The Enemy Is Defeated, Again!

For arguments sake, let's say all religion, and particularly Christianity and The Bible, are man-made creations solely for the purpose of brainwashing and controlling people.  This is a common argument I hear, especially from some pro-Black people who believe that Christianity is the "white-man's" religion and that it was created to keep Black people in subjugation and blinded to their true destiny.

Well, if that's true, that plot has failed monumentally and miserably.  I personally know a lot of people who have found Christ and have gained insight, peace, joy and love when once they never knew of it.  Everywhere I look I see examples of people who walk in Christ's love and because of it they are able to do extraordinary things like forgive others for heinous trespasses and heal from vicious attacks on their mind, body and spirit. One recent example is the Charleston Church shooting of June 17th 2015 when Dylann Roof walked into  Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and killed 9 people.  As tragic as that was, many of the relatives of the deceased FORGAVE Dylann and even prayed for him.  Do you know how much power and love you have to have to be able to forgive a man that has killed your loved ones?  That kind of power only comes from one place, it's God-given to believers!  So the theory of religion being man-made for purposes of subjugation is invalidated because many people are GAINING power, not succumbing to it.  I can easily list HUNDREDS, if not thousands of other examples but I won't at this time so I can make my point quickly.

So, for you haters, scoffers, rebukers of God, let me show you something.  You revel in your false sense of self but actually wallow in hate which is BONDAGE and sadly you don't know how to get out of that trap so you put a fake smile on your face and try to pretend you are enjoying life but every time hate comes out of your mouth you are speaking volumes on the true condition of your heart.  You sad, fearful, hate-blinded people I pray for you!

Foot In Mouth Disease, No One Is Immune!

I was hoping and praying that when I reach an age of maturity I would be immune to making poor decisions but as far as I can tell, even age isn't a buffer against ignorance.  Case in point is 77 year-old Don Harris, who is the current leader of the Phoenix chapter of the N.A.A.C.P, also known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.  This guy went on record to speak about an incident involving six teenage girls use of "nigger" at a school function.  Sometime during his conference, he turned to a female reporter and said, "nice tits!"

Now, I know this is shocking, considering this is a senior citizen, former attorney and well respected in the community, but honestly I was more shocked when I looked at the article and discovered that Don Harris is, wait for it...Caucasian.  Yes, I said it.  He's an elder white man.  Am I missing something here?  Is there a shortage of Negroes and Hispanics in Arizona, that it was necessary for a white man to lead a historically minority based organization?  I digress.

Anyways, even at the ripe old age of 77, people are still putting their feet in their mouth.  This doesn't give me any hope of reaching a "magical age" where I don't have to worry about what I say or do.  I thought as a senior citizen I would have earned the right to say whatever I wanted to, but that obviously isn't the case.  Obviously, no one is immune, BUT, this is a totally preventable disease.  One just has to think before they speak!  Sounds so simple.

How Black Do I Have To Be To Be Black!

A lot of you probably don't realize how hard it is to be and stay Black, (just ask Michael Jackson or Sammy Sosa).  I never thought of it as being an issue until my Blackness was called into question.  And of all people to call my Blackness into question, would be other Black people, imagine that!  Isn't it bad enough that I endure constant adversity simply because of the color of my skin, and now I have to be questioned, ridiculed, chastised and mocked by people of the same race?

I swear, ignorance is a killer, but unfortunately it's a slow killer as witnessed by the many ignorant people that walk this earth.  I mean, how ignorant is it to be divisive amongst your own race?  How can one win the battle against racism when racism is interwoven in the minds of the very people that suffer from it?  Seems nearly impossible and one can definitely see a supernatural influence on these events.

Anyways, I have been called, coon, uncle tom, show monkey(lol), house nigger and the list goes on, all by, wait for it... other Black people.  Crazy.  I never respond negatively to these comments because, as I stated previously, names don't move me.  Call me what you want, just don't call me late for dinner.

It's interesting that sometimes I feel compelled to try and appease my doubters and do what they would consider "black" actions.  However, before I do that, I always remember that I don't give a f*ck what these dumb muthafatha's think and therefore all I have to do is stay Black and die!

What's crazier than Black people hating on other Black people?  Non-Black people emulating Black people.  Man, if there was only one thing I could advocate to people, it would be, "be yourself!"  I have way more respect for the man that is his own man than the dude who is trying to be "like Mike!"  Be proud of who you are, Black, white, red, brown or yellow, most of us bleed red!  To my Black doubters:  If you question my blackness, just ask the police, they'll tell you who and what I am!

Woe Is Me! Someone Called Me A Name!

Sigh...How long will it take you people to grow and mature?  I've only got 74 more years with you, so time is of the essence.

Let's get started.  Recently some young girls took a picture at school that had a racial slur printed on their shirts.  Their shirts spelled out "NI**ER"  and because of it they are going to be disciplined.  They say they did it because they wanted to "spark dialogue" about the word nigger and it's use.  Well, they certainly sparked something, more like ignited an already explosive situation but that's neither here nor there.

When are people going be comfortable with themselves?  When are they going to grow outside of the small frame of their skull and free their mind from meaningless drivel?  It's a hard and sad life to live when you are hindered by self-imposed limitations especially like those as childish as name calling.

I don't know about you but I pride myself on the ability of not being able to be defined by others.  How would I feel if I let every Tom, Dick and Barry have a piece of my peace?  Do you know what my name is?  Then call me by it.  Any other name has no power UNLESS I GIVE IT POWER!  Come on people, this is kindergarten logic.  How can you be in a full-grown body and have a child's mind?  Sigh...I digress.  Let's try to expand our minds by first understanding that we control ourselves.  The power is ours, no one else!  That being said, if you're offended by names then essentially you are the name that has offended you!

I'm Stupid!

      It's official, I'm stupid.  Now for all of you positive, "don't talk bad about yourself" people, calm down.  It's o.k. to critique yourself, honestly.  Actually, it's necessary in order to continue to grow and better oneself, so just hear my logic on this one and you'll soon understand where I'm coming from.

    I just came to this slow realization of my stupidity a couple of days ago.  You know, it's very common that stupid people don't know they are stupid and I am no exception obviously.  Ever since I can remember, I've prided myself on my intelligence, so it was a sad surprise to discover my stupidity but it's been enlightening.

     So what caused my epiphany was some comments made to me by a person close to me.  The comments themselves weren't anything spectacular but it was the realization of how this person feels about me that awoke me from my slumber in grandiose.  To my face, but under their breath, this person called me a dumbass, twice, and then later in the same day this person said they would be embarrassed to put me on speakerphone if they were at work.  Again, these statements in themselves really aren't a big deal, UNTIL you put them into context, which in this case the context is, this person and I have known each other for well over a decade and I thought this person respected me as I do them.  This obviously isn't the case and the really really sad part about this is, I've known this for probably as many years as we've known each other.  I guess I wanted to believe this person didn't really think of me as a piece of shit, but I've finally realized from all these years and all the negative stuff this person has said about me to others and to my face, this person has no respect for me.  And that's how I discovered I was stupid.

     There's a saying I like that goes:  When people die, they don't know they are dead but it affects the people around them, the same goes for stupid people.  Stupid people rarely know they are stupid and this is what separates me from the rest of the stupid people.  I realize I am stupid and because of that, I can kill my stupidity with the birth of my newly found knowledge!  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!!

     "Apparently you actually have to have a little intelligence to know you're stupid. I, for one, am smart enough to know how dumb I am, and I'm okay with that. I'm still smarter than all my friends." ~ John Cleese

   

They Didn't Ask, So I Won't Tell!

   

One of the main reasons for contention between Christians and LGBTQ is that the LGBTQ crowd has never asked for the opinion of Christians, plain and simple.  An unsolicited opinion is as offensive as an unwanted house guest who shows up at your home, right before you are going to leave, broke, stinking and hungry and needs a place to stay indefinitely lol.

     Since the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, Christians have been up in arms over the meaning of this highly controversial decision.  You can go to any social site and read numerous comments for and against gay marriage, traditional marriage, the meaning of life as God intended, biblical interpretations condoning love for all and the list goes on.

   

To me, it's really simple.  I will not express my opinion UNLESS someone asks me for it, simple.  Does anyone realize how ineffective it is to tell another person, who doesn't want to hear what you've got to say, your opinion?  You'd be better off voting in the general election than you would be to tell another person your opinion of what's right and wrong, and you should know that voting is probably one of the most ineffective ways to get positive change, but I digress.

   

I have yet to have ANYONE from the LGBTQ crowd ask me if what I think they believe in is right or wrong.  Sure, I've been inundated with their ideals.  Almost everywhere I turn I see them promoting their agenda in social media, television, parades, billboards, magazines, movies, you name it, LGBTQ has their hand in it, stirring up the pot to push tolerance of their beliefs.  Fine.  I'll keep doing me.  However, what I won't do is tell them what I think about them, UNLESS they ask, which they won't.

     So Christians, here is my unsolicited advice to you:  "Do Not Give What Is Holy To The Dogs; Nor Cast Your Pearls Before Swine, Lest They Trample Them Under Their Feet, And Turn And Tear You In Pieces" (Matthew 7:6"

Runnin' Them Streets

   

Here's a sad story about drug use:  I recently invited some people over to my home that I once used to use drugs with.  They are still using.  They refused my invitation because they can't do their drugs in my home, so they'd rather pass up my hospitality of good entertainment and home cooking to continue using dope.  Crazy....  

     Man, I can't say enough about the trials, tribulations, dangers and death that lurk in the streets. Forty five years strong and I tell you, if it wasn't for the mercy of God, I wouldn't be here today. Let's see, I've been jacked(mugged) three times, twice by gun, once by knife, but even beyond that, I live in the 'hood and deal with shady people day in and day out.  Thing is, people out here in AZ don't know how to take me because I'm not from here, I don't act like the people out here and I don't exude fear.  That being said, hood folks out here have classified me as police.  Imagine that.  That's cool though, 'cuz that tells me they're afraid of me for whatever reason.

   

Anyways, the life of drugs, hangin' and bangin', and bullsh*ttin' ain't about nothin'.  The best day I ever had high has never been better than the worst day I've ever had sober.  That's because being high on drugs ALWAYS led to misery, ALWAYS!  Why would someone intentionally make themselves miserable?  That's the question one should ask.  I tell you from experience that I really don't know why I did it to myself.  I've got a great life, very blessed, yet my nature is to run in these streets, indulging my flesh and doin' what the f*ck I want to do.  A very sordid ordeal I must say.

     So, even though I have no complaints, I can't say I'm universally happy.  One thing about drug use is, it clouds the mind, it slows one down, killing dreams.  Though I haven't used in awhile, I still experience the lifestyle as I see it almost everywhere I go.  My neighbors use drugs, there's trap houses everywhere.  There's two methadone clinics within a mile radius, so there are a lot of heroin addicts using dog food at the parks my kids play at. There's also a huge homeless community that also lives nearby and there are a lot of mentally ill people that walk the streets. Crazy bro, but that's a snapshot of what I see today!