It’s On My Mind: Take One Step, Then Grow Up

March 24th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

I’ve got a lot on my plate these days. Believe me, I’m not complaining. I’ve come a long way and I’m happy with my progress, but more money brings more problems. In this case, more success leads to more problems.

It’s the classic crabs in a barrel scenario. If someone sees you doing good, their first instinct in to try to pull you down. O.K. maybe it’s a second instinct. The first is when they choose to be a hater.

Whether it’s their first or second thought doesn’t matter, their intent is always the same; misery loves company and they are miserable.

Can I share a quick story?

Once upon a time, in a land that was gray and unforgiving, there lived a man. He was an ordinary man. He’d lived through immense struggles and conquered major hurdles to survive to a rip age of 25.

When he hit this magical number, he took inventory of his life. He didn’t have a steady job, no savings, he was barely able to keep a roof over his head, and he had no one that loved him with that special love. He realized his life wasn’t progressing as it should.

So, an angel came to the man. The man didn’t believe in angels. Where were the angels when he was hungry, lonely, or depressed by the hand he was dealt? Where was the angel when those around him with hearts of gold suffered immeasurable loss?

The angel told him there were lessons to be learned and as of yet, he never took one opportunity to learn from his mistakes. That’s why he couldn’t see her. He was so busy doing it his way, he paid no attention to the blessing being placed all around him.

Once the angel put the blame squarely at the Man’s feet, the man had no choice but to react. He called her every name but a child of God. This shocked the angel because she had watched him share what he didn’t have, help others when his hands and back were sore, and she watched as he took others’ problems and loaded them on his shoulders.

The angel responded, “Grow Up”. You have been put in a position to help others. You have lived a life I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, but you made it out and there is Love and Healing on the other side. But you have to be willing to accept it.

——————————————————————————–

I think we are losing our way because we refuse to accept that we can actually solve our problems. I’ve been talking to a lot of different people lately, and I’ve come to this conclusion; everyone is aware of what problems exist, they just don’t care to solve them.

We all need to realize, it all starts with a single step. One step out on faith and mountains will move. We have moved mountains or have we forgotten?

But that one step means nothing if you don’t grow up after taking it. If you don’t realize that a problem is nothing but a solution waiting to be found, the problem will persist and fester. The next time you look back at the problem, it’s increases 10 fold.

We’ve looked back and placed blame, but when will we stop calling the problem everything but a child of God. When will we start calling on God to solve the problem.

Dear Government, Get Out Of Our Way and We’ll Show You How To Fix the Economy

March 20th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

Dear President Barack Obama, Congress, or Who Ever Will Listen:

We stand at a pivotal time in history. We must make decisions now that will effect the future of this country. And I understand they are tough decisions to make.

I am but one American citizen, but I am scared. I am scared my daughter will not have the opportunity to blow the same chances I blew. That may sound funny, but I know she is bound to make mistakes. My hope is that I can teach her to take responsibility for those mistakes. Not with just an “I’m sorry”, but bold actions that will alleviate some of the affects of her actions. I hope I can teach her to learn from her mistakes.

The civility in my tone is only a mask to hide the rage I feel. Our government officials are supposed to be the brightest amongst us, but we still expect you to make mistakes. We understand you are only men and women.

Yet, we demand you learn from them.

We have learned from our mistakes. Most American people now know to run from an adjustable rate and are sure to fully read any contract before signing. Shouldn’t you have learned that lesson before signing the contract to grant bonuses to AIG executives?

The American people have started to wake up and we understand we have played a role in hurting our economy. The difference is, when we realize it, we stand up and do the right thing.

Examples

1. So All May Eat Cafe- Read full story. Take all the prices off the menu and let people play what they can afford to pay. Those who can pay more, will pay more. Those who can’t, still get to eat.
2. The Layoff Proof Lease- Read full story. Need a place to live but scared to take on a commitment in this shaky economy? Rent from us and if you lose your job, we’ll give you two month free rent. No strings attached.
3. $2 Economic Stimulus- Read full story. Stimulate your own community by giving a little extra to your employees. Then encourage them to donate to some one in need, then spend the rest in local businesses.
4. Some where in a basement, there is a boy inventing a new wave of micro-computers because his father lost his job and is now able, if only until his next employment opportunity, to share his wisdom of electronics.
5. Somewhere in America, there is a woman that is volunteering at an AIDS shelter that will find her passion in medicine and treatment of the disease.
6. Somewhere in America, there is a group of investors pooling their money together to make a Bank that makes good loans, to good people, at good rates, just because it’s the right thing to do.
7. Families that still have jobs are now inviting their friends and neighbors that are unemployed over for dinner and finding inexpensive ways to share great times.
8. And then there’s people like me. Who blew every chance and made every mistake and now wants to be a part of the solution. There are entrepreneurs with enough faith in themselves and this country to start a business from the ground up and make it a success.

All we need from you is to get out the way. Let us show you how it’s done. If you are not big enough to admit the first bail-out was a mistake, Fine. If you are not big enough to admit the stimulus bill was a mistake, Fine. But don’t continue to cover one mistake by creating another.

The government did not build this country. The people built this country, let us fix it. We know if won’t be easy, but you don’t have to keep making it more and more impossible. Stop speading money and we’ll show you how to solve our nations’ woes as we have always done. Shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, with nothing but love for this country willing us forward.

Money means nothing to someone with passion in their hearts. We do it because we want to, because we know it’s the right thing to do. Do the right thing. Stop spending money we don’t have.

A very, very, very concerned citizen

Sonskystar

A Win Win Situation

March 19th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

“I can’t help the poor if I’m one of them. So, I got rich and gave back, to me that’s the Win Win.” Jay-Z Feel My Truths, Black Album

I’m a stickler for one liners. The whole song has to be good, but the best songs always have one line that is stapled in your memory from the first time you heard it. That phrase has stuck with me since the first time I heard it.

Is only one Win enough for us? I won that fight, I lost that war T.I.

Let’s give a few scenarios:

We rail about making the rich pay higher taxes, but what is that doing directly for you?

We cry about corporate bonuses, but does that get you any closer to making the kind of money those executives make.

We yell about racism, but we do nothing about stopping the self caused destruction in our own neighborhoods.

We complain about how the government is spending money, but we continue to use credit cards and pay day loans.

When are we going to want a complete domination victory instead of excepting small wins, that in the long run have no real long term effect? Have we really gotten to the point where we are satisfied when someone else is brought down a peg or two, instead of being satisfied we have moved up a peg or two?

Do we actually win anything if you put a higher tax on oil and the price of gas goes up? Yeah, we showed that big oil company, but we also hurt the poor and under privileged trying to keep their house warm.

Create an alternative to gas, make it readily available, and then tax the oil companies. Their massive profits get cut, and the small guy has options, and the country gets a Win Win because we are no longer dependent on foreign oil.

Think about that next time you want some one successful to suffer. Who are you hurting by exuding your hate before you make a plan on first how to improve yourself?

If I Were Edward Liddy I’d Save AIG: Congress Try Me

March 19th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

When the story broke about AIG giving $140 Million in bonuses to the same employees that wrecked the company, I was furious. I wanted to roast every single person that received a dime of that money.

But the cool thing about me, I always take a moment to think out any situation. So, I waited until Liddy made his way in front of Congress to make a final judgement.

PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS> Congress is trying to tell Liddy give back the $140 Million or don’t even think about getting the next $30 Billion. And what about the 3.7 Trillion planned for next years budget? This is what they do. Get you looking in one direction, while they are doing some thing else in the other direction. Magicians.

Let’s pretend for just one moment I was Edward Liddy and Barney Frank had the nerve to imply insult towards me or Chris Dodd tried to duck his role in this debacle. Oh! The Joy……..

Barney Frank: How dare you come before Congress after giving away $140 Billion of taxpayer money in the form of bonuses? You should be ashamed.

Me as Liddy: Why is that Senator Frank, orchestrator of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac forced lending principles that caused businesses like AIG the ability to make money off false derivatives.

BF: We are not talking about Fannie or Freddie, we are talking about your incompetence as a C.E.O.

MasL: Dear Senator Frank, you and the rest of Congress asked me to take this job. If I am incompetent, what does that make you?

BF: I see you have come here with a chip on your shoulder.

MasL: Why would that be? Could it be, I came out of retirement to make $1 a year saving a company You, the former administration, the current administration, and every member of Congress said was to big to fail. The current economic crisis in this country is to big to fail. Should you get paid $1 to serve the American people like I’m doing?

BF: How dare you insult this panel by talking about how you are looking out for the American Taxpayer?

MasL: How dare you take insult, without a single grain of remorse. Barack Obama, you, and the rest of Congress pushed this Bail Out bill through without even reading it. This “panel” did not check the contracts in place before giving away the money. Where is the admission on guilt and remorse from you that sit in judgment of me.

BF: Mr. Liddy, you are completely out of line.

MasL: Oh, I’m just getting started. What are you going to do Mr. Frank? Fire me. Who are you going to get to work for $1 a year to deal with people like you. It only shows why those who are still employed at AIG and got the bonuses, deserve them.

I was not a part of AIG when now Secretary Geitner was creating this bail out. Why is he not on Capital Hill testifying to how these bonuses were allowed to slip through the cracks?

And now, you want me to go back to American Taxpayers, because you do remember that most of the employees that recieved a bonus are American Taxpayers who are now going to put that money back into the economy, and tell them the contracts Congress and AIG signed are wrong and they have to give back the money.

Instead of taking your place of guilt, you want to start a mob. A mob that threathens killing AIG executives and their families. And you tell me all I have to do is give the money back and the threats stop. Isn’t that extortion? Isn’t that a felony? How dare you?

BF: Mr. Liddy..

MasL: Please take no offense to this Senator Frank but the American People have no confidence in You and Congress. I will not allow you to place all the blame on me. Not because I am not big enough to handle it, but because I want AIG to flourish again.

No one will invest in a company where the whims of Washington rule the C.E.O.’s decisions. You have given AIG Billions of dollars in taxpayer money and it is my job to recoop that money so my grandkids don’t have to pay it back in higher taxes later. That’s why I’m here, not to take ridicule and judgement from you.

If you continue this tirade to deflect attention from the real economic problems and focus squarely on these bonuses, while further hurting the image of A.I.G.; you are in fact guaranteeing AIG will fail. And I will not allow it.

Thank you for this time to speak. I have real business to get done. Shouldn’t you be reading the 3.7 trillion dollar budget proposal by Barack Obama. Or do you plan to sign that one into law before reading it also? Who is going to be your next scapegoat since you can’t use me?

——————————————————————————-

After you heard that, everyone would be in rush to invest in AIG, as long as Liddy was running it. They would have confidence and that’s what missing in the market today. Real true confidence in the people in the positions of power.

The Other Side of Education: “Cupid” and “Nappy Head”

March 17th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

Yesterday, my niece called because she needed some help with her algebra homework. I pick her up and notice she is wearing clothes I know her parents would not approve of. I say nothing and we head to my house. About 10 minutes after we get there, a knock comes tapping at my door.

Not surprised, I open the door to see a little nappy headed boy standing in front of me. My niece shyly hid her face like she wasn’t interested in who was at the door. He manages to mumble out, Did I see “cupid” come in here. I smile and invite him in.

My niece is smiling like she got away with some thing, I let her have her moment. I leave the two unattended for about 20 minutes then I make my return and the real fun began.

When I got back, they had their math books open and were doing home work. They were giving each other little smiles and pokes in between but they were really accomplishing work. I sat at the table and asked if they had any questions.

“Nappy Head” said no. He had a good grasp of math, he just wanted to help “cupid” study. Cupid just looked away, not fully sure how I was going to re-act after the fact. I calmed her fears with a little verbal jabbing and she enjoyed her study date with “Nappy Head”.

“Nappy Head” said “There are two forms of education, knowledge you get from school and knowledge you get from life. Neither is more important than the other.”

I questioned his thought. He informed me it wasn’t his thought, it was his interpretation of a W.E.B. Dubois. (You’ll understand the relevance of this in a couple days.)

I got caught in my stereo-typing. I didn’t assume he was dumb, but I did assume he was broke. The more I chatted with “Nappy Head”, I realized he was smarter than the average bear. He wore plain jeans, an almost white tee, and a pair of boots too scratched to know the brand. I didn’t realize the err of my ways until I spotted the $280 watch on his arm. It was a plain black Citizen Echo, just like the one I got my hubby for Christmas.

So I questioned, “What do you plan on doing with your life?”

He answered, “I’m going to be a millionaire.”

So I questioned, “How do you plan on becoming a millionaire?”

He answered, “When I get enough money, I’m going to open a barber shop and let my uncle cut hair. Then, I’m going to start investing in real estate. It’s the perfect time to come up like Donald Trump.”

So I questioned, “How do you plan on getting enough money to open a barber shop?”

He answered, “Me and my uncle do what we got to do.”

At this moment, my nieces’ whole attitude changed. He parents shelter her so much, she is unaware of things right in front of her. I could tell, the more he talked the more she learned about him. What would’ve happened if she never caught on and got caught out there?

So I question, “Do you know it makes it a lot harder to secure a loan if you are a convicted felon? If doing what you do causes your dream to become harder to reach, is it worth it?”

He answered, “I’d rather take that chance than spend another night hungry, cold, and too mad at life to dream.”

I didn’t feel sorry for “Nappy Head”. But the truth of the matter is, more than likely he’ll be the one that gets popped. They always seem to catch the one’s that do it more out of necessity than greed. But what could I tell him? He picked a path to walk, knew the stakes, but decided it was worth the risk.

I told “Nappy Head” we make dinner at 6:00 every night and it’s always warm in my house. If he decided the risk was to great, he was welcome in my home. He nodded and they said their goodbyes.

Now, it was time to deal with my niece. I gave her no indication of what was to come. I drove her home and walked her into the house. There, I told her parents how she concocted her little meeting with “Nappy Head” by lying and setting me up.

She looked at me like she was shocked. In her mind, I’m sure I had destroyed what ever trust she had in me. Allowing her to sneak and lie with me as a cover was unacceptable and she had destroyed the trust I had in her to do the right thing, no matter how hard it was.

I turned to my niece, in front of her parents, “You did the wrong thing, even if it was for the right reason. If you were my daughter, I would have no problem with you having supervised visits with a boy. I’m not high-strung or over bearing, like some people. But I am not your mother or father, and it’s not my place to teach you how to disobey their wishes.

If you had came to me and said, I like this boy but my parents won’t let me see or talk to him, then I could’ve helped you work it out with them. Instead you chose to lie and that’s not cool.” She was then sent to her room.

One of my best friends and her husband, stood in front of me like, “We don’t know what we are going to do with her.”

I looked at my friend, “Let her see boys. She is 14, a good student, and respectful child. But she is also growing up and you have to let her get the other side of her education. The boy she likes sells drugs and she didn’t even know it.

If you make her sneak, she will sneak, and you have no control over the decisions she makes. But if you nurture her through the process, then she will keep you in the loop and you can have some influence over her life.”

I came home and looked at my daughter. She is beautiful, smart and full of attitude. I hope I can heed my own advice when it comes to my child. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and prayers heading to heaven.

Card Check, Union, and Government: Should Workers Really Want More Money?

March 15th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

The title would suggest that I have lost my mind and maybe I have. Everybody wants to make more money, the question is, “Is the union the best way to accomplish this?”

Congress is currently considering re-instating Card Check. To become unionized, 50% of workers have to sign a card saying they want to start a union, and they get a union. Under the current process, the business gets to make it’s case to the workers and the vote is held in secret.

Card Check passing through Congress currently, has another little loop hole tucked in. If the business and the workers can’t come to a resolution, a Washington bureaucrat, with no knowledge of the company in question, will be able to set salary for workers.

Supporters of Card Check say, “How can it be a bad thing to build up the middle class?” If workers make more money, they have more money to spend. They spend more money, our economy booms. Couple that with government healthcare and new green technology, and our country will be set to go into the next century.

Now, I’m self-educated but pretty sharp, so let’s work through this.

First thought, a business’s main purpose is to make money. I know in the current environment, it’s to fail and get a government bail-out, but majority of business’s start with the goal of being successful.

Let’s create a company to play with. How about Liberals Steal Futures Inc. or LSF Inc.

So, LSF Inc. is a national company that produces food products, cleaning products, and the major components of wind power turbines. Great company to be invested in. They are diversified in their holdings, so no one glitch in the market would affect them that much.

50% of their people sign cards requesting the company become unionized.

The C.E.O., unaware a union sign-up was even in progress, was in the final stages of opening his new green construction company. He had poured a majority of LSF Inc.’s recent profits into expanding the company. The expansion would create thousands of new jobs and change the face of the construction business.

Card Check is passed and a union is started before the C.E.O. can even announce the expansion. What should be a wonderful time for the company becomes a fight with the union. Higher wages, more sick days, and health care for part time employees.

LSF Inc. drops in the stock market and a lot of investors lose money. Instead of announcing adding new jobs, they announce they are cutting jobs.

In the current climate, the average American not affected directly by the falling stock price or loss of jobs, doesn’t care about the strain put on the business. They got the money, they should pay their employee’s more.

But here comes the dirty little secret. The C.E.O. is not stupid. He knows that he still needs to turn a profit, so what does he do? He raises the price on your bread, eggs, and milk. The price rises 20% on your dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, and body soap. The wind power they want us to depend on, now goes even higher in price because LSF Inc. is the only company that makes the turbines.

It’s fine if they want to raise the price, I’ll just buy another brand. Just try. All the other American brands went up because they too have become unionized. All that’s left is foreign products three times cheaper than those made in America because they don’t have to deal with such issues.

“You left one important part out of the equation, if the government is paying for health care, the prices won’t be that high for businesses.”

Correct. But where does the government get it’s money? From you. So they will give you a pay raise, put you in a higher tax bracket and charge you more in taxes.

What did you really gain? You pay more in taxes, it cost you more to provide for your family, and jobs are disappearing because foreign companies can provide cheaper products.

I’ll even go one step further for you. What would happen if wind was no longer a worthy source of power? The workers get mad because of lay-offs or benefit cuts and they strike. The Union and LSF Inc. can’t come to a conclusion so they have to meet with a government mediator.

The government mediator decides since government no longer believes wind power is viable, they think the people’s wages working in that division should shrink substantially. So a year ago you were making $20 an hour and now the government thinks your job is worth $11 an hour.

And there is nothing you or the Union can do, because the government has the final say.

This weekend, I watched bits and pieces of Norma Rae, Sally Fields portrayal of a textile worker inspired to start a union at her company. Very moving story but New Jack City was on another channel. As I flipped back and forth between movies, I got an interesting idea. Be on the Look Out for a very funny story.

Couple Quick Notes: Rush for Education and A Silent Conservative

March 11th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

I’ve been spending a lot of time trying to figure out political manuevers. The one thing I’ve learned this year, nothing in politics is as it seems. A politicians main goal is to tell you what you want to hear, without speaking the things you don’t. It’s that simple.

Rush for Education

This morning I was attempting to read between the lines on a two stories in particular. First, Obama’s new plan to improve education from the cradle to college. Sounds good right. I mean who could argue that most inner city schools need improvement.

But what does he not want us to hear?

He wants government to have a heavy hand in creating a suitable school system. Could it have something to do with the Teacher’s Union that prevents firing of bad teachers? Or is it something less politically motivated, like an actual belief that children need to be educated.

Maybe, just maybe, it’s completely political. I watch Fox News. They have a segment on the liberal bias in public school textbooks. It’s so funny how liberals create our school books and still manage to leave us out. I digress.

Anyways, they point out a lot of commentary past off as actual history. Why does this matter? School Vouchers. Most private schools are religious based. They teach all things are possible through a higher power.

The liberals want you to believe all things are possible through them. They can’t have inner city kids being sent to schools that teach self sufficiency, work-based opportunities, or the actual Socialism agenda. This would hurt the grasp they have on the inner city areas.

So instead they throw money at the problem, like having a computer in a school is going to help the kid that has no desire to learn to read. But that fits their agenda well. See, if they throw all this money at the public school system and it still fails to improve, it will not be the Democrats fault.

It will still be the Republicans fault because the inner city kids still live in the inner city. The problem itself never disappears, only a new strategy on “how to blame” presents itself. And through all these political games, our schools continue to deteriorate, even if they are now completely green.

If you say I’m reading to much into this, Why are the Obama girls in private school?

A Silent Conservative

A hero becomes selfish when he expects praise for his deeds. It’s one of the first lessons you learn as a child. Give because you want to, not because you want something in return.

It’s a proven fact Conservatives give more to charities than Democrats. We believe God helped us succeed and it’s our duty to give back to those around us. What makes a conservative so great is his/her refusal to seek a pat on the back for their deeds.

Former President George W. Bush did more for the people of Africa than any other U.S. President in history. His financial contributions to the AIDS epidemic has helped saved millions of lives. When Kanye West came out and said George Bush doesn’t like black people, Bush didn’t respond by pointing out all the aid he’s sent to the struggling continent.

Bill O’Reily donates all his income, outside of his television show, to charity. He mentions this to let the public know buying a “don’t be a pinhead” bumper sticker is contributing to a worthy cause, both his message and a community. Now, if he listed every charity he contributed to and how much, I’d think he was waiting for his pat on the back.

There is some in fighting amongst Republicans about how to win inner city communities. The Rush Limbaugh’s say don’t target one group, let’s stay on message and we’ll win back the White House. Then you have the new voices in the Republican Party that say, let’s reach out to the community with social based programs, but we’ve got to make sure they are publicized correctly.

I know I’m over simplifying but for the sake of time, just roll with it. There is a girl from the inner city that found dance to be her escape. She is now in the $250,000 range and would love to open a dance school in her old neighborhood. One problem, the new tax hikes are going to prohibit her from opening her studio.

This maybe a little cynical, but I leave in the real world. Which message is more important? A puff piece about a girls dream to open a dance studio or a hard hitting news story about how the tax hikes are going to actually hurt community building?

The puff piece would actually do more harm than good. See, a silent conservative will hear this story and help the woman open her studio. The follow-up story wouldn’t mention the name of the person who donated the money and the silent conservative would be happy. That would be the end.

Make it about policy and you got a whole other ball game. This woman worked hard so she could open a dance studio in her community, not to pay for pig odor research. The government cut after-school activities, financially crippled this woman from starting a studio, and decided the best way to help her community was to build a Waterpark 1,000 miles away.

You go from targeting one group of people of a particular community, to affecting numerous groups of people in a myriad of communities. All with different stories behind the main premise, tax hikes hurt individuals who want to do good in their communities.

A rich Republican that goes to the ghetto to help, then leaves pounding his chest is what the street would call a mark. They are going to take what ever they can get from you and move on. Tell them they loss the local basketball courts to pay for the new court across town and you get a totally different response.

The streets are not stupid and Republicans should stop treating them as such. That’s the Democrats job.

Rhianna’s Back With Chris Brown: The Public Is Outraged

March 9th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

And that show’s your stupidity.

I’m sorry to be so harsh, but it’s the way it is. We are not a society that values every human life. We are giving and strong, we always want to help the victim. The aggressor is overlooked, maybe punished, but definitely overlooked. At least until it’s time to make the movie.

I talked to my niece this weekend. She was singing Chris Brown and I asked her what she thought about Chris Brown and Rhianna. She told me, “I’d take him if she didn’t want him”. So, I asked my cousin what he would do if Chris Brown hit my niece, he said nothing if Brown could hook him up with Rhianna.

I know he was joking but there are a lot of men that would answer that question the same way and be dead serious. There was a time when the men of a neighborhood would beat the crap out of a man that put his hands on a woman. Now we don’t even bring it up, unless we are talking about the woman’s choice to stay.

I have not heard one story telling about the weakness of character of Chris Brown. Not one. It is our fault, he is getting off with a plea deal and no time. We don’t care what He did or the attitude He holds, we only want to look at the victim, Rhianna.

How about this? Let’s make both of them victims. Brown is the victim because Rhianna let him hit her. If she would’ve left the first time he hit her, his career wouldn’t have been affected so much. He is also a victim of a society that teaches him “keeping your pimp hand strong” is a necessity. See how easy it is to become a victim. No matter who you are or what you did, all you need is one person to give you justification.

Now that we’ve got Chris Brown victim status, let’s start the discussion about what makes a MAN so weak he has to show his “Bravado” by beating a woman. I don’t know the answer, but I do know we need a change of focus.

Women are offered help from every direction. Well, isn’t that only natural. She got her ass beat, she needs help. Maybe the best way to help her is to offer her man some help. Like Rhianna has proven, they go back. Help her, by helping him.

We wait until men are forced into help. We don’t crucify them to the point they have no choice but to get help to fit in to society. We pay them no attention. We give them at one dirty look, then we dance to “P.I.M.P.” in the club. And you thought I was the one giving Brown justification.

Ever heard the phrase, You take one step, God will take two or God never gives you more than you can handle. O.K. We’ve taken a giant step, massive unemployment and hard times. Right on the cusp of all this hardship, we get hit with a mega news story about a man beating a woman.

Historically during difficult economic times, domestic abuse rates rise. Men lose their jobs, their ego’s are pride are hurt, and they lash out. Their significant other usually catches that blow.

I think we miss the important opportunities to help ourselves by learning from the mistakes of others. We have not given enough attention to the situation to help curve the numbers to come and that’s our fault. We shouldn’t be outraged, we should be ashamed.

Bye Bye Mr. Terrell Owens: Go Dallas Cowboys

March 9th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

I was mad when Jerry Jones signed T.O. I was mad when T.O. paid for Romo and Simpson’s pre-playoff trip to the Caribbean. I was livid every time a ball flew in Owens direction and he dropped it.

Now, I am celebrating. Jerry Jones signed Roy WIlliams from the Lions and got rid of Terrell Owens. He is gone.

People say, there are two kinds of people. The one’s that give you energy and the one’s that take it away. Terrell Owens took away energy. And I’m not talking about just Tony Romo, Jason Witten, or the whole Dallas Cowboy organization. He sucked the energy out of the fans.

I don’t want to see a Wide Reciever cussing out my quaterback, while he is on the field dropping balls. Don’t talk to my Tight End like that, when he catches every ball thrown in his direction. Nobody wants popcorn when we’re losing.

Nah Nah Nah Nah! Nah Nah Nah Nah! Hey Hey Hey! Goodbyeeeeeeeeeeee

They Say

March 3rd, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

They say she’s special

And I am!

But not for the reasons they think

They see breast and eyes

Ass and thighs

Playboy pin-up up live

And personal

And Versatile

They say she is flexable

And I am!

To a Point, but don’t push it

Willing to see your side

Willing to compromise

Damn right I can make head touch thigh

But realize compromise is a two way street

Or ass and foot can meet

They say she’s mean

And I am!

What’s the excuse you use?

I’m a product of my envirnoment

I’m used to violence

I’m worried in silence

Emotion is an unexperienced pilot

So Yes, I refuse to get on the plane

They say she’s complicated

And I am!

I’m worth it, so work for it

My cook game on point

Massage game on track

Work your feet to your back

Then ESPN and a snack

They say she’s perfect

Have you lost your damn mind?!?