Always Trust God

You can't always trust your instincts. You can, however, always trust GOD.

Son Kiss in Iraq

Here’s an unbearable “Picture of the Day” from today’s New York Times. Here we see a man kissing the body of his two-year-old son, Akeel Faisal Ghazi, who was killed in a bombing in the Huriya district of Baghdad. The Times reported that at least 51 people were killed and 75 were wounded in the bombing late yesterday afternoon, Iraqi security officials said. The Times further reports that:

There were immediate and angry calls for revenge from Shiites, a display of sectarian tensions that had been ebbing as the overall violence dropped in Iraq. The blast occurred in the heart of a neighborhood where Sunnis had been brutally driven out — and some of the current residents blamed the displaced Sunnis for the attack.
In their rage, others faulted the new pro-American neighborhood patrols, brought in from outside the area, for not preventing the attack. It was the deadliest bombing in Baghdad in more than three months.

The photo shown above was taken by Karim Kadim of the Associated Press.

He is Our Father and Mother

God is our Protector, our Provider and loves us because He is our Father and Mother -- we are His children. I prayed yesterday that my daughter will know this now and forever since she has a great gap in the traditional “father” space in her life. But I know that she knows that God loves her because she says and writes, “I Love God” often, and I tell her that God loves her. I’m so glad she knows who she is. She’s much more advanced as a child than I was at her age – Praise God!

I Am Above, Not Beneath

Here's an excellent quote from Pastor Gregory Dickow's Fasting From Wrong Thinking series. There's power in these words:

I think of myself God’s way...I am the head and not the tail, I am above, not beneath. I am blessed coming in and going out. I deliberately overcome negative thoughts by voicing positive ones from the Word of God.

Redbelt: The Art of Combat

I am a big fan of martial arts and have always been intrigued with the mystical qualities of the teachings. For this reason I will

1. Run to the theater when the movie Redbelt finally reaches Charlotte and
2. Soon enroll both myself and my daughter in a marital arts class

My daughter and I recently saw a friend’s black belt ceremony where she and several other students (three women and two men) had to exhibit all of the kicks, blocks, and other moves they learned in their many years of martial arts training. It was a fierce show by the students who all gave it a lot of emotion, sweat, and skill. My daughter and I were both spellbound and we are lucky enough to be able to take classes with the master teacher who headed this group.

Redbelt, directed by one of my favorite writer/directors, David Mamet, is about a martial artist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who finds his integrity on the line after he saves an action star (Tim Allen) from attack and takes a job in the film industry. Chiwetel plays Mike Terry, a Jiu-jitsu master who has avoided the prize fighting circuit, choosing to instead pursue a life of honor and education by operating a self-defense studio in Los Angeles. Terry's life is dramatically changed however when he is conned by a group of movie stars and promoters. In order to pay off his debts and regain his honor, Terry must step into the ring for the first time in his life.

Here are some quotes from the movie trailer that seem to have some worth, apart from the film – they teach us something about combat:

The other guy has a handicap if he cannot control himself.

Breathe — you know the escape. Breathe, there’s always an escape.

There’s one rule — put the other guy down.

A man distracted is a man defeated.

He who imposes the terms of the battle, imposes the terms of the peace.

There is no situation you cannot escape. You know the escape.

Hmmmmm……………………

Literature by Gang Members and Their Affiliates

A recently publishished anthology, The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates is sure to raise some eyebrows and, hopefully, get people talking about gangs, why they exist, their history, how to help them, and also how their members and affiliates can possibly help others.

I'm proud to say that I have some poems in this project. I want to thank the great Louis Reyes Rivera (a gifted poet and teacher) for recognizing how my work could contribute to such an anthology. Rivera and Bruce George edited this collection which includes essays, poems, letters, short stories, and interviews, by folks who, at some point in their lives, have been associated with urban gangs.

I'm honored to be included with the other writers, including Ruby Dee, Oscar Brown Jr., Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr., The Last Poets, Akua Njeri, Willie Perdomo, T. Rodgers, Luis J. Rodriguez, Malik Yoba, and many more. My work can be found under my previous name: Alicia Benjamin-Samuels.

If you're in New York City, there are two booksignings that you can check out:

Hue-Man Books
Monday, June 9, 2008, at 6 p.m.
2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (125th St.)

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at 7 p.m.
236 East 3rd St. (between Avenues B & C), at 7pm.
Contact: Louisreyesrivera@aol.com

Here's what Jim Brown has to say in the introduction:

The Bandana Republic is the most provocative, researched, educational, opinionated piece of work that I have ever read . . . In its own provocative way, The Bandana Republic makes you think, reflect, cry. I recommend to all of you, and to all people who purchase this anthology: read it, learn from it, try to draw your own conclusions. What you have in front of you is a reflection of every revolutionary, every victim that ever lived in this country. Color, gender, race, religion . . . it does not matter. Only the individual dealing with correctness, fairness, love and caring, multiplied a billion times, will ever bring about the proper change in human behavior. Read this anthology, and then check yourself.

Here's a blurb from the book's publisher, Soft Skull Press:

Urban youth gangs and street associations are viewed more often than not as training grounds for thugs and felons. Left out are their members' emotional sensitivities, their political consciousness, their individual and collective capacities to assess the social conditions that gave rise to the need for such associations. Not included in the popular dialogue on gangs is the creative impulse that has continued to manifest in popular culture -- from the birth of the Blues to Rag Time and Swing, to BeBop, Doo Wop and Hip Hop.

You can purchase this provocative piece of literature from Amazon.com

Serving Others on the Job

A few weeks ago my Charlotte pastor talked to the church members about how we might serve God. He said that whatever our day job is, there is always an opportunity to serve. It doesn't matter if we work as bankers, lawyers, or other professions that lend themselves more to service such as teachers, social workers, counselors, etc. -- there is always a way to do God's work.

As I was reading the June 2008 issue of The Atlantic magazine recently, I came across a Verizon Wireless ad that made me think of my pastor's talk about service. It's not often that an advertisement makes you think about altruism and how you can help others, but this one did.

Here's Olga Mendez's story and I have to give her credit for finding a way to serve others on the job. These are the words from the ad, verbatim.

Olga Mendez trains employees at a Verizon Wireless call center. But she also helps the company teach another important skill: life.

As part of Verizon Wireless' innovative HopeLine program, which distributes free cell phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence, Olga helps Spanish-speaking women navigate the difficult road back to independence. A survivor of an abusive relationship herself, she gives them the support and practical advice they need to break the cycle of domestic violence and strike out in the world on their own. Speaking in their native Spanish, she helps them with everything from writing a resume to dressing for a job interview.

Olga knows how important it is to gain back one's self-respect. And her career at Verizon Wireless has been a vital part of her recovery.

As Olga says, "A lot of companies talk about giving back to the community, but Verion Wireless really walks the walk."

Do your thing sister!

Live Free or Die!

Here are some intriguing state mottos that I've come across while teaching ESL for Citizenship. These phrases tell you a lot about these states, I think. If you could create a motto for your state, what would you write?

Colorado
Nothing Without the Deity

Maryland
Manly deeds, womanly words

Maine
I lead

California
Eureka

New York
Ever upward

New Hampshire
Live free or die (My personal favorite)

Alabama
We Dare Defend Our Rights

Iowa
Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain

Texas
Friendship

Nebraska
Equality before the law

South Carolina
While I breathe, I hope
and
Ready in soul and resource

North Carolina
To be rather than to seem
(I can identify with that one!)

Obama vs. Clinton: The Stakes are High in North Carolina

Yes, I'm here in beautiful North Carolina and the political atmosphere is high. My phone (both the home phone and mobile) have been ringing off the hook with calls from candidates and their representatives for offices such as County Commissioners, District Court Judges and as you all know, the Democratic candidates for President -- Hillary and Obama.

I must say, the Obama campaign has been relentless. I'm still getting calls from the Tennessee Obama folks (I haven't lived in Tennessee since last summer) and they call me regularly here in Charlotte. Yesterday, a nice lady from Florida who is an Obama campaign worker, actually knocked on my door to ask who I'd be supporting. She told me where and when I could vote and asked if I'd like to volunteer for the campaign (I wish I had the time!)

Hillary's folks haven't called me at all. That just goes to show how much of a superb grassroots effort the Obama campaign has waged. Both Michelle and Obama have called my home (a recording of course) and urged me to get out and vote (early) for Obama.

The nice lady from Florida left a very attractive "Vote for Barack Obama" brochure with me, so I thought I'd share a little of what the pamphlet says:

If you want to change the world, the change has to happen with you first. ... We do what we do because God is with us. ... When Moses was first called to lead people to the Promised Land, he said, "I don't think I can do it, Lord. I don't feel brave and courageous."

The Lord said, "I will be with you ... I'll show you what to do."

-- Barack Obama, Selma Alabama, March 4, 2007

"I believe in the power of prayer. Through prayer, not only can we strengthen ourselves in adversity, but we can also find the empathy and the compassion and the will to deal with the problems that we do control. What I pray for is the strength and the wisdom to be able to act on those things that I can control...."

Amen and alleluia!

Passing the Test

Some of my students will attempt to pass the U.S. citizenship examination after they’ve lived in this country for at least 5 years. The test isn’t easy – they’ll have to prove that they can speak, write, and understand the English language proficiently. They also have to answer a series of questions about their background which can be pretty intimidating, especially if they answer “yes” to any of the questions.

Hear are just a few:

-- Have you ever failed to file your federal or state taxes?
-- Have you ever been a member of a terrorist organization?
--Have you ever advocated the overthrow of any government by force or violence?
-- Have you ever persecuted any person because of race, religion, national origin, or political opinion?
-- Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?
--Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any officer for any reason?
-- Have you ever been charged with any crime or offence? ("No, I never break the law.")
-- Have you ever been convicted of a crime or offence?
-- Have you ever received a suspended sentence or been on probation?
-- Have you ever been a habitual drunkard?
-- Have you ever been a prostitute or procured anyone for prostitution? ("No, I have never done this.")
-- Have you ever sold illegal drugs or narcotics?
-- Have you ever failed to support your dependents or pay alimony?

Pretty intense, huh? How well would you fair if you had to answer those questions?

And here are just some of the Civics questions that the examiner could ask during the Citizenship interview. Do you know the answers to the following questions?

1. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
2. Who makes the laws in the United States?
3. Can you name the two Senators from your state?
4. What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
5. Who is the current governor of your state?
6. Who becomes President of the United States of America if the President and the Vice-President should die?
7. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
8. Who said "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death?"
9. Which countries were our enemies during World War II?
10. Who is the head of our local government?
11. According to the Constitution, a person must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to become President. Name one of the requirements.
12. Who selects the Supreme Court Justices?
13. How many Supreme Court Justices are there?
14. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
15. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
16. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence?
17. Where does freedom of speech come from?
18. Who signs bills into law?
19. What special group advises the President?
20. Name three rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
21. Who has the power to declare war?
22. Name one amendment that guarantees or addresses voting rights?
23. In what year was the Constitution written?
24. Name one purpose of the United Nations.
25. How many times may a Senator be re-elected?
26. How many times may a Congressman be re-elected?