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I've been trying to ignore Republican presidential candidate, Ben Carson, in the hope that he would go away, once people discerned that he's more suited to be a cult leader rather than a world one. No such luck. I underestimated the vindictiveness of those who hate the Media and love the Bible. I learned a lesson about blind faith and arrogant science and how they neutralize each other, leaving the truth in limbo, and conflict in command. I personally reject everything Carson represents: his fanatical Evangelical beliefs, his right-wing Conservative politics, his blatant racial naivete and his anti-feminism, but I am discovering how presumptuous I was to think my sentiments mattered. I concede that the media is not perfect and, yes, I've become impatient with political correctness, but the idea that Ben Carson is an effective anti-dote for these irritants does not square with me. I am not mesmerized by his soft-spoken manner or his surgical feats. Because he does not raise his voice, does not mean that what he murmurs has credibility. Because he has deft hands, does not mean that he has a nimble intellect. The more his squinting eyes and forked tongue possess his persona and reinforce his whining victimization, the more convinced I am that this man is not fit to be the President of the United States. Ben Carson and his inexperience might be a man who appeals to the fed-up people, but that's what troubles me. The petulant, fed-up people whom he appeals to have lost their appetite for tolerance, miffed because they cannot impose their narrow-minded beliefs on others. We need a unifier, not someone who promotes the divisiveness of religion. Most of all, we need a qualified person who is knowledgeable about world affairs and domestic economics, not an amateur with a Messianic Complex. And, as a black person, there is no way in hell that I could vote for a negro who declared that black people have been doing well over the past 150 years, grateful for what they have, and should not be stirred up and encouraged to demonstrate for equality. Meekly accepting second-class status is apparently what would make Uncle Ben grin and shuffle, while not rocking the boat. IMO, Ben Carson is a wanna-be whose Tea Party I don't want to be invited to, and he leaves me no choice but to throw my loyalty to a woman candidate. I'll take a super bitch over a subdued bozo!

Sheeze! That Parisienne shoot-out has really touched a nerve in America which has apparently been "jonzin" for a new tragedy to revitalize the 9/11 crying binge it's been on for the last 14 years. What happened is Paris was terrible to be sure, but all mass murders are tragic and in comparison to the recent acts of terrorism in Nigeria, 129 fatal casualties ain't that awesome. Chiraq has accumulated a better record than that in one month. Ah, but French Lives Matter! What's also interesting is how a petulant America has so magnanimously forgiven a country with which it has been on bad terms since the French opposed the war in Iraq. How quickly we forget. So incensed was this country with France's reluctance to become an ally that there were calls to outlaw everything Gallic, most notably the urging to rename "French" fries "Freedom" fries. Indeed, for having the good sense to consider a war with Iraq ill-advised, the sneering, aloof French became the object of America's ridicule and scorn. With a common foe, however, and the perilous threat it represents, standing in solidarity with France now does makes sense. However, I find the slavish displays and demonstrations sweeping the nation to be a bizarre overkill. French flags and Eiffel Tower replicas are embellishing objects and images all over the country and the Internet. Moments of silence at athletic events, flags flying at half mast, TV newscasters and hosts all a-quiver in their expressions of sympathy. I couldn't help but snicker at a sound bite of a blubbering Madonna appearing on stage after a concert, bemoaning this disaster, her 57 year old body tucked into a skimpy outfit replete with leather boots and fish net stockings, All that was missing was an Oscar to clutch, - won for the best performance by an over-the-hill opportunist eager for the spotlight. I also couldn't help wondering if President Obama would rate all this hysteria should he meet with a... bad fate. Would Saturday Night Live open its show with Keenan Thompson lamenting this awful occasion by speaking in his best Ebonic accent like a SNL cast member did when expressing the show's condolences in French?? My take on this orgy of sorrow is that America's collective consciousness needs a catharsis from time to time, and has never met a flower-strewn, candle-light vigil it didn't like. Meanwhile, the only thing desperate Syrian refugees are inspiring in America's bleeding heart is its other compulsion to suspiciously dismiss any religion other than Christianity. Lord, have mercy. Yet, what else can be expected? The world is in turmoil and this country is on edge, worried about the good guys defeating the bad ones. But, not to worry. God is on our side, - unless, of course, he morphs into Allah. . .

Your Presidency By: JonRenee Author: of Poetic Lyric Verse 1 ©2015 In 2004, I remember hearing a sermon by Pastor Trunell Felder from Chicago praying a prophetic word that, “In 2008, Barack Obama’s voice would be heard, not from his seat in the senate, but propelled in a position of presidency. Amen…..but men, have tried to bring him down and defame his character in the most disrespectful way. A black man in the white house, we thought we would never see the day….but this day, in my day, have I ever witnessed so much hate. I felt the pains of my ancestors at the same time the joy that mark the history of this day. His head held high, with his wife by his side, Michelle Obama, with courage that’s unshakeable. His fate became debatable, among the naysayer crowd. You can hear them on talk shows or radio stations that didn’t mind saying the “N” word out loud. November 4, the votes are in and I can hear my people cry. In the melodies of Sam Cooke, “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and yes it has….but we still have a long way to go. His gray hairs can account for his faith to keep him from being oppressed. Newspapers, headlines, and sold out lies of negativity in the press. He delivers to the nation his presidential speech without nepotism, keeping an impartial nest. Sacrificing his time, his family, his life, rigorously deciding what’s ethical. Battling, the rightful means to an end. Ignoring the “magpie gossip” of west heckle and east jeckle. His ethnicity is still a fact of laughter to them. Haters never wanted to see him win…but he did again in 2012. Imagine that…but the guns have been selling faster than the tickets to see the Broadway show “Cats.” Tis the season…but for what reason? Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve? How disrespectful they are to your presidency. I declare civil war or I declare justice. In the system of things, can we trust this? They mock his name, Obama Hussein, Osama bin Laden, Oh my Lord, they are shinning up their weapons to see the day he’s slain. He continues on like Martin L. King, dedicated to manifesting his dream. Leading by example while setting an example. They may have killed Martin L. King back in Tennessee…but they never killed the spirit of his dream. It continues to live on through President Obama, through you, through me. One love, endless journey, changing the face of history one day at a time through “Your Presidency.” I declare peace. Follow me on Instagram: jonrenee/silkcotton Twitter: @jonrenee2382 Website: jonrenee2.wix.com/jonrenee-poeticlyric Books available on: Amazon; Books-A-Million; Barnes&Noble and many more.

BLACK MEN ARRIVE,CHAINED,SHACKLED,ON A RAINY,CLOUDY DAY..AS THEY WATCH GUARDS TAKE A,PRISON CORPSE, AWAY...WITHIN PRISON WALLS, THE NEW PRISONERS, WATCH BLACK MEN IN CELLS,ROW AFTER ROW.SOME CELS UP HIGH SOME DOWN BELOW..THE INNOCENT PRISONERS AND THE GUILTY ONES, FEAR THE ENCLOSED DARKNESS APPROACHING THAT LOOM/CONFINED,CONTAINED,AS IF IN A TOMB..LIKE CAGED ANIMALS,RESTLESS, BACK AND FORTH PACING...AFTER TIME IN THEIR MINDS,WILL THEIR,BE, PLANS OF ESCAPING./UNABLE TO LIE IN REPOSE,TRAPPED,CAPTIVITY IS THE GLOOM.CONFINED, CONTAINED,AS IF IN A TOMB.../THEY HAVE MOTION, BUT ARE MOTIONLESS.THEY HAVE VOICES,BUT ARE VOICELESS..DWELLING PLACE OF DESPAIR,WILL THEIR MINDS,SOUL BECOME ACCUSTOM/./CONFINED,CONTAINED AS IF IN A TOMB.....NO LONGER TO FREELY FEEL,A GENTLE RAIN,WARM SUNSHINE FROM ABOVE.OR FEEL,THE PASSION ,ECSTASY OF A BLACK WOMAN WHILE MAKING LOVE...MINDS,SOULS BECOMING WITHERED,DECAYING,LIKE NATURE UNABLE TO BLOOM.CONFINED,CONTAINED,AS IF IN A TOMB.....REDEMPTION, SPIRITUAL AWAKENING,WILL DETAIN COMPEL./OR WILL MORE EVIL HAVE MANIFESTATION BEHIND THE STEEL DOOR CELL./////WILL THEIR MINDS,SOULS SLOWLY BECOME CONSUMED/ CONFINED,CONTAINED ,AS IF IN A TOMB.////.

Excellent Op-ed!!!!!!!! #nailedit #freedomfries Hashtag, I'm hashtagging to really drive home the point of how all of this faux outrage and sadness is representative of a nation that no longer deals with anything in a rational manner. Good stuff up there!

I am so relieved!!!! Like I said, I won't do this often, but I thought I read in another post that you were submitting books of poetry to agents and publishers and I thought a MFA styled critique was what could help. I'm really glad that you didn't take offense, because even in seminars and workshops, I've seen people lose it over their writing especially when it's so personal. I'll share a poem of mine if you like and you can analyze and critique it if you like. Just say the word. I have a book of poetry that I've never promoted so it would be alright if you'd like that. Keep writing! It definitely has a great therapeutic qualities.

Facebook works for what it is. I tend to login just to check and see if I have any messages since people have to be tricked into signing up for e-mail lists now and then the engagement is not the great there, but at least they do get opened and people choose to see what you are doing. I keep up with my old players and students on Facebook, I share my posts and articles, but I really keep it because it's expected. If I'm going to get into the public speaking and consulting arena, people really do use it to check out what type of stuff you share and write so I stay active, but mainly through sharing work by other people or by clicking the like buttons and social sharing buttons to let the world know I've posted. Facebook can get really irritating, but I've grown accustomed to every month or so purging and not following those people who are redundant in what they share and post. That helps a ton.