Tested Twice

When did the black youth and adults forget we have something to prove?



Not just to their counterparts, some of which may still not see them as equal, but to themselves.

In the face of death and ridicule the Tuskegee Airman not only excelled but made history in the process.



The racism was not over the top in the movie; in fact, it was watered down. Major Joy (Christopher McDonald) decided that because these black men did exceptionally well on their entrance exam, something had to be wrong. There had to be a fluke. So he requested they be tested again. Second round scores, all 94 and above if I'm not mistaken, with many scores of 100. These men did not complain, and say oh, we already took the test... they simply blew it out of the water- a second time.


Now some members of the black race no longer care to challenge themselves.

They are sadly content.

I Won't Own You! (Editorial Style Edition)

Ingrained in most men is the desire to be providers and protectors. When a woman takes this from a man, even in a brief moment, the equilibrium of the universe is thrown off. Men begin to wonder, am I a really a man? Quite like the lions and tigers in the zoo, they get confused because they are forced into an “environment” that they (men, lions, and tigers) are not use to.

But indeed, as years have gone and come, times have also changed. It is no longer a statement of independence, but one women recognize as not being indebted to anyone. Although many men and woman look at the dating process as an investment, there are some who can only identify giving with receiving. Thus, protective nature is created for both men and women.

It wasn’t until out on a date with a potential, that I found out I was slowly falling into an independent role, as well as one that didn’t want to owe anyone. So as I offered to pay for the movies, he looked perplexed and said “it's twenty dollars, I won’t own you.”

"We Pray For Things Like This"

I cannot remember the exact television episode or even the show, but the words are stuck in my ear. We Pray for Things Like This. This, being the ironic murder of a man in the Guinness Book of World Records Museum.

The manager at the location asked if the body could stay, or if he could at least take pictures before they moved the body. Not thrown off by the question alone, but also the sincerity of it; the detective just looked at him, in silence then continued to do his job.

We Pray for Things Like This. Yes, he clearly said these words. Didn't not take the time to pull the detective aside, or even whisper. He was not ashamed.

This statement caused my mind to run. Are we praying-discreetly, or unashamed for a come up even if it may be at the cost of bringing someone down. Although I know this is just tv, I also understand that everything we see on tv, is a reflection of true life, somewhere.

And, we continue to pray for things like this, forgetting that prayers, thoughts, and even scripts can transfer into real life.

Workability of Website

When asking people to review my website www.justsea.wordpress.com to determine the workability of it, I was quite nervous. I was asking for honesty, but still hoping that the feedback was positive, which it was (mostly ; )

The ease of WordPress allowed me to input the pages and content I wanted on the pages. After which a navigation bar was created, for both the top and the bottom of the home page. Therefore I received a lot of good feedback on the accessibility of the website. You read the link, you clicked the page, and wala (if that's how you spell it, and if that is a word).

Although navigating the site was easy, everything wasn't known. For an example, on the Poem Page, visitors did not know that they could click a picture to enlarge, and also to get an individual poem on a page by itself. It was more like a "hidden treasure" along the way. With this in mind, I will create one line to simply state this. Something like Click a picture, read a poem. Or something to that affect. People also asked me what the small picture was next to the Just S.E.A. on the first page, so increasing size there could be beneficial.

Overall, I received a lot of good feedback; most of the questions or concerns were dealing more with the size of graphics on the site.

Killing Time

"As if you could kill time, without injuring eternity."

This is the saying my mother shared with me, as I told her I date. "Any perspectives?" she asked. Of course my response was no... not yet. Just entertaining myself (for lack of a better phrase.)

"So you're killing time?"

"I guess you could say that" I responded.

And there it was this phrase that I have never heard in my life;

"As if you could kill time, without injuring eternity."

It makes complete sense to me... so undoubtedly my response was silence.

I know that you cannot kill time without injuring eternity. But said like this, at this moment gave me some sort of revelation.

What have I been doing not just in the dating world, but in my life. Every minute counts right? Have I been utilizing my seconds wisely?

Have I lost respect for time?

One out of Three

As we ask repeatedly, what is wrong with the youth, we must first take a good look at our elders. Not necessarily the elders 65 and older; but, the parents, the grandparents. Whoever is raising the children.

On my way out of the restroom at work I held the door open for three older women. Not only because of age, but simple courtesy.

First woman through the door. Nothing.

Second woman through the door. Nothing.

Third woman. "Thank you." And I thanked her.

Too often we minimize the "hellos" and "thank yous" to nothing. No exchange of words, no appreciation is given.

Then society looks at the youth as they brush shoulders with ignorance. And we want more. But if her mother didn't say excuse me, and her grandmother didn't say excuse me. How can we demand it?

Yes, I understand that what you have been born into does not determine where you go; but, foundation is everything. We in our growing stages mimic what we see. Therefore "we" are reproductions of ignorance.

Not My Emotion to Create.

As I think of the day, March 31, 2010 I envision three things.

• My Cousin's Birthday
• My godson's Birthday
• A Friend's termination of a pregnancy.

Two smiles and one expressionless face. How do I feel? What do I tell her to feel? Telling her it's not my emotion to create, is not good enough. She wants more.

How do I tell her, that if I was in her shoes I would not; if I've never been in her shoes? Children already, not content in life, how do I say add to that load. To that self created burden, that joy of life.