Philosophy

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Excited to attend once again the Misa De Gallo after two years. It’s just my way of feeling the spirit of Christmas whilst away from home. First day – Woah! We have a big church but the people of God is bigger than this. The mass went thru with most of us standing for about 02 ½ hours. The wind blows as freezing as ice. Winter it is! Second Day – Friday weekend means make-up free day. When going to church, I prefer to be the simplest possible. I know God will understand and besides there’s no one whom I should look pretty of. Third Day – Extra off weekend means make-up free day part two. Still feeling cold but not as cold as the first two days. Maybe we are getting used to it. Fourth Day – Sleeping after work is the best remedy to...
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There are no words yet dozens flood my mind. My life is so rooted in love for one another, it is framed in compassion and is propelled by seeking harmonious relationships. Today, all of that is being tested, thus creating a severe inner conflict that I don't see subsiding anytime soon. I'll admit, I was naive about the landscape of our country and how people actually think and how concerned others are to have say over other peoples’ lives. I proudly blame the bubble I’ve chosen to live inside of, one that has continually offered comfort, support, and protection. What's most telling in all of this, and most heartbreaking, is that I don't have to look too far outside of that bubble to see such opposition personified. I'm told it's not personal, but why do I feel so victimized? Maybe...
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Dear Life, I know you've been throwing up a lot of things to me ever since. There are even times that I thought I couldn't even handle it anymore. Can you still remember that time when you let my 2 sisters ran away with their lovers? Yeah, that one. I can actually still hear my Mama crying, my Papa drinking... those things... It was really dreadful. Losing 2 members of my family for only a gap of 2 months? How do you think I handled that one? I have to grow up ahead of my age because I have to be strong for my younger siblings. You took away my childhood. You took away those things that I should've enjoyed. But, thanks by the way, it made me who I am today. How about that moment when I can't even choose my college course? That my parents would just tell me to stop my school because...
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“You should consider yourself lucky,” was the response of one of the white producers of my radio show “Listener’s Action on Homelessness and Housing” for New York radio station WBAI 99.5 FM in late 1987. We were at a cocktail party celebrating the show, when I noticed that I was the ONLY African America present and said, casually to one of the white male producers of the show, “Have you noticed that I am the only Black person here.” To say his reply threw me is a gross understatement. It infuriated me. What kind of idiot racists was I working with?! When they offered me the job of producer and host they presented themselves as these cool, hip, socialist bent white “brothers”. The rude awaking of Muhammad Ali’s truth years before that white folk can’t be my brother slapped me across the...
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Dear Art Thief, When you asked if I could draw you, I did it. When I finished the very rough sketch you asked if I could make it look “cartoony”. I did. When I was done with the lineart you said that it was okay and took it off of my desk. Then you signed my art. The art that I put effort into just to make it good enough for you. I knew if I hadn’t put in enough effort then you would have just hounded me to do so. You then asked for my colored pencils. Well, technically you took them off my desk too but, you got a hold of them either way. You then proceeded to color my drawing very messily. You know if you wanted it colored, I could color it for you, right? All you had to do was ask me. I never stopped any of it though. I’m just not the type to speak out. It wasn’t until about two...
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Dear Future Self, I don’t know where you are right now but if you’re reading this it means you’re doing fine. Maybe you’re surprised that you’re reading something you type up years ago. I wonder if you look the same? I wonder what kind of job do you have? I wonder if you’re healthy/eating right? I wonder if you have a nice family? Right now, things are rougher than what i thought it’s like everytime i make something positive happen something negative happens. The time that it happened was when i was in the 2nd week of school I mean stuff is great outside school but when i’m in school it’s a challenge to stay focus(stay awake). But i’m your capable of making a profit off your intelligence. I just hope that you’re doing good...
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I wanted to say thank you to those 20-something guys driving through the shopping center parking lot today. I guess without you generously bringing this to my attention, I would have been living clueless. Up until the moment you felt it was necessary to shout out your car window, as I was walking across the parking lot with my daughter, to yell at the top of your lungs , "That is one fat b!/@...
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I hope this open letter is encouraging to today's young women. My wish is that the next generation of women fully realize their potential, and never settle. Never settle for less than what you want in a career. The biggest disservice you can do is to limit yourself or listen to those who tell you your dreams are not practical. Such people may direct you towards a career thought of as a 'typical' female career, e.g., a teacher, a nurse, etc. However, as the late Steve Jobs stated, "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle." Another inspirational Steve Jobs quote is, " Your time is...
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This afternoon I read your post on Facebook regarding what disability rights taught you about privilege. In this post you discussed the issues of power, privilege and ignorance. You further wrote, "The fact is, people with disabilities - whether visible or invisible - face harsh inequalities. People with physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health disabilities do not benefit from the same opportunities as those without." Even with the Americans with Disabilities Act, your statement rings true. My familiarity with disability is the result of having been a caregiver for my mother - and to a lesser degree my father - and becoming disabled myself. Just to provide some background, my parent's - who divorced when I was one-year-old - each sustained an injury in 2000. Both of my parent's...
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Two recent events have me led me to write this letter. This letter is about people judging other people. Whether it's neighborhood gossip or something going on within one's family, we all do it from time to time. As I previously stated, there are two recent events that got me thinking about judging others. The first incident took place one month ago. On that particular day, I had attended a birthday party for one of my cousins'. After the birthday party, several family members - including me - went back to the house of one of my cousins'. We were sitting around, talking and catching up when one of my uncles asked me how my mother was doing. I responded by stating that the last time I spoke with my mother she was okay. This uncle then continued to press the issue by inquiring about how...
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