I can't sleep. Well, I really should say that I'm having a hard time falling asleep. Doesn't help that I'm now sitting here writing a blog. You know in the spirit of all manner of sincerity and all honesty, I spoke on matters last night that I thought might give better clearance and give some measure of perspective into just how it is I rest. Never could have imagined for an inkling that the words that were to come out of my mouth would have been so damaging. I mean generally when I speak and the shit is about to hit the fan, I am fully aware of the impending doom.
When is being honest too much? I have heard my whole life, this one and many before, that honesty is always, ALWAYS, the best policy. 'The truth will set you free.' Well I've learned that the truth hurts more often than it helps. I mean, yes everyday truths, such as who drank the last of the orange juice and left the box in the fridge, probably have little bearing on the longevity of your life. Hell if those little truths carry so much weight as to be of possible detriment, you can have those as well. No wonder no one speaks when there is but a swallow of juice in the fridge, lol.
But seriously, I thought that my desire to be honest in certain regards as opposed to years of skillful and deliberate avoidance, was a sign of growth at best. Do I continue to teach my children that surreptitiously holding on to the facts and truth is truly in fact the best policy? I would hate for them to grow up to be exactly as I was all the time. Aren't our children to supposed eclipse us in every aspect of the word? Aren't we ourselves to learn and grow and teach better?
My two cents
12.24.2009
Winter Wonderland
Last weeks winter storm caused lower retail sales to the tune of over a billion dollars less than last year. That's billion with a b. Mere coincidence or divine intervention? Stop commercializing faith. Today should have been a day for reflection and the opening of hearts. Not a mass exodus to retail establishments to purchase gifts to show by material means how much we love and care for one another. I pray all a safe and blessed weekend no matter what faith your heart manifests.
12.20.2009
Disney's new Princess
Last month the Disney conglomerate released the story of the Princess and the Frog. In this incarnation, Disney "Princess" happens to be of African ancestry. For the first time in the company's history, the main character of a feature happens to resemble a relatively large part of Disney's viewing audience. I use resemble here fairly loosely because the artwork, while exceptional as hand drawn illustration goes, does little in the way of truly intimating African features. All that said, if it can even briefly show a young Black child that the past hangups, misconceptions and stereotypes about Black Womanhood are invalid; that yes Black Woman can be as royal and regal as they once were.
Conversely, how is it that we are still allowing these entertainers to talk about and systematically degrade and destroy the Black Woman specifically, but women in general. Yes they might not be speaking about "you", that argument is plain. But they are speaking directly to the minds of innocent youth. We teach our little ones with song because the repetitive nature of the rhymes and melody draw them in and open them up to be more receptive of the lessons taught. It's little coincidence that record company exec's promote so eagerly the type of artists who can deliver "sick" tracks and "wicked" lyrics and wordplay. All the while, it's women who are left in the balance, most often with names sullied beyond most recognition.
It's a crzay world we live in and that's my 2 cents,
Conversely, how is it that we are still allowing these entertainers to talk about and systematically degrade and destroy the Black Woman specifically, but women in general. Yes they might not be speaking about "you", that argument is plain. But they are speaking directly to the minds of innocent youth. We teach our little ones with song because the repetitive nature of the rhymes and melody draw them in and open them up to be more receptive of the lessons taught. It's little coincidence that record company exec's promote so eagerly the type of artists who can deliver "sick" tracks and "wicked" lyrics and wordplay. All the while, it's women who are left in the balance, most often with names sullied beyond most recognition.
It's a crzay world we live in and that's my 2 cents,
12.03.2009
Tis Always the Season for Family
Last week I was given a moment to spend some time with family that I haven't seen in a good while, as I'm sure many of us had. The years of memories and histories that some of our families represent are priceless and timeless. The amount of unconditional love in one room that we sometimes experience, well everyone should have days such as these, even if only from time to time.
I never show up for the food. Food alone isn't enough to pick me up off the couch and drive some 300 miles. The food was great mind you. Always is because I feel it's always prepared with much love. But the fun is watching and helping in, no matter how small the capacity, the preparation. The stories, the jokes, the discipline, the family history all rolled into a few hours once or twice a year, is often all some of us will ever have.
As usual, I look forward to the next time we can all get together. I miss my family. Sometimes it's the only time when you are completely and entirely the person you are.
I never show up for the food. Food alone isn't enough to pick me up off the couch and drive some 300 miles. The food was great mind you. Always is because I feel it's always prepared with much love. But the fun is watching and helping in, no matter how small the capacity, the preparation. The stories, the jokes, the discipline, the family history all rolled into a few hours once or twice a year, is often all some of us will ever have.
As usual, I look forward to the next time we can all get together. I miss my family. Sometimes it's the only time when you are completely and entirely the person you are.
11.22.2009
Broken
I am broken people. My heart and spirit have been broken in recent days. It is unfathomable to me how anyone can so callously disregard human life. A 5 year old little girl. Are you serious? To "allegedly" rape and strangle a child; is there anything more demonic and savage? Granted, the Black community specifically, and more generally people around the world for centuries, have suffered greatly at the hands of brutes and devils, in varying forms and degrees. Granted, there have been numerous accounts of such savagery this year alone. But my God, has the world so lost its humanity? Has Man finally descended into the mirey muck of wretchedness without hope of ascent to His former and greater self?
A father of a soon to be 12 year old myself, it saddens me deeply to know that my little one has to live in this world with such as these. I know not the truth in details in this case, and I am trying with great conscience to not cast unwarranted aspersions, but I know the Devil himself resides amongst them.
Great is the sorrow of all the families involved. Alongside, the extended family also bears this burden and shame; of this I am almost certain. Too many of our families and friends, all too often, see the signs of abuse and mistreatment, but the system which many hold in such high regard, leaves little room to properly deal with these cases effectively. While it should be said that there are brief glimmers of hope and promise, especially in regards to poor and disenfranchised peoples, not enough is being done.
I pray that along with so-called sweeping reforms in healthcare legislation, alleged reforms in the financial markets and much needed reform in how many people place ridiculously high and unrealistic value on material possessions, that we also work earnestly to reform the human spirit, which for too long has been devalued, leveraged beyond capacity and otherwise marginalized beyond all recognition. Recognizing that it was merely a temple that housed the innocent spirit of a precious child, I pray too that that spirit finds solace and comfort where next it rests.
Peace and love be with you. While there are many doors to the mansion of God, each of us still can only manage to open one at a time. I leave with 7 words of peace and love, "God is love, let us all love." King Emmanuel Charles Edwards
JAH Love Guidance and Protection as we move in and through this world to the world of R.
Jah Courtney
A father of a soon to be 12 year old myself, it saddens me deeply to know that my little one has to live in this world with such as these. I know not the truth in details in this case, and I am trying with great conscience to not cast unwarranted aspersions, but I know the Devil himself resides amongst them.
Great is the sorrow of all the families involved. Alongside, the extended family also bears this burden and shame; of this I am almost certain. Too many of our families and friends, all too often, see the signs of abuse and mistreatment, but the system which many hold in such high regard, leaves little room to properly deal with these cases effectively. While it should be said that there are brief glimmers of hope and promise, especially in regards to poor and disenfranchised peoples, not enough is being done.
I pray that along with so-called sweeping reforms in healthcare legislation, alleged reforms in the financial markets and much needed reform in how many people place ridiculously high and unrealistic value on material possessions, that we also work earnestly to reform the human spirit, which for too long has been devalued, leveraged beyond capacity and otherwise marginalized beyond all recognition. Recognizing that it was merely a temple that housed the innocent spirit of a precious child, I pray too that that spirit finds solace and comfort where next it rests.
Peace and love be with you. While there are many doors to the mansion of God, each of us still can only manage to open one at a time. I leave with 7 words of peace and love, "God is love, let us all love." King Emmanuel Charles Edwards
JAH Love Guidance and Protection as we move in and through this world to the world of R.
Jah Courtney
6.26.2009
The Greatest Entertainer on Earth
So by now I'm sure you've heard that the legendary King of Pop has had his flame extinguished. More like laid down his temple. Whatever you thought about him, whatever you cared, his talent was undoubtedly incredible. He had proved himself to be more than a mere man when it came to the reach of his words, music and love. Even in his later years when it appeared his relevance had subsided substantially, Michael Jackson was still, hands down, simply the best. He allowed us all to be children again when a song came on the radio. He allowed us all to be lovers falling in love again. He allowed us through his music, to be human beings, people of the highest caliber, even if only for a few minutes a day.
I will not burden myself with the sackcloth of missing him. But I will continue to admire the Man that I knew, the entertainer that fashioned so much of my life, and the kind spirit that we should all pray to be all the time...
My 2 cents.
I will not burden myself with the sackcloth of missing him. But I will continue to admire the Man that I knew, the entertainer that fashioned so much of my life, and the kind spirit that we should all pray to be all the time...
My 2 cents.
6.23.2009
Not for nothing
I am not downplaying what is going on in Iran. I don't want to make light of such a serious situation. I don't want to take lightly the young woman being shot in the streets of Tehran. But hell if that was any young Black kid in the streets of damn near any major city in the US, would the outrage be as loud? Would the news media be asking when is enough? Would John McCain and Lindsey Graham be as outraged? I think not. Even with a Black President young Black kids lives still aren't as valuable as one Iranian woman who might indeed be the martyr for a whole nation.
My 2 cents.
My 2 cents.
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