When It Rains It Pours (Book Review)

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               I am pleased to take the time out and talk about one of my good friend's accomplishments. I am always super supportive when someone I know is accomplishing big things and to write and publish a book is a SUPER accomplishment. I am super proud of Reese Anderson and her latest project. I would like to start by saying that this book is GREAT! The reason I'm saying great and not just good is because it really is a GREAT piece of work. When I think about what I would want from a book I think about reading something exciting, insightful, captivating, and most of all interesting and When it Rains It Pours is all of those things and more. Reese truly captured the different dynamics of Atlanta's culture through her characters. What I loved most about this book is how it took very important themes of society and brought a sense of perspective from several different angles. This book addresses religion, teen pregnancy, parent-child relationships, intimate relationships, anger management and several other issues that people deal with on a daily basis. At times I read this book and thought about the different times in my life when all hell was breaking loose and it seemed like problems were just waiting for me left and right and how I handled those moments. Life is guaranteed to give you some moments where it will rain so hard that you don't know what to do, but know that on the other side of the storm you will be a stronger person. The book is a super easy read. If you cannot relate to some issues and people in this book then you may need to check your pulse. I give Ms. Reese Anderson major props on her debut project When it Rains it Pours and I wish her continued success in her writing career. If you haven't purchased your copy of When it Rains it Pours what are you waiting for? Here is the link When it Rains It Pours

My Feelings on the Trayvon Martin Situation

I figured I would share a few words about the findings in the Trayvon Martin case. After the decision was made on this Trayvon Martin case and the result of the verdict was that George Zimmerman was not guilty I must admit my first emotion was just blank anger.  I was just upset that once again the system failed us. I was mad that once again it feels like the work we have done to be considered the same have been all in vain. I was furious that a young boy at the age of 17 could lose his life with no consequence to the person who made the decision which ended this young boy’s life. To think that the law in the State of Florida would legally support such an act was disgusting to me. It was disgusting to the point where I felt like I wanted to throw up. My sister and my cousin called to discuss findings of the court and I couldn’t even hold a conversation with them because verbally speaking about it was making me nauseous. I had to take some time for myself and just really think about this for myself and reflect upon what was actually occurring.

I thought about the poor parents of that young boy who before this series of unfortunate events had his whole life ahead of him. My heart broke for them over and over again to the point where all I could do is pray and ask God to give them comfort in this time. I also thought about the negative portrayal of this young man in the media.  They made this young man out to be some type of aspiring street thug who may have done something to deserve the bullet which led to his fate. It is safe to say that I was ashamed of the American Justice System and the different level of institutional racism which is deeply rooted in the fabric of the country.

I began to ask myself a question which I am sure millions of Americans were asking themselves over and over and that question was…..why? Why would God let this boy die and not allow him and his family the justice which he deserved? Why is it that “we” always have to leave everything in God’s hands and other people get away with murder literally and we can do nothing about it? Why is it that “we” have to be the ones to turn the other cheek even though we’ve been slapped on both cheeks so much we are starting to lose feeling on both sides? Why?

To be honest with you I may never get the answer to that question of why certain things happen the way that they do or why God allowed this to happen in such a tragic fashion, but what I can say is that after thinking and talking to God and talking to people a voice inside me said very clearly “What have you done?” I think my life has been changed by those four words. “What have you done?” I do not believe in chance and I do believe that in every situation that God is showing a way to better ourselves and improve ourselves and our ways of thinking and this situation is no different. What have you done to improve the image of mankind and improve your community as a whole. What have we done to strengthen our community and create unity so that neighbors are not preying on neighbors? That’s the craziest part about this whole situation to me is that they were neighbors. They stayed in the same neighborhood within the confines of the same gates.

I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with this whole situation in my head and I’m wrestling with myself on what actions I should take personally to improve myself which can in turn improve others. I just urge everyone to not let this situation pass as if it was just another court case, but use it as a chance to be the change that you wish to see.  

In Pot We Trust

I would like to start by making it clear this is not an attack against people who smoke weed, like weed, grow weed, or even sell weed. This is just my perspective on the issue of marijuana in America. Now that this has been said its time to get to the issue at hand. I just don't understand the infatuation with this plant that grows from the earth. I know I know it takes you to the clouds, it makes you feel good, gives you a euphoric feeling and all those other good things. It also can put you in jail, put you on probation, and sometimes costs you a job because you can't take that drug test. I have never tried marijuana, not because I never had the opportunity or because I'm scared of being high, but because it against the law. A lot people have told me things like "you don't know what you're missing out on" and "man I do everything better when I'm high" yet I still have no desire to burn anything down and my reason is it's STILL AGAINST THE LAW! My biggest issue with marijuana is not that it can send me to the clouds, but that it can send me to jail. Moreover I just can't understand why the idea of smoking on an illegal drug is considered so glamorous. It's gotten to the point where you can't go to a party, kickback, or any social function without someone deciding to permeate the air with the smell of burned grass. Its almost so bad that it may be easier to count the number of my friends who don't smoke weed then my friends who do.The promotion of a high culture is imminent on TV, in our music, even in our political figures (Bill Clinton and Barack Obama). I've even given some thought to how the U.S. would be in the event that they do legalize the green stuff and I think its actually a scary thought to me. A whole entire nation of people who's minds have been altered on drugs will probably do nothing for the progression of the nation as a whole. Police officers, fire fighters, teacher and principals smoking weed on their lunch breaks just doesn't sit right with me for some reason. 

 My regard for the law goes very far and I don't want to compromise my freedom or my future for a euphoric feeling. The ends don't really outweigh the means to me. I do understand the perspectives on marijuana and the reasons people want it to be legalized and I also understand the arguments against the legalization of marijuana, but the at the end of the day and until further notice it is still illegal and that alone is the ultimate determining factor of why I don't do it. 

My advice to weed user:

1. Just obey the law so you don't find yourself in a position where you are at the mercy of the law. 

2.If you're going to do it ...don't broadcast it. Nobody needs to see any pictures of you rolling up a joint or any pictures of how big your stash of weed is just be careful how you broadcast yourself because "Big Brother" sees everything. 

Pot is not going anywhere and by writing this I'm not trying persuade you one way or the other on the usage of marijuana. A lot of people have taken comfort in the effects of this plant and feel like it is their right to be able light it up us as much as they feel, after all we are entitled to life, liberty, and the "pursuit of happiness"!!!!

So what do you think? Do you share my sentiments? Should marijuana be legalized? Why/Why not?

I Value .....Values

Values. Believing in something, having some foundation and making decisions based on that foundation. Where have they gone ? I don't see them anymore and they have been replaced. Family isn't as important, friends are not as loyal, and relationships have no substance beyond sex. What is the problem? Where did we go wrong? What mistakes did we make that brought us to this point? See I have been thinking long and hard and I asked all of the close people around this very same question and they all have different reasons for this problem. I will say this and this is just an opinion, but I do believe people no longer value having values. Now believe me I do not think that ALL people don't have values or don't care about the things that they do, but I do think that fundamental idea of having some sort of belief structure is gone in society. People are more selfish, cold, and inconsiderate. Friendships are formed based on proximity only and once that proximity is gone the so called loyalty is gone. Relationships have no sense of longevity and people don't feel like being faithful is even a requirement to being committed. Its frustrating because I believe that we can do better. I blame the television. It is one of the best creations, but also one of the worst because of what primarily is displayed. There is nothing of substance being portrayed through the media and the majority of America is being raised by the television. Looking at these celebrities who get married and then get divorced right after a couple of years together. The overly sexual images have made sex less and less sacred and more and more of a social "thing to do". The days are gone where people care about their reputations because the bar has been set so low now and days that a man taking care of his children is considered some sort of amazing accolade. I just feel that it is time to raise the bar and become people of integrity and do things that people with integrity do.

Sam