United We Stand: Septemeber 11, 2001

.....date: September 10, 2010....As the day quickly approaches, I wanted to take this time to reflect and ask you all to join me in doing so. This reflection is on one of the worse attacks on the United Sates perhaps since, Pearl Harbor.  At that moment on September 11, 2001, most of us for the first time in our lives realized what it meant to be an American.  The feeling of unity far and wide was felt from the tri-state area to the banks of all states in the United States.  This great nation of promised democracy was put to the ultimate test....Lives were lost! Families were torn! Children were left with no mothers, fathers, brothers, uncles, aunts, grandparents and cousins, who were so familiar in their lives. The lives of each individual throughout the United States was initially impacted by this attack on our great nation.  Yet, as a nation mourns on what will be nine years later on September 11, 2010 we still stand strong knowing that we will rebuild and our faith will carry us to moments of peace that can never be taken away...............
Where were you on September 11, 2001?

"I was in high school. On my way to my Algebra II class." You could see the smoke in the air.  I will never forget that day because for the first time in my life I heard the silence of the American people as we watched and waited, watched and waited, watched and waited, watched and waited....I knew that this great nation would forever be changed. I knew that we were under attack.........................................

THIS VIDEO MAY BE SENSITIVE TO SOME AUDIENCE MEMBERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!

It wasn't me!

Fantasia's suicide attempt after being accused of breaking up a marriage, AND A SEX TAPE! She claims he told her they were separated.  

Her rep said that she was, "overwhelmed by the lawsuit and the media attention" surrounding her relationship with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Antwaun Cook ... who happens to be married.  Fantasia believed Mr. Cook when he told her he was not happy in his marriage and his heart was not in it. She believed him when he told her he and Mrs. Cook separated in the late summer of 2009. She believed Mr. Cook when he told her he lived elsewhere.

WHO DO YOU BLAME?

How young is too young...

Is there an appropriate age to be in a serious relationship? What are the measurements of a serious relationship?

It is said that often times, the younger we are, the less mature we are due to a lack of life experience. Does this impact the status of a 'serious relationship' if the pair is thought as being to young?  Does the lack of experience bring constant temptation, that may arise from emotions beginning to develop as the attraction to the other person deepens? We can agree that each day brings new feelings such as doubts, fears, and confusion coupled with joys and exhilaration.  With that in mind how does this affect a serious relationship? How do our emotions help us determine if we are "ready" to commit ourselves? So the essential question remains, at what age is it appropriate for someone to become seriously committed?

When will it end? [Teacher sentenced for sex with teens.]

Again, another teacher is sentenced to jail for having sexual relations with her students.  Where do we begin to solve this issue? Do we blame the teacher and the student? Do we blame just the teacher? Do we blame just the students? What is going on with our children that they are able to attract the attention of fully grown adults to a point where their relationship becomes sexualized?  Are these teachers not mentally capable of walking away? Are these teachers mentally ill? What is the issue? Who do we trust with our children if we can't trust our teachers?

(CNN) -- A judge in Tampa, Florida, on Monday sentenced Stephanie Ragusa, a former middle school math teacher, to 10 years in prison for having sex with two underage students in 2008.

"As parents, we place our trust in teachers to provide a safe environment in which our children can learn," Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Chet Tharpe said in handing down the sentence. "You violated that trust in the worst imaginable way."

Tharpe also sentenced Ragusa to 15 years of sex offender probation following her prison time.

Ragusa, 31, pleaded guilty in April to three counts of lewd and lascivious battery in a March 2008 case involving a 14-year-old boy, and two counts of having unlawful sex with a minor in an April 2008 case involving a 16-year-old student.

EVERYONE has had their share of Facebook issues.

Okay, cut it out and just admit it.  There is one person on your Facebook friend's list who you know is only your friend because he/she is snooping around looking for God knows what to report to God knows whom....RIGHT?

Thinking about the ways Social Networking Sites impact relationships, it's becoming so easy to "stalk" people and relationships can be hurt by the simplest things, like reading too much into a wall post or comment.... 


Online social networking was supposed to make us closer and in some ways it has. Thanks to these social networks, many of us have gotten back in touch with old friends, shared old and new photos and even became better friends with some people we wouldn't have spoken to otherwise.


On that same note, social networking sites like Facebook has ruined a lot of relationships.  Please, don't misunderstand this statement.  We voluntarily put ourselves in this situation the minute we sign up for our Facebook accounts and decide to release our personal information via status updates, change in relationship status, pictures, wall posts etc..  Basically if we're not careful, our online interactions can hurt our real-life relationships.  But let's be real, it's what we are actually saying that's really choking up our relationships. 

EXAMPLES

It is very easy for people to get jealous or to much into your business on Facebook. 

I have a lot of examples for this, but here is a classic one.  If someone comments on someone else's page.  Let's say the comment was of a sexual nature but in reality it is an 'inside joke' between two friends.  There are several problems that could arise from this 'inside joke.'  The angry spouse is one, the loud mouth 'Facebook friend' that you know will run back and tell someone "OMG did you see what such and such wrote on such and such wall," and even the friend that just has to know what you all are talking about but clearly it wasn't meant to be shared, etc...  So essentially a comment can lead to so many places.

Facebook has a  huge impact on all of our relationships. 

Think about this.  This social network that I love so much has the potential to tell EVERYONE on my friend's list everything that I do all thanks to my, news feed.  Am I lying?  Let's take for example one of the main things that you CANNOT remove from your news feed update, HE/SHE IS NOW IN A RELATIONSHIP...At what point does Facebook's news feed allow you tell everyone, that you are in or out of a relationship? (Never)  Do you list the person? If you are casually dating someone, do you put “It’s Complicated” or will that make you look like an ass?  Even just taking off the relationship option causes it to be posted that you have changed your relationship status, which can lead to very uncomfortable conversations.....................................................

Let's go to the next extreme.  EVERYONE has that one friend who CONSTANTLY updates his/her status and it's NEVER or rarely anything worth reading.  One of two things happen. You either end up deleting that friend only for them to find out later and ask a million questions, which then forces you to say, "You annoyed me on Facebook that's why I deleted you."  In most cases the friendship takes a very sour turn here.  The other option is just dealing with it but knowing how annoying that person is on Facebook you make them pay for it with slick comments, or less invites to certain places, etc...RIGHT?

There are a few people who manage to keep their lives separate from Facebook. (They are the ones who don't have a Facebook or have one and only manage to log on once every year. Yes, it's possible!!)  However, for those of us who are lucky enough (laughing) to be on Facebook 'all the time' answer this, Does Facebook hate relationships? Is it harder to maintain any sort of relationship if you have a Facebook page?

The video...Let's talk about it.

So for those of you who haven't heard or shared your thoughts on this video, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! Take a close look at this video. What are your thoughts? Little girls gone wild or little girls having fun? You decide! 

What would you do?

Imagine you were the man in the following situation. What would you do?

"I was a very happy man. My wonderful girlfriend & I had been dating for 2 yrs. We decided to get married. There was only 1 little thing bothering me...her younger sister. My soon to be sister-in-law was 22, wore very tight miniskirts, & generally was bra-less. One day her 'little' sister asked me to come over & check invitations. She was alone when I arrived. She said she had feelings & desires for me that she couldn't overcome. She told me she wanted me just once before I got married & commited my life to her sister. She asked me to meet her upstairs in her room. I was stunned watching her walk upstairs. I made a beeline straight to the front door & headed straight to my car! Low & behold all my fiance's family were standing outside clapping, proud that I had passed their test. Moral of the story...always keep condoms in the car! LOL" - THE WEDDING TEST

Have you been caught up in a situation like this? Did you act upon it? Is it worth it?

Cheating 101

Is there ever a valid explanation for a man or woman who cheats?  What about those who are cheated on versus those who are cheated with? Are there expectations for the cheated and the cheater? Personally, speaking I am not and have never been a fan of cheaters.  However, I am curious to learn what is it that drives someone to the point where he/she needs to step outside of their marriage or relationship to find comfort in another person's mind, body or soul?

Religion vs. Law

Should a MUSLIM WOMAN be asked to remove her veil (which is against her will) to take the new biometric passport pictures?  Do you adhere to that countries law? go against your will (religion)?  make the government go against their law? What do you think about this issue?  Religion vs Law? And if you want to live in a country other than yours, should you expect that country to change their law to suit you?
Women protest as French Cabinet gets veil ban bill

70% of successful black women are single/unmarried! Why? Who's to blame, if any?

Do not misunderstand me when I ask this question. I am not in any shape or form saying that there is something wrong with being a successful single African American woman. What I am asking you to consider is why there are so many single black women versus that of any other race? Also, think about the standards successful or not that are already set for black women in terms of this question. How does this issue affect the black family?

Are you able to recognize the difference between lust, love and infatuation? What does each one mean to you?

LUST is defined as a strong sexual desire.

LOVE is defined as a strong positive emotion of regard and affection.

Infatuation is defined as an object of extravagant short-lived passion.

80's Babies: Are they settling down?