Torture

Torture can be defined by many adjectives such as, torment, afflict, persecute, make suffer, anguish, pain and cruelty. These all sound like unkind words, hence it is easy for one to conclude that torture is not a good thing.
When I listened to Senator Lindsay Graham I had to shake my head several times to check if I was on the same planet. Don’t these people get it that most of the techniques that were used to garner information from these people whom we call our enemies are torture.
While I believe that people must take responsibility for their actions and that what’s good for the goose must also be good for the gander. Simply put punishment should not be hierarchical it should be equal for all. Having said that however, I do not think we should go on a witch hunt to try to bring Past President George Bush to undue punishment, I agree with the current President let us look forward not backward, however it is important that we learn from the past.
What is wrong with us?
I believe that we hate to call a spade a spade either because we are dishonest or we simply do not know any better. To say that water boarding and all the other humiliating actions that were used on our so called enemies such as nakedness etc are not torture is simply without conscience. The thing that is seriously wrong with us is that many of us so easily find it necessary to cover up wrongs when it is convenient.

One Moment Please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

America is undoubtedly a country filled with many opportunities for all, both American born and immigrants who wish to make a life in the USA.
Some of the opportunities to which I refer are
The opportunity to get food from various institutions and/or organizations
Opportunities for the poor such as the WIC program
Medicare and Medicaid

I could not help but feel a great deal of depression last night after listening to the various news and commentary programs. My depression was in no way because of the various TEA parties, I hasten to say that opposition is a very good thing and certainly an opposition needs to keep the government in check.
My deep feeling however was with the way US opposition voice their disapproval of this first African American President. There seems to be much hate spewing from the actions and rhetoric of these people who oppose the government. I believe that it is a real troubling situation which seems to be opening the door for those who were just looking for a slight chance to rebel.
If the problem is taxes or bailouts why would people be waving cards that are personal attacks on the president? This brings me to the question of time; it would appear that this president is responsible for where we are as a nation right now. This must be a dangerous man if he is able to bring the country to a recession within a three month period.
As a people and as leaders we need to be careful of the fires that we fuel. We need to be reminded of the pledge that we are one nation under God. Are we still under God or are we under our own agenda?

"The Church" Rising or Falling?

As the political, social and financial aspects of life are more illuminated one tends to get the feeling that the the light of the church seems to growing dimmer in the lack of glory and grace.

I respect the views of those who do not view christianity from my perspective. My view is that there is a creator from whom our beginnings stem. I am a dedicated worshipper and I believe in the King James Bible from beginning to end.

Since late last year, I have noticed that there has been a decrease in the quest for and the committment to the gospel of Christ. One of the most intruiging observances is that the church is always expected to be the place and/or institution that caters to the whole man. The present climate in which we operate now portrays a culture in which either the church has lost its valor or man has not seen the church as a viable option.
Even more interesting is the language of many who spew in very unchristian manner. I have to wonder many times about the lack of being our brother's keepers. Many christians are always ready to tear down persons who seem to stray from the normal and/or acceptable behaviors. We are always quick to condemn people rather than help them to redemption, it is seeminglythe pattern of some to display how much and who can do a better job of tearing down someone; very often these acts are done to the point where the victims become alienated from society and soon develop some mental or psycological issues. It is the same society that later has to pay high fees for rehabilitation of these persons and sometimes they never seem to recover from the blows that we render to them; and yes we call ourselves christians or the church which is supposed to give love in any language straight from the heart just as the song writer puts it.


Back in the days my parents and the church made us as children feel that to be mean as a christian was living a sinful life. They even went to the extent that we felt that christianity and politics were not a good mix. I really feel like they knew what they were alluding to.

Adoption

I have to wonder why all the arguments about the intention by Madonna to adopt another child. Is adoption a good thing? In my opinion, oh yes!! There are so many children in the world who are really in dire need of help of all sorts.

One should always bear in mind that these children never asked parents to bring them into this world. It is quite pathetic sometimes to think of the circumstances surrounding the entry of these children into this world. Some of us in my opinion argue only because we want to feel like we always want to have a voice in every story that is going around. In essence our stories are pure wind and absolutely so substance.

It is easy for us to criticize persons who are trying to adopt children, but many of the critics have no idea what real needs feel like. Many recipients of adoption can tell wonderful stories of the transformation that adoption has done to their lives. I am sure that there are also people who could offer horror stories. In my opinion the good always outweigh the bad. According to adoption Statistics at least 120,000 adoptions are done each year. (Flango and Flango, 1994) I think that it is a wonderful work because adoptions in most circumstances always make at least two people at a time happy.
http://statistics.adoption.com/information/adoption-statistics-numbers-trends.html
I think it is very encouraging to see the adoption statistics as listed on the Office of Children’s Issues, United States Department of State, looking at the statistics it is very apparent to me that many countries all over the world are allowing adoption of children. I hasten to say that these adoptions are NOT all done by celebrities.
Looking at the bigger picture however, I believe we have to be careful how we criticize people like Madonna who tries to adopt some poor and needy child. Maybe many of us need to follow in her footsteps in order to contribute to the happiness of a child somewhere in the world.

A word to Mr. Michael Steele

Dear Mr. Steele,
I think you are a man with good intentions, but I relize that sometimes good intentions can translate into very bad rhetoric. My honest opinion is that you are a smart man, very likeable, good looking, good personality; however those qualities are not very deep instead they are on the surface of who you are.
Sir, I urge you to find your true self because you seem to wabble too much in trying to communicate that you are the leader of a very important movement in America. As an African American I would like to see you succeed as the leader of the RNC. I would like people like Martin Luther King and Rosa parks to be proud of you, that you have managed to break that glass sealing. But Mr. Steele your arguments are too inconsistent, my advice to you is to stay away from the media for a while and digest what is going on in the new world. Sir, indeed we are in a new world mode and it appears that you have not yet seen that "whole new world."
Mr. Steele, if you would really like to win the hearts of minorities, grassroots and the average man, I urge you to rethink your expressions and your choice of words. You really need to reconsider if you been out in the media right now is doing more harm than good to the GOP. I can almost guarantee you that in the 21st century and beyond your attitude will not get you very far.
Mr. Steele you need to find the necessary change.

Stop talking "TRASH"

The Huffington Post published an article on Monday March 23, 2009 titled Tammy Bruce calls the Obamas “Trash in the Whitehouse.”

The question immediately popped in my mind Can’t we just live together?
My question to all of us who call ourselves Americans is, do some of us have more rights to the American throne than others?
As a matter of fact I have several questions
Are we Christian America?
In the words of the star spangled banner:
“O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave”
Do the words of the star spangled banner teach us that our freedom and bravery takes us to a level of degradation and pronounced inequality?
Tho’ we all pay taxes, some of us more than others but we all pay taxes as the law requires. We are all citizens of the United States of America, which seems to be a deception. we indeed operate like members of a divided union; by our actions we deceive the very words of that which we pledge and purport to stand for.
Miss Bruce, what makes you think that you should have the audacity to classify the President and first lady as “TRASH?” what are the factors that determine thrash? two eyes, two ears, a mouth, two feet, two hands, a head with a brain. Are you trying to be cute, different, controversial or plain racist? Whether they are black or white should not be the issue, they did not steal the election; the people elected them by a clear margin. Regardless of the Party, race, religion or sex of the President and first lady of the United States of America we should all respect the office of the President. We may not agree with the policies but I believe that we must show them some respect for the four or eight year’s duration of their stay.
Miss Tammy Bruce please stop talking TRASH.

A very peaceful Island (guess where?)