Al Sharpton Says Race Won’t Decide The Election

September 23rd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I never thought the day would come. Al Sharpton temporarilay put down his race card and started making sense. He is starting a National Bus Tour to make sure that Voter’s know the rules of their states. There have been alot of changes in the Election Laws and it’s very important that you know if they affect you.

Some states now require you to register at least thirty days before the election.

Some states require you to have two forms of I.d. Valid Drivers’ License and Voter Card.

Make sure you know the rules of Provisional Ballots in your state. If there is a problem when you go to vote, they will give you a provisional ballot. This does not mean you voted. It means they could possibly count your vote, if needed. It’s up to you to correct the problem, to make sure your vote is counted.

Many states have early ballots. If you know who you want to vote for, then this is a way to help their campaign. Voting early could eliminate the need for your candidate to spend so much in your district; allowing them to concentrate on the places still in contention. Now I don’t agree with voting early; at least not until you’ve seen the debates.

There maybe other rules that affect your ability to vote. Be proactive and don’t wait until it’s to late to complain.

With that being said, Al Sharpton continued on to repeat the words of Barack Obama. If you watched the Democratic Nomination Race, millions of Americans voted for Barack Obama. They had the choice to pick a white candidate and they didn’t. This race will be on policy.

That’s coming from the #1 race card benefactor. This is a smart play by Sharpton. He knows until this election in over, he can’t do anything related to race. If he does, he will be placed in the group of blacks inadvertantly hurting Barack Obama by being who they are.

If we can get the majority of blacks to let go of the issue of Race, then we can make some progress. I had this thought as I received Birthday Wishes this weekend. My oldest brother, who is married to a white woman, called. Then my Aunt, who is married to a black man who had kids with a white woman before marrying my Aunt, called. And the day before, I heard from my daughters’ grandfather, who is white. All voting for Barack Obama. All asking me, Why I wasn’t?

I don’t get in to it with family anymore. When you start to ask questions like, how can you talk about white people when you have a baby by a white person. They tend to get upset with you. If you ask them why they refer to all white people as “whitey” until the family shows up and you realize “whitey” is a part of us. But as soon as the party’s over, they go back to being “whitey” in conversation. They tend to want to blame me for paying attention.

Racism doesn’t exist in the same form as the past. We have the right to make choices; succeed or fail on our own merit. And it’s refreshing to hear Al Sharpton echo some actual words of encouragment to that point. Even though I know it won’t last. When the election is over, no matter the outcome, Al Sharpton will be back on the hut to point out Racism. Whether justified or not. That’s his role to play.

I just hope we don’t forget about these words as soon as we get the chance. The next time Sharpton wants us to rally, we actually make sure the fight is justified. Then maybe he’ll be forced to do the same, and we could make a new indent in history. The moment racism stopped being used as an excuse.

Terror Attacks Going Unnoticed During Economic Crisis

September 22nd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

Since we’ve been going through this Economic Crisis, little else has made it’s way into the main stream news. Except of course the Candidates. I’m wondering while McCain is losing ground talking about the Economy, why isn’t he pointing out the activity of the terrorist groups all around the world. Our interest abroad have been attacked twice since 9/11 and you barely hear anything about them on the News.

The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen was attacked Sept. 17th. There were no American causualties, but we were still attacked. Does it matter the size of the attack? Or should we look at the smallest attackas build up to something more.

Just because Al Qadea was late releasing it’s 9/11 video with it’s claims to cause more distruction to U.S. interest at home and abroad, should we think of them as no longer a threat. I mean I didn’t think of them as a threat until after 9/11, 2001. Did we forget the lessons already of discounting anyones ability to attack us?

Now over the weekend, the terrorist decided to strike the heart of Pakistan. Or at least western interest there. The Marriott Hotel is one of the safest buildings in the Islamic World, just because of the amount of western people who stay there while visiting Pakistan. A truck was allowed to make it to the final check point and blow up, with enough explosives to ripe a massive hole in the earth.

They are still out there. They still want to cause harm to America and it’s citizens. I hope we don’t get so caught up looking at a pocket books that we forget to pay attention to what’s going on in the rest of the world. As well as the perception that when our wallets go bad, we take our eyes off world policy and terror groups. Because next time they might put one and one together and hit our pocket books directly and watch us self implode from the selfishness they accuse us of. I’m just saying.

Taxpayers Bailing Out Wall Street

September 22nd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I was supposed to spend the weekend celebrating my Birthday, instead I found myself glued to the T.V. Watching analysis after analysis of why the government needs a blank check from the Taxpayers. Then comes the numbers, $720,000,000,000. What? $720 Billion. Now I’m pissed off at both candidates.

First thing I noticed, both want to point fingers. You can’t watch one of them speak without talking about the other. i don’t want to hear Barack Obama’s plan from John McCain or Vice Versa. This should have bought a pause in the Partisanship and started an American Debate. Where democrats stood up and said; “We started the deregulation in an attempt to get more Americans into homes, our bad. And the republicans stood up and said; “We allowed it to continue longer than should have been allowed. So this is a mark on both our houses. Let’s work together to solve this problem.

In a way they did, but it centers around the numbers on the check. If you want to bring Congress together, put a large amount of cash between them and watch the sparks fly. I wonder why do we have to come close to a total meltdown before someone in the Government stands up and stops it.

Now I don’t like to play conspiracy theory but when you can’t get a straight answer from a politician than what other choice do you have? Now John McCain tried to get legislation pushed that would have stopped these loans about 3 to 4 years ago, but was blocked in Congress. Both Democrats and Republicans were receiving money from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, so neither party wanted to stop the money from flowing into their pockets.

President Bush even wanted policy passed that would’ve stopped loans given to people who couldn’t afford them. But an unpopular President with the rival party in control of Congress has little chance of getting any policy passed. So that leaves the American People to clean up the mess.

But don’t move to fast on that. The American people also have to stand up and take their part in this debacle. We love free stuff. No matter the cost later down the line. So while we were all lining up to sign our name on the dotted line, we should have been thinking this really sounds to good to be true. But we didn’t. We continued to reap the benefits of a broken system, until it crashed on our heads.

Will I be the only person to say this. It’s a plague on all our houses. From the White House, to the stock market, and all the way down to main street. So who should really get help? I’m not going to pretend to be some financial wizard with the answers to all the questions. But I am a concerned American citizen who doesn’t want my daughter to have to pay for the mistakes of my generation.

So my first question would be, who was complaining before all this went bad. The white house could boast they had the largest number of home ownership in American history before the crash; so there was no complaining there. Wall street watched as the stock market continued to climb, even in the mist of rising gas prices; so there was no complaining there. Average Americans went and bought property with no money down and a flexible interest rate with the idea they could sell the property down the line for a profit; so there was no complaining there.

Then, as most problems do, the hit came to the people first. The foreclosure rate started to rise and give platforms to political candidates. The same candidates that allowed the problem to get out of hand, while taking money from the companies that were digging our financial graves. And we expect them to solve the problem by throwing more money at it. Or at us because we should also benefit when the government starts giving out money. Just realize we will have to pay that money back in the form of taxes. So if you are hoping the Government is going to bail you out of foreclosure, remember your taxes will go up to offset the the help given to you. So in essence, you would actually be paying for yourself to get out of foreclosure; it just comes in an IRS envelope over time.

Okay. I get it. There is a lot of blame to go around but how do we fix it?

My answer to that would be, allow the market and American people to take a hit. I know it sounds cruel but it’s how I live my life. Sometimes you have to take a loss to learn a lesson. When you look to gain something from the situation for yourself, sometimes you get in the way of realizing the gravity of the lesson. BIG THOUGHT.

The Great Depression started because Wall Street was given the ability to gamble with the savings of Millions of Americans. Unemployment was at 24%, people where standing in bread lines, and the government let it happen. Until Roosevelt stepped in A New Deal. The government came in and ushered out money. New programs to help everyone affected by the crisis on Wall Street. While we can’t be mad at the progress made during those times to save our economy, everyone got something. And we forgot the Gravity of the Situation. If you don’t believe that; why did we repeat the same mistake so close to the last one? The Great Depression didn’t happen thousands of years ago. It started in 1929. That’s not even 100 years ago.

Just as in life. If you continue to make the same mistakes, you will continue to get the same results. If the government comes in and bails out every sector that takes unwise risk, then why stop taking the risk. Instead of spending money on the Bail Out, keep our Military Strong enough to protect us during this period and allow the market and the people to learn a lesson about what we all owe America. Yes it’s the land of opportunity, but not at the expense of the Overall standing of our nation. Sometimes we have to take the hit to make the U.S.A. stronger. She has allowed us all to have some measure of success. If it’s just the feeling of knowing that there is a chance for me to build a life in peace.

We all take advantage of the Freedom we have. It’s a blessing to live in The United States of America. We can not continue to put her Sovereignty in jeopardy because we are unwilling to take a couple bumps and bruises of our own making. And if you say, I’m paying my mortgage, so I didn’t create this problem. Think about this. Are you paying attention to your local elections? Do you know if your Senator is know trying to add Billions of dollars worth of Pork into the already $720 Billion Bill? If you’re not paying attention, then you’re not understanding the gravity of the situation and you too are caught up in America’s problem of your own making.

The only silver lining in all this is the fact that the government will probably make back the money from the loans. The truth of the matter is, our economy is still pretty strong. During the great depression people were standing in bread lines, now people are standing in line to buy the new IPhone. In a few years, people will have rebounded and the government will be selling property back to the market. The loans will be safer, the american people will be looking for a deal, and we will continue on.

The only problem. There will be another problem. In some other sector and the government will again step in. Instead of making one sector learn a lesson from the downfall of another. We will let each sector figure it our for themselves. Always leaving a weak link in the chain of our economy. And a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link.

I Want To Eat For A Lifetime

September 16th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I got another story for you. Hope you enjoy.

There was once a man that loved to go fishing. It was his favorite pass time. He spent endless hours everyday out on the lake. Well one day, a huge storm blew through the town and caused the people to lose most of their crops. The fisherman had stored so much fish, he didn’t have a problem helping feed the town.

A couple days after the storm, a young boy approached the fisherman. He said, ‘it was really amazing how you were able to step in and help the town. Can you teach me how to fish?’ The fisherman agreed and the boy started spending countless hours out on the lake. He often got teased for the way he smelled and dressed. He looked and smelled like a broken down fisherman. The boy didn’t care. He remembered how the man had helped save the town and he wanted to be like him.

With the boys help, it wasn’t long before the fisherman had restocked all his fish. The boy thought it would be a good idea to throw a party for the fisherman. He was sure the entire town would show up to say thank you to the fisherman. He went into town to start inviting people. He was shocked to hear their response. “All he does is fish, he should’ve helped the town out. ” “He can’t eat all that fish himself, he should give it to the town.”

The boy went back to the fisherman and told him about the people in the town. The fisherman wasn’t surprised. He just got his rod and went out to the lake. The boy thought to himself; if they can’t appreciate the man, then maybe they can appreciate the action. The boy began making signs to hang around the Town. “Free Fishing lessons to anyone that wants to learn.” Everyone laughed at the boy. No one took advantage of the free lessons.

The next year, the fisherman died, and left everything to the boy. Now he had his own house, his own boat, and his very own fishing rod. He continued to fish everyday and maintain his stock pile. One day, another storm blew into town and devastated the crops. The boy decided he was not going to share his fish with the town. This time he would sell it.

The people in the town who had money, bought the fish from the boy. The people who didn’t have money were furious. ‘Our town is struggling and you have the power to help, why won’t you?’ The boy responded, ‘I’ll help. I’ll give you all fish every time you come to the lake and help me fish.’

The people without money where offended. ‘The old fisherman didn’t make us work for food. He was happy to help out those that needed it. He would be so ashamed of you.’

The boy didn’t move his position. You help me fish, I help you to eat. The people got even madder. Two boys came to the boy and said we’ll help. The boy said, it’s not easy work. Sometimes I sit out on that lake for hours and nothing bites. It feels like I’m wasting my time. Then I have days where it seems the fish just jump into the boat. The two boys shook their heads and spent endless days out on the lake.

Now with the three of them fishing, the stock piles went through the roof. The town was beginning to brace for another storm. One of the boys went to the New Fisherman and said, ‘maybe we should take some fish into town, so we can give it away before the storm hits.’ The other boy said, ‘No. We should go out and hang up more signs for free fishing lessons.’

The fisherman looked at the two boys and told them they were both right. There are some in town that can’t fish. The very old, the very young, and some in the middle that have limited abilities. You can go into town and give them some fish. Then there are those who don’t understand you can be given fish to eat for a day or you can learn to fish and eat for a lifetime. So you can go and put up signs for those who are coming to understand the power of self sufficiency.

The problem comes when you continue to give away fish without offering a pole. Or offering a pole with nothing to sustain you until your first catch. Or refusing aid on the days when the fish just aren’t biting. It’s nothing wrong with helping those less fortunate, but it is something wrong with not giving them the desire to help themselves.

How many people want to sign up for those free fishing lessons? How many people expect the fisherman to continue to save the town? Say that storm hits while the fishermen are out on the lake and they don’t make it. Who will then fish for the town if no one else knows how?

Social Programs are a necessity. There are people out there that can’t do it by themselves. But there are those who refuse to try. Should they continue to get the fish? Or should that fish go to help those that are trying and hit a couple bad days when the fish aren’t biting? Give me a rod and you can keep your fish.

Just Because He’s Black

September 16th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I got this in an email.

A white man asked his black friend, ‘Are you voting for Barack Obama just because he’s black?’

The black man responded by saying, ‘Why not? Hell, in this country men are pulled over everyday just cause they’re black; passed over for promotions just cause they’re black; considered to be criminals just cause they’re black; and there are going to be thousands of you who won’t be voting for him just because he’s black! However, you do not seem to have a problem with that! This country was built with the sweat and whip off the black slaves’ back, and now a descendent of those same
slaves has a chance to lead the same country, where we weren’t even considered to be people, where we weren’t allowed to be educated, drink from the same water fountains, eat in the same restaurants, or even vote. So yes! I’m going to vote for him! But it’s not just because he’s black, but because he is hope, he is change, and he now allows me to understand when my grandson says that he wants to be president when he grows up, it is not a fairy tale but a short term goal. He now sees, understands and knows that he can achieve, withstand and do ANYTHING just because he’s black!’

Let me rewrite this little story.

A black woman asked a black man, “Are you voting for Obama just because he’s black?”

The black man said, ‘No, I’m voting for Obama because I believe in his principles. The very country that once held me in no regard, has given me the right to vote on Principle. The men and women who died fighting for Black rights have null and voided my ability to be a follower. Now I get to cast my vote on what I believe and I believe the changes Barack Obama brings to the table, far out weigh the color of his skin. It’s about the improvement of All Americans and I will stand beside him for that reason. The same reason I voted for Clinton and I’m guessing the same reason most blacks voted for Kennedy. So it has nothing to do with the fact that he’s black. It has everything to do with where this country needs to go.

Now I don’t believe that story, but it would be better than the first. Of course I have to add my own little twist. Hope You Enjoy.

A black man asked Me, “Are you voting for Barack Obama just because he’s black?”

I said, “No, I would never vote for someone because of their skin color. ”

He said, “Why not? In this country men are pulled over everyday, just because they’re black; passed over for promotions, just because they’re black; and there are going to be thousands of white people that won’t vote for Obama just because he’s black! However you do not seem to have a problem with that. This country was built with the sweat and whip off the black slaves back and now the decendent of those same slaves has a chance to lead the same country, where we weren’t even considered to be people, where we weren’t allowed to be educated, drink from the same water fountains, eat in the same restaurants, or even vote. So Yes, I’m going to vote for him. But it’s not just because he’s black, but because he is hope, he is change, and he know allows me to understand when my grandson says he wants to be President when he grows up, it’s not a fairytale, but a short term goal. He know sees, understands, and knows that he can acheive, withstand, and do Anything just because he black.’

I said, “I’m sorry let me get this straight. If Barack Obama doesn’t win, does this mean your grandson will never become President? Are you teaching him, his whole world depends on the success of another person? Maybe I’m getting to literal, so let me rephrase. What black Presidential nominee did Barack Obama have to follow?

None. He made his own path and it wasn’t because he was black. It was because he was determined. I find it interesting when you start talking about the future, you have to use the past to justify it. Well let’s play that game for a minute. Slaves couldn’t eat in the same restaurants, couldn’t vote, couldn’t learn to read. But that didn’t stop them. When they became free, they still worked sharecropped land. Was it fair? Hell No. But they did it. They had a hunger to make up for all the lost time. All the lost words and ideas, they went to seek them out. And from that we got Great Black Role Models. Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois. They did not wait for the right black man to come along and tell them it was O.K. to do so.

So why stake so much on Barack Obama. Oh, that’s right. It’s because black people still get pulled over for driving while black, because we still get passed over for promotions, and because there are still thousands of white bigots. Well there are Millions of people in this country and the voice of the the many outweigh the voice of the few. But you give them more validity with your arguement. If they are doing it, then we should do it to. If they won’t vote for the black man, I won’t even consider the white man. That makes you as big a bigot as the white people. Why? Because there are Millions of white people that are supporting Barack Obama. And it’s not because they want to prove they are not racist. It’s because they agree with his policy. They are against the War in Iraq. They are voting on Principle. And you’re voting on color.

I can even understand your inclination to support Obama. When my daughter saw Sarah Palin and asked if a woman could be President, I was happy. But that doesn’t stop the fact that she has to work for it. Sarah Palin is not what I use to bring my daughter hope. Her hope comes from me; telling her everyday that she is smart and beautiful and she can become anything she wants to be. I don’t need Sarah Palin for that and you shouldn’t need Barack Obama to impart the same on your grandson.

If we continue to put race over principles, we are doomed to continue on the same path. We have had our rights for years. Why is the situation only changing for a few of us? Some make it, but the majority don’t. And we continue to vote for the same policies. Something for nothing. When will we say; since more black people have joined the police force, there has been a decline in racially motivated stops; since more black people own there own business, there has been a reduction in the call for Higher Taxes that affect small businesses; since more black people have decided to vote Principle and not color, all black people have benefited from the character enrichment of elected officials.

So when your grandson gets old enough to run for President, race won’t even come up. It will all be focused on the Man and not the color. The ideas and not the color. The advancement of all America and not the color. Then maybe your grandson won’t think he can run for President because he’s black, but because he can make a difference in his country. He will know that Barack Obama may have laid a few stones but it was his hard work and detemination that got him to where he is not his color. I’m just saying.

It’s 9/12: What I Wanted To Say Yesterday

September 12th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

For the first time since starting this blog, I used discretion yesterday. I got a little boost because someone told me I was a bit to nice. And since I normally don’t hear things like that, I’m tempted to stay on that course. You know I’m lying. That’s not my style. I’m up in your face and today is no Exception.

I awoke yesterday and turned on the News. I wasn’t really feeling anything, I just wanted to see the memorials and remember. It was all good until Fox played a 20 minute piece on people’s reaction on Sept. 11, 2001. I instantly got mad. I was furious. My daughter sat and watched my expression and asked me what was wrong. She wasn’t even a thought in my mind when this tragedy happened and now I have to explain to her what makes someone fly a plane into a building.

As I watched John McCain in Pennsylvania, I wondered where Barack Obama would be. Then I heard he was waiting to have lunch with Bill Clinton and he wasn’t going to make an appearance at either memorial until he and John McCain made a joint appearance at Ground Zero. That was it.

The most inspirational part of 9/11 came when the Men on Flight 93 refused to let the Terrorist have any more of our buildings. They were willing to die, even though they weren’t apart of any army, for the America they loved so much.

So I ask? Could you imagine Barack Obama on that plane trying to be diplomatic with the Terrorist? Diplomacy has it’s place, don’t get me wrong. But does that place exist when you have people that are willing to kill themselves to kill you. Imagine the terrorist trying to negotiate with the Men on Flight 93. It would not have happened. Their collective will to protect America would have over shadowed any words from the mouth of anyone and that’s what we’ve got to understand.

You have these liberals that say War is Bad. No War. Then we get attacked and they come to our side until there is a new election. Then we’re back to Big Bad America trying to pick on the rest of the World. Fuck That. They picked on Us first. All through Clinton’s Administration, we were hit with Terror Attack after Terror attack. But the World loved Bill Clinton. He was a symbol of everything good about America. But that didn’t stop terrorist from attacking us. They didn’t fear Bill Clinton.

Does this mean I want the entire world to fear US? Hell Yeah. Why? Because most of the idiots that hate us so much depend on the U.S. for their safety. Besides England, who has a military in Europe? I’m not talking a couple of soldiers, I’m talking about a force that would cause Russia to think twice about it’s aggression in Georgia. I guess I answered my own question. There are none or Russia would have thought twice about going into Georgia. They don’t fear Europe. They want to control Europe. So what happened to the U.S. when we had a President everyone liked? We got attacked, constantly at home and abroad. Connect the dots here. If China, Russia, or Iran have no Fear of European attacks what will continue to happen.

Straight talk for a minute okay. If you got two dudes standing in front of you. One has on glasses and a pocket protector and One has knife marks and bullet holes. You’re a little less likely to try which one? Seriously. Don’t try to bring Politics into it. Your in the street and you have to make this decision. Which one would you fight? Now you have the bad asses that would fight the tough dude because they don’t beat up on defenseless people, i.e. The United States of America. Then you have all the rest that would choose the easy fight.

Now lets make a little flip on the situation. You have the same two guys in front of you. Now the guy in the pocket protector says let’s talk. We’re two grown men, this doesn’t have to resort to violence. You can respect this guy, but do you fear him? Will anything he says actually convince you to change your Opinions or Actions? Or will you continue to act in your own best interest? Now the guy with the stab wounds says Go ahead and try if you want to. I’m not playing with you. Of course you don’t like this guy, but would you try him? Or would you re-evaluate the situation?

Of course, there is always a way to flip an arguement so let me try to cut it off before it starts. Just for a moment, I’m going to make Martin Luther King Jr the guy with the pocket protector. So the answer would be yes. Yes a man who uses his words can affect the change of people’s actions and opinions. But what happens when that man is gone? Will the population remember all those words? Now let’s make Knife wound guy Al Pacino in Scarface. (It’s a real stretch but I’m trying to make a point) Compare the number of times in one year where you hear a reference to Scarface to how many times you hear a quote of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Which one wins? Who are more people in our society trying to emulate?

So, you’re saying the more violent we are the better? No . It’s a basic human instinct to want to be strong, to be able to defend yourself. So we more readily identify with those that live by those principles. We love stories of men and women who fight for something against overwhelming odds hoping if ever faced with that situation we would do the same. It doesn’t matter if they are good guys or bad guys, as long as they are willing to fight. Then when we get into the voting box, we forget all that.

I love comparisons so let’s try this one. You have a volunteer group and A Gang. Now the volunteer group wants the gang out of the city. The gangs have money and guns. Who wins? Weapons or Words? Come on, don’t go soft on me now. Who wins?

Now you take a strong police force and put it behind the Volunteer group. The situation changes. Or does it? What if the people in the city decide they don’t want the “extra” violence that would be brought by actually using the Police? Who wins? Are you going to make me say it? Just look at our cities and tell me who wins? I don’t want to trivialize deaths in the cities, but they are relatively low compared to the attacks that happened in one day because of inaction to fight.

Yesterday, seven years ago. Or have we already forgotten? There are those out there that have merged our pocket protector guy and our knife wound guy. They are killing innocent people in an attempt to weaken us. And we take the opinions formed by those abroad into consideration of our protection. Are you serious? They get knocked down and want to talk. And thank God Bush was President because when we got knocked down, we came up with full force. No words. It was time for Action. Just like the Men on Flight 93. Just like every fire fighter, police officer, or civilian that ran into a burning building to save human life. Just like every American that signed up to go into the Military after 9/11.

I want the war planes in the air while you’re conducting diplomacy. So it’s known that we are not playing. You know what you did and you know why we’re coming. I want them calling us saying, hey let’s talk about this. You don’t really need to drop bombs on my country, do you? Not us calling them like, I know you attacked us today, is there some way we can stop you from doing it again. I would really like a peaceful resolution to this conflict. Could you imagine?

If President Bush would have done something to stop the influx of illegal immigration. If President Bush would have vetoed more bills loaded with Pork. If we as Americans had taken more responsibility for our own financial decisions; you know getting adjustable rate mortgages on big houses. Then the fact that we haven’t been attacked in Seven years would hold testament to the Greatness of the George Bush Presidency. There would still be critics of the Iraq War but critics are seldom written in the history books. Tracking down Al-Qadea and killing them everywhere they hide would be the blue print for Protecting this Country. Against any body. Go to them before they can get to us.

And when we go to them, it can’t be with words. And it can’t be words backed up by a military. It has to be Military first, then wait for them to come with the words. And if they don’t, then they really want a fight. And no words you say to them are going to change that. And no words that come from other people with out action will sway them either. And even worse if they control the energy supply of a WORLD dependent on oil. They have money. And the ability to cut you off. What can you say to them?

I like George Bush’s Answer. And if you like Tupac, you should too. Bomb First. Please reconsider before you die. We ain’t even come to fight tonight, but if it’s my life or your life, Then I’ma Bomb First. Oh! You love it when it’s in a song, but when it comes to real life you don’t agree. You sing it like you feel Pac, but then you criticize Bush doing the same thing. Or are you starting to change your opinion on Tupac? Yeah right. You know I’m right you just find it hard to admit.

And that’s okay. I don’t need to hear it. Just remember when you go to vote. Clinton talked and we got hit. Bush bombed and we’ve been safe for 7 years. Barack Obama will talk. John McCain will bomb. Democrats control Congress, so they will still be the majority on legislation. We need a Commander in Chief in the White House. And I don’t think he should be a talker.

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To Every American fighting for our Country, I say thank you. I live near Quantico so I see a lot of military men and women. I always stop them and say thank you and encourage my daughter to do the same. I’m always humbled when they say I’m just doing my job. I think education is the most important thing for a child, so I teach my daughter all kinds of different things. I especially teach her the importance of the Military. My sister asked me once if My Daughter were grown and wanted to go into the Military, would I let her go. I said in a heart beat. She said I was lying. I would want her to go to college. She acted as if she couldn’t do both.

And there are Millions of you that do it everyday. Leave Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Husbands, Wives, Children, and Careers behind to protect my right to have this little blog. What would I be without you? What would this Country be without you? They criticize your intellegence for making the decision to put your life in harm’s way to save mine, yet you keep fighting. And that’s amazing. Thank You.

Remembering 9/11

September 11th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I’ve watched the Remembrance of 9/11 all morning. On Sept. 11 2001, I was getting ready for my 21st birthday. I got up early that morning to get my hair braided. The hair store was closed so I went back home to wait for it to open. As I was leaving again, the first plane hit the First tower. I watched for a few moments thinking it was an accident. Then i left to get my hair done.

When I got to the shop, the plane had just crashed into the Pentagon. Then I learned of the second plane that hit the two towers. I was getting ready to go home when the African Lady that was braiding my hair asked us all to join hands and Pray. i stayed and shared this tragedy with them.

I’m very confrontational, as you know, so I’m going to stop right there. That’s what I want to remember about 9/11. On that day, complete strangers joined hands and prayed for our country. We prayed for the people who lost their lives and the families now in mourning. We prayed for each other.

I will never forget the Heroes that crashed the plane over Pennsylvania. I will never forget the firefighters that ran into burning building to save lives. I will never forget the Pentagon workers that searched smoked filled rooms looking for friends and collegues. I will never forget driving past the Pentagon two days later and feeling my heart drop to my feet. I will never forget anything about 9/11 and neither should you.

Becoming the $100 Million Man; Or Woman in this Case :-)

September 9th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

My Beau and I have this long running joke, If we ever hit the Lottery for a lot of money, we would split it immediately. He would get half and I would get half. I would then spend all of mine and we would have to live off of his.

There is a Community Center across the street from my Childhood Church. The first thing I would do is buy this community center. I’d gut it and rebuild with Computer Lab, Classes for Money Management, Addiction Help, and lots of Community Activities to bring people in. I’d name it after My Mother because she always was willing to help others.

It would be the start to my foundation. A conservative rebuilding of Our Communities. Then I would buy some land in Kansas and build a School. I’d fill it with teachers that don’t take crap or excuses from the kids. I’d fill it with Ghetto Mothers, you know the ones that take care of all the kids in the Neighborhood, to discredit the “you don’t understand what I’m going through”. Throw in a couple Felons who realized a little to late they were wasting their lives and let the sparks fly.

But this wouldn’t be a School for any that apply. No. This is a special School. This is for the Kids that are fed up with dodging bullets and slinging crack. So you might have dropped out at 13 but at 16 you wish you hadn’t. It’s not to late. Apply. We’ll catch you up and get you started again. You might have looked up to your older brother and now he’s dead or in jail and you’re lost. Apply. We got some real Men to guide you through. You might have realized looking for love starts with loving yourself and you just don’t know how to do that. Apply. We won’t coddle you. You will find your own strength.

Now, while I’m getting all the pieces in place for a chain of schools across America, I’d travel this Country giving away Money. Let me tell you how this works. I see a woman with two kids dressed from head to toe in RocaWear, I keep walking. I see a woman rushing her kids on a Bus so she won’t be late to work, I’ll stop her. I’d give her her regular salary for a month. I’d get her a decent car and pay the insurance for a year. Then offer her a chance to volunteer at My School or A Community Center to recieve extra help with her Day Care costs.

I see a group of boys on the corner slinging, I might stop and offer a change to see if they bite. If they don’t, I keep walking. I see a boy crossing the street to stay out of their path, I’ll stop him. Say he tells me, he’s in High School and working a full time job so he can have money for food and clothes. I’d tell him to quit his job, come volunteer at the School or Community center and receive a stipend every month. And while there, I’d make sure he knew of every scholarship available, every grant, and every avenue of assistance he could get to help him get into college, with no offer of Assistance from Me. When it’s time to graduate, he should have the money for his Education. And I could continue is Stipend so he can concentrate on his studies.

And while I’m touring cities everywhere in America, giving away money and building Schools and Community Centers, I’d always be looking for investment opportunities. I’m smart enough to know that you can’t continue to give away money without generating More Money elsewhere. But what most people don’t understand, if you show someone that they can accomplish something, they try harder to accomplish everything.

So say the Woman who got the car contacted me to say thank you. She just wanted me to know because of the volunteer for child sitting trade off, she was able to go back to school and get her degree. Now she wants to open a Childcare service off the same principles of the Community Center. She’s not asking for help, she just wants Me to know she been inspired. I’d send someone over to help her with a business plan and give her start up capital. Put it under the Foundation until she turns a profit, then turn it over to her.

This is where I get the criticism. If you turn it over to her, how are you going to continue to help other people? That’s the Fucked Up principle of the original $100 million dollar man. See he thinks that everyone needs him to make a difference. I’d trust her to continue to make her business grow. I’d trust her to realize the assistance she was given and return it in kind. I’d trust her enough to keep her own money and personally decide to donate to my foundation. I don’t have to make it mandatory.

Let’s say the Boy went to College, got his business degree, and a job at a major technology firm. I would have faith that when they had a whole set of discontinued or devalued computers he would call and give me first dibs on getting them. I would trust he would recommend my foundation when his business started talking about Charitable Contributions. I would trust on “Alumni Day” he would be happy to come back and tell his story. I won’t have to force him to come back, he’ll do it willingly.

Another major source of income is Property. A funny thing about Ghetto’s is their location. Just think about it. Big cities need a pool of blue collar workers. Now most of these workers are not finacially set and there for need to be kept closer to the cities. What’s the point of having big hotels if you have no bell boys? What’s the point of having five star restaurants if you don’t have waiters? So think of the actual value of these under classed pieces of property.

This is where I’d take a huge risk. There a couple things that influence property value. Schools in the Area, cleanliness of the Area, Access to Stores and Businesses, but mostly it’s Violence. You can not raise the property value of an area if you can’t control the Violence. All my first ideas are based on individuals. Helping one person at a time, but this encompasses an entire community.

How can we bring up our community value if we can’t separate ourselves from the rotten elements? I will not lie to you. This is where I get stuck in my grand scheme. See it doesn’t matter how much money is pumped into a community if we can’t first reach the mind of it’s inhabitants. If we help 20 and 200 say what about me, then we get stuck trying to explain the sacrifices Made by the 20. We can say we want to help you excel, but they are still stuck in the mindset that it comes for free. Not from me it doesn’t. You have to work for my help. It’s not a hand out, it’s a step ladder. It’s up to you to climb it.

The question then becomes “Without separating the two, how can we get the 20 and the 200 to at least have a little respect for each other. It doesn’t come from telling the 20, “you have to pay for the 200.” The 20 are going to take their money and go elsewhere. Nor does it come from the 200 getting a free pass based on excuses that are invalid. And while we’re having the same old argument the 2,000 in the middle who don’t care how the situation is solved, they just want to see some progress, are trapped having to pick sides.

They can agree with me on this, but they can understand the other side as well. They want better for themselves and their communities, but they don’t want to leave anybody behind. These are the people that are a major source of our Problems. It might not be fair, but you do have to choose sides.

It’s not black against white. It’s not rich against poor. IT’S WRONG AGAINST RIGHT. Simple. If you have pity for ‘Debo’ because his dad is in jail and his mother is on drugs, demand more from the Men around you. Don’t give ‘Debo’ more excuses, tell the fathers you know aren’t taking care of their responsibility the truth. You know your son or daughter is going to carry the same hate for you as you carry for your father. And if after hearing this, they still make no attempt to be apart of that child’s life, you should no longer have pity for them. When they say, “I don’t know how to be a Father.” You say “That’s no excuse for not trying to learn.” Hold them accountable.

So when they come to you and complain how unfair the world is. Remind them that’s what their Son or Daughter will think one day because you’re not showing them how to navigate through all the mess. Make it about our future, not the appeasement of self caused problems. Tell them to stop thinking of themselves.

And please stop grouping yourself with the do nothings. This really ticks me off. If you get up everyday and go to work, if you save money for emergencies, if struggle and strive and still come up short; stop grouping yourself with those that do nothing. There are those that need a little bit of help and there are those who want everything done for them. To many people are in the former group advocating for the latter.

The problem with that. You won’t get the help you need because the one’s at the bottom need more than you. Let me explain. If you got a little behind in your house payments because you wanted to send your child to a better school, you should be in a completely different category than someone that went out and bought a new house that was 3x’s more than they could afford. I don’t mind helping you, but that other person needs to learn a real lesson before getting assistance. Why spend money saving their home when chances are they are going to lose it anyways because they really can’t afford it, even at a lower rate?

The lower rates and riskier loans were but into place to help with Minority Home Ownership. Making it more accessible for those without sufficient savings to own a home. By doing so, a lot of people got into new homes. That’s how we got our house. We saw a lot of beautiful new houses being built but the prices were ridiculous, so I said let’s look at some old houses. We qualified for a new model but I felt uncomfortable about the price. I found an older house with a great bookshelf and I was sold. Because of that, we weren’t completely crushed when the oil prices rose. My Beau wanted the bigger better house then but he’s grateful he listened to me now.

His sister and her husband owned a Townhome before the Housing boom. When the prices started to rise, they decided to sell their home and upgrade. Got a huge house with an adjustable rate. They lost their home and now are renting. But there is a silver lining. It won’t happen again. This was a major lesson learned. His sister went back to school and her husband is working towards his own business. One day they will own another big house and this time nobody will be able to take it from them.

There are some people out there that really deserve help and there are some out there that need to learn a lesson. A opened ended policy of just pouring money into everybody doesn’t help this cause. Those that need a little help will never get it, if we continue to bail out those that want it all with out the work involved. A mother of four can’t get help because she does own a home, but a mother of four with no job gets free housing, free food, and free money. Which brings us back to wrong and right.

You know it’s wrong. But you need help so you group yourself with the give me, give me. So when I speak up about helping you, it get’s lost in the argument of Us against Them. The 20 vs. the 200. But if the 2,000 in the majority step up and say Enough. Those on the left, we can do it for ourselves, thanks but no thanks for all the free stuff. It’s time we start working for it. Those on the right, we don’t have to change who we are to accomplish this, so you can back off too. Then we can start to see changes.

In fact, it would turn my risky investment into a Gold Mine. See, I want to return ownership. I want the people in Urban areas to own 80% of the businesses in those areas. This is important because then they would care about their communities. Not just because it’s where they live. But because it’s where they make their living. Just imagine everyday people fighting with the same zeal as drug dealers to protect a block. Just imagine them working with the police, making it harder for senseless crimes to go unsolved. Imagine them roasting a black politician that comes in and says I’m going to take more of your money to help the people less fortunate.

I’ll pretend for you. “I help the less fortunate every time I open a new store and provide new jobs. I help the less fortunate every time I offer health care to part time employees who are still attending College. I help the less fortunate will real help that will last them a life time. Don’t you dare come in here and tell me to give them something for nothing. I had to work for everything I have. And yes I got some help along the way, but it wasn’t in the form of a check for nothing. It came with self confidence, self sacrifice, and self respect. And when I learned those things I was able to understand Community and my place in it. I learned I can hold people accountable for their own judgments without being judgmental. I can expect more from my People and point out when we aren’t living up to our potential. ” Just Imagine.

The Point

If I were the $100 million dollar man, the big house would not be the same. Because instead of finding new money to keep people in, I would be telling them your time to make a mark on the world is coming. This house will be here if you lose your way or you encounter problems you just weren’t expecting, but let it be known this is no place to make your home. Unless you come back with a business plan to stake out your piece of Real Estate. Unless you come back because you realize this is where you came from and where you need to start leaving your impression.

And nothing in my Big House is for Free. Nothing. Everything costs. Even your right to complain. If you haven’t acted on your plan, then do not come to me and tell me things aren’t working out. I will laugh at you. Tell me you’ve tried this and tried that and you still can’t figure it out. I’ll get you some help. Don’t hang out with people you know are going to get into trouble and call me to bail you out. I will laugh at you. When you do get out, I’ll be willing to give you a second chance but don’t push it. Now if you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, I’ll be on my way to get you. Depending on the situation, you might even get my full attention in defending you. And it won’t be because the story is a Media Sensation. It would be because there was a real miscarriage of justice.

I guess all this irrelavent since I’m not Oprah. But if I were you, I wouldn’t be surprised if you looked up one day and saw me walking down the street stopping Random people, giving them just a little bit of hope that everything is going to be O.K. And watching that grow into ideas and self renewals. I may never hit the Lottery but that’s not the only way to get rich. Sometimes it just takes a Fiesty attitude from a Smart Fairly Attractive New Voice. Just ask Oprah. Let me go.

Barack Obama and Bill O’Reily; Pt. 2

September 9th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

Everybody remembers the line off of Malcolm X. “Get your hands out my pocket”. It was used as a distraction in the Assasination of Malcolm X. I found parady in that movie. Some of Us continue to blame White People for his death. When more than likely it was Black People that were scared of the Changes he could garner.

Why bring this up talking about Barack and Bill? It’s simple Barack Obama needs to keep his hands off the wallets of Americans.

Bill O’Reily aired part 2 of his interveiw with Barack Obama. The subject was the Economy and Taxation. Everyone can agree we’ve hit some hard times in this Country. I have alot to say about that but I’ll do it in another article. This is About Barack Obama and his plans for the economy.

First let me state, since this interveiw Barack Obama is saying more openly that the tax hikes on the Rich may not be in the best interest of the Country. 1/2 a Kudo. But this under cut his Taxation policy. To implement the Programs he’s calling for, College Tuition, Healthcare; He has to generate more money. He knows he can’t take it from the Rich because that would stop investment, in both the Stock Market and small business.

So where do you think the money will come from? Middle Class beware. Since the Bush Administration has been in office, the tax cuts have produced 20% more Revenue than the Bill Clinton years. When O’Reily pointed this out to Barack Obama, he retorted “That’s because our economy has grown. Not as much as during the Clinton years but we have had economic growth.”

I’m kinda good with numbers so let’s see. In eight years under Clinton we had Economic Growth but the Revenues of the Government were less than Bush Admin. Under Bush we’ve had Economic Growth with less taxes on the Rich and the Government still took in more Money.

I’ll go a little further than that. Bill Clinton deteriorated our Army and faced Sex Scandal. Bush had to deal with a weakening economy when he took office, 9/11, war in Afghanistan, war in Iraq, North Korea, Gas Prices, Mortgage Meltdown, Credit Crisis; and the economy continues to show growth.

Why? Because we are still betting our Country is the best in the World and we are opening businesses. And then there are some of Us who are content with just getting by. As long as I can pay my rent, I’m cool. Then they spend their money of frivoulous things and when something big hits they don’t have the money to take care of it. Then it’s the governments fault they are left exposed.

Then Barack Obama said, to paraphrase, it’s neighborly to give to those less fortunate than you. I agree. But let me keep my money and give it those I see fit. Maybe I don’t want to give a 1/3 or 1/2 a scholarship to everybody. Maybe I want to give a 100% scholarship to some kids that have strived to deserve it. Maybe I want to buy a random Mom on the street a used, but new to her, Car and pay her insurance for a Year. Then she can get back and forth to work, daycare, or volunteering to help others. Why should I let you decide? Isn’t it my money?

This interview with Obama was short. Not much we didn’t already know. Tax the Rich to give to the poor. I’m sorry I’ve got to go. I’m going to write another post now, because I don’t want to Connect Obama to what I’m about to write. I want it independent. Let’s just say, I don’t agree with Barack Obama Economics.

Oh Yeah! Just to point this out, Barack Obama stutters alot when faced with hard questions. Not to say he didn’t handle himself well, but he frustrations shines through. It struck me because this is an issue I’m trying to work on. It tells me that he really believes what he saying. He has a lot of passion for it. Another 1/2 a Kudo.

Oprah Says No to Sarah Palin

September 8th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

O.K. This is going to sound funny, but I agree with Oprah not to interview Sarah Palin. I put myself into Oprah’s shoes and thought; If I had an all black show would I invite Barack Obama, even though I was campaigning for John McCain. Yes, of Course I would.

But I could imagine the Backlash. In Black Lynching in America, I talked about how we are quick to defend each other even when we know we are wrong. But I would Roost Obama and because of it, I would receive all kinds of hate mail and death threats and would probably lose my audience. But I’d do it because I have some real questions to ask Obama.

Now Oprah’s Show is about uplifting and empowering Women. If she invited Sarah Palin on what could she argue with her? (Full Discretion: I’ve never watched a complete episode of Oprah. I don’t watch Maury or Ellen. I will watch Montel Williams every once in a while. )

Her audience is working women looking for empowerment. Sarah Palin is a Mother of Five, with a fantastic husband, that’s now running for Vice President of the United States of America. What better story? But Oprah’s show isn’t about Policy, it’s about Personality. And she can’t breakdown Sarah Palin on that issue. All she would do is Satisfy her Audience.

O.K. wait something isn’t sounding right. She would actually empower her audience and refuses, while I would commit career suicide and chastise my audience in a heartbeat. I guess that’s why she’s the Billionaire and I’m Not, yet. She can keep them always wanting more, when I would rather rip it off like a bandaid and get to fixing the wound.

Nothing any of Us say are going to affect Oprah Winfrey. I even thought that when I started writing this. What the hell could I say about Oprah Winfrey. She is the roadmap I like to follow. When I heard how much she was making when she earned the rights to her Show, I started thinking that’s how I’m going to do it. What ever I do, I’m going to make sure I own it. I got that from Oprah, without watching her show.

So anything she does is fine by me. I can even respect the fact that she’s stomping for Obama and she doesn’t want to look disingenious talking to Palin. But boy do I wish I had a National Show right now, because this would be the perfect time for a conservative woman to make a power play at Oprah’s Audience. Could you imagine? Inviting Cindy and John McCain and Michelle and Barack Obama on at the same time. Let the Men bake cookies and let the woman talk social issues. Without bias, just real people.

If I might be so humble to offer Oprah a little advice. I’d think about Promoting Change when you dominate the Television world as you do. Some of Us out here might take you up on that offer. I’m just saying!!!!!!