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Tag Archives: violence

Glimmer of Hope in Dark Times

23 Dec

shoepaintingI’ve been having a hard time staying positive and seeing the light in this world of ours. Everywhere you look there is violence, despair and hate. But lately – no doubt due to the holiday season – I’ve learned of a few people who refuse to give up or give in.

Maurice Kie, Life Pieces to Masterpieces in DC: A young man and after-school program uses art to help young children cope with living in neighborhoods stricken with gun violence.


Tiffany Anderson, Jennings School District in Jennings, Mo.: A school superintendent who actually cares about the students and implements innovation RESULTS to real problems.

Amy Peake, entrepreneur in England: Empowering women in other countries with employment by making a necessity – sanitary pads.

Journalists out there: we need these stories YEAR-ROUND! Apologies that we make Amy Peakeyou think we only want “reality”,
depravity, terror and salaciousness.

To anyone reading this post, you’re welcome. 🙂

 
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Posted by on December 23, 2015 in Arts, Career, Civil Rights, Education, Family, Girls, Health, Politics, Real Talk, women, Youth

 

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I Know Many Trayvon Martins…

17 Jul

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Too many. In fact, a lot of people that I know, know too many Trayvon Martins. And most people have the luxury of knowing only this one.

We are broken-hearted because they know too many. Most of whom received less justice than this one.

That is the issue.

 
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Posted by on July 17, 2013 in Civil Rights, Family, Motherhood, Politics, Race, Reflection, Youth

 

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Strange Fruit

16 Jul

Southern trees bear a strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

– Billie Holiday, 1939

 
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Posted by on July 16, 2013 in Civil Rights, Education, Family, History, Motherhood, Race, Youth

 

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A Young Man Died…

27 Jun

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was killed, actually… At the end of the day, let’s not lose that within the legal manuevering.

This morning, a Harvard law professor had this to say of the Zimmerman trial.

If nothing else, this trial is certain to reveal society’s ills.

To say the least…

 
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Posted by on June 27, 2013 in Civil Rights, Family, History, Politics, Race, Youth

 

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$8 Million Bail

09 May

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Can you imagine having to serve as Castro’s public defender?

Just when you thought humankind could not scrape any lower in the barrel, meet Ariel Castro. In a year of kindergarten murders and marathon bombings, I thought I couldn’t get any more disgusted with people…

Yes, the women are free and home now, there is reason to celebrate. But I am saddened and infuriated by the deviated path these girls’ lives were forced to take. I was talking to a friend today and told him that this case underscored how closely I monitor the commuting of my 16 year old. Too many people think I’m paranoid. People steal/hurt/kill/rape teenagers too!

And how in the hell do you let the brothers go? Am I missing something?!??

A final thought: I hope the city and police departments are ready because lawsuits are a-brewin’… These women were a few miles from where they disappeared. WTF?!!!!

 
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Posted by on May 9, 2013 in Family, Girls, women, Youth

 

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No More Hurting People…Peace

18 Apr

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Martin Richards, age 8

 
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Posted by on April 18, 2013 in Family, Health, Youth

 

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Real Talk: Background Checks

10 Apr

Tomorrow is a House vote on background checks as part of the larger gun control legislation. THIS SHOULD BE A  NO BRAINER!!!

Please contact your representatives today to urge them to support mandatory backhround checks.

 
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Posted by on April 10, 2013 in Family, Health, Politics

 

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Guns: Senate Vote Today

25 Mar

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I don’t get the point of legislation that would not include a ban on assault weapons. Meanwhile the Mayors Against Gun Violence launch a $12 million campaign hoping someone will notice.

REALLY?!???

I mean, I understand “baby steps” and I hear Feinstein talking about getting it on record even if that portion fails, but what will a gun control law change if it’s not controlling guns? Decreased magazine size, more dollars for school security, etc. But really?

I remain disgusted…

 
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Posted by on March 25, 2013 in Family, Health, Politics, Youth

 

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A Fallen Hero?

20 Feb

As his bail hearing continues in South Africa, <a href=”https://muleoftheworld.org/2012/08/07/blade-runner/”&gt; Oscar Pistorius’s</a> chances are bleak, but not compared to those of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, whose life was cut short.

Early on Valentine’s Day, Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend in his home, reportedly mistaking her for an intruder. When I first heard the story, I thought (like most) what a horrible tragedy…but as details surface, it’s not looking good…

Questions have bubbled up that challenge the Olympian’s story, begging the ultimate question: was this murder or an accidental homicide?

  1. Were the shots fired from a downward angle suggesting that his legs were attached (does not support his account) or from a lower position?
  2. Was there an hour of arguing or no argument? A possible witness claims to have heard non-stop arguing from 2-3am, however accounts question whether what could actually be heard 600 meters away.
  3. Lights on or off? It is reported that lights may have been on which again does not support being awakened by an intruder.
  4. What was the position of the victim? A police report says she was crouching in a fetal/defensive position.
  5. Were there steriods found or herbal supplements? This would suggest that the prosecution is going to insert “steroid rage” into its case.

Reeva’s brother gave a statement remarking that they were not thinking about Oscar’s case but rather concentrating on Reeva and their family. Pistorius is considered a flight risk and therefore should not make bail considering the crime, but stranger things have definitely happened.

I just remember the inspiration and happiness felt as my daughter and I watched him compete last summer, a hard-fought victory…

 
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Posted by on February 20, 2013 in Relationships, Sports, violence, women

 

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I Was Pleasantly Surprised

12 Feb

A few diamonds from the President’s speech that both touched and surprised me a bit.

1. Affordable pre-school for all children- what a radical concept
2. The meaning of fatherhood- could you say that 1,000 times Mr. President so that it can be heard around the world!
3. AIDS-free America – you would think that we have a handle on this thing for the limited attention it gets.
4. Connecting education to employment- a revolutionary concept indeed.
5. Improvement of voting process – although so many are willing, it doesn’t make it right.
6. “They deserve a vote!” – shaming folks for not bringing gun leg to a vote.

Stay tuned for a more complete SOTU post tomorrow.

 
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Posted by on February 12, 2013 in Education, Family, Health, Politics, women, Youth

 

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