Abolish The "N" Word

I am really starting to see the "N" word being used a lot now with people from several different type of races. My problem with this word is not what they want it to mean, but where it comes from. We have ancestors who have died by this word and suffered losses because they refused to be called this word. For the record, here is the definition:

Noun 1. nigga - (ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a Black person; "only a Black can call another Black a nigga"; jigaboo, nigger, nigra, coon, spade

derogation, disparagement, depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or something
ethnic slur - a slur on someone's race or language

Black person, blackamoor, Negro, Negroid, Black - a person with dark skin who comes from Africa (or whose ancestors came from Africa)

The last half of this is what offends me the most. How is it that this is what defines a black person who comes from Africa? So, now I hear kids calling each other this, like you're saying "my friend" or something. It's just like the "B" word. It's offensive for guys to call a girl a female dog, but the girls can call each other that.

We need to learn to use (as Donald Lawrence has said) the right words for the right things. If you are calling someone a female dog, don't be surprised if they start taking on the attributes or characteristics of a dog. If you call someone a lazy, stupid or immoral person, don't be surprised when they carry themselves like that on regards to you.

-Marcus Dyson
www.marcusdyson.com

Re-Elect President Obama or No?

The following was posted by Aaron Anderson on FB.

"We must join together with one cause, one voice and commit ourselves to voting for President B. Obama. Listen, this vote will be unusual because there are those who do not wish our president well and would like him to be a one term president. We must gear our mind and heart toward getting out the vote. If we don't or fail to vote we have no choice but deal with Newt Gingrich who has called president Obama, "The Food Stamp president" Beware of the Ginrich....."

I so agree that we must Re-Elect President Obama. My reasons are not just because he is African-American, although that is a huge milestone for the world. 

Let's be honest. African-Americans aren't the only one's who were impacted by him becoming the first AA president in office. All over the world people of every color became more inspired to do great things because of this milestone.


My reasons for agreeing with re-electing him is because of that but mainly because he handles himself in the most professional way, there has yet to be any type of major scandal with him involved (unless of course it's being kept hidden very well and if that's that case, he deserves to be re-elected because they're good at keeping things concealed). It's obvious that he is head over heels about his wife and she is so very involved with his career as much as he is. I have never seen a more active first lady before. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one, not to mention I've only been alive for 38 years. There has yet to be anyone trying to say that he is cheating on his wife or anything like that. Especially with all the politicians and pastors in the last few years that were exposed or exposed themselves.

I just believe that for the first time in history, we have a president who is strong, a REAL family man and has done some great things in this country that has provoked change. Everything hasn't been perfect but the only way to have a perfect president would be to elect JESUS CHRIST! 


Please share your thoughts...I'd like to see your opinions, good or bad. Let's talk.

Racism In Flight

This is brilliant!!!

A 50- something year old white woman arrived at her seat on a crowded flight and immediately didn't want the seat. The seat was next to a black man. Disgusted, the woman immediately summoned the flight attendant and demanded a new seat. The woman said "I cannot sit here next to this black man." The fight attendant said "Let me see if I can find another seat." After checking, the flight attendant returned and stated "Ma'am, there are no more seats in economy, but I will check with the captain and see if there is something in first class." About 10 minutes went by and the flight attendant returned and stated "The captain has confirmed that there are no more seats in economy, but there is one in first class. It is our company policy to never move a person from economy to first class, but being that it would be some sort of scandal to force a person to sit next to an UNPLEASANT person, the captain agreed to make the switch to first class." Before the woman could say anything, the attendant gestured to the black man and said, "Therefore sir, if you would so kindly retrieve your personal items, we would like to move you to the comfort of first class as the captain doesn't want you to sit next to an unpleasant person." Passengers in the seats nearby began to applause while some gave a standing ovation.

 So today I opened up an article on www.bet.com that talks about a man who was suspended without pay for using the "N" word. Read the article and let me know what you think.

White Teacher Files Lawsuit After Suspension for Using N-Word 

By: Danielle Wright

  A 48-year-old Chicago public school teacher thought it was okay to use the “n-word” as a part of a history lesson and, after landing a five-day suspension from his job, he’s now filing a federal lawsuit, claiming his civil rights have been violated.


Lincoln Brown, a 21-year veteran teacher and native of Chicago’s Hyde Park, used the word while teaching a sixth grade lesson on the pitfalls of racism. After discovering a note citing rap lyrics that had the slur written on it, Brown thought he had found the perfect opportunity to teach a lesson about racism in the context of Huckleberry Finn.


In what could be called the worst timing, the school’s principal walked in just as Brown said the “n-word.” In his version of the story, Principal George Mason disputed the context in which Brown used the word and charged him with "using verbally abusive language to or in front of students,” a violation of the Chicago Public Schools’ policy.


Following a disciplinary hearing, Brown was suspended for five days without pay. In a recent lawsuit, however, Brown names Mason, CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and the Chicago Board of Education, saying his first and fifth amendment rights were violated.


"It's ridiculous to believe that sixth-graders aren't exposed to this language, not only in music but in their everyday lives," Brown told the Sun Times. He also claims that the stress caused him to have high blood pressure and sleepless nights.


In December, an Atlanta teacher resigned after trying to correlate a math lesson with slavery and, just last month, a metro-Detroit teacher came under fire for asking students to participate in a slavery role-playing lesson.


Cases like Brown’s and others make us ask, “Is there an appropriate way to teach slavery?”

So after reading this, and some of the comments people shared, I can understand that him just using the word is inappropriate. However, he was really just reading the lyrics there. Not to mention, I am a teacher myself and I find myself correcting kids using this language at least 15 times a day and they are using it towards each other. The sad or crazy part is, none of the kids I correct are African-American!

What are your thoughts?

Misread Letter

HUMOR: A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida and spend some time together in celebration of Valentine's Day. Because they both had jobs, they had difficulty coordinating their travel schedules. It was decided that the husband would fly to Florida on a Monday, and his wife would follow him the next day.

Upon arriving, the husband checked into the hotel. There he decided to open his laptop and send his wife an e-mail back in Minneapolis. However, he accidentally left off one letter in her address, and sent the e-mail without realizing his error.

In Houston, a widow had just returned from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who had been 'called home to glory' following a heart attack. The widow checked her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. Upon reading the first message, she fainted and fell to the floor. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

To: My Loving Wife
From: Your Dear Departed Husband
Subject: I've Arrived!

I've just arrived and have checked in. What a trip! I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

Love you...

P.S. Sure is hot down here!

Whitney Houston: Forever An Icon

I am very saddened at the news of the tragic loss of a musical icon today. She has made history with her voice and her work in the entertainment industry. I think the first time I heard her, I didn't understand what all the big fuss was about. I was about 12 and wasn't really singing yet (well, not seriously). Until I heard one of the most intriguing songs I had ever heard. It showcased her voice so well that I had to hear it over and over again. Even to this day, anytime I hear "I Will Always Love You" I am drawn to a place I never thought music could take me. Since then, I have been and will forever be a fan. I love how down to earth she was. I also appreciate her closeness to my other favorite singer, Brandy.

Whitney has influenced my singing as well with her ability to take a song and not be confined to what's expected. Sure, she has had some down moments. But who hasn't. She has been a woman to stand by her husband, protect her family and did her best to protect her career. I remember one day, I was listening to WBLS New York with Wendy Williams. Whitney called in and confronted Wendy on the air without losing too much respect for herself. It was so funny and even though she was coming across strong, she was still classy.

I'm sending prayers up for the family. In particular for Bobbi Kristina, Bobby Brown, Ms. Cissy Houston and those who were closest to her.

Whitney, we will always love you and we'll miss you.

Bill Cosby "I'm 76 and Tired"

"I'm 76 and I'm Tired" by Bill Cosby

I'm 76. Except for brief period in the 50's when I was doing my National Service,

I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for some some serious health challenges,I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I'm tired. Very tired.  
  
I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic.I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.         
    
I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honour"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.  
    
I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia, New Zealand, UK, America and Canada, while no one from these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance..  
  
I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off? 
  
I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.  
  
I'm really tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems. 

I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20's bedeck themselves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves un-employable and claiming money from the Government. 
  
Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 76.. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and her children. Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way in.

I Hate Religion!

WOW! This poem says it all!

A Message To Dreamers

I am blessed to have so many influential people in my life. These words are from a man that I totally look up to and am inspired by. Bishop Wenzell Jackson is a Pastor who now resides on the East Coast. When he was in California, he would always have some great things to say. The following is statement he posed on Facebook that really impacted me and several others.

 

 "Tonight I am sitting in my office and reflecting on those who came before me, in struggles and movements to get us where we are today, of course Dr. ML King, who was the face of the movement for justice and equality but I just want to also thank God for those soldiers whose names we will never know, who were bit by dogs, hosed by water, sat at counters, lynched and arrested so that I can stand behind the Sacred Desk at Mount Hermon."

"Perhaps if our youth understood the sacrifices that were made the back of the bus/train would not be their seat in life, perhaps they would pull their pants up and represent the pride of our forefathers, perhaps they would no longer use language that is disrespectful to themselves and those who are on the streets and trains who have to hear them, perhaps Beats, Jordans and a blunt would be traded for a book, a newspaper (without the sports section), perhaps if they only understood the DREAM, they would become dreamers themselves and see themselves, stronger, wiser and better! I am a dreamer ... I believe many of you are dreamers too ..."