Verizon to add $2 convenience fee! (Tell Verizon: Drop the fee for paying bills online via petition)

Verizon $2 convenience fee
-via Foxnews.com

Verigreedy is at it again! Oops I meant Verizon. The company ,who this past summer endured a nationwide strike by their employees for being unwilling to negotiate their benefits, has decided to travel the same corporate greed route this time leading to loyal customers who make their company what it is today. As soon as January 15, customers should expect to pay $2 for online and one-time credit card payments. In other words, you'll be penalized for being green saving the environment by not wasting paper. For what seems like saving money by not wasting your precious gas or on any other form of transportation to go pay at a Verizon store, you will be charged at your inconvenience . Ultimately, you'll be charged for making things convenient for the company! Instead of having to wait for checks to clear and payments to be mailed, they're charging you for going out of your way to make sure payments are sent on time. Customers should get a discount just for that! How sad. Whether your a verizon customer or not, this will eventually affect all of us in one way or another. Just like Bank of America was cornered by regular Americans into dropping their $5 bank fees, we can do the same for Verizon. It's pointless, no one ways to pay what will add up to a total of $24 for the year which can be used for gas, food, and other bills. Verizon, seriously, even after network outages, they have some nerve.

For change -->

Economic Justice- Tell Verizon to drop the fee!!! sign the petition

Are we paying close attention to the bills being passed?

"You can stay blind or you can open your eyes"- @JusticeisBliss1

It's so easy to pay attention to Kim Kardashian's love life, the latest on Beyonce's pregnancy, what celebs wore to the Grammys, or which reality stars fought who on their show. They're the main events on blogs, magazines, and usually the main buzz on the internet. However, do these events really even affect us? We pay more attention to people who probably do not know us, care for us, and most importantly make decisions which will affect us, our family, and our futures to come. Celebrities aren't neither the 1% and surely not a part of our 99%. They're part of the .01% because their salaries are so high and exorbitant that they can't even be categorized on the same scale as even highly paid CEOs on Wall Street. So whatever decision Congress decides to make, I doubt that they would even care. However, YOU should. We part of the 99% should be aware of the bills being passed which can affect our livelihood. Yes celebrities and reality tv stars are such an escape from our boring, mundane lives but a bill that will affect your child's education, student loans, and healthcare-- all of which should take priority over what any celebrity is wearing to the Academy Awards. Not saying dedicate your life to politics, just saying be more aware. The reason why we are in this mess is not necessarily wholly due to Bush's fault but we weren't paying attention. We are part to blame for this mess. So as you sit and complain about what the government is not doing for you, find out what they ARE in fact doing and pay attention before you find yourself in a compromising position.

Ignorance may seem like bliss, but in the end , you usually end up with the short end of the stick because the people that we're paying attention knew where to go, what to do, and how to do it before it was too late.

Links!

opencongress.org
-Stay in the know about what's being passed and what's happening! Read the blogs

A Bill That Could Ruin America?
-top 20 things you should be aware of with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The American Government
-the top 10 things you should know about how bills are passed and about the vetoing process
History lesson worth revisiting

Tracking the United States Congress
-Another website to help you stay in the know giving you bill summaries and statuses
-check the most recent one passed which may affect your healthcare!!!

Dating in the 21st Century: Is it unrealistic to hold on to traditional views?

If you're a single woman in the 21st century, then you probably wouldn't expect the guys you are currently dating to: call you and have long stimulating conversations with you, pick you up from your house, take you to a fancy restaurant, show you a great night, walk you to your door and give you a kiss good night with no intention to get into your bedroom. (This would be considered: the "dream" guy even though decades ago this used to be how every man would be expected to date you)

Now the guys you are currently dating are more likely to text you sporadically and if they text you on consistent basis it would indicate they are very interested in you. Calling you every night would be almost be a stretch with just quite a few men feeling comfortable doing so. On a first date, you probably would be more comfortable meeting him at the place with some women ,depending on the region,even driving with her date in the passenger. Restaurants and movies are now more reserved for "couples" than actual people who would like to date. (If you see two people in a restaurant, the assumption would probably be that the are more likely to be a couple than people on a first date.) Now "dates" are in more unconventional places like the bars and even the person's home. He'll probably be walking to your door because there's an understanding he will be in your bedroom.

For some 21st century women, before this date even happens, she may have already hooked up with her male partner and then decided to go on a date with him. Before it was talk, court/date, marry than sex. Now the accepted process can be sex, talk, date, then marry.

Now is it wrong for a single woman to expect the traditional process?


On the flip side, if you are a single man in the 21st century, then you probably wouldn't expect your date to be anything like the woman decades ago who would only be dating you because of the intent to marry.  You wouldn't expect her to make you wait 15 dates before the thought of sex came to mind.
Women now can date for fun, for money, or just for the hell of it to get out the house and grab a bite. Just as different reasons for dating has been socially accepted, so has casual sex.

 Now a single man can expect some women to help pay or pay for the date.
They're no longer expected to be gentleman holding doors and pulling out chairs, as some women have vehemently opposed asserting their independence.
Given that the stigma of casual sex has virtually disappeared, single men should expect some women to have a high number of sexual partners, even surpassing theirs.
The 21st century allowed women to become more aggressive with sexual advances, absolving men from responsibility, killing chivalry and courting .
A single man should also expect that a single woman, contrary to dating one person years ago, will have other options. Vice versa for the single woman.

Now is it wrong for a single man to expect the woman he dates to be a virgin or have a low count of sexual partners or be the only person he's dating?

Our dating scene and process finding "the one" or our "soulmates" has drastically changed. Women expect a knight in shining armor and a gentleman but look for their future partners in clubs and bars where the intent is to "hook up". All while men's expectations of women are built on fantasy, what they see on TV, celebrities/models, and what they "think" their dream superwoman should be like.

We haven't fully accepted that we've changed the dating scene and blurred gender roles making it harder to stay in healthy relationships which can develop into a marriage built off honest and realistic expectations of our partner. We are a reflection of who we attract and who we date but do we truly understand how we're dating in the first place?


Cool Links!

Dating in the 21st Century

"But how far must dating deteriorate before things change for the better?"
-Link also offers the true origin of Valentine's Day!


The 21st Century Dating Scene

Dating Do's and Don'ts
"I can't read women anymore. Some women want men to act out the traditional chivalrous role. Others are extremely independent and are offended if you open the door for them."




Love in the 21st Century -CBS news
(CBS)  Looking for love in all the wrong places? 

Well, you might not be alone. The number of single adults has reached all-time highs. Nearly 90 million Americans need all the help they can get to land a date, let alone find their ultimate soul mate. 

New Year, Same Problems: Minorities, Women, and the Poor in 2012

"They said they wanted to be treated equally, and now that they are why are they still complaining?"
"There's a Black president, there can't still be racism in America."
"Poor people in America are just lazy, they aren't willing to work hard for the American Dream"

Quotes sound familiar? They should. Although paraphrased, they represent many of the thoughts and beliefs held today towards people of color, women, and the citizens living in poverty. Racism, sexism, and class-ism are not as blatant as they were before. People have found new ways be politically correct without being truly offensive. Politicians also find creative ways to insult the economic conditions of Americans struggling to make ends meet (cough Newt Gingrich) and get away with it because there are people within their party who actually agree but are too afraid to voice their opinions. Those living check to check do not typically have the time to voice their opinions and when the occupy movement attempted to do just that--their opinions were immediately degraded and undermined by the media. Is it truly class war fare when it can never be a fair fight between the rich and the poor? Racism has infiltrated its way through various institutions-- finding ways to keep minorities segregated in under-performing school districts with limited resources and means for educational advancement in their communities. The health of women across the nation is under constant attack by men who wouldn't otherwise know any better about what is right and safe for women's health especially for those who are unable to afford healthcare. Cancer screenings, Planned Parenthood services, basic prenatal care--all being defunded, all essential to a women's health, essential to the health of women of color who still have some of the highest infant mortality rates in the country.  Where are we going to stand in 2012? Behind the people who could care less about the majority, the 99%? Behind the party blocking well needed tax cuts for the struggling and disappearing middle class?


We can either progress, regress, or remain stagnant. We've been stagnant for awhile, but now it just seems to be a line of regression into a dark period where politicians, who supposedly are suppose to make decisions based on the well-being of their citizens are instead making them based on money. Regressing into a dark period where leaders see their own people drowning into an economic abyss of debts, credit cards, and student loans and turn the other cheek to appease those who oppose aiding those less fortunate. Regressing into a dark period where men are in control of making what THEY consider to be the best decisions regarding the health of women based on their misinformed opinions, religion, and debunked research. We need to do better. The year 2012 needs to be a our year of change or it truly will be the end. Not like the Hollywood 2012 end of the world perception, but a bleak, dismal hopeless end of our reign as a strong (superpower) developed nation. We claim to be the best, so we should start acting like it.

Links!

Reproductive health care and Women of Color

Minorities and the 2012 election

Gingrich has it wrong about the poor

War on Women in 2012

World Aids Day: #EndAIDS #GettingtoZero- Ending AIDS in 30 Years?

Please know your status, but don't just stop there. Education and spreading awareness are key when it comes to prevention.

"The World AIDS Day, observed on December 1, is an opportunity to raise awareness about the epidemic, honor those who have died, and mobilize actions to end the AIDS epidemic"  --World AIDS Campaign 



It's the first day of the last month of 2011, a time when will be getting ready and preparing for the new year. It's also Christmas Season, a time when everyone will be counting down and preparing for Christmas. It's also World AIDS Day, a time when we can all do our share and help raise awareness for people who are suffering from this deadly disease and aiding in efforts to help prevent its spread. The goal is 30 years. Being that this year marks the 30 years since AIDS has claimed 30 million lives, the goal is to make sure the reverse happens in another 30. Within those three decades, the mission is to get down to ZERO HIV infections and ZERO AIDS related deaths. So many lives across the globe have been lost and it's time to stand up and continue fighting especially now with the help of many medical advancements which no longer make AIDS a death sentence . While we are preparing for the new year and Christmas, it's also important to take time to reflect on those who will not be seeing a new year because of HIV/AIDS or the many people who find themselves struggling to buy Christmas presents for their loved ones because of the high costs of their medication. Today as we honor the lives lost, let us honor their memory by continuing to fight the battle to ending AIDS.

Another 30 years of AIDS? -CNNblog



This is also an important day for African Americans, the population whose people are affected the most by HIV/AIDS. Studies have shown a decrease in awareness about this issue with poverty, lack of access to health care, stigmas, and prisons being among the many risk factors for African Americans contracting HIV/AIDS.

African American Coalition Against AIDS
Like this FB page to get more information on ways to help, stay educated, and spread awareness and join the fight in decreasing the number of African Americans contracting the disease and getting to ZERO.

Take The Initiative, INC
Please also Like this FB page: TTI is an organization dedicated to ending the disproportionate rates of HIV/AIDS in adolescents of color in Brooklyn.

For more information on the African American Perception of AIDS and what answers science has provided so far visit the following sites:
http://www.avert.org/hiv-african-americans.htm

http://www.harlemonestop.com/event.php?id=13276
Columbia Student Global Aids Campaign: 30 In, 30 Out: The HIV/AIDS Pandemic, 1981 - 2041. 

http://www.dominionofnewyork.com/2011/11/29/what-scientists-know-about-black-people-and-hiv/#.TtZV5LIk6sr



Also visit this site to get an idea of the statistics of AIDS around the globe, information about the disease, and ways to help in the fight!
http://www.avert.org/aids-statistics.htm
Join the World AIDS Campaign: Getting to Zero thru 2015  --> Demand Zero!

Day 4: Rape Culture and Society: Effect Beyond the Victims

Rape culture is a term which originated in women's studies and feminist theory, describing a culture in which rape and sexual violence against women are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media condone, normalize, excuse, or tolerate sexual violence against women. Examples of behaviors commonly associated with rape culture include victim blaming and sexual objectification. Use of the term has recently become more common.

---Victim blaming occurs when the victim(s) of a crime, an accident, or any type of abusive maltreatment are held entirely or partially responsible for the transgressions committed against them. Blaming the victim has traditionally emerged especially in racist and sexist forms.^[1] However, this attitude may exist independently from these radical views and even be at least half-official in some countries.^[2]

---Sexual objectification refers to the practice of regarding or treating another person merely as an instrument (object) towards one's sexual pleasure, and a sex object is a person who is regarded simply as an object of sexual gratification or who is sexually attractive. Objectification is an attitude that regards a person as a commodity or as an object for use, with little or no regard for a person's personality or sentience.^[1][2] Objectification is most commonly examined at a societal level, but can also arise at an individual level.

 **Definitions provided by wikipedia

Rape culture is what is getting in the way of true justice for women who are victims of this heinous crime and unfortunately preventing the topic of rape from being taken seriously. It was only until recently that the FBI voted expand the definition of rape (Oct 18). The new definition--of "rape," no longer "forcible rape"--defines the crime as "penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim (source: Women E-News).

In addition to preventing justice, it also is an obstacle from victims to report rape especially if they will be questioned about their clothes, the amount of alcohol consumed, or where and when they traveled. Truth of the matter is an innocent women will experience something so traumatic it can forever affect her life for years to come. Our rape culture in America is only half the battle as compared to worse rape cultures in other countries like in Eastern Congo where 48 women are raped every hour making it known as "the rape capital of the world".

Rape culture allows for certain beliefs, attitudes, and practices to condone rape. If we want to eliminate violence we have alter the way people perceive it. We need to perceive rape as something which:

-portrays a nation as brute and barbaric society where men have no regard for women and their 

livelihoods to come

-where women are regarded as nothing more than objects when they are mothers, sisters, cousins, and daughters

-plagues the health of a society as victims cannot fulfill roles in society as they live in fear and suffer from trauma

-degrades the quality of life for all members and citizens of a nation (women, men, and children all alike are affected by rape)

Rape affects everyone just like any other crime. It takes its root at the soul within the victim and the negativity spreads to all those around them. We're not making better citizens when we allow men to rape women, blame women for their crime, and expect the men to be pure at heart and the women to be strong. It weakens both people making them less of a human being. It's attacking humanity.

To end rape violence against women, it begins with education. Spread knowledge not stereotypes, blaming, or faulty beliefs and attitudes.

Follow @JusticeisBliss1

#16days

Day 2: MenStoppingViolence (MSV)

Just want to take time out to recognize that it's not only women who are making an effort to end violence against other women, but that men are also doing their part. Men have mothers, sisters, aunts, and daugthers and it would pain them to see the women in their life affected by violence. One sure way to help eliminate violence would be to educate the abusers, perpetrators, and those who have witness violence and are at risk themselves. One organization that is dedicating its mission to educating men to prevent violence against women is Men Stopping Violence. The organization offers a 24-week program which provides ongoing support, connection, and opportunities to volunteer.  Their work is focused on prevention--to help make sure it doesn't even happen in the first place.

It's a wonderful effort and to find out more ways to help or about the organization check out their twitter, website and a blog detailing their efforts.
@MenStopViolence
menstoppingviolence.org
Men Stopping Violence  -piece written by William Wolfrum


#16days of Education

@JusticeisBliss1

Day 1 of 16: Ending Violence Against Women

November 25: International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women




Besides being a day to get the best deals in retail, it is also important to observe this day as a movement towards hopefully ending gender violence across the globe. Day1 of this movement will unfortunately be overshadowed by everyone's rush to major retailers to buy Christmas presents and presents for themselves. But please take this day to just reflect on the many young innocent victims of domestic/dating violence, rape and sexual harassment, and unfair and unjust punishments (such as stoning for crimes of morality) who have succumbed to all those injustices today. Everyday, every hour, every second women and girls are silenced when they are senselessly beaten by their spouses and loved ones, raped by people they know or law enforcement, and in countries like Saudi Arabia being flogged for driving a car. We unfortunately have a long way to go when it comes to eliminating violence against women. It starts with education and awareness. If you are ignorant to the situations, then you won't be able to effectively help. Only when a person is aware and educated on the pressing matters such as violence can justice truly begin to take effect.


#16days of Activism to end violence
How you can help:
http://www.saynotoviolence.org/16days2011

UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women

OWS vs the people in power

Mayor Bloomberg has made numerous attempts to try and thwart the momentum of the OWS protesters but to no avail. He tried taking away their heat generators during the snowstorm and today ordered NYPD to clear out Zuccotti park for what was "maintenance" purposes. The message is clear: the people in power are scared. The movement is growing and despite efforts to discourage protesters, they've only made them more fired up. No one thought the protesters would last this long and this not only bothers Mayor Bloomberg but every politician whose city has been run down and taken over by Occupiers. Kudos to Bloomberg for keeping OWS relatively peaceful, unlike many of the unfortunate events that happened in Oakland, Atlanta, and now Seattle with stories of a child and a pregnant woman being pepper sprayed.

Politicians should be more focused on the message instead of finding ways to stop and in some instances harm the occupiers. No one is listening to the message and it's only growing because of that. The 99% has woken up and they're angry. When politicians, Washington, and CEOs decide to make note of that and actually listen, then will the peace return to their cities. Till then, the momentum will continue. The rage and frustration with politics and lousy business ethics is their fuel and it's not going on E anytime soon. 

OWS- W/O the camping

"This movement isn't dependent on a single location. It will find a home."

Occupy Wall Street Website- Stay up to date with the lates

"They showed us their power. And we're showing them ours"

Follow: @JusticeisBliss1

NBA Lockout: Where's Our Negotiations?

Every basketball fan around the nation is experiencing great difficulty dealing with the possibility that there will be no NBA this season. It's unsettling and everyone seems to be taking their anger out on the NBA team owners, taking sides with the already rich millionaire basketball players. They're siding with them in hopes that they will get an even more exorbitant salary and end this lockout, in turn lashing out their anger out on owners calling them "greedy" and "money-hungry" people who don't seem to care about the game. The players are upset they were given an ultimatum and are willing to put their fans in a sports related emotional depression all because they don't agree with pay cuts offered by their owners.

Doesn't this sound all too familiar? Except in this situation, people get to choose their own terms. Everyone seems to be expressing their anger towards the owners like these negotiations are something new; this is how the world works. The NBA players are now in a situation which millions of Americans have been facing ever since the recession started but they didn't have a choice. Across the nation, people have seen huge cuts in their paychecks, some who even live paycheck to paycheck struggling to pay bills and feed their children. People have had to deal with ultimatums given by their companies with their jobs on the line. Unemployment checks are not negotiable. You get what you get regardless if it didn't match your checks before your company decided to lay you off. Do these regular Americans get to negotiate like our beloved NBA players? Did they get a chance to negotiate budget cuts which would then adversely affect their livelihoods and ability to properly feed and take care of their children.

Those who have the most money and control the nature of our employment unfortunately have a hold on us. Before you get angry at the NBA owners, take a look around and recognize that this is just the way of the land. Instead of getting angry that you won't see your precious NBA teams play, be angry that the people who have the most wealth have the most say. It's not fair to the NBA players and it's not fair to regular Americans. The difference is these NBA players can hire fancy lawyers and fight back. We can't. If professional athletes can get screwed over, then what's our future going to be like, those with the little voices but make up a majority of the population?

Food for thought. 


Follow: @JusticeisBliss1

How we damaged "marriage": Kim K, gay marriage, & keywords

Defining marriage through dictionary.com the first item you will find is:

mar·riage

[mar-ij]

noun 1.

a. the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc. Antonyms: separation.

b.a similar institution involving partners of the same gender: gay marriage. Antonyms: separation.
So we get that part it's an institution which enjoins two people legally, religiously, or both.  (I'm sure it was only until recently circa 2000s that part b. was listed). Keyword: Institution.

Moving on to other defintions:
 2. the state, condition, or relationship of being married; wedlock: a happy marriage. Synonyms: matrimony. Antonyms: single life, bachelorhood, spinsterhood, singleness; separation.
 3. the legal or religious ceremony that formalizes the decision of two people to live as a married couple, including the accompanying social festivities: to officiate at a marriage. Synonyms: nuptials, marriage ceremony, wedding. Antonyms: divorce, annulment.
4.a relationship in which two people have pledged themselves to each other in the manner of a husband and wife, without legal sanction: trial marriage.
5. any close or intimate association or union: the marriage of words and music in a hit song. Synonyms: blend, merger, unity, oneness; alliance, confederation. Antonyms: separation, division, disunion, schism.


Keywords in those defintions: two, pledged, intimate association, union


However, if you were to ask a majority of Americans how they felt about marriage they would have such a negative perspective and probably wouldn't associate marriage with the keywords listed. They would probably be more inclined to associate marriage with the antonyms (the exact OPPOSITE of the definition)- separation, divorce, annulment, division, disunion

When people bring up marriage,  the topics of discussion are failed celebrity marriages, high divorce rates, the question if homosexual couples should be allowed to marry,  and instead of regarding it as an institution belittle it to the status of a piece of paper. They're never usually stories of successful marriages which has now been currently gauged as making it to at least five years to ten years.

Maybe we should stop and question ourselves: Could our high divorce rates be due to our negative and bleak views on marriage. No one sees marriage as this keyword: intimate association especially as we watch Bridezillas be more concerned about their dress, cake, and money than actually institution of marriage itself. They only see one when instead they should see the keyword: two.

We should also stop and question ourselves why we oppose gay marriage so much when it seems that even straight couples take it for granted. "Gay couples will destroy the institution of marriage" a common phrase constantly expressed when speaking in opposition of allowing gay marriages. If we can allow Kim Kardashian to marry for whatever reason whether it was for love or publicity, then why is it we can't allow two people who are actually in love to get married and actually stay married?

We've lost sight of the true definition of marriage and all that it entails and for what? To be amused by multiple failed celebrity marriages? To overspend on marriages we can't afford and then to ultimately overspend on divorce lawyers? To avoid marriage just because of what we see around us or believe sometimes inflated divorce statistics?

Put simply: We don't value marriage and we laugh about it only to turn around point and judge our gay population for wanting to do something we ourselves don't even take seriously. 

If we change our views, our attitudes, our beliefs or if we take the keywords of marriage and actually see marriage for what it really is and not what it's portrayed to be.  Then just maybe we can save ourselves the trouble and live happily ever in love, but if not then until divorce do us part.  

Obama and Student Loans

"Living with student debt has now surpassed credit card debt...That's not a fair way to get started" - President Barack Obama, University of Colorado, Denver

Finally! It isn't the exact bailout that we all wanted for our student loans, but it's some type of reform to help college students in need. The only question is: will it really affect as many students as Obama claims? The best way to find options to help with student loan debt is to research and always stay informed. You're ultimately the person who can really help yourself in your financial situation. Most importantly, don't stay in the dark about your debt!  Don't understand something?  Don't ever be afraid to ask your former institution's financial aid office questions that you need assistance with.  If you graduated and you're currently unemployed, talk with representatives about your options about a payment plan which will work for you. If you're unsure of any paperwork that needs to be filled to get extended time, then call and ask and then call and ask some more until you are fully aware. The point is never to depend on some elected official who doesn't really know you or your situation to get you the help you need. Despite this loan reform, there's other things you have to watch out for and know if this will even affect you in the long run.


Here are some links to keep you informed and educated about Obama's Student Loan Reform!

3Qs: Evaluating Obama's Student Loan Reform

Obama's historic loan reforms could impact UR

Who will benefit from Obama's student loan reform?- CBS news

The Power of the 99%

Recently in the news: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Bank of America has canceled all plans to charge any of its customers a fee for using a debit card! 


Not too long ago 22 year old Molly Katchpole created a petition to send to the CEO of Bank of America to drop its $5 monthly fee. With more than 300,000 signatures, today is , a victory. It's not only a victory it symbolizes the power of the little people, the 99%. All it took was one person to see change and do something about it. 


People can mock and patronize the occupiers all over the nation and globe but at the end of the day we're sending a strong message with our actions. We have what the big companies want. They wouldn't be the big companies they are today without our assistance and most importantly our money. Because we decided to fight back and join Molly, close accounts, start new accounts with smaller banks like Credit Union, and sign pledges that vow that by November 5 people will take their money out of big banks--we've scared them! Now, no other bank wants to follow in Bank of America's footsteps and charge a monthly fee because they saw what we did in response and how strongly we reacted.


The point of this all is to tell these big companies that they're nothing without us. We can't afford not to pay attention to the news and what companies are doing. Be vigilante constantly and always know your rights. It's more than occupying, it's taking action! It doesn't matter how old your are or your educational background, we all can create change even in the smallest ways like starting an online petition.


We're the majority of the population in America versus a mere 1% that is mostly sustained by OUR money and attention. Don't listen to the media and other skeptics who think that this whole protest is a waste of time. Obviously it's not. The big companies are finally scared of the little guys. The 99% was asleep for awhile, but now that we're awake, we're taking charge. 

Media Tactics and Occupy Wall Street

As more and more people become moved by the efforts of occupiers all of over the country and world, the media still continues to use their propaganda tactics to distract and sometimes deter other Americans from participating. One must never forget that the media will never give an accurate portrayal of any movement. One of their tactics is to undermine a movement to prevent it from gaining continued momentum. People should know that there are many people who understand why they are there. A news station will probably interview ten people, and out of that ten they'll show three. The three people who will give you the opinion of Occupy Wall Street as they would want you to see it. The best way to understand why people are protesting is to take a deep look at your economic situation, wonder why Washington keeps screwing you over because of Wall Street and their lobbyists, write down your frustrations, and share them with the people who are occupying whatever state you are in.

You will find people who have lost their jobs (because big companies would rather lay off employees and freeze employment to keep their capital), veterans who fought for our country but are still suffering, people who have jobs (but because you know in America you can still work three jobs and still barely cut it), and college students drowning in debt unable to receive their own bailout. There's a diversity of frustrations, opinions, stories, and people who are occupying all because they feel cheated out of their nation's wealth. There's something to prove and before Americans were sitting around letting Washington handle it until they found out that our politicians didn't have their best interests at heart. Wall street CEOs and their lobbyists put profits before the American people. They see us as dollar signs, statistics, and numbers to be crunched in to a calculator. 

The media won't report that though. They'll never show you the real sad stories of people who lost their whole livelihood, home, and on the verge of depression or the college educated people down there fighting for a cause that is so close to home. They'd rather show you people playing drums (not saying there's anything wrong) and people screaming. Their tactic is to side with the people funding their news station, which for stations FOX, it shouldn't be so difficult to tell who might be funding them to report the way that they do. They'll always distort the two most important things: truth and reality. Instead, they'd rather give you their version of what is true and real just to draw you in at ten o'clock at night. They'll also feed you stories of hardworking Americans who worked from the bottom up and became millionaires, despite the fact that a majority of Americans work so hard and they only will ever make up to $30,000 a year. 

We want the perfect 24 hour day (work 8 hours a day, play and take care of whatever else needs to be taken care of for 8 hours, and sleep for 8 hours). The way that 24 hours should be divided up. Instead, Americans are working almost 2 jobs well into 16 hours and not even sleeping for 5. We're doing the math. The media, Washington, and Wall Street CEOs will never see that. Don't let the media fool you and think that this movement is senseless. They probably did the same when African Americans were fighting for their civil rights. They probably also did the same when women were fighting for their right to vote. They're doing the same now. It's a tactic which gives them business. Don't feed into a business. Just look how we ended up when we did trust big business.

We're standing on our own two feet and taking charge and it's a threat to their little bubbles. It's just the media's job to make that threat seem less threatening. But unfortunately for them, it doesn't seem to be working. 

Change Ahead: Accepting Responsibility

 One part of wanting justice for our nation will be having to accept our own hand in letting the government get out of control. Whenever something goes wrong in our country, our first instinct is to blame our president. Now you can sit there and blame Obama all you want, but if you were to flip the script with McCain as president you'd probably be doing the same. Now there has been some changes that Obama has done for our country that haven't been the most beneficial to us but we also need to acknowledge the fact that his hands are tied. His hands are tied for a variety of reasons, some known to us and others unknown to the general public. One obvious reason (to the minorities of this country at least)is something that the republicans and FOX will never admit: their problem with his appearance, their problem with him being an educated minority, and their biggest problem with him running this country because of all the prior reasons listed. They're making it absolutely difficult for him to pass anything that might help us (i.e. JOBS). But now we have to stop ourselves and wonder: how did we even let this many republicans represent us in Washington to begin with?

These republicans are supposed to be representing US (just look at the name- house of representatives), so how is it that they are supporting ideas and bills which we don't believe in. This is where the theme accepting responsibility comes from. We have to accept the fact that our LACK of responsibility deterred us from taking to voting polls and making sure we had given Obama more democratic support. The people who are voting now, ironically enough, are the ones gullible enough to believe everything the republicans say about Obama whether it's based off of real facts or not (that he's Muslim or wasn't born in the US). So please if you're registered to vote, which unfortunately many minorities still aren't, make sure you take to the polls on this upcoming election day. Election days aren't always just reserved for presidents, as we also take utilize this day to vote for other elected officials as well. We also need to accept that there's still much discrimination in this world, not even towards just African Americans but towards immigrants, West-Indian Americans, Spanish speaking communities, etc. Pretty much if you don't fit the republican ideal view of an American who speaks just English and nothing else, doesn't struggle or live in an inner city but in a picture perfect suburb with a white picket fence, and makes over $150,000 then they don't and will not care about or FOR you.

The wrong people are representing us and making decisions for us. We are so distracted by what we see on TMZ and television that we don't even bother to keep up with the news. Stop blaming Obama for every little thing. At one point you have to say, have I done everything I can to make my situation and community a better place? We already established and have seen that politics and the CEOs on Wall Street and of major corporations have put profits and greed before us regular human beings trying to make a decent living. Accept the responsibility to make your voice heard, your vote count, and your politicians listen.

Justice for the Youth: Cyberbullying of the Amber Coles

When some think of cyber bullying, they may think of a group of students taking to the internet to harass and taunt another student who they don't necessarily like to associate with, understand, or express tolerance towards. But cyber bullying can also take place among a nation through our social networks on a wider scale. The nation can pass their judgments off videos and pictures they see of women particularly young girls performing sexual acts. Young men, in many instances immature boys, will tape and record these girls who are often naive and insecure. A young 14 year old girl by the name of Amber Cole is now being victimized as she was recorded performing a sexual act while others watched and did nothing. Now not only has she been watched by a couple of bystanders but by millions of Americans who are now passing judgment, blaming her parents, and the education system. As another girl probably around the same age attempted to defend Amber Cole, she too felt the wrath of internet viewers nationwide.

We can sit here and point fingers at these young fourteen year old girls and say, "well that's our youth today", but that would be a shame. Dismissing actions like these as something these "kids" do is failing to take responsibility as members of our society and nation. Instead of making fun and sneering at the one person who defended Amber Cole, we should have been more like her and stood up for this girl's dignity as it was taken away every second she was recorded. Our young girls, some lacking a father figure and others in search of the wrong male attention or victims of past sexual abuse, are failing to value themselves. While our young boys are becoming overly sexualized taking advantage of these young girls' insecurities and lack of high self-esteem.

Before you pass judgment on Amber Cole and all the girls like her right now, think to yourself what if this was your sister, cousin, best friend, and even more horrifyingly your daughter. You would be moved with pity and hurt that they would violate themselves and lose their self-worth in just a few short minutes. And every time a boy records and posts a video to humiliate another human being, he too violates his self-worth because he doesn't become worthy of respect for not being able to stop it. Young boys, sometimes victims of community violence towards women, won't grow up to know any better therefore creating a perpetuating cycle of abuse and lack of respect towards their own wives and children. It's a cycle that won't stop spinning till we do something to stop it. You would do every thing you can to speak with them and convince them that the path they are on is a sure way to unhealthy relationships, possible STDs, failure in academic settings, and developmental delays well into early adulthood.

Find a way to help these youth, they need us more than ever especially with their misguided usage of social networks. Mentor, tutor, and be a positive role model. Even better find a teenage girl or boy close to you (cousin, friend of a friend, daughter), and help navigate them to a path of academic success to be doctors, lawyers, and educators. They don't understand their potential. Help them. You may think it's not your duty, but the youth are our future. They are the ones who are to take care of the generation who came before them. How can that work if they are unable to take care of themselves? It starts with one person to view something wrong and change it to make it right.

The link to the "leave amber cole alone" video:

Her passion is something we should emulate to help prevent children from abusing their bodies, self-worth, and dignity.

Positive Energy for the Week!

Every time you want to beat yourself up for something you're doing wrong,

Think of everything you're doing right.

Every time you feel alone and upset,

Call up a family member or friend who knows how to make you laugh!

Every time you feel like you feel angry on the road this week,

Change the radio station to something that plays peaceful music.

Every time you think negatively about someone,

Make sure you think of something positive about them too.

Every time you get frustrated at your job,

Be grateful that you have one.

Every time you want to get angry

Take a deep breath, go for a walk outside, go to the park sit and admire the nature around you.

There can be a solution for everything you think is wrong in your life and you can be in charge of making it right. All you have to do is change the way you think about it!

Have a good week!!

Hindering Justice: Failure to Prioritize

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The dedication of the MLK memorial should today serve as a reminder to all of us that we have to fight for justice no matter how much money we're making or even if what we are fighting for doesn't necessarily have an effect on us. President Obama through his powerful speech stood behind the protesters on Wall Street and all over the globe because just like a few decades ago Martin Luther King, Jr. was doing the same. He led peaceful protests despite the brutality of the police officers towards the African American people fighting for their civil rights. Now in 2011, we are all fighting for our right to live as dignified human beings. It's time for equality once again, this time financial. 

Unfortunately, there is something hindering that justice that we all seek. That hindrance is the failure to properly prioritize our needs. With anything that we do, if we want to succeed, we have to prioritize appropriately. So the same should be when we want justice. However, in Washington, there seems to be other obligations that are getting in the way of that justice. Instead of asking why the people are protesting, they need to ask what can be done or how can we make this nation better so our people don't need to feel the need to protest. Instead of passing the jobs bill, the republicans would rather pass a bill which allows hospitals the right to perform abortions. They're making decisions on defunding women's health, their right to choose, and how to attack President Obama, but they don't seem to care about how those decisions are affecting us as a people.

Unfortunately we've made mistakes, especially when it came to properly assessing and prioritizing the needs of our country. We cannot continue to make those same mistakes.  Making sure you place the right issues where they need to be is the true key to success in any endeavor you embark on. Right now we are on the journey to justice. It won't be an easy battle because of the many nonbelievers who refuse to look our way and help. Like the popular civil rights song says, "We shall overcome someday". Let's all have a dream to see justice for everyone from sea to shining sea. By continuing to fight for our political leaders and opposition alike to see that they're priorities (money, media attention, political campaigns) are ahead of what is truly important (human rights, dignity, health) then we shall continue to embrace and honor the legacy left behind by Martin Luther King, Jr. As we continue to fight for justice, he lives on in all our hearts. 

There's Always A Reason

Though its cliche, everything in your life does happen for a reason. You just really have to be attentive when it comes to figuring out why things are happening at the time they do. Everyone you meet is exactly the person you are suppose to meet at that given time. You could be at rock bottom in your life right now, and that's the perfect time to examine everything that is happening in your life. It's the perfect time to reflect. The perfect time for the spiritual renewal you wanted with your relationship with God. It's the perfect time to make amends with those we've lost sight when we were too busy. It's the perfect time to set aside the time and just think what went wrong and how I can make it better.


Rock bottom? That's the worst time to do all that thinking and hoping for change. It's actually the opposite. When things are going great, you're making all this money, friends are around you all the time, and you're going out every weekend. Does that really give you the time for introspection and self-reflection? Can you really build yourself when you're happy already. When you hit rock bottom, just think to yourself, now is the time for me to get things together and make things right. Things aren't going that well, you're not making as much as you wanted to or maybe you lost your job, not everyone is around you like they used to be, and you're not going out in fact you stay inside because you don't want to be around people who are happy when you're not. Don't feel ashamed it's just the time. In  our lives, there are highs and lows. When you're at your low, you're in a transitional period because things will get better. While you're at your low why don't you make sure that you're ready when things do get better. Continue to work on you so that when you're at your best, you're truly better than you've ever been.

Do we worry too much about things that don't concern us?

This question comes about from an observation from both atheists and religious leaders alike. I saw both cases trying to impose their views on other people who didn't share the same beliefs. With television shows like Family Guy and The Cleveland show, you can see episodes where some characters will shun those who believe in God, poke fun, and patronize them. Then on the other extreme you see religious people not following Jesus' true teachings of acceptance and tolerance when they shun gay couples and object to their right to marriage. Sometime we have to ask ourselves the simple question: in what ways do some thing directly affect my life.

Does a gay couple really affect your livelihood in such a way that it impacts your day to day living, your job promotion, your home life? The answer for most who think it does might be: well I just don't want to see it. To not see something is to not pay attention to it. Their love lives are not of your business just as yours is none of theirs. Their union will never affect you, just as your marriage to your partner or your relationship doesn't directly affect theirs.

The same goes for religious beliefs. Whether or not someone chooses to believe in something, just because you oppose it, doesn't mean it really affects your life. You have your beliefs and they have theirs. It's when those beliefs start being imposed on others especially political decisions that's when things present a direct impact. For instance, when Romney says he will cut off federal funding for abortion clinics and federally funded programs like Planned Parenthood all because he believes that abortion is wrong. A young teenage girl or college student in Minnesota, Texas, New York, California who does not have the financial means to care for a baby or a significant other to support her does not directly affect Romney in any other way but it will significantly affect a girl who cannot pay for the full cost of an abortion. 

We all make decisions about what we want to concern ourselves with but we need to understand that sometimes we can care about irrelevant information which has no direct impact on our lives. Caring about a celebrity's pregnancy when they don't know who you are or invite you to their wedding shouldn't be something that takes one of the top priorities in your life. It may be hard because of all the media obsession with celebrities but you have to make that decision on yourself. Issues involving social justice, our political leaders making decisions which will affect our future, and things that impact you and your loved ones directly are the things that should be taking top priority. When you obsess over something, make sure it does something to change you, your loved ones, your society, and your nation for the better. 

Dear America: What kind of country do you want to live in?

Food for Thought #JIB
@JusticeisBliss1 

Positive Energy for the Week! A Challenge!

Approach everything you do with a certain level of positivity. Not positivity in a sense that you have to be constantly smiling to everyone you cross paths with or walk around with a smiley face sticker. Positivity in the sense that you place all your inhibitions, limits, fears, anxieties, and stress to the side and in place of all those you put your best foot forward and let your self-confidence, will power, work ethic, and a sense of peace overwhelm you. What you bring to the table is ultimately what you're going to walk away with. The challenge for this week is to let your best you shine. Let your voice be heard. Let your ideas flow through you and write them down if you have to.

Whenever you have a negative thought that you can't do something, replace it with a good thought that you are going to be able to either do it or find other ways to solve your problem. Whenever you find yourself talking badly about a person, switch it up and say something nice about them. Whenever you find yourself sluggish and complaining about the work you don't want to do, change your attitude towards the job and find something to be grateful for (like having a job in the first place with a high unemployment rate).  Make someone laugh, tell an interesting goofy story, or just be your best self.

That's the challenge for the week! Be the best you and see how things turn around even in the slightest bit.

Do we pay attention to too much GLAM and not enough JUSTICE?

First and foremost I would like to congratulate the three women who won the Nobel Peace Prize, they are an inspiration and I only hope that we have half the strength and courage to stand up for civil, women, and human rights and nonviolence as they have done for their communities and countries.

For the NYT article about the three inspiring activist women: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/world/nobel-peace-prize-johnson-sirleaf-gbowee-karman.html?hp

Due to the current climate of protests around the nation, it does seem as if America is resembling the 60s/70s where the college educated and workers alike would drop everything that they were doing to protest the injustices all around  them. I do feel, however, that it is a slight resemblance. I say slight because the impact isn't as big as it should be. There are people celebrating three women winning the Nobel Peace Prize but then there's probably a majority who have no idea that there was even a woman president in Africa, that she won the coveted prize, and probably will or don't even want to know. Especially our young people. It's unfortunate. They would rather watch TMZ, E insider, and the latest entertainment news than watch CNN ir read NYT and keep up with the latest that is happening all around us. Not to say that we should shut ourselves off from our escape of our hard lives, but is it too much?

Are we too obsessed with the glitz and glam of their lives that we forget there are people actually doing good in this world. Does it serve as a handicap to everyone especially our youth that all they should aspire to are to be singers, dancers, and 15 minute celebrities? Should we do more to praise people and women around the country, the world making a difference so that others can live better lives? Is it true that people know more about  celebrities intimate details than factual details of past and present political figures who are actually made and are making decisions which have had a significant impact on our livelihood?

These are the questions we have to ask ourselves when it comes down to our country being that we live in a first world. Are we to obsessed with lives we will probably never live instead of being obsessed with change?




Just food for Thought.

Dear Media: Our Main Demand RIGHT HERE!

Dear Media (Fox 5, CNN, MSNBC, and all other channels who claim to "report" news),

It took you awhile to finally give #occupywallstreet some media attention and when you finally decided to get off your high horse and do so you patronized the people who were down there protesting mass corruption that has pervaded our economy for the past few years. You called us "no direction, potsmoking, anti-business, anti market, anti goverment, anti-American, grungie, good for nothing hippie" people with nothing better to do with our lives but sit around "breaking the law" without serious demands. Would you like to hear our message put simply: "We're tired".

We're tired of having to watch as you report CEOs getting big bonuses and raises. While the only thing that raises for us is our bills, bridge tolls, gas prices, and living expenses (all of which you constantly report but do nothing to help us.)

We're tired of hearing about unemployment (which rate you love to report every month to constantly remind us how the situation we're in right now isn't getting any better) all the while continuing to pay taxes which contributed to the big bailout.

We're tired of living our everyday lives in misery and having to pay higher taxes than the people who can easily escape the misery of life because the government allows them to (another report which you love to constantly shove in our faces whenever you get the chance)

We're tired of struggling to feed our children, having to choosing which bills to pay first to avoid getting utilities cut off or losing our possessions, facing the fear of homelessness, graduating from college only to find a lack of employment, budgeting our already low budgets, not knowing on a daily basis what is to come of the future, worrying about filing bankruptcy, struggling just to struggle less, living paycheck to paycheck off diminishing paychecks, having our state governments enforce cuts on our education, our health, our livelihoods ALL THE WHILE the corporations and CEOS and circus of a government aren't doing their share to change it!

We're tired of being tired and we're OH SO TIRED of your poor journalism, your lack of support for the people who actually watch your news channels, and your disregard for social justice and equality.

We're tired and the protests are waking us up and you should do the same. If you don't care to, then stop reporting #occupywallstreet and continue to poorly report high unemployment rates, a bad economy, and the lack of leadership in Washington while we continue pour our frustrations and then maybe you'll listen. But probably not especially our lack-of-any-sense-of-humanity and puppets to poor leadership and information folks at Fox 5. Justice is our goal and frustration with everything above was our catalyst for change. If you're not on board stay out of our way and our lane.


Sincerely,
The 99% of people who actually want to see CHANGE.