OK, but I have an excuse...my baby girl Aashaa has been born. 8 lbs and 5 ounces of pure joy. Now I know what life is really all about. All praises due to the most high. I am flabbergasted by this miracle. I am looking forward to kids' movies, piano lessons/recitals, girls basketball/volleyball/tennis/field hockey whatever baby girl wants to do (except hip hop video girl).
It definitely gives a man a different perspective on the sanctity of womanhood. Now my mission is to protect her from animalistic buffons like myself. I'll let her start dating when she's 31. Maybe I'll let her go to Public school through elementary but after that charter or private. These middle school kids these days...well let's just say that we need another miracle from the most high performed on them. Perhaps I'll ramble about the ills of public education next time.
Baby Aashaa is here! God is good! life is good!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
It's been another week
This is a very personal journal so far but that's o.k. because that's the first step in the natural progression of writing. I haven't decided how I want to blast this blog out to people yet. I have a few ideas, it should be interesting.
Right now the big thing in my life is impending fatherhood. I am expecting the arrival of a beautiful baby girl in the next week. It is very exciting and sobering all at once. It's a little strange though because I have a zen like calm about it. I know it will be challenging but I am confident that I can handle the tasks at hand. I think that's all because if I dwell on the miraculous nature of what's about to go down too much...it can only be overwhelming. I think it's natural that a certain mental balance comes into play psychologically. Is it an adaptive trait?
No matter what, I'm still gonna be a cool dad who plays old hip hop records for his daughter and makes her write essays on the social impact of public enemy's music revisted in a postmodern hip hop universe.
OK, you may not think that's too cool at first..but you will thank me for it later baby girl.
Right now the big thing in my life is impending fatherhood. I am expecting the arrival of a beautiful baby girl in the next week. It is very exciting and sobering all at once. It's a little strange though because I have a zen like calm about it. I know it will be challenging but I am confident that I can handle the tasks at hand. I think that's all because if I dwell on the miraculous nature of what's about to go down too much...it can only be overwhelming. I think it's natural that a certain mental balance comes into play psychologically. Is it an adaptive trait?
No matter what, I'm still gonna be a cool dad who plays old hip hop records for his daughter and makes her write essays on the social impact of public enemy's music revisted in a postmodern hip hop universe.
OK, you may not think that's too cool at first..but you will thank me for it later baby girl.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Its been a week
I am just now writing about arguably the most important event in African American history.
I have no real excuse....I just haven't gotten around to it
How do I feel about it?
The most important thing about it is the impact that it will have on urban youth culture and their vision of who they are capable of becoming (besides Scarface). That alone is enough to make him way more than worth than while in my book.
Add to that his vision for a green economy, expanded healthcare and positive diplomacy and I think you have a winning formula.
He will not pull it off overnight though, there is indeed much work to do but at least now there is a plan to dig us out of the hole we're in.
I have no real excuse....I just haven't gotten around to it
How do I feel about it?
The most important thing about it is the impact that it will have on urban youth culture and their vision of who they are capable of becoming (besides Scarface). That alone is enough to make him way more than worth than while in my book.
Add to that his vision for a green economy, expanded healthcare and positive diplomacy and I think you have a winning formula.
He will not pull it off overnight though, there is indeed much work to do but at least now there is a plan to dig us out of the hole we're in.
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Historical evidence for Jesus (It's all about faith)
Watching Zeitgest
If you haven't seen Zeitgest http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-594683847743189197
I must warn those of you who share the Christian faith, it will make you ask serious questions about the true nature of our religion. I'll not spoil it for you, except to say that the film poses serious questions about whether Jesus existed or not. It goes into detail about how none of the well known historians at that time made any mention of him. Naturally, as a believer who is also prone toward scientific/historical research and investigation, I looked more deeply into this matter. Some of the quotations on this page point toward an objective verification of Jesus' existence: http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/library/extrabiblical.htm
Particularly, there is a quote from Flavius Joseph 37 -97 AD that most non-objectively speaks of the existence of Jesus:
"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders." (Arabic translation)
(Many of the other examples on this site are not as strong from a scientific perspective in the sense that many of the accounts were written by biased (Christian) historians who were simply retelling and reverberating the stories and tenants of their faith.)
A link with a little bit more ammo for the Christ advocate is
here: http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-exist.html
It makes reference to a Roman Tacitus who was an unbiased Roman historian that spoke of Jesus. It also speaks of the Talmud's reference to the crucifixion. It also speaks of the violence and destruction of most of Israel in 70 A.D. and how this would mean many of Jesus eyewitnesses would have been killed. This is all a little more solid to me.
It's one thing to argue about the theological or spiritual significance of Jesus...even when challenged from the existential perspective, Jesus can be presented as the manifestation of God through the Holy Spirit.... in other words, a true and living God accomplishing, living and defining his true essence (perfect love) through sacrificial crucifixion and resurrection. However, if the plain and simple question of whether or not Jesus existed is put forth, and someone wants you to prove it scientifically through factual historical evidence, theological spiritual and philosophical arguments are obsolete at that point and there must be demonstrative evidence put forth to establish that Jesus existed in the first place. Since I am not Indiana Jones, I do not have a direct answer that I can put forth, but I would appreciate feedback from believers and non-believers alike. This is the scientist in me speaking.
The Christian in me says that Jesus is alive in the hearts of believers through the power of the Holy Spirit and as Paul says "now we only know in part". I choose to believe Jesus exists, saves and empowers through the faith that God activates in my soul.
This of course makes me think of Neo in the Matrix ("because I choose too"). Faith is something that has to be activated and as it is activated the mysteries of God are revealed to those who would seek after them. In other words, I can't prove Jesus existed but Faith is the evidence of things unseen and the substance of things hoped for so it is fitting that Jesus, being the manifestation of our faith would fit such a description himself.
If you haven't seen Zeitgest http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-594683847743189197
I must warn those of you who share the Christian faith, it will make you ask serious questions about the true nature of our religion. I'll not spoil it for you, except to say that the film poses serious questions about whether Jesus existed or not. It goes into detail about how none of the well known historians at that time made any mention of him. Naturally, as a believer who is also prone toward scientific/historical research and investigation, I looked more deeply into this matter. Some of the quotations on this page point toward an objective verification of Jesus' existence: http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/library/extrabiblical.htm
Particularly, there is a quote from Flavius Joseph 37 -97 AD that most non-objectively speaks of the existence of Jesus:
"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders." (Arabic translation)
(Many of the other examples on this site are not as strong from a scientific perspective in the sense that many of the accounts were written by biased (Christian) historians who were simply retelling and reverberating the stories and tenants of their faith.)
A link with a little bit more ammo for the Christ advocate is
here: http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-exist.htmlIt makes reference to a Roman Tacitus who was an unbiased Roman historian that spoke of Jesus. It also speaks of the Talmud's reference to the crucifixion. It also speaks of the violence and destruction of most of Israel in 70 A.D. and how this would mean many of Jesus eyewitnesses would have been killed. This is all a little more solid to me.
It's one thing to argue about the theological or spiritual significance of Jesus...even when challenged from the existential perspective, Jesus can be presented as the manifestation of God through the Holy Spirit.... in other words, a true and living God accomplishing, living and defining his true essence (perfect love) through sacrificial crucifixion and resurrection. However, if the plain and simple question of whether or not Jesus existed is put forth, and someone wants you to prove it scientifically through factual historical evidence, theological spiritual and philosophical arguments are obsolete at that point and there must be demonstrative evidence put forth to establish that Jesus existed in the first place. Since I am not Indiana Jones, I do not have a direct answer that I can put forth, but I would appreciate feedback from believers and non-believers alike. This is the scientist in me speaking.
The Christian in me says that Jesus is alive in the hearts of believers through the power of the Holy Spirit and as Paul says "now we only know in part". I choose to believe Jesus exists, saves and empowers through the faith that God activates in my soul.
This of course makes me think of Neo in the Matrix ("because I choose too"). Faith is something that has to be activated and as it is activated the mysteries of God are revealed to those who would seek after them. In other words, I can't prove Jesus existed but Faith is the evidence of things unseen and the substance of things hoped for so it is fitting that Jesus, being the manifestation of our faith would fit such a description himself.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Late Ashley Todd Not Update
This is because I promised to update the blog as the story progressed: http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/bookman/entries/2008/10/24/the_aftermath_of_ashley_todds.html good summary from Atlanta Journal Constitution writer, Jay Bookman.
Anyway, It's funny how this story came up on the radar and dissappeared from it so quickly. Then there was the Neo - Nazi skinheads threatening to kill and decapitate black people. It seems that some white folks are having trouble adjusting to the situation.
Calm down
Anyway, It's funny how this story came up on the radar and dissappeared from it so quickly. Then there was the Neo - Nazi skinheads threatening to kill and decapitate black people. It seems that some white folks are having trouble adjusting to the situation.
Calm down
(Educating Youth) Show them the money
As an urban middle school/high school teacher, I have become alternately discouraged and inspired by the interactions I have had with students. The order of the day with the current generation is the veneration of the gangster image. Anything that is about making fast money with a swaggering disrespect for any authority or tradition, is what a good portion of trend - setters in this age group are about. Since it is all too obvious, I will spare any pontification on the demise of popular rap music (which is no longer hip-hop) and the responsibility of high profile celebrities to engage their village (to raise a child) responsibility in addressing this issue.
I will say that I am endorsing Obama for president, in large part, because of his holistic vision and understanding of how our society functions best when we nurture growth and opportunity from the bottom up. I am not particularly averse to McCain but as far as I can tell, he offers more of the same trickle down pimpology I alluded to in another post. Obama, on the other hand, offers a new philosophy wherein the economic opportunity that opens up for middle income careers is prioritized and works hand in hand with a teacher like myself encouraging students to study science because (for example) of the imminent explosion of the green economy. Obama has spoken with more force and clarity on this issue, promising to create 5 million jobs. McCain on the other hand seems to still be tethered to the GOP's oil industry-albatross as he assertively and stubbornly demands more offshore drilling. This distinction highlights the differences in their visions for the future.
I can say, although I am still relatively new in this career field, that students respond to realistic projections about where they can go with their future, not worn out cliches and abstractions about the "value of an education". If you show them the money, and work dilligently to build their vision and the substance to sustain them on their journey, then they have a chance to get fired up and ready to work in the new economy.
I will say that I am endorsing Obama for president, in large part, because of his holistic vision and understanding of how our society functions best when we nurture growth and opportunity from the bottom up. I am not particularly averse to McCain but as far as I can tell, he offers more of the same trickle down pimpology I alluded to in another post. Obama, on the other hand, offers a new philosophy wherein the economic opportunity that opens up for middle income careers is prioritized and works hand in hand with a teacher like myself encouraging students to study science because (for example) of the imminent explosion of the green economy. Obama has spoken with more force and clarity on this issue, promising to create 5 million jobs. McCain on the other hand seems to still be tethered to the GOP's oil industry-albatross as he assertively and stubbornly demands more offshore drilling. This distinction highlights the differences in their visions for the future.
I can say, although I am still relatively new in this career field, that students respond to realistic projections about where they can go with their future, not worn out cliches and abstractions about the "value of an education". If you show them the money, and work dilligently to build their vision and the substance to sustain them on their journey, then they have a chance to get fired up and ready to work in the new economy.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Acorn issue overhyped
An excellent post from the number one soul sista of political strategy, Donna Brazille:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/27/brazile.acorn/index.html
This spells out in more eloquent detail what I spoke on in an earlier post (Mickey Mouse can't vote).
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/27/brazile.acorn/index.html
This spells out in more eloquent detail what I spoke on in an earlier post (Mickey Mouse can't vote).
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