The tension is thick in Ferguson, Missouri. A shooting resulted in the death of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson.
There were peaceful protests because the person shot was unarmed, and Black. Then riots and looting took place in Ferguson by those wanting officer Wilson charged with murder. Then full-armored police/crowd control was sent in to disburse the looters and rioters. The situation was pretty chaotic for a while.
There's been an investigation and evidence showed there was a physical altercation between Brown and Wilson. Officer Wilson had his face badly beaten and Michael Brown was first shot multiple times in his arm, then fatally in the head.
Anyone being beaten in the face by a big, tall, angry, muscular man would naturally think their life was in danger. Officer Wilson fired his weapon to save his own life. He very well could've been strangled, beaten to death, or even shot with his own gun by Michael Brown.
These two men may have had a prior confrontation but that day, Brown attacked Wilson, Wilson reacted and Brown died.
I question the motive of a person reaching into a police vehicle and attacking a police officer. That person was an aggressor.
I did not eye-witness what occurred in Ferguson on August 9, 2014, but these are some of my thoughts.
Years ago, Black men were treated very unfairly and inhumanly. Black men were accused, arrested, weren't given fair trials or represented justly- too many were hung from trees just because they were Black men. A monumental injustice!
Blacks in Ferguson gathered in mob fashion looting businesses (having absolutely nothing to do with Brown's shooting). In their anger, the Blacks said they would continue mob activities unless Mr. Wilson was arrested for killing Brown. I dare say if those angered folks could get their hands on Mr. Wilson, they'd hang him without a trial. (I hope I'm mistaken about this)
Could the rioting, looting and demands be pay back, retribution, and/or retaliation for crimes subjected upon their forefathers by Caucasian men?
Think about this. Had Michael Brown NOT violated the law, he would have gone about his way and there would've NOT been a need for a police officer be called to investigate anything. Both men, their families and friends would all have been spared the horrible grief and the city of Ferguson wouldn't have been the scene of destruction of life, property or livelihood.
But it did happen. The police officer Mr. Wilson responded to the call, as it was his job. Michael Brown exhibited defiance towards authority. Mr. Wilson discovered a possible robbery suspect (Brown had taken cigars without paying from a small business), there probably were an exchange of harsh words, things escalated quickly into a physical fight resulting in blood shed and a young life was cut short.
The situation didn't have to begin or end as it did, but when a strong, defiant man charges at a trained, armed police officer, and there's a struggle for the gun, more than likely that gun is going to go off and someone's going to be shot.
Will this tragic incident incite more of the same?
Will be see a repeat of the clash between the races like in the 60's?
We shall see.
There are thousands of policemen and policewomen wondering what would they have done if they had been in the situation Wilson was in.
Will they be next to get into a racial confrontation if they respond to a call and the suspect has different skin pigmentation than them? Are Black men wondering what would they have done and will they be next to be in a confrontation with the police?
Public safety/Officers of the peace are employed in a dangerous profession because people are and can be very unpredictable. Police are people and have to be careful anytime they're confronting anyone, and especially when the person(s) they're confronting wants to challenge them.
Black men know they're watched closely because they've grown up with the mentality that they are the first ones targeted when a crime occurs.
Have Black men done anything to bring this upon themselves?
No matter the answer to the question, challenging the police isn't ever a smart thing to do. There were already two strikes Mr. Brown caused himself before the gun went off. Robbing the small store and challenging the authority of the police officer called to investigate were the first two. The fatal third strike was Mr. Brown having a physical altercation with Wilson.
Why not aim NOT be involved in situations posing a change of the police being called out?
Police officers aren't summoned unless there's a reason for someone to call them. Give them no reason and there'll be no confrontation, less cause for racial tension, less police brutality, less Black and White hatred. That would be good for all.
Immediately do what a police officers asks, even if it's something you don't like so not to increase tensions or misunderstandings which evokes heated emotions and hostilities which in turn make for situations to quickly escalate into something neither desires. Everyone wants to get back home safely.
I might add not all policemen/women are White, and not all men/women disrespecting police officers are Black.
The parents of Michael Brown are demanding justice for the death of their son, which any parent should. It's devastating for any parent to have to bury their child.
What happened in Ferguson is one more entanglement involving a figure of authority (police) and an unarmed Black male.
We all have our opinions made up from the bits and pieces of info, but until we know all the details, (and there are a lot of details yet to be revealed to the public) we have to be patient and allow our justice system work. It's never easy determining motives, reasoning or reactions which occur in a split second. Detectives on this case have a lot of evidence to piece over, consider eye-witness testimonies and the recording of the guns shots before determining the conclusion in this case.
Not everyone is going to be happy when the investigation is all said and done.
Until then, I believe forgiveness is going to have to be extended from both sides for any healing to begin. It's not an ideal situation for anyone, but all should move forward and most of all learn from this situation.
Will the final investigation results or a hearing bring about an end to the tension in Ferguson and to one group of people in this this country still not over the hurt or healed from being done wrong by another group of people. Still being held back in poverty is an open wound that hasn't healed yet. Though some have made their way out of poverty, others haven't yet and someone is to fault.
For starters, young Black boys and young Black men need positive role models and encouragement to help them strive to be motivated to attain a better in life rather than choosing selling drugs, wearing saggy pants, listening to lyrics popularizing the 'thug life' so they'd be less apt to any entanglements with police officers.
What do you say, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr, the great unifier and with your commitment to youth, and Rev. Al Sharpton- you're both in influential positions.
Rather than stoking racism fire, how about inciting an internal fire to the youth to make a change from within. There is so much room for positive personal improvement to be made which would lead to different treatment of Blacks.
Blacks can better themselves by getting educated, refraining from illegal activities, and choosing to dress more self-respectfully rather than 'thuggishly', These would be a good starting points which would do so much more than continually being angry about being mistreated for your skin color.
Is playing that old race card getting working?
It's time now to own up to looking to self and being responsible that one's actions may be the cause of most of the hostility Blacks bring onto themselves.
Sadly, there are still too many holding onto the mindset to keep doing the same old things because they prefer the 'woe is me'
attitude so they can keep being bitter about their life situation. Time to stop that.
But there is a way out of the projects and the ghetto, and if you continue to believe skin color is holding you back, then your beliefs are holding you back and you will never get to know the extent of your capabilities or just how high you can advance and be a positive contributor to society and end thinking someone else is in control of your life.
Is it really personally rewarding remaining on welfare and getting government hand-outs? That's showing you are settling for a hand-out and you want to remain being controlled.
Action steps- get an education or learn a skill and steadily get very good at what you do.
Learn to mentally have confidence in yourself and stop believing the excuse that someone else is knocking you 'down'. In reality, the only person or persons knocking you down are those who are themselves 'down' and don't want you to succeed either. Prove them wrong.
To succeed, you have to want it; you have to go for it, even if it means leaving your 'thug buddies,' or anyone talking your out of pursuing your dreams; you have to work or get an education, and clean up your act and quit allowing excuses hold you back.
To make success happen, the formula is you have to decide it's what you want and then go into action and work your plan to succeed.
The pay-off and pride of succeeding is extremely rewarding. No one can take that from you.
Don't settle for being part of the crowd resorting to anger and hostility because someone is mistreating you. Move or get away and rise above and out and leave all that behind in the dust. Prove them all wrong.
It's up to YOU, no matter the color of your skin to put yourself in a better place in life. Don't allow or believe anyone to tell you differently. YES, YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE SITUATION IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
It was late 1994 and I was excited I had an invitation to accompany a friend to NYC. She was going to see a medical specialist and she asked if I would travel with her.
I thought the trip would be fun with some sightseeing and shopping. I was in need of a change of pace and something fun and different to do, so off we flew to JFK.
Our taxi from the airport was driven by a man wearing a turban. We gave him the address to our hotel and we held on in the back seat during the exciting, fast drive from the airport to the heart of Manhattan. I don't remember seeing a checker cab, but there's a sea of taxi cabs on duty in the city.
And I'm glad I had bought a new coat with a liner. It was November and people were wearing fur
and leather coats and jackets.
The air was brisk. Christmas decorations were on display. The neon lights and taxis were never still, even during the early morning hours. I know because I gazed out our window in the wee hours of the morning. There were maybe a dozen less taxi cabs but delivery trucks and people galore were moving about on the streets.
From our hotel room near the Rockefeller Center, we walked along 5th Avenue, Park Avenue and visited the top floor of the Empire State Building. We peeked into the foyer of Trump Tower and went into Macy's and took the wooden escalators up and down a few floors. At Times Square I watched Brandy perform. Her debut album was out that year. She was cute singing and dancing in her winter white hat, vest, leggings and boots. We even took a short carriage ride through Central Park, browsed in FAO Schwarz. We decided to not go in the glitzy Plaza Hotel.
We rode past the old World Trade Center buildings in a double-decker bus. I remember thinking those buildings were a solid city block massive at their bases. The support under those building had to be strong and steady for all that mass that reached way up into the sky.
One WTC construction is in progress. Totally amazing on the construction engineering of such tall, huge buildings. I bet none of the workers are afraid of heights. I wonder what their hourly pay is? View this special beam installation.
We ate at the famous Stage Deli, now closed, where I got hooked on NY cheesecake. We had breakfast at some small joint. Food was served fast. Leisure eating is frowned upon. In the Big Apple there's no such thing as leisurely eating. In a New York minute you're served, you eat, you pay and be on your way so the next customers in line can be seated.
I did go back to the Stage Deli for a cheese cake to bring home.
I saw only one grocery store and it had a parking lot in front of it.
There were street vendors selling all sorts of merchandise and food. Just about every block there were small grocery stores you walked into to pick up enough groceries or necessities to carry or put in a cart. In front of many of these stores were beautiful cut flower displays which added to still multiple bursts of color along the street accompanied by the moving bursts of vehicles and people.
The city had a vibration I could feel. It's alive with palpable, tangible, visible and smellable energy. There's lots of concrete and little natural growing greenery other than in Central Park and maybe a very small plot of green grass with a few trees here and there. In between all the buildings one after another, with no space in between, I caught a glimpse or two of the sky. Good thing the island has a strong underlying bedrock to support all the man-made structures.
I wanted to see the sights of NYC to say I've seen them, and one of the sights I wanted to see was graffiti.
When it was time to take the subway to get to my friend's doctor's office, I remember being a bit apprehensive going underground. At first I didn't spot where the subway entrances were. At ground level you see these inconspicuous rails over to the side on sidewalks. When I went up to them, there were steps descending down below the street. I had never been underground, so I was a little nervous.
I had seen movies about gangs and muggings on subway cars. I wasn't into experiencing any of that but I did want to see subway graffiti.
I imagine Manhattan was kept graffiti-free for the tourists, so I was hoping the subway would be my chance to see up close and personal some real NYC graffiti.
The closest I'd been to seeing graffiti looks like a big blur on railway cars going too fast for me to gaze at the words and art.
The underground subway station surprisingly was well lit, bright, open and clean. No graffiti on the walls. There were turnstiles and lots of people. It was quiet and I my nervousness was eased. My friend had been to NYC before so she knew her way around. Our subway came, we got on and sat down.
On the subway train, people were quiet. There is no eye contact, no chit
chat, no smiling, just other people going about their business. Nothing
exciting to see. We came back the same way. My subway adventure was
uneventful and graffiti-free.
Spray can art is bright and vivid. No paint brushes needed. I wish I'd seen this artist in action. He doesn't spray on public buildings or subway cars. Considering all the spray paint he has to buy and the canvas, he sells his art at a very reasonable price.
NYC is crammed like sardines with buildings, taxi cabs, vehicles and people. There's plenty of good food to be eaten fast. I don't think any chef would have any difficult time finding employment. I wonder if people do a lot of cooking at home or is the norm to stop for a quick bite to eat and keep moving? I didn't see any who looked overweight. I did hear a lot of foreign language being spoken that I almost thought I was in a foreign country. There are plenty of places of spend your money just walking along the streets in Manhattan and be entertained for free by looking at the people and sights as it's in constant motion 24 hours a day.
I asked our taxi driver if he'd drive through Harlem on the
way back to the airport. He seemed puzzled why I'd want to go there.
I thought he could drive by the Apollo Theater. He granted my request and drove one block into Harlem and one block out.
We were gone almost three days and I'd go back to the Big Apple just for the food. It was all marvelous and scrumptious! Generous portions, tasty and served quickly. My pretzel from a street vendor was big and warm. I want one right now. And I'd go back to visit more sights. There was so much I didn't get to see, e.g., museums, Brooklyn, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station, and more).
Perhaps I'll be fortunate and get another chance for an adventure to visit the sights in and around NYC in this lifetime. With a pass I could tour some underground tunnels, (I'm now cool going underground ) and other interesting sights.
I made a salad today using what I had on hand.
It looks good and tastes very good. The mixture is quite pleasant.
I call it Surprise Salad because it was a surprise to me how well it turned out.
If you like what you see, try making it yourself, then invite me over.
Surprise Salad
Surprise Salad
(fruit and veggies are sliced thin and/or narrow with all seeds removed)
2 Roma tomatoes
1/2 onion, white or red
1 cucumber
1/2 c. mushrooms
2 stalks of celery. sliced
1 Granny Smith apple
1 Papaya
1 small can ripe sliced olives
1/2 c. walnut pieces
1/2 c. chopped parsley
Balsamic and Basil vinaigrette dressing- with EEVO. The kind I use has 4g fat per 2 Tbsps.
Combine all fruit and vegetables in a bowl. Drizzle 1/2 c. Balsamic and Basil vinaigrette dressing. Toss well to distribute the dressing. Cover and chill in refrigerator 1 hour. Toss again before serving.
This salad will satisfy all your taste buds and then some.
If I had a banana and some raisins on hand, they would've been added.
Feel free to embellish or change the amounts as you wish and make this salad your own surprise.
It was pure genius to devise a code partly based upon the alphabet and word association.
Here's more info on how this code came about using the complex Navajo language where tone of voice can have a different meaning to a word.
The following are interviews with eight of the Navajo Code Talkers.
Peter MacDonald, Navajo Code Talker. It was destiny he do something great for his country, after dropping out of school after the 5th grade and joining the Marine Corps.
The Navajo language was not written. Memory only of the 400 who were recruited to use this code was one of the reasons it was undecipherable by the Japanese during the war. The Code Talkers were very valuable to the Marines and the war effort.
Samuel Tso, another proud Navajo Code Talker, didn't want to be called a draft dodger. He tells of the 'First 29' and how he volunteered to run across Death Valley to locate machine guns and how he knew he would survive that mission.
John Kinsel, Navajo Code Talker, tells of the meaning of the colors and symbols and how the Japanese almost got one letter of the code; how he got sick with malaria in South America; and receiving the Purple Heart, which he had to prove he was in the service.
Keith Little was orphaned. Listen to his story hearing of the 'sneak attack' on Pearl Harbor and hearing President Roosevelt say this is a day of infamy. Listen to how he volunteered for the Marines at age 17 and went on to be a Navajo Code Talker.
Kee Etsicitty, a Navajo Code Talker, tells how code talkers had to have a good memory in
order to translate into code. He tells why he had short sleeves in uniform and a little about
enemy conversations on the radio, and more.
Joe Vandever, Navajo Code Talker, tells how it was in the war and how he got word from a bird
that he would return home and of being brave.
Samuel Tom Holiday, Navajo Code Talker, tells of his early years and more.
Chester Nav, Navajo Code Talker, who as of April 2014, is the last of the First 29 Code Talkers.
He speaks of raising sheep when he was young, the livestock massacre, and the hard life living
on the reservation. He explains that he was raised as a warrior to protect what he loves and he had to
join the Marines to protect the United States. He tells that until the code was declassified in 1968, he could only speak of his work in the service of just talking on the radio.
In 2001 the Code Talkers were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
These brave men volunteered and served their country in wartime.
Their service is to be commended by all who live in the land of the free.
Recently I learned about an awesome biker organization.
Their mission is nothing less than what I would describe as AWESOME!
These black leather wearing guys and gals are truly angels on wheels.
Bikers Against Child Abuse. BACA, they're called, are they're doing some mighty good works for kids who've been abused.
Am I the only one who wishes any adults thinking about abusing an innocent child have to face BACA?
Any child would feel safer with BACA around. Take a look.
They are serious because their cause is serious.
A child should not have to grow up in fear. Bless each of them.
The Paralympic Games are held following the regular Olympic Games every four years, and give athletes with a physical disability who qualify to compete just like 'non-disabled' athletes to go for the gold.
Trisha Zorn, blind from birth, has won 41 gold medals in various swimming competitions. I believe she holds the record for gold metal wins in any Olympic Games. Michael Phelps won 14 gold metals for his swimming wins in the regular Olympic Games.
The Special Olympics are for those athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The Deaflympics are for those athletes with hearing disabilities.
I've been fascinated with the tiny home movement. These dwellings are adorable and quite the contrast compared to massive square footage homes. Why work just to pay a huge monthly mortgage payment when you can live small and have lots of dough left over for lots of other things.
And, tiny homes sure make house cleaning a simple chore. That's pretty alluring to me.
I couldn't help but think of the shotgun houses I've seen. They are compact and make full use of interior footage because of the the lack of a hallway.
Then there are the micro-homes which can be made in whatever shape you prefer.
Garage homes with 250 square feet actually looks pretty spacious.
For those who like being near the water, you might consider small homes on or near the water, like these. And, many of these house boats are priced in the $20s. Wow!
And, this man made a dwelling out of a garbage dumpster. See video.
All in all, I can see some manufacturers coming out with all sorts of combined fixtures/appliances/furniture to give the most bang for the square feet in these scaled down dwellings where space is a premium.
For the most part, I think making the most of every inch of living space is a great design for dwellings, eliminating empty, unused space and leads one to not accumulate and unnecessary stuff.
American Indians were at the forefront of compact dwellings with their teepees, longhouses and such, and they didn't have to climb up a ladder to get to the bedroom or the bed. And climbing a ladder might be the only draw back that I see in most of the designs to access the bedroom overhead. This could be no problem for the young but it might be dangerous for anyone with a knee problem or not too steady holding onto a ladder after just waking up needing to get to the bathroom in a hurry.
My experience with small living space was twenty years ago when I moved a storage shed out to the country and began moving my belonging out of a rented two-bedroom apartment. I placed all my furniture and belongings inside a 12'X16' storage shed with a wooden floor, a metal roof, two windows, a door, an overhead light and two wall sockets. It was Springtime and when it rained I slept so good! Everything was within arms reach and I was so happy living in that little space with my dog. I really didn't want to move out of it.
So, whatever size dwelling suits your lifestyle, in whatever material you want it constructed of, go on and live it up large in your small dwelling.
The size of a home doesn't matter. It's home as long as your heart is there.
