As an immigrant (turned citizen many years ago), Black History used to have a different connotation. I was partially raised in Jamaica West indies until I was 10 years old. The Caribbean was unique in environment, mentality and lifestyle. Government, poverty, anger and frustration existed but it was based on a class system and poverty in Jamaica was a lot worse than in the US. However, in the Caribbean one's survival instincts was constantly utilized which allowed people to oftentimes flourish even under the harshest of conditions. My grandmother used to have a saying "if it no kill you, den it wi fatten u!" Translation, if something doesn't kill you, then it will make you better! In the Caribbean you didn't get upset because you don't have the latest fashion, you were grateful for whatever roof you had over your head, food was an appreciated commodity and you were grateful for the necessities of life. Technology was rare and people craved education because they understood that it was a direct path to freedom. Back then and even now, Caribbeans have a unique art of truly making something out of nothing.
When I came to the United States I was thrown for a loop. The richness of this country can be overwhelming! I finally understood why so many foreigners get the impression that money is grown on trees and America is the land of abundance! However, In my over 20 years of residing in the US, I learned about another level of politics, greed, racism, anger, frustration and oppression. Although on the surface everything in this country sparkled with promise and flashed pseudo-riches, I learned that the mental and emotional bondage far outweighed the material wealth. I learned about the civil rights movement and all the deaths that occurred because people wanted their basic freedoms; I learned about people being spat on, called horrible names, burned to death, mutilated, hung in public, bodies dragged by a vehicle until it's pulled apart to pieces...some of the history of this country saddened me to my very core. I never understood the magnitude of oppression and suppression until I arrived in this country. I used to criticize Americans and felt in many ways that people here were shiftless and lazy. I wondered why so many African Americans seemed down and out...how could that be in the land of abundance? However, my own experiences over the years made me have a clearer understanding of why people in America have been so bitter and angry.
Lately people have negative things to say about President Obama. A large portion is coming from right winged individuals. Then there are those who think that he is way over-exposed and cannot understand all the praise and attention he is getting! In very short order the novelty is wearing off for many because of the severity of our economy. However, I'm holding on to what has happened in recent history near to my heart because from the view where I'm standing, an African American President was needed in this country. The Obamas reign in this country is a healing that Americans needed...black, white and otherwise. Black people needed the opportunity to hold their heads high; caucasions needed the relief of the guilt they have been carrying from their ancestor's narrow-mindedness and hate and foreigners needed to feel like this is a place where they can belong and be respected for their hard work. January 20th this country came full circle and now the healing process can begin for many. We have created a demarcation line of boundaries that has to be respected. How exciting!
This month celebrate the Rich Black History we all should be proud of. The African American heritage in this country is filled with GREATNESS. We have overcome and surpassed major obstacles set before us and we should be truly proud. Look at what The Obamas have brought back - the example of a true genuine, loving marriage, a family that put each other first (especially their children), a curriculum vitae that one can be proud of and a true relationship with the general public while understanding their needs. There is movement happening, people are waking up and taking charge of their lives!
Celebrate the lives of those who paved the way for us, many are gone, but some are still here. There are many that fought alongside Martin Luther King just as hard and was paving the way before him, during his reign and after him, those people should be held in high esteem. I'm honored that we have a month dedicated to us where we can learn more, teach our children and reflect on how far we've come.
I'm proud to be an American and I'm grateful that my family and I have gotten the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful and rich American history. One of my favorite hymns says it all....
“We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord; trusting in his holy Word, he’s never failed me yet. Oh, can’t turn around, we’ve come this far by faith.’’
Happy Black History month!
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The day America changed forever! 2009 Inauguration
Last week almost at the 10th hour 4 of us decided to take the historic trip to Washington DC! At first I was very intimidated by the crowds and my vivid imagination was creating all sorts of crazy scenarios, but I decided to not allow my fears to cripple me and that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I didn't want to miss. However, those two days in DC tested my physical and emotional endurance, perseverance and faith.
We left on Sunday 1/18 in the afternoon. The drive to DC was surprisingly very easy...NO TRAFFIC! We rented a small apartment from a craigslist ad, it was no Hilton, but it had the necessities. When we arrived at the apartment, we hurried and unpacked the car then decided to venture out to Downtown DC. Once again there was not much traffic at all which was a nice surprise. We drove by the capital and took pictures, then headed over to the White House. It was very secure and baracaded off quite well...trust me, The Obamas are WELL protected. We saw the Monument, Lincoln Memorial and drove around more then we grabbed a bit to eat, went back to the apartment and settled in for the night. My sister's friend Antwain came by to hang out with us and he added a nice dimension of comedy and fun to our night. Our sleeping accommodations was very sparse, but we made the best of it.
Monday, 1/19 - We were discussing whether to do the Inauguration or Parade. My sister Aesha actually thought that we should split up and do both which was a good idea, but in the end we decided that the swearing in was the most important event, so the 4 of us agreed on the inauguration. We mapped out our day and decided to walk to the capital to get a closer look at everything and strategically map out where we can view all the festivities on Inauguration day. We were staying about 3 miles from the Capital which wasn't too bad of a walk. As we walked down Pennsylvania Avenue and saw the top of the Capital my excitement started mounting. We stopped at some local shops along the way and looked at the many vendors selling Obama Paraphernalia. As we got closer to the Capital the crowds thickened. We turned down Independence and suddenly there was a sea of people, everyone was lining up to pick up their tickets. We were somewhat green with envy wishing we were one of those ticket holders. At one point I saw a guy casually walking with the treasured yellow manilla envelope that held his ticket to the inauguration and I seriously thought about snatching it and running (LOL) but instead my conscience kicked in and I smiled at him as I walked by...he's lucky! LOL
We crossed the street and walked down a long path of port-a-potties and suddenly the path lead us to the front of the Capital as up close as we can possibly get. I stood there looking at the beautiful architecture and was awe struck by its beauty. There were flood lights illuminating the white structure that made it almost look heavenly and It was adorned with several hanging flags. My heart at that moment was so filled I wanted to cry. I'll be honest, I was never in my life this intrigued by seeing Washington, DC. As we made our way around, everything seemed to illuminate a beautiful light, the architecture fascinating, the streets filled with hope. Everywhere I went I wanted to see and learn more. I thought about President Barack and First Lady Michelle, wondering how they are feeling, what's going through their minds...living vicariously through them.
After an hour, we made our way down toward the monument to see where us "non-ticket" holders would be standing. When we arrived to the area, I was a bit disappointed but still happy that there was a possibility of a clear view. We mapped out an area we were hopeful to stand, took more pictures then decided to head back to the apartment so we can get rest for the most important day in our history. On our back I stopped to ask a police officer details for our morning journey and points of entry and suddenly I ran into my friend Felicia! We hugged for a few moments and was surprised to have found each other in the midst of so many. We had just communicated on facebook how I wanted to be there and hoped to see each other...what are the chances? Fate is so phenomenal.
We woke up at 2am on Inauguration day. I was dizzy, and exhausted because I couldn't really sleep knowing I had to get up early. However, we quickly jumped out of our early morning stupor and got dressed. We started our walk to the Capital building at 2:45AM. I layered my clothing as much as I could and was even a bit hot initially. However, that warmth came to a screeching halt 1 hour later as we arrived to our destination on 4th Street and Independence. There were people camped out on the sidewalk, but there was only about 100 people so we thought we had a great opportunity of being in the front. After 1 hour on line, we saw people running in the direction behind us and people started yelling "GO TO 7th street" we were pissed, but quickly turned around and followed suit. We arrived at 7th street on the next block and quickly lined up. We stood on line patiently waiting for the gates to open. Suddenly it seemed like a thousand people appeared out of nowhere!!! After another hour of standing my feet began to get really cold and I started to feel a chill through my whole body. My poor husband looked uncomfortable but was trying very hard to endure. I looked around and everyone was pretty much feeling the same thing....FREEZING! That arctic wind was covering us like a blanket of ice!
There are some who said it will be a cold day in hell before a Black man becomes President, well I do hope those people got their warm coats on! LOL
After another 45 minutes later, we suddenly started seeing the fence next to us swaying back and forth. Suddenly the gate popped open and people started rushing in and running to the front of the "non-ticketed" area. I was a bit afraid that maybe the secret service would rush us, but nothing happened and we got very close to where we initially mapped out the day before which GREAT considering the amount of people that were present. We found a spot by the speaker tower and pretty much stood there. At this point it was a little past 6AM. As we stood in single digit cold weather for hours, I felt my body suffering from cold and fatigue. Everyone looked beaten down by the cold blowing all over them. At one point I wondered what the hell was I smoking beating up my body like this and I said to myself "this is the least you can do...you are doing this for our future generation...you are witnessing history" and suddenly the cold wasn't so bad. I took myself mentally to a warm place and I warded off the feelings of giving up by thinking about the moment that was about to happened and how our future will change. I looked at my husband whose ankle was paining him from standing and at one point I begged him to sit on the ground for a few moments. He finally gave in and we sat together on the gravel and held on to each other for a few minutes. Finally I decided "enough is enough" and we got up and decided to make our way toward the port-a-potties on the side lines. We struggled through the tight crowd and walked around a bit to exercise our tired legs. Lu used the disgusting portable pottie and I tried but opened a few and saw a nasty mess so I decided to hold my bladder. Since we knew what we were against, we didn't eat or drink much that morning, but my sister needed something hot so she stood on a McDonald's Kiosk line that seemed a mile long. Lisa had the endurance of a brick building because she stood in the same spot for the entire time shifting from one leg to another...patiently waiting for history to be made.
After 30 minutes of stretching our legs, we decided to squeeze our way back through the crowd, found Lisa
in her same spot and resumed our standing along side her. My sister also finally came back, but had no success getting food. Suddenly they turned on the Jumbo-trons and to entertain the crowds they replayed the "We are One" concert....the crowd cheered. When Garth Brooks started singing "you know you make me wanna, SHOUT, throw my hands up and SHOUT" the crowd went crazy and we all started dancing and singing jumping up and down, which momentarily removed a bit of the chill. I looked around and people started doing the "Electric Slide" it was quite fascinating seeing that many people swaying back and forth in sync. The energy of the crowd revived me and once again I got that feeling of pure happiness. As I looked around the crowd I saw people of all complexions, backgrounds and countries. In the crowd were babies, children, men and women of all ages. There were poor, middle class and rich...everyone really did become one! People shared their food, held hands, laughed with each other and helped each other...it was amazing. There was some cursing and annoyance at people constantly passing through from one side to another, but overall people were patient. At one point 3 kind women in the crowd next to us offered their snacks to both Lucien and I. I wanted to hug them but never got a chance because finally the ceremony started...so were glued to the screen as they announced everyone.
As they announced people, all I wanted to see was Our President, First Lady, Sasha and Malia. When Sasha and Malia finally came on the screen the crowd cheered with excitement and when Michelle came out I got chills...then suddenly our President appeared and I forgot about my hunger, exhaustion and frozen hands and feet and my heart was instantly warmed. During the ceremony when Barack was complimenting Bush on his presidential run, the crowd resonated with "Boos" for once in my life I actually felt bad for Bush. It doesn't matter how strong of a person you are, feeling so disliked by so many people must be a painful feeling! We listened to Joe Biden get sworn in and the crowd cheered....
THEN, it happened, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn into Presidency and I wanted to cry, but I think my tear ducts were frozen, but my heart cried out with joy, all of us jumped up and down with sheer joy! You could see people's faces lit up with happiness, some cried, some said a prayer of thanks, it was an awesome experience to share a moment like that with so many! Despite the cold...it was truly an experience of a lifetime.
Immediately after the swearing in, the crowd started making their exit. The rest of the ceremony was a blur I didn't hear much of the poem or the ending...everyone wanted to just get out of the cold! The crowds exited and everyone was peaceful and cooperative...I never once heard of any fights or drama which is remarkable for a crowd that size.
This moment in time is etched in a very special place in my heart and I'm sure in billions of others. I'm truly proud to be an American and this family makes me want to learn more and be a better person, they make me want to travel the world, volunteer my time more and just give back. They make me want to succeed in every area of my life....they inspired me at every angle of my life. It's going to take me a while to process all of this because this is SO massive!
This trip was significant for me on many levels and in many ways, my stamina (mentally and physically) was challenged. I realized that I'm stronger than I think and sometimes in life in order for GREAT things to happen you have to endure some pain.
I want to thank my husband for being a trooper and for always supporting me through my spontaneity and for always going with the flow...he's my Barack Obama on a daily basis. I have to thank Lisa for encouraging us to go to Washington DC, however, it didn't take much coercion because I knew in my heart I needed to be there. I also want to thank my sister Aesha for taking great pictures. I'm happy and proud to have experienced history and I would've probably endured more. The trip was worth the pains I feel in my legs right now from all that standing, the sickness I presently feel in my body and the slight exhaustion from the lack of sleep. This moment added another dimension of humility, honor, respect and history in my mind.
God Bless Our President - Barack Obama, Our First Lady, Michelle Obama, Our Princesses, Sasha and Malia on their journey to making the United States a better place for EVERYONE! Their journey is OUR journey and it's up to us to help them in making America a better place because they can't do it alone.
Throughout this election process to date, what I notice stands out most about the Obamas is that they are humanitarians. Very few possess that kind of love and genuine caring for people. Their credentials don't matter as much as what's in their heart. They exude a genuine warmth toward each other and their children that is undeniable and they have a genuine love of their community. You can tell these are truly self-actualized people. They are not angry, have vengeful hearts or hold animosity. If they did, they never would've gotten this far. Many are mistaken by what is most important in life. It's not the superficial things. No amount of college degrees, money, houses or cars can make you a nice person, it's about what is inside of you and what you give to people. The Obamas are the example of what you can achieve when you are not held hostage by mental bondage and issues. I'm glad that they are the leading example and my hope is that their warmth will rub off on more people.
I'm grateful for the new world we live in!
Blessings to you all.
ps...here are photos compliments of my sister. Unfortunately of all the things we forgot, it was our camera! Oy vey.
http://www.made2design.com/photography/09inauguration
We left on Sunday 1/18 in the afternoon. The drive to DC was surprisingly very easy...NO TRAFFIC! We rented a small apartment from a craigslist ad, it was no Hilton, but it had the necessities. When we arrived at the apartment, we hurried and unpacked the car then decided to venture out to Downtown DC. Once again there was not much traffic at all which was a nice surprise. We drove by the capital and took pictures, then headed over to the White House. It was very secure and baracaded off quite well...trust me, The Obamas are WELL protected. We saw the Monument, Lincoln Memorial and drove around more then we grabbed a bit to eat, went back to the apartment and settled in for the night. My sister's friend Antwain came by to hang out with us and he added a nice dimension of comedy and fun to our night. Our sleeping accommodations was very sparse, but we made the best of it.
Monday, 1/19 - We were discussing whether to do the Inauguration or Parade. My sister Aesha actually thought that we should split up and do both which was a good idea, but in the end we decided that the swearing in was the most important event, so the 4 of us agreed on the inauguration. We mapped out our day and decided to walk to the capital to get a closer look at everything and strategically map out where we can view all the festivities on Inauguration day. We were staying about 3 miles from the Capital which wasn't too bad of a walk. As we walked down Pennsylvania Avenue and saw the top of the Capital my excitement started mounting. We stopped at some local shops along the way and looked at the many vendors selling Obama Paraphernalia. As we got closer to the Capital the crowds thickened. We turned down Independence and suddenly there was a sea of people, everyone was lining up to pick up their tickets. We were somewhat green with envy wishing we were one of those ticket holders. At one point I saw a guy casually walking with the treasured yellow manilla envelope that held his ticket to the inauguration and I seriously thought about snatching it and running (LOL) but instead my conscience kicked in and I smiled at him as I walked by...he's lucky! LOL
We crossed the street and walked down a long path of port-a-potties and suddenly the path lead us to the front of the Capital as up close as we can possibly get. I stood there looking at the beautiful architecture and was awe struck by its beauty. There were flood lights illuminating the white structure that made it almost look heavenly and It was adorned with several hanging flags. My heart at that moment was so filled I wanted to cry. I'll be honest, I was never in my life this intrigued by seeing Washington, DC. As we made our way around, everything seemed to illuminate a beautiful light, the architecture fascinating, the streets filled with hope. Everywhere I went I wanted to see and learn more. I thought about President Barack and First Lady Michelle, wondering how they are feeling, what's going through their minds...living vicariously through them.
After an hour, we made our way down toward the monument to see where us "non-ticket" holders would be standing. When we arrived to the area, I was a bit disappointed but still happy that there was a possibility of a clear view. We mapped out an area we were hopeful to stand, took more pictures then decided to head back to the apartment so we can get rest for the most important day in our history. On our back I stopped to ask a police officer details for our morning journey and points of entry and suddenly I ran into my friend Felicia! We hugged for a few moments and was surprised to have found each other in the midst of so many. We had just communicated on facebook how I wanted to be there and hoped to see each other...what are the chances? Fate is so phenomenal.
We woke up at 2am on Inauguration day. I was dizzy, and exhausted because I couldn't really sleep knowing I had to get up early. However, we quickly jumped out of our early morning stupor and got dressed. We started our walk to the Capital building at 2:45AM. I layered my clothing as much as I could and was even a bit hot initially. However, that warmth came to a screeching halt 1 hour later as we arrived to our destination on 4th Street and Independence. There were people camped out on the sidewalk, but there was only about 100 people so we thought we had a great opportunity of being in the front. After 1 hour on line, we saw people running in the direction behind us and people started yelling "GO TO 7th street" we were pissed, but quickly turned around and followed suit. We arrived at 7th street on the next block and quickly lined up. We stood on line patiently waiting for the gates to open. Suddenly it seemed like a thousand people appeared out of nowhere!!! After another hour of standing my feet began to get really cold and I started to feel a chill through my whole body. My poor husband looked uncomfortable but was trying very hard to endure. I looked around and everyone was pretty much feeling the same thing....FREEZING! That arctic wind was covering us like a blanket of ice!
There are some who said it will be a cold day in hell before a Black man becomes President, well I do hope those people got their warm coats on! LOL
After another 45 minutes later, we suddenly started seeing the fence next to us swaying back and forth. Suddenly the gate popped open and people started rushing in and running to the front of the "non-ticketed" area. I was a bit afraid that maybe the secret service would rush us, but nothing happened and we got very close to where we initially mapped out the day before which GREAT considering the amount of people that were present. We found a spot by the speaker tower and pretty much stood there. At this point it was a little past 6AM. As we stood in single digit cold weather for hours, I felt my body suffering from cold and fatigue. Everyone looked beaten down by the cold blowing all over them. At one point I wondered what the hell was I smoking beating up my body like this and I said to myself "this is the least you can do...you are doing this for our future generation...you are witnessing history" and suddenly the cold wasn't so bad. I took myself mentally to a warm place and I warded off the feelings of giving up by thinking about the moment that was about to happened and how our future will change. I looked at my husband whose ankle was paining him from standing and at one point I begged him to sit on the ground for a few moments. He finally gave in and we sat together on the gravel and held on to each other for a few minutes. Finally I decided "enough is enough" and we got up and decided to make our way toward the port-a-potties on the side lines. We struggled through the tight crowd and walked around a bit to exercise our tired legs. Lu used the disgusting portable pottie and I tried but opened a few and saw a nasty mess so I decided to hold my bladder. Since we knew what we were against, we didn't eat or drink much that morning, but my sister needed something hot so she stood on a McDonald's Kiosk line that seemed a mile long. Lisa had the endurance of a brick building because she stood in the same spot for the entire time shifting from one leg to another...patiently waiting for history to be made.
After 30 minutes of stretching our legs, we decided to squeeze our way back through the crowd, found Lisa
in her same spot and resumed our standing along side her. My sister also finally came back, but had no success getting food. Suddenly they turned on the Jumbo-trons and to entertain the crowds they replayed the "We are One" concert....the crowd cheered. When Garth Brooks started singing "you know you make me wanna, SHOUT, throw my hands up and SHOUT" the crowd went crazy and we all started dancing and singing jumping up and down, which momentarily removed a bit of the chill. I looked around and people started doing the "Electric Slide" it was quite fascinating seeing that many people swaying back and forth in sync. The energy of the crowd revived me and once again I got that feeling of pure happiness. As I looked around the crowd I saw people of all complexions, backgrounds and countries. In the crowd were babies, children, men and women of all ages. There were poor, middle class and rich...everyone really did become one! People shared their food, held hands, laughed with each other and helped each other...it was amazing. There was some cursing and annoyance at people constantly passing through from one side to another, but overall people were patient. At one point 3 kind women in the crowd next to us offered their snacks to both Lucien and I. I wanted to hug them but never got a chance because finally the ceremony started...so were glued to the screen as they announced everyone.
As they announced people, all I wanted to see was Our President, First Lady, Sasha and Malia. When Sasha and Malia finally came on the screen the crowd cheered with excitement and when Michelle came out I got chills...then suddenly our President appeared and I forgot about my hunger, exhaustion and frozen hands and feet and my heart was instantly warmed. During the ceremony when Barack was complimenting Bush on his presidential run, the crowd resonated with "Boos" for once in my life I actually felt bad for Bush. It doesn't matter how strong of a person you are, feeling so disliked by so many people must be a painful feeling! We listened to Joe Biden get sworn in and the crowd cheered....
THEN, it happened, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn into Presidency and I wanted to cry, but I think my tear ducts were frozen, but my heart cried out with joy, all of us jumped up and down with sheer joy! You could see people's faces lit up with happiness, some cried, some said a prayer of thanks, it was an awesome experience to share a moment like that with so many! Despite the cold...it was truly an experience of a lifetime.
Immediately after the swearing in, the crowd started making their exit. The rest of the ceremony was a blur I didn't hear much of the poem or the ending...everyone wanted to just get out of the cold! The crowds exited and everyone was peaceful and cooperative...I never once heard of any fights or drama which is remarkable for a crowd that size.
This moment in time is etched in a very special place in my heart and I'm sure in billions of others. I'm truly proud to be an American and this family makes me want to learn more and be a better person, they make me want to travel the world, volunteer my time more and just give back. They make me want to succeed in every area of my life....they inspired me at every angle of my life. It's going to take me a while to process all of this because this is SO massive!
This trip was significant for me on many levels and in many ways, my stamina (mentally and physically) was challenged. I realized that I'm stronger than I think and sometimes in life in order for GREAT things to happen you have to endure some pain.
I want to thank my husband for being a trooper and for always supporting me through my spontaneity and for always going with the flow...he's my Barack Obama on a daily basis. I have to thank Lisa for encouraging us to go to Washington DC, however, it didn't take much coercion because I knew in my heart I needed to be there. I also want to thank my sister Aesha for taking great pictures. I'm happy and proud to have experienced history and I would've probably endured more. The trip was worth the pains I feel in my legs right now from all that standing, the sickness I presently feel in my body and the slight exhaustion from the lack of sleep. This moment added another dimension of humility, honor, respect and history in my mind.
God Bless Our President - Barack Obama, Our First Lady, Michelle Obama, Our Princesses, Sasha and Malia on their journey to making the United States a better place for EVERYONE! Their journey is OUR journey and it's up to us to help them in making America a better place because they can't do it alone.
Throughout this election process to date, what I notice stands out most about the Obamas is that they are humanitarians. Very few possess that kind of love and genuine caring for people. Their credentials don't matter as much as what's in their heart. They exude a genuine warmth toward each other and their children that is undeniable and they have a genuine love of their community. You can tell these are truly self-actualized people. They are not angry, have vengeful hearts or hold animosity. If they did, they never would've gotten this far. Many are mistaken by what is most important in life. It's not the superficial things. No amount of college degrees, money, houses or cars can make you a nice person, it's about what is inside of you and what you give to people. The Obamas are the example of what you can achieve when you are not held hostage by mental bondage and issues. I'm glad that they are the leading example and my hope is that their warmth will rub off on more people.
I'm grateful for the new world we live in!
Blessings to you all.
ps...here are photos compliments of my sister. Unfortunately of all the things we forgot, it was our camera! Oy vey.
http://www.made2design.com/photography/09inauguration
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Welcome Mr. President...
Today i'm filled with an indescribable amount of joy. At the moment that Barak Obama was elected President of the united states of America, I felt almost the same joy as when the pastor proclaimed that Lucien and I are "husband and wife." The unity of this election is reverberating around the country and throughout the world. Last night when Barak, Michelle, Malia and Sasha walked out on the stage I was so proud and goose bumps ran through my body. Barak's speech was humble, profound and touched my spirit. I believe that the success of his campaign is an insight to how our country is going to be ran...strategic, effective, honest and uniting.
Last night I reflected on the fact that Barak is standing on the shoulders of Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, the countless amounts of people who died for us to get the right to vote, the people who were lynched, humiliated, beaten and everyone who has endured the hundreds of years of blatant racism. I want to thank those people from the bottom of my heart because without them laying the foundation, today would not have been possible. The unity of blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, Indians....everyone of every color came together to make this moment happen. Today gives me hope for the future and it confirms that no matter what our differences are, as people we can come together and make amazing things happen. I was awe struck by the diversity of the audience in Grant Park last night and Martin Luther King's speech came into my head...his dream is here and we are so lucky and fortunate to be experiencing it.
Savor this day and get your children to understand its power because this is their future. I think Barak's grandmother passed away the day before yesterday because she had the foresight to see that he was going to win...his mother, father and grandparents are smiling down on him. I give credit to Barak and Michelle's parents and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for producing such phenomenal people to run our country. As a black woman, I will now have the distinct pleasure of seeing a mirror image of myself in the white house, running things and helping to make decisions that will continue to shape this country...I cry as I type this because from the moment I saw Barak I held on to the dream that this day would be possible. Black women....my God, what strength we have, hold our head high because this is better days to come. This moment in time has strengthened me in a way that I just cannot find the words to describe. I can now tell my future son or daughter, niece, nephew and any child that "yes...you too can be president of the united states of America" and mean it!
Yes, my soul is filled today because everything seems so much brighter, my hope for this country has been restored and I look forward to doing my part no matter how big or small. Today is a culmination of small things that accumulated into something tremendous, a priceless piece of art that we can all admire and love for centuries to come.
Pray much for the Obama family because this victory is not without hard work, trials and tribulations, but i'm confident that this family will handle it with strength and grace like they do everything.
I can now truly say that I love my country and I will proudly hang a flag that I feel truly embraces and represents myself and every person in this country....a flag of the united states of America.
God bless you all....
Peace, love and Happiness!
Last night I reflected on the fact that Barak is standing on the shoulders of Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, the countless amounts of people who died for us to get the right to vote, the people who were lynched, humiliated, beaten and everyone who has endured the hundreds of years of blatant racism. I want to thank those people from the bottom of my heart because without them laying the foundation, today would not have been possible. The unity of blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, Indians....everyone of every color came together to make this moment happen. Today gives me hope for the future and it confirms that no matter what our differences are, as people we can come together and make amazing things happen. I was awe struck by the diversity of the audience in Grant Park last night and Martin Luther King's speech came into my head...his dream is here and we are so lucky and fortunate to be experiencing it.
Savor this day and get your children to understand its power because this is their future. I think Barak's grandmother passed away the day before yesterday because she had the foresight to see that he was going to win...his mother, father and grandparents are smiling down on him. I give credit to Barak and Michelle's parents and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for producing such phenomenal people to run our country. As a black woman, I will now have the distinct pleasure of seeing a mirror image of myself in the white house, running things and helping to make decisions that will continue to shape this country...I cry as I type this because from the moment I saw Barak I held on to the dream that this day would be possible. Black women....my God, what strength we have, hold our head high because this is better days to come. This moment in time has strengthened me in a way that I just cannot find the words to describe. I can now tell my future son or daughter, niece, nephew and any child that "yes...you too can be president of the united states of America" and mean it!
Yes, my soul is filled today because everything seems so much brighter, my hope for this country has been restored and I look forward to doing my part no matter how big or small. Today is a culmination of small things that accumulated into something tremendous, a priceless piece of art that we can all admire and love for centuries to come.
Pray much for the Obama family because this victory is not without hard work, trials and tribulations, but i'm confident that this family will handle it with strength and grace like they do everything.
I can now truly say that I love my country and I will proudly hang a flag that I feel truly embraces and represents myself and every person in this country....a flag of the united states of America.
God bless you all....
Peace, love and Happiness!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The best revenge is success...
There's a saying that I've heard many times "the good guy always finish last". Over the years when we give of ourselves and people treat us badly, our natural inclination is to believe after a while that it's not worth it to take the higher road...instead we want to see our offender hurt. We tend to get cynical about family, friendships, co-workers and potential suitors because of our past experiences. After you've been disrespected, lied to, stabbed in the back and denounced by people that are oftentimes close to you, it's natural to lose hope. There was a time when I believed that, but as I watch this presidential election play out, my whole perception has changed.
In watching this campaign, I'm impressed by the way Obama handles the lies, slights, blatant disrespect and indifference being levied against him. Imagine being accused by a large number of people of being a terrorist or "palling around with terrorists," having your character questioned and constantly being told you are not qualified to run this country because of the color of your skin! Oftentimes in the past he's been accused of not being aggressive enough and not fighting back. When you really think about it, Barak's calmness makes sense. Every time I see him he's always composed and sticks to the issues at hand. During the debates, Obama is always respectful of his opponent...often agreeing with him on issues. Even though McCain and his people have made the worst insinuations about Senator Obama, he still keeps his composure and is genuine in his greeting and departure...he refuses to allow another person to pull him out of character.
The Higher Road will sometimes entail enduring some difficult times. However, if you act with decency, respect and remain calm, you would be amazed at the outcome. Take this campaign for instance, the polls are showing that keeping your fight above the waist is a better strategy. Republicans are stunned and cannot understand how Obama is steadily gaining momentum. People in general are tired of fighting, they want to see a new face, hear a new voice and have someone running this country that they can respect...someone who CARES about helping the general public. We live in a very COMPETITIVE and SELFISH world which is largely contributing to the demise of this country and many others around the globe!
I've learned that revenge is a waste of time and energy. If someone has an issue with me or treats me with impunity, I pray for them because the problem is not mine, it's theirs. So the next time someone hurts you, go ahead and take the "higher road" because like Senator (Soon-to-be president) Barak Obama, that road may lead you to a much higher purpose.
The best revenge is success!
Have a blessed week.
In watching this campaign, I'm impressed by the way Obama handles the lies, slights, blatant disrespect and indifference being levied against him. Imagine being accused by a large number of people of being a terrorist or "palling around with terrorists," having your character questioned and constantly being told you are not qualified to run this country because of the color of your skin! Oftentimes in the past he's been accused of not being aggressive enough and not fighting back. When you really think about it, Barak's calmness makes sense. Every time I see him he's always composed and sticks to the issues at hand. During the debates, Obama is always respectful of his opponent...often agreeing with him on issues. Even though McCain and his people have made the worst insinuations about Senator Obama, he still keeps his composure and is genuine in his greeting and departure...he refuses to allow another person to pull him out of character.
The Higher Road will sometimes entail enduring some difficult times. However, if you act with decency, respect and remain calm, you would be amazed at the outcome. Take this campaign for instance, the polls are showing that keeping your fight above the waist is a better strategy. Republicans are stunned and cannot understand how Obama is steadily gaining momentum. People in general are tired of fighting, they want to see a new face, hear a new voice and have someone running this country that they can respect...someone who CARES about helping the general public. We live in a very COMPETITIVE and SELFISH world which is largely contributing to the demise of this country and many others around the globe!
I've learned that revenge is a waste of time and energy. If someone has an issue with me or treats me with impunity, I pray for them because the problem is not mine, it's theirs. So the next time someone hurts you, go ahead and take the "higher road" because like Senator (Soon-to-be president) Barak Obama, that road may lead you to a much higher purpose.
The best revenge is success!
Have a blessed week.
Friday, August 29, 2008
YES WE CAN...
Today I woke up with an unusual pep in my step, a harder swing in my hips and my head held high. I'm proud on so many levels. Besides my own journey in life, I'm so grateful to God to witness history in the making. Earlier this year, I encountered so many people who felt at the beginning of this 2008 election journey that Obama would not make it this far. I've heard over and over that "this country is not ready for a black president; he'll never win; the job is going to be too hard" etc, but I never for a moment absorbed any of those thoughts....I never faltered on my faith. I knew from the beginning that this day would come because like many people in this country I'm hungry for change. He has not won YET, but eveyrthing within me is saying it's going to happen! Will change come easy? No. It's never easy going from status quo to uncertainty, but one things for sure...at the end of the journey, we will all learn something new and be better people for it!
Challenges will come but as Joe Biden's mother said "Failure is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable!" Barak and Michelle's determination, faith and hard work despite all the challenges they faced has set a new bar for me. I look at them and I'm awe struck by what they have been able to achieve in just this past year alone. One of the most valuable lessons I learned about that couple is "if you have the right people on your side, there is nothing you can't conquer!"
Too often we get stuck in life on things and people that bring us down rather and lift us up. We focus too long on the speck on the floor rather than the bigger picture. Whatever you are doing right now in your life can be changed. If you are unhappy with yourself, job, want to go back to school, want to start a business, want to get married, want to learn a language; it's all possible as long as you believe it and you surround yourself with people that love and support you. If you don't have supportive people around you, then guess what? It's time to get out there and meet new people. Whatever it is that is a burning desire, don't ignore it...if there's a will there's a way. If you don't know what your passion/purpose is in life...keep trying, it'll eventually present itself.
New times are dawning, opportunities are spinning (yes, even in this bad economy) and no matter what is going on in life, it's never too late to make positive changes....you are never too young, old, fat or skinny. My new Mantra is "YES I CAN". I've always believed that there is a special place carved in this universe for us all...if only we can extend our reach and truly believe "YES I / WE CAN".
Peace, love and blessings to you all!
Challenges will come but as Joe Biden's mother said "Failure is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable!" Barak and Michelle's determination, faith and hard work despite all the challenges they faced has set a new bar for me. I look at them and I'm awe struck by what they have been able to achieve in just this past year alone. One of the most valuable lessons I learned about that couple is "if you have the right people on your side, there is nothing you can't conquer!"
Too often we get stuck in life on things and people that bring us down rather and lift us up. We focus too long on the speck on the floor rather than the bigger picture. Whatever you are doing right now in your life can be changed. If you are unhappy with yourself, job, want to go back to school, want to start a business, want to get married, want to learn a language; it's all possible as long as you believe it and you surround yourself with people that love and support you. If you don't have supportive people around you, then guess what? It's time to get out there and meet new people. Whatever it is that is a burning desire, don't ignore it...if there's a will there's a way. If you don't know what your passion/purpose is in life...keep trying, it'll eventually present itself.
New times are dawning, opportunities are spinning (yes, even in this bad economy) and no matter what is going on in life, it's never too late to make positive changes....you are never too young, old, fat or skinny. My new Mantra is "YES I CAN". I've always believed that there is a special place carved in this universe for us all...if only we can extend our reach and truly believe "YES I / WE CAN".
Peace, love and blessings to you all!
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