What the Eff? Kids Gone Wild!

What would possess a parent (and I use the word loosely) to allow a child to smoke a cigarette? I don't care what culture you're from or how "acceptable" it is for some cultures to allow smoking or drinking at an early age. It's irresponsible behavior. Letting a child inhale carcinogenic poison is akin to placing a baby in a car seat in the middle of a busy highway. It's just a matter of time before it's smashed to pieces.

I'm sure you have seen these pictures ad nauseum on the Internet, but stuff like this is happening everyday. It's totally wild and crazy.

And then you got the kid in the video below. What gives?



Maybe little man's grand momma should sign up for a course in ass whupping at the Ass Whupping Academy featured in the video below. Concerning Lil' Hector/Tokyo with the cigarette, his parents should be whupped.

Catch You on the Rebound

I've been incredibly busy for the last few days and it looks like there's no end in sight. Well, actually, the end is in sight but it's not until the end of next week. I'm juggling several huge projects at the same time, so I'm stretched pretty thin. But I haven't forgotten my blogging duties (hee hee), I'm just mad busy. Give me another week and I promise, I'll make it up to you.

In the meantime (to quote Iyanla Vanzant), grab a cup of java, sit back, relax and stay for a while. Read a few posts, gather your thoughts and drop me a line. Feel free to share your comments or just leave a note to let me know you dropped by.

May your day be filled with wonder, peace, love, and joy.

In Peace,

Literate Muse

Okey Dokey Friday Jokey

IRISH PROSTITUTE

An Irish daughter had not been home for over 5 years. Upon her return, her Father cussed her.

"Where have ye been all this time? Why did ye not write to us, not even a line? Why didn't ye call? Can ye not understand what ye put yer old Mother through?"

The girl, crying, replied "Sniff, sniff . . . Dad . . . I became a prostitute."

"'Ye what?!! Out of here, ye shameless harlot! Sinner! You're a disgrace to this Catholic family."

"OK, Dad-- as ye wish. I just came back to give mum this luxurious fur coat, title deed to a 10-bedroom mansion plus a £5 million savings certificate. For me little brother, this gold Rolex. And for ye Daddy, the sparkling new Mercedes limited edition convertible that's parked outside plus a membership to the country club ........... (takes a breath)............ and an invitation for ye all to spend New Year's Eve on board my new yacht in the Riviera and . . ."

"Now what was it ye said ye had become?" says Dad.

Girl, crying again, "Sniff, sniff . . . a prostitute, Daddy! Sniff, sniff."

"Oh! Be Jesus! Ye scared me half to death, girl! I thought ye said a Protestant. Come here and give yer old Dad a hug."

What I Know For Sure

Laughing is good therapy.

No matter what, at the end of the day you can't recapture lost time.

What goes around comes around and usually it ain't pretty when it's your turn.

What you do to others reflects on you. What you do for others reflects on God.

My occupation does not define me.

The older I get the more I appreciate my youth.

How you handle a break-up says a lot about your character.

I love the sound of happiness.

It takes two to be a couple.

My position in the community does not define me.

Whether I speak or "write" my peace, I have released tons of energy.

What proceeds from the mouth of a man/woman comes from the heart.

Thoughts without action are only daydreams.

To attract friends you must be friendly.

To attract love you must be loving.

To attract fools you must be foolish . . . in your thoughts, actions or deeds.

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Is Turnabout Fair Play?

I have refrained from engaging in many conversations with friends and strangers about the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Mainly because I don't particularly care for either of the candidates: Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Hilary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), and Barack Obama (D-IL). But with the malicious attacks leveled at Senator Obama for comments made by his former pastor and spiritual advisor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, I got to thinking, "Is turnabout fair play?"

Why has the media been so negligent in covering inflammatory comments made by a pastoral supporter of John McCain, Pastor John Hagee? Most people who watch television ministry are probably aware of John Hagee, a white, evangelical pastor of a mega church in San Antonio, Texas. Pastor Hagee is a very popular preacher. He appears several times a day on various television stations across the country. I happen to like Pastor Hagee. I believe that he is a man of God and that he really believes the Bible is the infallible word of God, as I do. I also like Reverend Wright. I believe that he is a man of God and he believes the Bible is the infallible word of God. I don't think Pastor Hagee's views are all that different from Reverend Wright when it comes to his convictions.

Pastor Hagee is often quoted as saying that the Catholic Church is a "whore religion." He is a strong supporter of Israel. And he preaches death to unbelievers. This is the same pastor that Senator McCain openly lobbied for support during the Republican primary. While the media has hopped on Reverend Wright's inflammatory comments and "attacks" on America, they have largely ignored John Hagee's claims and criticisms.

Now it seems that Pastor Hagee may become a "thorn in the side" for the Republican presidential candidate, according to The New York Times. Finally the media seems to be focusing their radar on this "crazy" white preacher from Texas. I've already issued my disclaimer, I like Pastor Hagee.

I also like Reverend Wright, who is a supporter of Minister Louis Farrakhan. So if Obama can have Reverend Wright and McCain can have Pastor Hagee, then I guess turnabout is fair play. Does one beget the other?

Wright. Hagee. Farrakhan. Am I aligned with all of their beliefs? No.

Should I, or Senator Obama, or you be held accountable for our pastor's views? They have a right to their beliefs, and so do I.

Here's an op-ed piece from today's issue of the The New York Times. It's titled The All-White Elephant in the Room.

Okey Dokey Friday Jokey

Friday Humor . . .

When the Going Gets Tough

For most of us changes in our eyesight usually prompt a call to the optometrist or ophthalmologist or other medical professional. If we have a toothache or chipped tooth, most likely we will make an appointment to see a dentist; and if you experience knee, shoulder, or joint pain, like I did last week, you will call an orthopedic specialist posthaste. Most folks, if they're ailing or feeling pain, typically seek some kind of medical treatment.

So why is it when some of us experience emotional pain or psychological trauma, we hesitate to visit a mental health provider? Given all of the strain and stress caused by family obligations, school, our jobs, dealing with difficult people, and unreasonable expectations that we and others place on us, it is no wonder that many of us are “disconnecting” from reality. Sometimes you don’t even know, let alone feel, that you’re under stress because you’re so used to operating at or above 100%. You become immune to the signs and symptoms.

We’re in constant motion. That’s the society we’re living in. We’re constantly meeting deadlines, running the kids around, caring for loved ones, and serving on multiple committees and boards. We spend more time advancing our careers and education than we spend nurturing healthy relationships with our families. And what’s worse, we spend even less time developing a relationship with our Creator, whom all blessings flow. Then what’s leftover we give to ourselves—maybe.

With this kind of imbalance there is no wonder why we feel overwhelmed or under appreciated and choose to disconnect. After giving away so much of ourselves, how can we possibly expect to maintain good mental health?

The Louisiana Weekly on Sunday examined suicide and depression in the black community. According to the Weekly, "Still suffering from the vestiges of slavery and still targets of institutionalized racism and discrimination today, with health and economic disparities in their disfavor in almost all societal categories, blacks are the first group of people who need to seek help for possible mental illness and depression, yet the last ones to get it." Author and Harvard Medical School psychiatrist Alvin Poussaint said blacks "see mental disorder and depression as a sign of personal weakness or moral failure." In the book Lay My Burden Down, Poussaint and co-author Amy Alexander write that blacks downplay issues of depression and mental illness, which can lead to suicide (Jackson, Louisiana Weekly, 4/6).

According to an article in the Beacon Journal, one in five Americans has some type of mental disorder— defined as a change in mood, thought or behavior, causing distress and/or problems in day-to-day functioning. Nationwide, mental illnesses cause a disability rate second only to heart disease, according to a 1999 report by the U.S. Surgeon General.

One way to improve mental health is by talking. Through dialogue people can come together for a mutual exchange of ideas, observations and experiences. Dialogues go beyond the usual interactions between practitioners and recipients of mental health services. They provide a safe environment in which participants may speak freely to create better understanding and mutual trust and respect.

Temporarily disconnecting from the strain and stress of life is a natural response. But how and when you choose to reconnect will determine your success in managing life’s challenges. If you are experiencing any of the problems listed in this post, please seek help. If you don’t have adequate health coverage, there are many ways you can still seek help. Contact a mental health provider in your community.

Here’s a list of resources that may be helpful:

· American Mental Health Counselors Association
· National Mental Health Information Center
· Online Health Resources
· Mental Health America
· Mental Health Organizations by State
· Mental Health Agencies
· Treatment Advocacy Center
· Mental Health Today
· HealthyPlace.com
· The Bright Side