Racism is Alive and Well, unfortunately.

As a 50 year old female, painfully aware of the racial tensions in America, I never thought I would see in my lifetime an African American President.  Never in a million years.  The deep south has always held onto it's stubborn racist beliefs with a vengeance.  I grew up seeing the KKK roam my town and saw cross burnings on the local news more times than I care to count.

While I'm still located in the buckle of the bible belt south, that's one of the reasons I migrated north of where I used to live.  Racism makes my skin crawl and it boggles my mind that African Americans are STILL fighting for equality.  Never mind other groups fighting for those same rights (GLBT, women, etc.)

It pains me to say that moving north is not the answer.  Why? There are just as many racists living in the northeast as there are in the southwest.  The Donald Trumps of the world know that much.  I am amazed and angered that Trump continues to harass President Obama regarding his birth certificate.  Is it really the fact that he believes he is from another country other than the United States?  Of course not.  It is a carefully masked jab that a black man (or woman) does not deserve to be the President of the United States.  Consider it a "Well Bless Your Heart" dig from the north.  That phrase is usually uttered among southerners when they disapprove of a particular stance and don't want to state so emphatically.

The lack of respect and continued questions regarding President Obama's birth certificate make my blood boil.  He is our president and deserves the respect.  For God's sake, as stupid as George W. Bush is, I still maintain that point.  And, he got that respect while in office.

As far as I'm concerned, Donald Trump should shut up or be willing to wear the banner he is disguising by questioning our President's birth country.  Then again, all that comes to mind is, "Bless Your Heart," Donald Trump.

urban dictionary: 

1.	Bless your heart
	1. This is a term used by the people of the southern United States particularly near the Gulf of Mexico to express to someone that they are an idiot without saying such harsh words.

More Musings Later-

Will Madonna Ever Grow Up?

People tell me that Madonna is talented.  That she spawned a number of female acts created in her image (Christina Aguillera, Britney Spears, etc.) but I beg to differ. 

True, she has left an indelible mark on pop music but it wasn't by crafting her singing or dancing skills.  Madonna is a master at "pushing buttons".  Yes, I said it.  I think she has about as much musical talent as a singer or dancer as I do.  Meaning NONE.  

I DO think that this aging pop sensation has made a career of pushing the envelope until it nearly falls off the table.  Think about it; she has taken on the Catholic church in one of her videos, had videographers tape her lying on her mother's grave (for a private moment???).  Hey, those are her issues and if she wants to make a statement that is controversial regarding religion or her mother, be my guest.  This is America, after all.

However, while she was in Israel, I think she crossed the line.  As a video backdrop to her "musical" performance, she slams a right wing politician by showing a photo with a swastika on her forehead.  Don't get me wrong; I am a liberal Democrat and always will be.  But, aligning a right wing politician with the Nazi movement is downright dangerous.  

I am opposed to every idea a Conservative politician offers.  So let me make this clear, aligning a conservative with a Nazi is implying that the conservative is ready to follow a maniacal leader at any cost and if that includes savagely murdering and torturing innocent people in order to do it, so be it.  A young 20 something pop star not knowing her history could possibly be forgiven for such a reckless statement, but Madonna is over 50 years old.  Old enough to know better.

World War II wasn't that long ago.  Are we destined to repeat those events again?  Hopefully not, but that will depend on whether people like Madonna will ever grow up.  

More Musings Later-

If You Give Him a Movie, They Will Come

Well, after watching 14 seasons of "Dancing with the Stars", it never gets old.  It's one of the very few reality shows that I actually enjoy.  While I'm no dancer, it's no secret that I become enthralled each year as contestants learn to cha-cha and fox trot their way across the ballroom floor.  The show is actually pretty cheesy, but there is one element that saves it; Derek Hough.

Yep, some call him the Golden Boy, who can do no wrong.  Yes, the judges love him, Yes, he has a huge fan base of mostly women, Yes he's handsome but the fact of the matter is this:  Derek Hough has star quality and he is beyond talented.  He comes up with the most inventive and creative choreography each year and manages to make his partners look like life-long dancers.

His sister, Julianne Hough has managed to make that step from TV to screen almost effortlessly and I wonder why her brother hasn't done the same.  I sometimes wonder what Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers would think of Hough's prowess on the dance floor.

In any event, Hough and his partner, Maria Menounous was booted from the competition last night after coming in first on the judge's leaderboards.  Perhaps the show wanted to shake things up, but I fear if he stays on this show for too much longer, he won't reach his potential.  Come on, Hollywood; this guy is fantastic.  Give him a movie.  If you give him a movie; they will come.  Especially this old writer.

John Edwards

Yep, John Edwards is on trial to determine if he stole campaign funds to "accommodate" his mistress at the time who was pregnant out to there.

He leaves me to shake my head and wonder about men in general.  Not only did he lead the public astray (not too shocking for a politician, but still....), but this man cheated on his dying wife and lied all the while to his family about the affair and his re-entry into fatherhood.

It takes 2 to tango and I think his mistress is just as much to blame as Edwards for the affair.  However, I blame Edwards for succumbing to the temptations of cheating.  Not just cheating on his spouse, but his family as well.  Not to be crass, but if he was in such a hurry to have an affair, he couldn't at least wait until his wife passed away?  What must his children think of him? Apparently, his eldest daughter feels that standing by him is the right thing to do.

She's a better person than I, that's for sure.

More Musings Later-

Teachers

The last several days I've been thinking about teachers I've had in my lifetime. Some had a teaching degree, others didn't. But, the lessons they taught were just as important as if they had a sheepskin hanging on the wall.

I've had the privilege of having some very good teachers in my time and some not so good. For example, my second grade teacher, Mrs. Carpenter was among my favorites. She made learning fun and gave detailed attention to each student. I didn't feel strange or like an outcast when I was in her class and enjoyed feeling part of a fun learning experience. When you consider I'm 50 years old, that's going back quite a few years. So, thank you Mrs. Carpenter. You made your imprint upon this mind.

Ive also had some good teachers in junior high and high school as well. But, some of the best teachers I had were in college. I think because I didn't take them for granted as much as I did when in grade school. There was a young classical pianist at Lamar University back in the day who was an absolutely brilliant pianist and accompanist. I learned to be ready for anything from him. No matter what the snafu, be prepared to carry on and focus.

I learned from being in a rehearsal with Doc Severinson that practicing for the sake of practicing is boring. Be prepared and let the music flow and be felt. There is a wild like beauty in the music of the moment.

A conductor of a symphony orchestra taught me how to make an entrance. There is something about a person's entrance into a room that can turn heads for no other reason than that of the "it" factor. Learning how to turn "it" on was an amazing lesson.

There are also the teachers who have their doors literally cracked open after hours in hopes of luring someone inside that needed extra help with an assignment or piece of music. Why? because it is those moments that called them to teaching in the first place.

God bless teachers. Even the ones who forced me to learn the ugly lessons. It wasn't for naught.

More Musings Later-

OWN - Programming that I would LOVE to see

The sad news came a few days ago that Oprah axed the Rosie show from her OWN network.  I have to admit, I only watched a couple of the shows that featured the studio audience and was less than impressed with it.  But, then I watched the one on one interviews and found them to be MUCH more entertaining.  It's a shame really...Rosie can be a great gabber but somewhere along the way she's lost HER way.

Now, I'm not saying that Oprah has all the answers and that her channel doesn't have some programming that needs to be addressed...but, the programming that is in place is quality.  For example, I love Super Soul Sunday.  The laid back feel, the nature backdrop and lofty subjects is perfect for Sundays.

My next favorite series is "Master Class".  I would LOVE to see Shirley MacLaine do a series of these...My God woman, give her a show on your network.  "Out on a Limb" was only the beginning and it would be interesting to see her offerings that she has compiled over the years.

There is also one show series that I think everyone would like to see:  "Office Politics".  Whether you lay brick for a living, bag groceries or sit behind a computer screen all day; people have to learn about Office Politics in order to survive in our world.  There are all the same players:  the backstabbers, the do-gooders, the ambitious at any cost people, the bosses with blindness and those of us stuck in the middle.

When does it start?  On the playground and it continues until Social Security issues a retirement check.  That's alot of years to try and figure out this complicated maze of politics.

More Musings Later- 

A Whole Lot to Write About

Well it appears that my blog has grown a few followers!  To those of you waiting for me to pontificate about something, thank you.

If you've read some previous blog entries, you understand that sometimes we all get knocked on our keysters during this game of life.  It has been an interesting game to be sure.  Nonetheless, I'll be here tippy-typing when I'm able on things that annoy, amuse, irritate, touch or provoke me in some way or another.

I'm just happy there are so many subjects to fit the bill described above.  I'll be in touch...no really.  In the meantime, have a little fun watching Sophia Grace and Rosie.  Go on...
More Musings Later-

Remembering Life in F Major

In my last post, I lamented about loss.  In and out of my moments of distress, I've also noticed that others are experiencing the same thing.  Whether you are a celebrity, a "regular" person or someone else of note; loss affects us all and sometimes bring us together.  In fact, it feels kind of odd to feel such a kinship with someone I don't know personally, who has skillfully painted a painful corner of my life's canvas through his music.

The other night, I went to the mother church in Nashville and sat among the handicapped in the back.  I felt every inch of my handicap, physically and philosophically.  I was there to hear Glen Campbell, another poor soul who is battling Alzheimer's.  His musical talent was so strong and steady that it seemed hard to believe that his mental facilities were slipping.  The reminders of his handicap were there though, flaunting it's ugliness and exposing Campbell's vulnerability from the first moments until the end of the concert.

As he had to stop and start songs, the audience didn't mind.  During those vulnerable moments of his performance, it was then when the applause was louder, more enthusiastic and determined.  The look on his face exposed true surprise and gratitude for the forgiveness of his disease's imperfection.  That night, he forgot names, lyrics, guitar riffs at various times of the performance.

The thing he didn't forget is being able to sing with a soulfulness and emotion in his songs that sewed the fabric of my childhood together.  There with the mismatched patterns, various colors and stitching, all connected through the poignancy of music.  And, he announced to the audience that one of my favorite songs was in F Major.  He was pleased to have remembered that detail.

So was I

More Musings Later- 

Letting the Dust Settle

Right before I started this post, I glanced at the date to see when I last wrote anything of substance.  August was a long time ago.  Sheeesh.

I know I've been moaning about what a kick in the ass the last couple of years have been but I had no idea that the ass-kicking would linger until the end of the year.  As I speak, I am just getting my bearing from the tailspin I have been in.

These last couple of years have been a time of profound loss.  You name it; loss of loved ones, financial stability, belongings, pride, purpose, hope and determination.  It's only been in the last couple of days that I've felt compelled to write.  That's a huge stride for me.  It was very difficult living inside myself during this time.  Not writing meant that I was hollow inside and I felt every square inch of nothingness.  I've experienced the depth of my emptiness.  

Now I can experience the depth of fulfillment.  Once the dust settles, it's worth writing about.

Pat Summit, Measuring Quality against Time

I have always admired Pat Summit, the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach.  As I was perusing Facebook, I heard breaking news on ESPN that Pat was diagnosed with young, onset dementia.  She's only 59 years old.

I hate that she is dealing with this health issue.   Dementia is a disease that doesn't cater to one race, intellect, gender or sexuality.  It strikes people that aren't famous and those who are.  Those who are most determined to beat it, simply succumb just as quickly as those who feel defeated. 

It's a horrible disease for everyone.  Knowing her fierce competitiveness, I'm sure she will fight the good fight, and good for her.

I also think Pat Summit will be carefully measuring quality of  her profession against cognitive time. 

More Musings Later-

The Co-Author Heard 'Round the World

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you will recall that I wrote a novel with Alan Solomon.  The kick is, we've never met each other.  We met online and never spoke on the telephone.  Why you ask?  Because at the time, he was located in Beijing, China and I was in Nashville, TN. 

Alan is a native New Zealander, more commonly known as "kiwi".  He owned a restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand called, "The Mango Tree Cafe."  After owning this restaurant, he had a story to tell and that is where I came into the picture.  He wanted someone to help with his novel by the same name of his eatery.  After learning about the story and being told that it sat upon the most mystical road in the world, I was hooked. They say once you walk Loi Kroh Road, you are forever changed.   I normally didn't accept book jobs such as these in my writing days, but something told me this was special.  And, indeed it was.

So, Alan and I have been keeping up with each other since 2007.  We published the book (see the column to the right under "Amazon Offerings"), received alot of media coverage about it and my eyes were filled with the world's mysteries and unspoken charms. 

I hadn't heard from Alan for awhile.  He had mentioned that he was going to leave Beijing this past December and relocate to New Zealand.  We've instant messaged each other, sent emails and the like as we've done in the past; our mode of communication.  We had tossed the idea around of writing another novel together...who knows?  It might be in the cards. 

Yet, I don't know.  He dropped me a line a few weeks ago and mentioned he was going to Japan to work on a project for a friend.  Of course, he has other things going on in New Zealand too.  He's a very energetic guy.  But, something inside of me whispered that our paths may not cross again.  I could be wrong of course, it's just a niggling I have.

Then again, I have walked Loi Kroh Road in spirit and I am forever changed. 

More Musings Later-

Mayberry "Ohm" F. D.

Lately, I’ve been reading about Buddhism.  The thing I like most about it is that it is based in common sense.  When I first thought heard about Buddhism, I thought it was reserved for those Asian men who wore robes and lived in Temples.  I thought they worshipped Buddha.  Boy, was I wrong! 

These monks and other followers don’t “worship” Buddha, they take his basic teachings and use them to live a better life.  At the same time, they do not follow any religion blindly.  Think of Buddhism as basic as living life in Mayberry R.F.D.  The concepts involve ideas and difficulties of normal, every day life.  Let me provide some scenarios if the town of Mayberry became Buddhists:

Goober to Gomer:  “Wanna hear my Buddhist impression?  Buddha-Buddha-Buddha!”

 (Think of his Cary Grant impression, Judy, Judy, Judy!)

Opie to Andy:  “Paw, I shot the Mama bird but didn’t know she had baby birds to feed.”

Andy to Opie:  “Opie, you had no right to kill that bird, regardless of whether it had baby birds or not.  What goes around, comes around.  You need to have respect for all living things.  Gate’, Gate’ Para- sumgate’, Gone! Gone! (Perfect Understanding)

Barney to Andy:  “Hey Ange, you and Helen going to the dance?”

Andy to Barney:  “Naw, I thought we’d have a dharma on the front porch instead.  You and Betty Lou should come over.”

Aunt Bee to Andy:  “Andy!  The freezer is broken!  I need to have it fixed!”

Andy to Aunt Bee:  “Aunt Bee, Call the monk!”

Aunt Bee to Andy:  “But, Andy!  I thought maybe…”

Andy to Aunt Bee:  “Call the monk!”

(Think of Andy's persistent response, Aunt Bee, Caaalllll the man!) 

Floyd, The Barber to Andy:  “Hey, Andy, I’m supposed to attend a barber’s convention in Mount Pilot next week.”

Andy: “All the way up in Mount Pilot? That’s great, Floyd”

Floyd, The Barber:  “I’m feeling anxious about it, there are going to be all these master barbers and experts from Mount Pilot and here I’ll be from little ole’ Mayberry.  They will all be better than me.”

Andy to Floyd:  “Kill the Buddha, Kill the Buddha!”

Floyd:  “Ah, Ah, Thanks, Andy.”

More Musings Later- (Shalom!)

The Misleading Beauty of the Kudzu

One day last week I was watching Oprah, trying to get my fill before she closes the door on 25 years of television excellence.  The topic was "The Freedom Riders."  A group of incredibly brave and forward thinking people who joined forces to ride buses in 1961 from Washington D.C. deep into the bowels of the South where racism was as thick as the kudzu that overtakes the landscape of any and all vegetation around it. 

I was fascinated as I listened to stories recanted about the blatant bigotry that existed so prominently then and somewhat quietly today.  Buried within the "Bless your hearts" of those who were overtaken with this backward thinking of racism, was the society that choked life from everything near it.  I began to think that perhaps bigotry and kudzu are one in the same. 

On the surface, kudzu is beautiful, a deep greenery of vegetation that rolls on forever, climbing up into trees, along the roads, taking presidence on top of the grass.  At first glance, it seems that the soil beneath the kudzu would be fertile and rich encouraging the production of vegetables and fruit.  But, to those who are from the South, we know it to be a beautiful killer of everything around it. 

I've watched people try to kill the kudzu without much luck.  No amount of digging or trying to pull the roots up would do.  Once these plants take hold of the earth, it's nearly impossible to get rid of it.  I once asked my grandfather about how to get rid of kudzu if it overtook your yard, fields, and home.  His best advice was to "leave it, cause you won't ever get rid of it."  From then on, I've looked at kudzu in a different way.  It looks beautiful on the surface, but it's downright deadly if you don't recognize the damage it can do.

Somehow, The Freedom Riders were able to kill off a good portion of kudzu in the South that day.  Leave it to Oprah, a television icon and media mogul who once resided in Mississippi to shine the light on those who were able to stop the kudzu in it's tracks.

Bravo.

More Musings Later-

Ding Dong, the Wicked Witch is Dead...now what?

President Obama did it.  Or, should I say the Navy Seals did it?  In any event; the one task that needed doing was accomplished last night, the death of Osama Bin Laden.  While revenge is sweet for Americans, it causes me to wonder when the next shoe will drop.

If you think the score has been settled, think again.  This will be an ongoing chess match of intelligence and human lives.  We have the #1 man that was in charge of the horrendous 9/11 catastrophes and it validates my hunch all along; IF President George W. Bush wanted to kill Bin Laden, he could have.  Did he REALLY think he was in Iraq?  C'mon.  All intelligence pointed to Pakistan.  So, after 8 years of "Dub'ya" we were about as close to nabbing Bin Laden as the proverbial man on the moon.  Instead, we went against the United Nations, Intelligence reports and set our sights on Saddam Hussein.  Can we say, O-I-L?  Sure, I knew you could.

Now we have a President in office that has been working his tail off even before he was sworn into office.  All because Dubya had his Iraq war and Saddam's death to boast about in his memoirs of accomplishments so he was done.  President Obama is in office for about 2 years and manages to kill the most wanted man in America (and beyond really) precisely where we thought he was all these years:  Pakistan, not Iraq.  Meanwhile, we invite the leader of Iran to speak at Columbia University in New York City.  Am I the only one that thinks this is downright weird???

One thing is for sure; there are ALOT of people that were snowed by the Bushes and Cheney.  In fact, I was blown away to see a bumper sticker on the car ahead of me at a traffic light which had a picture of Dubya with the caption:  "Miss Me Yet?"

I shook my head in disbelief and pulled into a gas station to fill up.

More Musings Later-

Intention and the Written Word

My neighbor in Nashville, TN, the irrepressible Reverend Terry Jones has reared his ugly views again.
He has an axe to grind and he would like to use it on the Quran to be more specific.  Of course, he is also protesting the building of a mosque in Murfreesboro, TN.  Sad to say, because of his and his followers' shenanigans, they have made the national news.  Once again, focusing on the proverbial woman with the curlers and moo-moo to become a 15 minute celebrity.

I find it curious that the reverend is so against the Quran.  I read somewhere that the only difference between the Bible and the Quran was that a vast array of people share stories about God and Jesus where the Quran is narrated by one entity:  God.  And, it is written in first person.  I'm certainly not an expert on the Quran but what is so troubling about this revelation?  Has he read it?  Does he disagree with it?  Does he not believe in freedom of speech?  I'm beginning to wonder.  Is it, "Freedom of Speech as long as you believe as I do?"

I've known ministers that stand behind every word of the Bible.  I wonder about that too.  Who should have the final word on supremacy of belief?  Fundamentalist Christians scare the hell out of me.  Why?  Because they believe the Bible to be interpreted literally.  You can't tell me that the hundreds of scribes that wrote the Bible in Aramic, thousands of years after the fact wrote a completely factual account free of bias or prejudice.  How many times has the Bible been translated into other languages?  How do the translations hold up?  C'mon....for example:

"Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property." (Leviticus 25:44-45)

Really?  Slaves?  Burning the Quran? Hating a race of people for the actions of a few?  I believe Reverend Jones has read the Bible.  I just think he's never understood it.

 
More Musings Later-