Stand as One during the Government Shutdown

I don't want to get all preachy about this situation, because not everyone is affected by the Government shutting down by the hands of the Republicans in an attempt to repeal "ObamaCare"; but this message is inspired by the Government shutdown and is for everyone who lives in a struggle or are witnesses to someone living a struggle.

In times like this, it's essential that we all look out for one another. That "every man for thy self" mentality has to be put to bed. Since those that "look down" upon us don't care enough to look out for us, it's up to us to have one another's back in these trying times. KEYWORD: US

There is no more "money to burn" for enjoyment, especially if you're living paycheck to paycheck. Those nights partying and going to the bar, spending money frivolously are just about over. Now, we all have to create a budget, follow it, and monitor it. It's easy to say put money aside for rainy days, but it's really not; especially if you're not disciplined to do so. But now, it's time to discipline yourself on putting money "under the mattress" and forgetting about it. Even if you have to go to your bank, and create an interest bearing account for that rainy day funds, do so. Putting money away in an interest bearing account helps your money grow. Don't spend the interest just because you have it, use your discipline to stack what you receive in interest and watch it grow each money. But DISCIPLINE is what we all will have to act on in order to survive this grey moment in our country, economy, and lives. KEYWORD: DISCIPLINE

It doesn't stop with just discipline, it also involves what was mentioned earlier with everyone working together to support one another. Discipline and teamwork creates a victory for the team. Working together will most certainly achieve success for everyone involved. Don't worry about how much of an effort you put into the team effort to win at this dirty game; as long as an effort was made along with that of your teammates, will we all come out of this situation holding our heads high.

Do not allow this situation to stress you because you don't have what you usually have or used to getting/expecting what you usually get/expect. It's not like that anymore, those days are over. Yet, this is a temporary problem that those folks we put in office will find a temporary fix for. It's up to us to know who we are voting for and what their agendas are, because what they do on the local and national level affects us all; especially on the local level. But voting is another topic of discussion.

Try to stick it out for as long as you can, utilizing your remaining resources, until you absolutely have to request assistance from your peers. It's funny how we all can be buddy-buddy with one another, yet, when we see our "buddy" sinking, we stand on the sideline and watch. Not all of us become spectators in those situations, but now we, as a collective, have to be heroes to one another and save the day for those in distress. No one should bear the burden alone, each person, as a collective, should be able to put a little in to create the whole, which is needed to help out. KEYWORD: COLLECTIVE


Hopefully, this grey moment shouldn't last too long, but if it does, we need to identify those who need the most help, stand them up, so they can continue to live, so we all can continue to stand shoulder to shoulder, and back to back, to weather this storm.


So here's the challenge, try to discipline your spending habits, budget, and put something away. Don't be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for assistance when times get real rough. Don't be a spectator, help those that you deem your friends when you see them hurting. No one is going to help us, but us. But if you still believe that all is well and that you're "shutdown proof", think again, because no one is immune to being cut off from money. Just like, have you ever heard of a drug kingpin living to be old? Nope, they either got caught up by the system/game and got laid down, or they got put away. There are no supermen in this situation, except for those calling the shots, and none of us are calling the shots. Keep thinking that way, and see what happens. Keep living your life like you in a rap video, and see that one day you're going to wake up dusty, funky, and looking for a handout.

We have to function as a collective to make it. No more jealously, no more self-centeredness, no more "every man for thy self". If we can't look out for one another, who will? This situation right now, proves that the Government won't look out for us, so stop depending on them to do so.


United We Stand, United We Fall.

Commentary: An Old Fashion Ass Whuppin'

Remember the good ole days when our parents and even neighbors cared for what we did in school and even in the streets? Doesn't it seem like those caring patriarchs no longer exists are just hidden? We don't hear too many stories of caring parents who act out of love towards their children by whuppin' their asses when they get out of line. We're sure it still happens, but not as often as it should and used to.

Recently, a concerned uncle displayed his love and concern for his nephew by creating a video of himself displaying such love and concern. The uncle apparently read some comments by the nephew on Facebook in reference to some sort of gang activity. The uncle didn't stand for what the nephew wrote on the social networking site, confronted the nephew about what he wrote, and the next is what ALL concerned parents should do with children who get out of line....


We're surprised he didn't throw any punches to really show him how much he loves him. What that uncle did was not embarrassing, nor was it out of line; that was love. Having that kid acknowledge what he was doing was wrong, reminding him of his current home environment, and denouncing the gangster act was what he needed. Making him think about what he did and said is the psychological aspect of the punishment, the belt was the physical. We only wish he backed him into a corner and gave him a 3-piece to the chest.

Though there is small pockets of discussions on whether or the not the uncle went overboard, deep down, those initiating the discussions know he was in the right. He turned his nephew from engaging in activity that is not becoming of him. Speaking on the level that he was allegedly speaking of would make those who really live that life believe what they were reading was real coming from him. The uncle made him call out the rap music he listened to and made him denounce it as fake. He made him say what he wrote on Facebook was all fake, and that he comes from a good family. There's nothing overboard about that. He made that boy know that he has family that loves him and that all that acting over the internet can get him in trouble, in which it did, just by someone with a gentler hand. Imagine if some "thug" or misguided individual read whatever it was the boy wrote and approached him, taking him up on his "tough" words; what would the boy have done? He was lucky his uncle "saved" him from the streets reaching up and touching him. When the streets touch you, there's nothing gentle about it, and the streets don't care. The boy should be thanking his uncle for stirring him in the right direction and preventing him from a real ass whuppin' or even worse.

Let this be a lesson to all those so-called thugs and gangstas out there talking tough on the internet, hiding behind a computer screen, tough typing. You all may laugh at the boy for getting whupped in front of the world, claiming that it'll never happen to you, but his life is saved from a possible much worse fate. Remember, you have to come from behind that keyboard sometime and when you do, you'll never know who read what you wrote and what they'll do to you.

Playing G isn't going to make you a man; learning about yourself and your history, putting your head in books and gaining knowledge is the way to become a respectable individual. You'll feel better about yourself and your surroundings when you live straight. Playing G and living foul causes stress and other internal issues that shortens your life. No one wants to live guarded all the time; though it may sound cool in a song, but you have to remember, it's a song, fake, a story. It's better to live your life in reality and not by the words of a rap artist who has a college degree and has mastered the art of playing gangsta.

Live your life clean and honest, you'll sleep better.