Lent is usually a season that is highly "celebrated" or recognized, if you will by the Catholic denomination. I, myself no longer consider myself Catholic, however I did "practice" for many years. I was educated in Catholic schools from 1st to 12th grades and became comfortable with the Catholic way of life. I never recieved any of the sacraments but I did attend mass and the like. One of my favorite prayers was learned during these years; The Act of Contrition :
Oh My God, I am sorry for my sins, in choosing to sin and failing to do good. I have sinned against you and your son Jesus. I firmly intend with the help of your son Jesus to...
SO SAD...I never finished this and lent came and past...PROCRASTINATION is what I should have given up!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Probably just me being dramatic as usual...
So, I'm not generally an Oprah fan, there was a point when I liked her then I went through a period where I loathed the very mention of her name. At this point, I am somewhere in the middle. I have to admit when she announced that she would be ending her show I was saddened. Over the years there have been moments of greatness that came out of this show and that will be missed, not sure anything could fill the void that will be left in just a few more shows.
I am with the camp, they feels like Oprah doesn't really like/support/uplift black people. I've never felt that with her platform that she truly did something for the black community. I think on some level she definitely gave some little black girls the gift of believing that despite the past you can achieve greatness. But I guess what I don't see is her showing them how to give back that greatness to the black community. Don't get me wrong, I think her philanthropic endeavors are beyond words at some points but, there is something I don't see/feel from her.
There have been many times along the years that I've felt she could have showcased a black person here or there but the most recent thing was when she had Mary J. Blige on for the first time. I don't believe this is from the show I'm speaking of but it was along these lines:
Now, although Mary, felt like it would have stunted her growth (and she knows herself better than I do, despite being the #1 fan) I felt like it was a slap in the face. Why wouldn't she have tried to show Mary the other side of success. It just hurt me to my core when she said that, I was once again turned off by Oprah. How can Oprah in one breath say that but in another welcome people who spew hate and slander on her show. What is she showing there? What do they have to say? Being on Oprah could have put Mary on a different trajectory. Not saying the journey she has had is flawed, because she seems to have blossomed more beautifully than I would have ever thought from first falling in love with the MJB phenomenon at first hearing "You Remind Me".
Anyway, all that to say, but now she is having the "author" James Frey on AGAIN? HE LIED about a whole book of experiences!!! So, I ask Oprah, what is he going to say?
I am with the camp, they feels like Oprah doesn't really like/support/uplift black people. I've never felt that with her platform that she truly did something for the black community. I think on some level she definitely gave some little black girls the gift of believing that despite the past you can achieve greatness. But I guess what I don't see is her showing them how to give back that greatness to the black community. Don't get me wrong, I think her philanthropic endeavors are beyond words at some points but, there is something I don't see/feel from her.
There have been many times along the years that I've felt she could have showcased a black person here or there but the most recent thing was when she had Mary J. Blige on for the first time. I don't believe this is from the show I'm speaking of but it was along these lines:
Oprah: The reason I'm in Houston talking with you today is that I know you've grown. A few years back, my friend Gayle suggested I interview you for the magazine. I go, "What is Mary J. Blige going to say?"
Mary: Thank you. If you had talked to me back then, you would've stunted my growth.
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Oprah-Interviews-Mary-J-Blige/3
Now, although Mary, felt like it would have stunted her growth (and she knows herself better than I do, despite being the #1 fan) I felt like it was a slap in the face. Why wouldn't she have tried to show Mary the other side of success. It just hurt me to my core when she said that, I was once again turned off by Oprah. How can Oprah in one breath say that but in another welcome people who spew hate and slander on her show. What is she showing there? What do they have to say? Being on Oprah could have put Mary on a different trajectory. Not saying the journey she has had is flawed, because she seems to have blossomed more beautifully than I would have ever thought from first falling in love with the MJB phenomenon at first hearing "You Remind Me".
Anyway, all that to say, but now she is having the "author" James Frey on AGAIN? HE LIED about a whole book of experiences!!! So, I ask Oprah, what is he going to say?
Even in watching the Season 25 Final Season show on OWN and getting a different picture of Oprah, I still have that feeling that black people aren't her "thing". But, I am amazed by her life accomplishments and in some very small ways look up to her. The OWN network reflects just what I thought it would an nothing of what I hoped but I have enjoyed the final season show and getting to "know" Oprah a little better ;-)Let me know what you think...dramatic?
My poor Bailey...what to do? ;-(
Why would an otherwise friendly cat (11 human years old) sometimes hiss at you? Is it just grumpiness of old age, is something wrong? He's a big cat and I can't be sure if his belly is distended but sometimes when petting him in that area he gets fussy but there isn't anything visibly wrong.Went to the vet in Feb, just needs some dental cleaning and to lose weight.
I try not to pet him in that area to keep him happy.
He seems to eat well and drink well.
Grooms himself where he can reach. Grooms the other cat when he wants to be bothered with him.
He's my sunshine on a cloudy day, hate to think he's miserable! Love him to pieces ;-)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Happy Black History Month
Ok, so I've been celebrating Black History Month for as long as I remember as today I learned something that I don't remember ever learning. Not saying that I didn't, as my memory is not as long as it used to be lately! Any way: one of my writing idols (Kevin Powell) posted on facebook this morning about the "founder" of the month we celebrate. [To be fair my BFF posted some similar fact some hours after Kevin Powell. Wait, how'd she know about this and not tell me?]
We've all heard the jokes about Black History Month being the shortest month of the year, but when looking at the history of it all, does it really matter? Especially now: The President of the United States of America is black, the richest self made female billionaire (information may be outdated) is black...Am I saying its changed to be black in America since the that first Black History week, in some ways but in some ways it's the same. Racism still exists...
The theme for Black History Month 2011 is African Americans and the Civil War. I want to take a different spin on this theme. Not to take anything away from the contributions that the soldiers that fought in the Civil War made but there is a different type of Civil War that I'm concerned about.
The definiiton of civil war according to wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn is a war between factions in the same country. And factions being defined as a group of people connected by a shared belief or opinion within a larger group by wikipedia.org. The "Civil" War that I'm concerned about is the one in my own and your own backyard. Our young men are killing each other over drugs, cars and just to get a "rep". Our young women are killing each other over these same young men and we are killing each other by not protecting themselves from HIV. And they are killing the spirits of the youth with all the negativity! In this war there are so many battles yet to be won that it becomes increasingly difficult to see an end near. The real Civil War ended when the Confederate army surrendered. The gangs, hoodlums and others that just don't give a f*$& are the equivalent to the Confederate army but they are not going to surrender. They don't care, they only see their way of life and it's not that they don't know any better or haven't seen the other side of the coin, they just don't care. But it's the same lack of caring that keeps the North(the hardworking, law abiding citizens) from gaining in this war. If we only care what happens in our house, with our family, where is the love for people on a whole?
So this prompted me to look for even more information and I came across this website:
About.com Black History Month's history
We've all heard the jokes about Black History Month being the shortest month of the year, but when looking at the history of it all, does it really matter? Especially now: The President of the United States of America is black, the richest self made female billionaire (information may be outdated) is black...Am I saying its changed to be black in America since the that first Black History week, in some ways but in some ways it's the same. Racism still exists...
The theme for Black History Month 2011 is African Americans and the Civil War. I want to take a different spin on this theme. Not to take anything away from the contributions that the soldiers that fought in the Civil War made but there is a different type of Civil War that I'm concerned about.
The definiiton of civil war according to wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn is a war between factions in the same country. And factions being defined as a group of people connected by a shared belief or opinion within a larger group by wikipedia.org. The "Civil" War that I'm concerned about is the one in my own and your own backyard. Our young men are killing each other over drugs, cars and just to get a "rep". Our young women are killing each other over these same young men and we are killing each other by not protecting themselves from HIV. And they are killing the spirits of the youth with all the negativity! In this war there are so many battles yet to be won that it becomes increasingly difficult to see an end near. The real Civil War ended when the Confederate army surrendered. The gangs, hoodlums and others that just don't give a f*$& are the equivalent to the Confederate army but they are not going to surrender. They don't care, they only see their way of life and it's not that they don't know any better or haven't seen the other side of the coin, they just don't care. But it's the same lack of caring that keeps the North(the hardworking, law abiding citizens) from gaining in this war. If we only care what happens in our house, with our family, where is the love for people on a whole?
What did you take away from this year's Black History Month?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Late night learning
Its 1:50am and I am still up fondling the Droid...at some point in this relationship a restraining order may be needed! I posted a question on a forum and received some really good feedback that I had to follow up on. A guy told me to put the phone in safe mode...yeah like you do with the computer to see if the lag existed at that point. I had never heard that you could put the phone in safe mode. It took me three tries only because I have patience issues otherwise it was quick and easy.
The lag didn't exist and it was like the phone I initially fell in love with. It was perfection squared but the best part would be to have that performance in regular mode.
I will attempt yet another factory reset...waiting for some further information from the nice forum guy to proceed. I am waiting, ever so patiently for October (upgrade time) before I attempt further "play" just in case I'm not successful.
Well ...nighty night ;-)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
BIRTHDAY BROTHER-For Kevin Powell
Back in March I asked that you check back on April 24th for my tribute to Kevin Powell, my birthday brother but I never posted it. I sent it to him on April 20th and I think secretly I was hoping to have a response to post along with it. But...nope, no response. That's cool though, he's a busy man and maybe he just wasn't that impressed. LOL
I was reminded of this because today he posted on Facebook:
Well for those of you who know me...and my antisocial...well, ok, just not liking people to come over my house...I was reminded...we are going to have some similarities based on our birth date, hence the reminder to post the tribute.
Anyway, here it is:
So, what do you think? Corny? Like my use of Acrostic Poetry? Oh well, whether you like it or not...I loved it and meant it and felt it! YAY ME!
Sidebar:
But you know what, recently I read that Kevin Powell wrote he's just not that into the writing anymore and it made me sad. I enjoy him so much. Here is what he said:
Still looking forward to his memoir, 2012 seems so far away right now.
I was reminded of this because today he posted on Facebook:
And I responded saying:
Regina Dee Stay home...rest...invite the less rowdy and neat of your bunch over so you don't have too much to clean up...you provide the tv and they can provide the snacks ;-)
23 minutes ago ·And then he responded saying:
Kevin Powell Nah, no one's getting invited over here. :)
BIRTHDAY BROTHER
You have long been an unknowing but not necessarily an unwilling participant in the development of my social conscience, so this birthday I want to celebrate you the way you know best, in the written word. I hope you enjoy it.
Born in a city they call ChillTown
Infused with the strength and
Resilience of a single mother
Tested and found to be the TRUTH.
Heaven birthed you with a
Decree to empower, uplift and help
Advance a people who have been lost.
Yielding to a generation possibilities they never knew existed.
Born in the same city, on the same day
Rose up in a different time
Only to find a passion in common.
The written word
Housed in our minds crammed with creativity
Echoing a past that brought you here to this moment
Reaching for a future that was destined on …
With Love and RespectHappy Birthday!(c) 2010 Regina Davis
Born April 24th/Jersey City,NJ
So, what do you think? Corny? Like my use of Acrostic Poetry? Oh well, whether you like it or not...I loved it and meant it and felt it! YAY ME!
Sidebar:
But you know what, recently I read that Kevin Powell wrote he's just not that into the writing anymore and it made me sad. I enjoy him so much. Here is what he said:
I hear him though and of course respect his honesty and the fact that he knows himself enough to realize this.
Still looking forward to his memoir, 2012 seems so far away right now.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
LiveActionFilms making a point or causing a problem?
I'm not really sure what to say. Have we not all "yes'd" someone to shut them up? How long was it between taping and her firing, did she report anything about this encounter? Were they quite clear on the prostitution/underage/trafficking part? I'd like to say yes. Was Amy(the office manager) setting them up for failure with her "compliance"? We don't know. But, what I do know is, PlannedParenthood offers a services that is needed in the community. ITS AFFORDABLE CARE that some people might not ever receive! There were points in the video that I cringed at the thought of the office manager being so numb to what was being said to her but at the same time, unfortunately, this is what she deals with on a daily. Young girls go to Planned Parenthood because they have no other options at times. Some of these young girls could very well be prostitutes, under age, brought here from another country to be in the sex industry against their will and some of them could be a young girl who just didn't know she could say no. Am I condoning abortion, I wouldn't say that but I'm not speaking out against it either. Please believe, I'm speaking as a Christian woman, that is not my choice to make for any other woman or girl. I understand both pro choice and pro life arguments and my decision lies with me as it should for anyone else in that situation. I don't condone females using abortion as a form of birth control at all. I have heard "friends" of mine (and I use that term loosely, not because of what they have said or done just the person), say "you can meet me at the chop shop if I get knocked up". And I have heard "friends" say they would never "kill" their baby. Both groups coming from similar backgrounds. Who is to say who is right and wrong when it comes to someone else's body? I know I don't want anyone making any decisions for me because they are not the ones that have to live with the consequences and there are consequences for both.
So, the meat and potatoes of this is, should the office manager been fired, did she act in a manner that deserved termination? I'm on the fence. I'd love to hear her side of the story. Granted, hindsight is 20/20 but she may have a valid explanation for everything we viewed.
Did this exposé potentially harm the funding that Planned Parenthood receives and thereby causing other young women to go without the services they provide?
What's your opinion or are you sitting on the fence with me?
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