Standing my Ground for Trayvon Martin

      I can't help but think of that touching scene in the movie "A Time To Kill" when Samuel Jackson's character is being tried for murdering two white men for raping his daughter.  Mathew McConaughey  asks the jury to play the crime back in their heads and at the end he says "now imagine the victim is white"! The reason why that was so important, is because the jury was unable to relate to the plight of Samuel Jackson. This is the same plight of the Trayvon Martins of the world.   Trayvon was stereotyped from the beginning Zimmerman says "he looks suspicious", but what was he doing that looked suspicious? Zimmerman said "he looked like he was up to no good". He looked like he was up to no good ?, to me there  was nothing about Trayvon that said up to no good. He assumed, because the neighborhood was an affluent, gated community that someone like him didn't belong there.  He assumed that a black man in a hoodie and sweat pants could not have a legitimate reason to be there. Many whites will never know what it feels like to be in America and be looked at or made to feel as if they don't belong because of the color of their skin,and that is why Zimmerman is a free man today. Most of the depictions of young black males are negative and  We (black people) play a huge role in that, although prejudice still plays a  role in it as well. We wear our pants well below the waist exposing our underwear even though we are clearly wearing a belt. We call our woman "Bitches" and makes songs about it. We glorify the word Nigga (nigger) and once again this can be found in our music. What do you expect people to think of you when they hear you singing/dancing  (dancing: oft times associated with being happy) songs about disrespecting woman including your mother, yourself, & your children. How can we sing songs about robbing and killing? In the words of todays young people "wheretheydothatat?" 

Their is an old adage that says  you should fight fire with fire. I can say I pretty much agree with that concept. The Stand Your Ground Law seems to be diametrically opposed to this. The law allows someone facing candle power to fight back with a blowtorch, and somehow that seems to be not just fair, buy legal. I often hear people reminiscing about the good old days, the days before guns played such a huge part in society and its squabbles. These squabble or fights were called "fair ones"  because it was mano y mano, no weapons and may the best man win. Back then if you lost you went home cleaned up your wounds, and you went on with your life. Well today "fair ones" rarely exist unless a camera is rolling and someone yells out "Worldstar" but thats a whole other topic….we need help!. So back  to the law called "Stand Your Ground" it basically says that if you feel your life is in danger it is ok to do whatever it takes up to and including deadly force to protect yourself. In layman's terms if you are in harms way you can do whatever it takes to get out of it. (sidebar)apparently  it doesn't matter if you went out of your way to get into harms way. I digress ….. This law seems backwards to me, I can only assume a broken bone or bruised ego which allows you to see another day is to much to live with, especially if the person who did this to you is still alive. The thing I wasn't certain of was how can a man go looking for trouble, find it, and then decide he can invoke the law. That seems to be the biggest problem with this case, besides the fact that you are a grown man gong after a 17 year old kid, and assumed Trayvon was up to something, when in fact he was just going to the store. Think about it, What would you do? No what would you tell your child to do, if he or she was walking home and noticed someone following him/her? First thing is to run, and if you can't get away, you use whatever is available to help you get away, a stick, a bottle, a brick, because at this point self preservation is the objective. You would tell your child to get away if possible, but in the end you would tell him/her that if your life is in danger, it is ok to use force up to and including deadly force to protect yourself!   

Did the jury even  consider that Trayvon was just  standing his Ground!

$$$ is the root to all evil

Often times we claim victim, but we don't participate & so we are shut out, money is buying elections & as unfortunate as it is if u don't help the cause & get out & vote u will leave your future, our future in the hands of ppl who only care for themselves. Tonight the GOP who raised 30 mill & dems who raised $3 mil elected a governor, who do u think won? Wake up ppl u spend $2 on junk daily why not donate $2,3 even $5 to help ur president who cares about ppl in ur tax bracket? Who cares about ur kids school, or city If u hurting now it will only get worse when The party of no takes over! Shutting down schools, laying off teachers, cops & public servants, wake up ppl, do nothing u get nothing! Our future is at stake we seen what Bush did when he was in control, he sank this ship aka our country, & the party who represents him decided to do nothing, in-order to make our president look like a joke, we give $20 to the club & pay $10 for a drink, You spend $150 on sneaks, how bout u spend something that will make a difference. At some point we have to participate or we will lose our spot at the table. We all have a vested interest in this election, u may receive public assistance, well it'll be cut, u may receive free lunch in school well say goodbye to that, lets not even talk about healthcare, or unemployment benefits, life as u know will be left in the hands of ppl who do not care anything about you. So I ask you to get involved, get your family involved. I went to see 1st Lady Michelle Obama speak yesterday & one of the speakers before her said, "If you are not apart of the solution, you forfeit your right to complain!" Let's not treat this president like he's a fad that has already gone out of style, hell You gave Fubu almost 8 years, you can at least give our president and your future 8.

What's Love got to do with it!

I was once told that the love that u have for ur child, children is the same love that u should have for your spouse. I think about my two or eleven year old sons  and my 16 going on 30 year old daughter I realize that their is nothing that I wouldnt do for them. I am in love w/ my children. Coming home to them and getting a big hug, or seeing them light up and scream "daddy" man what a feeling. It makes me want to embrace them and shower them with gifts and love. This feeling is also the same reason why I will punish them when they do wrong. I want the best for them and I need them to reflect on decisions and behaviors that brought us to this chastisement, in order to not repeat it and to learn from it; I remember hearing my father say before a spanking that "it is gonna hurt me more than it will hurt you" never really understanding it but now I totally get it.& So when I hear people say stuff like we need a president who is in love with america it makes me question their love for america. Cause America like a child needs to be cared for and nurtured, & she needs guidance and support.  America should not be treated as Cinderella and be only apreciated when she is working so that you dont have to. America deserves rest, america deserves parents who will share the workload, america deserves parents who will chip in when needed. America deserves parents that will work together. Could you imagine if your parents decided because they couldnt agree on something the best plan was to do nothing. There are many successful people in America that will tell you that acheiving success was not easy. They will tell you they did what it took to make it, cutting back, working a second shift, and even a second job. At the end they are succesful because they were willing to go the extra mile. I am two years into my own business and understand that mantra. See I treat my business as if it is my child and I'm gonna do whatever it takes to succeed, so that I can secure not only mine but my childrens future. Thats how the people running this country who claim to really love it should feel as well. Working a second job or an extra shift is the same as increased revenues,  and cutting back is equivalent to entitlement cuts. Things are bad and if we expect them to get better we must all do our part. I said all of this to say if you really love someone you will do anything for them, you will give until it hurts, while giving until it helps. So if you are not willing to do so,than your are all talk and so now  I question, do you know what love is? And your recent actions make me ask Whats love got to do with it?

Cutting the Deficit should be Simple Mathematics

I remember when I was younger, a loaf of bread was $1.00, I recall buying a 16oz soda pop, and a Tastykake w/ a single dollar and getting back change. The change was $.10 but it was change. Over the last few years we have seen our cell phone bills rise, along w/ the cost to heating our home.  The biggest and probably most drastic change we have seen was in gasoline prices.  Gas has jumped from $1.50/gallon to upwards of $4/gallon.  When the cost of yesterday goes up today, we chalk up to inflation, we bicker, reminisce and get on with our lives. Do you think Pepsi Cola considered what would happen when then had to raise prices, I'm sure they did, but guess what if people want to drink pepsi they will pay. Revisiting gas prices, people still drove to work, and wherever they had to go, being mindful of the price and trying to save when possible, but the point of it all, is they still drove, people still brought cars, and people still paid for gasoline.  Airlines charged surcharges, and began to charge for luggage, delivery companies charged a surcharge, and it became business as usual.  Business understand that if the cost of providing a product or service requires more than in turn I must charge more.  Businesses get the concept it is simple mathematics.

With all that being said, how can someone say raising taxes will hurt growth, or cripple the economy, when in fact the people that are fighting to not increase prices, are the same ones increasing prices.  In order for America to get its debt under control, they must do two things, cut excess spending, and raise taxes. These taxes that we pay go to roads, public safety, national defense, safe water and food, they also go to pay social security, medicare & medicaid. The fact that our tax rates are equivalent to those of the 1950's really. Isn't that the same as me demanding that I  $.50 for a loaf of bread that I know costs more than a dollar.  The job creators have not and will create a job because it is the right thing to do, so saying that it will stifle growth is absurd, if you have a demand for extra employees than you will hire them.  Its amazing that they can see it when it benefits them, but not when it benefits the country.  This is our country, we all have a vested stake in its prosperity. 

There are definitely places that deserve cuts, like subsidies to fuel companies, farmers, and if the government will help to create new medicine, than they should be apart of the profit that new medicine gets. 

I have so much in my head right now that I can not get it all out so Im gonna take a break from this for now, I welcome all feedback. Thank you for your time.

I'm considering voting Republican this election!

When I posted this as my Facebook, and twitter status, I immediately got replies and mentions telling me that, I am out of my mind. Well let me explain to you my logic. Two years a campaign swept the country, like none other with one word, and that word was CHANGE! We are almost 2yrs into the Obama administration, and the House and the Senate(which both have Democrat Majorities) have fought against the very change that he is trying to give us.  The system itself needs change, and that is truly hard to do considering the people that are tasked to change the system, are happy with the current one. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have a system in place that yields them results, and anything that they win for the people in the process is a bonus. If a politician is given $100,000 as a quote unquote campaign contribution, to be against change, what do you suppose they will take. Even for the ones that forfeited or declined that money, what about the others who didn't, and now majority once again wins. A senator makes $165,000/yr and his term is 6 years. so doing the math that's almost 1 million dollars in 6 years.but in order to be senator, you must spend 8 million(average dollars) to win the job! I know the math is fuzzy, but its not about the 1 million over 6 years that stand to make, its the kick backs, the campaign contributions, from the insurance companies, and energy companies, and drug companies. So asking these people to change for the better, and to do it for free, because its the right thing to do, is a slap in their face.

I say all that to say, the people who are currently in office do not want the change that this country so badly needs. It is counter compensatory for them. Why change, they like the way the system works. So if we all voted for a republican this election, and they won, in two years we would be able to vote for the candidate that best suited the people, and in two years we would have a whole new system, one that would have a better chance at real change.

 I support the President 100%, I dont neccesarily agree with everything he does, but I believe it is for the greater good. I know that it took us 8 years to get here, and it has only been two years of trying to dig us out. I dont expect miracles overnight. I know that 25% of his opposition has zero to do with his policies, and more to do with his skin color. In no way am I racist, but I get it. . When it comes down to it,  in reality how can we expect it to be fixed with the wave of a hand. It has been over 8 years since the 9/11 attacks on New York city, and the area has not been restored. That is a few city blocks, in almost 9 years, we are talking about restoring a country, how can we expect to restore that in less than two?

Lets Talk Healthcare!

Can you really be against an idea that you never heard? Would you accuse someone of being close-minded if you attempted to talk to them and they put their hands in the ears and started sing do re mi? That’s exactly what the republicans have done. And yes it’s childish. They have also convinced many Americans that we (those who are insured) will be paying additional money for those who aren’t insured. News Flash people, we already do. Do you realize that in 1993 USA spent 8% of our income on Healthcare fast forward to 2010, and its now 17%.




How many people lose their entire fortune, wealth and home, to battle a disease like cancer, how can the insurance company be allowed to say we have covered you up to now, and now that you are really sick, you are on your own. My health insurance is $9,000 per year for me and my 3 children. In 1999, it was $5,000 per year, so for the last 11 years I have paid $70,000 into an insurance system, and have only gotten check ups, blood work and 1 non serious surgery. The insurance company has made a big profit on me, because I didn’t use anywhere near the coverage that I paid for. This is not uncommon, so how can an insurance company say after making profits for 10 years, you are costing us too much money, and we must drop you now. We pay over 2.3 trillion a year into healthcare, but are ranked 37 in the world for aggregate results; we are spending more than any other country and have nothing to show for it. Healthcare needs to be fixed, and it needs to be fixed now. When I hear people say that the American people are against a bill that stops Pre-existing conditions, insurance companies capping your coverage, and preventing them from taking your home because you or your child has cancer, and then I must ask, did the American people listen to the question before answering? Medical bills have contributed to 62% of all bankruptcies filed in the US.



I as you can tell am for the bill; but I ask that if you are against it convince me otherwise. If you are for it, I implore you to get involved tell your representative that you are for and you are in their corner.

Please sign up to join the Organizing for America campaign in the final march for reform
http://my.barackobama.com/commit

FAITH W/O WORKS IS DEAD!!!

I am sure many of you are familiar with this term. Faith is defined as confident belief in an idea, the substance of things HOPED for. Work is described as physical effort directed towards production. This passage from the 2nd chapter of the book of James says so much with 5 words. How can one expect to accomplish anything without a physical effort towards production. The answer to that question is obvious, they can expect it, but in reality there is not much of a chance that it will come into fruition. Belief is a powerful tool, but it is unfortunately not enough. Many people were excited by the campaign and the fight of getting Barrack Obama elected, many people have been energized or motivated into the political process. It can also be said that many people resumed their previous positions back on the sideline. Many people thought that because he won, that change has come. Well change has come, but winning the election as joyous and momentous as it was , is only the beginning. How can we expect the president that we voted for to accomplish the goals that were set forth if we are not involved. In the Presidents acceptance speech he used the words WE more than 40 times. Why because WE are the people that he is trying to serve. It is not possible or probable for him to do it alone. He was elected by millions of people, millions of people who took a pledge to not only vote for change but to work for it! There goes that word again. People it is time to get off of the couch, turn the TV off, log out of Facebook or Twitter, and take back our communities. Have you ever attended a city council meeting? Do you know how or where they spend the tax dollars that you pay? The people in Washington are their because someone voted them there. They all represent a community or town just like the one you live in. Have you ever met your representatives, have you ever called their office, or wrote a letter of concern? This race that we are in, will not be won by watching from the sidelines. It can only be won by lending a hand and support to the runners. Barrack Obama ran a campaign on Change, Healthcare, Ending the Iraq war, Fiscal Responsibility, reducing Earmarks, helping the middle class, helping the common man. Who has ever on a national scale ever thought about helping you? We have people who talk a good game, but he's walking it. He has healthcare, he don’t need it, he has money he's not after yours, but what he is after is your time and commitment to Change The work has just begun, and we need all of you proud supporters back in the ranks. My ask of you is that you attend a city council meeting. I ask that you Google who your representatives are and than email them these words. How can I help you help our president? It may be with a dollar, but I promise you giving up some time will be twice as valuable. We have made it this far, but we have a lot further to go. You can say what you want and Hope for the best, but if we are not putting forth physical effort towards productivity, than we are not doing our part.


http://www.whitehouse.gov/

www.house.gov/

http://www.senate.gov/