The Adventures of Robin Hood and Joe-The Plumber

Last night, Joe- The Plumber somehow became the poster child for the American Dream. He is a man just a few short steps away from entrepreneurship. And in a comparison of very different tax plans from our presidential candidates, Joe dream will either come to fruition of become a dream deferred.

The ultimate goal of every American is success. That is what my family-and millions of others- migrated to this country for. Joe, a plumber in Ohio, has taking the initial steps to realize his dream. He would like to own the plumbing company he has dedicated himself to for the past 10+ years. According to Senator McCain, under the McCain administration Joe can buy the plumbing business and live happily ever after. But McCain is adamant that under the Obama administration, Joe's dream will be stifled. Obama is playing Robin Hood, robbing the rich of $5 in taxes and giving it to those who make under $250K. Sadly, Joe will not be unable to afford to take over the business because of the tax increase in the Obama plan.

Let's dissect Obama's tax plan, shall we? If earnings above $250k will be taxed 39% (instead of 36%), and Joe-The Plumber makes $350k, he would pay $39k instead of $36k in taxes on that $100k. Essentially he's paying $3000 more per $100k that he makes above $250k. How is this going to prevent him from buying the business??

I started my own business this year. I will be the first to tell Joe-The Plumber...that extra $3k in taxes he is paying is the LEAST of his concerns. There are so many hoops and hurdles, it is exhausting. If all I had to do was give up $3k in taxes, I would have done this a long time ago. Is he serious?

There is sacrifice in pursuing the American Dream, Joe, McCain, and Republican America. That dream is realized for some people earlier than others, but it is important that it is at least a possibility in the mind's eye for all. So if taking 3% from one to give to another makes Obama Robin Hood himself...I'll go out and buy him that green outfit. He already has the ears!

Because He's Black

This is an excerpt from an email I was forwarded by Ms. S. I thought it was worth sharing with my fellow minority Obama supporters;


A white man asked his black friend, "Are you voting for Barack Obama just because he's black?"

The black man responded by saying, "Why not? Hell, in this country men are pulled over everyday just cause their black; passed over for promotions just cause their black; considered to be criminals just cause they're black, and there are going to be thousands of you who wont be voting for him just cause he's black! However; you do not seem to have a problem with that! This country was built with the sweat and whip off of the slaves' backs, and now a descendant of those same slaves has a chance to lead the same country. A country where we weren't even considered to be people; where we weren't allowed to be educated; drink from the same water fountains; eat in the same restaurants, or even vote. So yes, I'm going to vote for him! But it's not just because he's black, but because he is hope, he is change, and he now allows me to understand when my grandson says he wants to be president when he grows up, it is not a fairy tale, but a short term goal. Because he sees, understands, and knows, he can achieve, withstand, and do anything just because he's black!"

Why Are Black Women So Mean?

You're angry from just reading the title aren't you? lol This is a topic that is always up for debate; most recently on a post I read on Stuff Black People Hate. The issue? Why are black women so unapproachable?

Rather than counter-argue, and defend my entire race.... I'd prefer to share an experience I had recently.

A friend of mine accompanied me to a club I've been curious about. It was just the two of us, not a herd. Anyhow, we were kickin it, chillaxin in a corner when a man approached me. He was mildly attractive, white male, friendly demeanor so when he approached I was not defensive or instantly agitated. In fact, I engaged in conversation with him for 20 minutes or so (could have been longer). We laughed, joked, etc. He was headed back to the bar and asked if I wanted anything. Initially I said no but he pushed (so much so that I sort of wondered if I should accompany him in case he tried to slip me something) and eventually I accepted the offer.

He returned with my drink and we chatted it up some more. I honestly thought that he was a cool guy, so imagine my surprise when our conversation shifted;

Him; "So we seem to get along well, maybe we can have dinner sometime? Can I take you out?"
Me; "Oh, I am so sorry. I am actually in a relationship right now."
*Glares at me as if I'd stolen the oxygen mask off his dying grandmother*
Him; "YOU WHAT? Man, I wish you would have told me all of that before!"
*Return his stare and wonder if it is possible he slipped a knife past the metal detector*
Me; "I'm sorry, it didn't come up. I thought we were just kickin it. Didn't realize you were interested."
Him; "If you weren't so cool, I would ask you for my money back."

Mmm Hmm....THAT my dears is why black women tend to be a little standoffish. Being nice can give people the wrong impression. 

Spoiled Children...Rotten Adults

Every parent wants their child to have all the things they were not afforded. A parent who was never taken to the circus will make a conscious effort to bring the child every year. One whose parents never involved them in extra-curriculars may grow up to be the parent whose (over-committed) child has to consult a calender just to figure out what is on each day's agenda.


It is not abnormal to want to give your child the things your childhood lacked. But what if it were material things? Do you scramble to buy your kid Jordan's because you remember being made fun of for wearing BoBo's (yeah "BoBo's...they cost $1.99, BoBo's the make your feet feel fine"...don't act like you don't remember that). Everyone else had Atari but your parents said no. Does that mean you buy Jr. every Xbox, Nintendo DS, Playstation, model on the market?


Where does it stop?


It doesn't. The child becomes an adult who has distorted view of the world. They have an illogical sense of entitlement. It's the woman who I falls in love with a dress in the store and becomes enraged when they don't have her size. The high school student who loses interest in college applications after getting a low SAT score. The man in your office who becomes disoriented when he starts a project and it does not go exactly according to plan. The girl who is discouraged from trying something a second time when she was no good at it the first. The list goes on and on. And no... one does not necessarily lead to another but there is a distinct relationship.



Material possessions last for a short period of time, but character is forever.

Let Me Tell You Why I'm Mad

This image has been tossed around via email for years now. I have gotten it forwarded to me at least four times. Each time I am more and more embittered. What bothers me is that there was a time where these things were expected of a wife. And today, there are men that are holding onto this ideal. The idea of a "traditional woman" is not forgotten. Whether it's 1954 or 2008... either way this is ri-DAMN-diculous!

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift. Translation: AFTER I cook dinner but BEFORE he walks in the door I am to get prettied up because though I have been slaving for upwards of 10 hours, I must not let him see me that way?

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Make sure the rugrats look presentable. They are a reflection of you. If he comes home and the house isn't tidy, dinner is not made, AND the kids are filthy it doesn't say much about what you've done with your day.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.

Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind. Translation: Essentially I should shut up and listen to him bitch. My woes are minimal compared to his.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first. Yes girl, do not get it twisted...your problems, ideas, and/or thoughts are nowhere near as monumental.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax. So what if all you do everything...that does not entitle you to be treated! What you want a cookie?

The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

No! The goal is to lead your life in a way that is fitting of pleasing yourself! You take care of you first and foremost because a healthy happy significant other is far more priceless than a maid.

The Danger That is Fung Wah

I believe it was my second year of college when the Fung Wah craze started. East Coast students began boarding these Chinatown buses to NY, Philly, Boston, and Maryland in flocks. Everyone fell in love with their cheap fares and record trip timing. New York?..for $15?..in less than 3.5 hours? Who wouldn't?

But alas...all that glitters most certainly ain't gold, readers. Fung Wah became the kind of death defying stunt that even David Blaine would second guess. Horrifying stories of rollovers, accidents, and even high speed chases were more common than not. It had gotten to the point where NOT having a Fung Wah story was odd.

Me: "So you took that Chinatown bus to NY?"
Fung Wah patron: "Yeah, I left Boston 25 minutes ago and we're crossing the BK bridge right now"
Me: "Really? that took you a while, got pulled over or something?"
Fung Wah patron: "yeah and we had to switch buses when the engine fell out. Probably would have been there by now if we didn't"

Years later, it seems old habits die hard. Their service has not gotten better and the risk of injury has gotten higher. Hell, you don't even have to board the bus to be involved in the accidents now! This morning a 57 year old woman was waiting to board the bus in NY when it was sideswiped by a dump truck! I kid you not.

People. I know the cost of gas...we use premium in our tank. I know the economy... I am one mishap away from losing everything my(damn)self. BUT never, NOT NEVER will I get on one of those buses. Good Lawd! Isn't Greyhound only an additional $10?

Please don't do it! Readers, I love y'all like family (and that's because a good majority of you ARE my family). If you need to borrow that extra $10 I got you! Just don't do it to yourself.

Waiting on the World to Change

I do try to leave the political stuff alone. Although it is my blog, it is not necessary for me to bombard my readers with my political beliefs. Every so often I do feel the urge to speak up, mostly when the topic is ri-damn-diculous.

Contrary to popular belief, this was not ‘Hezbollah style fist-jabbing'! The first time I read that I could not help but quote my brother and yelp "What the craze?" (in plain English... what the #@*&%)! Isn't this what Torres and Williams did every Thursday evening on New York Undercover?

Were people honestly questioning this gesture? It's D-A-P... equivalent to a hand shake, a "go get 'um Tiger". I am quite sure MTV and BET have aired enough rap videos for the masses to have seen dap before. I mean COME ON PEOPLE!

The miseducation of America is severely deep-rooted. It has come to the point where we are dissecting an intimate moment between husband and wife. John Mayer isn't the only one waiting on the world to change.

He Said, She Said

I remember sitting in my dorm room freshman year with three other friends. We all sat around on the bed laughing and chatting like we had not a care in the world. The topic of sexual assault came up and I offered up a statistic I'd learned on Oprah just before starting school "1 in 4 woman are raped before they graduate college... so technically one of us could very well be raped before we leave here". We all looked at each other in silence. I later learned that it had already happened (my roommate had been raped in that very September weeks after starting her freshman year). That statistic really hit home.

Rape is very real for some women. For those who have been sexually abused or raped it is an experience you cannot be freed from, it is binding in that way. For other women the word "rape" is a weapon. It is an allegation they have chosen to hold in their palm, threatening to forever change the life of a man who has in some way scorned them. Studies show that an Alarming 41% of rape allegations are false.

This may be the reason why we stand behind our athletes and entertainers when they are accused. Men like Kobe Bryant, Mike Tyson, even R. Kelly proclaim their innocence and their fans remain supportive. "Why would her rape her? He can have any woman he wants".

We hear their side of the story and immediately jump to their defense. And I say "we" because I have certainly been guilty of it. Jah Cure has been one of my favorite reggae artists for years. I've spent many an evening listening to him pour out his soul on a song and wondering how a woman could ever accuse him of such a violent act.

This morning, I read her side of the story and it occurred to me what it must be like for these victims. If it was indeed him that raped her, how painful must it be to hear his music or hear people chant "Free Jah Cure"? How degrading is it when people offer you $$ to change your plea or drop the charges? What is it like to have your family threatened after you've already been through so much?

Jah Cure is on international tour and he's become more successful through this ordeal. His fan base stretched from the islands, throughout Europe and North America. And his fame is due largely to this rape allegation. If it is untrue, and she is part of the 41% of woman who have charged a man falsely, then his story of adversity is remarkable. If not, we have essentially praised him for ruining this woman's life.

Inadequate Black Man

Part of the reason I was a silent Obama supporter was because I had an incling that this was not a fight he could win. The fight I am referring to is not the Democratic election but rather the Presidency itself. I have never been naive; and while I haven't been the target of racism and discrimination first hand, I know the country I've grown up in. And I know, no matter how great thou art, a black president there may never be.

What America needs IS change. But progress is a slow and often painful process. We are not so far removed from the days the Civil Rights Movement...change has yet to come full circle. So while I am grateful to be alive to witness the announcement of first black presidential nominee, I fear that this too shall pass. And John McCain will likely be our next president.

Am I'm just being pessimistic? Maybe. But you know that insecurity in the pit of your stomach when you sense something bad is going to happen?

Well that sense of doubt was only confirmed when I read this . The words a former Democratic voter set us back at least 50 years. "I'm not a Democrat anymore because the Democrats don't want me! And I don't want them! Democrats are throwing the elections away, for what? An inadequate black male?"

So it isn't pessimism. It is the reality that the country we live in can refer to someone as influential as Barack Obama as an inadequate black man. It is the knowledge that we have only taken a few steps in the walk toward equality...the journey is miles long.

The loss of Sean Bell and many others

It saddens me to think that; PETA will protest the cruelty of animals, Mike Vick will get jail time for dog fighting, there will be investigations and protests into whether or not a horse should be euthanized after injury....yet we should be ok with a man being shot 50 times by law enforcement.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/26/sean.bell.trial/

I am sorry, why is it that I should be outraged over a dead pit bull? Or a fur coat? But I should feel at ease knowing that an officer of the law can shoot me 50 times without punishment?! I should be comfortable with Mike Vick in jail and officers who thrive on the use of excessive force parading the streets?

This is ri-damn-diculous!

This is the country that raised us to believe that everyone has a voice. We are educated on the Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence as early as elementary school. They told me I could be whatever I put my mind to. Justice, equality, innocent until proven guilty...I was born with these freedoms, right?

So why don't I feel free? Why was he unsafe?...why does his family hurt? Where is justice and consequence?

Right now a dog could get shot 50 times and the shooter would be punished, ridiculed, isolated, reprimanded, shunned. Something! But a man?....a black man?

Someone forgot??

I was moved to tears by a story I saw on the news this morning. A 21 year old mother of two was kidnapped, raped, and murdered in Florida. This particular story gripped me because the tragedy could have been prevented. Moments before her death she managed to take her kidnapper's cell phone and dial 911. Another motorist, who saw her kicking and fighting in the backseat, called to report the incident. The caller even mentioned the exact location of the car! There were five 911 calls in total. So why isn't she at home with her children right now?... Because the dispatcher FORGOT to pass along the information!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24063588/

How is it that this person is able to clock out at the end of every evening and go home to their own family? How does this person look at their reflection, in the mirror, every morning? The role of a 911 dispatcher is to attend to emergency situations. When 5 phone calls come in about the same incident what about that implies non-emergency?

The world we live in is crass and cold-hearted. I am rarely outraged by the things that I hear and see on the news. But not today, today I was sincerely outraged! As I watched Nathan Lee agonize over his wife's senseless death my blood boiled, my eyes watered, and my hand shook nervously. I haven't stopped thinking about the two children who will grow up with out a mother. It's unneccessary. It's just unneccessary.