Lyrics and Feelings

I am sitting here listening to India Arie cd. It is her third release. I purchased it as soon as it came out because I think she is one of the few talented musicians in the industry today. This lady has it all. She can write music, play music, and can sing relatively well-unlike many singers in R&B. Namely Beyonce', but that is another blog. Anyway, India remade a song on her cd. The title is Forgiveness. While I am not sure who the original composer was, it is one of my favorite songs on her cd. Let me just say I think the entire cd is great. The lyrics are so on point. Its one of those cd's I put in, listen to, and can just relate. I love the way she writes. She put lyrics together that makes the listener relate. I took a quote from the song Forgiveness, and I posted it on my blog as the quote of the week. I think the lyrics to this song grabbed a hold of me because the cd was released around the same time my cousin died last year in a car accident. This song was one of the things that helped not have anger inside of me against the man responsible for her death. Everytime I hear it, I think of Angie. I can remember the day as if it was yesterday. I received the call about her death around one o'clock in the morning. As I was driving to work later that morning, I noticed the sky was so blue, and my surroundings were calm. I was accelerating up the high rise when I looked at the sky, and I saw my cousin Angie face. She was smiling as if everything was okay now. As if she was saying remember my smile and the laughter I shared with you all when we were together. A tear rolled down my cheek, but I pulled myself together, and proceeded to work in my attorney mode. It wasn't until a year later that I actually grieved, but everytime I hear that song, I think of Angie, her mother, father, and sisters. When an artist can grab a person with music and lyrics, its helps me realize that we all have feelings. The same feelings. It makes me believe that people who are true musicians can grasp anyone through their music; that's how we relate with the artist. India....I wish you could get the recognition you deserve. Unfortunately, there are too many ignorant people looking at the wrong things and listenting to the wrong things creating the illusion that music is just about being half dressed, having half a voice, and shaking your ass like a stripper.

That Song Is A Jam

I am no huge fan of Fantasia, but that song is the shit!!! The title is "When I See You." I purchased the CD just for that song, and its all I listen you. I love the beat, the melody, the vocal arrangements, the words, and the way she sings the song. She is displaying her true voice control in this song; which is different from her usual raspy screaming that I hear in her other songs. When I first saw her on American Idol, I didn't care for her voice until I watched her as she sang Summertime. I was able to hear a different side to her singing. As months passed, I just couldn't put my finger on why I couldn't get into her voice. But then it hit me. I saw her perform on a gospel award show, and I realized that she has a voice to sing gospel. Not so much R&B. However, this song really shows off her smooth vocal talent. And eventhough she displays the raspy sound towards the end of the song, it doesn't drown out the background vocals. I love the words as well. Simple songs like this means a lot to me. Its lyrics everyone can relate to and if you close your eyes, you can fall deep into the melody. Fantasia gets big props from me on this one.

The Real Problem In Jena Is The Disease Of Ignorance

For months now, I have listened to people complain about the unfortunate activities amongst high school students in Jena. To be honest, I have deliberately elected not to read any articles about it because I don't like to receive any information from the media. Another reason is I don't want to get anyone's opinion about it because it would be just that-an opinion and not facts. What I did take note of is the amount of attention nationwide this incident has drawn. So I decided to find out a little more about what events occurred that led to yesterday's protest. I have read articles and public comments/opinions about this, but what I haven't read in any of those articles or opinions is a question that people have neglected to ask. That question is where are the parents in all of this, and what are they doing about the actions of their children; both black and white.

From what I have read, the actions, reactions, and results were unnecessary, unwarranted, and ignorant. Have the parents explained to their children how their foolish actions or reactions have escalated into something that was totally uncalled for? Ignorance is defined as a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. If that doesn't describe the events in Jena, then what does? In 2007, there are white children perpetuating segregation by adhering to a long standing tradition of a "white only tree" on school grounds. In 2007, a black student has to ask permission to sit underneath this "white only tree" on school grounds. In 2007, white students make a statement against black students sitting underneath this "white only tree" by hanging a noose(es) from this "white only tree." In 2007, black students seek adult assistance and get improper attention. In 2007, a black student is beaten by white students because he chose to ignore the ignorance, and sit underneath the "white only tree." In 2007, black students respond to this chain of ignorance with physical violence ultimately exposing them to criminal charges, criminal arrests, and criminal convictions. In 2007, where in the hell are the parents in the midst of all this ignorance?

A rational parent would have told their child that he/she can't tell anybody where to sit in a public place. A rational parent would have told their child that racist displays such as a noose hanging from a tree is completely unacceptable. Its a painful image and reminder of what existed in American history, and it should not be a part of anyone's experience today. A rational parent would have told their child that physical violence is not the way to resolve anything, and if complaints to the appropriate people yeilded negative results, then that's when the rational parent becomes involved and find a lawyer willing to make a name for his or herself and file a civil suit against the appropriate people or entities. This is an unfortunate situation that involves children, parents, and professional adults who are lacking knowledge, education, and awareness. In sum, children, parents, and professional adults who are ignorant. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the history of racism and segregation. The lack of educating our children of all aspects of American history. An education that should be inclusive of more than a just few black leaders in this country. There is more to slavery and the evolution of this country than just Harriett Tubman, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Muhammed Ali, and Thurgood Marshall. Most importantly, the lack of awarenss regarding how racist acts affects people emotionally; black and white people. How physical violence impacts black and white people-not only leaving physical scars, but mental scars as well.

American people have come a long way, but we have a long road ahead of us. My response to comments made by adults trying to rationalize or justify the actions of these children is this. Those actions can't be rationalized or justified, and if you think those children (black or white) were justified in their actions, then please do a favor for the people who live in the small community of polite society. Either don't have children, or designate someone with better sense to raise your children. Maybe that might circumvent another Jena. Think about it....

Nominees For Jackass Of The Week Award

This category is for the Jackass of the Week Award, and the nominees are:

OJ Simpson-this once respectable and famed athelete jackass got arrested for some dumb shit (shit that I still don't understand) after literally getting away with murder. Hey jackass...Cochran is dead!!!!

Snakeman-this Barnum and Bailey jackass decided he wanted to prove that his pet rattlesnake was harmless. So what does he do? He puts the damn snake in his mouth, and the snake bites his ass causing venom to flow through his body and causing ,among other things, suffocation. This foolish act could have killed his ass in SEVEN MINUTES. Hey jackass...get a fucking dog like normal people!!!!

Wanna Be Copkiller-this no-name jackass shot a policeman in a parish located in Louisiana. The thing about this shooting is that this is the first time in the history of the police department in that parish that a cop was shot in the line of duty. His ass was lucky they didn't shoot and kill his ass. Hey jackass....just kill yourself before the State of Louisiana do!!!!

Gov. Kathleen Blanco-this once highly regarded politician jackass and the people she placed in charge of administering Road Home money has awarded money to people who had no damage from Hurricane Katrina. In fact, they didn't even live in the part of the city that was damanged by the hurricane. And now, the Road Home funds are almost depleted. Hey jackass....there are still people displaced who haven't received any money to rebuild their homes destroyed by what? The fucking hurricane!!!!


Those are the nominees. Now before I make a decision on my own, I want you, the public, to vote and post your reasons for your vote on my blog. Otherwise, I'm just gonna pick OJ dumb ass.

Know Your Surroundings

Ordinarily, I wouldn't pass comments as such, but this needs to be said. Our district attorney has done it again. He has managed to bring unnecessary attention to himself and the office. Just when I thought there was nothing else that could put the spotlight on the office, his ass managed to do it. His chief investigator has been conducting a surveillance/investigation of a top figure in the NOPD for no legal reason. In fact, the office had to apologize for the intrusion and released a statement that there is no pending investigation against this person. The problem with this is our district attorney has made bad decisions since day one. When he was elected, upon taking office he entrusted someone to hire new people and fire people under the old administration. Eventually he was sued for discrimination, and now the office owes these people millions that was awarded in the lawsuit.

As much as I hate to make this next statement, it needs to be said. Affirmative action can have bad repercusions. There is no reason why our district attorney should have been U.S. Attorney and there is no reason why he should have been elected as district attorney. This man knows absolutely nothing about the law. Its pathetic and difficult to say that I actually work for him. He doesn't know state law so I can imagine he knew very little federal law-if any at all. In addition to him coming from the federal level of prosecution, he brought in people from the federal level and placed them in high ranking positions in the office. Guess what? They don't know anything either!!!!! If you don't know the daily functions of an office, if you don't know the law, and if you don't know anything about investigation tactics, then surround yourself with people who do!!! Don't place people there just because they're your friends, they're black, they're your lunch buddies on a daily basis. Award people positions because they can get the damn job done. And even if they are not familiar with the system, select someone who is competent enough to take the initiative to learn it. Don't surround yourself with bafoons because at the end of the day, its your name in the paper, and your face on the news. The people he surrounded himself with has been the cause of all of his problems. This man has to be the only polician in history to have a good reputation prior to taking office, and at the end of his term have the worst reputation ever. His legal career is probably at an end. No law firm will hire him. No organization will support him financially for another campaign, and I don't know many people who will vote for him again. The only place he can possibly gain employment would be at a predominately black university/law school.

And most importantly.....don't be stubborn. When someone offer advice, listen!!! All of the good advice he received came from outside sources. It was the jackasses he trusted that fucked him.

Something Different

I didn't have much to write about for the past few days. I have been sleeping the entire weekend and I took in a movie late Sunday evening. I saw the movie with Jody Foster and Terrence Howard. It was okay. I've seen better and I've seen worst. Its an average show I suppose but it was worth getting out of the house. I have made some adjustments to my blog page. I hope those who checks in likes it. And for the love of God, please don't take my poems and tell people you wrote them. I am posting something so sacred to me, so all I ask is for respect and honesty.

Finding Commitment

I spent the weekend thinging a lot about myself and what I eat-or don't eat. I have reached the conclusion that I am not happy with my diet. In fact, I don't think I have ever been satisfied with my diet. That is inclusive of the period in my life when I would have considered myself to be a decent size. What I am trying to commit myself to is making better food decisions. Along with better food habits, I have started my pilates routine. My first step involved a ten minute routine targeting abs and thighs. THAT SHIT HURT LIKE HELL!!!!!! Those ten minutes made me understand what "out of shape" really means. Word to the wise. If you haven't stretched in a while, you might wanna start some time soon. I am sure my body will remind me of all of this in the morning. Anyway, my pilates dvd has like seven different ten minute exercise regimes targeting different parts of the body, and it also has a fifteen minute pilates workout. I have started on the ten minute workouts respectively. I haven't quite put together a diet that I want to practice. My intentions are not to remove my favorites from my dietary intake. I love chips too much for that. It's the healthy foods that I want to increase/implement in my diet. As everyone knows, I don't know how to cook. Therefore, essential vegetables and properly cooked foods don't make its way to my kitchen table. I am trying to change my way of thinking, eating, and living. I stayed home from work today and thought about this all day. I also slept for the most part, but that is neither here nor there. I needed to take some time out for me despite it being a workday. I am hoping this is something I can commit to because I typically don't stick to any one thing. I have always hated routinely doing things, but the truth of the matter is I need that discipline hanging over me. Otherwise, I get all out of proportion metally and physically. Wish me luck!!!

It's Simply Not Fair

After having dinner with a law school friend, having a drink, and smoking a cigar, I have finally made it home. Upon entering my home, the only thing I have turned on is the computer. Darkness surrounds me and silence is in my ears. I have held back tears, and I have shedded tears. I received news earlier tonight that the young man responsible for my cousins' death last year was only found guilty of Driving Under the Influence. Today marks the one year anniversary of my cousins' death, which is ironically the day he received a verdict for this crime. Yesterday would have been my cousin 21st birthday. So much has gone through my mind. Everything from disbelief to sorrow. I don't hate the guy. I don't even know him, but I find it hard to believe that a judge or jury didn't find his actions negligent. I am sure when my cousin saw her 20th birthday, she didn't think the following day would be her last day. I can't help but think about what went through her mind during the final precious seconds of her life. I wonder if she was thinking why didn't I stay home? Why did I get in this car tonight? If I make it through tonight, then tomorrow I will be fine. Was that truly the last time I will see my parents? I don't want to say goodbye. I don't want to die, right here, right now, at this age. How is any of this fair to me? Will my next breath be my last gasp?

Everyone says we feel the same thing in death as we felt before we were born; nothing. Sure my cousin isn't in any pain anymore. But I am sure her mother and father are still feeling a pain that is immeasurable. A pain I am certain will never cease. Questions that will never be answered. A desire to hold there baby one more time. A desire to watch their child have children. A cry from so deep within that it hurts just to let it out. An everlasting wish to see their child walk through the door, call on the phone, see her smile, hear her voice. None of that can be replaced. They have been let down from both angles. Let down by the person whom they thought was a responsible young man/friend of the family. And let down by the justice system. When will my aunt and uncle get justice? When will they be able to move on and be happy? When will they find peace within? I am inclined to think the answer to those questions would be when they die.