Sunny Day Expressed as Red Raindrops

Large wet, splashes of delightful, red raindrops in a darkening sky with tiny slivers of the azure blue that was overhead only moments ago. The rain drops are evaporating and turning into streaky clounds way over in the next valley while the brilliant blue and pale afternoon light return to our small patches of playing fields, houses and dreams.

Not Another Clinton Nor Bush Nor Romney: America Is Not A Monarchy

Clinton was cheated on. Bush, the younger, knew his dad believed he could never be president. Mitt has stepped up for his dad. George Romney was a successful businessman, Michigan's governor but an unfairly derailed 1968 presidential candidate. Hilliary, George W.Bush and Willard "Mitt" Romney all have issues but should not work them out by running for political office. Do what Mr and Mrs John and Suzy Q Public do ...get counseling.

Competent and compassionate psychiatric care may have saved us nearly eight years of wrong headed decisions made by the current president as he tried to overcome his feelings of inadequacy. I have often heard that the Bush family felt that if any of their children had the intelligence and temperament for the job of president; it was Jeb Bush. Based on his governorship of Florida and a few other factors, my money would have been on Jeb to provide a competent White House.

Romney feeling he has to fill father's his shoes is just the stuff that Willard (yes,Willard is Mitt's first name)needs to get on the analyst's couch to sort out. This is another unhealthy urge being medicated with politics. The United States is not a place of inherited offices. Mitt does not have to finish his father's quest because of their bloodlines.

Hilliary Clinton appears to believe she is owed the presidency because she went through thick and thin and much, much adultery. She has "experience". She's a Clinton. Mrs. Hilliary Clinton has formidable intelligence, a fringe of elected office political service and a marriage bed formerly located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Well, just move right back in!

I can not bring myself to vote for another of these legacy candidates.

No More!!!!!! The United States is not a monarchy.

The Ultimate Paying It Forward: Martin and the Social Justice Warriors

We celebrate Martin Luther King today. He paid it forward with the ultimate, his life. King and many other social justice warriors paid it forward for us to stand where we stand, live where we wish, work at jobs for which we are qualified, vote and love, regardless of race.

A simple question comes to me. I ask this simple question of you: what are you doing today and daily, weekly, maybe quarterly --- okay, a couple of times a year to pay it forward for your children , friends, non-friends and the unborn generations? Usually, you will not have to put your body on the line but there is much work to be done and you may be the one who comes up with the innovative method of scaling over the top of an old barricade. To paraphrase, a warrior is a terrible thing to waste. It could be you or me or your great grandchild that keeps the fight for social, economic and environmental justice going and moves Martin's and the elder civil rights/social justice warriors legacies into true realization.

There is much work to be done. Today, celebrate and remember the past. Tomorrow and the rest of the year envision the future and "Pay it Forward" for yourself, others and our future legacy.

I'll Have What She's Having

This woman's smile and demeanor stopped me cold. She looked so relaxed, so self-satisfied.

Early King Celebrating: Open Letter to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dear Readers,
I am posting this powerful letter from Partners in Faith again as we begin our reflections on and celebrations of the life of an American whose gifts changed the United States and influenced nonviolent, morally sound revolutions all around the globe. This letter urges us to continue being justice warriors in our daily lives and not to believe the battles are over. Ghandi, King, Harvey Milk and you.

Dear Martin,

Every third Monday in January history compels us to remember and reactivate your legacy.How shall we honor you? And how shall we honor our deepest and truest selves? Nearly four decades have passed since you left your legacy to us, and what a momentous legacy it was. Yours was the vision of a transformed nation, a society that dared to practice the very brotherhood - and sisterhood - that it preached. In a time of tremendous social upheaval you joined the freedom-loving and justice-seeking tradition of your people, black people, and you did so at great personal cost. Using nonviolent direct action, you challenged the existing status quo. In the presence of your enemies - citizen's councils, police dogs, fire hoses, bigoted mobs, half-hearted allies, Christian racists, the FBI - you practiced an insurgent religious faith. You modeled for others the commitment to racial justice and reconciling peace. With your very body and life you led us into the magnificent, multi-colored and multi-ethnic quest of justice, peace and human community. Sore distressed, we the people, have yet to catch up to your radically inclusive vision.

For African Americans, the cumulative effect of the last forty years has been as disturbing as it is dramatic. In the new millennium, our elusive and torturous quest for freedom and equality continues. The full repercussions of radical democracy in the United States are not yet known. The vast majority of whites see themselves as non-racist and live comfortably with little or no real contact with other racial-ethnic people. Oblivious to the obvious (and sometimes the not so obvious), the connection between white privilege and black rage is discounted, resisted, denied. In our houses of worship, in the ivory tower, in the corporate boardroom, in the halls of government, in popular culture and mass media, in states red, purple and blue, in old and new formations, racism lives on.

In the U.S., racial exclusion is still second nature. Racism is who we are. It is our way of life. Sadly, many black people now have difficulty seeing their connections to other black people. We have embraced societal distinctions that separate us by age, education, gender, sexuality and class. We have forgotten the example set by so many courageous souls a generation ago. Mose Wright, Daisy Bates, Jo Ann Robinson, E.D. Dixon, Ella Baker, Bob Moses, Diane Nash, Fannie Lou Hamer, Septima Clark, John Lewis and Bayard Rustin were part of that magnificent movement of blackness that emerged, broke beyond itself, widened the circle of humanity, and called forth women, children and men of all colors and conditions. The painful truth is that we now often violate and oppress our own in the name of religion.

Always, at the center of the heart of the historic black-led struggle for freedom was the black religious experience. Black self-love was upheld as a divine imperative. Local black churches became ecumenical networks of nurture and resistance. At those beleaguered places of our most urgent human need common ground often could be sought and found in the church. But not always. Movement women like Ella Baker, organizer of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, found themselves at odds with the sexism and sexual misconduct of male ministers. An out gay man like Bayard Rustin, architect of the 1963 March on Washington, was feared as a potential threat to the advancement of the race.

Today, in the imperfectly desegregated post-civil rights era, religiously inspired leadership continues to perpetuate a cruel sexual ethic, and in stark violation of their own best sacred inheritance. That black women continue to be relegated to secondary status and lesbians and gays are made to feel unwelcome, unworthy, and uncomfortable in what should be the most caring, compassionate and empowering of communions is a searing indictment against all the black faithful. Martin, like you, we are sometimes uncertain in our leadership. The dominant views on sex, sexuality and gender in the Black Church are undermining community, diminishing the faith and leading many to abandon churches out of sheer moral frustration and exhaustion. Our churches have been slow to embrace gender equality. They have largely spoken only opposition and condemnation to same gender loving people and have been unable to proclaim a sexually liberating and redemptive word. Some black churches have concluded it is in their best institutional interest to participate in "special rights" polemics against this so-called "immoral humanity."

As black clergy we offer here a more hope-filled perspective. In the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth, we the undersigned clergy extend the divine invitation of human wholeness, healing and affirmation to "whosoever" (John 3:16). In the best of the Black Church tradition we say, "Whosoever will, let her or him come." Who is included in this "whosoever?" The "whosoever" of today are the diseased and the dis-eased, the discomforted and the distressed, those who live on the margins of the marginalized, who are the oppressed of the oppressed, the sexually battered and the abused, the homeless and the bereft, the HIV/AIDS infected, who are the young and old, female and male, lesbian and bisexual, transgender and straight. These are they, the children of God. They are our sisters and brothers and partners and friends. They belong to all of us. And they are very much we ourselves.As Black Christian religious leaders what more shall we do?

We must help to forge a progressive agenda for the black community in which race, gender, class, age and sexuality are kept in active dialogue with one another. We must engage one another, prophetically demand more of one another, and prepare to suffer, cry, and toil with each other when it comes to matters of racial and sexual justice, economic and political empowerment, to waging peace. We must be courageous in confronting the social conditions that divide; elitism, poverty, militarism and more await our deepest response. We must continue to look to the ancestors and to Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith." We must dedicate ourselves to a world where borders can be crossed and a new consensus can be found, where we call our own community beloved and celebrate black people, one unique person at a time. Martin, on your day we vow to take a stand to love all black people. We vow to accept and to honor all regardless of their gender, class, age, or sexuality for we all are the children of God. The power is in our hands. This is where we must go from here.

Respectfully,

****orginal artwork< "titled "Stained Glass" by Laura Etta Billingsley digital media 2007

may not be used without the permission of the artist.

"An Open Letter to Martin"Signers (organizations for identification purposes only)

Rev. Ayanna Abi-KylesProgram of Black Church Studies, Candler School of Theology, Emory University Shrine of the Black Madonna, Atlanta, GA

Rev. Margaret Aymer, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of New Testament
The Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA

Randall C. Bailey Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Hebrew Bible
Interdenominational Theological Center

Daniel Black (Omotosho Jojomani), Ph.D.

Professor of English/African American Studies
Clark Atlanta University

Rev. Edward B. Branch, D.Min
Catholic Chaplain Atlanta University Center

Rev. Michael Joseph Brown, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins
Emory University
Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr.
Dean of the Martin Luther King, Jr.
International ChapelMorehouse College

The Reverend Da Vita Carter McCallister, Staff Associate,

First Congregational Church UCC

Rev. Michelle Holmes Chaney Program Coordinator

Interfaith Health Program
Emory University

William T Chaney Jr

Senior PartnerChaney and Associates, LLC

Rev. Jawanza (Eric) Clark

Pan African Orthodox Christian Church-Shrines of the Black Madonna

Pastor Will Coleman, Ph.D.Theologian and Kabbalist Co-director, Black Kabbalah Institute

Sybil Corbin, M.Div.

Rev. T. Renee Crutcher
Spiritual and Creative Director

Sankofa Ministries & Tellin' Our Story Publishing, Inc.

Rev. McClain Dyson
New Bethel A.M.E. Church

Lithonia, GA

Dr. Teresa Fry Brown

Associate Professor of Homiletics
Candler School of Theology, Emory University

Minister Ronald W Galvin, Jr.
Community Organizer

Atlanta, Georgia

Rev. Willie F. Goodman, Jr., Th.D.
Black Pastoral Theologian

Reverend Vivian Green

Rev. Dr. Maisha I. Handy
Assistant Professor of Christian Education

Interdenominational Theological Center
First Iconium Baptist Church

Rev. Renee K. Harrison
Emory University, Ph.D. candidate

Department of Religion

Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield, II,

Pastor

First Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Dorinda Henry, MTS

David Anderson Hooker

Min.BaSean Jackson (ssc)

Ph.D Student at Emory University

Rev. Shonda R. Jones

Clergy, United Methodist Church

Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

Candler School of Theology
Emory University

Emmanuel Y. Lartey, Ph.D.
Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care and Counseling
Candler School of Theology,

Emory University.

Pastor, Ghana Interdenominational Church,

Atlanta.

Rev. Portia Wills Lee

Trinity African Baptist Church

592 Veterans Memorial Highway

Mableton, GA. 30126

Stephen Lewis

Program Coordinator, Pastoral Leadership Search Effort (PLSE)

The Fund for Theological Education

Reverend Dr. Mark A. Lomax, Pastor

First African Presbyterian Church

Assistant Professor of Homiletics

Interdenominational Theological Center

Herbert R. Marbury,

University Chaplain

Assistant Professor of Religion

Clark Atlanta University

Rev. Timothy McDonald, III

Pastor,

First Iconium Baptist Church

Rev. Veronice Miles

Minister of Christian Education,

Greater Bethany Baptist Church

Graduate Student,

Emory University

Graduate Division of Religion

Reverend Susan C. Mitchell

Co-Pastor

Sankofa United Church of.

Deborah F. Mullen, Ph.D.

Reverend A. Nevell Owens

Rev. Chauncey R. Newsome

Assistant Pastor

First Iconium Baptist Church

Rev. Jeanette Pinkston

Associate Pastor

Saint Philip AME Church,

Atlanta, GA

Alton B. Pollard, III, Ph.D.

Director, Program of Black Church Studies and

Associate Professor of Religion and Culture

Candler School of Theology

Emory University

Reverend Derrick L. Rice

Co-Pastor

Sankofa United Church of Christ

Rev. Fert Richardson

Pastor

Suwanee Parish United Methodist Church

Rev. Marcia Y. Riggs, Ph.D.

J. Erskine Love

Professor of Christian Ethics

Columbia Theological Seminary

Rev. Aaron NaeemRobinson

Rosetta E. Ross,

ChairDepartment of Philosophy and Religious Studies,

Spelman College.

Rev. Melva L. Sampson

Project Manager

Sisters Chapel

WISDOM Center

Spelman College

Rev. Roslyn M. Satchel, Esq.

Executive Director

National Center for Human Rights Education

Rev. Dr. Teresa E. Snorton

CMEMinister

Co-Chair, First African Community Development Corporation

Dr. Dianne Stewart, Departments of Religion and African American Studies

Emory University

Dr. Lewis T. Tait, Jr.,

Senior Pastor,

Imani Christian Center

The Rev. Dr. Eugene Turner

Retired,Presbyterian Church USA

Minister

President of the Board of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary,

Atlanta, GA

Rev. Lamont Anthony Wells

Senior Pastor,

Lutheran Church of the Atonement

President, Southeastern Synod Black Pastors Conference

Min. Michael J. Wright

Gayraud S. Wilmore

Emeritus Prof. African American Church History

Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta

Reverend Bridgette D. Young

Associate Dean of the Chapel and Religious Life

Emory University

http://www.us.net/epf

EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH is a multi-racial national network of religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity. Our diverse faith traditions and shared religious values lead us to affirm and defend the equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, ability, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. As people of faith, we actively oppose the manipulation of religion to promote inequality and exclusion. Join us and help us promote a more inclusive vision of religion and society. Equal Partners in Faith1040 Harbor DriveAnnapolis, MD 21403 Phone: 877-501-4194 Fax: 1-443-782-0273

Email: EPFinfo@aol.com Web: www.us.net/epf

The Oval Office Is Not Hilliary Clinton's ' I'm Sorry Present' for Gennifer Flowers

You do not get to be the President of the United States because your husband slept with Gennifer Flowers, Monica Lewinsky, Elizabeth Ward, Jane Doe number four and propositioned Paula, the state worker, for oral sex. The presidency is not a conciliation; it may be a deal that Hilliary made with Bill but the republic of the United States of America and its citizens DID NOT.

Sleeping with the the President of the United States is not a job qualification for running for the office. The United States is not a small South or Central American junta. Nearness to power for a feminist like Hilliary or myself, both trained at fine New England women's colleges, is not power itself. I know Wellesley College encourages its women to stand on "their" own two feet. Maybe, Hilliary Rodham Clinton was really a disciple of MalcolmX ---"by any means necessary".

More power to you , Mrs. Clinton. Sleeping next to power means --well, --- it means that you slept next to power. It is not experience it is exposure.

We Have The Whole World In Our Arms

The blended cultures, voices and beauties of the people of this earth are like the threads in this photograph. The endless variety and configurations of nations, races, religions and mindsets could be seen as the warp and weft of a loose tapestry always in the process of being made and unmade in uncountable permutations.

Queen Victoria At Mumbai Zoo

Welcome to 2008

Sit back on this lovely settee, and try to get your head right; have a little more of the hair of the dog that bit you last night. I've got the turkey in the oven and its got the house smelling really good. As Miss Betty Davis used to say "we're in for a bumpy ride" !!



The financial pundits are out in force on the morning chat shows 'cheer leading' that 2008 is going to be a positive' in the black year. Well yeah .... (CIA wire tap program) just found where the weapons of mass destruction are in Iraq; there's a mushroom cloud from Iran and their plan to attack the United States within 24 hours is operative and best of all, Dick Cheney telephoned me personally so I could meet deadline on this column to verify that I was right all along about that his duck hunting "accident" was no "accident". He'd wanted to shoot that fellow for years and now he was in a positon to do it and get away with it. Cheney offered to show me how to shoot at the White House's shooting range, I demurred.


The mortgage debacle/ results in many foreclosures>>>>> reduced homebuilding>>>reduced home buying>>>>less major purchases ...less jobs .....reduced shopping for small items due to high energy prices>>>>low confidence housing values not growing>>>.
dollar delvalued>>>>LAYOFFS >>>>> CARPENTERS ... Tradesmen
HOMEBUILDERS ...fear invades others . The carpet guy isn't buying 12 coffees and 2 1/2 dozen donuts every morning; putting $2.50 in Karen's tip jar and Karen's lost ten other good, regular blue guys this month. Recession, at least, a short lived one.

This is micro economics the way they taught me at my fine New England women's college.



** Both sides of the isles, Republicans and Democrats have covered up their crimes and misdeeds via the power of their offices.