HOPE and VICTORY

Everyone has probably heard about, or experienced the fable about the 'scorpion and the frog'. It's a great learning story where the theme of betrayed trust has been easily demonstrated through other animal symbols. Stories like the 'The Scorpion and the Frog' are worth re-visiting as we find our trust in our fellow man waning by the hour. Yes, that includes the neighborhood mechanic down the street, or the dentist at the corner office. It even includes that minister who drives around in that large luxury car while his parishioners seek food to eat. Let's not forget us being fooled in purchasing a bill of goods that don't live up to the hype. No matter who or what we trust, how often we forget who or what not to trust? Or how often we are ensnared in idolization of others and things to an extent of god-like worship that often we take our eyes off of the truth and find ourselves sinking in quick sand, or, like the 'frog' here, being stung--to death. ...

The best time for you and I to impact the appointments process is now, not after the President-elect makes his nominations public. Kevin Martin , the executive director of Peace Action, Peace Blog No new administration waits till being sworn in before deciding and enacting its priorities on war, peace, credit, housing, jobs or heath care. While many are still boasting, roasting, coasting and toasting the election results the business of governing has already begun. So too the business of holding the new administration accountable must begin without delay. " Holding the Obama Administration Accountable " Bruce Dixon , Editor, Black Agenda Report , 11/13/2008) Even as we are dancing in the streets it appears that the foundation for all of the key appointments and decisions are being made, even before our inaugural show-off party. Historically, this has been the pattern of those embraced by powerlessness—dance now, act later, lose the war. ( Jerel Shaw, Hope & Victory Blog ...

Many times I have agonized about how quality black actors on television had been displaced by simple black images. The power-that-be finally decided to give us more black faces. But, I hope that black people should understand that power transcends black skin color. Not all actors who 'get paid' are concerned about making history as the viewers. In fact many, not to mention Bill Cosby, turn out to be antagonists to the black community--the same community who have helped to ensure their place on the tube and in life. Or, these actors may look black on the tube, but their private lives may reveal that they prefer white over black. Just like Kennedy's reign was suppose to be one as Camelot but instead turned in to a horror story, we may be recycling that same Camelot illusion--not wanting to call it like it is. We are then allowing for history to repeat itself with no accountability. This in itself explains why emotional outbreaks are not necessarily accountable for real l...

The below link is truly clever advertising. It seems to be utilizing the latest visual and audio technology to make the message hit home. Another unique aspect is that it can be customized for each and very individual recipient. A colleague ( Jadi ) sent it to me and I'm passing it on to you. Now the only liberty taken is the assumption of someone knowing or thinking they know who I am voting for in the Presidential Election. In other words, most black people are voting for Obama by default, and since I am black, not a republican and have been a registered Democrat in the past, I must be voting for Obama, right? In all seriousness, I could have put less than 1% of the money from the Campaign of Obama to good use and could have 'bailed out' myself and a few others. Now after 8 wasted years of Bush (and in the prime of my life) I'm told another 4 can make a difference. Gosh, we are talking about 12 years of hopelessness. Hopelessness in the real world equals the propensit...

"It's incredible that in the most powerful country in the world, which spends billions of dollars on brutal wars ... people do not have enough money to stay in their homes" Nicaragua leftist President Daniel Ortega I asked one of my colleagues about the word "kill" , on how it relates to leadership in a Christian nation. Does being able condone killing makes one more Presidential? For that matter, must all elected officials in America, starting with (let's say) state governors and ending with the U.S. President, wear that bold badge of courage known as being able to order that people be killed? If history is revealed, the present President ranks high in directly or directly responsible for killing people. When serving as the Governor Texas, Bush, Jr. partnered with recently maligned U.S. Attorney General Gonzalez in allowing executions. In a magazine article it was reported that " During Bush's six years as governor 150 men and two women were execut...

While black men are being thrown in jail for not being able to pay child support, millionaires are being thrown lifelines for them and their companies in the tune of billion of dollars. The biggest joke, to add to the reference of the industrial prison complex, is that those who receive the lowest tax breaks, can't find good jobs, have problem paying medical insurance, are paying back taxes, can't pay the rent, etc. are being commanded to save the rich and the most capable. There are some disturbing statistics regarding people who are making millions, and then we are asked by government (or ordered) to bail their companies out financial turmoil. Merrill Lynch Chief Executive Officer John Thain made roughly $83.1 million in salary and other monetary rewards during 2007, making him the highest-paid CEO for the year, according to Associated Press rankings released Sunday. In that same year John Mack of Morgan Stanley made $41.7 million According to the Corporate Leader Daily thes...

"The real hurricane chasers are the real masters of the art of diversion" Some of the worst storms in American history included Hurricane Beulah in 1967, Hurricane Carla in 1961 and Tropical Storm Amelia in 1978. Of course, Hurricane Katrina may have trumped all of these as far as devastation and cost. Yet all storms have something in common, the power to divert people’s attention. Being raised in the great Southwest of Houston, I should know. Even though young, most people who I knew were not thinking about the War in Viet Nam, or high crime rates. We were all thinking about trying to stay alive as Hurricane Beulah approached. Wars are probably the other most understated vice for mischief. It doesn ’t matter whether it is an illegal war or a legal war. Once it gets started, it becomes one of the greatest vices for misdeeds by those in power. If President Bush hasn ’t had the sense to do anything else during his Administration, through his genius of starting wars, he had eff...