How Does He Fix This, Now That He’s in Office?

Our children are the most precious, innocent, valuable, and fragile things that we have in our world.

In the United States they have heard for four years, but with the greatest intensity, the last two years, that there are groups of people either inferior or superior to them simply because of their race, religion, or gender.

We’re supposed to be protecting, nurturing, guiding, and uplifting them. We’re supposed to be allowing them to spend this time as kids, before adulthood takes over and the mountain of drama tumbles in.

How now after four years of ugliness and hate can this person now right these wrongs? How can he now heal the pain he caused? How can he fix the wounds and the breaks he created? How can he unify what he intentionally divided? How can he possibly instill hope when he’s spent more than four years injecting fear into our homes and schools?

Maybe his secret weapon is Melania. She says she wants to take on bullying and specifically cyber-bullying.

It took four years to get here. Hopefully it doesn’t take that long or longer to mend, fix, and heal this disaster.

The Hypocrisy in Hate: From Anti-Obama to Anti-Immigrants

Jason Thompson, whose father, Tommy Thompson, is running as the GOP nominee in a tight contest in Wisconsin, is caught up in a web of hypocrisy and ignorance for his ‘birther’ comment he made this past Sunday that may cost his father some much-needed votes. Jason stated that, “The election here in November will chart our course as a country not only for our generation, but our kids’ generation. We have the opportunity to send President Obama back to Chicago…or Kenya.”Thompson’s words were captured on video at the Kenosha County Republican Party fall brunch in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Attendees were not stunned or silent as he spoke, to the contrary, he was interrupted several times by applause and comments from attendees. One woman even yelled out, “We’re taking donations for that Kenya trip.” 

Thompson’s father was not at the brunch but supposedly had a ‘talk’ with his son according to the GOP nominee’s communications director, Lisa Boothe who emailed a statement to CNN that said, “The Governor has addressed this with his son, just like any father would do. Jason Thompson said something he should not have, and he apologizes.“

But you have to ask yourself, “what is he apologizing for?”

If Jason Thompson truly feels this way about the President and he believes like others (who speak and act the same way he does) that is okay to utter such ignorance (repeatedly), then why apologize? He knew before and after he said those words that his father is in an extremely close race against Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin. He knew after the woman chimed in with her comments about taking donations for the Kenya trip that what was being said was cruel. He knew that he was not only speaking to a group outside of the confines and comfort of his home, but that he was being videotaped. He knew that this video could be released to the public and media. Yet it didn’t stop him from saying it or stopping it.

So then why did he say it? Because that is obviously what he thinks, believes, and feels. So is his father’s apology on his son’s behalf sincere or is it vote-motivated? Why isn’t Jason standing in front of more cameras and making a personal apology?

The Hypocrisy

Why do we have all of these educated people saying the most ignorant things as though they are not intelligent enough to filter their thoughts and the words that come from their mouths, or better yet, just think? Why do these people have uncontrollable mouths one moment and then later they want to apologize? Because the truth can never be hidden. Your true self will always be revealed. You can only fake it for so long. People like that want to apologize for their inability to hide their beliefs—based on ignorance, bigotry, racism and sexism—they are not apologizing for being ignorant bigots, racists or sexists. They want to apologize for revealing their true selves because they have done such a great job at showing only the mask that they want voters and supporters to see. They are not apologizing and seeking atonement, and an opportunity to right their wrongs. They are embarrassed for being found out and exposed. Let’s not even start on the so-called Christians out there flapping their lips while they are brewing up hate.

It must be painful that they spend so much time smiling in the faces and shaking the hands of people they despise, fear, and hate. They tell lies to get votes and financial support. Then they have the audacity to tell someone else to be honorable and truthful. A bunch of hypocrites is what I see. So you apologize for speaking what is on your mind and in your heart, and then you later apologize because the reality of losing a political race (or financial support) is now your focus.

Gotta get those votes. Gotta get that money. Gotta love this country—because if we were in several other countries that I’m thinking of right now, many people would not have the luxury of the First Amendment or any bill of rights. Some people would be punished for treason if they (were in other countries and) said and did what they do here in the U.S. 

I say to anyone who has no problem speaking, breeding, and nurturing hate behind closed doors to stop being cowards and liars in public (especially after your ignorance has been highlighted on the Internet and TV). You said what you said because you meant it and you still mean it—isn’t that the right you claim to have under the First Amendment? Isn’t that what they yell, scream, and fight over when they are in their rallies, conventions, and meetings? 

It’s Not Isolated

No different than the person in Morgan Hill, California (within the county of Santa Clara) who was protesting against President Obama last Tuesday with a “birther” sign (designed to look like a teleprompter) that read “Go back to Kenya you idiot“. Nearby was a chair that held watermelons with nooses around them, and a sign supporting Mitt Romney posted on a fence behind the chair. The Santa Clara property owner, Blake la Beck refused to comment when contacted by the media but did say that the display speaks for itself and didn’t mind if a picture of it was posted online. I agree, it definitely speaks loud and clear. Check it out for yourself.

Thanks to Blake, now you and I know that Morgan Hill, California exists. Go Blake!

Some people think that maybe Blake wasn’t being racist, that somehow it’s tied to Halloween approaching. Yeah okay. Hmmm or maybe Blake and others around the country placing nooses on/near watermelons with “Go back to Kenya” signs are actually telling the government and consumers to send watermelons back to Africa (the origin of watermelons). Maybe their message is speaking directly to the President so that he can make an executive order to no longer import or produce watermelons. Maybe that’s the real reason for the hanging watermelon and signs. Maybe just maybe. I hope you can truly sense my sarcasm here.

 

Some of you not from California are probably a little shocked to see a lynching scene displayed in California. I’m not. With so much anti-Mexican, anti-Latino, anti-immigrant, and neo-nazi nonsense throughout that state, nothing surprises me. Heck, American Third Position Party is a political party that was launched in California with a mission to protect the political interests of White Americans, and it is on the radar of numerous watch groups. Fear and ignorance is everywhere and comes from even the unlikeliest of people. 

Some of you have an expectation of racism and bigotry coming mostly from the south, such as the stories that I recently read that came out of Texas (Bud Johnson’s lynched chair) and Virginia where property owners created their own lynching scenes with wooden chairs and anti-Obama signs. I chuckled when I read that someone in Iowa spray-painted on the building of Obama’s local headquarters, “Muslim Lier” and misspelled ‘liar’. That’s a shining example of the ‘other side’ of what we’re dealing with.

So it seemed as though Bud Johnson from Texas was going to stand by his First Amendment rights when he told a journalist, “I don’t really give a damn whether it disturbs you or not. You can take [your concerns’ and go straight to hell and take Obama with you. I don’t give a shit. If you don’t like it don’t come down my street.” He even later added an American flag to the chair. Maybe Bud would be one of those I’m-gonna-speak-my-mind kind of people who have no problem telling you how they feel even if it’s mean. But Bud changed his tune, somewhat, days later when he takes down the hanging chair and flag, and then claims that the symbolic lynched chair representing the President was not racist. Some of his neighbors were upset by the image and said that they are glad he took it down. Watch Bud taking down the chair here

A Solution

We have a ton of imbeciles amongst us my friends, both educated and uneducated. If I had the money and resources I would give them all DNA tests and then tell them, “Now go back home to Africa!”Now that’s a sight I would love to see and experience.

 

Sources:

Jason Thompson video: http://youtu.be/ahav7acT30E

Thompson “apology”: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/political/jason-thompson-obama-birther-joke-tommy-thompsons-son-apologizes#ixzz29TfqFHhR

 

Morgan Hill/ Santa Clara article: http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/political-display-morgan-hill-home-called-racist/nSX3C/

Bud Johnson article: http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/12756/republican-lynches-empty-chair-in-racist-presidential-effigy-in-northwest-austin

Virginia article: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/20/13989510-empty-chair-lynchings-anti-obama-protests-gone-too-far?lite

“Muslim Lier” article: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20121005/NEWS01/121005003/-Muslim-Lier-Poor-speller-vandalizes-Obama-s-Iowa-HQ?nclick_check=1

 

Copyright 2012. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved.

Reader Comment About Tulsa OK Race-targeted Shootings

Below is a comment I found online and read, that was posted by a concerned citizen who fears a repeat of past events, current-day. Please read what she wrote, then intelligently share your thoughts:

Kimberly S.
April 7, 2012 at 9:45 pm

Readers;
There is a bad feeling in the air! It’s the same feeling I felt a long time ago, when Martin Luther King was shot down, and I had to walk to school where on every corner there was a Soilders clad in their Army fatigues, in a stance with weapons ready to shoot!

There is a feeling in the air, like when President Kennedy was shot, and you saw people walking around like zombies, crying! Yall, Black, White, Africans, Puertoricans, Irish, Muslims, American Indians, who ever; wake up; that nasty feeling is in the air, making us overprotective of our children, especially our male children.

There is a feeling in the air that makes us distrust our government and what they are not saying and/or doing.

We live in fear that we are being played off against one another for a grand purpose and/or bigger picture!

I fear public, large gatherings, for fear of something breaking out like Tulsa; a copycat type of thing!

I fear another Rodney King incident that hurt everyone who witnessed it either in person, on television, or heard play by plays on the radio.

It feels like the morning of 911. I walked among the people, and I saw people crying, people who were in shock & afraid, thinking of only getting home to loved ones, and there again, there was this feeling in the air yall !

What will happen this time? Is this near the end of time that it talks about in ” Revelations”? It says no one knows the hour that all of this will be gone! At the end, ” None of this nonsense will mean anything, except how you lived and how you treated your brothers & sisters all over the world, of every color, faith, and creed!

We all need to wake up! It’s later than we think!!!!!

Copyright 2012. Some rights reserved.

Sean’s Thought: Trayvon Martin Case Part 2

Below is part two of a series that my friend Sean wrote about the issues surrounding Trayvon Martin’s murder, and the events that have taken place since. Please read, reflect, and then share your thoughts:

When one decides to look the other way on what is right and just in the name of justice for a wrong doing they have proven without a doubt that they are no better than those they have protested.

Back to the Trayvon Martin case, my fear of ignorance spreading like wildfire to the sheep that have followed this case in the bias media form of laying crumbs out for ants have been founded. I find it hard to believe that people just shake their head in agreement to the Black Panther Party putting a hit on Zimmerman. I find it shocking that few have called Spike Lee out for posting on Twitter the address he believed was Zimmerman’s because he was “angry”.

When is ok to say no justice no peace? So many people have turned injustice into Justified Ignorance and Hate. Would we stand by and support the KKK putting a bounty on a Black man accused of killing a white kid like being reported about the Black Panthers?

Would we stand and support a media that reports stories for their fantastical nature rather than its accuracy of reporting? Once the word is out it is out it can never be changed and the minds of the ignorant will continue to go unchallenged.

How many of us have sat in our living rooms or our cars and spouted our racist views about cases like this without ever considering the impact on your kids, teens and young adults?

Many adults would swear on a bible that they would never put a loaded gun into their children’s hands because they or someone else might get hurt. When we spread the disease of hate we are loading our children themselves with bullets that can only hurt them and others. Why would we load our kids with some much more dangerous than any gun?

People need to understand that gaining a victory while giving up your moral and ethical ground is not gaining a victory at all. What happens if some young teenager decides that $10k would be great for his family and kills Zimmerman? Would the same people who are screaming so loud wish to have those who set this act in motion punished too or will we turn our eyes and say “he had it coming”?

What happens if then if the KKK puts out a hit on an accused Black, Hispanic or even Asian male for killing a “innocent white person”? Do we turn the other cheek and say “eye for an eye”?

The point of today’s thought is to say demand justice for those who have been done wrong but do not lose your principles, morals and sense of humanity in pursuit of it. The slope we walk as a people (that means all races) is a dangerous one when we start justifying evil to combat evil.

Just A Thought my friends!

Copyright 2012.

Sean’s Thought: The Trayvon Martin Case Part 1

My friend Sean has shared his thoughts about the Trayvon Martin travesty, and the issues and drama that has popped up over the weeks. Please tune in and share your thoughts.

Sean’s Thought:

The Trayvon Martin case has reminded me of one undeniable thing. We are all blind sheep. I grew up with friends shot and killed in gang violence. I saw young girls prostituted on the streets and beat up by pimps and johns. I watched police canvass the neighborhood for clues only to have no one speak up. Yet, when it is a black vs white thing the nation is in an uproar. The media and those with a hidden agenda are playing us like fools and we are simply smiling and saying “Thank You”. I don’t know if Trayvon was a menace, a gang banger or a threat all I know is a man killed him and that needs to be properly investigated. I don’t know if the man is a racist, a bigot or even a tax evader all I know is he chose the role of neighborhood “protector” and in that he has repercussions like any of us that are sworn to protect. He chose to shoot like he was a police officer and thus he must be accountable like one if it was unjustified.

All that being said, I want to know how many of the people “reposting” this divisive issue has also been speaking out against the filth in their own neighborhoods? How many would lie and protect a relative who committed murder of an innocent person? How many times have we looked the other way when it was a black on black, white on white, Hispanic on Hispanic or similar crime? Am I the only one that finds it remarkably sad that the only time we get in an uproar is when we can place a “Racism” tag on it? How many Muslims and Arabs have been beat and killed in this country since 911? Where is the uproar?

Copyright 2012.

Hate Spewed at POTUS Growing Out of Control

Racial slurs, undertones, and caricatures made about our President is now barely stopping shy of calling him the “N” word, and I don’t mean “nerd”. When will we demand more from our political leaders? When will we begin to hold them accountable for what they say and do?

Read the most recent backhanded and racially charged statement made against our President. Dr. Boyce Watkins takes on the incident and shares his viewpoint. His post below:

http://yourblackpolitics.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/gop-rep-compares-president-obama-to-a-tar-baby/

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. Paradigm Life.

Forgiveness is for the Forgiver More Than for the Forgiven

By Natasha L. Foreman, MBA

I have had the opportunity recently to forgive some people in my life who wronged me over the years. I had forgiven them already, but I guess for them, it was necessary to ask…and in some cases, this was not the first request. In all relationships- business and personal I believe that when we part ways, even on bad terms, you should still forgive the person that you believe wronged you. It’s not so much for them as it is for you. This is your opportunity to leave the past in the past, release the weight you have been carrying around on your shoulders and in your heart, and free yourself from the venom inside that causes you to roll your eyes and suck your teeth every time you think of them.

So a few years ago I walked away from a personal relationship. I had forgiven that person for misleading me, betraying me, and mistreating me. I forgave that person for not treating me with the respect that I deserved- that I had given him. He thought money and gifts were good enough, and they would make me overlook his indiscretions in our relationship. He thought that material possessions and a ‘status’ and ‘title’ excused his behavior and treatment of me. He thought that telling me lies and misleading me were excusable offenses because he was, “a man” and “men will be men”, and some other nonsense.

He forgot he was playing games with a child of God. He also forgot my clear declaration that I shared with him, and every man before and after him…”Be honest and upfront. If you want to see other people then let’s just casually date, so we can both be free to date others” because “Once I’m through I’m through, there are no re-takes, breaks while we figure things out, or break-ups to make-ups…if you cheat I’m gone….”

But what was I thinking? Women didn’t leave him, he left them, so I was obviously delusional and way in over my head in his opinion.

It would appear that he was actually the delusional one. Once I walked away from the relationship there was no looking back, no holding on to memories and hopes for something more with him. No desire to punish him, get even, or parade around him and his friends as a reminder of what he had and lost. I was at peace. I had already moved on before I made the decision to say, “this isn’t working out.” But to have this overwhelming sense of peace and resolve it required me to forgive him, which I did.

Years have passed and it never crossed my mind that this individual would spend the time and resources to track me down to ask for forgiveness. But he did. So once again I forgave him. No emotion, no questions of why, how, and “what did I do to you to make you think I deserved this?” Instead, I calmly and rationally told him that I forgave him years ago, have no interest on rekindling flames or even being friends. I wished him well in life and said a quick prayer hoping he receives the life he has always wanted, and that it falls in line with what God believes he needs.

For him he felt he needed clarification; he needed to know how I knew he was cheating because he had been so careful; he needed to know if we could be friends (I guess he thought the first time I said “no” it was a typo), and if we could meet up from time to time. Quickly, clearly, and succinctly I explained the following…

I knew he was cheating because I pray throughout the day every day that God always reveals the truth to me and never allows me to be hidden from it or blind-sided by it; I told him that he should never attempt to mislead or battle with a ‘believer’ because no weapon formed against us shall ever prosper. I firmly yet respectfully told him again that he had no reason to contact me after that point, that if he has learned from his past and has no intention on repeating it then it’s time for him to move on and learn his next lesson.

Had I still been carrying around resentment, anger, desperation, or even a romantic-type of love for him, this moment would have been destroyed because I would have reacted and responded emotionally, and would have allowed myself to be engaged in a lengthy conversation. I would have allowed his need to feel like he closed the chapter on ‘us’ or manipulative desire to start a new one overwhelm me. Instead this dialogue lasted no more than 10 minutes (the time it took me to finish eating my sandwich, chips, and most of my drink).

Forgiving him once more was again for me.

I have learned over the years that I am quite capable of walking away, moving on, weeding out people who serve no purpose but to distract me, and doing so lovingly. My high self-esteem is an added benefit, because I know that no matter what I go through and who I go through it with, that there is always someone better out there for me; that God is there watching over me and setting things in motion where I eventfully (through obedience) afterwards end up with bigger, better, and more beautiful experiences each and every time…and this has happened after each and every ‘failed’ relationship- both in business and in my love life.

The only way to truly prepare for bigger, better, and more beautiful experiences and blessings is to unload the weight from anger, guilt, fear, and negativity. We have to drain the venom from our minds and bodies that poisons us and everyone in our path. We have to forgive those who wronged us past and present. If you haven’t done it, if you haven’t let go, release that weight and start living your life fully…today!

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. All Rights Reserved.

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Some of our Leaders Seem to Have a Problem with “Brain-Mouth Disconnect Syndrome”

By Natasha L. Foreman

Some people need to just think before they speak, or simply refrain from answering a question when they have absolutely nothing of intelligence to say in response. Case in point…again… Oklahoma state Representative Sally Kern.

This woman appears to have what I call, “brain-mouth disconnect syndrome” whenever a microphone or reporter is nearby. Her mouth gets to yapping but her brain is totally disconnected from the process. She needs a handler who does a better job screening what comes out of her mouth. Do you remember when three years ago she made the comment that gay people are destroying the United States and were a greater threat than terrorists? If not, I have included the link to this footage at the end of this post. Do you remember Kern’s Divorce Bill that would have made it hard for people to get divorced in Oklahoma? Yes, I included that link below as well.

Well Ms. Kern has really stepped in her own mess last Wednesday during an affirmative action bill debate she back-handed both women and African-Americans by saying that women don’t work as hard and earn as much as men because they are more concerned about raising their families, and the high incarceration rate of Black people must have something to do with them not wanting to work hard in school.

“We have a high percentage of blacks in prison, and that’s tragic, but are they in prison just because they are black or because they don’t want to study as hard in school?…I’ve taught school, and I saw a lot of people of color who didn’t study hard because they said the government would take care of them.”

But let’s hear it directly from the horse’s mouth shall we? Oh and look at the body language and reaction from her constituents in the audience! Thank goodness for YouTube…

Yep, she said it and after coming under attack and her people returning from their extended lunch break (I’m joking about the latter) she tries to clean up her comments by saying that women are some of the hardest workers in the world, and that what she said didn’t come from her “true spirit“. Okay so where did it come from? Will people have to question which spirit (true or false) she’s speaking from every time she opens her mouth?

Maybe it’s time for Ms. Kern to take some sensitivity training, or re-training. Anthony Davis, the President of the NAACP Oklahoma chapter is cutting Kern no slack and is standing firm in his call for her resignation, and urging Kern’s constituents do the same- saying, “Let’s send a message out that in Oklahoma we will not tolerate racism at its ugliest level.”

See the Oklahoma news KOCO report that covered the story and interviewed both Anthony Davis and state Representative Mike Shelton:

I’m all for freedom of speech but when do we draw the line especially when words of hate, bigotry, and racism come from the mouths of our country’s leaders, influencers, and those who intend to lead?

If we are to be the example for the rest of the world to follow why then should we be surprised that there is so much hate spewed about our country and our people? We talk about athletes and entertainers being role models and that they should watch what they say and do, but what about highly visible business people and those in government positions who serve the people of this nation? What standards are set for them, or are they not considered role models?

What are your thoughts?

Oh and by the way here’s the link to her Divorce Bill recommendation: http://youtu.be/tXYKe4gdeRo

And her remarks about gays in 2008 in case you never heard it or need your memory refreshed:

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. All Rights Reserved.
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Osama Bin Laden, Suddam Hussein, Muammar al-Gaddafi: A Reflection

By Natasha L. Foreman

The reflection below was taken from today’s Breaking Bread with Natasha blog “Natasha’s Daily Scripture, Prayer and Reflection for 5.2.11”. It seemed appropriate to share within the context of my other blogs with the omission of the scriptural text and prayer that preceded the reflection. Read it, reflect on it and then share your thoughts.

Reflection

People ignore the fact that Osama Bin Laden killed ALL people including Muslims in the name of Allah- God- our Father- yet people focus on religion and not on the inhumanity of what this man did to all people including his own. They believe this to be a religious war of Muslims against Christians and Jews, when this was simply a political war. Just like Gaddafi and Hussein, Osama Bin Laden was not a holy man fighting in God’s name; he was a hurt man fighting for and in his name because of his pride, ego, and resentment of those who he perceived were taking advantage of him and his people. He was tired of the powers-that-be gaining wealth off of his country’s natural resources; he was tired of imperialism taking place in his and neighboring countries by westerners and that other nations were pimping his people for their benefit- but he went about it the wrong way.

Bin Laden just like Hussein and Gaddafi had political issues with others, especially the western world and more specifically the United States just like Timothy Mcveigh, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier (Oklahoma City bombers) were enraged by the acts of the U.S. government- and they all lashed out using fear and hate to get a message across to the government.

Bin Laden used fear and internal pain to address his concerns. He used God as the motivation to instill fear, unite other hurt and disenfranchised people against the world and against other Muslims who did not follow their beliefs; and he twisted God’s words, the words of the Koran to serve his mission to inflict pain on everyone and anyone he felt deserved it. Osama Bin Laden was a political extremist who used the facade of religion to instill fear in the world. Anyone who has ever read all or part of the Koran knows that the lies he was spouting were not of the Koran- but of his hurt heart and twisted mind that had grown sicker as the “enemy” planted more seeds of fear inside of him.

So as you may celebrate the conquering of a fear monger, of a murderer of thousands- you should also stop to pray for all religious, political, and ethnic communities worldwide because if we do not learn to come together and find healthier ways to work out our differences we will be the reason the world comes to an end. If we find it in our hearts to celebrate the death of another human being, we have that same darkness in us that was in him, Hussein, and what we also believe to be in Gaddafi- it’s just waiting to grow and take over.

We should pray and be thankful for victory over evil- but not be narrowly focused on individuals because this is not about one or two or twenty or even two thousand men this is about the evil that has plagued all nations, all religions, all people since the beginning of time. Evil can’t be labeled and categorized to one group of people because it can seep into each and every one of us if our guards are down and our faith is not strong. So pray, be humble and show grace during these times.

I love you all,

Natasha

Copyright 2011. Natasha L. Foreman. All Rights Reserved. breakingbreadwithnatasha.blogspot.com
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