Cappuccino Soul

North Carolina: First in Flight

2008-07-21T22:58:00.002-04:00

I've been wondering since I moved to North Carolina what the "First in Flight" reference on the license plates means. After searching a bit I found a good explanation on a Web site created by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., called America's story from America's Library.

They've got an array of information about America from a feature on Billie Holiday to a treasure chest of material about each of the 50 states.

Here's what the Library of Congress tells us about the "first in flight" reference:

The Wright brothers were from Ohio, but they achieved most of their successes in North Carolina. Do you know why they decided to do their flying experiments there?

To find a better location for their pioneering aeronautical (aircraft) experiments than their home in Dayton, Ohio, Orville and Wilbur Wright consulted the U.S. Weather Bureau. The brothers found that the town of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, offered the sand dunes and high winds that they hoped would help them in their attempts at powered flight.

The Wrights spent months in North Carolina working toward their goal. On December 17, 1903, they finally succeeded. Orville flew the powered glider first, then Wilbur, then each once more. The brothers had achieved the first powered, controlled, sustained flight of a heavier-than-air machine.

Messy Love

2008-07-16T19:36:00.001-04:00

Sometimes when I'm teaching English to my students from other countries, they'll come up with sentences or phrases that are grammatically incorrect but make the point beautifully anyway. And sometimes they put words together that any poet would appreciate.

Yesterday I was teaching my Eastern European students about opposites -- same vs. different, fancy vs. plain, smooth vs. rough. I asked them to write sentences using some of the words so that they could learn the meanings more clearly. We discussed the difference between the words "messy" and "tidy." Here's the sentence that my student Emilia came up with:

I don't like messy love.

I hardly knew what to say. It was so eloquent and the expression on Emilia's face said it all.

"Very good Emilia! I don't like messy love either," I told her. "Thank you."

And If You Don't Believe in Me ...

2008-07-12T14:34:00.002-04:00

On rare occasions I receive sort of psychic messages to write about certain artists. So here she is -- Mary J. Blige. After doing a bit of research on her life -- I can see why she would make a good post for my blog and why I could be inspired by her.

I've always thought that Mary was one of the most down-to-earth and ernest singers around. She has a couple of songs that have really connected with me in the past. I read a recent article about her in the USA Weekend magazine and found her story to be quite intriguing. Her song "My Life" is my favorite from her repertoire. If I had to choose an anthem for certain times in my life -- this would be it! Her wordless humming which opens the piece, embodies all of the pain and beauty of the song's message -- whenever you're feeling pain, turn to God and God will make it alright.

Here are the lyrics to:

My Life
(with samples from "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" by Roy Ayers)

[Chorus]
If you looked in my life
And see what I've seen...
If you looked in my life
And see what I've seen...
[Repeat]

[Verse 1]
Life can be only what you make it
When you're feelin down
You should never fake it
Say what's on your mind
And you'll find in time
That all the negative energy
It would all cease

And you'll be at peace with yourself
You won't really need no one else
Except for the man up above
Because He'll give you love

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]
Take your time
Baby don't you rush a thing
Don't you know, I know
We all are struggling
I know it is hard
But we will get by
And if you don't believe in me
Just believe in "He"

Cause He'll give you peace of mind
Yes He will
And you'll see the sunshine
For real, yes you would
And you'll get to free your mind
And things will turn out fine
Oh, I know that things will turn out fine
Yes they would, yes they would

[Chorus]

All you gotta do is take your time,
One day at a time
It's all on you
what you gonna do?

Oh you will see I'm so down and out
Cryin' every day
Don't know what to do or to say

Here's Mary singing My Life on YouTube.

Check out the June 22 article about Blige in the USA Weekend magazine:

On the chart-topping single "Real Love," from her 1992 debut album, a raw and emotionally ravaged Mary J. Blige begged the heavens for a boon: "Send me someone real / to caress me and to guide me / towards a love my heart can feel." For years, the universe denied her. Tumultuous relationships, self-acknowledged substance abuse and deep insecurities mounted. Blige sang about them all, and even though her pain brought her stardom, it also threatened to destroy her.

Ignoring Pain and Suffering

2008-07-01T20:42:00.005-04:00

Have you heard the horror story about the woman at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn who fell out of her chair last month while at the hospital, and was thrashing on the floor dying while people around her, including a hospital security guard did nothing to help?

It was an hour before another patient told hospital staff that this woman was dead on the floor. We only know about this tragedy because the whole scene was caught on one of the hospital's surveillance cameras.

Of course this is not the first instance of people in dire straits, or facing death, who have been passed by as onlookers did nothing to help.

What has caused us as people (and I'm including myself here) to become so numb and insensitve that we can stand by and watch others (who are sometimes our own friends and relatives) suffer acute physical and/or emotional pain and do nothing to help -- not even offer some sort of comfort?

Does anyone have any insight into this phenomenon?

All Shall Be Well

2008-06-29T00:47:00.002-04:00

All shall be well
and all shall be well
and all manner of thing shall be well.
-- Blessed Julian of Norwich

How Convicted Felons Can Vote in North Carolina

2008-06-23T19:54:00.004-04:00

An organization called Democracy North Carolina is serious about getting people registered to vote in this state. I recently saw one of their flyers that explains how ex-felons and other convicts can vote.

The flyer says, "Don't be locked out!" It goes on to say that if you've been convicted of a felony in North Carolina, you only temporarily lose your citizenship rights, including the right to vote. BUT you automatically get those rights back after you serve all parts of your sentence, including probation, parole and restitution. You do not need a special document saying your rights are restored. You just register and vote like any other citizen.

And for those who have been convicted of a misdemeanor, you never lose you citizenships rights. You can register and vote, even if you are still in jail.

For more information on where or how to vote, call toll free 866-522-4723.

Good information! Thanks Democracy North Carolina.

Always Trust God

2008-06-19T15:03:00.000-04:00

You can't always trust your instincts. You can, however, always trust GOD.

Son Kiss in Iraq

2008-06-18T19:22:00.002-04:00

Here’s an unbearable “Picture of the Day” from today’s New York Times. Here we see a man kissing the body of his two-year-old son, Akeel Faisal Ghazi, who was killed in a bombing in the Huriya district of Baghdad. The Times reported that at least 51 people were killed and 75 were wounded in the bombing late yesterday afternoon, Iraqi security officials said. The Times further reports that:

There were immediate and angry calls for revenge from Shiites, a display of sectarian tensions that had been ebbing as the overall violence dropped in Iraq. The blast occurred in the heart of a neighborhood where Sunnis had been brutally driven out — and some of the current residents blamed the displaced Sunnis for the attack.
In their rage, others faulted the new pro-American neighborhood patrols, brought in from outside the area, for not preventing the attack. It was the deadliest bombing in Baghdad in more than three months.

The photo shown above was taken by Karim Kadim of the Associated Press.

He is Our Father and Mother

2008-06-16T18:09:00.002-04:00

God is our Protector, our Provider and loves us because He is our Father and Mother -- we are His children. I prayed yesterday that my daughter will know this now and forever since she has a great gap in the traditional “father” space in her life. But I know that she knows that God loves her because she says and writes, “I Love God” often, and I tell her that God loves her. I’m so glad she knows who she is. She’s much more advanced as a child than I was at her age – Praise God!

I Am Above, Not Beneath

2008-06-15T22:51:00.001-04:00

Here's an excellent quote from Pastor Gregory Dickow's Fasting From Wrong Thinking series. There's power in these words:

I think of myself God’s way...I am the head and not the tail, I am above, not beneath. I am blessed coming in and going out. I deliberately overcome negative thoughts by voicing positive ones from the Word of God.

Redbelt: The Art of Combat

2008-06-11T19:48:00.003-04:00

I am a big fan of martial arts and have always been intrigued with the mystical qualities of the teachings. For this reason I will

1. Run to the theater when the movie Redbelt finally reaches Charlotte and
2. Soon enroll both myself and my daughter in a marital arts class

My daughter and I recently saw a friend’s black belt ceremony where she and several other students (three women and two men) had to exhibit all of the kicks, blocks, and other moves they learned in their many years of martial arts training. It was a fierce show by the students who all gave it a lot of emotion, sweat, and skill. My daughter and I were both spellbound and we are lucky enough to be able to take classes with the master teacher who headed this group.

Redbelt, directed by one of my favorite writer/directors, David Mamet, is about a martial artist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who finds his integrity on the line after he saves an action star (Tim Allen) from attack and takes a job in the film industry. Chiwetel plays Mike Terry, a Jiu-jitsu master who has avoided the prize fighting circuit, choosing to instead pursue a life of honor and education by operating a self-defense studio in Los Angeles. Terry's life is dramatically changed however when he is conned by a group of movie stars and promoters. In order to pay off his debts and regain his honor, Terry must step into the ring for the first time in his life.

Here are some quotes from the movie trailer that seem to have some worth, apart from the film – they teach us something about combat:

The other guy has a handicap if he cannot control himself.

Breathe — you know the escape. Breathe, there’s always an escape.

There’s one rule — put the other guy down.

A man distracted is a man defeated.

Who imposes the terms of the battle, imposes the terms of the peace.

There is no situation you cannot escape. You know the escape.

Hmmmmm……………………

Literature by Gang Members and Their Affiliates

2008-06-04T18:45:00.006-04:00

A recently publishished anthology, The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates is sure to raise some eyebrows and, hopefully, get people talking about gangs, why they exist, their history, how to help them, and also how their members and affiliates can possibly help others.

I'm proud to say that I have some poems in this project. I want to thank the great Louis Reyes Rivera (a gifted poet and teacher) for recognizing how my work could contribute to such an anthology. Rivera and Bruce George edited this collection which includes essays, poems, letters, short stories, and interviews, by folks who, at some point in their lives, have been associated with urban gangs.

I'm honored to be included with the other writers, including Ruby Dee, Oscar Brown Jr., Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr., The Last Poets, Akua Njeri, Willie Perdomo, T. Rodgers, Luis J. Rodriguez, Malik Yoba, and many more. My work can be found under my previous name: Alicia Benjamin-Samuels.

If you're in New York City, there are two booksignings that you can check out:

Hue-Man Books
Monday, June 9, 2008, at 6 p.m.
2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (125th St.)

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at 7 p.m.
236 East 3rd St. (between Avenues B & C), at 7pm.
Contact: Louisreyesrivera@aol.com

Here's what Jim Brown has to say in the introduction:

The Bandana Republic is the most provocative, researched, educational, opinionated piece of work that I have ever read . . . In its own provocative way, The Bandana Republic makes you think, reflect, cry. I recommend to all of you, and to all people who purchase this anthology: read it, learn from it, try to draw your own conclusions. What you have in front of you is a reflection of every revolutionary, every victim that ever lived in this country. Color, gender, race, religion . . . it does not matter. Only the individual dealing with correctness, fairness, love and caring, multiplied a billion times, will ever bring about the proper change in human behavior. Read this anthology, and then check yourself.

Here's a blurb from the book's publisher, Soft Skull Press:

Urban youth gangs and street associations are viewed more often than not as training grounds for thugs and felons. Left out are their members' emotional sensitivities, their political consciousness, their individual and collective capacities to assess the social conditions that gave rise to the need for such associations. Not included in the popular dialogue on gangs is the creative impulse that has continued to manifest in popular culture -- from the birth of the Blues to Rag Time and Swing, to BeBop, Doo Wop and Hip Hop.

You can purchase this provocative piece of literature from Amazon.com

Serving Others on the Job

2008-05-21T21:30:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago my Charlotte pastor talked to the church members about how we might serve God. He said that whatever our day job is, there is always an opportunity to serve. It doesn't matter if we work as bankers, lawyers, or other professions that lend themselves more to service such as teachers, social workers, counselors, etc. -- there is always a way to do God's work.

As I was reading the June 2008 issue of The Atlantic magazine recently, I came across a Verizon Wireless ad that made me think of my pastor's talk about service. It's not often that an advertisement makes you think about altruism and how you can help others, but this one did.

Here's Olga Mendez's story and I have to give her credit for finding a way to serve others on the job. These are the words from the ad, verbatim.

Olga Mendez trains employees at a Verizon Wireless call center. But she also helps the company teach another important skill: life.

As part of Verizon Wireless' innovative HopeLine program, which distributes free cell phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence, Olga helps Spanish-speaking women navigate the difficult road back to independence. A survivor of an abusive relationship herself, she gives them the support and practical advice they need to break the cycle of domestic violence and strike out in the world on their own. Speaking in their native Spanish, she helps them with everything from writing a resume to dressing for a job interview.

Olga knows how important it is to gain back one's self-respect. And her career at Verizon Wireless has been a vital part of her recovery.

As Olga says, "A lot of companies talk about giving back to the community, but Verion Wireless really walks the walk."

Do your thing sister!

Live Free or Die!

2008-05-13T00:26:00.004-04:00

Here are some intriguing state mottos that I've come across while teaching ESL for Citizenship. These phrases tell you a lot about these states, I think. If you could create a motto for your state, what would you write?

Colorado
Nothing Without the Deity

Maryland
Manly deeds, womanly words

Maine
I lead

California
Eureka

New York
Ever upward

New Hampshire
Live free or die (My personal favorite)

Alabama
We Dare Defend Our Rights

Iowa
Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain

Texas
Friendship

Nebraska
Equality before the law

South Carolina
While I breathe, I hope
and
Ready in soul and resource

North Carolina
To be rather than to seem
(I can identify with that one!)

Obama vs. Clinton: The Stakes are High in North Carolina

2008-05-05T10:40:00.007-04:00

Yes, I'm here in beautiful North Carolina and the political atmosphere is high. My phone (both the home phone and mobile) have been ringing off the hook with calls from candidates and their representatives for offices such as County Commissioners, District Court Judges and as you all know, the Democratic candidates for President -- Hillary and Obama.

I must say, the Obama campaign has been relentless. I'm still getting calls from the Tennessee Obama folks (I haven't lived in Tennessee since last summer) and they call me regularly here in Charlotte. Yesterday, a nice lady from Florida who is an Obama campaign worker, actually knocked on my door to ask who I'd be supporting. She told me where and when I could vote and asked if I'd like to volunteer for the campaign (I wish I had the time!)

Hillary's folks haven't called me at all. That just goes to show how much of a superb grassroots effort the Obama campaign has waged. Both Michelle and Obama have called my home (a recording of course) and urged me to get out and vote (early) for Obama.

The nice lady from Florida left a very attractive "Vote for Barack Obama" brochure with me, so I thought I'd share a little of what the pamphlet says:

If you want to change the world, the change has to happen with you first. ... We do what we do because God is with us. ... When Moses was first called to lead people to the Promised Land, he said, "I don't think I can do it, Lord. I don't feel brave and courageous."

The Lord said, "I will be with you ... I'll show you what to do."

-- Barack Obama, Selma Alabama, March 4, 2007

"I believe in the power of prayer. Through prayer, not only can we strengthen ourselves in adversity, but we can also find the empathy and the compassion and the will to deal with the problems that we do control. What I pray for is the strength and the wisdom to be able to act on those things that I can control...."

Amen and alleluia!

Passing the Test

2008-05-01T19:08:00.007-04:00

Some of my students will attempt to pass the U.S. citizenship examination after they’ve lived in this country for at least 5 years. The test isn’t easy – they’ll have to prove that they can speak, write, and understand the English language proficiently. They also have to answer a series of questions about their background which can be pretty intimidating, especially if they answer “yes” to any of the questions.

Hear are just a few:

-- Have you ever failed to file your federal or state taxes?
-- Have you ever been a member of a terrorist organization?
--Have you ever advocated the overthrow of any government by force or violence?
-- Have you ever persecuted any person because of race, religion, national origin, or political opinion?
-- Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?
--Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any officer for any reason?
-- Have you ever been charged with any crime or offence? ("No, I never break the law.")
-- Have you ever been convicted of a crime or offence?
-- Have you ever received a suspended sentence or been on probation?
-- Have you ever been a habitual drunkard?
-- Have you ever been a prostitute or procured anyone for prostitution? ("No, I have never done this.")
-- Have you ever sold illegal drugs or narcotics?
-- Have you ever failed to support your dependents or pay alimony?

Pretty intense, huh? How well would you fair if you had to answer those questions?

And here are just some of the Civics questions that the examiner could ask during the Citizenship interview. Do you know the answers to the following questions?

1. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
2. Who makes the laws in the United States?
3. Can you name the two Senators from your state?
4. What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
5. Who is the current governor of your state?
6. Who becomes President of the United States of America if the President and the Vice-President should die?
7. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
8. Who said "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death?"
9. Which countries were our enemies during World War II?
10. Who is the head of our local government?
11. According to the Constitution, a person must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to become President. Name one of the requirements.
12. Who selects the Supreme Court Justices?
13. How many Supreme Court Justices are there?
14. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
15. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
16. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence?
17. Where does freedom of speech come from?
18. Who signs bills into law?
19. What special group advises the President?
20. Name three rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
21. Who has the power to declare war?
22. Name one amendment that guarantees or addresses voting rights?
23. In what year was the Constitution written?
24. Name one purpose of the United Nations.
25. How many times may a Senator be re-elected?
26. How many times may a Congressman be re-elected?

Should Voting Be Mandatory in the U.S.?

2008-04-23T10:15:00.007-04:00

I’ve learned from some Brazilians that voting is mandatory in their country –- that’s right, you must vote in Brazil if you are at least 18 years old. Imagine the look of horror on one Brazilian’s face when I told him that not only do millions of Americans not vote, but millions are also not even registered to vote. His look said, “Why, that is a disgrace!” I think he’s right.

The battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have inspired many unregistered people in this country to not only register but to exercise their right to vote.

Whatever the outcome of the Primary election might be, I say Obama and Clinton deserve credit for getting younger people, African-Americans, and others to express themselves politically.

If voting were mandatory for all citizens in America who are 18 years old and older, how would that change the look of Congress, the White House, and our state and local governments? I wonder, would we see more women, African-Americans, Latinos Asians, disabled and handicapped representatives?

Here’s part of a post by a Washington state resident, Bill Center, who visited Brazil less than 2 years ago. He talks about the effect of mandatory voting in that country:

We were in Brazil during the final weeks of the election campaign. The race for President is closer than anticipated and seems to be drawing a lot of attention from the citizens. In Brazil every citizen is a voter. Voting is "mandatory."
Interesting idea.

Technically there can be serious penalties for failing to vote, including loss of government pension. In reality the serious penalties are seldom imposed. Most often there is a fine equal to about $1US. It hardly seems necessary as most people appear to view voting as a serious responsibility.

President Lula — who rose from poverty himself — is very popular with the poorer classes because of the social programs he has implemented. Even so, his reelection is in some jeopardy because of recent scandals involving some of his top aides. His challenger is the Governor of the State of Sao Paulo [population 40 million!]. Under Brazilian law, he had to give up the governorship to run for president.

Even the corruption scandals are "interesting" in Brazil. Most of them involve bribes paid to members of the legislature from different political parties to support Lula. Oh, yes … did I mention there are 45 or so political parties.

As you might imagine, in such a system party loyalty is a light and transient thing. Candidates may run for office representing one party and change parties the day after they are elected. So the system does have some challenges. Proposed reforms include reducing the number of parties to fifteen and making it harder to change parties.

Occasionally the "white votes" – that is ballots cast to meet the voting requirement with no candidate marked – actually total more than 50% of the vote.

That got me thinking.

I kinda like the idea of "mandatory" voting. I think freedom and responsibility go hand-in-hand, and there is no greater responsibility in a democracy than voting. That is how we come to SHARE responsibility for the government we elect. Under our present system we can end up with leaders who not only receive less than a majority of the total votes cast … the votes they do receive can actually represent but a small fraction of those ELIGIBLE to vote.

One of my rules for life: "Vote or keep quiet."I would be in favor of mandatory voting in the U.S. if we added the choice of "none of the above" to the ballot. In any race where "none of the above" received more than 50% of the vote the parties would be required to put forth an entire new slate of candidates. Failed candidates would be barred from the ballot for two years.

I don't expect it to happen. But it is an interesting example of how travel can expand your view of what might be possible.

Click here to read U.S. Census figures on voter turnout numbers in the 2004 presidential election in the U.S.

Touch Not the Unclean Thing

2008-04-20T21:13:00.003-04:00

My Nashville Pastor's sermon titled, "Daughters of Destiny" points to this scripture. I have a much deeper understanding of these words now -- much deeper. Praise God!

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV)

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

"Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."

"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

2 Corinthians 7:1

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Hi-Ne-Ni: Behold! Here I Am!

2008-04-18T09:45:00.004-04:00

My Russian students, who I'm sure God sent to me on purpose -- (I had a dream about many very loving and angelic Russians eight years ago) -- treat me like a daughter, with all of the love and affection that comes with that. Typically my students like to give edible treats, but one couple gave me a gift recently that touched me deeply. It's a set of 3 CDs of Russian "church" music, as they call it. I love the music and am wisked away to a peaceful place everytime I hear the songs. On the back cover of the gift were the words to another spiritual song. This song too, I'm sure is sent from God. The lyrics resonate with me profoundly. Here they are:

Hi-Ne-Ni

("Hi-Ne-Ni" is Hebrew for “Behold! Here I am”)
Lyrics: Lily Liu Music: Francy Shao

Yahweh! O my LORD my God
Come and help me forsake my love
Forsake my love, my all
Yahweh! O my LORD my God
Help me break down all my idols
Idols in my heart

Till I give myself in worship as a sacrifice
With no regrets, No turning back
Till I at the altar hear the calling for my life
With no regrets, Here I am
Hi-Ne-Ni , Hi-Ne-Ni
Purge me, Send me Yes! Here I am
Hi-Ne-Ni , Hi-Ne-Ni
Purge me, Send me, Hi-Ne-Ni
For the darkest corners of the world
O LORD! Send me!
For the souls hopeless in despair, Here I am!
Yes! Here I am, Hi-Ne-Ni
Yes! Here I am, Hi-Ne-Ni

The Healing Herbs that God Gave Us

2008-04-11T10:05:00.003-04:00

One Cappuccino Soul reader expressed anxiety about life when he commented some time ago on this blog. I prayed that he’d find peace in his life and suggested some herbal remedies to alleviate anxiety and sleeplessness that I’ll share now with the rest of you.

The following herbs will help with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. I know, because I’ve used them for almost a year now and they’ve worked for me.

Scullcap (tea or capsules)

Catnip (tea or capsules)

Wild Yam Root (capsules)

St. John’s Wort (I’ve used both the tincture and the capsule form)

Evening Primrose (gelcaps – they look like Vitamin E pills)

Chamomile (tea or capsules)

Valerian Root (capsule – Valerian Root is pretty strong and may not be suited for everyone. I personally don’t take this one anymore.)

Passion Fruit (My Brazilian friends hipped me to this. Just eat the raw fruit or drink the juice and a sense of calm will overtake you.)

Red Raspberry (tea or capsules)

You can take these two or three times a day, but I usually wait until bedtime so that I don’t fall asleep while I’m working. But, if the anxiety is very bad, it may be necessary to take the St. John’s Wort during the day also.

If you’re unsure about how many capsules to take, or how to make the tea, send me an e-mail and I’ll give you instructions (Ramalicia@aol.com). (I must say here that I'm not a licensed herbalist or anything, I just know from my own personal study of herbs and my own experience with them).

Be well, may you have peace, and remember that God gave us these herbs as a natural remedy.

My New Home

2008-04-03T18:29:00.004-04:00

refugee - one that flees; especially : a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

After I showed a documentary to my students today, I reviewed some of the concepts and words used in the film. I felt a particular kinship with my students as we discussed these two ideas:

"I came to America to give my offspring a better life."

"At home, I was in constant anxiety about my family. Here, I don't have anxiety."

I only have to substitute the words "my new home" for "America" and I can sympathize completely with my refugee friends.

(Thank you God for sending me here.)

Race and Ethnicity in the Queen City

2008-04-02T12:14:00.001-04:00

Here are some facts, taken from Charlotte’s Community Building Initiative organization, that show Charlotte’s racial and ethnic make-up. Also, you’ll find how some of Charlotte’s residents viewed the city’s “interracial trust” factor and fairness in the legal system.

I really like it here, but I see that like most other places, Charlotte has a bit of work to do to get closer to the “melting pot” that is the ideal American image.

The demographics of the population of Charlotte, according to updated 2006 Census Department figures are as follows:

African-American 34.4%
Latino/Hispanic 11%
Asian 3%
American Indian 0.5%
White/Caucasian 54.7%

Mecklenburg County’s population has increased 58% in the past 16 years from 511,481 (1990) to 810,900 (2006).

42.4% of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ (CMS) students are African-American. African-Americans make up 34.4% of Charlotte’s population.

13.6% of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ students are Latino/Hispanic. 11% of Charlotte’s residents identify themselves as Latino/Hispanic.

More than 10,000 CMS students are enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. CMS students represent 152 countries and speak 97 native languages.

15.9% of the residents of Mecklenburg County speak a language other than English at home.

12.7% of Mecklenburg County residents are foreign born.

The Charlotte region ranked 39th out of 40 in “interracial trust” among the 40 communities surveyed in the 2000 Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey. “Social Capital” is defined as the formal or informal networks that connect a community.

In research conducted during the CBI/26th Judicial District Resource Team project, African-American employees and Hispanic/Latinos view the system as less fair and equitable for defendants of color than for white defendants. Some whites agree.

Research conducted during the CBI/26th Judicial District Partnership Project indicated that there is no statistically significant data from the perception and case review studies suggesting disparity of treatment based on race or ethnicity in traffic or drug cases. However, many defendants (approximately 32.7 %) do not understand how the court system works or what “happened” to them in court.

You Carry the Cure Within You

2008-03-31T09:54:00.003-04:00

Prayer by Jim Cohn, taken from Prayers for Healing: 365 Blessings, Poems, & Meditations from Around the World

You carry the cure within you.
Everything that comes your way is blessed.
The Creator gives you one more day.
Stand on the neck of Fearful Mind.

Do not wait to open your heart.
Let yourself go into the Mystery.
Sometimes the threads have no weave.
The price of not loving yourself is high.

I Want to Thank You

2008-03-20T20:17:00.004-04:00

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank God for the many blessings that he has given me lately.

First I want to thank God for the lawyer in that little town in North Carolina who got the charges on the traffic citation that I received dismissed.

I want to thank God for getting MCAssist to pay the hefty charges that a certain rental company would have had me pay after the accident that I had in that small town in North Carolina. And Lord, thank you for getting that company to pay all those thousands of dollars. (You and I have already had a good session about this.)

Thank you God for my daughter who brings me joy and sunshine on a daily basis.

Thank you for my new friends who come from all parts of the world. (Now I know why I had that dream eight years ago about the people speaking Russian who showed me such love and acceptance. You do work in mysterious ways.) Thank you for my Brazilian friends who have showed me magnificent acceptance, concern, and compassion.

Thank you for that more-than-needed tax return money. Phewww! Lord, You are always right on time!

Thank you for sending me the jobs that I’ve needed to support me and my daughter. I always knew that you would provide for us.

Thank you for my parents who are always there with a net and/or reassuring encouragement when I need it.

Thank you for my family in North Carolina who have wrapped their arms around us, both figuratively and literally.

Thank you for that special lady in Lebanon, Tenn. who always has our back.

Thank you for my friend Cheryl the Pearl who will be my friend for LIFE.

Thank you for the very wise counselor that I have who continues to open my eyes when I see her.

Thank you for my new church family, for their smiles, teaching, and spiritual guidance. I’m especially grateful for what they mean to my daughter who looks forward to attending the children’s program each Sunday. (Thank you for my old church family who is still lifting us up in prayer. I know because I can feel it.)

And finally God, thank you for my sanity—which I’m more and more sure about with each sunrise.

He'll Be Here Soon!

2008-03-17T10:20:00.002-04:00

That's right! Mr. Obama will be coming to the lovely city of Charlotte in just two days! I know a sea of folks will be trying to get a glimpse of this fella, but if I'm not working, I may have to brave the crowd to get a peek.

I can't wait to vote in the North Carolina primary on May 6! Who knew that our vote would weigh so heavily in the process?

This is where he'll be this Wednesday:

Grady Cole Center
310 N. Kings Drive
Charlotte, NC 28204

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Doors Open: 1:30 p.m.
Program Begins: 3:30 p.m.

Obama campaign confirms Charlotte visit
The Associated Press

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama will bring his Democratic presidential campaign to North Carolina this week.

A statement issued by the Obama campaign on Sunday said he would be making stops in Charlotte and Fayetteville on Wednesday.

No further details were available on Obama's visit.

The fight for delegates between Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has made North Carolina's primary a crucial stop in the 2008 presidential campaign. North Carolina and Indiana have primaries on May 6, two weeks after Pennsylvania.