Month: December 2014

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The Tyrant Within..

You know as I’ve evaluated myself and the things that I’ve done throughout the recent past in my life I have to accept that for a period of time I was a tyrant to the likes of which I had never seen within myself. I never knew that I had the power to be as vengeful and wreckless to other peoples well-being and livelihood. I never realized that I could be so destructive and yet at the same time give off an air of innocence, pain and fear.

For so long I had operated with a mindset that the pain I felt inside was a result of torment inflicted upon me by a couple of figures from my past. And yes while there is some validity to that, there is also a truth that I was very destructive to quite a few people who tried to come into my life and help clean up the mess that was left behind from those dealings.

You know, you never really know how awful you were until you’ve come through the smoke and can see clearly what was behind you and around you. I am so very regretful for my painful actions. I pushed away many, ripped the hearts out of a few, strung along a few and never allowed anyone to really get to my soul because the black heart that tyranny fed off of was too big to allow anyone close.

For as much as I knocked those who hurt me, I must be open enough to admit that I hurt so many and I’ve had to confront that because some of those folks are still in my life to this day and there are times when we talk that I often flash back to those memories and realize that I was an asshole to the 20th power. I could control and manipulate a situation so strong that I would the person questioning why they had a problem with me in the first place.

And yes I’ve often wondered why there are so many who have said that I was and am an intimidating presence. To say that I have the total package is understandable but at the time I was with a couple of these people, I had nothing. I was trying to rebuild and really only had my looks and my personality. What I really realize now is that the intimidation came from the overpowering presence of the bully and tyrant in my body.

While none of the people whom that side of me affected may read this blog, I am a big believer in paying it forward and putting things in the atmosphere and they somehow have a way of completing the intended task. So I guess the lesson in all of this is.. yes you can be hurt and in pain, but also be a tyrant to others as well.

#peace #innerstrength #strong

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Free At Last..

You know I know I’m going to sound like a dick rider or nut hugger as I write this blog, but let me assure you that I’m not and if this was a player on a team I didn’t like or was indifferent about I would have the same opinion. BUTT… now that the former Florida Supreme Court Justice as ruled that Jameis Winston did not violate the Florida State University student Code of Conduct, can we finally close this chapter and get the fuck off this kids back..?

For the better part of the past two months this kid has been vilified in the media as a malcontent, disrespectful, a rapist, among other things. And to be to quite frank all that has happened is that he has been tried in the Judicial system and the Florida St University system and been found innocent on all three accounts.

Now please don’t think I’m saying that I condone lewd sexual acts against women, I don’t, also don’t think I condone rape, I don’t. I am all for due process and justice being served for all violators, but see there in lies my problem with this case. Unlike the Bill Cosby case, where there have been over twenty women with the same story, in this case it was one chick, with a shaky story and an even shakier defense that accused him sexual assault.

Can I convict Jameis of poor decision making, Hell yeah I can, because that’s what really was the issue here. The girl has said that she wanted Jameis and was hoping to date him, while Jameis and friends always knew she was just gone be a jump off, and to be quite honest I think she knew it too. Maybe the liquor allowed her to think it was something more that would happen, IDK, but the reality is no one knows the truth but these four folks. And I’m sorry in knowing all that has come out, I think this was a situation of a woman feeling embarrassed because she gave up the cookie and all she got was a thank you and out the door you go.

My whole point being, One, before we vilify someone and convict them without the whole story, lets allow the justice system to do its job. Two, I know the usual lines to come out of this, “He got special treatment because he plays football.” I think the opposite happened, he got grilled harder because he is a highly recognized player and at that, the Heisman Trophy winning, National Champion player.

To you all I say, Get a life, and let this young kid have his. Let him keep growing and developing and leave him alone. I never like when someone is crucified in the media because of their celebrity status, only to have no one do a mia coupa when the facts come out. Good luck Jameis and #GO NOLES!

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Happy Holidays

You know I have to take a break to make this a personal blog. I’m as guilty as the next of taking this holiday season and making it almost as much about what I can get myself for Christmas as I make it about spending time with the ones I live and stopping to enjoy the view and give plentiful thanks for all the wonderful people in my life.

You know I think we as a society have forgotten what the meaning of these holidays should be; but also how painful the holiday season is for some because they don’t have all the loved ones they wish they could to celebrate with.

I must say that I’m so immensely blessed to have my mama, grandma, close friends, relatives, and kids to be able to share in this holiday season. Even though we may not all be close in proximity to each other, we have the ability to call and text and spend time talking, enjoy the moments and creating great memories to recollect.

I often times spend the last couple weeks of the year in retrospect, thinking back about the things that have happened over the course of the year, the people I’ve interacted with and the growth that I’ve experienced. I also take time to let those special know just how much I appreciate them in my life, and no I’m not the one who is predictable enough to just do it on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, I tend to send these heartfelt wishes throughout the holiday season, as a way for me to say that it’s not just the specific day that makes me thankful, it is however, a remembrance that every day and every person creates special moments that I must admonish them for.

My challenge for folks would be to take any day or days to sit back and reflect on this year as it comes to a close and as you do that, think about those who have been influential in your life this year and if you haven’t taken time to tell them how much you appreciate them, love them and care for them, take a few moments out to do that. I promise you it will be very satisfying, you will get emotional if you are really true with your words and allow yourself to be vulnerable; but more importantly you will make someone else’s day with the honest and thoughtful words from your lips to their eyes or ears.

I dare you to spread the love more than you spread the money. Those are the moments that will last forever. Happy Holidays

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Freedom Of Speech

Man.. I am a proud American and as such I am certainly saddened and disappointed about Sony’s decision to pull their movie “The Interview”. Yes, quite honestly I truly understand the hesitation and conservative position Sony took. The desire to protect their employees and the employees of the movie theaters that would have shown the movie is definitely understandable. But let me be clear, we are not a nation to be bullied.

I don’t care what someone else is threatening to do. We are the freest and most powerful nation in the world. Yes, I get it, there are many people who disagree with my view on this matter, but think about it for one second; what would you do if your job stopped you from posting on your personal social media account because they didn’t like the content that you were posting? Is that fair? Is that American?

See when the President spoke today and said that we cannot be bullied, or tolerate foreign countries using fear tactics to stop us from living the freedoms that are endowed in our Constitution, he was speaking about the fundamental foundation of what we as Americans hold dear. We should not, will not, and cannot allow anyone to stop us from carrying out American business in the American way.

See what I think should happen is that this movie should be released in theaters and online. Let those foreign son of a bitches know that we will not cower to your threats. We are a nation of freedoms that we will not allow anyone to take away. We should be defiant in our actions and stick it in the faces of the North Korea.

You know people here are so scared and pessimistic because of the attacks and wars we’ve had. But as I was once told, powerful and great things are constantly attacked by those who want what they powerful possess. That is what’s at stake here. The power of America, which is freedom. Whether you like or dislike the laws or the man elected to lead this country, the fact remains if you want to continue to enjoy the freedoms our American Military fight to protect, you must bow your back and not always scream uncle when things happen.

God Bless American and all the folks who make this nation great. And it is that premise that we must continue to live and not be afraid, for we are a nation of people protected by the mighty hand of God. All the steps of the world are ordered and we must never forget that. So live free and passionately and with great fervor.

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A Champions Defense

So this blog is very biased and I do not apologize for what I’m about to say. If you disagree with what I say all I ask is that you respectfully give me your opinion and we can have a very civil and fun discussion.

I will be the first to say that I love College Football and yes I do mean love! I am a hardcore Florida State Seminole fan. I’ve supported them since I was able to understand the game and stayed through the rough years too. So as I’ve watched this FSU team this year I must say that the mass media has a Championship bias that I think is really ridiculous.

When other teams were in defense of their title and they would have wins like Florida St. has this season the narrative always was: ” What a great champion, they’re taking the best shots from every opponent and finding ways to win.” However, with this Florida State team the narrative is: “Wow, they’re not that good; they’re having a tough time beating opponents, whereas last years team was just dominating people and blowing them off the field.”

For a novice I would expect them to say something like that if they didn’t really understand what it means to defend a championship. For the experts and Football intellectuals to spew that same stupid impression of this years Noles’ is crazy. Tell me another team in the last ten years that’s won 29 consecutive games in major college football and in the Power 5 conferences?

This Seminoles team over the last nearly three season have won three straight ACC Championships, a National Championship, another BCS bowl game and are currently in the first ever Playoffs to determine the National Champion this year. They have, arguably, the best big game, ,fourth quarter Quarterback in College football history, and certainly of this generation, in Jameis Winston. They have one of the best coaches in  the nation, a team that is as talented as any other in the nation, yet they get  no respect.

People seem to forget that they lost all of their defensive captains to the NFL. That means all the senior leadership is gone off the defense and new leaders have had to emerge. That means that the young talent is on the field, but they’re still learning to assert themselves as leaders. Yet, through all of this and breaking in new players on the offensive side of the ball, the Noles’ have managed to go undefeated thus far and have as good a shot as any to repeat as National Champions.

But if you leave it up to the pundits, they will tell you that FSU isn’t really that good and teams who are playing worse talented teams are somehow better. I want someone to tell me the last team that made defending a title look easy and for that matter defended that Championship. While the final chapter is still to be written and this team still has two games to win in order to repeat as Champions, the fact that they have won 29 straight games against all comers, including the vaunted SEC, says a lot about just how good and maybe great this Florida State run has been.

#Seminoles nation

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Unchallenged Power

You know as a young, Black man that is old enough to remember when the Cosby show was the shit back in the 80’s, I feel torn because of all the allegations and seemingly irrefutable stories on display from the countless women who have said that Bill Cosby drugged them and raped them.

For such a influential and moral figure, who spoke on the sensitive issues confronting Black America, his fall from grace is epic. He was the moral compass that said that Black men needed to take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming the system for holding them back, He also gave controversial speeches about how Black men needed to be fathers to their sons and give them a positive example and role model to look to, instead of just trying to immulate what they see on t.v.

The man who was seen as a t.v father to some, and a real life father figure to others. I really find it stunning to see that he had such a vicious, cold-hearted dark side. To some they don’t see how it was possible, in my eyes I’ve always held the belief that the ones who hold the highest moral compass and talk the most bosterious about a situation tend to have a dark side, that actually contridicts the message they preach.

Now this is not true of all individuals with power and prestige who have a strong stance on a subject. But what we are seeing is more often this is becoming the case. Powerful figures who hide behind their public outcries, yet in private they are the creatures they reprimand to the world. You know I was truly hoping that in this case these allegations were not true and that these women were just taking an opportunistic opportunity to try to cash in on this story.

But as one of my good friends said, when you have so many different women, from all different walks of life telling the same story and the same way, you can’t ignore them and say they’re all lying you must accept the fact that maybe this amazing man has done awful things.

My hope is that Mr. Cosby will realize that he cannot repair his image by remaining silent and defiant. I understand he never thought he would have to face the terrible crimes he is accused of committing, but I think if hasn’t realized anything else, it’s that America is country of forgiveness, but you must accept and admit your faults and seek to atone for the trauma caused.

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The Power of The People

I’m baaaaaack.. While I’ve kept myself involved with all the current events that have been happening the past month, I’ve also been a busy guy working and enjoying the holiday season. Refreshed a little, saddened and disappointed a lot, shit going on that keeps my mind constantly churning and me in a state of uncertainty.

Lets talk about the two biggest events in current news lately. One, the decision not to indite in Ferguson, MO and the decision to not indite in New York. While I must admit that I’m not surprised by these decisions made to not bring those officers to trial, I will say that I am extremely disappointed, hurt, and sad. See as a Black man in America, I know that we are always guilty until proven innocent in the eyes of the law, unless we have lots of money.

I have never seen a case where a prosecutor decides to unload all the evidence in just a Grand Jury indictment proceeding. I’ve also never seen a state telegraph the decision of said Jury like I did in Ferguson. Unless you have been in the situation that Mike Brown was in you don’t know how threatening it is to be approached by law enforcement that don’t really have your best interest at heart.

I will never condone committing a crime, which yes Mike Brown did steal cigars, but if anyone thinks that taking some cigars is justification for you to be shot and killed then I’m sorry you lack basic humanity. Just the same, Eric Gardner was put in a choke hold and killed because he was selling single cigarettes on the streets.

Again, it was a petty crime and only a crime because New York wants to make their money on the taxation of cigarettes; but the fact remains when he was stopped by those officers, he did not have any cigarettes on him and also he was not being unruly or disobedient to the officers. He was shown on camera with his hands up in the air and kept repeating that He couldn’t breathe.

I’ve been in situations similar to both men. No, I have not committed a crime, but I did have someone anonymously call the police and accuse me of breaking into cars downtown. The irony is that I was just standing outside of my car eating my food and talking to a friend. I had no less than six marked and unmarked police cars pull on me, guns drawn, police dogs in the back waiting to unload their guns and sick their vicious dogs on me.

Never in my life have I felt more afraid, embarrassed in my life. I was being treated as a criminal when I had done absolutely nothing wrong. The police could not figure out who called and never offered any apology. They just laughed it off, got back in their cars and disappeared as quickly as they arrived. So when anyone speaks to me about these cases, my first question is have you ever had the experience these men had. If you answer no, then quite honestly I don’t want to discuss this with you because you will never understand.

And No, I do not ever condone vandalism or arson, but as Dr. King so perfectly said it, Vandalism is the act of the voiceless. When you feel that you have no where to go and no one to listen to you how else do you make your point? I do have the solution and hence the title of this blog. The people have the power and its called voting.

There is a reason that millions upon millions marched and fought for the right to give Black people the right to vote. They knew the impact and importance of voting. See we elect these people who run these states and counties and towns into office. We decide who will be hiring the folks to police our streets and protect us as citizens. If you really want to make your voice heard, the next time an election is held in your state VOTE!

And I’m not saying that this is the only thing that needs to happen, because lets face it, the Justice system is not really a fair system towards all people. The law does not necessarily look favorable of people of color. So there are many layers to this problem, but I do know that it starts with exercising your right to vote and to know what the folks running for office stand for.

Stop electing people whose policies don’t speak to your issues. Stop voting for people who don’t give a damn about you and allow new, fresh and caring blood to run for office and make a difference. My prayers and thoughts go out to the families of Mike Brown and Eric Gardner. America lets make sure we do our part; lets have the dialogue needed and make the necessary efforts to change our country.