Am I Alone On This?

I have found that despite how strong a person is in their self-esteem; I know of one phrase that will immediately turn that pride into insecure putty. I only know this because a friend of mine conducted a little experiment where he said it to random people and we gauged their response. From the results we got, all people have a chink in their armor of self-image. If you don't believe me try this, or think back to a time when it has been said about you. This is a statement that, even if you knew that it wasn't true, would force you to check whether or not it was. This is a statement that, even if you knew it wasn't true, you wouldn't want said in a public place, because you knew people would assume it was true without requiring any proof. Once you find out what the phrase is, think back to a time it has been accused or suspected of you. The worst part about it is I know a lady who actually has the problem, but isn't aware or doesn't care. She seems to be an angry bitter lonely woman. Maybe this is why. I hope people who loosely throw this around, understand its destructive power. It could be potentially life changing. The phrase is, "Your breath stinks." I know. It's rough, but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Blind Hypocrisy

Who would've thought that complacency would set in and allow us to catch the great Mike Wallace slippin'? This a general attitude of apathy that several patriotic white Americans share, but since someone like Farrakhan exposed it, it will be torn apart and given no credibility. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Inauguration I Would've Loved To See

What can't this guy do? If you don't think this is funny, something's wrong with you. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

New Schedule 1 Word

It's been a while since I added a new Schedule 1 word, so you might not know what I mean. A Schedule 1 word is a word that has no positive or medicinal purposes; and should be banned. In this case, the word itself isn't negative or destructive. It just stands in the way of progress. The new Schedule 1 word is MARRIAGE. As most of you know, I'm not a very big fan of organized religion. That institution gave birth to the institution of MARRIAGE. I'm not opposed to two people committing themselves to each other. I'm opposed to calling that commitment a MARRIAGE. If you call it a MARRIAGE, it excludes anyone that is gay and puts Atheists or anyone with non-traditional religious beliefs in a very compromising position. They would have to lie about who and what they are in front of everyone they love, in order to receive any of the following:
Judicial protections and evidentiary immunity;
Domestic violence protection orders;
Bereavement or sick leave to care for a partner or child;
Inheritance automatically in the absence of a will;
Immigration and residency for partners from other countries;
Joint insurance policies for home, auto and health;
Dissolution and divorce protections such as community property and child support;
Joint foster care, custody, and visitation (including non-biological parents);
Status as next-of-kin for hospital visits and medical decisions where one partner is too ill to be competent;
Joint adoption;
Joint parenting;

The list goes on and on.

As long as MARRIAGE is the term used. 1/3 of the United States population will be used to conform and repress who they are. I suggest that we replace MARRIAGE, only for those who chose to, with the term Partnership or Life Union. I like Life Union. In a Life Union, any and I mean any two people who love each other enough to make the commitment, can have all the perks of "normal, God-fearing, human beings". For those who are traditionally religious people, the term and ceremony hasn't changed for them. People who opt for a Life Union, we would also have the right to create our own ceremony and vows and celebrations of our love and commitment. I don't want to tear down anything that's sacred. I just wanna include everyone that can love; to love, and be proud of who and what they are at the same time. The benefits of a lifetime with the person you love shouldn't be conditional. It should be optional. I'm sure that this plan has loopholes and probably gets under a lot of you guys skin, but like I always say, this is just my opinion, and who the hell am I?

More Battle Rap

Y'all know how much I dig battle rap and cartoons. This is the best of both worlds. I dig this one because it is two of my favorites. Serius Jones vs Murda Mook. I've seen the complete battle so you tell me who you think won Round 1. I'm tellin' you, this is an artform that doesn't get half of the attention it deserves. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Rest In Peace

Bishop Donald Pitts, a longtime leader in the black community, President Emeritus of the Upper Ohio Valley NAACP, and mentor to Laughlin Memorial Chapel youth, died Monday, March 2nd. He was a friend, mentor, and honorary family member to me. My most lasting memory of The Bishop was our car ride from here to Columbus for a dramatic reading at an area church. I hadn't really met the Bishop before then, but once he found out who my family was, he made sure I was sitting in the backseat with him. On the ride up, I just sat in astonishment as this man told me things about American history, Wheeling's history, and even things about my family; that I had never known. He was a wealth of information and knowledge. One thing that I hope I can carry on for him, is his passionate belief in his people. By, "his people" I mean black people, people from Wheeling, and from time to time American people as a whole. I will miss him dearly and I believe that no one will ever take his place. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Irritation = Intuition

Have any of you just found yourself irritated with another human being, so much so, that you want to avoid that person? Even when you see or hear their name, you get a sick feeling in your stomach? In those instances, I think you must begin to ask yourself, "Why?" Initially, your answer will come back with a very superficial surface answer like: He/She is so dumb or He/She is just annoying or He/She just irks me. This is the time when you have to dig a little deeper than that; unless you just want that feeling to hang around. You have to ask yourself what, specifically, about this person seems dumb, annoying, or irritating. A true annoyance or irritation is something that you cannot ignore. If you can't ignore it/him/her then maybe this annoyance or irritation is a secondary feeling. Maybe the fact that something can't be ignored by you, indicates that there is an unresolved issue that needs addressed. The idea that you can be annoyed by something or someone that you don't care about is complete crap. You can only be bothered by what you allow to bother you. So you should be asking yourself, "Why am I letting this bother me?" DON"T BE AFRAID OF THE ANSWER! You may find out that you have feelings that you never thought were there, or that you don't have feelings that should be there, or maybe even that you have an opinion that needs expressed or gotten off your chest. When you decide that an annoyance be shooed away like a fly, you dismiss a portion of your natural intuition and start to stunt your own Emotional & Mental growth. It like you lose points from your Emotional & Mental IQ. When you get that feeling, start to ask questions. When you start to ask questions, answer them honestly; and when you get honest answers, don't apply those to a judgment or generalization. Use those honest answers to find similarities between yourself and the person/problem/situation. That is how true progress is made. Through commonalities not differences. If you understand yourself, you'll understand others better. Espeially, when you find out how much they are like you. But you have to look for the similarities, not the differences. Differences are easy to spot. Similarities take a keen eye. This will make your outlook on others and your ability to understand; substantially better. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?