It's been all of three days and I have already seen an article on the Republicans expressing a strategy among some of them to be a petulant group of politicians who will thwart the efforts of President-elect Barack Obama at every turn.  An open and honest suggestion to those considering this strategy: Grow the hell up.  The time for "the old boys will be old boys" game has long since past.  (By the way, how did that work out for you?)  There is a new President elected and he was not who you chose.  You've had your moment to pout, to point fingers, hold your breath, screech and shout behind closed doors -- and now that you have, get a grip.  You were selected and elected as caretakers of this country.  That's your job.  It isn't personal it's business. If your party is broken, then fix it, but you have neither the right nor the reason to jeopardize the lives of your individual constituencies just to get revenge. This isn't high school or your college frat house.  We need mature, strategic representation of the people on both sides of the aisle in this very critical time in our country.  If you can't fill that bill,  then let the voters you represent know and they will be happy to relieve you of your responsibilities. 

photo: Joyce L. Moore, Indianapolis

Whoopi Goldberg stated in her Blog that : "We have finally become part of the fabric of the United States of America."   While I certainly agree with Whoopi's sentiments, I am also encouraging all of us to realize the veracity of this monumental and historic benchmark: we've just gotten started.  We need to continue the spirit of change while the momentum is there, reeducating from the top down of a corporation, from the child in kindergarten to the school counselor in high school that the color of skin, the gender of a human, how short or tall one is does not define who I am or who you are.  We have got to be proactive in changing the mindset of fear and hatred predicated on a chosen lack of knowledge.  This election has demonstrated that we have come a long way; just imagine what can be accomplished if we continue the journey.  We have a president who is African American, not an African American President.  We voted based on character, not color.  What an amazing affirmation that we are finally, finally going in the right direction.

To say that I am emotionally, even physically exhausted by this election is an understatement.   This election has generated more frustration, wonder, profound astonishment, infused with lots of creative writing.  Heck, I made it into the hallowed halls of Huffington Post three times.   I have volunteered in ways I would never have imagined, spoken out in the fitness gym, in the grocery store, even in the sauna to perfect strangers -- about this election.  I feel as though I am addicted to CNN and Jon Stewart.  So I decided to sit down and determine what, if anything, I learned from this once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

Lesson One: Truth does not have the same definition for everyone.  What both baffled and frustrated me was how many people chose to listen to only what they wanted to hear, bending the truth to fit what they perceived to be reality.   The notion that someone could repeatedly tell one who they are, show them who they are, tell them again who they are….only to have the same people say “I don’t  really know who you are” tells me you just don’t really want to know, What I took away from this is that there are people who have a very clear view, in their minds, of who people are according to race, gender, physical characteristics.  When someone does not fit that view and, in fact, destroys that view, some become uncomfortable, some become suspicious, others become angry.  Because you now have to see them as they are, not as you want them to be.  And you can't pretend they aren't there, as you have in the past.  So you look for anything, anything to justify bending the truth.  How sad for those who choose that path.  Some time ago, I wrote a small piece about the concept of truth and its impact:  There are always at least two sides to every story. Somewhere in between is where the truth is hidden. Those who seek the truth, even when it is not what they want to hear, will live the most genuine life. Your decisions may be the same, but they will be based upon an unadulterated integrity. If there is a small voice inside you whispering questions, have the courage to seek the answers, lest your personal truth becomes counterfeit by omission. Decisions made, actions taken, judgments ruled -- sans listening to every faction with as much objectivity as humanly possible -- will always be based upon warped evidence, ultimately causing those who continue stand upon such flawed reality, to fall.   

Lesson number two:  For the right reasons, even the most passive American can be awakened to action.  Like Barack Obama or not, most will agree that he has had quite an impact on the American public.  Young and old, every gender and race, has got an opinion and have acquired a voice about this election.  Which leads to…

Lesson number three:  All of America now realizes that race in America is still a major issue in which there is plenty of room for growth. “Joe Six-pack”, “hockey mom” and “small town America” becomes code for the Anglo population that Palin is so approving of.  Most have been able to keep their racial points of view out of the public eye, but this presidential race brought the color of skin issue to every citizen’s doorstep, Race could not be dismissed, made invisible , or ignored. The repeated mantra, “I don’t know him.,”  has become another way of saying one can never really know a person of color, their genuine motives or if they are who they say they are, if they do not fit into the prescribed stereotypes that have been consistently, historically and politically socialized in the United States.   The use of labels – socialist (which in and of itself has a historical meaning when used to refer to African Americans), Marxist, Communist, terrorist -- all allow for the notion that confirms African Americans as a people who are always suspect.  This actually has historic relevance, as there has always been the myth that if three or more African Americans are together and talking, in a school, social, or corporate environment then they are plotting something.  Having had this and other anecdotal experiences, knowing others who echo similar experiences tells me that the paranoia and mistrust of others who don’t look like ”you,” is a pervasive stain on the fabric of this country.  Consider what might happen if you chose to change your mind?

Lesson number four: The public media does not have the journalistic integrity I assumed.  When I first heard terms like “corporate media” liberally sprinkled though out public commentary as the primaries began to collect steam, I actually had to dig and find out – much to my amazement --- who really owned who and how many of those corporations had millions of lobbyist dollars on the line in Washington, DC.  Watching news stations, as these members of the small society with the power of the mike began to inject their bias and the bias of their corporate employers.  With their bias came their personal opinions; upon the discovery of having one, they decided that because they were in control of the mike, they hatched the misconception that we needed to hear – repeatedly – what that opinion was.  True journalistic reporting went out the window as straight forward coverage of the facts turned into a game of I-got-next rhetoric, parsed with sensationalized gossip, sliced up and served as news.  Most of my favorites sources fell from their journalistic pedestals landing in the mire of the reality that they are all, in the end, just humans with prejudices, opinions, agendas and egos.  There are times when I found more facts on The Daily Show.

Lesson number five: Having a television show does not qualify your opinion as credible.  I found the eclectic mix of fact and funny on The Daily Show and the Colbert Report an interesting  take on truth.  Mostly because they knew how to support their spin.  Then there’s the View.  Elisabeth Hasselbeck is a loser from a reality show with absolutely no credentials that give any of her opinions credibility.  But because she is kept on the View (controversy sells in America, the fact that we don't like her allows her to keep her job) she actually believes her own hype and actually thinks people care about her opinion. Apparently she believes that if you repeat misinformation often enough, it becomes the truth -- which seems to be the current Republican strategy.   Cute sells ads, but one has to have something more to bring to the table, as time will prove out. I personally hope her fifteen minutes are about up. 

Lesson number six: This campaign has gotten people to talk to one another.  A friend of mine commented that she has engaged in conversations with more strangers of all races, ages and genders about the election.  I have to admit I never saw myself being this involved in politics, writing, calling, volunteering. Talking to strangers in the checkout lines at the grocery, the sauna at the gym, anywhere people are gathered for more than a minute.

Lesson number seven:  The Bible warns us not to put new wine into old wineskins because they will split.  As I watch state after state use their existing process of voting to accept and count a record number of votes, including my own state where I am actually working at the polls, I will not be at all surprised at the chaos that will likely result from trying to make old systems work with new voters.  Your best bet is to vote as early as you can.

Lesson number eight, you can’t double dip at a  party because you leave behind some really gross looking germs, ginger really does help with motion sickness and  refrigerated onions are less likely to make you cry when you chop them.  I learned this because I am exhausted by this election and watching Food Detectives on the Food Network is mercifully without commercials.

Get your Vote out today. By telling everyone that the race is basically over, the Republicans are hoping that the less motivated of the Democrats and Undecideds will think that it is not necessary to vote. Those of us who want Obama to win MUST vote. We can not be complacent, or else the lead will very quickly turn to a no point lead or worse.
This is all a political game. Some of us have a better understanding of it than others, and some of us (like myself) are still just trying to learn all of the rules - forgetting that there are no rules. Each side will do whatever is in their power (good, bad & ugly) to win this or any election. So the power we voters have is go out and vote

The Great Average American White Guy Hope

by John Gilmore 

A picture is worth a thousand words. I asked my friend, John G. Moore Jr., to create this cartoon for me and as you can see he nailed it.  In the near future I will be doing a comparison of the leadership styles of Palin and Cheney. 

Ask yourself:  If Barack Obama, had graduated from the bottom of his class, or attended five schools in six years instead of graduating from the top of his class at Harvard, If Barack Obama had been involved in a banking scandal (Keating Five), or had his running mate accused of abusing governmental power and lying about it, OR if Barack Obama had a hair-trigger temper that has been publicly and privately witnessed in both stressful and non-stressful situations or publicly called his wife obscene names, would we even consider voting for him?  Forget Race.  Forget Gender.  Conduct your own job interview and hire the one most qualified to put the USA on the right course. 

NOTE: The GOP ia now looking to a fairly obsolete law to keep you from voting.  It is a law that is subject to interpretation.  I got two e-mails about it today and found that it was verified on Snopes.com.  It is a law about what they call "passive electioneering."   It's a law that is so unspecific that it is subject to even local interpretation, which is why it's a problem for us all.  Read the specifics by clicking here and tell everyone you know to wear NOTHING that has writing or images on it of anything -- including sports logos, even your cap and even if it's  your company work clothes, when you go to vote. 

Beauty often seduces us on the road to truth.  How ironic to be watching a 2004 rerun of a House episode tonight and hear this particular line.  When did this presidential race become the Republican tail wagging the dog with the media?  McCain flips off CNN because Campbell Brown asks legitimate  questions about Palin, he complains and two members of the political coverage team are removed, he dictates what can and cannot be asked on the Palin plane, and What? Associated Press isn't invited to the party at all.  Now this non-story about poor Sarah not being able to control the Oprah Winfrey show. Last I checked, Oprah owns the show and had already said, back in 2007, that she wasn't interviewing ANY candidate until after the election.   

And poor Sarah, who was interviewed by Charles Gibson tonight. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/11/sarah-palins-charlie-gibs_n_125772.html) She had no idea as to what she was talking about, which is why they have been shutting out direct interviews.  Even though Gibson attempted to assist her, nothing could cover her total lack of knowledge and my question is how would any person feel safe with her answering that 3 a.m. call?  A clueless Trojan horse and the danger is she actually believes that she is fully capable of being President.  Scary.

If they are in the White House will all media become government run?  No wait, that's in countries with dictatorships, right?  I suggest that the media is not yet state run, so until it is, I'd ask that media get some guts and do some comprehensive unbiased investigative reporting.  Because methinks he protesteth too much.  And as long as the media is put off balance, no one will have a chance to find out who Palin is without her script.  If Palin's rather strange commentary from the pulpit of her church is any indication of  what we should expect, I can understand.why they want to keep her as far as possible from a microphone.  But the comments by her pastor are just not being looped over and over again on CNN (http://maxblumenthal.com/2008/09/palins-pastor-god-is-gonna-strike-out-his-hand-against america/)  Or that her husband definitely and Palin herself allegedly, were/are members of the group attempting to secede Alaska from the United States (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-brooks4-2008sep04,0,5675222.column). Palin is the modern day Trojan Horse. She is not the nice girl who needs a collective Superman who must save her from the mean people and the big bad black man. (Yes, Elisabeth, Whoopi was absolutely right, and your tantrums don't change the truth.)(http://community.tvguide.com/thread/View/Elizabeth-New-Tv/800035274&start=15.) Palin was brought in for a purpose.  To be divisive and turn your attention from where McCain and Obama actually stand on the issues.  .Think about it, other than her ability to regurgitate the same old myths, allegations and untruths as though by her making the statements, they suddenly become the valid and credible.  This so-called Hockey Mom  has some questionable ideas about the environment, about ethics, about power about our rights as women and as citizens. (http://divasblueoasis.blogspot.com/2008/09/alaskan-loyaltyand-fear-of-retribution.html)  Control of the media is just a start.   Perhaps McCain has taken a page out of the Mao-Tse Tung playbook: "He who controls images, controls minds; and he who controls minds has little, if anything, to worry about from bodies."  Um, McCain, what is your position on education again?

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.  Sir Walter Scott

I applaud Obama's position on the matter of Sara Palin's daughter, telling us we should let it go because it is a private family matter and has nothing to do with the election. Before I let it go, I have to say this: This is really not about Palin's poor daughter's now very public pregnancy. Palin's announcement today told us everything about who Palin is. She did not immediately disclose the pregnancy of her seventeen year old daughter to the public and probably not to McCain's camp. Lying by omission is still deceit. IF McCain did have that knowledge, then they are both guilty of deceiving the public. If it was a non-issue why not fully disclose it at the very beginning? Palin has clearly demonstrated that she is willing to be deceitful to gain power. George Bush deceived us and we went to war over oil and money. AGAIN, is this what we want for our country? Is this the example we want for our youth? 

One more thing:   Laura Bush has admonished us all to treat Palin nicely. Subsequently, I have noticed today that anyone of the Republicans interviewed by the media, or in a discussion on the corporate media channels, when asked even the most reasonable question that, frankly, THEY should have asked about Palin, if they don't like the question OR don't have an answer, they immediately say "I am offended by that question." Really? Is this how it's going to be? Can't ask any questions because Palin is too sensitive or any questioning of her abilities is sexist? As a woman, I take issue with that. You can't have it both ways. You cannot be a part of the most important political decision we citizens have to make, yet hide behind your gender when hard questions are asked.

I say again that each of us has an individual responsibility to know where both candidates stand on the important issues.  I have done the reading, I encourage each person to do the same.  Then you need to take one person who isn't registered  to vote and get them registered and then on November 4, 2008, take one person with you to the voting location so they can vote.  This country, your country's future depends on it.  Four more years of the same is going to destroy US.

The Democratic National Convention hit its crescendo Thursday night, with the acceptance speech of Senator Barack Obama before a stadium of over 85000 people in Denver and millions via televisions worldwide, I reflect on the gamut of emotions I felt this week, as I watched history being written right before my eyes.  Elation, enthusiasm, empathy resulting from the inspiring speeches, annoyance with the childish and pouting media, that seemed to be disappointed by the drama and disunity they couldn't seem to instigate – well, except among themselves.  Both he and the media became the tail of the dog this week and Obama and the DNC is wagging it.    As Obama spoke last night, the McCain camp was actually running around to surrounding states, renting buses, trying to scrape together 10000 people to witness his speech in Ohio today, where he's announcing his running mate. We have broken ground into a new era for this country.  In his speech, Presidential candidate Barack Obama laid out the blueprint for his plan of action, the details of which can be found at the click of a button on www.barackobama.com/issues.  He addressed every concern and missive raised by the GOP and the corporate media.  He issued the call to the McCain camp to “bring it” in the form of debates, he was ready.  And if you don’t know who Barack Obama is after this week, then it’s because you don’t want to know who he is and prefer to hold on to your personal perceptions and prejudices, unwilling to acknowledge you might be wrong.

I just received a call infirming me that Senator McCain has chosen a woman as his running mate, Sarah Palin, a former beauty queen – McCain is consistent – who is currently under investigation for abuse of power in the state of Alaska http://www.ktva.com/ci_10026165 .  She has no major experience foreign, military or otherwise, so we are supposed to believe that if something happens to McCain, she is qualified to answer that 3 a.m. call?  McCain is getting some really bad advice from someone, or he is so desperate and so shallow that he believes 18 million Clinton supporters will chose him over Barack Obama just because he chose a vice presidential candidate who is female, cute and Catholic?  I hope they understand what an insult that is to their intelligence and see the situation for what it transparently is.  And one more thing: This is for the Hillary Clinton supporters:  I would like to suggest, in light of Hillary Clinton’s sincere efforts during the National Convention to bring unity to the party, that her millions of supporters each send a dollar bill to her campaign headquarters to pay off the campaign debt she has hanging over her head.  

Barack Obama is an African American.  Barack Obama is not an African American Democratic Presidential candidate.  Barack Obama is a Democratic Presidential Candidate who is African American. This is not my original thought  -- well actually, I have been thinking about it but could not articulate it.  This is a quote from Congressman Lewis during an interview on CNN.  If we pay close attention to what this statement means, then perhaps we are on our way to dismantling the notion of what race is in a country that should be defined by its ability to embrace global diversity.  Race and gender neither masks nor defines the character of a person, their ability to lead and their vision of what is the best direction for a country.  Die-hard Hillary Clinton supporters should recognize their role in change; it’s not about Hillary Clinton at all, this is bigger than her, bigger than Barack Obama, it is about you and I understanding that our individual decisions on November 4, 2008 will collectively decide the direction this country takes. 

Go back and listen to Barack Obama www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/28/b., his wife Michelle, Joe Biden, Hillary and Bill Clinton, even if you are still determined to not know who the Democratic Presidential candidate is, what he stands for and how his vision and actions measure up to what must happen for  this country to survive. Then compare it to the actions, character and point of views of John McCain,   Then make your choice, but choose, because to not vote at all is the greater blunder.  And you will regret it.

I receive the e-mails from Tyler Perry's website, which I like because they are interesting and seem to be  personal and authentic.  I wanted to comment, however, on the one I just received and since they are posted online, I am sharing it here, along with my response:

Hi there,

We're getting close to the THE FAMILY THAT PREYS. Are you ready? September 12th can't get here fast enough.  Not to mention on that weekend I'll be 39 (smile). I still don't know what I'm going to do for my birthday...besides going to see THE FAMILY THAT PREYS, that is...LOL.

I got to thinking about something that I wanted to share with you. My new studio is going to be opening soon and I haven't really told this story, I don't think. If you've heard this then stop me, or just jump past it (smile). This is a long one, so hear me. If you're reading this at work, don't get in no trouble, read this later....

About two years ago, I bought a 75 thousand square foot building in
Atlanta. The building was in pretty bad shape, so I was in the middle of renovating it when everything went crazy! I had major contractor issues, permit issues, and even though the building had been a studio for 15 years, when I moved into it the regentrified neighbors went crazy. They did not want me there. Not to mention, even before we had finished the renovations we had outgrown the place. It was pretty ugly at the time. Nonetheless, it was my intention to finish this building.

Around this same time Bishop Paul Morton was trying to start a church in Atlanta after losing his in Hurricane Katrina. He was my childhood pastor, so of course, I helped out.  Anyway, I was met with so many roadblocks.  I was angry.  Then it hit me. Could this be God trying to tell me something?  At that moment I called one of my lawyers and told him to stop fighting the neighborhood, and let me just pray about it. He agreed. The next day he called me and told me to take a drive to this place. So, I drove out toa building that was once Delta Airlines' world headquarters, nearGreenbriar Mall in Atlanta.  If you're from Atlanta you know that this area ain't been regentrified...LOL.

I drove up to the gate looked at it and drove away. The place was run down. It had been vacant for 38 years (my age).I said,"No way, no way. I'm going to finish the building I'm in...no matter what!" I wasn't about to take on another project. I went to sleep that night but I couldn't sleep then, or even the next few nights for that matter. I said,"What is it God, what is it?" So, I got out of bed and drove back to the building and stood in front of the gates and said a simple prayer, "God am I supposed to leave where I am and come here?"

Sometimes we get so comfortable with where we are that we don't want to move. I said,"God make it plain." I started looking at the gates and there taped to the gates were hundreds of scriptures. I kid you not.  I got a chill up my spine and my eyes filled with water.  It could not have been more clear to me. The next day I called the realtor to buy the place and they said I was too late.  A pastor wanted to buy the entire 60 acres. I got off the phone and called Bishop Morton. I told him that I had looked at the place. He said, "I just looked at it yesterday, this has GOT to be God."  He then went on to tell me that they didn't want the entire 60 acres. They only wanted 30 and that they had planned to sell the 30 acres that I was interested in.   We had a good laugh, said a prayer and went on
from there.  Needless to say, we split the property. By me buying my
portion it was a huge blessing to them buying their portion.  When I tell you that I have not had one issue trying to get this new building
finished. The neighbors have not complained once. They have encouraged me all the way. They welcomed me with open arms. It's across the street from two senior citizens homes that I have adopted (I love me some seniors). I built 5 new soundstages, a 400-seat theater and a ballroom. I said all of that to say this, all of my life I have had things happen to me that I know it could not have been anything but God that did it. I know it.

I am a dreamer and sometimes when you have dreams you are met with obstacles, and your dreams will start to fade. But what I've found is that when God has given you a dream, no matter what it is, when you want to give up and believing becomes hard, and when you can't go any further, the dream itself will start to believe for you. The dream itself will start to carry you through with visions and hope and encouragement.

So, the new mantra for Tyler Perry Studios is "A Place Where Even Dreams Believe." Don't worry if you're met with opposition on your path to your goals. When you've done all you can, stand and surrender.  God will allow your dream to motivate you.

If you don't take away anything else from this LONG email take this,
PLEASE TAKE THIS. Protect your dreams, get away from negative thinking dark seekers. Keep your mind and spirit clean of the naysayers. Just believe. Only believe and it will come to pass.

Be Blessed,

Yo Boy
Tyler P.

I felt compelled to respond, in part because I have family and close friends who take this concept seriously, yet they use it to justify doing what they've always done without achieving different results.  Anyway, here are my thoughts:

I am a firm believer in Proverbs 3:5-6.  With all due respect, I do get concerned when those who are as successful as you are, make powerful statements that are true, but one size does not fit all.  And many people listen to you.  There has to be some reality checks included.  Because sometimes God says NO to what we want and we discover later that His NO a blessing.   My dreams are huge.  Some think that I ought to downsize my dreams. I will believe in my dreams as long as I know and remember that God is in charge of what they become.  How do I know when I'm on the wrong path?  When the obstacles become more than difficulties; they become huge STOP signs letting me know that I need to stop and find out if God is trying to tell me something.  Because if what I want is not God's will, it's just me trying to make something work that shouldn't -- AND God's not in it.  
Example: If you decide to marry someone, when all the signs tell you that s/he is controlling, abusive, in trouble financially, etc. -- and family and friends are trying to tell you that there's something wrong -- but it's your dream to have a wedding and you think God's gonna fix him/her, look at the fruits and ask yourself where God is in all this.  Anything God is not in will come to nothing,  at least that's my experience.  And this isn't negativity; this is about balancing faith with reality.  I stand in awe of Godly intercession and intervention.  But everything we want is not always for us and we need to realize that sometimes God is blessing us when He's saying that this is not the path