Why Boycotting Should Be a Lifestyle and Not an Event

I think I've got to take a small bit of pride that my personality, flaws and all, have prevented me from jumping on trends.  I didn't feel compelled to dump ice water on myself, I'm not latest-dance-craze guy, and rarely (only because I may have and it escapes my memory right now) get moved to hashtag an alleged tragedy or watercolor my profile pic.  Not attempting to be heartless or drive myself to be the odd one out, but when I spend a couple more minutes thinking about the various causes and the message my participation would send, I usually find out that it doesn't line up with my assigned purpose and that the "awareness" really isn't the answer.  Come to think about it, that's what it is...I'm obsessed with the answer, the solution, and not the struggle.  And while you spent the last 4 or 5 years standing in lines while battling a post-Thanksgiving food coma; praying that you don't have to punch someone or that someone doesn't punch you...over a blender...I've been getting outstanding sleep.  So, congratulations America for finally starting to catch up with me and leave the Black (Thursday) Friday fiasco alone.  Well, some of you.  At any rate, there's another level you should hope to achieve.

Eternal vs. Temporary: When Social Activism Becomes A Distraction

I used to hear a lot of people who were lovers of history or social justice or civil rights, and were not alive during the many movements of the 1960s, talk about how exciting those times must have been.  It's a valid thought; especially knowing that the term 'excitement' can go a few ways.  For example, when I consider the various readings depicting churches with standing room only crowds...squeezed in to hear the messages of liberation, citizenship, and humanity from fearless men of God..I can't help but wonder what that adrenaline surge would feel like.  Of course similar meetings are happening today, but I think the difference is those meetings in those times were the first.  Again, not to lessen today's movements, but there's really nothing like the initial push.  Truly invigorating.  But the other thing that I can't help thinking about is, "all these people in those churches, and that preacher's got everyone's heart in his hands, did anybody get Saved?"

Violence Love Affair: Looking Past Abuse in the NFL

As entertaining as it is to watch Cowboy fans nowadays (that's if you can see them; many of them disappeared...only hoping to return at the emergence of a healthy Tony Romo), part of the reason of their disastrous season so far has nothing to do with their 2-6 record.  Nor is it just a Cowboy problem; or an National Football League issue.  It's a football fan problem...which pretty much includes all of us.  The problem isn't new, we all know it, we all claim not to like it, but we all support it, feed it, and make it worse.  And unfortunately, after reading this, 99% of us won't work towards change one bit.

Government Agenda: What Secret KKK Members Being Exposed Means

 In the mid-2000s I got into a verbal altercation with an Henrico County police officer; which led to him assaulting me and me getting booked.  During the ride to the jail, the cop and I figured out we had close mutual friends, even partied together, and we were both in error.  He continued this attitude even in front of the magistrate, where he advocated on my behalf as much as he could.  I was released hours later, feeling better than a person would after fighting with the cops about his upcoming court date.  When that day came, the officer was dressed in plain clothes and in great spirits.  We dapped each other up and met with the commonwealth attorney to discuss the case.  She, however, was trying to burn me; wanted to give me years for supposedly assaulting a police officer.  The officer himself tried to talk her out of that, and she wouldn't relent until she received further advice against it from her team.  At the time I couldn't help to think was there a secret plan to take me down, orchestrated by a secret organization.  I wasn't anywhere near the "voice my consciousness" person I am now, so I figured it was all in my head.  Today, a possibility of my assumption has been verified.