CHANGE REQUIRES

SELF SACRIFICE

Did the Clipper's players misfire on a prominent and powerful moment in time? I am from the old school and my point of view on this may be antiquated but I say yes they did. Now before you get upset understand that I witnessed the NBA players risk everything in 1964 to stand up for themselves. I witnessed Muhammed Ali lose 3 years for standing up for his beliefs. Jim Brown, Bill Russell and others including many entertainers risk their careers to make change happen via the civil rights movement. I lived during the later portion of Jackie Robinson's career. How about the sprinters, Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics who raised there fist in solidarity with the Civil Rights movement and were stripped of their medals. These people risked everything to change the world. The Clippers player's risked nothing at all. Absolutely nothing.

I do not want to vilify the victim but my point is we have to stop allowing people to control us with money or opportunity. I appreciate the fact that the Clipper's players did something but my message is directed to the generation my children included, who I would hope have more of a social conscious. We can not let others do our fighting for us. They missed a moment to take control and dictate for themselves what was going to be or not be. This incident transcends basketball and sports and they failed to recognize the moment and their power in that moment. Whether they refused to play or did something else more powerful than what they did prior to game 4.

I know it is easy to sit back and make a judgement without walking in their shoes. However I have walked in similar shoes. I was one of the African American student pioneers that navigated to waters of St Joesph's Prep during the mid 1970's and then on to Wheeling W. VA and the meat grinder of racial intolerance at a tender age. I stood up risking my college career and eventually my life as I was named leader of the blacks on the campus and eventually seen as leader of Black people beyond the campus. It was not until I left that I fully understood the danger but it was part of my nature to stand and fight.

Maybe it was because of the examples I had that I named that I was inclined and able to do what I did. So maybe it is on our generation to provide better examples and support for this younger generation. We tend to criticize them but the apple on the vine should not be blamed for failure to thrive it is the vine that is weak and not providing what they need to thrive. Maybe we have not provided the history, the strategies, the support they will need to create change in a world where progress is needed. But they need to now it requires sacrifice. Freedom is not free and I found the form of protest they made the other night  to be a weak response at best to a powerful moment in time.

My message is we, my generation battled for what we earned and we were at risk; at lunch counters; at bus stations; in our own homes; at churches and it was not easy or comfortable. Pay attention young people to your history and what is required of you as the world moves forward. It is not always about you and your career or your things. Seize the moments as they arrive because they will. We the youth of the Civil Rights movement may not be there to guide you directly but the history we created at great risk to ourselves, families and friends will provide you the guidance you require.

 This was not enough

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THE NBA

DID NOT KNOW?

I hesitated to write about the Donald Sterling remarks and the amazing outcry that has erupted due to his racist remarks. I am not going to say alleged here because he has not denied making the remarks and we all know that if he did not say it the denial would have been the first response. Personally I find his remarks to be offensive and it doesn't surprise me since he has a history of discriminating against minorities unless they are Korean. His words not mine, do the research. Anyone connected to the NBA had to know yet nothing was done. So why now. Well it could have an impact on their brand to have a known racist as the leader of one of their teams. So this is why do we have the reaction now.

My immediate personal reaction was disgust not outrage since I have dealt with racist all my life and I am too mature at this point to allow their nonsense to disturb me unless they have the power to impact my community or my life. After a discussion with my wife I gained an additional perspective. Note I said additional not different. This conversation was in private, with a woman that was in his life in what often is considered sacrosanct as it relates to privacy. She apparently taped that conversation unless their was someone else present or he is like formerly disgraced president Nixon. For all of you in relationships out there, do you have a reasonable expectation that your partner will not tape your words at one of your worse moments. I am not defending his words mind you just providing something else to consider. She taped a private conversation.

On the news this morning one station made a point of highlighting the fact that Michael Jordan spoke up "when he has never spoke out about any high profile controversial subject previously." Many players that you have never heard from when decisions are being made about our black community are now speaking out about this racial issue. Well it is not the first racial issue that presented them the opportunity to speak out and provide at least their vocal support. Ask yourselves where were they on; Stop and Frisk; States rights to not use Affirmative Action; Minimum Wage Increase; or Immigration. These are things that directly affect the minority community but most remained silent. Probably because they thought they had made it and were now immune.

I feel like that lady who famously quoted, "Ain't nobody got time for that." I am far more concerned about the racist no matter their background who make decisions that impact my life. I am more concerned about my state legislature, the senate and congress and how about the cowardice of the Supreme Court. You see they impact all of our lives from every sector and yet when their thinly veiled racist actions are revealed there is rarely a fervor. Just the other day Sarah Palin who once ran for Vice President stated that water boarding is baptism for terrorist.  The problem is who defines who is a terrorist. I am sure the King of England considered George Washington a terrorist.

My point is this we all are in this together and racism affects us all, no matter how high we climb on the socio -economic ladder. We need to take a stand whenever someone is being treated unjustly, bullied or taken advantage of for reasons of race, gender, sexual orientation or anything else besides their behavior. If they are at risk then I am at risk because as I have said before, "when tyrants rule unopposed we all are at risk." So if you sit back and watch get ready for your turn to be violated. My message to all especially those that have been blessed above and beyond mere sustenance is you too can be hurt and denied opportunity by this type of thinking. 

I have more opinions about the NAACP, owners and commissioner and there lack of courage in dealing with this guy even though his racism was public years ago. Where was Stern on this issue. More to come.

#DonaldSterling, #LAClippers, #NBA, #Racist, 

REGAIN CONTROL by

GOING BACK INSIDE

As I navigate this process of regaining control of my life from cigarettes and the conventionality demanded by today's world, I am learning some life lessons. I have a better understanding what this struggle, addiction, is really like to unleash yourself. Seems not to matter whether it be alcohol, cigarettes, food or another item or practice that needs to change. This is a real struggle for anyone at any time, at any place or any where.

Just yesterday, a little voice said to me you are doing really well, why not have a cigarette. I thought about that for a minute and it seemed to make sense at first. Then I had another thought, why do you want to provide yourself with a negative reward for doing a positive thing. So I did not reward myself with the cigarette that would only make my journey longer and possibly harder or even impossible if I adopt/embrace that mindset. I have to admit though in the past that made perfect sense. The Id does not like change and works very hard to maintain what is familiar.

Our comfort with what is familiar is often in contrast to what we really want for ourselves. Personally I'd like to live a really healthy life and in many ways I do, except for smoking. I have been aware of the contradiction for many years but not consciously in the the manner that I am presently. Knowing these things are killing me and even smoking while writing about the benefits of exercise; awareness of how the foods you eat impact your life; and increasing your chances of living well by changing what is familiar to what is required.

Your journey may be different than mine but I am betting some of this sounds familiar. Your biggest enemy may not be the haters or your friends and family. It is insidious because this enemy hides in plan sight but it is very difficult to identify because it is familiar. It is you. Who is more familiar and comfortable with you than you. With all the noise in the world these days we rarely have time to be quiet and go inside. I was very fortunate the other day to have that thought during a quiet moment where I could carefully examine it and see that it made absolutely no sense whatsoever. 

Deeper thought maybe a requirement for change. So adding meditation to the the scenario may be what is needed. I used to do this on the regular during a major change in lifestyle earlier in my life. I gradually turned my attention from self development to community, policy and staff development. In other words, I allowed the outside world to takeover despite the fact that my primary obligation, my children where off on there own. For those of you who are looking to improve your lives you may need to turn back inside for the answers to the questions you currently avoid. Or to identify the blocking beliefs and thoughts that keep you stuck.

I hope you all have much success in your present and future endeavors. Keep following and I will keep you updated cause I am certainly going to  share what I learn during this process to my weight loss/ fitness clients and colleagues. 

#smokingcessation #Lifestylechange #nosmoking #goalsetting