United We Stand, Divided We Fall

It is the morning after the most historic event in our lifetime, and this is how it felt to me, it felt like Game 7 of the World Series, both teams tied at 3 games apiece. Bottom of the ninth inning and Team Obama down a bunch of runs, then the rally starts, the most significant rally in all ages, and Team Obama comes back with hits all over the country, base hits, home runs and it doesn't stop until Team Obama wins the biggest game that America has ever played. That is how I saw it last night. I watched the tallies as if it was the most important game in my lifetime, and actually it was.

For the past six months I have been on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I started out full fledged with support to Obama, then all the stories started, all the fears were brought up, could they be true, or was it just a scare tactic. Was it a way to get you away from casting a vote that will rewrite the history books. I decided that I would ride the middle train and see where it took me, I wouldn't profess my allegiance to any one party. I had to investigate which party I felt held my values and which party would make this country good again, a land of hope again.

I couldn't figure it out and allowed myself to fall prey to all the rhetoric that surrounded me, instead of just going with my heart, with my gut feeling. I prayed on it and asked God to lead me to which way he knew was the right way, but I still didn't know. But along this journey I saw things that I didn't think were what God meant when he said that we must love each other and give a hand to those that need it the most.

I listened to radio stations, that professed to be Christians, but didn't show the trueness of what a Christian is. Were they facts or mere tales, ways to change your mind. You know it is really easy to get people to think one way if you only give them one side of the story and do not give them an opportunity to choose on their own by hearing the other side of the story. That is what I was out to accomplish, hearing both sides.

I have heard all of the tales about Obama's connections to radicals, but do you honestly think that our Government will just roll over and allow a man to radically change what has been in places for hundreds of years, and so what if he is a Muslim, what is so wrong with that. Yes after 9/11 we have looked at Muslims as lower than dirt, but what about all of those American-Muslims that pay taxes as we do and live amongst us, that have become our friends or even classmates with our children. Are we merely being hypocritical towards them. Don't they have the right to vote as well, and should we single them out for what radical Muslims have done. Is that fair? I think not.

I understand both sides, but I have my belief system, and I may not agree wholeheartedly with Obama on all of the issues, but I truly feel that the time is now to show the world that we can bring this country back to where we have their respect. We can be a power in this world, but wouldn't it be better to have less enemies and more friends. I may not have all the answers that most people seem to think that they have, but I know that I follow a God that will lead this nation to great things. A great future.

We need to show unity not only to each other but to our children. If we don't embrace the change, then what are we teaching our kids. That hatred is ok, that we do not love our fellow Americans, that this historic time is merely a fluke, that it truly doesn't matter. Of course it matters. You have kids all over this country waking up today and realizing that their dreams of one day becoming President is a reality now, it is not a dream any longer, one that Martin Luther King Jr had, rest his soul and he is truly smiling down on us from Heaven, it is reality, it is possible. We must unite as a nation and find out what is needed to get us back on track.

My friend Solomon and I spoke today and he shared this story with me:

Solomon lives in NC and he was out canvassing and knocking on doors last night with his son, Juwan. Juwan is 11 years old. It was getting pretty late and Solomon was getting tired and told his son that he couldn't see the numbers anymore on the house and they should get back to headquarters. Juwan had a look on his face of disgust and Solomon asked him what was wrong and Juwan said that why were they quitting, they had more doors to knock on and they still had time to get the word out about Obama. Solomon said that this was coming from an 11 year old that knew that back at the headquarters there was candy and cookies and all treats but he understood the magnitude of what this meant for all people. So this election was not just about electing a Black man into office, it was about changing the minds of the people and bringing so much hope to all. Especially a 11 year old boy.

Today I will say that I am proud to be an American, and if someone one wants to use those words against me, then go right ahead, we as a people have stood up and professed what we want, and we were strong in doing so. Over 50 million people voted for Obama in this country.

I truly understand now the magnitude of Obama becoming our President, I truly understand what it means to all the African-Americans all over this country. I truly understand how it can change people’s thinking from negative to positive. Last night was an historic event and I am truly grateful that I am alive to experience this and that my son, will one day be able to share this story with his own kids that he was alive at the pinnacle point in American history.

Biggies Words Ring True

I met up with an old friend of mine recently and he was pulling out all of these Cd's with OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP written all over them. We popped a few in and it took me back, way back to the days of my youth. It was great to reminisce about how we used to hang. But he had this one CD is his case, that I had to have, "Ready to Die" by Biggie Smalls, my favorite CD when I was a younger. I must have heard that CD over 100 times, but as I sat in my car listening to the songs now, I asked myself, did I really LISTEN to the songs or did the words just breeze through my ears and the beat just mesmerize me.


I am sitting in my car now, playing all these tracks, and wondering, how did I ever get the songs to play in my house and my mother not beat me down. I mean, every other word is MF this and MF that. I mean, geeze, I can't even listen to it now without trying to remember when those parts are coming on so I can lower the volume. I might as well just turn it off, because their is no way to avoid it.


But as I try to truly listen to the words, I realize something, we as kids in the ghetto, looked at Biggie as, hey he made it, he got out of jail and made it. He sold the drugs, lived the illegal way, got caught and still became someone that kids looked up to. Someone right out of our backyard in Brooklyn, straight to stardom. And his words were something of excellence.

Well at that time, that is what I thought, but listening to this CD now, I only wonder if the kids that have listened to his words, did it hold them back from truly achieving their dreams. Did they look at the easy way out or think "hey if Biggie did it, so can I". I am sure many youth back in the day and possibly today, made that mistake and now they are paying for it.

I bring up this issue because as we are facing a new chapter in our politics, a new President to be elected, I only wonder which candidate will give much thought to all those youth in the ghetto that have to live a life the way Biggie rapped about. Biggie brought it real, he was an artist that painted the ghetto exactly as he saw it. I remember, the struggles my friends faced, but could it have been avoided, can it be fixed now. Which candidate today will be the one to come in and help out the youth in the ghetto. To give them a better future than looking up to people that did not live a legal life, and still made it to stardom, should they follow that path, or have opportunities like the youth in better neighborhoods. My question is real easy, who will stand up and say that things need to change, that a change is in order, that all youth in this country will have opportunities for a better life. We have heard enough about the oil, the health care, the war, the hatred, the radicals, Roe v. Wade, Gay Marriages, but how much have we heard the candidates speak about what they intend to do to help out the people that need it the most. You can't hold people's hands and walk them to their future, but you can give them a way out of no where.

I only used Biggie as an example because his words ring so true, but we need new words, ones that will propel the youth in the ghettos to greatness.

These words can no longer be the anthem in the ghetto:

"To all the teachers that told me, Id never amount to nothin, to all the people that lived above the Buildings that I was hustlin in front of that called the police on Me when I was just tryin to make some money to feed my daughters, And all the niggaz in the struggle"

We need to change this now, we need to give our youth a better future, better options, or we will continue to lose them to their environment. Who will stand up and take this under their wing??

Did McCain Go Too Far?

I have been monitoring all the rhetoric between Obama and McCain. The TV ads, that don't seem to stop, on how McCain votes for this and that and how Obama is not suitable to be a President, or how his faith is a question, etc... What I am waiting for is Wilmer Valderama's MTV show "Yo Mama" to come to the next debate so that these two can really battle it out.

But on a serious note, McCain and Palin have been having a very good time taking what they have heard out of their camp about Obama, his connections to known terrorists, his connection to Acorn, his college record, and spewing it all over the place. At rallies, in TV ads, anywhere that they can be heard. But that all came to a crashing halt when McCain was at a rally and the crowd started telling him that they hated Obama, that they wanted to get rid of him, and that they felt he was an evil person.

Woman at rally: I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab.

Sen. John McCain: No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about. He's not, thank you.

So McCain, had his chance to basically side with this woman and lay it all on the line. I mean that is what they were waiting for, he had been building it up all along the trail, that is why these people came to the rally, not to hear about what he stood for, but to hear him agree with their fears, and when he down played it all, they started to boo him.

So how do you come back from that, do you reverse your strategy and stop all of the none sense, but if you do, you lose all respect of your voters, is it worth it, I think so. Because honestly it shows that they are not voting for the right reasons. Hopefully when McCain went home and was able to access what had happened that day, hopefully he will realize that he could have incensed people toward hatred and that is not what this country needs at this point. Because no matter what anyone thinks about Obama, he is a Family man before he is anything else.

I was in church on Sunday and the one thing that they preached about that stood out was that when a home is in Division, it will not stand. When a country is divided, it will not prosper.

We need to stop all of this bickering and get down to what really matters. Because when it is all set and done and the next President is elected into office, we can not be a divided country, we need to be a UNITED country.

Is Obama a Radical?

I have heard many stories, have seen a special on this topic and also there is a book called "Obama Nation" that focuses on the people of whom he has a relationship with and I have to ask, can there be truth to all of this. I mean you can argue both sides of this, but it just seems to be too believable. I mean, I understand that anyone can write a book and make things up, but the special that was on Fox-News this past weekend, just makes you wonder, is all of this possible, can Obama truly be apart of a secret union that is planning to undermine the American people once he is in office. Or even if it is true, it is all innocent and won't effect anything if he is elected.
Now not to undermine any one's intelligence, but I am a smart man, I read and understand things, I may not research as heavily as most, and I do not allow others to sway my thinking, but you have to admit, if you saw the special that some of it seems to be very believable. Now of course all the Obama supporters will denounce this because how dare you even think it, and all the McCain supporters will say, I told you so. But what is the real truth in all of this.

Is this a way for the Republican Party to just ruin Obama's chances of being our next President, or is the Democratic Party actually withholding this important information. Now others may think it is no big deal, but if at all this information is true, to me I feel it is very scary. I mean, to be friends or even acquaintances with a known terrorist and with middle eastern terrorists, and to think that a person with those kinds of friends can be our next President, I have to say is scary.

Or is it just propaganda? I mean, it does sound farfetched that such a thing can elude our media and after what happened on 9/11, it wouldn't be deemed as an important piece of news is alarming. So since it really hasn't been brought to every one's attention, how truly important is it.

Fox News Special, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6.

Now I am not saying that it is all true, I have no proof to prove yes or no, but think of it this way, if McCain was being accused of the same thing, would it make you question it or just push it to the side. I think for me I would question it either way because it effects my freedom and the country in which I live in. I guess you can argue both sides and that is why I posted this entry, to open the door to both sides giving their input.

700 Billion Buyout??? What Gives....

I have heard a bit about why we are giving Wall Street all of this money, but it also scares me because it means that us tax payers will have to pay for it. It will come out of our pockets. either way give it or not the working American people are screwed either way. What is this country coming to and why are we facing these crisis, who is to blame and what is needed to right this wrong. Please can anyone explain...............

Obama v. McCain

I couldn’t resist or I should say stay away from this post. It is the HOT topic of our day or should say, days. But I wanted to have all the Obama and McCain supporters write in and express why they support their candidate. But please refrain from lashing out on the other party, just state why you think your candidate should win. Cold hard facts. What does your guy stand for. I am sure I can google and find out, but then what would be the point of my blog or an open discussion.

Gas Stations Shutting Their Pumps.....

Here in SW Florida, a number of gas stations have refused to purchase gas from their suppliers because they state that the prices are too steep and they are not allowed to raise their prices any higher than the State Attorney allows or they will be fined at least $1000 an incident.

I just find that crazy because, if they refuse to buy gas, and the gas stations continue to shut down their pumps, where does that leave the rest of us folks who have to drive to work each and every day. Man something has to be done and quick, all of this is getting out of hand.

Before you know it we will not have means of which to get to work, and everything will just shut down, now I know that sounds drastic and maybe I am looking at the worse case senerio, but how can you look at this current situation in a positive light, all you here in the news is negative this, negative that. Seems like no hope in sight.