With questions plaguing the nation about Gay marriage, adoption and civil unions...I was interested to know what others really think about this subject. Religion seems to be the most significant factor whether it is wrong or right, however just the fear (homophobia) and hate for those whose choose to have same sex relationships angers and even disgusts some. Why? Why do you think that people are so fearful?
My take: If two people love each other and choose to be together....then so be it! Love is an amazing and complex thing. But it is wonderful when cherished and nurtured. Sexually whatever a person chooses to do behind closed doors is their business even heterosexuals have sexual behavior(s) that they dare not share and let others know because of shame, fear and/or embarrassment. Ones sexual behavior and escapades should be private between those parties that share that experience. Seems that more and more people are coming out of the closet and the stereotypical homosexual or lesbian no longer fits the effeminate or butch criteria. Many male and female gays are "normal" people who are just as masculine as their male or feminine as their female "counterparts"..hahaha! Major atheletes, entertainers, members of the media, clergy, your best friend (whose in the closest and is always bashing gays),the curios college athlete, the curious person who always wants to talk about homosexuals whether it is negative or positive, or that person who is bi-curious just wants the experience or finds themself attracted to their best friend and does not know why....I could go on....LIFE and its strange mysteries, huh...WHY, WHY, one asks!! Well only you know. Next.
The freedom of choice is a wonderful thing to have. Love, I believe, knows no gender, age, ethnicity or religion, etc. We have to at least agree on that. Discrimination is ugly and dangerous whether it is against gays, because of ethnicity, religion, or whatever. We all should enjoy life and as long as one does not infringe their behavior(s) upon another...then let it be, right?
Should anyone comment on this blog then it will lead to my next question...coming soon!
Amor Vincit Omnia.........Love Conquers All
&
Il Padelt ...........................God is our hope
Peace & Love....................hmmmmm
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Black Male in America
I was curious to find out what seems to be the general consensus among black folk regarding the current state of the black male in America especially since the election of Barack Obama. A lot of people think that we are making or have made considerable progress in this country. How true is this? Considering racial profiling, the disproportionate number of black men incarcerated in this country, black on black crime (among black males), etc. This seems to be a very serious questions that are looming in the black community.
Friday, November 21, 2008
A few questions @ the college experience
The university setting. It is a joy to see many young black americans attending and graduating from college. Today more than ever young black folks are attending colleges all over the nation from HBCU's to Ivy league schools. I am posing this question to students and instructors. How would you rate the academic cirriculum and their instructors? Do you think the college/university that you are attending have quality instructors? Do you have an instructor who is an intern and if so what do you think of their knowledge, skills and ability to teach? Do you think freshman students (or others) seem to take for granted the seriousness of their college education (particularly since they are paying)? Is attending more of a way to leave home, socialize and party, or really to achieve their goals and dreams? I ask because I notice that many here seem to take for granted the opportunity of receiving a college education. I find that in some classes some students talk to instructors/professors with no respect even using profanity and the "n" word in front of the instructor. I know partly this is the instructors fault but students should realize that they are now considered adults and are expected to act as such.....right?? Usually, most people really find themselves and who they are to become is often defined by the college experience. I don't know, maybe I am missing something....can someone enlighten me.
I know many that would like to attend almost any university just to receive a degree with the hope of making a better life for themselves and their current and/or future families. Please give me some feedback which will lead to the other questions that I have?
Thanks folks!
Il padelt!!!
I know many that would like to attend almost any university just to receive a degree with the hope of making a better life for themselves and their current and/or future families. Please give me some feedback which will lead to the other questions that I have?
Thanks folks!
Il padelt!!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Response to lex raven on Change
Definitely for a lot of African-Americans it is solely the fact that he is Black and that is why some voted for him despite the issues. And just for that very reason you say, "African-Americans have been held down.....many years" and those that were around fighting and advocating for our freedoms and rights, surely they would agree that, as a people, we have crossed a bridge in our journey to equality, however this does not solve the problems that we have been facing for so many years but it sheds light that we are making huge strides and great effort. This is a major achievement that has huge possibilities and ramifications for the Black community and the nation. I am hopeful.
Being from the South and having experienced racism on a scale that included violence, racism in the corporate world, military, as ordinary citizen which included the death of a very close friend during the riots in Miami several years ago....it is difficult for me to believe this country is anywhere near obliteration of racism on a whole...it is hate and most of it is learned and passed from one generation to the next and because of my personal experience that included violence from whites because of my skin color, I pray that God will help us past this evil and destructive thing called racism.
From the chains of bondage to the White House...need I say more. I am proud of my heritage (particularly the Senegalese) and would change nothing of it even if I could....a strong and very proud family I come from, particularly my southern kin folk!!! So, because I believe in God with all my heart I know that CHANGE is coming! We may not even agree but CHANGE is still coming and as far as the future of this nation, who can bring that change?!?!
Being from the South and having experienced racism on a scale that included violence, racism in the corporate world, military, as ordinary citizen which included the death of a very close friend during the riots in Miami several years ago....it is difficult for me to believe this country is anywhere near obliteration of racism on a whole...it is hate and most of it is learned and passed from one generation to the next and because of my personal experience that included violence from whites because of my skin color, I pray that God will help us past this evil and destructive thing called racism.
From the chains of bondage to the White House...need I say more. I am proud of my heritage (particularly the Senegalese) and would change nothing of it even if I could....a strong and very proud family I come from, particularly my southern kin folk!!! So, because I believe in God with all my heart I know that CHANGE is coming! We may not even agree but CHANGE is still coming and as far as the future of this nation, who can bring that change?!?!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Has Change Really come to America!!!!
Has change really come to America with the election of the first African-American president? Has change REALLY come....is this part of the or was the 'vision of hope' of many Americans? The idea of a Black man and his family in the White House seems surreal, it is almost hard to imagine that this is reality in a nation that a little over 100 years ago basically prided itself on the institution of slavery and denied people of color the very basic of human rights, just 40 years ago we were battling 'jim crow laws'......
The "Hope" of many Black Americans is that somehow things are going to be so miraculously better for the Black community on a whole, hmmmm! We shall see. I believe that one thing to remember is that this is still a democracy built on the fact that this country is still governed by three branches and that the President is still limited in his ability and powers.....Black people there is still a Congress in this country.......can someone help me to mentally absorb what this means for Black people in this country, an African-American president that is???
After, this I shall return to daily business of my Visions of Hope for the community....the everyday challenges of the "common people", the less fortunate, the children lacking the basics of life-food, healthcare, and education.
The "Hope" of many Black Americans is that somehow things are going to be so miraculously better for the Black community on a whole, hmmmm! We shall see. I believe that one thing to remember is that this is still a democracy built on the fact that this country is still governed by three branches and that the President is still limited in his ability and powers.....Black people there is still a Congress in this country.......can someone help me to mentally absorb what this means for Black people in this country, an African-American president that is???
After, this I shall return to daily business of my Visions of Hope for the community....the everyday challenges of the "common people", the less fortunate, the children lacking the basics of life-food, healthcare, and education.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Introduction to Visions of Hope
Thank you for visiting my blog. This blogspot has been created to discuss the many visions, hopes and dreams that I would like to see concerning the African-American community (particularly in Baltimore City, since I am a current resident and nationally), Homelessness, the educational crisis with Black youth, especially black males. These are just a few of the discussions that I would like to blog about and see what opinions and possible solutions that are generated regarding these topics. So Visions of Hope is a site where we dare to continue to dream and believe that regardless of our station in life and circumstance, that I or anyone is faced with, that we can BELIEVE that accomplishing any task or goal is possible or attainable.
It is my greatest desire to maybe find some answers and possible solutions to the problems of homelessness in a city that has row upon row of abandon/vacant row houses and buildings, to the epidemic of drug addiction (particularly heroin) that plagues this historic city of Baltimore, and the issues of youth that are affected by these sad instances of life. The youth of Baltimore city has one the highest school/high school drop out rates in the nation. Why is this? Why do so many young Black males in the city of Baltimore choose a life of selling drugs and crime instead of completing school and finding suitable employment? It is a very serious question that not only plagues Baltimore but many cities throughout the United States.....Are the statistics correct or is the (negative) statistical information that has been gathered another way to suppress a particular group of people for the sake of.....whatever the benefit of the statisticians/government at the time.
It is very late, tomorrow is Election Day....an unprecedented moment in the history of the United States of America because of the possibility of a Black man, or should I say a man of mixed race, becoming the next president of America. I will be at the polls and I can tell you this....just because he is Black/African-American does not mean he will get my vote....my vote will not be based on his ethnicity but rather the issues are affecting our nation and me personally and what I believe to be important, like ill treatment of our Veterans, healthcare, homelessness in America, education, the lack of support and role models for young black males, the disproportionate incarceration rate of young black males, a judicial system with double standards based on class and ethnicity, etc. So, I will be at the polls tomorrow doing my duty.
Hence, Visions of Hope.....a place where questions can hopefully find answers and possible solutions to the many different problems that we face. Let's talk about it, someone help me with some ideas, answers and my vision of hope is to lead the way making a difference.
It is my greatest desire to maybe find some answers and possible solutions to the problems of homelessness in a city that has row upon row of abandon/vacant row houses and buildings, to the epidemic of drug addiction (particularly heroin) that plagues this historic city of Baltimore, and the issues of youth that are affected by these sad instances of life. The youth of Baltimore city has one the highest school/high school drop out rates in the nation. Why is this? Why do so many young Black males in the city of Baltimore choose a life of selling drugs and crime instead of completing school and finding suitable employment? It is a very serious question that not only plagues Baltimore but many cities throughout the United States.....Are the statistics correct or is the (negative) statistical information that has been gathered another way to suppress a particular group of people for the sake of.....whatever the benefit of the statisticians/government at the time.
It is very late, tomorrow is Election Day....an unprecedented moment in the history of the United States of America because of the possibility of a Black man, or should I say a man of mixed race, becoming the next president of America. I will be at the polls and I can tell you this....just because he is Black/African-American does not mean he will get my vote....my vote will not be based on his ethnicity but rather the issues are affecting our nation and me personally and what I believe to be important, like ill treatment of our Veterans, healthcare, homelessness in America, education, the lack of support and role models for young black males, the disproportionate incarceration rate of young black males, a judicial system with double standards based on class and ethnicity, etc. So, I will be at the polls tomorrow doing my duty.
Hence, Visions of Hope.....a place where questions can hopefully find answers and possible solutions to the many different problems that we face. Let's talk about it, someone help me with some ideas, answers and my vision of hope is to lead the way making a difference.
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