Archive for June, 2008
Happy Father’s Day!
To all the Dad’s out there, a special note of appreciation to you for the many ways in which you show love, support, and caring for you children and broader community.
Here’s a note from Democratic Presidential Candidate, Sen. Barack Obama on Fatherhood.
And for the old school hip hop heads out there like me, here’s a flashback to Ed O.G. and the Bulldogs with their classic message, “Be a Father to Your Child.”
Caring Through The Spiritual Eye, Inc. GRAND OPENING
A few years ago I met an amazingly passionate woman by the name of Shirell Tyner. I wrote about my experiences with Shirell in past posts and this Saturday marks a big day for the vision that God gave her. After God delivered her from drug abuse, criminality, incarceration, and immoral behavior, The Almighty gave her a vision to start a ministry called Caring Through The Spiritual Eye, Inc.
This ministry involved feeding the homeless, housing those who are recovering, and supporting the spiritual, social, and economic development of those whom the world has disregarded. Shirell, with little structured support from outside entities, funded her own vision and persevered when it looked like no one would come to assist.
However, now a new chapter is starting for Caring Through The Spiritual Eye, Inc.!
On Saturday, June 14, 2008 11:30AM - until, the Caring Through The Spiritual Eye Outreach Center will open its doors in the Park Heights Community. Free Food, Music, Games, and Resources! Call (443) 449-7515 for more information.
Glen Ford (Black Agenda Report) on the “American Electoral Charade”
Interesting 3min 43 sec piece about America’s political dance by Glen Ford from the Black Agenda Report website.
Guest Commentary: Obama & the New World Order by Rev. C. Solomon
Obama and the New World Order
by Rev. C. Solomon
I have been discoursing with purported members of Senator Obama’s political inner-circle. These individuals cannot see any conflict between Tavis Smiley’s outrage given that Senator Obama attended and spoke so gallantly (to defend Israel) at this Jewish conference, when on the other hand he snubbed the State of the Black Union Conference.
Many black Americans do not see a conflict between Obama’s politics as usual and his pledge to continue America’s venal and unbalanced support of Israel in deference to balancing the scales between Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah…! Some Americans have been duped into believing that Obama is simply playing possum, but once he gets elected Superman with his unfurled cape streaming in the wind is going to spring into action.
Folks, in my opinion, the reason that the USA is having so much turmoil and trouble with respect to Middle-Eastern and Near-Eastern nations, among other things, is its unfair and unbalanced support towards Israel against not only Hamas and Hezbollah but against other nations within close proximity like Syria, Iran…, and other nations that are at a greater distance!
America has pledged to destroy itself and its standing in the world right along with its 51st state, Israel. And even though American Christians have biblically inspired and romantic feelings toward the Israel of antiquity, the Israel of today was formulated, created and populated as a result of actions that took place in the UN in 1947/48. Much like it is within American leadership circles, many within Israel’s leadership ranks are nothing more than ungod-like natural born killers.
The Palestinian (Arab and Muslim Semitic people) were summarily evicted from their homelands and their homes, neighborhoods…., their homelands were turned over to the mixed European Jewish Diaspora who returned to Israel from European nations following WWII. When you hear Arabs and Muslims say that Israel does not have a right to exist, they base their opinions on the actions that were decided in the U.N. in 1947/48, having been pushed particularly by Great Britain, the USA and a few other nations. A nearly equal amount of nations abstained from the western backed insouciant injustice that took place in the United Nations in 1947/48.
Obama kisses the ring of AIPAC
Hat Tip: Baltimore Afro Newspaper
By James Wright
AFRO Staff Writer
Sen. Barack Obama, one day after clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, assured Jewish leaders on Wednesday of his strong support for Israel and insisted that the nation’s security will be a top priority of his administration.
Speaking before the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the foremost pro-Israel lobby, Obama endorsed a two-state Israel-Palestine settlement, insisted that Jerusalem remain the undivided capital of the Jewish nation and strongly urged Arab governments to normalize relations with Israel. He also said he would refuse to grant recognition to the Hamas government in Palestine until it renounces terrorism and supports Israel’s right to exist.
Father Michael Pleger on White Entitlement
This sermon got Father Mike removed from his church - the Faith Community of St. Sabina. To their credit, the St. Sabina family is standing with their pastor. Mary Mitchell writes an interesting article in the Chicago Sun-Times about this situation pointing out that Cardinal Francis George moved slow to remove a pedophile priest, but with great haste pushed Father Mike to the side!
Guest Commentary: We Can’t Let Our Young People Starve by Lynn Pinder
Call To Action: We Can’t Let Our Young People Starve
By Lynn Pinder
As I watched the news last night, I was moved by the actions of a group of young people from Baltimore who launched a hunger strike as a last effort to force the City of Baltimore to provide $3 million dollars in support of a youth initiative called Peer to Peer Enterprises that would employ older youth in Baltimore to tutor young children. These young warriors – the epitome of youth development - are dynamic, articulate, and engaged in a righteous fight for justice. Their actions and behavior are in direct contrast to another group of older youth who also made the news last night for their vicious attack against a young barbering student last week.
As I sat watching the two stories, the urgency in the demands of the young people participating in the hunger strike pulled my heart strings as did the response of our City leaders. I heard the following comments from our City leaders: “The money has been allocated. We don’t have $3 million dollars. We’re willing to work with the young people if they will compromise.” And I wondered why should our young people have to compromise? These young people are our leaders today. Why can’t we – the adults – figure out a way to invest in them?
Although the City of Baltimore may not have the funds to support another youth initiative, it has access to wealthy business partners who might contribute financial support if they were asked. Corporations, production companies, developers, and investors - like the Ritz-Carlton, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Inc., the Marriott, Constellation Energy, the producers of the WIRE, and HBO - could easily write-off the expense of another youth initiative in Baltimore without it ever having to be a burden on the City’s “rainy day” budget.