Sophisticated Ignorance

Today is my 25th Birthday.

Damn. It’s crazy how quickly time flies. The concept of time completely changes as soon as the structure provided by grade school is no longer there. Once the ball is in your court, the clock starts ticking. Moments that you thought took place a year ago were actually 5. Younger siblings grow with or without you looking. Without noticing it, you grow. You change.

In my mind, I’m not too far removed from the kid that I used to be. The kid that shut out the world’s ills with a thick book or by blasting music. The kid who was satisfied with himself no matter the situation. My…how things have changed.

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rebelradio:

911: Are you following him?

Zimmerman: Yeah.

911: Ok. We don’t need you to do that.

With the release of the 911 tapes from the night of Feb. 26, it has become apparent to those listening to the chilling audio that George Zimmerman was aggressively pursuing Trayvon Martin the night he killed him. 

Only through the filter of following the law to the “T” could one come to the conclusion that George Zimmerman could possibly get off scott-free for taking the life of a young man. 

The actual law in question is Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Stating that citizens have the right to shoot if they feel that they’re in danger, it gives a broad spectrum under what it constitutes as self-defense. On today’s “Starting Point” with Soledad O’Brien, CNN Senior Analyst Jeffery Toobin said that the law makes it so that “if you’re hit with a fist, you can reply with a gun.”

My question is, how can someone who pursued another individual consequently causing a confrontation then claim that they felt that they were in danger? Is the color of a man’s skin as dangerous as the loaded gun Zimmerman was carrying? Let’s not forget that Zimmerman got out of his car to confront Trayvon, who was mere feet from his destination: home.

For now, let’s take the racial aspect out of the situation. A young man was killed after being pursued for doing nothing but walking home. Fight or no fight, a boy was killed. That’s enough grounds to at least hold someone in custody until an investigation either clears their name or proves them to be at fault for the death.

Not only was Zimmerman allowed to return home that night, he wasn’t even tested for drug or alcohol usage that night. Some experts even state that they can hear Zimmerman slurring words on the 911 tape where he called in to report a “suspicious person.” The drug/alcohol test is routinely done during a homicide investigation.

Does that scream racism? No. Not by a long shot. What it shows is a gross negligence on the part of the Sanford Police Department. When you also factor in an account of a witness claiming that when they described Trayvon screaming for help, an officer of the law corrected them and told them that they heard Zimmerman asking for assistance. 

Feeling like the police are protecting Zimmerman rather than thoroughly trying to provide justice for Trayvon. That’s part of the reason his parents have asked the FBI to step in. The other part has everything to do with race.

In the Black community, there’s the long standing feeling that the police are not acting in our best interests. This cannot always be true. But…the times where they’re genuinely trying to help solve crimes that happen in our neighborhoods are continuously outweighed by situations where murders go unsolved or even go on without a proper investigation. 

Add to that the fact that racial profiling exists. A disproportionate stake in the prison population. Black people in certain areas and the police have the same relationship as citizens of occupied countries and the occupying Army have. This has inspired the “Stop Snitchin’” campaign which is presented as a community solving its own problems but is actually a vehicle that perpetuates crime not being reported out of fear. [More on this later.]

And then the media…

Mediaite’s Frances Martel says:

Several reasons exist for the divide in black and white media regarding how they approach this story. For one, the reasons for Martin’s death necessitate an understanding of racism that only black people—particularly black men—fully understand. As a white Latina, I can say, without a doubt, that no one looks at my skin (or my name, for that matter) and feels fear. I can understand bringing that out in people for immutable traits— I know what it’s like to forget I’m in a rural place and speak Spanish, prompting bad service at a store or “this town is going to Hell” comments from locals. I know what it’s like to see your dad stopped by a cop for having a mustache. But, for the most part, no one knows I’m not “the right kind” of white without an extra clue. People like me don’t have to deal with “it,” usually. Given that my family barged into the American history narrative almost a decade after the Civil Rights Act passed, they likely could have avoided dealing with it had they been here, too.

Trayvon Martin, like so many “suspicious-looking” young black males with similar fates, did not have that luxury. No one can hide his or her skin color and, in the context of vigilante violence, the false threat of black skin is a uniquely black male problem. That doesn’t mean that those who have not experienced it cannot see why it is so obviously troublesome, nor does it exonerate non-black people from the responsibility of demanding a more just legal system that sends a clear enough message that murders like Martin’s are so unacceptable that they will, for the most part, go away. That lack of joint responsibility may be the single most troubling part of this story.

When Caylee Anthony disappeared, Nancy Grace almost single-handedly decided for us that this was America’s Problem. For a good year, this was America’s Problem. This was America’s Problem despite the fact that, by the time Caylee’s mother was arrested and acquitted, there really wasn’t anything anyone could do about it. Black media leaders had to cover Casey Anthony’s trial, too. And Joran Van Der Sloot’s. And Amanda Knox‘s. The lack of reciprocity, particularly in cases with black victims, is stark and needs to be addressed.

When I wrote my final paper in my Journalism Methods & Theory class, it was about racism. I came to find out that some whites don’t see something as racist unless it is outright so. I challenge Caucasian people everywhere to this: Instead of seeing racism as just a person calling a black guy a “nigger,” realize that there is also a systematic approach as well. Look out the neighborhoods, schools, services [or lack thereof], or job options that we have available to us. Know that if they’re lacking, its not because we chose to live in crime-ridden areas or places where the school are failing their students. Know that its like that for a reason. As much as there is overt racism, there are also covert manifestations of racism.

This comment stood out to me on the Orlando Sentinel’s storyon the situation.

Sorry, Darryl, you’re publishing to the unwashed mass on this forum. They don’t understand. They won’t understand. They can’t understand.

History provides no bearing for the unwashed, therefore history has no bearing on cultural development of any nationality, society, or race. Your examples are merely opening of old wounds which bear not in the least on today’s world events.

It is sad, but ignorance is the root of racism, and we’re still awash in both - ignorance and racism.

Frankly, publishing your premise - a premise forwarded by a black journalist - should have been a wonderful opportunity for white citizens to delve into your even deeper understanding of the black community, but that was not to be. Truly regretful.

The truth; it is simply much easier for us white folks to shirk any responsibility, move right on down the same road, doing the same old same old, all the while expecting different results. Forget black slavery, forget all of history, forget white inhumanity regarding our treatment of blacks in this, the Land of The Free. The Emancipation Proclamation seems to have set us white folks free as well.

Certainly the negative noise level found on this forum is not indicative of the general readership of the Sentinel. In that light, you will have reached many whom understand what you intended. I did and I thank you you for it.

GingerTop gets it.

As for other comments about “Where was the outrage when …. happened?” It’s like this. If the community stands idle while George Zimmerman sits free, they’d be condoning his actions. If nothing is said about the unjust killing of a young man, it’d be like a starter pistol to those who have been searching for a reason to kill our already endangered male population. 

I’ve got younger cousins that are in the same age group as Trayvon. Lord willing, I’m going to raise a young black man one day. I don’t want them to have the same fear of being at the wrong place at the wrong time that I have; thinking that if I’m leaving work or home at an inopportune time that I could “fit a description.” In order to change the situation, you have to speak up at some time. The time is now.

When 17-year-old Travyon Martin decided to make a quick run to 7/11, he asked his little brother what he wanted from the store. His brother told him that he wanted Skittles. Who would have fathomed that this would be the last exchange that the pair would have?

While returning home from the store, Martin was spotted by a resident in his father’s gated community in Sanford, Fl. 911 was called an alerted to a suspicious person by George Zimmerman, leader of the neighborhood watch. By the time the police arrived to the scene, the teenager was dead from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

This incident occurred on February 26th. To date, Zimmerman has not been charged with the murder of the teen. “Lack of evidence,” is the official reasoning that the Sanford Police Department has given as to why Zimmerman, the only other person involved in the situation, hasn’t been charged. 

Why? 

Zimmerman called the police when he saw a suspicious person in the gated community. We’re not going to avoid the 600-pound elephant in the room. Zimmerman thought Trayvon Martin was suspicious because he was a black teenager walking around after dark. Why would Martin not think he could walk to the store and back home without being questioned? His father lived there. 

Global Grind, who spoke to the family’s lawyer, Ben Crump feared that Zimmerman would be allowed to walk by claiming self-defense despite likely going against police orders

Crump said the family was concerned that police might decide to consider the shooting as self defense, and that police have ignored the family’s request for a copy of the original 911 call, which they think will shed light on the incidents.

Family spokesman Ryan Julison said:

“If the 911 protocol across the country held to form here, they told him not to get involved. He disobeyed that order.” 

Its being reported that there was an altercation. When you have an overzealous Neighborhood Watch captain [for all intensive purposes, he can be imagined as the aggressive rent-a-cop at the mall] and a young man who believes he’s in no way wrong for walking to the store.

Any way you look at the situation, Zimmerman was wrong. Wrong for assuming that a black man was out of place in his community. Wrong for calling the police. Wrong for not following the instruction that the police likely gave him. Wrong for confronting the kid. Wrong for getting into a fight with him. And definitely wrong for shooting him in the chest.

This can’t simply swept under the rug. A young man is dead because of this guy’s actions. To do anything but charge the man with murder is perpetuating the thought that a black man’s life is expendable. What kind of message is that to send to young men every where? What kind of message is that to send to young Chad Martin? For him to know that his brother just went to grab an Arizona & some skittles and ended up dead and the man who killed him is potentially getting off scot-free?

Rest in Peace, Trayvon Martin. We will not let this go.

The reason that the pioneers of this country set out from England was to establish settlements free from the King and Church of England’s scrutiny over their religious beliefs. Its a shame that at a time that presidential candidates are claiming to be more like their forefathers, they’re acting more like the old country’s king. The Crustades continue…

It recently came to light that the NYPD used money given to them by the Obama & Bush administration to monitor Muslim communities in the northeast. Yes, that means that a city police department went outside of their jurisdiction to keep tabs on people solely because of their religious background. O.o 

How can actions by the police department be applauded by NYC’s Mayor Bloomberg? Sure, it was horrible that the 9/11 attacks occurred and that the devastation has changed the lives of New Yorkers forever. Does that mean that from now on, all people of Muslim faith or Middle Eastern descent should be tracked due to the actions of extremists?

I — like every other American who was old enough to grasp the brevity of the attacks— remember where I was on that fateful day. Here we are 9 years later and I, personally, feel like many injustices have [and are] been/been carried out instead of actively pursuing the factions that were actually behind what happened. An entire religion is not to blame.

Add to the fact that recently, after Qurans were burned in Afghanistan by American soldiers, people took to the streets to protest. Unfortunately, the protests have turned violent. Military leaders have all but shirked taking responsibility for the gaffe and tried to frame the protesters as violent people.

If we’ve learned anything from the 2005 incident where a Danish newspaper included an illustration of the prophet Muhammed among its political cartoons, it’s Muslims do not play when it comes to their religion.

Violent mobs took to the streets in the Middle East. A Somali man even broke into the cartoonist’s house in Denmark with an ax

The fact that the Taliban is trying to capitalize on the incident to incite even more anger at America isn’t surprising. It’s not like we have a great track record with the Afghan people. We’ve been occupying their country for 10 years much to their dismay. It doesn’t take much to piss them off and we went for the all-time high score.

When President Obama apologized to Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai for the incident, he was criticized. I’m going to hold off on my thoughts about anyone attempting to chomp off the leader of the free world for another peace [Politricks as Usual], but there has to be something said about the people vying to the chance to lose test their political mettle against Barack Obama in this year’s presidential election.

To claim that because the act wasn’t deliberate, it doesn’t deserve be apologized for, Rick Santorum, you prove to the American people that if we elect you, it’ll be like putting a feeder fish into a shark tank. For Newt Gingrich to call Obama an appeaser—when realistically, [along with strides for peace,] he’s continued the previous administration’s practices for pissing off the Middle East [Attack of the Drones, anyone?]—is straight pandering for anything to attack the president on.

Kirsten Powers does a great job of taking the GOP to task for their attacks.

Back to New York. While followers of the Islamic faith were marching in the streets against the Danish newspapers in 2005, The mosque attenders here that the NYPD were secretly keeping tabs on were calling for peaceful boycotts. 

“They’re viewing Muslims like they’re crazy. They’re terrorists. They all must be fanatics,” said Abdul Akbar Mohammed, the imam for the past eight years at the Masjid Imam Ali K. Muslim in Newark. “That’s not right.”

To be fair, acts of terrorism across the world have been carried out by Christians of caucasian descent for hundreds of years. When does that investigation begin?

Sometimes you just don’t have a logical explanation for things. A lot of people want to attribute some occurrences to to chance. However, if you examine some things, even down to the molecular level, you couldn’t find a “real” explanation for it.

Why is it so hard to believe that a higher power has some influence over our lives? In my mind, I ask how could you not believe? My purpose here is not preach or convert atheists into believers but to provide my thoughts on faith—a testimony, if you will.

Faith is sometimes not definitely knowing something will happen, but believing that it will.  That may be hard for many people to do: giving up having complete control over a situation. But really, outside of your actions, what situation do you have complete control over? You can’t control circumstances. You can’t control people. [Which is why they say you shouldn’t put your faith into other people, as they’re sure to let you down, but I believe that you should believe in people until they give you reason not to. A person can do much better knowing that someone believes in them than not. Have faith in your kids. They will prosper in school. Have faith in your loved ones. That phone call will come.]

What you can control is your thinking. You might not know how you can make it to payday at the end of the week with an empty tank. All you can do is think positively and ask for help some how. There is as much a chance you will somehow receive a blessing and get a little closer to your goal as there is that you’ll run out of gas and be stuck. And even if that were to happen, there still may be something in the works so that you won’t miss work. That’s why there’s the saying that, He might not come when you want him to, but he’s always right on time.

A month after I graduated college, I was in a rough place. I had a degree; no job. When it came time for my rent to be paid, I had most of it due to my former boss doing me a favor [Something completely out of her character and an instance where I see that He worked through someone around me.]. I was exactly $100 short. I had already asked for an extension and the due date was coming up. Each day I woke up racking my brain as to how I was going to be able to stay in my apartment. 

One day I was on my way downtown to hang out and something told me to check my mail. I was 23 and lived alone, nothing came in the mail except for bills and junk ads. For whatever reason I went to check the mail. In it was a card from the neighbors of my grandparents. When I went home, I waved and spoke, but we were never particularly close. The card by itself was an awesome gesture. The $100 bill that fell out of it as I opened it was a blessing.

I had never been a religious person coming up. I barely went to church. I felt like when I prayed for something and it didn’t happen, that was just cause not to do so anymore. As I got older, this behavior continued. Believing that I was in control of my life. I never took the time to think about all of the times I drove around the city in the pouring rain with no windshield wipers and actually made it home. I never took the time to think of the times that my friends and I were too drunk to be driving home from a party but made it. I lived in a rough neighborhood for a while and literally saw shootouts and people’s homes be broken into but was kept safe from that.

When you think of the world we’re living in today where people are so desperate for money or clout that they’ll rob, steal and kill without a second though, every day that you’re breathing is a gift. Anything could happen at any moment. Personally, I’d rather live as if there is a God than not and die and realize I was wrong. 

The song below is indicative of how deep this thought resonates through not only me, but other people who might not be in the best of places in their life—yet. And it’s dope music. What else could you ask for?

“This is not a story about victims. This is a story about heroes.”

With those words, George Lucas simplifies his thoughts on his upcoming action flick, Red Tails. With that, any Hollywood studio would have jumped aboard. Lucas’ storied Star Wars franchise has amassed billions. Then with Indiana Jones, he cemented himself as a force in the movie industry. Somehow, Lucas (along with Steven Spielberg) got Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull greenlit, alien conspiracies & unbelievable nuclear survival tactics included. With that he was not expecting a challenge getting a movie he’s spent 20+ years developing.

A challenge is exactly what he got. No studio would touch his dramatization of the saga of the Tuskegee Airmen. It was deemed too risky. From a bottomline standpoint, one could agree. In an era where no movie is not a sequel or rehash of another idea, a movie starring a nearly all black cast is not only daring, it’s asking to flop. Below, Lucas explains his problems with major studios which led him to spend more than $50 million of his own money on the endeavor:

Where I stand on the issue is simple. I believe that we, as a community, need to support this film. I’m tired of the only look that Black men get in movies these days is as the Step-N-Fetch sidekick or Guard #3 [Except for Denzel Washington & Will Smith]. Supporting this movie will do wonders for the actors who play the men who risked their lives for the betterment of the country. In addition to Cuba Gooding, Jr [in his first non-straight-to-DVD role in a minute] and Terrence Howard, the cast includes Nate Parker (The Great Debaters), Ne-Yo (?!?), Method Man, Tristan Wilds (The Wire) and more. 

Hollywood studios are convinced that the only way to get a Black crowd out is to put out religion-based romantic comedies where there are no strong male roles [Save for Daddy’s Little Girls]. In every Tyler Perry movie, the main character is a black woman who has been done wrong by a man in the past and eventually finds another. 

Lucas himself realizes the risk he’s putting not only himself through, but the entire community of Black filmmakers.

Last week, Lucas told USA Today that he was worried that if Red Tails was a failure, it could have negative repercussions for black filmmakers. “I realize that by accident I’ve now put the black film community at risk [with Red Tails, whose $58 million budget far exceeds typical all-black productions],” he said. “I’m saying, if this doesn’t work, there’s a good chance you’ll stay where you are for quite a while. It’ll be harder for you guys to break out of that [lower-budget] mold. But if I can break through with this movie, then hopefully there will be someone else out there saying let’s make a prequel and sequel, and soon you have more Tyler Perrys out there.”

source

The only way that we can change this perception is to go out and support this effort. Not bootlegging it. Not waiting until it’s at the $1 theater and see it.The only other openings this weekend are another sequel and a spy movie. Make the right choice and you’ll do everyone a favor as I’m sure as all moviegoers of every race are tired of seeing the same idea re-hashed and reused a million times. How many sequels of Alvin & The Chipmunks can you stand to see released?

The above song and video from Linkin Park (off of their 2007 album, Minutes to Midnight) ask the question “What am I leaving when I’m done here?” A great question to ask yourself at times. If your life was to abruptly end, what legacy would you leave behind?

A legacy has special meaning to everyone. As a part of what should be widely accepted across the board should include how you raise your children. How you taught them to act and behave and the morals and/or beliefs you bestowed upon them.

Personally, I believe a legacy to be the impact a person makes and leaves on the world. Forged while they’re still alive, legacy can’t really be determined until the twilight of one’s life…if they survive that long.

[“They say they never really miss you until you’re dead or you’re gone. On that note, I’m leaving after this song.” - Jay-Z.]

What do I want my legacy to be? One in which generations after my demise [be it natural or brought about by man], the people remember me fondly. No disrespect to the elders to whom this statement may apply but, I don’t want anyone to build a park in my name and then forget who I am or for what I stand for. 

What do I stand for? Peace, equality, tolerance, education and love. It is these things that I wish to teach people to strive for more than material wealth or possessions. Those things lead to greed & unhappiness. [Sure, everyone wants a big house and car, but that shouldn’t be an ever consuming thought.] To only dream of and want to obtain flashy objects is like stringing a carrot in front of your face and chasing after it. You’ll run yourself ragged trying to get it and once you do, will it be enough? What is there to push yourself for after that? An even bigger house?

People sometimes get so caught up on on obtaining possessions or maintaining their level of comfort. Days fly by when you’re not being mindful. Before you know it, instead of planting a seed to be sown for years after you’re gone, you’ve been duped into chasing things that have no worth.

This is all fine and dandy until you’re on your deathbed with a head full of regrets.

Drake & Rick Ross’s motto might be “You Only Live Once,” but if you live right, your impact will extend way beyond your life.

In grade school, it is routinely taught that the nation that we inhabit today came about after citizens of the —then British colonies rose up against their oppressors in England. Being taxed ridiculously without representation that reflected their views, the colonists rebelled and the rest was truly history.

What, then, will history have to say about this era’s protests? Will the Occupy Wall Street movement be seen as a flash in the pan moment or as something that changed the political landscape? Before we can discuss OWS’s impact, we first have to define it—a task much easier said than done.

On the OccupyWallSt.org [a site claiming to be the unofficial de facto resource to the movement] about page, it states:

Occupy Wall Street is a people-powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. #ows is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and aims to fight back against the richest 1% of people that are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future.

As descriptive as the definition may be, it doesn’t come close to narrowing down the numerous reasons people have for occupying their cities.

• Influence of corporations over democratically elected politicians.
• Financial policies that favor the rich over the working class.
• A disappearing middle class.
• Jobs disappearing overseas.
• Corrosion of the American Dream…

There are countless more reasons. Here are 14.

The reasons that people have to participate in the movement aren’t too far removed from problems that common Americans experience each day. Protesters, taking the moniker, “The 99%”, after the idea that the Nation’s Top 1% of is enjoying an income disparity that turns our country into the “haves” & “have-nots.”

The unfortunate part is that people would rather stick to political lines drawn in the sand than stand with people. For some reason, people who live in this country view neighbors as lazy hippies rather than people with an actual gripe. [I guess as long as you’re in line for a Black Friday sale, you’re seen as productive.]

“Occupy a Job” would be the anti-protest slogan that dissidents would rally around. [I’m sure that not all 8.6% of the country that falls under the definition of an unemployed individual invest in tye-dye shirts and sandals to wear year-round.] In Chicago, McDonalds applications were dumped on protesters from the Chicago Board of Trade building.

What can the movement do to maximize impact?

As time has passed, the public’s opinion of the Occupy movement has swayed. It may have swayed due to circumstances in their life opening their eyes to inequity in the country. Or due to media on a protest in their city, it may have swayed against the camps.

In Atlanta, protesters occupying Woodruff Troy Davis Park were evicted by Mayor Kasim Reed after planning a concert with no security plan which could have endangered concertgoers and citizens alike. After the media circulated the amount of money that the protest was supposedly causing the city, it was game over…

But the group rebounded. First setting up shop in a homeless shelter, then actually taking to the streets. Occupy Atlanta is credited with saving a vet’s home from being foreclosed. [Which I had not heard about in the media at all. Then again, major media outlets are owned by the same people being identified as the 1%ers. Time has caught flack about highlighting protests all over the world except in the U.S. & though they named the Protester as the Person of the Year, they did everything they could to keep it from being seen as a nod to the OWS movement.]

Stop sitting around with no clear mission. Make your point be known. Counteract people’s bad image of you with acting on behalf of people. Instead of muddying up a tradition, create one of selflessness or unity.

Occupy homes to protest predatory lending. Occupy soup lines so that no one has to go hungry. Occupy Georgia State universities to protest increasing tuition. Stand against policies that see more black men go to jail than college. Become a movement that people of all backgrounds, creeds, colors and religions can flock to and feel like they’re working toward a goal.

For everything the movement is [be it a conversation piece or a nice quote], it can be much more [a proposal or a step forward].

In V for Vendetta, a central story arch reaches a climax when the citizens of London, tired of abuse by the authorities and being lied to by officials they elected come together to march on Parliament to watch the old guard literally be blown away.

One day, people around the country will grow tired of seeing brutality carried [Yes, I want you to watch this one specifically] out by the police [who are protecting and serving who, exactly?] and grow angry. Not at the differences between themselves and the abused, but at the oppressor and stand united.

Who’s to say that history won’t look back at us one day marvel over what we did?

Long ago in a place called the Bronx, Sonny told C, “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” 

More than just a line from a movie [A Bronx Tale for the uninitiated], the quote speaks volumes about people who bare witness to those who fail to capitalize upon their God given gifts. 

Everybody isn’t going to have a wicked jumpshot or the ability to flip syllables and verbs quicker than others roll herb. What comes naturally to you may be something you don’t even view as a gift. Too many people look over their own talents because they don’t know how to harness them or how that skill will help them ascend to new heights.

If you can cook, imagine all of the places that cooking can take you. Many world-renown chef’s had to start somewhere. [A problem in the black community is that many talents that people have aren’t seen as their ticket because there aren’t many, sometimes any, black people in that profession who they can look up to.]

Its regrettable any time that there is an able-bodied individual who has the means before them to accomplish great things but squander opportunities and possibilities by resting on their laurels. The thought of being comfortable in situations that you want to change is self-destruction. 

Never rest. Though it may be a marathon, life is still a race in which you cannot stop running until you’re clear ahead of the competition. The competition is not other individuals, but obstacles and situations that would weigh you down and make achieving your goals more difficult.

The toughest obstacles to get over are self-imposed. Your mind is a strong weapon, whether it be used by you or against you. If the problem is a problem of motivation, all you have to do is imagine how bad your situation could be if you did nothing. Inactivity is as destructive as going the wrong way down a one-way street.

Motivation is different for everyone. For some, it could be envisioning success. For others, it may be the opposite. Some people have to think about the worst possible situation they could be in to kick their asses into gear. Whatever it takes to drive you, do it.

Pictures of family, goals, affirmations should be posted where you can see them every day. Speak positively about what you want to accomplish.

More than everything, don’t let yourself stop until the race is won.

“Before I say anything, I just want to start off by saying…”

Merry Christmas!

On days like today, it’s easy to get lost in the materialism that seems to be inseparable from the holiday. Within my lifetime, the amount of money spent pushing Christmas as an excuse to buy things rather than the holiday commemorating the birth of Christ has increased tremendously.

Traditionally, “Christmas time” begun the moment you loosened your belt at the dinner table on Thanksgiving. [Is that just me? If so, don’t judge me. I like to eat.] Over the past couple of years, corporations have begin their Christmas marketing campaigns earlier in the year. This is done to combat the poor spending habits that Americans have adopted due to the downturn of the economy. [Which makes sense. When it comes to paying my rent or buying some product, I’m going to choose a roof over my head every time.] I first heard the rumblings of Christmas right after Halloween in the form of a Target commercial. Its gotten to the point where Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority has chosen to apologize to its citizens compaining about the advertising blitz.

The blitz is evolving, it seems. More money is being spent on interactive media, which in turn gears what products and services are being shoved down your throat.

“What we are seeing is marketers having to react quickly to difficult economic conditions at critical buying times, with little room for manoeuvre in terms of additional budget spend. Where they can, they are turning to media that can create a personal level of engagement and measurable purchase intent, quickly,” says Gary Cole, commercial director at O2 Media. source

Especially now that people are having to choose between indulging in extreme gift giving and paying bills, the focus should be turned to sentiment and family rather than keeping up the the Joneses or high-tech gadgets.

James G. Carrier comments:

Complaints about the materialism of the American Christmas spring from [the] dual nature of the gifts given… The thing given at Christmas is a material object, usually a commodity bought in a crowded, garishly decorated store. But it is also a vehicle of affection that expresses private sentiment within a relationship that is personal and probably familial. Complaints about materialism typically point out that we pay too much attention to the vehicle and too little to the sentiments and relationships it is supposed to express. Thus, these complaints are one way of expressing a tension within the thing that is given. On the one hand it is a commodity purchased for money in an impersonal transaction, and on the other it is a gift given to express affection in a personal relationship

Create memories with your loved ones that will last long after those batteries die or those new shoes aren’t in style. For most people, just being around all of their family evokes emotion—negative or positive. Hold on to those people and those experiences for they’re not promised. Don’t take your family for granted.

I’ll be the first to admit to my being family-oriented or having to work on the holiday [and not having the chance to make fun of my sister or watch any of the games with my Gran’dad & younger cousin.] influenced this piece. Regardless of the fact, I encourage people to make the best of what they have.

Whenever you start complaining about your uncle getting drunk & lecturing everyone under the age of thirty or how your aunt gives you sweatsuits every year, think about those who don’t have anyone to spread joy to. Think about the kids who can only hope to have someone wake them up, let alone to do so to open presents.

If you have a big, small, close, distant, traditional, non-traditional, functional, dysfunctional, whatever kind of family, be grateful for who is there and what you all do. Its these interactions that shape you and could be a source for some of your own hang-ups. [I inherit my stubbornness from the past 2 generations of my family…on both sides.]

Remember the reason for the season and have a safe and Merry Christmas!