I spoke last night with someone from Jesse Jackson's camp, and I wanted to share some quick thoughts on the unfortunate comments made by Rev. Jackson about Senator Barack Obama. I should start by saying that I support Senator Obama's candidacy for the White House, and I also firmly believe that he has the right to keep his testicles (just a joke, I can’t help it). I should also note that I love and respect the Jackson family, especially Rev. Jackson's daughter Santita, from whom I have received a great deal of support.
Quick thoughts on Rev. Jackson's comments, made in response to Senator Obama’s statements in black churches, particularly about the African American male:
1) Whether we agree with Rev. Jackson's sentiments about Senator Obama or not, I consider this to be a wonderful opportunity to begin a powerful national discussion regarding what it means to strengthen our community (please feel free to comment on my blog if you have something to say). How do we draw the line between constructive criticism and destructive stereotyping? Every community has flaws, so the idea that black men are somehow less moral, less productive or have less compassion for their loved ones than other ethnic groups is not only problematic, but it feeds directly into historical stereotypes of the black male (remember the comments about black men “going AWOL”, “being boys instead of men” or “denying their responsibility”?).
Remember: the way the Nazis justified their extermination of the Jews was by using media and propaganda to convince the public that Jews were less than human, less able to love, and less worthy of compassion than other ethnic groups. The same thing is being done to the black male in America, as it is not a coincidence that the same group being disdained and dehumanized by our society JUST HAPPENS to be the group most likely to be incarcerated and most likely to be defined by our public schools as having behavioral disorders. Also, have you ever noticed that the most hated athlete in America is almost always a black man? (Barry Bonds, Ron Artest, Terrell Owens, Michael Vick, Latrell Sprewell, Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali……) – What do they always say about these guys (even the ones who never committed a crime)? That they have poor character. That is what many of my colleagues at Syracuse say about ME. This problem reaches all of us.
2) I do not feel that Rev. Jackson's comments were made out of jealousy. If he didn't like Senator Obama, he would not have endorsed him. If he were truly working to undermine Senator Obama's campaign, he would have made his comments publicly (using different words, of course). Instead, he has been disciplined, as we all have, in keeping his disagreements to himself. Leaders are going to disagree, and disagreement doesn't make you into a "hater".
3) While we are quick to attack and condemn the black male, we must remember that all groups have flaws, and if I shine a spotlight hard enough on any ethnic group, I can find poor behavior. It seems as though we have collectively decided that one group’s flaws are ok to spotlight, while those of other groups are off the table for discussion. It’s sort of like saying “You’re a bad person because your feet stink, but you can’t talk about the smell of my feet.” I never understood why the black male has been deemed to have sole responsibility for the breakdown of black families. Aren’t there women in these relationships too? Don’t the majority of white men divorce their wives and leave the home as well? It’s not to condone any of these behaviors, but it implies that we all have our hands dirty in this, not just black men.
It is also easy to be confused into believing that if black men would simply choose to behave, the media would have nothing to stereotype. Beyond the impossible task of getting 18 million well-behaved people walking in lockstep, the reality is that if the media or anyone else wants to see the negative in you, they are always going to find it. They will always be able to find another Flavor Flav to put on TV. They will always be able to find another 50 Cent, Lil Wayne or prison inmate to glamorize. You see, the easiest thing for an abused person or group to believe is that if they would just stop being so pathetic, then the abuse will stop. But if someone hates you, they will always find something to hate. When black men demand that our government create policies that open up more job opportunities, they are chastised for being pathetic and asking for a handout. When we endorse the idea of supporting black businesses and working together, we are accused of being separatist or hating white people. America has been trained for 400 years to hate black people and we have been trained to hate ourselves. There will always be something to hate, no matter how much our behavior changes.
Anyone tempted to justify Senator Obama’s statements by saying “Well, he was telling the truth!” should also realize that Jeremiah Wright spoke 40 years of truth in his fight for racial equality, but his truth was shut down by Senator Obama and others. Truth should not know racial boundaries. If Obama can “tell it like it is” with black men, I encourage him and others to “tell it like it is” with other ethnic groups as well. If he can’t do that, we have to ask ourselves why we’ve chosen to relegate ourselves to this form of second-class citizenship. Is it OK to tell us that we are bad people for doing the same thing that other people do? That is a textbook version of racial oppression, white supremacy and nasty double standards. Obama is not a Black Presidential candidate, he is an AMERICAN presidential candidate. What he says to black men should be allowed in every other venue. I hear those who say that there is a time and place for everything (we are in the middle of an election, after all), so if Obama wishes for black leaders to remain quiet on racial inequality, then perhaps Obama can remain quiet on racial degradation (which requires us to defend ourselves). It can’t be one over the other.
4) Black love is a critical element of any dialogue that takes place about our community. Have you ever heard someone say “We’re so messed up”, “Black men are trifling”, or “What’s wrong with our kids?” Such comments, whether we realize it or not, are subconsciously degrading, demoralizing and encouraging of the wrong behavior. I will never motivate my daughter to behave by saying that she is nothing but a dirty little SOB. When we see one black person doing something silly, we somehow feel the need to extrapolate that individual’s actions to imply that all of us are flawed (i.e. “I am embarrassed by Flavor Flav”, or “Did you see the youtube video of the girl cussing out the old lady on the subway? What’s wrong with our kids?”). However, I have never seen a white man look at a group of white kids and say “White people, our community is just so messed up”, or “I was so embarrassed by the guys on the MTV show, Jackass. They make white men look so bad.”
Such nasty, negative self-judgments not only erode your self-esteem, but they serve as justifications for racism against the black community. These statements make the argument that: “The black community is torn to shreds and black people are poor and jobless because they don’t have good morals, they make terrible decisions and they just choose to be bad people.” I am a believer that positive reinforcement is a better way to change behavior. Rather than saying that “Black men should stop being little boys instead of men”, perhaps Obama could have said “Look at the fine men on this stage we are celebrating on Father’s Day. This represents the best of black men and what we can all become if we just try our best.”
Again, I support Senator Obama and I feel no need to make disparaging remarks about him as he runs for the White House. But I make no apologies for the fact that I also support Rev. Jackson. Both of these men deserve our support and respect, and both of them must be challenged to earn it. Truth be told, Reverend Jackson has spent 40 years working toward Dr. King’s dream, whether we agree with him or not. I would take a moment of pause before we express a willingness to trade in 40 years of Black leadership for a president with a Black face. If he is going to be everyone’s president and not just the Black president, this implies that his ability and desire to get in the trenches and fight for the next Sean Bell, Jena Six or Hurricane Katrina might be limited.
Keep backing Obama, but make sure you keep your mind open in the process. Don’t let him, or anyone else, take your vote for granted.
No, I was not paid to send this message. I have no corporate sponsors. I am not rewarded by Jesse, Al, Barack or anyone else to say what I say. I never plan to run for political office, and I don’t care a whole lot about what people think about me. I am just being honest in my assessments. Black people should be independent and liberated. I’m not interested in being a slave.
For the life of me, I don't understand why black women refer to themselves as "STRONG BLACK WOMEN". Why not refer to yourself as a black woman period. Why the adjective? Is it really necessary? I mean, who are you trying to prove your worth or strength to? I don't know, but I think a woman knows her worth, her strengths, and her relevance in our society. That in itself should be understood and go without any need for adjectives; especially from black women.
And how can you be sure that you're a strong black woman? I don't actually hear women refer to themselves as being weak woman. So that being said, how can you really quantify or qualify your strengths? My mother raised four boys after my father and her were divorced without any help from him by way of child support or gov't assistance. An unfortunate way to grow up, but definitely not exclusive or unique. With 70% of black kids being raised in single parent homes ran by single mothers, its clearly the norm. I never once heard my mother refer to herself as a strong black woman. I mean hell, what did she do different than the thousands of black mothers out there? Nothing but do what she was supposed to do. But somehow, women find a way to seek comfort by calling themselves "STRONG BLACK WOMEN".
To me, thats selfish. What? Am I supposed to give you extra props for your circumstances for which you had a hand in? Well I'm sorry, I'm not with it. Listen, you're black, and the last time I checked, being black was a significant disadvantage for all black people. Just as much as you're "suffering", there are thousands doing the same, and doing even worse in other countries. But for some reason here in America, its appropriate to be considered "A STRONG BLACK WOMAN". I've yet to hear white women to refer to themselves as being strong white women. Despite them fighting for equality with white men, you never hear them refer to themselves as such. Hell, you don't even hear feminists refer to themselves as such. But I guess, its important for black women to do this.
I'm guessing the distinction gives black woman something extra in their minds. Maybe its their way of saying that they're strong enough to make it wothout the black man? I don't know, but unless you're able to benchpress 250lbs like the lady in the pic above, there's no need to use the word STRONG to describe yourself. Its quite obvious that she's a fairly strong black woman. I don't see too many black women walking the streets looking like her. So why walk around with the extra chip on your shoulder? Shit, its hard being black as is, and black women and black men alike need to get off that bullshit. Being black and being able to survive in todays world is strength in itself.
SNEAK PEAK FIRST LISTEN TO THE NEW ALBUM FROM HIP-HOP MC NAS!
This Saturday July 12th @ 2pm EST. join Supreme Entertainment as we have a listening party for one of the most highly anticipated Hip-Hop albums of the year, by none other than Queens finest MC Nas!
Be the first ones to get the exclusive first time listen to tracks off his upcoming album, whose title alone caused a major stir in the Hip-Hop and entertainment and music industries abroad! Weigh in with your thoughts on the new music material, and if you think Nas was right for changing the title of the album or not!
Remember everyone that you can hear Nas new album here first on Supreme Entertainment. No other Blog Talk Radio show is bringing you heat like this! It all goes down Saturday July 12th from 2pm-3:30pm online at Http://www.blogtalkradio.com/agsupreme and the number to call in is (646) 716-8850. Tell a friend and tune in!
HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- A comic-book character popular in Mexico for generations has run into a cultural barrier at the border, where Americans see him as a racist caricature.
Radio host Javier Salas says non-Latino Americans don't understand the Memin character.
3 of 3 For more than 60 years Mexicans have followed the adventures of "Memin Pinguin." But the dark-skinned Memin's exaggerated features in "Memin for President" came as a shock to Houston, Texas, Wal-Mart shopper Shawnedria McGinty.
"I was like, OK, is that a monkey or a boy?" McGinty said. "To me it was an insult."
She'd never heard of "Memin Pinguin." She bought a Spanish-English dictionary and tried translating but still didn't like what she saw.Watch what upset McGinty »
"So I asked my boyfriend, does that look like a monkey to you?" she said. "And we went back and forth and he was like, no, that's a black woman," referring to the character's Aunt Jemima-like mother.
McGinty and Houston community activist Quannel X want the comic books removed from the stores.
"This is absolutely insensitive toward race, in particular the African-American culture, and also people of color," Quannel X said. "This is poking fun at the physical features of an entire people."
But Mexican readers who grew up following the shenanigans of Memin say critics need to look beyond the cover and understand the stories.
"They will bring a smile to their face because we're so fond of that character," said Javier Salas, a Spanish-language talk show host on Chicago radio station WRTO. "We respect him, we love him. And that's why it's so absurd for us to hear complaints from people who don't know, don't understand Memin."
Memin is a poor Cuban-Mexican kid with bug eyes, thick lips and protruding ears. The mischievous and caring boy helps his mother by selling newspapers and shining shoes.
"We grew up reading, learning and educating ourselves with a lot of the topics they always touched on, which was honesty, justice, tolerance. He was a very unique character," Salas said.
Wal-Mart spokesman Lorenzo Lopez said the retailer has instructed stores to remove the books from shelves and discontinue sales.
"We received the customer complaint regarding the book, which we knew was based on a popular cartoon character in Mexico. We looked into it further, and we decided to no longer distribute the book and are in the process of removing the books from the stores."
The store has received no other complaints about Memin, Lopez said.
"We have a wide array of products that we provide to Hispanic customers, but when we looked at this more carefully and given the sensitivity of the topic, we thought it was best to no longer carry the book in our stores," he said.
He did not know how many copies of Memin books the chain had or how long it would take to remove them from displays.
Memin is no stranger to controversy. Three years ago, a series of Mexican stamps honoring Memin ignited an international uproar. The stamps were discontinued because of protests from African-American leaders.
"This is saying we respect and regard the African-American community by making them look like Sambos on a stamp?" the Rev. Al Sharpton said at the time. "This goes over the line."
Quannel X called the comic book "a disgrace."
"Look how they portray his mother, with huge ethnic lips, dark skin, making her look like the big gorilla and him like the little monkey."
But fans of Memin say the valuable lessons of a beloved comic book character tackling real-life problems have been lost in translation.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Thursday that a South Carolina newspaper misinterpreted his comments when it reported he said Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is "acting like he's white."
The State, a South Carolina newspaper, reported Wednesday that Jackson's comments were made in the context of criticizing Obama and the other presidential candidates for not paying more attention to the recent racially charged incident involving the arrest of six black juveniles in Jena, Louisiana, on murder charges.
"There's an unfortunate misinterpretation," Jackson said. "The fact is, I endorse Barack without hesitation and support him today unequivocally."
Jackson also reportedly said on Tuesday that Obama needs to be bolder in his stances if he wants to make inroads in South Carolina. Obama trails rival Sen. Hillary Clinton in South Carolina by 18 points, according to a recent LA Times/Bloomberg poll.
When informed the newspaper intends to stand by its reporting of the quote, Jackson said, "I have not in any way engaged into the degrees of blackness debate." Jackson added he continues to support Obama, whom he called brilliant.
Jackson, along with civil rights activists such as the Rev. Al Sharpton, organized a march Thursday in Jena, where thousands of protesters clogged the tiny town to show their indignation over what they consider unjust, unequal punishments meted out in two racially charged incidents.
Sharpton called Jena the beginning of the 21st century civil rights movement. "There's a Jena in every state," Jackson told the crowd in Jena on Thursday morning.
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Obama said his previous statements about the Jena case "were carefully thought out" with input from his national campaign chairman and Jackson's son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Illinois.
"Outrage over an injustice like the Jena 6 isn't a matter of black and white. It's a matter of right and wrong," Obama said in the statement.
The elder Jackson, who ran for president twice in the 1980s, endorsed Obama's White House bid earlier in the year. Jackson won the South Carolina Democratic primary, where African American voters play an influential role, in both presidential bids.
"If I were a candidate, I'd be all over Jena," the prominent civil rights activist said Tuesday in Columbia, South Carolina, The State newspaper reported. "Jena is a defining moment, just like Selma was a defining moment."
Tensions had simmered at Jena High School and in the small town for the first three months of the 2006 school year after a black student asked the vice principal if he and some friends could sit under an oak tree where white students typically congregated.
Told by the vice principal they could sit wherever they pleased, the student and his pals sat under the sprawling branches of the shade tree in the campus courtyard.
The next day, students arrived at school to find three nooses hanging from those branches. According to The Town Talk newspaper in nearby Alexandria, the school's principal recommended expulsion for those involved in placing the nooses. Instead, the newspaper reported, a school district committee suspended three white students for three days, calling the incident a "prank."
On December 4, several students jumped a white classmate, Justin Barker, knocking him unconscious while stomping and kicking him. The charges against the six blacks -- dubbed the "Jena 6" -- resulted from that incident.
Obama formally released a statement on the case Friday evening after one of the charges against the teen was thrown out, saying, "I am pleased that the Louisiana state appeals court recognized that the aggravated battery charge brought in this case was inappropriate."
"I hope that today's decision will lead the prosecutor to reconsider the excessive charges brought against all the teenagers in this case," he added. "And I hope that the judicial process will move deliberately to ensure that all of the defendants will receive a fair trial and equal justice under the law."
He also said in a separate statement last week, "When nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st century, it's a tragedy. It shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions. This isn't just Jena's problem; it's America's problem."
CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider said Obama is under special pressure because he is the only African-American running for president.
But Obama is not of the same generation of black leaders, such as Jackson, who came out of the civil rights moment, Schneider said.
"I think that gives him a special position," Schneider said. "He is running on his appeal -- to white voters as well as to African-American voters -- as a uniter."
"He doesn't want to be a divider in this case," Schneider said.
Meanwhile, Obama's chief rivals for the Democratic nomination, Clinton and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, have also recently condemned the Jena case.
Clinton said the controversy surrounding the Jena 6 case is a "teachable moment for America."
"People need to understand that we cannot let this kind of inequality and injustice happen anywhere in America," the Democratic presidential hopeful told Sharpton when she called his nationally syndicated radio program Tuesday afternoon.
At last Saturday's NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner in Charleston, South Carolina, Clinton said, "There is no excuse for the way the legal system treated those young people. ... This case reminds us that the scales of justice are seriously out of balance when it comes to charging, sentencing, and punishing African-Americans."
"It cries out for a full investigation from the Department of Justice's Civil Rights division."
Edwards released a statement Wednesday morning, saying "as someone who grew up in the segregated South, I feel a special responsibility to speak out on racial intolerance. Americans of all races are traveling to Jena because they believe that how we respond to the racial tensions in Jena says everything about who we are as a nation."
Really? Sistahs what are the reasons a man should spend time respecting women? Why is it so important? This is not a bashing question, but rather a dig to understand the importance.
Brothers, Let's Make Sense: Today this was the discussion
All of these quotes are from celebrities who were interviewed for CNN’s new documentary series Black in America. CNN’s Soledad O’Brien will uncover several issues in the black community including single parenthood, HIV/AIDS, education and more. The series will show both the GOOD and BAD side of what it is like to be Black in America.
I think it is great that CNN is going to do something of this magnitude on the network. Only those who have experienced racism and who have felt its negative effects can understand where these celebrities and others included in the documentary are coming from.
I think it is time that the rest of the world understood.
Black in America airs July 23rd and 24th at 9 PM EST.
Taken from Bet.com website
.DO YOU THINK THE REST OF THE WORLD WILL SEE MORE INTO BLACK AMERICA AND UNDERSTAND OUR ISSUES?????????????????
I want you all to know that I raced out to see "Hancock" JUST because Will Smith was in it. I saw the clips, it looked funny, and like I said, my boy Will was the star.
I WAS SO MAD WHEN I LEFT THAT THEATER I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU!!
I understand that Will's character was an obnoxious super-powered sumbitch, and he played that part really well...my problem was the racism-laced, mistake-ridden story line. Here are just SOME of the points:
Mistakes
The man is invulnerable, can stand up to trains hitting him at full force and bullets bouncing off...how is he able to get drunk?
He throws a kid so high into the sky you can't even see him anymore...the kid doesn't have a heart attack from fear on the way up OR down? Also, the kid would have reached terminal velocity long before Hancock caught him, which means there would have been NO DIFFERENCE in Hancock catching him, him hitting the sidewalk or belly-flopping into a lake...he would splatter ANYWAY!
If he hates being around people so much, why does he stay in Los Angeles or wherever that was?
Racism
Will and Charlize Theron were a couple who were made to be together, who lose their powers and grow old and die if they continue to stay together (black men and white women who stay together lose their individual strength and die, right?). The white woman handles this break-up with grace, finds other husbands, goes on with life hiding her powers. The black man turns to alcohol, lives on the street like a bum, bullies the regular humans and generally tears up the town, even if it's accidentally...even ends up in jail, and we all KNOW black men always end up there, right?
The black man, who doesn't yet know that the white woman is his partner, makes a play for her, even though her husband is the ONLY person who has shown him any real understanding and tries to help him. But see, that's because black men can't resist white women.
White girl explains that she is even more powerful than Hancock. White is might, after all!
Charlize explains that down through history, Hancock has been hurt either trying to protect her or because of their interracial romance...notice that nothing ever happened to her, but he actually had his HEAD split open for her.
And finally...the white woman resumes her life with the mortal white man and his son, and therefore has someone that she can talk to, love and all that mess...Hancock gets a pet Eagle. He doesn't learn to just tone down and get a woman...no, he just pines for the white woman who didn't hang around after his head got opened. My wife, for example, would still be there trying to bite, kick, scratch, choke the people who tried to kill me, even if they kill her, too...white girl jetted up and left Hancock in the hospital not even knowing who he really was or where he came from.
I know this isn't what the writers actually meant when they created the story, but it IS a part of their subconscious, and it IS part of the message this movie sends, even if we give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's accidental.
I can hear a lot of you saying to yourselves, "Bro, bro, BRO!! It's JUST a MOVIE!! Don't take stuff so seriously!!" And you know what? You're right...I do take things a bit too seriously sometimes, but while I can admit that, I wonder how many times someone counts on us to spend so much time laughing that we miss the message.
Well if you are I just read this little nugget over at crooks & liars and it begs the question who is suffering more the terrorist or the passengers? Not too mention why are they trying to bankrupt the airline industry? Or make so expensive only the rich can fly..hmmmmm?!
Are we sooo scared of the government made terror that we would submit to wearing a "shock" bracelet on an airplane?!
It seems as though the only people left in the Bush administration are certifiable lunatics and knuckle draggers. The unthinkable is always possible with these people, so I suppose it should come as no surprise that they would sink to using such barbaric tactics to keep the public in line.
This clip, which is not directly linked to this story, is safe for work, although you might find yourself yelling at your monitor while watching it. (the related content starts at around 3:00 in) The video, made by an electronic ID bracelet manufacturer, shows how they will work to effectively disable the dirty, scary brown people in mid-air without compromising the structural integrity of the plane or harming innocent bystanders — and I’m sure they’re just as effective on anti-American liberals and dirty f*$king hippies as well. Would you allow yourself or your family to be fitted with one of these devices when you fly? Me either. More from Daily Kos:
Every feel like livestock when you fly? DHS is exploring a new technology (warning, Moonie Times link) which, if it makes to airlines, will guarantee I will never fly again:
A senior government official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expressed great interest in a so-called safety bracelet that would serve as a stun device, similar to that of a police Taser®. According to this promotional video found at the Lamperd Less Lethal website, the bracelet would be worn by all airline passengers.
This bracelet would:
• take the place of an airline boarding pass
• contain personal information about the traveler
• be able to monitor the whereabouts of each passenger and his/her luggage
• shock the wearer on command, completely immobilizing him/her for several minutes Read on…
I feel like the guy/girl who wrote this post. I know I will not fly ever again if they push this through...
By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM, Associated Press Writer 2 minutes ago
Imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick filed for bankruptcy protection while serving time for federal dogfighting charges, saying he owes between $10 million and $50 million to creditors.
Vick filed Chapter 11 papers in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newport News on Monday. The seven largest creditors listed in the court papers are owed a total of about $12.8 million.
The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback hopes he "can, after the conclusion of the bankruptcy case, rebuild his life on a personal and spiritual level, resurrect his image as a public figure, and resolve matters with the NFL such that he can resume his career," according to the filings.
Vick is serving a 23-month prison sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty last year to bankrolling a dogfighting ring. He was subsequently suspended indefinitely without pay and lost all his major sponsors, including Nike. He also faces state charges related to dogfighting.
The debt includes part of a signing bonus that the Falcons are seeking to recover.
After the plea on dogfighting charges, the Falcons tried to recover about $20 million in bonuses Vick earned from 2004 to 2007. But a federal judge held that Vick is entitled to keep all but $3.75 million of the money paid to him for playing football through the 2014 season.
According to the filings, Vick's other debts include $4.5 million owed to Richmond-based Joel Enterprises Inc., and $550,0000 owed to Radtke Sports Inc. for breach of contract.
In May, a federal judge ordered Vick to repay about $2.5 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan. The Royal Bank of Canada had sued Vick in September, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge — and the resulting impact on his career — prevented him from repaying the loan.
A default judgment for $1.08 million also was entered in January against Vick and a business partner in a lawsuit brought by Wachovia Bank over a loan for an Atlanta-area wine shop and restaurant.
Venus Williams defeated her younger sister, Serena on Saturday to defend her Wimbledon title and then the two sisters joined forces a few hours later to take the Wimbledon Double title. Now Venus and Serena are gearing up to represent the United States in the Olympics in Beijing next month. They already have some gold from the 2000 Olympics but they want to add to their collection."I love the Olympics," Venus told Reuters. "To add to my medals is just, it would be amazing. I know I've got to work for it. It's probably bigger than a slam, I think so, definitely. And you know how much I love Wimbledon, it's bigger than Wimbledon."
The tennis tournaments begin on August 10 with the finals going down on August 16 and 17. There's no reason that the Williams sisters aren't considered favorites to win gold, but on this platform they're trying to prove that they're the best in the word. Can they do it again?
Inspiring Others: Our Life Process determines Our Promise!
"Although we might be supportive of people around us, and have prayed for help and deliverance, there comes a time when we have to simply get up from the chair and off our knees and get moving. We have to get cracking on some action that will keep us in a productive and progressive loop."
Despite the different endings you might have heard to this saying, nothing beats the original, When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Every now and then we find ourselves faced with or struggling through a challenge - finishing a household or work-related project that taxes us to our limits, starting a business in a highly competitive field, manoeuvring through an emotional transition, recovering from a major physical trauma. And at some point in that process we find ourselves stuck and wondering when we will get through to the other side.
If you're tired of sitting under the weight of a challenging situation, here are a few things you can do to get going in the midst of your tough time.
Manage the process
One lousy brick at a time is how you build a house. One action, just one can jumpstart your �get going� muscles. There is immense satisfaction in taking action that creates a direct result. And when we are faced with a long-term project, simple measureable actions can provide the rhythm we need to complete it. Pick something that you can do in a specific time frame that has a definitive beginning, middle and end.
Focus on the Desired Outcome
We are such suckers for What if..., Suppose... and If only.... Instead, we should shift our focus from what or who hurt us, derailed us or blocked us to the dream, the success, the happiness and fulfilment we want. Acknowledge all the things and people who may have contributed to the difficult situation. Do you really want to move past this point? Look inward for what tugs at your heart strings; upward for God's blessing on your heart's desire and forward towards the end or accomplishment you desire. Therein lies the pump that will get you going.
Savour your Accomplishments
Everyone needs a little "pick me up" every now and then and reading about your accomplishments and how people have praised you and your work is guaranteed to make you feel better. So, anytime you receive praise, put it in storage. When was the last time you took the time to acknowledge your accomplishments? Take a moment to make a list of the things you are most proud of accomplishing in your life. This simple gesture and reflection may give you that extra boost of energy you need to move through your current challenge.
Give Thanks
You are alive to face this challenge and despite the stress you're experiencing, you can still think clearly. That is as simple as you can get yet it is the ultimate blessing to be thankful for. Notice what is in your life, rather than focusing on what is lacking. This can be like a breath of fresh air when our minds are consumed with finding solutions to our troubling circumstances.
Pamper Yourself
There is hardly a woman who had not experienced the rejuvenating and energizing power of a visit to a salon. Even a simple do-it-yourself beautifying can rev up our self-confidence. Try being extra kind to yourself when you esteem is flagging. Sometimes a mere change in environment or a different activity is just the thing you need to jumpstart yourself.
Laugh
Our sense of humour is one of the first things to go when the crunch of daily life and its unexpected events becomes too heavy to carry. Things take on a serious tone because we are so focused on getting past the demands. Take a moment to have fun and to laugh. Keeping things light will help you reconnect to the big picture and you'll quickly find yourself in a better mood and frame of mind to deal with the issues at hand.
Reach Out
Tap into other like-minded and positive people and be ready for a shift in perspective. Make those long-promised calls, write to an old friend. Recruit a few friends to serve as members of your dream team. Share your vision and mission statement, request they input to enhance your development plan. There is no reason to do everything alone all the time. If you are feeling drained, now might be a good time to connect with the people who care about you and want to see you succeed and be happy.
Be Charitable
Random acts of kindness benefit both parties. Helping others gives us a new perspective on the difficulties we may currently be experiencing. The key here is to give with an open heart and not out of a sense of duty or begrudgingly. Choose an organization whose mission is dear to your heart. Identify a family or person who needs your advice, time or undivided attention.
Many of the famous people we admire today used these and similar tactics to deal with rejection, loss, humiliation and life-threatening events. You may never be famous but going on in spite of tough times can be your legacy to your loved ones. Moreover, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that when the going got tough, you got going.
Because everyone can use a little inspiration now and then, here are some examples of people who kept on going, even when the going was tough. And many of us have benefited from what they created with their gifts, talents and get going determination.
See what determination, persistance and drive can do....
The Beatles were turned down by ten recording companies before Capitol took them on as clients. They kept knocking on doors until the right one opened. Their music has now touched billions of lives.
Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four years old, and didn't read until he was seven. His teacher described him as "mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in foolish dreams." Einstein reshaped our perception of how the Universe operates. Time Magazine named him the "Person of the 20th Century".
Before he was elected to the presidency, Abraham Lincoln lost nine public elections, declared bankruptcy twice, and weathered a nervous breakdown and the death of a fianc�e. He is quoting as saying: "You cannot fail unless you quit."
Harrison Ford played a bellboy in his first Columbia picture, 1966's "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round," and a studio executive told him, "You ain't got it, kid," the "it" being star quality. Ford laughs at the story now.
Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none of them worked out, his assistant complained, "All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing." Edison replied confidently, "Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We now know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb."
Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for his lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.
"It is better to try and fail than never try at all"
Make an IMPACT in the lives of others!
Regards,
Vincent P. McCant, SCM, MBA Founder & Publisher ATLANTAHAPPS.COM
Najee Ali, Paul Porter and other activists plan to speak out this morning.
*When you're a white guy and you do a video blog called "TechNigga," you're just begging for attention (and asking for trouble), to put it mildly.
Like the saying goes, be careful what you ask for 'cause you just might get it. Well that's the case with one Loren Feldman of 1938 Media.
So it comes as no surprise that Feldman has got the rapt attention of activists Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope and Paul Porter of Industry Ears as well as several civil rights organizations.
The coalition is calling for Lowell C. McAdam, President and CEO of Verizon Wireless, to withdraw a distribution deal he recently signed with Feldman's company.
In a press release and statement to EUR, Najee Ali breaks it down.
"Feldman has a history of using the internet to promote racism and demeaning and negative racial stereotypes against African Americans on his internet site. He is responsible for and appears in what he calls 'TechNigga.'"
So Ali, Porter and other activists' goal is to pressure McAdam and Verizon into dropping Feldman like a hot skillet handle. They plan to hold a press conference and protest this morning at 11am (Pacific) in Los Angeles at the Verizon store at 3829 S. Crenshaw Blvd. to start the process.
Of course free speech proponents will argue that what Feldman is doing is a just a parody. However, Ali doesn't think it's funny and tells Verizon in no uncertain terms that getting in bed with Feldman is not a good idea.
"Verizon CEO Lowell C. McAdam needs to demonstrate that Verizon understands they should demonstrate corporate responsibility and will not tolerate racism, or bigotry. The Verizon distribution deal with Feldman sends a horrible message that Verizon seeks to partner with racists like Feldman and that Verizon and CEO McAdam find nothing offensive with 'TechNigga.' Our community nationwide should. Contact Lowell C. McAdam and let him know that you will boycott Verizon unless this distribution with Feldman is severed. There are plans for an upcoming national day of protest against Verizon stores nationwide if our calls for a meeting and our demands are not met."
In a break with tradition, Barack Obama will officially accept the Democratic presidential nomination at a sports stadium that can seat 76,000 people, rather than at the smaller site that is hosting the party's national convention across town.
Separately, one official confirmed that Obama's aides were attempting to arrange a speech at a second dramatic venue: Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, part of Obama's July trip to Europe and the Middle East.
The Gate was the site of one of former President Ronald Reagan's most memorable speeches. On a trip in July 1987, Reagan, a Republican, stood before throngs of West Berliners and implored then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall dividing the city. The wall is no longer there.
As for the Democrats' convention, party officials said the decision to move Obama's speech on the final night of the Aug. 25-28 gathering to Invesco Field at Mile High, the giant open-air American football field where the Denver Broncos play, was a natural extension of the Illinois senator's efforts to open up the political process.
It won't be the first time a presidential candidate has accepted the nomination in a stadium. On July 15, 1960, John F. Kennedy gave his acceptance speech before tens of thousands at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
In a conference call with reporters, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said he was "delighted" about the change in venue. He batted away questions about logistical challenges and added costs the change would produce, saying those things would be worked out in the coming weeks.
Obama, speaking to reporters in St. Louis, said he was excited about the move.
"Sometimes our conventions don't feel like they are open to everybody," Obama said. "For us to be able to do it in Invesco Field is an opportunity for 80,000 people who might otherwise not have been able to participate to get involved."
Most of the convention will take place at the 21,000-seat Pepsi Center.
Obama is known for drawing huge crowds to many of his speeches. In May, a record 75,000 jammed into a riverside park in Portland, Oregon, to hear him speak shortly before that state's primary.
You can make a positive difference right now. It may be small, it may not seem to matter, but it does matter very much. Even if the only thing you improve is your attitude, you've done a great deal. For once you have a positive outlook and a positive momentum, you'll find even more ways to make your world a better place.
No matter what your history or your situation may be, you can make a positive difference. Start with something in your own life, and
