Holiday Spirit

This time of year engenders a vast array of thoughts. Loved ones that are near and far. Loved ones that have gone from this earth. Loved ones that are new to this earth. In addition, most of us are endowed with "The Spirit of Giving". We want to experience the Joy. The expression on a child's face; the surprise on the face of a relative receiving an unexpected gift; the sheer gratitude of a stranger who had taken for granted that he or she would not be receiving anything of a Yuletide nature. The feeling of literally BLESSING THE LIFE of another human being, rather you are related to them or a complete stranger to them, is a natural high. You don't lose the high even when the season has ended. Even if you don't have anything to give, surely you can donate some of your time. One year I spent just two hours passing out donated toys to children suffering with AIDS. At the time, I didn't realize how abandoned these children really were; no families; no visitors; no one to say "Merry Christmas". Still, they were amazingly happy. Content with a wrapped gift considering many of them never had one; when the volunteer Santa arrived, they were ecstatic! Seeing their reactions served as a double-edged sword: on one hand it was Wonderful (their excitement) - on the other hand it made me more depressed than I'd ever been. One more thought, if you've lost contact with someone and you've been thinking about reaching out but haven't made the time: DO IT - a good friend of mine passed last Sunday - I had been thinking of going to see him; I just didn't make the time. So I guess what I'm saying is: 1.) HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 2.) if you have any free time between shopping, cooking, celebrating reach out to someone/anyone who is alone. 3.) spread whatever joy you can - no matter how little or how much. It's amazing how a little means a lot. BEST WISHES TO YOU & YOURS. Much Love, micki

Justifiable? Homicide!

{It happened again. I wrote this in reaction to an incident that happened 10 years ago}

JUSTIFIABLE? HOMICIDE!

"Don't be angry" you say, "tomorrow is another day."
But another boy, not coincidently Black, a bullet in his head, it entered from the back.
Denied him this day to greet; another tomorrow? He'll Never meet.
Another Mother cries. Another Son dies.
Once again it is described: "Justifiable Homicide".
You say, "Be not Judge nor Jury; nothing Good is born from Fury."
But this Fury fiercely rages, against a system that relentless wages,
Brutal wars on the ill-fated, historic victims of Justice not sated.
Another Mother's Dream retires, Another Son's warranty expires.
Once again it is replied: "Justifiable Homicide".
"Don't lose Hope" you say to me, "Tomorrow will be different; you'll see".
But each Tomorrow mirrors the day before, beating a Genocidal Path to my door.
Each Promissory Note remains unsigned: Refuting the concept "Justice is Blind".
As each Mother cries, As each son dies,
Premeditated systematic Genocide
Is euphemized: "Justifiable Homicide".

I had to share this. I wrote this 10 years ago when a 14-year old boy - unarmed, walking down the stairs in the projects because the elevator wasn't working was shot in the back of the head by a city cop. Almost to the day, give or take a week, it happened AGAIN! The boy was 14-years old, unarmed, jogging through the park, an inexperienced (rookie) mistook the jogger for an assailant who had just stuck up a gas station; the stick up guy was described as 5'11" and Black;the murdered child was Black barely 5'5". It happened again. . .

Encounters of the Humane Kind

I know previously, I spoke about doing something kind, unsolicited, just doing the right thing - because it's the RIGHT THING. Paz & Kioyte might remember me speaking about being on a crowded bus, offering my seat to an elderly gentleman and the exchange which followed led him to believe that there are people left in this world who still DO THE RIGHT THING, for nothing in return. Well it happened again. An elderly woman was on one of the 3 busses I ride, I didn't realize it at first, but she carried a collapsable walker. She asked the driver where to go to catch the bus to S. Orange. He pulled over and pointed to her bus stop. Our stop was the same; she struggled with her walker, so I picked it up and took it off the bus for her. (Not that I was surprised but there were plenty of young men in the front of the bus who could've assisted. None did. My cynical mind would have assumed the absence of their lack of support was due to the fact that she was white;WRONG! I too struggled to get that walker off the bus, none of the males at the front of the bus moved; a hispanic woman helped the elderly woman off the bus, then turned to me and in broken english said, "You gotit?" I thanked her. I made sure the woman got to her bus stop and went to mine. It's worth repeating, there's an adrenline high when you do something for someone, be it a stranger or friend, not expecting anything in return, not for how it may "look" to someone else, just because it is the RIGHT THING. It costs you nothing (even if it did, SO WHAT); any simple kindness while it means little to you, may mean the world to someone else. Love & Peace, micki

Perceptions

I received an email about illegal aliens in California courtesy of the LA Times. It was chock-full of stats; none good, but the one thing that kept resonating in my mind was: "Why was it sent to me?" The sender always debates with me on the merits of Affirmative Action, Reparations, anything that White vs Black might choose opposite sides. It never gets ugly, we ultimately agree to disagree. I digress, the stats are astounding not to mention disturbing. I was born in this country, yet if I go for a job interview, I am asked, "What other languages do you speak?" I get offended. I understand there is in influx of foreigners, both legal and illegal, and that there must exist a capacity to communicate. It just is beyond my comprehension why I have to learn their language when they come to the country I was born in (notice I didn't say MY COUNTRY - if feels more like I am the outsider). This article also went on and on about the benefits afforded these legal & illegal aliens from preferential job placement to health to domicile. I don't want to get off on a rant but sharing is in order. I have a debilitating disease for which there is no cure. I cannot afford health insurance; I work for an employer (12 years) who says he can't afford coverage for this pre-existing condition. My employer is the least of the point. People can live in this country legally or not, waltz into any hospital and receive medical care. I'm not looking for the expulsion of ALL not American-born residents, I'm just looking for a modicum of justice in a system which is inherently UNJUST. Maybe it's too much to ask. If I get challeged: to a gun fight and all I get is a pocket-knife or a swimming meet that I have to wear a 20lb. chain around my neck or a contest that even if I am the best, I'm not allowed to win - how should I perceive this?