Monday, October 31, 2011
My Current Mood
Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It's beyond me. ----Zora Neale Hurston
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Ending the Deficit
I saw this posted on Facebook and while I'm not sure if this is true it definitely is interesting. So what do you think? Do you agree or disagree?
Warren Buffett, "I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election. The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc. Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*
1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office
and receives no pay when they are out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All
funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security
system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system,
and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for
any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans
do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay
will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the
same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American
people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen
made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor,
not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours
should serve their term's), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take
three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Maybe it is
time.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on.
Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*
1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office
and receives no pay when they are out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All
funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security
system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system,
and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for
any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans
do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay
will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the
same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American
people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen
made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor,
not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours
should serve their term's), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take
three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Maybe it is
time.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
When The Past Tries to Resurface
So two days ago I reconnected with a friend on facebook (one of the FEW things I like about facebook). We talked and caught up a little bit but it was just great to know they were doing well. Today I'm driving home and I get a facebook notification that I have a message. I view the message and see its from a mutual friend of ours. Let me be honest, this person is not a friend of mine (at least not anymore). Long story short we were on good terms but he decided he didn't want to talk to me anymore so I quit talking to him. His decision and I simply complied. For the sake of this rant lets call him "Terry". So Terry decides to send me message saying "I see you and 'so and so' are friends. Just want to see if you're well. Hit me back if you want". I have not responded and have no intentions on responding. I've already denied a previous follow request on Twitter and a friend request on Facebook. Now you sending me a message on Facebook? No I do not want to hit you back. I have no intentions of ever talking to you again. Terry previously told me several years ago that we weren't really friends and didn't wish to communicate with me anymore. So for him to attempt to contact me, yet again, irks me! Not to mention he's the second person this week (that I care not to see or hear from ever again) to contact me via Facebook.
Facebook has a way of bringing people out of your past that you could seriously go the rest of your life (and probably all of eternity for some) without seeing or hearing from them again. This happens to be one of those people. Let me be clear, I have several people like this in my past but I DO NOT for one second wish any harm on them. I wish them all the luck, blessings, and success beyond their imagination. I just don't care to see or hear of them anymore. My personal opinion about people like this is that they simply want to be nosey and see how well (or bad) you're doing. Maybe to satisfy their ego or whatever insecurities they may have. If I don't like you or we're not on good terms, I'm not going to connect with you online or in person. I go my way and you go yours. Simple as that right? Obviously not.
So not that I have completed my rant I am officially done with this situation. NEXT!
Facebook has a way of bringing people out of your past that you could seriously go the rest of your life (and probably all of eternity for some) without seeing or hearing from them again. This happens to be one of those people. Let me be clear, I have several people like this in my past but I DO NOT for one second wish any harm on them. I wish them all the luck, blessings, and success beyond their imagination. I just don't care to see or hear of them anymore. My personal opinion about people like this is that they simply want to be nosey and see how well (or bad) you're doing. Maybe to satisfy their ego or whatever insecurities they may have. If I don't like you or we're not on good terms, I'm not going to connect with you online or in person. I go my way and you go yours. Simple as that right? Obviously not.
So not that I have completed my rant I am officially done with this situation. NEXT!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Perfect Grown Ups
I'm sitting here watching TV and relaxing. As I sit here I allow my mind to wonder and I begin to think back to when I was younger. I use to think that "grown ups" did everything right (even if I didn't like everything they did). I was like any other child growing up. I played, laughed, and got in trouble more times than I can remember. I grew up and didn't have any other thought about how I use to feel "grown ups" were always right. It didn't hit me until now how wrong some of those "grown ups" can be. I look back on some of the advice they had given me as well as the life lessons they tried to teach me. There were advice of revenge, sexual promiscuity, lying, stealing, and cheating just to name a few. So I credit it to me be young and naive. I've grown up (and I feel I still am in some respect) and I realize "grown ups" aren't has perfect as I once thought. Now that I am a officially a "grown up" out in the world I have really grown to appreciate the innocence of children. It gives more meaning to Matthew 18:3 "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (King James Version)
More ramblings to come....
More ramblings to come....
Moving Forward Through the Struggles
I been home from church for a few hours and I am sitting her watching Boycott on BET starring Jeffrey Wright and Terrence Howard. The movie is about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Montgomery boycotts. What really is standing out to me is how the black community respected Dr. King and Rev. Abernathy as their leaders and followed through with the boycott. I loved how they stood together spiritually, physically, and interesting enough financially. I have always believed that when a company, organization, etc. doesn't respect you as a person then you should not support them financially. The Montgomery bus boycotts are a perfect example of the power and impact pulling your financial support can have on these organizations. While money plays a significant part, the fact that they supported each other and pulled their resources together really stood out to me.
I would love to see the black community get back to this. I believe along the way some of us got comfortable with the way things were (are). Today it seems any crisis that hits this nation hits our community even harder. Jobs are the major focus of the media and our government while our unemployment rates are higher than those of our white counterparts. This movie and Dr. King's life and legacy in general should remind us where we come from, how far we've come, and how much work is still left. President Obama is not the cure all for the black community in this nation. He's only one man with an unbelievable load on his plate. We have to take matters into our own hands. We have to start by looking to God and standing on His word and the promises he made. After all that is how our people made it this far! I look back on the struggles of my people and realize we have a strong, rich history and legacy. We have endured so much and accomplished even more. No one for one second could make me regret who I am because my God makes no mistakes! I love my people and I am proud to be who I am.
I'm finished rambling for now. In the meantime, to all my brothas and sistas acknowledge, cherish, respect, and appreciate your history as black people.
I would love to see the black community get back to this. I believe along the way some of us got comfortable with the way things were (are). Today it seems any crisis that hits this nation hits our community even harder. Jobs are the major focus of the media and our government while our unemployment rates are higher than those of our white counterparts. This movie and Dr. King's life and legacy in general should remind us where we come from, how far we've come, and how much work is still left. President Obama is not the cure all for the black community in this nation. He's only one man with an unbelievable load on his plate. We have to take matters into our own hands. We have to start by looking to God and standing on His word and the promises he made. After all that is how our people made it this far! I look back on the struggles of my people and realize we have a strong, rich history and legacy. We have endured so much and accomplished even more. No one for one second could make me regret who I am because my God makes no mistakes! I love my people and I am proud to be who I am.
I'm finished rambling for now. In the meantime, to all my brothas and sistas acknowledge, cherish, respect, and appreciate your history as black people.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Forgiveness
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Stephen Anderson, Ex NYPD Cop: We Planted Evidence, Framed Innocent People To Reach Quotas
First Posted: 10/13/11 05:55 PM ET Updated: 10/13/11 05:55 PM ET
A former New York City narcotics detective testified in court that planting drugs on innocent people was common practice, a quick and easy way to boost arrest numbers.
According to the New York Daily News, the practice is known among NYPD officers as “flaking,” and officers in Brooklyn and Queens narcotics squads were doing a whole lot of it.
Stephen Anderson, the former detective, was snared along with a group of other officers for “flaking” four men in Queens back in 2008. He is now cooperating with prosecutor’s and is spilling the beans on the crooked practice of framings and false arrests, often to reach arrest quotas.
"It was something I was seeing a lot of, whether it was from supervisors or undercovers and even investigators," Anderson testified in Brooklyn Supreme Court last week. "It's almost like you have no emotion with it, that they attach the bodies to it, they're going to be out of jail tomorrow anyway; nothing is going to happen to them anyway."
The Drug Policy Alliance, a group that promotes alternatives to the war on drugs, issued a statement calling the case against the officers indicative of larger, systematic failures.
“One of the consequences of the war on drugs is that police officers are pressured to make large numbers of arrests, and it’s easy for some of the less honest cops to plant evidence on innocent people,” said Gabriel Sayegh of the DPA. “The drug war inevitably leads to crooked policing — and quotas further incentivize such practices.”
This latest case isn’t the first time corrupt police practices and numbers fudging by the department has been exposed. A few years ago, an officer also in Brooklyn began secretly taping the activity around the department and uncovered a more sinister side to city policing.
Hundreds of hours of tape reveal how bosses threatened street cops if they don’t make enough stop-and-frisk arrests, “but also tell them not to take certain robbery reports in order to manipulate crime statistics,” according to the Voice. “The tapes also refer to command officers calling crime victims directly to intimidate them about their complaints.” (The popular public radio show, This American Life, did an in-depth feature on the padded stats in the Brooklyn precinct and the organized intimidation of the officer who was trying to blow the whistle.)
According to the DPA, the NYPD has recently come under fire recently for the arrests of more than 50,000 people last year for low-level marijuana offenses – 86% of whom are black and Latino – making marijuana possession the number one offense in the City. The group is also critical of the NYPD’s controversial stop-and-frisk practice.
The marijuana arrests, the group says, are the result of “illegal searches” by the NYPD, as part of stop-and-frisks.
The statement continued:
Where do I even begin with this story. I don't even know what to say except that we all knew this was happening. I honestly believe in these last days God will reveal a lot of things. We are already seeing this in the church how prominent pastors are being exposed for their involvement in a number of scandals. Were we so naive to think that God would only limit his judgement to the church? 1 Corinthians 4:5 says "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." Isaiah 29:15 says "Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?"
I believe cops like these give the good cops a bad rep. I appreciate those that take their job seriously and sincerely want to serve and protect the people. I, however, have no respect for the cops discussed in this story or any other cop guilty of this same offense. I have always felt that cops were professional bullies. They use intimidation and fear tactics and their authority to have their way, often at the expense of the minority community. I personally take delight when these acts are exposed simply because of what the victims endured all because of a lie.
Again to those in law enforcement who actually conduct their jobs with honesty and integrity...KUDOS to you! Wish there were more like you out there.
A former New York City narcotics detective testified in court that planting drugs on innocent people was common practice, a quick and easy way to boost arrest numbers.
According to the New York Daily News, the practice is known among NYPD officers as “flaking,” and officers in Brooklyn and Queens narcotics squads were doing a whole lot of it.
Stephen Anderson, the former detective, was snared along with a group of other officers for “flaking” four men in Queens back in 2008. He is now cooperating with prosecutor’s and is spilling the beans on the crooked practice of framings and false arrests, often to reach arrest quotas.
"It was something I was seeing a lot of, whether it was from supervisors or undercovers and even investigators," Anderson testified in Brooklyn Supreme Court last week. "It's almost like you have no emotion with it, that they attach the bodies to it, they're going to be out of jail tomorrow anyway; nothing is going to happen to them anyway."
The Drug Policy Alliance, a group that promotes alternatives to the war on drugs, issued a statement calling the case against the officers indicative of larger, systematic failures.
“One of the consequences of the war on drugs is that police officers are pressured to make large numbers of arrests, and it’s easy for some of the less honest cops to plant evidence on innocent people,” said Gabriel Sayegh of the DPA. “The drug war inevitably leads to crooked policing — and quotas further incentivize such practices.”
This latest case isn’t the first time corrupt police practices and numbers fudging by the department has been exposed. A few years ago, an officer also in Brooklyn began secretly taping the activity around the department and uncovered a more sinister side to city policing.
Hundreds of hours of tape reveal how bosses threatened street cops if they don’t make enough stop-and-frisk arrests, “but also tell them not to take certain robbery reports in order to manipulate crime statistics,” according to the Voice. “The tapes also refer to command officers calling crime victims directly to intimidate them about their complaints.” (The popular public radio show, This American Life, did an in-depth feature on the padded stats in the Brooklyn precinct and the organized intimidation of the officer who was trying to blow the whistle.)
According to the DPA, the NYPD has recently come under fire recently for the arrests of more than 50,000 people last year for low-level marijuana offenses – 86% of whom are black and Latino – making marijuana possession the number one offense in the City. The group is also critical of the NYPD’s controversial stop-and-frisk practice.
The marijuana arrests, the group says, are the result of “illegal searches” by the NYPD, as part of stop-and-frisks.
The statement continued:
Marijuana was decriminalized in New York State in 1977 – and that law is still on the books. Smoking marijuana in public or having marijuana visible in public, however, remains a crime. Most people arrested for marijuana possession are not smoking in public, but simply have a small amount in their pocket, purse or bag. Often when police stop and question a person, they say “empty your pockets” or “open your bag.” Many people comply, even though they’re not legally required to do so. If a person pulls marijuana from their pocket or bag, it is then “open to public view.” The police then arrest the person.LINK TO STORY
Where do I even begin with this story. I don't even know what to say except that we all knew this was happening. I honestly believe in these last days God will reveal a lot of things. We are already seeing this in the church how prominent pastors are being exposed for their involvement in a number of scandals. Were we so naive to think that God would only limit his judgement to the church? 1 Corinthians 4:5 says "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." Isaiah 29:15 says "Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?"
I believe cops like these give the good cops a bad rep. I appreciate those that take their job seriously and sincerely want to serve and protect the people. I, however, have no respect for the cops discussed in this story or any other cop guilty of this same offense. I have always felt that cops were professional bullies. They use intimidation and fear tactics and their authority to have their way, often at the expense of the minority community. I personally take delight when these acts are exposed simply because of what the victims endured all because of a lie.
Again to those in law enforcement who actually conduct their jobs with honesty and integrity...KUDOS to you! Wish there were more like you out there.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Well On My Way
In an earlier post I discussed how there were so many changes occurring in my life and how I was scared that God might actually bless me with the desires of my heart. Those close to me know that I recently made a decision to relocate to another city for a number of reasons. I consider the very moment I decide to relocate a pivotal point in my spiritual journey. Once I made that decision everything seemed to fall into to place. It was a nervous and scary time for me but empowering and inspirational at the same time.
As stated earlier there were a number of reasons why I chose to relocate. One of the most significant reasons was to find a church to help me along my spiritual journey. I had a church home but it came to a point where I literally felt I wasn't getting anything out of it. I would go expecting to hear a word pertaining to me and my struggles because that is what my spirit was hungry for. Instead I left with my spirit still feeling hungry. This is not to bash my home church. It definitely served a purpose but as one pointed out to me, I simply had outgrown my church. My pastor always said "go where you grow" and for once it really stuck to me. So that's exactly what I did.
In preparation for my move I inquired about a few churches in the area and two were recommended to me. There was one in particular that I was leaning towards after recommendations from my sister and friends. So after being in my new place for almost 2 months I decided to visit Word of Faith Cathedral in Austell, GA today (well technically yesterday) with one of my friends. While this is considered a mega church it certainly didn't feel like one. The sanctuary was absolutely beautiful but I can honestly say I wasn't caught up in the fact that this was such a large church. The ushers were friendly and the rest of the church seemed to be as well. The whole time I was there I was anticipating the message for the day. Bishop Bronner began to preach and throughout the whole message I kept thinking "this is what I've been waiting for!". The message was right on time for what I've been dealing with. He discussed issues that I just discussed with my friends the day before. Not only did he address those issues but he offered instructions on how to deal with those issues. Again this is what I been waiting for. I went there hungry and left FULL! Finding a church is definitely one of top priorities and I feel I am well on my way. (It was also a huge bonus to see the lovely Serita Jakes present. She is absolutely adorable!)
After experiencing today's service I will definitely be back. I have been thinking about service all day. I have visited several churches in the past but none have left such a lasting impression on me. I am looking forward to the next service. At this point I am in no rush to join any church at the moment because I want to make sure I am where God wants me to be, however, if I continue to have experiences like this at this church I will definitely consider joining. I advise everyone to visit and seek churches that leave a lasting impression on you. You should be eager to return to church and hungry for the Word!
On that note I hope that each and every one of you get to experience what I experienced today.
As stated earlier there were a number of reasons why I chose to relocate. One of the most significant reasons was to find a church to help me along my spiritual journey. I had a church home but it came to a point where I literally felt I wasn't getting anything out of it. I would go expecting to hear a word pertaining to me and my struggles because that is what my spirit was hungry for. Instead I left with my spirit still feeling hungry. This is not to bash my home church. It definitely served a purpose but as one pointed out to me, I simply had outgrown my church. My pastor always said "go where you grow" and for once it really stuck to me. So that's exactly what I did.
In preparation for my move I inquired about a few churches in the area and two were recommended to me. There was one in particular that I was leaning towards after recommendations from my sister and friends. So after being in my new place for almost 2 months I decided to visit Word of Faith Cathedral in Austell, GA today (well technically yesterday) with one of my friends. While this is considered a mega church it certainly didn't feel like one. The sanctuary was absolutely beautiful but I can honestly say I wasn't caught up in the fact that this was such a large church. The ushers were friendly and the rest of the church seemed to be as well. The whole time I was there I was anticipating the message for the day. Bishop Bronner began to preach and throughout the whole message I kept thinking "this is what I've been waiting for!". The message was right on time for what I've been dealing with. He discussed issues that I just discussed with my friends the day before. Not only did he address those issues but he offered instructions on how to deal with those issues. Again this is what I been waiting for. I went there hungry and left FULL! Finding a church is definitely one of top priorities and I feel I am well on my way. (It was also a huge bonus to see the lovely Serita Jakes present. She is absolutely adorable!)
After experiencing today's service I will definitely be back. I have been thinking about service all day. I have visited several churches in the past but none have left such a lasting impression on me. I am looking forward to the next service. At this point I am in no rush to join any church at the moment because I want to make sure I am where God wants me to be, however, if I continue to have experiences like this at this church I will definitely consider joining. I advise everyone to visit and seek churches that leave a lasting impression on you. You should be eager to return to church and hungry for the Word!
On that note I hope that each and every one of you get to experience what I experienced today.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Letting Go and Moving Forward
Allowing God to move in our lives will also require us to let go of somethings. Below are some words of wisdom from my sister and dear friend:
"Sometimes we hold on to people, places and things because we FEEL and beLIEve that nothing better will come along...or we will never replace that thing WE see as valuable. Not realizing that GOD see's us more valuable than what we're trying to hold on to. He has somethis even GREATER than that we hold in our emotional tupperware. My lesson of the season: let it go, throw it in the trash and let it stay dead. *locking my door* "-VictoriouslyMi
"Sometimes we hold on to people, places and things because we FEEL and beLIEve that nothing better will come along...or we will never replace that thing WE see as valuable. Not realizing that GOD see's us more valuable than what we're trying to hold on to. He has somethis even GREATER than that we hold in our emotional tupperware. My lesson of the season: let it go, throw it in the trash and let it stay dead. *locking my door* "-VictoriouslyMi
Remembering Jobs While Acknowledging Shuttlesworth
A friend of mine posted this and I had to share. She articulated my thoughts in a way that I could not and I really like this about her and really look up to her. A very wise woman. Shout out to you diva!
"I hate to hear of the passing of Steve Jobs, as a pioneer of Apple, but an equally important man, probably more important as it relates to my life, but Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth also passed away today. He survived bombings and beatings at the hands of racists and opponents of the Civil Rights Movement. Thank you for all you endured, so that people like me, could purchase the products that Steve Jobs created. RIP to a true legend"- Kimberlee W.
"I hate to hear of the passing of Steve Jobs, as a pioneer of Apple, but an equally important man, probably more important as it relates to my life, but Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth also passed away today. He survived bombings and beatings at the hands of racists and opponents of the Civil Rights Movement. Thank you for all you endured, so that people like me, could purchase the products that Steve Jobs created. RIP to a true legend"- Kimberlee W.
The Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, civil rights leader, dies at age 89
At one end of the fire hose were officers deployed by Bull Connor, the notoriously racist police commissioner fond of telling his men to use sticks, dogs and whatever else was necessary to scatter peaceful black protesters. At the business end was the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, the Birmingham, Ala., preacher who -- as much or more than any of his contemporaries, the leaders of the civil rights movement -- had a penchant for putting himself in harm's way in the name of equality.
Shuttlesworth, who survived bombings, beatings and that 1963 encounter with the fire hose that left him with chest injuries, died Wednesday at 89 at Princeton Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., relatives and hospital officials said, half a century after his repeated refusals to back down to Connor and the Ku Klux Klan helped even the fight for civil rights in the South and beyond.
"When God made Bull Connor, one of the real negative forces in this country, He was sure to make Fred Shuttlesworth," said the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a fellow pioneer in the movement.
Shuttlesworth, a truck driver turned Baptist minister, never gained the kind of fame outside his native Alabama bestowed on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other luminaries. But without him, King might not have sent his forces to Birmingham when he did.
"Fred didn't invite us to come to Birmingham," said Andrew Young, the former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador who served as an aide to King. "He told us we had to come."
Shuttlesworth became pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1953 and soon began openly challenging segregation despite repeated arrests and attempts on his life.
On Christmas night 1956, 16 sticks of dynamite were detonated outside his bedroom as he slept at the Bethel Baptist parsonage, eleven months after a similar attack at King's home in Montgomery, Ala. No one was injured in either bombing, although shards of glass and wood pierced Shuttleworth's coat and hat left hanging on a hook.
The next day, Shuttlesworth led 250 people in a protest of segregation on buses. In 1957, he was beaten by a mob when he tried to enroll two of his children in an all-white school.
"My church was a beehive," Shuttlesworth, who stayed active in Birmingham even after moving to a church in Cincinnati in 1961, once said.
"I made the movement. I made the challenge. Birmingham was the citadel of segregation, and the people wanted to march."
Admirers from King to President Barack Obama hailed Shuttlesworth's courage and determination over the years, qualities commonly attributed to the champions of the movement. But it was Shuttlesworth's sheer fearlessness that persuaded King to take the struggle to Birmingham, Young said.
"He marched into the jaws of death every day in Birmingham before we got there," Young said.
Alabama's first black federal judge, U.W. Clemon, said Shuttlesworth flung himself at injustice well knowing he could be killed at any moment.
"He was the first black man I knew who was totally unafraid of white folks," said Clemon, who is now in private practice.
In galvanizing his followers for another one-sided confrontation with the authorities, Shuttlesworth would say, "We're telling ol' Bull Connor right here tonight that we're on the march and we're not going to stop marching until we get our rights."
Televised scenes of police dogs and fire hoses being turned on black marchers, including children, in the spring of 1963 helped the rest of the nation grasp the depth of racial animosity in the Deep South. That fact wasn't lost on Connor, who died a decade later.
In a May 1963 New York Times story, Connor responded to the news that Shuttlesworth had been injured by the spray of fire hoses by saying: "I'm sorry I missed it. ... I wish they'd carried him away in a hearse."
In Cincinnati, Shuttlesworth left Revelation Baptist Church and became pastor of the Greater New Light Baptist Church in 1966.
For about three months in 2004, he was president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which he had helped found alongside King. The troubled organization's board had suspended Shuttlesworth without giving a reason after he tried to fire a longtime official. He resigned, saying board members tried to micromanage the organization.
He was 84 when he retired as the pastor of Greater New Light in 2006. "The best thing we can do is be a servant of God," he said in his final sermon. "It does good to stand up and serve others."
Shuttlesworth moved back to Birmingham in February 2008 for rehabilitation after a mild stroke. That summer, the city once known as "Bombingham" honored him with a four-day tribute and named its airport after him. His statue also stands outside the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
That November, he watched from a hospital bed as Obama was elected the nation's first African-American president. The year before, Obama had pushed Shuttlesworth's wheelchair across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma during a commemoration of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march -- a moment Obama recalled Wednesday in lauding Shuttlesworth as a "testament to the strength of the human spirit" and saying America owes him a "debt of gratitude."
Birmingham Mayor William Bell ordered city flags lowered to half-staff until after Shuttleworth's funeral, and Gov. Robert Bentley issued a similar decree statewide, honoring a man whose activism landed him behind bars dozens of times.
"I went to jail 30 or 40 times, not for fighting or stealing or drugs," Shuttlesworth told grade school students in 1997. "I went to jail for a good thing, trying to make a difference."
Jay Reeves of The Associated Press wrote this report. Errin Haines in Atlanta, Kendal Weaver in Montgomery, Ala., and Lisa Cornwell in Cincinnati contributed.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/10/the_rev_fred_shuttlesworth_civ.html
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"When God made Bull Connor, one of the real negative forces in this country, He was sure to make Fred Shuttlesworth," said the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a fellow pioneer in the movement.
Shuttlesworth, a truck driver turned Baptist minister, never gained the kind of fame outside his native Alabama bestowed on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other luminaries. But without him, King might not have sent his forces to Birmingham when he did.
"Fred didn't invite us to come to Birmingham," said Andrew Young, the former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador who served as an aide to King. "He told us we had to come."
Shuttlesworth became pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1953 and soon began openly challenging segregation despite repeated arrests and attempts on his life.
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| View full sizeThe Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth was photographed in Montgomery, Ala., in June 2007. |
The next day, Shuttlesworth led 250 people in a protest of segregation on buses. In 1957, he was beaten by a mob when he tried to enroll two of his children in an all-white school.
"My church was a beehive," Shuttlesworth, who stayed active in Birmingham even after moving to a church in Cincinnati in 1961, once said.
"I made the movement. I made the challenge. Birmingham was the citadel of segregation, and the people wanted to march."
Admirers from King to President Barack Obama hailed Shuttlesworth's courage and determination over the years, qualities commonly attributed to the champions of the movement. But it was Shuttlesworth's sheer fearlessness that persuaded King to take the struggle to Birmingham, Young said.
"He marched into the jaws of death every day in Birmingham before we got there," Young said.
Alabama's first black federal judge, U.W. Clemon, said Shuttlesworth flung himself at injustice well knowing he could be killed at any moment.
"He was the first black man I knew who was totally unafraid of white folks," said Clemon, who is now in private practice.
In galvanizing his followers for another one-sided confrontation with the authorities, Shuttlesworth would say, "We're telling ol' Bull Connor right here tonight that we're on the march and we're not going to stop marching until we get our rights."
Televised scenes of police dogs and fire hoses being turned on black marchers, including children, in the spring of 1963 helped the rest of the nation grasp the depth of racial animosity in the Deep South. That fact wasn't lost on Connor, who died a decade later.
In a May 1963 New York Times story, Connor responded to the news that Shuttlesworth had been injured by the spray of fire hoses by saying: "I'm sorry I missed it. ... I wish they'd carried him away in a hearse."
In Cincinnati, Shuttlesworth left Revelation Baptist Church and became pastor of the Greater New Light Baptist Church in 1966.
For about three months in 2004, he was president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which he had helped found alongside King. The troubled organization's board had suspended Shuttlesworth without giving a reason after he tried to fire a longtime official. He resigned, saying board members tried to micromanage the organization.
He was 84 when he retired as the pastor of Greater New Light in 2006. "The best thing we can do is be a servant of God," he said in his final sermon. "It does good to stand up and serve others."
Shuttlesworth moved back to Birmingham in February 2008 for rehabilitation after a mild stroke. That summer, the city once known as "Bombingham" honored him with a four-day tribute and named its airport after him. His statue also stands outside the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
That November, he watched from a hospital bed as Obama was elected the nation's first African-American president. The year before, Obama had pushed Shuttlesworth's wheelchair across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma during a commemoration of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march -- a moment Obama recalled Wednesday in lauding Shuttlesworth as a "testament to the strength of the human spirit" and saying America owes him a "debt of gratitude."
Birmingham Mayor William Bell ordered city flags lowered to half-staff until after Shuttleworth's funeral, and Gov. Robert Bentley issued a similar decree statewide, honoring a man whose activism landed him behind bars dozens of times.
"I went to jail 30 or 40 times, not for fighting or stealing or drugs," Shuttlesworth told grade school students in 1997. "I went to jail for a good thing, trying to make a difference."
Jay Reeves of The Associated Press wrote this report. Errin Haines in Atlanta, Kendal Weaver in Montgomery, Ala., and Lisa Cornwell in Cincinnati contributed.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/10/the_rev_fred_shuttlesworth_civ.html
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Revenge: Is It Yours To Seek?
I saw this posted on facebook and I must say it is right on time with how I'm feeling. I have been annoyed, agitated, angry, sad, and confused among other things I've been feeling lately. This picture illustrates what I needed to hear in order to deal with my feelings. I am still deep in my feelings about feeling unappreciated by people I go out of my way to help. As I am in the midst of these feelings I received confirmation that someone I thought was a friend really isn't. The great thing about it is God reveals it to you and gives you a heads up before the situation gets bad. A few weeks ago I was feeling some kind of way but didn't know why. When God deals with us we can't always explain why we feel the way we feel but trust me when I say it will be revealed to you. Needless to say my "friend" isn't really my friend so now I can handle my business and keep it moving. While I may not understand your issues with me, I'm not going to waste my time trying to figure out. I will let God deal with that. A true test of my character is here. I am in a position to get do harm and get revenge but I made up my mind a long time ago that that's not going to be my style. Galatians 6:7 states " Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" .That scripture alone is why I choose to let God handle those that wrong me. If they can handle the consequences then so can I. A dear friend of mind instructed me to kill them with kindness. So as I prepare for the rest of my work week, that is exactly what I intend to do.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Tired of Doing it Alone...
I'm sitting here just relaxing after a day at work and I realize (as I have many times before) that I get tired of doing it all on my own. I fit the description of your typical "independent" woman. Own car, own place, good job, etc. I appreciate God blessing me with the abilities and mindset to be independent. My independence has put me in a position to help a lot of people but sometimes I feel I don't have that support. If I were in a situation where I was in need who could I call? I have friends I've supported but if the situation was reversed would they do that for me? I give without expecting anything in return but is it wrong to still want it? It would be nice for someone to say "Hey Ms. Sparkles, you're always helping others and you've helped me numerous times so let me do this for you" or "Ms. Sparkles I just want to tell you I really appreciate you!". Don't get me wrong, my friends express their appreciation and it means a lot, however, there are others in the past that I have gone through great lengths to help and not so much as a thank you nor do they make an attempt to return the favor.
I have my mother and my sister but they may not always be there when I need them. In my mind they don't count because we're so close its not even a question of me needing help is more of a question of when, where, and how much. This also does not serve to discredit God in anyway. I'm human and I am sure He understands how and why I feel the way I do. I just have to remind myself of all He's done for me and realize that I am never truly alone. Everything that I am able to do is because He's blessed me with the ability to do so.
Reminding myself that I'm never alone...
I have my mother and my sister but they may not always be there when I need them. In my mind they don't count because we're so close its not even a question of me needing help is more of a question of when, where, and how much. This also does not serve to discredit God in anyway. I'm human and I am sure He understands how and why I feel the way I do. I just have to remind myself of all He's done for me and realize that I am never truly alone. Everything that I am able to do is because He's blessed me with the ability to do so.
Reminding myself that I'm never alone...
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