Hello Everyone:

It’s been several months since I’ve updated my blog.  Truthfully, I’ve been somewhat preoccupied with other matters and now, I have more time.

I’ve been monitoring some of the reports concerning this catastrophe and as a former resident of Louisiana I’m very concerned about the long-term impact it will have on its’ future and that of the entire world.   Preliminary investigations have been made and a high level government official has resigned but it has been well over a month and crude oil is still gushing into the Gulf of Mexico which poses a significant environmental threat to all of us.    You don’t have to a doctorate degree in the sciences to understand that realistically the world has only “one” ocean and if enough chemical pollutants are pumped into it, it will die.

From a legal and ethical standpoint, I understand the Obama Administration’s frustration because this is a “man-made” disaster – not a natural one.  In all fairness, the parties who created this mess should “clean it up” and “reasonably compensate” those individuals whose livelihoods and way of life have been directly impacted by their negligence.  I’m very sympathetic with the desire of BP executives to privately manage the spill containment and clean up efforts.  However, if this was only a leaking oil tanker with a finite amount of oil; I’m sure they would be able to handle it but we’re talking about an enormous amount of oil gushing out of the ocean floor which may be well beyond their capabilities to contain.

Considering the magnitude of what’s at stake, BP should formally ask the U.S. government and possibly NATO for assistance with the understanding that government involvement does not “lessen” or “terminate” their financial responsibility in this disaster.  Time is not on our side and BP should be willing to acknowledge this reality.  The future of our world’s precious oceans is at stake.  The United States' federal government lacks the solid expertise to deal with this ecological nightmare on its’ own; however, a combined effort composed of BP and governmental logistical support may be exactly what’s needed to quickly contain this spill and minimize the ecological damage to our planet.   

I sincerely pray that an effective solution will be implemented as soon as possible.  If BP can successfully deploy it by themselves, that would be wonderful; however, if this is not the case, please ask for assistance.  There’s just too much at stake.

May Peace Be With All of You,

Sistah Selah

Hello Everyone:

May all of you have a most blessed week!

This weekend, I went to see Denzel Washington’s new movie, The Book of Eli.  This movie is an action adventure that is as entertaining as it is spiritual.  I was glued to my seat from the beginning to the end.  Mr. Washington is one of the best actors in the business and he did not fail to deliver a stellar performance along with his first rate cast members.  I wish him continued success in his future endeavors. 

When I reviewed some of the comments on the Internet, I was surprised to discover that some individuals had an issue with the version of the Bible that was used in the movie.  I’m a Roman Catholic who was raised as a Baptist and I’m familiar with various versions of the Bible; however, the message is essentially the same whether you’re Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Roman Catholic or any other Christian denomination.  We believe in and acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  His ministry and teachings were “real” 2,000 years ago, are “real” today, and will be “real” tomorrow.  The path each Christian chooses to worship him and his Father in Heaven is an individual choice, not a preordained societal mandate.  As far as I know, no one denomination has “cornered the market” on this truth.  Jesus chose to conduct his ministry with caring, truth and simplicity.  Too often, mankind has chosen to convolute and misrepresent his legacy based upon our own worldly agendas and prejudices which is an absolute shame!

The Book of Eli is more about the importance of being connected to a much more powerful intelligence than one’s self.  Faith, religion or a system of beliefs have always been utilized by civilizations to build and stabilize them by establishing a code of ethics that encourages the development of healthy societal institutions that foster a sense of community among its’ members.  This film does a wonderful job of illustrating this point without being “preachy”, “elitist” or “bigoted”.  It also challenges the movie audience to look at ourselves as we are and what we might become, if things were really to “go to hell in a hand basket”.  The distinction between civilization and anarchy is a very thin one and it’s only by the “Grace of GOD” through the development of spiritual values that societies evolve in a caring, humanitarian direction.  This movie’s message transcends our Western Judeo-Christian religious concepts and can also be appreciated by non Christians.  I really enjoy movies that make a lasting impression on my thoughts such as this one.  I only pray that Hollywood will produce more of them!  Be sure to enjoy your Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, tomorrow.

May Peace Be With All of You,

Hello Everyone:

I know it’s been awhile since my last blog entry but I’ve been preoccupied with other matters.  I’m going to have to make a much more concerted effort to blog more often in the upcoming year.

During the holidays, I usually travel to New Orleans, Louisiana; however, I decided to postpone my annual trip until the Mardi Gras season in February and I just can’t wait.  When I don’t make my annual pilgrimage to ”the Crescent City”, it makes me moody and this is probably why I have not felt like writing blog entries.  It’s always nice to reconnect with a place in which you felt so comfortable.  There is something about this city that resonates deeply within my soul as “laughter and mother wit”.  New Orleans is truly a very interesting city to visit.  My life has been greatly enriched by living there.

My memories of New Orleans served me well during this past year.  2009 has not been one of my best years and I thank GOD that “I made it through” with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.  With the Great Recession causing so much havoc in 2009, many Americans on all socio-economic levels experienced substantial financial difficulties and disillusionment.  The level of intense negativity on the Internet as a whole surprised me.  Even when individuals were acknowledged for performing worthwhile acts that benefited others, people had nothing better to do than “sling mud”.  It seemed as though the devil, himself, had hijacked the Net.  Considering the overwhelming emphasis on our sluggish economy and high profile scandals, I’ll take “good news” over “bad news”, any day of the week!

I’ve had my trying times this year too, but I have always given individuals their credit when they deserved it.  The true test of maturity is being able to maintain your objectivity and fairness when your own reality is not all you would like it to be.  Being gracious is not always easy when you’re disappointed and stressed out but it‘s doable.  There were days in which I felt like a walking advertisement for Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “IF”.  This poem is timeless and well worth reading.  Realistically, adversity and opportunity are “the flip sides” of the same coin.  By experiencing challenges and obstacles, we learn to appreciate opportunities much more fully when they present themselves.  None of us enjoys navigating the rough seas of adversity but once the storm dissipates, we can see things much more clearly.  There are times when “a wake up call” or “shakeup” is in order to “reset” our perception of reality. 

In many ways the adversities and scandals of 2009, were a most appropriate way to close out this decade.  Too many of us were walking around within our own self-absorbed bubbles and they were bound to burst.  The more hypocritical and excessive, the louder the pop.  Karma is “no respecter of persons”.  Institutions and individuals who perceived themselves to be “untouchable” received a “rude awakening”.  Many well respected businesses were driven into bankruptcy.  Many high profile individuals were disgraced when their private excesses were exposed to the public.  “You have to live your life within the laws of the universe”, as the hip hop music mogul, Jay-Z said in a Gotham magazine interview earlier this year.  2009 reinforced this reality with a vengeance.  As a society, we’re “treading on thin ice” and if we are not careful, we just may fall through it! 

The wonderful thing about a New Year is that it rekindles hope and the promise of a new beginning.  With GOD all things are possible and with faith, we can accomplish the impossible!

May All of You Have a Blessed and Prosperous 2010!

Sistah Selah

Hello Everyone:

Lately, I’ve been seriously contemplating my Thanksgiving blog entry. This year has not been the best of years for many people.  The current economic downturn has left very few people unscathed.  Many people have lost their jobs, homes, retirement savings as well as their self-esteem.  In addition to mounting financial losses, the cherished institution of marriage has taken quite a beating.  Many very high profile couples have simply called it “quits” for one reason or another.  Regardless of where people stood on the socio-economic totem pole, the stressful weight of 2009 certainly made itself felt. 

In times such as these, all you can do is pray for the strength “to make it through”.  Prior to the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950’s and 1960’s, my African American ancestors were well acquainted with “tough times” on a daily basis.  My parents and their siblings grew up in the segregated Jim Crow South and endured the hateful racist indignities hurled at them.  I will be forever grateful for the countless individuals both great and small such as Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who simply put their feet down and said, NO MORE!  By doing so, their momentum paved the way for one of the most remarkable events I have witnessed in my lifetime, the election of Barack Hussein Obama II, an African American, as the 44^th President of the United States of America.

The going has not been easy for the Obama Administration but they have proven they’re not to be taken lightly and will persevere as long as necessary to achieve their objectives.  The opposition has been working overtime but that’s to be expected especially when they, themselves, have nothing positive to offer.  The extreme right seems to believe that they are beyond the Laws of Karma.  It’s a foregone conclusion that when you strive to put negativity into motion, it will come back to you!  They can’t accept that their “roots have been dug up” and “it’s time to start fresh”.  There’s no time like the present “to let bygones be bygones” and “work together” because “the past is not where it’s at”.  When history knocks, it’s time to open the door or adversity will steamroll right on top of you!

In recognition of the sacrifices made by my ancestors, I will be joyfully toasting them.  I will be acknowledging all of my ancestors – not just the African Americans.  As Americans, all of us share a common ancestry that is as old as the Declaration of Independence and I will be forever grateful to our Founding Fathers for framing a living document that has withstood the test of time.  We, as Americans, have not seen “our better days”.  As a nation, we have weathered chaos and uncertainty many times before and by the GRACE OF GOD, “WE HAVE MADE IT THROUGH”!  The blood, sweat and tears of so many that have sacrificed and gone before us will not be in vain.  Sure, it will be painful, but “together we stand” or “divided we fall”.  It’s up to us to make the right call.

May All of You Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sistah Selah      

Good Afternoon, Everyone:

May all of you have a most blessed week. 

I attended an Anita Baker concert last night.  I’ve seen her live several times in the past and last night was not her best performance.  Ms. Baker even admitted that last night was her last concert of the season until May and that she felt that she may be “getting too old for this”.  However, her very lovely contralto voice is still very much intact and she poured her “heart and soul” out to the audience.  She told the audience that she’ll be turning 52 in January and expressed how important it is “to release anger as opposed to hanging on to it”.  I absolutely love her music and will continue to buy it.  I wish her continued success in the future.

Recently, I read a derogatory comment someone made on the Internet concerning the appearance of an actor which stated that, “the outside is finally catching up with the inside”.  Granted, this person does look somewhat older than his actual chronological age of 53, however; he’s been fighting his share of “personal demons” for quite some time which seems to be taking a toll on his appearance.  The reason this comment stuck in my mind is because it rings true for all of us. 

None of us are going to be what we once were twenty, ten or even five years ago.  Life simply does not work that way.  Everyone will go through different phases in life and how we fare depends upon our individual genetics and how well we take care of ourselves.  I’m in my late forties, and I happen to completely agree with Ms. Baker’s assessment concerning anger.  Don’t get me wrong, it has its’ place but hanging on to it for an extended period of time only poisons your soul.  As a motivational impetus, it can be quite useful in the short-term; however, something much more fulfilling must become the foundation of your long term objectives, otherwise; you may find yourself engaging in counter-productive activities that will unnecessarily complicate your life.

Currently, American society is very “youth conscious” and for some, their looks have become an “unhealthy obsession”.  As the saying goes, “beauty is only skin deep” and what will you have left once your looks are gone?  If you have failed to cultivate other qualitative aspects of your character, woe be unto you!  There are many people who erroneously believe that wealth excuses all sins.  Wealth can’t buy a good character, integrity or sincere admiration.  Sure, people will pay “lip service” to you but the minute the tide of good fortune turns against you, they will devour you like a “pack of wolves”.  In such trying times, how well you recover depends upon how well you’ve treated others in the past which will either make or break you.  As the saying goes, “the same people you meet going up in the world, you will see coming down” and people have very long memories especially when they’ve been angered or mistreated.

Usually, people who age well, have conquered their “personal demons” by no longer allowing their insecurities to get the best of them.  They have learned “to live and let live” and just allow others to be who they are whether they agree with them or not.  They have learned that people are simply people who fundamentally want the same things from life regardless of their racial or ethnic background.  These are people who know no strangers because they feel comfortable enough in their own skin to accept others and not be challenged by their apparent differences.  Such people will usually radiate a sincere, heartfelt warmth that’s tempered with a healthy sense of humor because they have lived through adversity by not allowing it to master them.  These are truly beautiful people because their souls are unencumbered by the traps that so many of us fall into and they have developed the wisdom to avoid them.  I know plenty of them, do you?

May Peace Be with All of You,

Good Evening, Everyone:

May all of you have a most blessed week.

Within the last few years, many very high profile celebrities have had children born out of wedlock.  This weekend a very prominent actor/director had his eighth child with his mistress which, in effect, ended his marriage of almost three decades.  Unfortunately, this person’s rather archaic and conservative religious beliefs have placed his recent libertine personal conduct under extreme scrutiny.  This person and his mistress have been the subject of some of the worst Internet comments of the century. Granted due to his rather sanctimonious viewpoints, he had it coming; however, trashing his new born baby is just going too far.  The child is an innocent who had no control over her parentage and should not be penalized by the public’s negative perception of them.

Frankly, I know quite a few people who were born into very similar circumstances and they are some of the nicest people I know. I also have some relatives who were born out of wedlock and I would not trade them for anything in the world. Truthfully, if allowed, time will heal some of the most traumatic emotional experiences.  I know several families who have dealt with these issues and continued to love one another including the offspring who were by-products of extra marital affairs.

One of my dearest cousins was married to a consummate womanizer who conceived several children with other women outside of their marriage in addition to the eight children they had together.  She did not approve of her husband’s promiscuity but had very little control over it.  Being a very spiritually inclined person, she persevered and eventually after 20 years of marriage, her husband died from cancer.  From time to time, driven by curiosity and an innate yearning to know one's roots, one of her husband’s “outside children” will drop in to visit.  My beloved cousin could be mean, spiteful and simply slam her door shut and no one would blame her for doing so.  Fortunately, my wonderful cousin is a “woman of substance” with the spiritual fortitude to forgive as well as “live and let live” which is lacking in so many “so-called” Christians.  She opens her heart and mind to these outsiders and treats them as if she’s known them all their lives.  She makes it a point to introduce them to her children and it is not unusual for these outside children to celebrate holidays and family related events with her family. If this is not caring and compassion at its’ highest, you tell me?

Everyone is not born into the best of circumstances for whatever reasons and stigmatizing people because of them is just plain “inhumane”.  We don’t have any control over where we start in life but how we live it is much more important.  We no longer live in “the Dark Ages” in which religious fanaticism trumped understanding and compassion.  A civilized society knows better and the Christian GOD I believe in and serve expects better.

May Peace Be With All of You,

Hello, Everyone:

May all of you have a most blessed week!

I know it has been a while since I’ve updated my blog.  My attention has been focused on other matters, lately.  I’ll try to do better.

With so many unsettling things going on in the world, my preference is to focus on a much more positive blog entry.

My personal spiritual goal has been not to allow circumstances that are beyond my control to stress me out.  I sincerely believe that each one of us had some input regarding the circumstances of our lives here on earth before we were born.  Keeping this assumption in mind, I must logically assume that GOD has blessed me with the necessary tools to effectively address the obstacles I’m encountering.  Experience has taught me, there are times in which the use of “brute force” is simply the wrong approach.  My definition of “brute force” is the aggressive application of energy focused upon an object to dislodge or alter its’ physical structure.  When confronted with such stubborn circumstances, it’s far better to step back and take a time out in order to “re-evaluate” the situation.

What I discovered that had to change was my “preconceived”expectations of reality.  I have observed that most of my plans don’t always manifest according to my wishes because reality is actually much more unstable than it is stable.  When I invest my time and energy into an endeavor, I want a well above average return on my investment which is not always realistic.  We’re all different and what may work for one person may not necessarily work for the next.  So much about life is being in the right place at the right time among the right circumstances. 

Through my inner meditations and prayers, I have discovered my fundamental karmic lesson is to develop the mental fortitude to become “graceful under fire” which is much easier said than done.  I swear to GOD, in a former life, I must have been a warrior because my natural instincts are to stand firm and defend my position at all costs.  However, a “hollow victory” is really “no victory” at all; especially, if it leaves you exhausted with little or nothing to sustain yourself. As experienced gamblers would say, “you have to know when to hold ‘em and fold ‘em”.  I’m not Hercules, and there are times in which you have to just step aside and let the huge boulder you’ve been pushing uphill go or you’ll be run over by it.  All of us have the power within us to change the circumstances of our lives for the better; however, it’s essential that we let go of the mental traps that really serve no useful purpose for our happiness in order to succeed.

May Peace Be with All of You,

Good Evening, Everyone.

May all of you have a most blessed week!

On September 26, 2009, Roman Polanski, the critically acclaimed motion picture director and producer was finally arrested in Switzerland on a 30 year outstanding warrant for the March 1977 rape of a 13 year old girl in Los Angeles, California.

I can’t imagine anyone who is not familiar with Mr. Polanski either through his cinematic accomplishments or the great tragedy he suffered at the hands of Charles Manson when he ordered his followers to ruthlessly murder his pregnant wife, Sharon Tate and her party guests at their home in 1969.  I was a very young child at the time living in Southern California and this incident scared the hell out of me.  No one felt safe and even though I didn’t read about the gruesome details until they were published later on in a book, I knew these murders were brutally executed.

There is no doubt that Mr. Polanski has suffered his share of tragedies considering that he also lost his mother at the hands of the Nazis during World War II.  However, despite his accomplishment and tragedies, violating the innocence of a young girl is not excusable.  This is a crime against society that can’t be overlooked because it involved an under aged child and adults have a "moral obligation" to respect the innocence of children.

What I don’t understand is why this is an issue that merits any sympathy for Mr. Polanski.  He committed the crime, made a plea bargain and fled the United States before he was sentenced and hid out in France to avoid extradition back to the U.S. For the last 30 years, he’s lived in France and has been very active as a successful film producer and director who has won numerous awards.  Tell me, how has he paid his debt to society?  He has not sacrificed anything.  He’s even remarried and has two children with his current wife. 

I’m still having a problem with those who feel he should be pardoned when government officials both here in the United States and abroad have decided to let the wheels of American justice run their course as they should.  Moral decadence has always preceded societies on the brink of collapse.  A "civilized and humane" society will always protect those who are vulnerable from ruthless exploitation.  A "child is still a child" regardless of their circumstances and our society has a "moral obligation" to protect them when they are the most vulnerable. Fame and notoriety should not place people above the law.  It makes no sense to make laws, if everyone is not expected to abide by them.  No society is perfect but in order to enforce stability and security, they are all we have other than the strong arm tactics of a political dictatorship and I have no desire to live in one.  If we cherish our freedoms, we have to respect our laws especially when they are enforced to protect the innocent.  The pendulum of fate is always swinging back and forth and it’s important that we, as a society, choose wisely.

May Peace Be With All of You,

SistahSelah

Hello, Everyone:

I’ve been somewhat busy lately and I really need to update my blog more often. I’m just going to have to make the time, period.

I hope that all of you’ve enjoyed Mr. Leming’s interview.  I really appreciated having the opportunity to present some of his viewpoints.  If all goes well, his post production motion picture screenplay, Carnies, will be distributed in theatres, soon.  I pray that it becomes very successful.

From time to time, we all have to deal with various challenges and some of them can leave you feeling depressed and hopeless.  I recently had one thrown my way and it gave me “the absolute blues”. Sometimes as hard as you try, it’s not meant for you to become involved in a particular situation.  There are times in which “the chemistry”  between everyone involved is not complementary and you have “to call a spade a spade”.  As Jesus said in Matthew 10:14: “Whoever will not receive or listen to your words –go outside that house and shake the dust from your feet.”  The next verse, 15, advises you "not to sweat" such people because their day is coming and you would not want to be in their shoes. 

It’s never nice to deal with people who “stab you in the back” because you have a little more on the ball than they do.  Many people operate within somewhat unethical realms because they are desperate and integrity is something that is “alien” to their character.  Interacting with such types can lead you into a very dark place emotionally and spiritually.  I’ve dealt with my share of them by always choosing “the high road”.  By doing so, whatever intentional injustices they perpetrate against me will come back to bear down upon them threefold.  I’m a witness, I’ve seen it too many times, GOD never sleeps!

In the meantime, you have to acknowledge the hurt in order to disperse the bitterness it leaves behind.  For me, the best practice has been to talk to GOD as I would one of my very close friends and not “sugar coat” my feelings or words.  The bitterness needs to come to the surface and not remain submerged to do you more damage in the future.  Just tell it like it is and you will not be disappointed.  Once you have “exorcised” your emotional demons, your mind will be free to focus on other pursuits and not “energizing” your disappointments.  Life is just too short to be carrying around baggage stemming from chaotic incidents that went nowhere. Stuff happens and you can’t allow situations that did not work “to yank your psychic chain”.  The only thing you can control is how you choose to “take care of yourself” and if you don’t do a good job, no one else will.

May Peace Be With All of You,

Sistah Selah