into the 9th grade lunch… as she at the time was only an 8th grader…  and she would always sit somewhere across from me… watching me… staring at me.  It is funny how I had never noticed her before… but then I had thought it was some boy sending me all those letters.

Though the girl never tried to hurt me… or ask me to do anything sexually… I nevertheless kept my distance from her.

Believe it of not I had actually finished this blog…BUT LOST EVERYTHING BELOw THIS.   So, at some point maybe I may come back and redo it.  But not right now …or tonight it  is after 4 AM…

So, please forgive me while I get some sleep.

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

Add a comment August 24, 2011

THE TIMES…Pastor Zackery Tims and Nicholas Ashford… gone…

First Zackery Tims …and now Nicholas Ashford.

Oh, I know… I know that Nick was not known for writing and singing gospel music.  But no one can deny that he did come from a strong gospel background… that sometimes even managed to show up in his song writing and way of singing.

And what songs they were.  He was gifted… and what he didn’t have …his partner and later to become his wife… Valerie Simpson had.  Together they wrote some of Motow’s best known music.  Songs like ‘Ain’t No Moutain High Enough,’ ‘It Takes Two,’ ‘Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand’ ….just to name a few.  And I do mean just a few… because their list does indeed truly go on and on.

For a while Val and Nick could be caught holding down the evening drive-time radio slot at WBLS,in New York City.  In fact, 1 afternoon I decided to drop by BLS with the hope of getting in to see Vinny Brown, an old friend and co-worker who at the time was the Program Director for the station.  While waiting …to my unexpected surprise as I happened to look up… standing before me were 2 people I would have had to be totally blind to not to have recognized from the very moment my eyes came up on them.

“Val and Nick,” I heard myself say… as my head jerked back slightly in surprise.

It just kind of eased out of my mouth… I hadn’t realized they were handling BLS’s on-air  drive-time shift at that time.  So, I was really surprised to look up and see them, standing right there before me… close enough for me to just reach out and touch them.  Nick slightly smiled at me… while Val kind of looked off.

From the time I hit college Nick and Valerie had been busy in recording studios.  So, I had looked at and played  just about every album of their’s.  Definitely a sign of the time… because most of the kids don’t even know what an album was …or a 45 for that matter.  But yes …I had played Val and Nick for many years.  And it didn’t hurt for me to be a big fan either… which meant as often as I could I would sneak them in on my music lists rotations.

As the years went on I didn’t have to continue to ease… I just played them… back to back …or however I wanted.  Them and Phyllis Hyman… Donnie and Roberta… Friends of Distiction… Dells… Roy Ayres… George Duke… and whoever else I wanted to program.  Including Motown’s Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye… and just so much good music…  The kids don’t even have a clue… they have nothing like it today.

Nobody writes good music any more…  they don’t even know what it is to have anything called ‘good lyrics.’  They… the kids are too busy buying beats.  A lot of which are stolen from times gone… times that music like that during which Val and Nick came from …and wrote during.

Though they …Val and Nick had long since turned their attention to other things …such as going into the restaurant business… New York’s Sugarbar and I forget what their first restaurant was called …it had been on 22nd Street also in Manhattan.

And whenever traveling home on I-95… as I passed Stamford, CT… my mind would always run across them, as I knew that for a while at least they had made their home in Connecticut.

Having their number I called them once while seeking investors for 1 of my feature film projects.  Though I failed to reach them initially… you will never know to my surprise… how thrill I was to receive a call back from them concerning the message that I had left.  Val told me that they were just getting ready to open up another restaurant… which was to become the Sugarbar.  So, they couldn’t afford to do it at the time.  She appologized and told me maybe the next time.

I hung up not at all feeling let down.  All I could think was… wasn’t that nice for them to take the time to call me back?

This is my all time favorite song by Valerie Simpson and Nicholas Ashford.

While living in Chicago… Millie J… used to visit a friend of mine by the name of

Jean… who was Tyrone Davis’ sister.  Millie had come to town to perform and while talking with Jean… I overheard her say-

“While I was coming through the airport guess who I came across?  These two people walking around holding hands.  I didn’t even have to look twice.  I knew right off it was nobody but Nick and Val.”

They had that something special… kind of like what Michelle and Obama have.  A total appreciation for each other… and a desire to always be in touch with one another… as though they cannot do or bear to be without each other.

Just a few seconds ago, a friend of mine informed me that Nick had dealt with sustance abuse.  Never knew that …or ever heard that.  So, I don’t know for sure.  I have not seen him or Val for years now.  But I know their music anywhere or anyhow I hear it.

Personally, I cannot imagine Val without Nick.  She loved him… and held on to him.  And he loved her… and held onto her.   And together they held on to each other …a profoundly good example of 2 people who truly walked in love with one another.  I certainly pray her strenght in the Lord… and that of their children and other family members.

I had heard his testimony.  And what an awesome testimony he had had regarding how God had saved and pulled  him out of a messed up life of drug addiction… and having come from a home where nobody knew the Lord.   How God had put someone in his path that gave him an invitation… and 1 day for whatever reason Zackery Tims, some 8 or  so years ago… called a man on his job who had invited him to come and go to church with him.  And that night he got saved… and his life was forever changed.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20092873-504083.html

A megachurch Pastor having a congregation of more than 4,000 members in the Orlando, FL area… on this past Wednesday, Pastor Zackery Tims was found dead on the floor of his Time Square hotel room.  The first information said… heart attack.  But later information started circulating… that a white powder sustance… cocaine had been found on him.

I had long ago stopped watching him … or some reason or other.  I cannot remember why… but it always seems to me that as you watch some of these television evangelists… you like them in the beginning, but then they begin to shift.  And everything about them and what they are preaching changes.

I cannot say that about Pastor Tims… because I cannot remember what prompted me to stop watching his program. And it might not have had been anything with him… but a time conflict between the show schedule and my schedule.

His eyes lately were watery or shiney… glossy I guess you could say… whenever I would happen to catch the tailend or some part of his show.  And I am not just saying that because I am hoping that after the autopsy is finally released… it will show any drugs in his system.  Because I am not… if anything quite the opposite.

I would hate to think that he would have been drawn back… into something that he was blessed enough to have been released from.   But when you think back to the events that lead to his divorce… you have to think…    Well, maybe.

He was involved with a stripper for a year… that is what the article read.  But if it read a year… then it is possible that it was for a longer time than that.  While he was engaging in adultry with her… it is very likely that he was also indulging in other things too.  And while that relationship may have ended… and who really knows…  But if  he was drinking or indulging in drugs as well… it is not so likely that he also just stopped abusing either.  And do note I said ‘if’… because I don’t  know.

I didn’t know him… or much about him except what most of you who also watched the Word Network knew about him.  But I was watching the day he leaped upon the top of his pulpit  podium to dramatize something he was preaching.  I did think that  was very odd… and all I could think was-

“That is suppose to be holy.  How could he jump up on it?”

But it would seem that not much is still considered to be holy any more in church.  I see preachers with baseball caps and hats on in the pulpit… and sweat suits and sneakers.  Anything it seems  goes today… whatever… however…  whenever.   My, Lord…

Whatever happened to reverencing the house …and the things of the Lord?

UPDATE: SUNDAY, January 15, 2012…As of New Years Eve this year Pastor Paula White has been chosen the Board of Regents of New Destiny Christian Center.  And it would seem that since the autopsy done on the body of  Pastor Tims was never released to the public…that drugs had indeed been found in the blood system of the late Pastor Zackary Tims.

With the announcement of  Paula White becoming the chosen replacement…  Well, it did not seem to sit right with Pastor Tims ex-wife.  Tims’ ex-wife claims that Tims’ and her children are being robbed of their inheritance.  You can read more on that by CLICKING the LINK below.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/riva-tims-paula-whites-appointment-process-was-illegal-and-deceptive-66161/

Since I am on the subject of Pastors… and since I did write a blog on it.  Let me just note here that I read somewhere… or heard it… that Bishop Eddie Long quietly settled his cases with the young men who had filed law suits against him, for supposedly taking sexual advantage of  them while they were under his religious leadership as young teenaged boys.

The settlement is said to have been $15 million total going out to the young men in question.

Perhaps it is a sign of the times… but I sincerely hope not.

Visiting with a niece and enjoying myself.   Can’t you tell?

I have so much time on my hands that I decided to take some of  it to write this blog.  I rarely have much time these days.  I am on assignment… and must pick up my pace.  I have to stay busy in the things of the Lord.   And at the end of the day… I just want to be ready when He comes.

And for as long as I can remember that has not changed.

I still love this picture… It is sooooo refreshing looking.

Speaking of which… while talking with a cousin this evening… she told me that they were buckling down for a bad storm that they… the insurance claims agents of the company she works for …are being prep for if  it should hit us this week on the east coast.

Better get out and pick up a few things for just in case.  And no need to wait until the last minute… do it now since you have gotten some advance info.

One other thing… while here.  My niece took me by Dr. Martin L. King’s house and the Center for Non-Violence.  Took a picture with a tour guide who informed me that every house on his street was bought by the Federal Government… and the only house on the street that is not owned by the Federal Government on that street is the King house… which is still owned by the King family.  But the house is open for tours …which are done on the half-hour. 

It was amazing watching the people… black and white touring the grounds of the King’s house and the Center for Non-Violence.  And it is all free… parking and everything without any hassles.

Mrs. Coretta Scott King was a very smart woman.  A woman who was determined that her husband’s death was not going to be in vain… or forgotten.  And I mean she did it… and she didn’t do it half-stepping either.

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

4 comments August 23, 2011

GOT A TESTIMONY….AIM 2011… Houston

Recently I went on a trip to Houston, TX, to a church convention.  A few days prior to the last day of my trip in Houston I  realized that I was running low on money.

The day before leaving for my trip I had been out buying things here and there … you know another blouse, another light and airy dress, another pair of earrings etc… just stuff that I  figured I might need on my trip.

So, prior to leaving I had already begun to tap into my hotel money.

Then while sitting in the various convention meetings and church services… I was…  Well, I was giving a little here and a little there… again tapping even more into my already dwindling funds.

Realizing that my funds were way low I decided that I better call my son, and ask him to lend me the money for my hotel… because when I had finally got around  to checking what was in my bank on a computer … it was further down than I had thought.  I was left with only  a hundred and some odd dollars.

I had gotten my hotel at a discount rate… but even at my discount I was way short of what I was going to have to pay when I was to finally check out of it.

My son answered the phone and I told him what I needed.  He got so mad at me.  And he said-

“Why did you go off  somewhere knowing you could not afford it?”

It was a ligitmate question… I guess.   But too late for me to sit around thinking about that now, after I had spent 5 days and 6 nights in these people’s hotel.

Beside before I started dipping into my hotel money I could afford my trip… and the whole thing.   But that was before I starting spending…and then started giving in those offerings that I gave in during the convention.

So, as my trip drew closer to the end I began worrying more and more about my finances.  As my son had slammed down the phone  on me, and said he was not going to give me anything.

Now, I was really in bind.

How was I going to pay for my hotel bill?

So, my final night at the hotel I broke down and decided that I better try calling my son again.  But this time he did not answer.

So, that night, needless to say, I hardly slept at all.  I tried to…  but all I could do think about was my hotel bill.

Finally at about 3 o’clock in the morning I got up…and went downstairs to the lobby to look on the computer to see just how much money I was actually short.  All I had was $133….annd my hotel bill was $494,  which included the taxes and everything else they threw in.  Right then and there I sighed and made up in my mind that coming to Houston had been worth it.

I also decided right then and there… that  whether my son gave me the money or not… I was not going to leave the hotel without paying my bill.  Even if it meant I had to go to jail.

Afterall, my hotel had been so great to me.  All the people were nice… and service had been 5 star.  Besides they served hot breakfast free everyday…and after 5 offer free complimentary food… which included the largest and most delicous chocolate chip cookies baked fresh and still warm.  And you could eat or take as much  of whatever you wanted.

No, no way was I going to stick them with the bill… or leave without paying.  Not that I would ever consider such a thing.  It might have been embarrassing and might have took me a while to go downstairs and tell them.  But I would have rather said that I didn’t have they money… and would have hoped that they would have worked something out with me.

However, about 8:30 AM  I broke down again and tried calling my son again….and this time he answered.  Finally, I got  him to agreed that he was going to give me some money.  But the amount he told me was only $250…AND THAT WAS ALL!

Now I forced to call 1 of my other sisters and beg her for the rest…telling her that I would pay her $200 if she lent me $175.  And she did.

As soon as that money hit my account… which was about 9:10 AM… I paid off my hotel bill.  I did not want to risk anything coming up against that money.

At 12 noon my courtesy driver for the convention picked me up at my hotel and drove me to the airport.  It had been a beautiful trip… my trip to Houston as I glanced out at the beautiful sky with its puffy white clouds… looking as if someone had painted them there.

I had heard some wonderful preaching and teaching at AIM.  And now I was my way back home… and I didn’t end up having to spend the night in jail.

Upon reaching the airport, while waiting on my flight to be called, they made an announcement over the intercom system saying that my flight had been overbooked.   They  said that they needed 2 people who would be willing to take the next flight.  And  for doing so they offered a $400 ticket in return.

They did not have to ask me twice.  I was already standing near the counter so I was the first person to the counter… not that many people rushed to get there.  Just me and another woman.

And guess what?

By the time I flew out of Houston I had earned over $1,200… and it had never even dawned on me until my flight was nearing my home airport.  It  was $1,200 more than I had when I flew into Houston.

During the convention 1 of my brothers got me an $800 editing job for some Bishop.. .and I had also gotten that $400 cetificate from the airline, good for a whole year that I could use on any of their flights, or sell it,  or give to whoever I wanted.

Just think of that…at 3 AM on that morning I had woke up restless…because I hadn’t had enough. But by 3 PM I had gained a mighty surplus.

And this is a true story… and the next flight out was only 1 hour later than my original flight.

And between my spending…I was giving until I knew I could no longer afford to put another dime into 1 more offering.  But all the while I sat wanting to.

And also…another twist to this story just prior tomy  leaving I had run out of checks.  Tried to get some but didn’t make the bank on time.   So, I had no checks.  If so, I would have wrote some.  But God knew….

He truly does know our hearts.

God truly is good.

Looking for some rain.  It has been soooooo hot here.  And very humid.

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

And let me finish by saying AIM 2011 was off the hook!

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family, co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

Add a comment July 21, 2011

Wolves in sheep clothing…

They are tall dark and handsome.  They look like a breath of  fresh air.  You think they are just what the doctor ordered.  But… what is really on their minds?

You vote these people in believing you are getting back at some other political party… when it really plays out to your own deficit.

What the people fail to realize when they listen to all the highfalutin talk made by Republicans during their campaigns to win political office… talk like government is too big… we need to cut taxes…  bring down the deficit …and slash all unnecessary spending… what they need to ask is who is he or she talking about?   Could it mean my job?

Because for the most part when Republicans talk… that is exactly who they are talking about.  They are not talking about slashing anything away from the rich… which is their political base and core supporters.  No….but they mean they will be going out after the poor… the hard workers … labourers …blue collar people …people who barely can make enough to make ends meet.  And yes… as found out in Wisconsin… that includes unions and union workers too.

What a set-up. 

In the 2010 November elections the govenor race in Wisconsin was between a Republican named Scott Walker and a Democrat named Tom Barrett.   In that race Walker a political Republican insider after years in public service… sweeps the Wisconsin Governor’s race with more than 52% of  the votes.  While the Democrat, Barrett who had been the Mayor of  Milwaukee, only garnered a mere 45% of  the votes.  

Walker was younger, and looked like a Mit Romney type.  While Barret was older, and had grey hair compared to Walker’s thick dark hair.  And if  anybody tells you looks doesn’t matter… tell them to go and take a back seat somewhere.  Because it  does. 

Have you not heard that  image is everything.  It doesn’t matter whether the image is a false image or a sincere image… it just matters how that image comes packaged.  And that will determine the outcome.

You can have more knowledge and skill than someone on your job, while outwardly they are better put together… classier… more out-going in their personality… but lack organization, effective communication skills and dedication… but they look better than you.   Who do you think will get the job… or the promotion?

More than likely the one well put together… though they come with none of  the expertise or inner skills to sufficiently do the job.  They just look good… or let me phrase it this way… they look better.

How do I know?

Because most of  my life I was looked over.   Looked over to the 1 that wasn’t fat… better put together …and looked pretty.   While she or  he couldn’t carry a note  to  me… if  they wanted to.  But they got picked… and I didn’t.   But in saying that… let me also say that it never made me bitter.  I do not become bitter over such things.  I just get better …and better.  And God has worked it all out for my good.

I remember this 1 job where I was doing sales for a radio station in New York.  I really wanted to be on-air but they didn’t have any openings … so I took sales.   As God would have it… I didn’t know that then but I do now… I somehow became the number 1 sales person at the station.  They gave  me the whole of  Jersey to work… and I was bringing in new accounts like crazy. 

But I also worked the New York side of the Hudson River also.  And many times when the owner or the person responsible for making decisions wasn’t  in the business when I dropped by… I would get his or  her name and number and leave my card.

What I didn’t know was that there were times when I was out of  the office… which was pretty much most of  the time… that I got calls from businesses that I had visited… and these calls were passed on to another account executive. 

Her name was Carla… and was a pretty young woman who rarely left the office.  She seemed timid and often talked about how much she hated sales.  The chile couldn’t sell her way out of a trash bag… so of  course she was going to hate sales.  But it never dawn on me that some of my leads were being passed onto her. 

But she worked there… and on that job  where you had make sales in order to earn any pay.  It was commission only.  So, Carla was doing something.   And the something she was doing was robbing me.  Because our boss had her hooked up… she didn’t have to worry about a thing.   And it had never… ever dawn on me.  

 Never thought about it really… but now it hits me.

While I had to get out and hustle for my bread and butter.  But she had looks… and I had that something which God bestowed upon me… something that seems to make everybody like me.  When I was young I didn’t like it… because even my friends parents loved me.  And I thought that was weird… and it just seemed odd to me.  I had no understanding of  the  wonderful gift that God had given to me.  None whatsoever.

People said they liked Walker because he would be good for the economy… he would turn the state around… and would cut out all of that state bureaucracy.  Yeah… but what… or better yet.   At  whose expense?

Did anyone ever stop to ask Walker that question?

Perhaps not.

Or was it that he was younger than his oppossing canidate? 

Was it Walker’s good looks and seemingly good-guy demeanor… if  he has 1?

Was it how he spoke it… or the gleam in his eyes… or an easy smile?

What was it that the voters in Wisconsin fell for?

A  lot of  it has to do with political games.  And Republicans have become the master at it.

They munipulate the people with a bunch of  sweet sounding talk… laden with lies.   They spew out all kinds of  promises telling you how bad government is… but miss out on telling you who has richly aided in making our government so. 

Long before Obama tried to save our automobile industry Republican Senators and Congressmen were laid up in bed with them… and with the lobbyist … the insurance companies …and the phramaceutical companies… the oil barons… utility companies… and anything and everybody else who could make them some  money.   And yes… many Democrats are guilty of  doing the same.

But I do believe that there are more Democrats fighting and trying to do the right thing… than there are Republicans. 

The Republicans love winning political races and turning everything around… and more times than not… to suit  their owe benefits… and agendas.

I think …because I come from media… 1 of  the worst things that the Republicans could have done was remove FCC Rules and Regulations regarding sex and sexual content in music… and explicit language over the airwaves.  This was the Republicans doing… and the affect of  it has been devastating to this country. 

But it has made a whole lot of money for some… and I am not talking about the little ignorant artists or other so-called talents who believe that they are doing something.  But I am talking about the kingpins in the back who own the companies that produce, release and distribute… exhibit and play the garbage that has worn away at  the very  moral fabric of  this country and the world.

I will get off  my soap box now… and  go back to politics.

Today they come beating a path to your door… or their recruits coming seeking your votes while knowing they mean you no good.  Shirt collars open and trying their best to look and smell like you… when they are just a bunch of wolves in sheep clothing.

Every political race does matter.  You cannot afford to become complacent with your vote.  Because your complacency is being used against you. 

Republicans know that historically most people turn out for political races which they think really matters… the big ones… like voting in a President.  But they fail to take local races seriously. 

But it is the local political races which will affect you the most.  The local races have to do with state matters… and state matters do not take as long to come into affect as do Federal matters… which have long processes to go through before even being voted on and then signed into affect… which entails some years before actually happening even after being signed into law by the President. 

In the case of  Wisconsin …Walker decided that state workers were being paid too much, and were virtually holding the state ransome through the collective bargaining process of  their union.  He decided that in order to aid in cutting the state deficit he needed to put a restraint on the union so that the state would not be forced to issue increases in benefits or pay to state employees.  Which on its surface may sound like a good idea… but at the same time it plays a major role into weakening the power of  the worker’s union… giving the worker’s no voice to say ‘yea’ or ‘nay.’

There can be no arguement that unions have played a major role in this country in aiding voiceless employees, who were badly treated… forced to  work long hours without compensation or other benefits… by improving their working conditions etc. 

If  there had not been a dire need for unions in this country …as they are needed around the world… American workers would have had to continue to work under whatever standards  …conditions and orders issued to them by the entities for which they worked for…  and to do so without proper compensation and under hazardous conditions  in many cases to their lives and/or limbs …without health benefits …or re-course against false firings… promotions and/or  other forms of  help etc… that the unions protect them from.

While running for office Walker promised to cut both the state taxes and the government spending as the state of  Wisconsin was in dire financial straits.

Could Walker have come up with another plan other than virtuely stripping the state worker’s of  their say so… destroying their right  to collectively bargain (under their union) for their raises, changes in their pension plans, health benefits etc.?  

Probably.

Well, how do you know?

Because other states have faced the same kind of  problems… and so have individual cities… but none of  them set out to destroy the unions that represented their workers.  And yet those states and cities survived… managed… and eventually pulled through.  New York City had to do it... Boston had to do it… you name a place that has not had to suffer some kind of  re-arrangement in order to pull their city or state out of  near  financial collapse.  Even Calafornia has and is going through it.

So, why did Walker chose to go after the states public workers and their union?

In order to shut down the power of  the union.  The power of  the union to wheel and deal to the benefit of  its members.  Butt most importantly… because there is a push by Republicans  to stop union support of  political canidates which the unions  feel they cannot trust… which mostly tend to be Republicans. 

They …the Republicans are just not for the working class.  And though in history that was different… today it is their stance… a  360 degree turn from how they throught during their early history which dates  back  to a pre-Lincoln.  

Today they celebrate their great champion  that former actor… better known as Ronald Reagan… and the trickle-down theory.  Which never quite worked… and star wars.   What a massive waste of government spending there.   But the Republicans  didn’t and don’t today in hind sight see it that way… just a bunch of  short term memory people when it suits them.   They loved the theories anyhow.  

 And can anybody believe that they …the Republicans are out against Obama’s pledge to up-grade our infrastructure and bring rapid mass transit into the states as it is aboard.   Yes, Republicans are lining up to say that they will go against it.

Hmmm… wonder how Obama’s ideas would fare if  he were a Republican?   

And I won’t even say that other thing… that has to do with color… but it plays a big factor.  It just would not do to have a black man’s stamp  on such a big historic thing  as that.   It would be big… a rail system that cuts down commuter and travel time by shaving off  hours on long distance ground travel?  Adding ‘zoom service’  to commuter service…    Come on, that’s big.   And it  means big money… money that I  am sure that the Republicans would rather see in  their control and in the hands of  their many friends.

Can you imagine if  Obama came out talking about spending money on a project… hmmm… say ‘star wars.’   The Republicans would have been all over him…  even more than they are right now… and that’s kind of  hard to beat. 

Think about it trying to beat the Russians into space  was utterly riddiculous.   The laugh is on both sides… as space cannot be conquered.  It will forever be an item of  mystery to us… as much as   the deepest of depths of   the sea.

Seeing how the Republicans stay on Obama about the Health Care Reform Bill  …Guantanamo Bay… to you name it… just take your pick… no matter what he does.   If  he had come up with a  star wars  idea  they would have chewed him up…and  laughed themselves into stitches while doing it.  

Here it is  Obama comes up with highly sensible ideas like improving our country’s infrastruction and instituting  a rapid mass transit system in America (which really could bring about tons of  new jobs) …they bawk… and say they won’t support it.    Those Republicans. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110312/ap_on_re_us/us_high_speed_rail;_ylt=AthNvCRGYlehqbpbYiOSaPtH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTM2OXIwMjkzBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwMzEyL3VzX2hpZ2hfc3BlZWRfcmFpbARjY29kZQNtcF9lY184XzEwBGNwb3MDNARwb3MDNARzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA2Zsb3JpZGFsb3Nlcw–

It is sad when you vote somebody into office… then realize… you made a mistake.  The same thing happens in churches… somebody gets appointed to fill a vacancy left by a passing pastor… or 1 who has moved on.  The replacement is fine for a short period of  time  …but gradually he or she starts making their moves.   And they …the congregation begins to find out that the person just wasn’t who or what they presented themselves to be… but now it is too late.   So it is in Wisconsin.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_wisconsin_budget_unions

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/02/republican-walker-defeats-barrett-win-wisconsin-governors-race/#

God bless… may you enjoy the remainder of your day. 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110311/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_earthquake

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42076054#42080998

Was up last night and caught the news over the internet  about the tsunami that struck Japan.  The  news piece said that the tsunami caused an earthquake that was the strongest ever in history… 8.9 in magnitude.  I could not help but think of  just how close we are coming to last days and times. 

I know you probably do not want to hear this.  But it  is  true… devastation upon devastation.  There can be or is no other explaination for it. 

You may say global warming… changing climate … and the changes with our eco-systems is causing them.  And that may appear to be the case… but there is something  greater operating who is orchestrating it all.

http://www.euronews.net/nocomment/2011/03/11/8-8-magnitude-earthquake-hits-japan/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110312/ap_on_re_us/us_japan_earthquake_pacific

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_japan_earthquake

“…a thousand shall fall at thy side, and 10 thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh to thee.” 

We pray for the people whose homes, families, jobs and lives  have been impacted and turn around by this massive devastation.

Though I didn’t write anything on it… the devastation that hit Australia earlier this year with massive flooding… did not get pass me.  

Truly sad… we cannot imagine.   Our hearts go out…

UPDATE:  Monday, March 14, 2011… What a massive devastation.   And now radiation problems from their nuclear reactors being breeched due to the earthquake.

And now our West Coast shores are being bombarded as a result of  the tsunami that hit Japan as well… from California to Oregon and Washington State.  Not to mention Hawaii… 

My…    We’re now being told it was he 4th most powerful earthquake known ever.  And thousands have been washed away… and was said to of  the magnitude of 9.0.

I am keenly aware that people read this blog all over the world.  And  I often see comments from folks in  the European Union, Asia, the Baltics and  Australia etc…   Thank you all for taking the time to read what I have to say.  And may God bless you and your families… and it is my sincere hope that God is keeping you and your families from all hurt and harm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12102126

The Church of  God in Christ recognizes  and mourns the passing of  Bishop Chandler D. Owens… one of  our  leaders. 

http://www.jacksonadvocateonline.com/?p=2569

 Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family to em , co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

 

Add a comment March 12, 2011

Serena sick… Young aspiring athletes… Extremism…

I don’t know maybe it is because I have become somewhat disappointed in both Serena and Venus  in the last few months… that when I looked at my blog stats yesterday…and the day before… I just never payed any attention to all the hits for info on them.    As a rule I do pay a lot attention to what people are hitting my blog in search of.   But for some reason not to the hits for information of  the William’s sisters. 

But this got pass me…until today when I happened to see the title of  a internet  news headline… reading that Serena was sick.

The story read that Serena had to go into the hospital following the Oscars due to a blood clot in 1 of  her lungs.  And it said that this past Monday it seems that  Serena  had to undergo…what they called ‘medical treatment’…. but sounds more like surgery for what they are calling ‘hematoma.’

It definitely sounds serious… and certainly reason for great concern.

We certainly pray for Serena and her family.

No matter how much money we may amass… it may aid in getting the best possible medical attention… but it cannot compensate for life without pain or health issues.

What would you rather have… money or life without pain or illness?

http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/Report-Serena-Williams-hospitalized-with-pulmon?urn=ten-328525

In  looking over  other news pieces over the internet lately… which has  basically become my only means of  regularly reading todays news… it seems to me that most of  it is geared towards todays new up and coming rising athletic stars.  Be it football or basketball… or whatever have you… though mostly football and basketball… it strikes me like…  

Well, to me… like they are robbing candy from a baby.

Most of  these new talents are nothing more than just kids that they are running after today… many are barely in junior high… or what they call today… middle-school.  And they are running after them waving money… jewelry… and everything else that they can in order to get the young hopeful’s attention.  And that of  their parents also.

In fact, 1 mother was so gun-ho over what they were promising her and her son… that she signed his papers for him.  They call that forgery… and it is punishable by the law.  And she did it so she could commit her son to a certain college.

And today it is such a big thing  just watching to see what school certain of these young hopefuls will be going to.  And it means big money… endorsements… and all kinds of  business to certain schools.  Not to mention the attention media and otherwise to the school and/or college campus as well.

Whether it is an  athletic francise… or national pro team… or some high and mighty college… these young kids… babies really are being sought out  and after to their own demise whether they know it or not.

A young  kid  in  junior high… or–or in middle-school, if you must… has no business having his  or  head turned towards looking for a  big pay day sometime in their foreseeable supposed future.  Rather their minds should be centered on their education.  They should be concerned about making good grades and geting out of grade school… and then on to college.

These kids today… the chosen few… are being scouted far too young.  They are being spoon fed on a bunch of  hopes and far away dreams that may never come into being.  The promises may simply not materialize for most of  them.   And this is a very real fact.

Then what?

Where will they turn?

What will become of  their lives?

Sure LeBron made it.  And so didn’t Moses Malone.

But success is certainly not guaranteed to a  bunch grade schoolers who may show promise today… but may not be able to step to the mark as they continue to grow and develop physically.   Or not grow… or not  be able to stand up to the pressures of  pro sports and all the baggage that those pressures bring into the life of many professional athletes.

And these kids are developing over infated egos… and attitudes that will sooner or later destory them and kill any promise that they may or may not have really had.  But mouth and arogance got in the way of what  might have  become.

A key basketball  player at Brigham Young University found out the hard way… that the same way they can put you up… they can take you down.  And even if  it costs them a season.

There is a message to the below story LINKED here.   Never get too big for your own breeches… because somebody inevitably will show you who is really the boss.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Dismissal-of-Brandon-Davies-threatens-BYU-s-char?urn=ncaab-328338

There  is just so much extreme extremism in America… it is just hard to believe. 

What crazy church would want to picket the funeral of  U.S. military men and women who have sacrificed their lives for this country… to be outside the funerals carrying  signs decrying America …and saying things like-

“Thank God for 9/11.”

Or… “God hates America.”

What sick perverted people would be doing that?

It is as insane as saying you are pro-life and you go out and blow up an abortion clinic  filled with pregnant women in it.

It is contrary…and insane.  And it certainly is not Christianly.

There is nothing about such acts that can be proclaimed as being holy or saintly.  The people who set about enraging people to go out and to do such things are just people who are full of  nothing but the devil.

And though I usually do not speak in such terms… the truth is the truth.  And this  is  truth telling-time. 

I  felt the same way about preachers who loaded up buses to take people to capitol hills to protest gay marriages. 

These things are just foolish. 

Putting people of  buses and travelling to the state capitol did not change 1 thing. 

There is ‘sin’ in the land.  There are ‘evils’ in the land.  And none of  this extremism attitude is addressing any of  the real issues.   This is why the devil is called ‘the great deceiver.’   He takes people’s  eyes off  what they really should be paying attention  to.

There are some  real core issues in this country and around the world that are in dire need of  addressing.  And they …these issues… go beyond self preceived notions of  what is or is not sinful… or a greater sin.

Why should every American soldier have to endure a bunch of  crazy people targeting their funerals in that small Kansas town… or anywhere is this country… causing nothing but more grief  for their already grieving families and friends?

Is there not enough chaos and unrest all over the world without us here in America causing ourselves any more than what is necessary?

Soon people will be in the streets searching out their neighbors… and brother will be against brother.  It is prophesy.

So, some beserk preacher… and it is funny all these little un-named and unknown preachers coming out of  the woodwork wanting to make some kind of  stir that will land them on ‘Good Morning America’ or ‘Nightline’… or some other television show.   Then they’ll write a book …get an agent and go out on tour.

Going back to my original thought… these beserk little preachers trying to make a name for themselves… go out and stir up their congregations feeding them false doctrine… and backward ignorant thinking.

We serve a God of  love.  Who tells us to seek peace with ‘all’ men.

During Biblical times were there not homosexuals?

Did Jesus target them?

Did he set out to get them?

Did Jesus even preach against them?

No.  Because we serve a God of  love.   Who says with ‘love and kindness have I drawn thee.’   And do note those words… ‘drawn thee.’   Not  tried to chase you away… or antagonize you… or belittle or berate anyone. 

And anyone who acts in such a way is not of  God.  But serves that other master… no matter how much they would debate this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclusive/20110302/pl_yblog_exclusive/courts-ruling-in-funeral-protest-case-restates-first-amendment-principles

Well, God bless…hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.  It is now March… time certainly is marching on… and seems to be geting away from us.    It is flying by so quickly… fleeing.

Some time during the course of  your day just take the time to look up and observe the beauty has planted up there  for you to enjoy.

 Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family to em , co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

 

Add a comment March 3, 2011

Racists and bigots… hunting to destroy Obama…

There is clearly a plot to undermind the union known as the United States of  America.  And it is coming in the force of an entity known as the Republican party… Republican governors, senators, congressmen, mayors, business men and women… and media expoundants etc. 

Though these people would be quick to say that they are not racists.  Yet, their whole campaign and assult against Obama stems out of  nothing more than out and out racism.

In Wisconsin the Governor is trying to rid the state of  unions by going out after public employees…by weakening their ability to go to the bargaining table to negotiate their pay and other needs.  This attack is nothing more than backlash at unions…blue collar workers… for their large support of  the Democratic Party.  And for being a mighty force that came together, as well as other groups, in aiding Obama to take the White House.

It is not that they… these Republicans cannot see that Obama is working to get America out from under the Bush mess.  No, this they can clearly see… though they say otherwise… and desire to create an atmoshere of belief that he is not.  It is their master plan.  For Obama’s labors is just ‘what’ they fear.

Here it is… these political bigots are willing to block every initiative posed by Obama in order to make America a better and healthier place in the wake of  that idiot George W. Bush…yet they want to block them.   Not just 1 of  them… but all of  them.  They desire to tear them apart… deflat them and  try to defeat them.  While they sit around trying to terrorize people about  Obama’s initiatives… namely his direction and bills.

Imagine Republican governors setting up blockaides by stopping to take federal dollars that Obama has allocated to their states in order to bring the United States into the 21st Century.  Monies set up to make our intrastructure better, more modernized and highly inproved.  Such as high speed railroads.

Now, what could be wrong with that?

Nothing.  But its a black man trying to do it.  If  Bush has sat around trying to do good instead of evil… and came up with the idea of  updating our rail system… like Reagan came up with Star Wars.  Wonder what happened to that… It was a ridiculous idea for one thing… but all those Republicans loved it.  They stood up and applauded it… and supported that dumb idea.

Why do I say it was a dumb idea? 

Because we know very little about space.  And we have yet to conquer everythings here on earth first. 

So, why would we spend billions of  dollars trying to race our way to overtaking space?

Much of  the seas  right here on earth have yet to be seen.  Not to mention some months ago I read where they discovered some unknown tribe of  people in South America.  People who had never ever been introduced to the outside world.  As they had never gone beyond the confines of the area they lived in.  But those Republicans loved Reagan’s idea to spend all that money on something which today proves to have been nothing more than a waste of  time.

Yet, there are Republican governors who are refusing to accept  federal funds right now… based merely out of their own selfish desires to keep a black man from being effective and successful in his job as President of the United States.

And whether you care to believe it or not… this is the absolute… sole truth about the matter.

As dumb and as destructive as George Bush was for and to this country there was never 1 revolt or attack set up against him by any political group in this country.   Nor did anybody every stand up or while sitting down ever yell out-

“Liar,”  to him.

Bush was a man who brought this country nearly to its knees.  Brought us into a senseless war… was the cause why our gas prices… food costs… medical needs… and every other expenditure in this country has escalated beyond our imaginations.  Prices that people in forgeign countries had become used to… but never ever us. 

 And not 1 governor turned down anything from him… or came up in opposition against him as these dirty double-dealing Republicans have decided to now come up against Barack Obama.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110227/ap_on_go_ot/us_gop_governors_undermining_obama

How dare these men… and perhaps some women of the Republican Party decided that their racist attitudes mean more to them than the well-being of  America.  

How dare these voted into office individuals… decide that  they will not stop at doing anything they can do in their vain little efforts to hold back the tide called… Barack Obama.

Have they not heard that what God has done let no man put assunder?

Their opposition comes not because Obama is a bad President.  Or because Obama is a liar… unlike the last guy that held the office of  President of the United States… and an out and out liar he was… and not 1 Republican came out against him.   Nor are they raising up against Obama for any other reason than that they are a bunch of  bigots.

People who are trying to deceive their consituents by lying.  Telling their constituents that their opposition is against Obama because they don’t believe in the direction that he is taking America.

Here it is Obama has managed to begin the great American comeback after George Bush brought us into the worst  financial period in American history… just shy… and I do mean just shy of the Great Depression… and the history books may come to say ‘the worst’ 1 day… if  the truth really be told.   

But thank God that before Bush could take us all the way  down… the election period came up.  And  the timing could not have come quick enough to boot that crook out of  the White House.

Now, here in Bush’s wake… Obama is starting to turn back the tide… and then here comes those dirty little Republican Party politicans. 

Jobs are coming back and the economy is on the rise…   And my…  how they hate that. 

There is now light shinning through at the end of the deep dark tunnel that the Bush Administration and the Republican Party sanked us into.  And they want to block out that light.

Because it is the doing of  a non-Republican… and especially…   Oh, no… not a black man!

We can’t allow him.  If  he does this… if  he is successful you know what this will mean.  We will be saddled by an onslaught of other black Presidents.  They will prove that they are not stupid.  And  that they can manage  things… and make decisions. 

They will take over America.

It sounds like all that old southern  rhetoric expounded by southern plantation owners opposing slavery.   Proclaiming all kinds of  stupid stuff… like their women would not be safe.  Their children would not be safe.  That their way of  life… peacefulness…  and everything else would be destoryed.

And so, the slaves were finally freed due to a war betweeen the then Union States… the South verus the North… the Civil War.   Yes, it was not without struggle… or strife.  Not without loss of  lives.  Yet, black people came up from slavery working and striving to destory the old stereotypes and ngative images  propagateded  by hate.  And was meant  as a means of  keeping us down. 

Years of  watching us on television and in news segments as being a people who were lesser than… lost people…  and a people who could not get it right.

There is little wonder that throughout our history in this country… the most successful black people in this country were those in the entertainment business.  And particularly those in the earlier years that managed to cross the color barriers, becoming popular among white audiences.   They were those kind of  black folks who didn’t mind being laughed at… and keeping those old stereotypes alive.

Jessters who made their money acting the way white people believed… or rather liked seeing us act… in ways demeaning to us as people.  And they (those entertainers)  did not mind selling us out …much like  some of  these little rappers and singers …and some comedians of  today.

So, in walks a man name Barack Obama… and he comes in with a Michelle Obama… with little Malia and Sasha… and grandma.  And they broke up that stereotype, along with such talents as Diahann Carroll, who became TV’s Julia… and others.

No, they exploded it… those Obama’s.  And hopefully never to come back again.

Years of  lies hit the wall when the Obama’s hit the scene.  Years of  lies like… black men don’t do anything but beat their women.  

Lies like… black men don’t take care of  their children.

Lies like… their families don’t look like ours.

Like like… black folks are not smart.   They can’t learn…and that they can never do nothing right.

I am going to end this here.  Because I am getting mad.

Mad about what white racist people are trying to do against the man who is in the White House right now… who is trying to make this country better.  And because he ‘is’  black they don’t want to see him do it.

And they were willing to tear apart this country… and bring us all… all the way back to where Lincoln freed the slaves.   And to reinstate a deep wedge  pitted in the heart of  America to do it.

And these Republicans are set to bring that wedge back… no matter what it takes.  Because they desire to see the black man fail.

But the devil is a liar.

Do they not know that the more they try to do against Obama the greater God is going to make him?

He shall be successful.  Because I understand how God operates.  He loves oppposition.  And the greater the opposition the greater God can show His hand.

Obama being where he is… is not of  his doing.  But of  the will of  God. 

So, come on  you bigots… you racists.  Come on… come on.  

This is of  God’s doing. 

It is very intersting… and especially that since this group of  Republican governors meeting to discuss their efforts to attempt to block the success of  Obama by refusing to accept goverment funds and blocking his health care bill from  taing effect in their states… during this time…  BLACK  HISTORY MONTH.

Got up to about 2 inches more of snow this morning.  So, yes… I had to get up and get out to shovel.  But it was lite and not much.   So, I didn’t even break a sweat.  And didn’t sweat out my hair this time either.

I just got my hair done yesterday.  And as I sweat in my head… shoveling is not the best thing for a freshly done hair-do. 

Oh, well…  Got to do what a girl has got to do…

Well, God bless…hope you enjoy the rest of your evening and this Black History Month.

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family to em , co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2011

 

Add a comment February 28, 2011

In Celebration of Black History Month… Martin, Abraham, John and Mubarak… and Barack…

There is something about freedom that when you don’t have it…it is only but so long you are willing to go without it.  Or otherwise stated.. tolerate being in a state of non-freedom.

I am sure that for the past 20 years many in Egypt felt that they were doomed to being under submission to a tyrant, Hosni Mubarak, forever.   And Mubarak  under intense protest thought that he could wait it out… their riots in the streets and massive protests.

And then he thought to do it under his own terms… but they finally forced him out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12303564

But once people start to see the light of day…and start to act out regarding their frustration of  being under suppression there is no force which can turn that tide back around.

So, when the army came out in Mubarak’s defense…even the military could stop the desire of the people to be free.

In fact, this being Black History Month in America… one can easily equate the Civil Rights Movement to that of the move of the people in Egypt… except for this 1  fact. He had a man named Martin.

And the special thing about Martin was that he was a man of God.

The other thing about Martin was this… he understood the power of  love.  Or, you could call it this… non-violence.

It is hard really to really really understand this word ‘love’  in all of its great infinity.

It is deeper than we think.

But to Martin it was not.

In order to really understand the power of this word…truly… you have to experience it fully in its highest capacity.

Once while down at the registry…having to go in to renew my driver’s class.  And what I really should say is this-

While being at the registry attempting to renew my driver’s license.  It went like this…

I was given a number…and took a seat to wait on the calling of my number. But as I sat there they called every number but the letter beginning with the number sequence that the group of people waiting on that same sequence had like me.

So, I waited…and waited. And waited… and waited.

Finally, I stood up and had a fit in that place.

And I started shouting about where was ‘our’ numbers…and why wasn’t ‘our’ letter being called?  And I was not joking.

WHAT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH? It is the month in which we bear witness to the progress, richness and diversity of African American achievement. During the 1920′s an African American named Carter G. Woodson created and promoted Negro History Week. This period in February was chosen because it included the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976 the month-long celebration was implemented, and is a time for Americans to reflect on both the history and teachings of African Americans whose contributions are still too little known.Celebrate Black History Month with your family. Come learn about the achievements and history of African Americans by selecting the topic buttons below to view special pop-up sections:     BUSINESS & INDUSTRY CIVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION MUSIC POLITICS AND LAW PHILADELPHIA BLACK HISTORY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SPORTS BIOGRAPHIES     Content used by permission © Microsoft Encarta Africana

I was fit to turn that place out. And evidently the supervisor on duty did not appreciate my outraged outburst.

This, however, I did not know.   Not at that time…and not until a few days later.

But back to my story…finally our letter and numbers began to be call, and I finally got up to the window.

But there was a problem.  They sent me from 1 window to another window…then to another window.  Needless to say I was mad again …and ready to really tear up the place now.

By the time I got to the 4th window in this scenario I was boiling over. I mean I was mad. But the clerk was such a nice young girl I found it hard to be angry at her… though I wanted to take out my frustration on her.  Everytime I tried I just couldn’t.

She was just too nice.

Finally, I broke down and said to her-

“Can’t you be mean or nasty.  I just can’t be mad at you. Can you just not be so nice.”

She just smiled and kept right on apologizing about my bad experience that I was having that day at the registry.

Finally, I was sent away with no license. And I left out the DMV after having been there for nearly 4 hours…though a lot quieter but still mad.  And I had gotten nothing done for my time spent.

A few days later I got a letter in the mail telling me it was okay to come back into the registry to get my license.  That is when God shined a light into my life regarding that experience…and what ended up being my unexpected end.   

Because my outburst had embarassed the person who supervising the clerks working the counter…she decided (supervisor) that I was not going to leave out of there with whatever I had come in there to do.  And boy did they do it.

They had me walk  from 1 window  to another… sending me on a series of wild goose chases before turning me loose to go home… and without my license.  And while making $100 poorer.

I now understood every smirk…and look that I had picked up on… but at the time they had not meant  anything to me… because I was too mad to pay any attention to anything but  to what I wanted to accomplish when I went into that office.  It was all clear to me now… even down to the young clerk  who had been so kind to me… and why she could have been so nice to a very nasty little me.

She had been made aware to the inside joke. I now remembered a woman calling the girl back to her and whispering something to her.  So, no wonder the young girl could smile through my attempts to antagonize her in the heat of my anger.  She had been told to plaquette me.  And it had all been a joke… my going from 1 window to another… and sent here there and everywhere.

Martin did not attempt to plaguette anyone… but he clearly understood that through acts of non-voilence in the face of violent acts can be a more powerful weapon than kicking, spitting and hitting back.  When you have the capability of restraining yourself  from responding in an equal or like-matter  to  that of a prepetrator or an enemy... then you will have power over them.  Because the act of  violence or hate…or malice directed towards  you is devised to get a negative response from you.  And this Martin clearly understood… and also the power of  showing a reverse response to that which is expected.

Martin didn’t just believe in the ideology of non-violence alone.  He understood  that love was a retractor that forced even your worst enemy to have to step back and reconsider his acts or actions towards you.  It confuses them.  They have to step back… scratch their heads… and wonder what’s wrong with you?

The first thing that start to consider is ‘maybe I didn’t beat him hard enough.’   Or ‘maybe I didn’t insult him enough.’  Maybe…maybe I need to threaten his family. Or tell him that I’m going to kill his wife…or maybe I need to call and whisper into his telephone and tell him-

“You better keep your eyes on your children.”

There is something about love… that deminishes fear…and rage.  It can force change to come about.  And so we celebrate Black History Month because of those people  who got tired… and started walking and marching rather than continuing to accept mistreatment… insult… and dehumanization.  

People who took the hits… the punches… and the spit in the face that I …my son… my nieces and nephews might walk in this country with the right to be as other people who come here… though not in chains and they never had to live as 2nd class citizens in this country… nor contributed half as much… as we to be recognized as bonifided citizens.

It is amazing that throughout all these years in this country all these great inventions and discoveries by black folks in American are still not regularly spoken of outside  of our own circles.  To think that somebody…and African American… ex-slave invented the railroad track switcher, the traffic lights, the steamship, the air conditioner, the yard rake,  the yard sprinkler, the cotton gin,  blood plasma, potato chips, peanut butter and oh…….so so so so much much…much more.

It is not that we do not have great minds in our group…but minds that have never been recognized. Consider all that we have created and achieved with nothing to so little…    Just  imagine if our folks had been allowed in this country to patent their inventions or anything back in times past.   Just how many millionaires and multi-millionairs…billionaires there would be within our community today.  Oprah would not be out there all on her own.  She might be in 3rd or 4th place behind some of these people… these great minds in Black History.  And there would be plenty of  money…and lots of  ‘old’ money within  the ranks of our own communites too.  Legally obtained by both those highly educated…and those who worked in fields as well… creating items which made their labors a bit easier  on them.  Inventions of thing which  today are highly commonplace items in all our homes… or in all of the world’s everday life.

Also,  nobody can tell me that whatever that man’s name is…   James Naismith really was  the ‘real’ originator of  basketball.  A man from  Massachusetts?   Who started playing a game of  ball that included peach baskets? 

I think not. 

It sounds more like that on a visit down South… he saw some black boys down in Georgia…the home of  peaches… with an old ball and tossing it into a peach basket after getting  in from a long day of  working out in those Georgia peach fields.  He saw them …and then Naismith went back home and began to teach it  to some young college students, calling himself the creator of  it.   I think not.

Well, happy Black History Month.

Oh, yes…before I end. 

I think that it is interesting that during this season of much international unrest… I think that it is interesting that many who questioned President Barack Obama’s community oragnizing credentials… evidently never sat in on any community meetings. 

They don’t know anything about the fights  or the outburst of  angry and outrage that can erupt during community meetings.  If  they had had any understanding… they would have realized that a man… or any woman with Obama’s community organizing credentials would be just the right thing for this season in terms of  international turmoil.  You need somebody who can get in trenches and knows how to hold his own…to deal with these kind of  elements of  emotional revolts and religious extremism.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110127/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt_protest

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/02/02/middle-east-protests-syria-egypt/

Since the Egyptians have finally over a series of  a few days managed to chase out their oppressor from  office over them…it has given strenght now to other 3rd World Countries looking at that picture  to believe that they also have the strenght to seize their freedom too. 

It is kind of  like the elephant… who as a little baby elephant is tied into place with a little stick.  But being that elephants have long memories… the baby elephant when it grows up does not know it now has the strenght to break free from anything that might try to hold it or contain it.  But if that elephant were ever to see another elephant break free… it might also come to realize that strenght that is in his hands as well.

So, we see the children who have grown up…and now determine for themselves not live as their parents had… passively.  From the Middle East to North Africa their is unrest… Libya, Tunisia, Bahrain and,  Yemen.  And make no mistake…at ever turn America’s interest is vastly at stake.  And I have no doubt that Obama has his eyes keenly on these places, the voices of the people…and those that are soon to pop up  on the scene too… hot spots… all over.

I for 1 am happy that we now have somebody in the White House who is not operating with split interests.   But someone who cares about us… the American people… and not future riches for him and his clonies…like the George W. Bush clan.

  Well, God bless…hope you enjoy the rest of your evening and this Black History Month.

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family to em , co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2010 

 

Add a comment February 21, 2011

Eva Longoria headed for divorce… North Korea milliary strike… Palin’s reality…

It never fails to amaze me just how stupid some men can sometimes be.

What was wrong with Tony Parker that he just could not be true to one of most beautiful women in Hollywood?

Clearly, Eva  Longoria loved him.  And he appeared to be happy with her.

http://www.popeater.com/2010/11/23/eva-longoria-tony-parker-cheated/

I recall that when the rumors surfaced regarding his bachelor party and some ‘woman of the night.’  Eva  quickly dismissed it.  She totally declared it to be false and denounced anyone who dared to even claim such a thing about her then husband to be.

And why not?

Aren’t you suppose to trust the person who your are going partner youself to for the rest of your life?

But it would seem that Tony has proven those rumors …and all tho stories to be true.

And he looked so innocent.  Perhaps, too innocent.

What is it about men that when they have a good woman… a loving and caring mate… that they fail to be able to be true to her.

You often hear men… and many womas as well… often belly aching about how they cannot seem to find  the right persong… a good person… a decent person… a harding working man… or a loving and caring woman.  Yet, when presented with 1 they fail to be able to appreciate him… or her.

I remember Donald Trump and his parting from Ivana.  Just about everybody on this planet thought he was crazy.   Even Marla  probably had to laugh about that… as she took the Donald to the bank.

Then there was Rick somebody or other…  Oh, yeaj… Rick Fox  and Vanessa Williams.   What a jerk he must have been.  Who in his right mind would ever want to be kicked to the curb by Vanessa.

But some of these guys are just to pretty.  But then when they loose out on what they had… and find themselves out in the cold reflecting on their errors… it is always too late.

Grow up gentlemen and ladies… learn to appreciate and respect what you have already while you yet  have it.

I have had at least 2 men cry in my presence while telling me about their wives.  The wife they cheated on… took for granted… could have cared less about… until she was no more.  She passed.

As I listen to 1 of  them tell me how his wife had been his best friend… his childhood sweetheat… and how he cheated on her so many times… I could not help but think as  tears rolled down his face-

“Why is it that you can always see a good thing when it is gone?”

All chances of  showing her… or rectifying the situation had been removed.  She was dead.  Gone forever…and now he didn’t want anybody else.  He  had stopped with all the other women.  All when it didn’t matter… because she was gone.

How sad can that be?

But it happens day in and day out.   Some people have everything that anybody could ever want… and they just do not appreciate it.

Truly sad.

Today North Korea launched deadly rockets into South Korea killing both soldiers and civilians.

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/obama-pledges-us-would-defend-south-korea/19731500

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/north-korea-attack-unforgiveable-2141389.html

In my Just War’s class this would be called an act of  ‘aggression.’

In Political Science there are a couple of ways that ‘aggression’ can be allowed and/or tolerated by the national community.  One is for the reason of  an ‘assumed threat’  by another nation state.  Or 2  for a reason where 1 country  believes that there is real  and eminent threat of  being struck first.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/11/23/16279961.html

Because of  nuclear weapons small Nation States no longer fear hegemon states… large powerful nations such as the United States or Great Britian… or Russia  any more.  The power that hegemon states once wheeled has long fallen by the wayside.  The ability to create and use nuclear weapons has become the great equalizer.  And now small nation states such as North Korea, Iran, Pakistan etc… now feel their muscles geginning to bulge beneath their shirts.  And are anxious to have their voices heard around the world on the world stage.

What action can the United States taken against North Korea for shelling a small South Korea island with deadly mortar?

Why do we have to do anything?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/23/obama-south-korea-commitment_n_787864.html?flv=1

Yes, we have to side with our allies.  And it is in our best interest to do so.

But when acts of  aggression occur do not our allies  likewise have an obligation to stand with us?

Today there is only 1 real super power left in this world… and that is the United States.  But with soaring illegal immigration around the world… drug wars… rogue states… religious fanatics… and even some very unstable people running some foriegn governments… it would seem that other like-minded nations have no choice but to stand with us.  There is just too much going on in the world today… for any nation which is an allie of the United States to just sit back.

The ills that face this world take an united effort to quail and try to lay to rest.  And that is the force that will overcome rogue nations… religious fanatics and zealots from destroying the world… unity.

Palin’s real world reality is…is that nobody really wants to watch her or her family on television.  She is just not that exciting … or intriguing.   And the show may hit the dust before its 8 week contract is up.

When the idea for  this show was pitched… every thumb in the room should been turned down towards the table.  That is what  TV exec’s should have done… tabled it before it got out of  the box.  But now after the dim ratings i just 2 episodes… they soon will.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/23/sarah-palins-alaska-ratings_n_787454.html

Well, we are now almost just 1 day away from Thanksgiving.  This afternoon I made 8 apple pies.   I have to make at least 2 more tomorrow…and then put a few sweet potato pies into the oven too.

I had bought the peaches for peach cobbler but decided to hold off on that until Christmas.

I do not know about you… but I can’t get to th table quick enout or to that turkey. 

Tomorrow, I have to pick up the video camera equipment because I  have decided that I wanted to video tape us all together.  This year we came awfully close to having lost 1 of my sisters.  She suffered a heart attack.

She is doing just fine now… but during the course of  the week she was in the hospital all I wanted to do was pray.  And is all I did really.

God heard our prayers.

Hope that He has heard yours too.  Through the course of  a  year many situations come up.  It is good to be able to depend upon the Lord.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving…  I know we shall enjoy ours.

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family to em , co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2010 

2 comments November 24, 2010

Venus and Serena always at the top…

Okay, I admit it.  I have not been paying close attention to either Serena or Venus lately. 

Okay…okay…maybe it was because I just can’t seem to agree with the skimpy clothes or skin-like almost naked look of  Venus’ under garments of her tennis outfits.  But that does not mean that they are not the best…or perhaps the greastest sister act to ever hit the  World Tennis Courts.

And because I can’t always agree with their clothing choses does not mean that they are not ‘yet’ still beautiful young black or…African American young ladies.

So, then why did the Austrian Open fail to include their names.  Venus and Serena Williams… in its list of  ’the ten most beautiful women?’

Oversight?

Maybe…

If  it was an oversight on the part of those who did the electing could it have been one due to color… as in their ‘skin color?’

Very possibly.

Beauty can be measured in a number of ways.  But if you are looking at beauty as it pertains to women’s looks…  then you certainly cannot overlook the Williams sisters.  And they are more than just physically beautiful.

Some people even believe that a good mind is beautiful.  And if you are one of those then… they are beautiful even in that.

Some people believe that having a good personality is beautiful.  And if you are one of  those than you might even agree here.  The William sisters are beautiful

Some believe that having height is beautiful.  I love height.  And if you think that being tall is a sign of  beauty… then you can agree here.  That the William sisters are beautiful.

Some people look at your skill and ability, and find beauty in that.  Maybe, you are one of those.  Certainly, it cannot be said that they… neither Venus nor Serena are lacking in either of  those departments.  In fact, they possess great skill and ability in all the things that they do… be it designing jewelry, or designing sets  for television or video productions… or designing clothes …or slicing tennis balls straight down the court and making Aces. 

Yes, the Williams sisters possess talent, skill, ability, smarts, intellect, height, charm, elegance… and everything else.

So, then why did they not get chosen …or at least 1 of  them for some ‘tennis most beautiful list?’

Well, you figure that one out.  I have my own opinion on the matter already… and you probably know what it is.

All in all… whether they were picked or not for that list… what can you say except…  they are still winners in everybody’s book.   And very much still at the top of  their game.

Now, how could your overlook that?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jewel-woods/venus-and-serena-williams_b_169927.html

http://www.onthebaseline.com/2010/08/12/venus-and-serena-williams-commit-to-playing-fed-cup-by-bnp-paribas-final/

http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2010/09/05/venus-williams-shahar-peer-offers-reminder-of-players-connectio/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3%7C168702

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/US-Open-might-be-venus-williams-last-best-shot-090810

With regard to their clothes… 

Who says that the under pants to Venus’ tennis outfits have to be only white?

Evidently, it is not in the rule book.

The other young ladies on the tennis court wear white under garments and nobody says that they are trying to give off the illusion of being naked…being that they are white.   So, why then should we preceive that Venus is trying to give off  an illusion of  being naked… even though that might have been what she expressed when she was confronted by a bunch of  foolish questions concerning the matter.

Can you believe that an article states that when Venus steps out on the court at the US Open this year…she will do so as the ‘under-dog?’

Clearly, many in the tennis hate the Williams sisters…and simply just wish that they would just disappear.

And once again Venus is causing a stirr…news articles saying ‘short and skimpy.’   You guess what they are talking about.

Well, hope that you enjoy your weekend this weekend.  The kids are back at school here on Monday.  Unlike when I was growing up you don’t really see parents out shopping for school clothes the way they used to.  My son says that it is because kids wear uniforms now.

But still what happened to having to buy new shoes and socks, and other things for school?

Then today too… many kids have to supply themselves with their own notebooks, pens, pencils, and paper… etc…etc…etc… 

They don’t even get to carry their school books home from schools any more.

And everybody is wondering why they kids are not getting the education that they should?

What tools are we giving them so they can?

Not every child has a computer at home… or at their immediate disposal.    They do not all have the same resources.

So, why does the public school system feel that they do?

Where are all our tax dollars going?

When they started lotto in this state they said that the money… or a large portion of it was goingto go  towards education.  I really do not see where any of  has.

Today, the kids have no lockers in their schools to even hang up their coats… or  to place their books in… if  they were given any.  They have to furnish their own pencil sharpeners… art supplies …everything.  All of which were  given to us when I was in school. 

For every class I had… I had a corresponding textbook.  These books were given to me as my personal possess for the year, and at the end of year I had to return them back into the possession of the school.  But today’s kids don’t have anything like that.  Their books can’t leave their classrooms. 

So, what happened to all that lotto money?

Why do kids have less in school today than we did yesterday?

And in this environment of less… how can we possibly expect or hope for them to do just as well or even better than we did yesterday?

I can’t see it happening.  The sakes are higher today… and our kids should not be made to deal with less simply because the school system is not allocated its  fair share.

Now, so much for me standing on top of  my soap box.

Enjoy your weekend… and hopefully each and every one of our children… and they all are ours… will have a great and tremedous school year this year.

I have yet to launch my official and new website…but I must say that it looks great.  And almost everything is working.  Just needs some final tweeking.

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family to em , co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2010 

2 comments August 28, 2010

Some of what you may be waiting on…

You have been reading my writings…   Well, some of them.  You may have even watched my book trailer for my book, THE BISHOP’S WIFE.

Now, and I want to show you something that I started yesterday.  It is the radio spot for my book.  I added some visual material just so I could launch it over youtube…and you would have something to watch.

But if you have been wondering about me… I mean my voice.   What I may or may not sound like. 

I mean I would be curious about you… if  I read some of your work.  Most people flip over a book just to take a look at what the author looks like.  And I have given you that chance in my actual book trailer, which I have also included in this blog.

But I am so excited about my radio spot.  Tell me what you think.  And it is me speaking… but then I have told you that by profession I am a radio announcer.

And if  you think my radio spot is something… which thanks to a software call ‘Motion’… it really looks greater than I could have imagined.  Then ‘Final Cut’…was the software I used to put it all together.  And the rest is…   Well, you tell me…

And one other thing… I really wished you could see my website.  If you went and checked out my initial site…which really wasn’t much to check out.  Baby, you should see it now!

I just finished reading this story.  There are things that touch me…and things that make me mad.  This story did both.

http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/report-remains-found-of-missing-la-woman-mitrice-richardson/19591275?icid=main|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fcrime%2Farticle%2Freport-remains-found-of-missing-la-woman-mitrice-richardson%2F19591275

This is the kind of  case you wished Johnny Cochran was still around  for. 

How in the world could the LA police arrest a young woman mentally challenged, hold her for a few days then release her without her pocketbook, money, or any way to get home.  And seeing that the young woman was obviously distressed in some way.

How could they have done that to her? 

It was a scenario set for doom.

If  they had set it up the LA police could not have done a better job in aiding in the murder of  this young woman.  The moment this young woman was released the chances of  her making it home safely  without something happening…in LA?   

It  was slim at the very best.  And the worst part of it…. her loving and caring mother tried her best to keep anything from happening to her daughter.

I feel for this  family.

My goodness…what a terrible story.  I cannot imagine the hell or the evil that Matrice was thrown in or the fate that she had to endure.  What a terrible story.  No amount of money  or law suit can compensate  the injustice which was done here. 

I restrain myself  from speaking on the Fantasia story.  To some degree I feel for her though. 

There is something that I am so sure about.

“The devil desires to steal your life.”

And if  you let him he will.

There was once a time when I thought about suicide.  But thank God, He only let it be just a fleeing thought.

Matters of  the heart can make people do foolish things. 

But the one thing about life is this…

There is always tomorrow.  And usually it is a much better day.

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12956553

I just finished talking to friend of mine who reminded me that Fantasia is illiterate.  It has been so long that I had forgotten it.  How she told the story of how she had to learn the songs for American Idol by having to have someone read her the words so that she could remember them. 

Can you imagine that?

For her to do that… Fantasia in fact must be brilliant.  And if  she had learned to read and perhaps all those other basic things that we all pretty much take for granted… she might have well been further ahead today since having won American Idol a few years ago. 

 There is no doubt that education is essential for success.  And true success cannot be had or maintained without it. 

You know to know how to read, write, add and substract.  Without these basic skills all of  us would find it difficult to survive. 

Now with computers and with texting… who doesn’t need to know how to read or type… or write?  And it doesn’t matter whether you can type with 1 finger or with all 10… but without being familiar with the alphabet or without knowing how to read you would be lost… totally out of the loop.

Then she got caught up with a married man. 

Then there was something about her a ‘sex tape.’

Could it be a need for some attention?  

That is what my son says. 

Or is it that Fantasia like some many other ‘so-called’ stars when they fall out of the glimper of all the light… they reach out to do some desparate  or stupid things just to get catapulted back into the spot light?

Attempting to commit suicide is illegal.  But I hear that Fastasia is due to release a new CD and sometime this week she begins making the rounds to various TV shows.  Perhaps it was…  just something to give her something to talk about while she sat down for those rounds of  TV interviews.  Or perhaps it was all for her to grab the attention of  Oprah and others to add her to their guest lists in the wake of her ordeal… and increase CD sales. 

Who knows…

http://www.dvercity.com/drumbeats_fantasia.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/12/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main6766379.shtml

Hope you enjoy your weekend.   Summer will soon be coming to an end.  In many places school has already begun again.

Well, God bless…

Thank you for reading this blog…and  my others.  Please be sure to continue to share this blog site with your family to em , co-workers and all your friends… “pass it on…”  www.bsmith101.wordpress.com  ©2010

THE BISHOP’S WIFE  is now on sale.  You can CLICK this LINK to purchase my book. 

2 comments August 20, 2010