I HAVE HAD IT WITH THE NAMES OF ROSA PARKS AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BEING INVOKED IN THE STAY AT HOME ORDER PROTESTS

The civil rights movement was a struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s for blacks to gain equal rights under the law in the United States. The Civil War had officially abolished slavery, but it didn’t end discrimination against blacks—they continued to endure the devastating effects of racism, especially in the South. By the mid-20th century, African Americans had had more than enough of prejudice and violence against them. They, along with many whites, mobilized and began an unprecedented fight for equality that spanned two decades.  Source: History.com  https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement

I have had it with folks comparing the Civil Rights Movement and its major participants, particularly Rosa Parks and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the Stay-At-Home Order protests. They are not the same thing nor anywhere close. One had to do with people fighting against being blatantly and arrogantly brutalized mentally, emotionally, and physically while the other is a protest to break restrictions that are designed to keep the masses healthy and safe. It feels like we are metaphorically trying to outrun a tsunami. By staying home we hope we are outrunning the virus. The question is, can we do it? Yes, this too shall pass; however, we are trying to ensure that WE don't pass before it passes.

This was the title of an article in TIME magazine. White House Advisor Reportedly Compares Protesters Fighting States' Stay-at-Home Orders to Rosa Parks. This was another article appearing in THE DAILY BEAST, Houston Official Compares Anti-Social Distancing Protesters to Rosa Parks. This tells me once again that White privilege, racism, and ignorance are in play. In fact, it supports my theory that Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. are the only two names of African Americans that many White folks know (Okay, Barack Obama by default). It also shows me that any efforts or achievements that are gained by people of color (African Americans) have not been and are still not taken seriously. Look at the efforts made by this president to totally erase the accomplishments and achievements of his predecessor who was an African American. It's the same old pattern repeated over and over again.

How can the desire to lay up somewhere on a beach; get a manicure; get a haircut; get a massage; work out at the gym; eat in a restaurant, and the list could go on, compare to being beaten, killed and having no rights simply because of the color of one's skin? It does not! Yet, the names of Rosa Parks and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. keep being invoked as a comparison to what the foolish protestors are doing in response to the Stay-At-Home orders that are in place to keep us alive. The Civil Rights Movement was about keeping Black folks alive because White folks were killing them while the Stay-At-Home orders are about keeping White folks and Black folks from dying in a pandemic. Is it that these folks have a death wish? This virus is not a plaything. This is not some video game where when the COVID-19 all-clear sign is given that the folks who died during the pandemic will come back to life. They are gone forever. People are losing their lives to this virus and you have some worrying about not being able to get a haircut. Give me a break, please!!!!  Folks need to understand that there are beauticians who work at funeral homes who give haircuts when preparing a body for final viewing and the funeral.

This is probably one of the more scathing and harshest posts that I have written only because it is so serious. Daily, I receive news that someone else that I know/knew has passed away from COVID-19 related complications and we have these "Yahoos" and highly insane criminals (HIC's) who are more concerned with a damned haircut or lying on the beach than keeping themselves and their fellowman safe. Staying home is not just about you. It is also about the folks who you will come in contact with when you are lying on that beach.

This pandemic has really exposed how foolish and undisciplined people can be. I saw a meme that said the United States is nothing more than a third world country wearing a Gucci belt. Sadly, our reaction to this pandemic pretty much confirms the meme. At this point, we really aren't doing much better than as the president would say, the "shithole countries." And then to top it all off, some have the audacity and unmitigated gall to compare their actions with the actions of Rosa Parks. I have had it with the names of Rosa Parks and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. being invoked inappropriately!! These Stay-at-Home protests are not even on the same planet as the Civil Rights Movement and not one of the participants in these current protests can carry the handbag (and I'm being nice when I use the example of a handbag) of Rosa Parks. This post is not to offend; however, if the shoe fits, wear it. I end with this photo that has been appearing on social media:

It Is My Prayer That This COVID-19 Experience Will Make Us More Appreciative Of Everything

 Initially, I was going to post the words that are now the title of this release on Facebook as a general post. But then it dawned on me that the thought was bigger than just a one-liner on Facebook. Now I may still post it as a one-liner; however, I believe the notion needs to be expounded upon with the hopes that it will actually happen.

The idea came to me as I was returning home from a task that prior to this COVID-19 experience I dare to say was a task that not much thought was given to by anyone even though it is something we all have to do at some point and could be considered mundane or routine..........grocery shopping. For a little over a month now, life as we know it changed quickly and drastically as a result of the coronavirus lockdown that was put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. Lockdowns occurred around the world as more and more cases of the coronavirus and deaths occurred. Schools, churches, stores, malls, restaurants, movie theaters, amusement parks, local parks, gym chains, massage/skincare franchises, travel & tourism businesses and anything else that was not deemed "essential" were suddenly closed. Everyone with the exception of those who worked for an essential business was told to "Stay home." Talk about a pattern interrupt. Routines changed seemingly overnight. Just about any type of face-to-face interaction was and is now being conducted virtually by video or telephone. Masks and gloves are worn when you must venture out to the supermarket or bank and food can only be ordered via the drive-through or as take-out. Even funeral services are conducted virtually if at all. Yes, life changed in an instant. 

It is for this reason that I am praying and hoping that once we have made our way through this COVID-19 experience, that every one of us is more appreciative of the most minute detail and activity. I hope that we appreciate every person, meeting, activity, and experience like someone who knows what it feels like to be restricted from doing these things. During this COVID-19 experience, we are restricted from being with people, going to collectively worship, learn in a classroom, go to our jobs or say our last goodbyes at a funeral. We are restricted from eating in restaurants or enjoying a movie or riding a rollercoaster. We are restricted from receiving a massage, manicure/pedicure, or hair grooming. We are restricted from working out at the gym, playing basketball in the park or seeing our children play in that same park. We are restricted and once these restrictions are lifted and we have worked our way through this COVID-19 experience we ought to be more appreciative of these things than ever before. It has been said that "You don't miss your water until your well runs dry," and there is some truth in that statement as I am sure we didn't realize how much we would miss the people, gatherings, and activities mentioned above and more until they were taken away from us. 

Let us not take people, activities, things, and abilities that we have been blessed with for granted. Let us be grateful now and once we are beyond this COVID-19 experience take our levels of appreciation and gratitude to unseen heights. Let us experience each experience as if it were our first time. 

Without a doubt, we are a part of history as I cannot recall in my lifetime ever experiencing anything like this. There have been many other crises, yet none required the world to simultaneously shut down. When we are done we are to be more thankful than ever. It is my prayer that this COVID-19 experience will make us more appreciative of everything.

I invite you to reach out to me at marcamedley.com

Voices From Coronavirus Isolation

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts/special-episode-voices-from-coronavirus-isolation?fbclid=IwAR0etJqufJo6QXTx9XaRGLb0tHnmDdUUXOTRxNCuT-ypSkMz9pla1JoSa4o

Be Careful Who You Choose To Follow

"Don't forget, no matter what others do, Think For Yourself."   Those words were a part of what my mom signed in my high school yearbook in 1980. In fact, she went on to say that that was her motto. As a child, this "motto" was drilled into me and my younger sister. This whole notion of not following the crowd when they were doing something wrong was taught over and over again in our home. In fact, when I and my sister were growing up, we were told that if a fight broke out in school or on the way home, that we had better not be in the crowd watching or trying to see what was happening. We were instructed to keep moving, go around it, or if necessary turn back and go in the opposite direction. In other words, we were not to get caught up in the crowd of onlookers.

I start this post with that based on our current crisis with Covid-19. Based on who far too many voters chose to follow [Donald J.Trump], we are losing lives to this pandemic because of that choice. We have the absolute worst combination possible with one of the most devastating viruses of our time coupled with one of the most inept leaders of our time, a leader that folks chose to follow knowing from the beginning that the man was corrupt and incapable of leading a country. There was red flag after red flag prior to the election of 2016 and yet like sheep, enough Americans voted for this man to take office. Even if the Russians interfered and Trump found a way to cheat, there still had to be enough voters voting for him in order for him to win. Russian interference and Trump's cheating alone would not have been enough to get him into the White House. 

This is not the first time lives have been lost due to the followership of some cracked pot leaders who somehow convinced masses of people to do what they [the people] know was not right. They did not think for themselves. They allowed someone else to do the thinking for them. In 1978, Jim Jones was a so-called preacher, faith healer and cult leader who conspired with his inner circle to direct a mass murder-suicide of his followers in his jungle commune at Jonestown, Guyana. More than 900 Americans – members of a San Francisco-based religious group called the Peoples Temple – died after drinking poison at the urging of their leader, the Reverend Jim Jones. 900 people lost their lives because they did not have the ability to think for themselves.

At the time of this writing, there are reports that some Trump supporters 'delight' in defying pandemic protocols to stick it to liberals. Placing yourself in harm's way.....that's really sticking it to 'em boy! This blind followership just does not make sense and really causes one to wonder what goes on in the minds of people who think this way. It is amazing how there are a significant number of people who willingly fall lockstep with a "leader" who is blatantly leading in the wrong direction. A leader who is unapologetically asking people to do what is unethical and immoral.  The fact that Trump was elected actually speaks more to the mindsets of far too many of America's inhabitants than it does of Trump. People are dying and the only thing Trump is concerned with is his television ratings. That is absurd, yet there are still people willing to follow such foolishness.

America is in a sad state of affairs based on who she chose to be her leader. Countries suffering as a result of their leadership choice happened in the Bible on more than one occasion. For example, in 1st Samuel, Chapter 8, Israel asks for a king so they can be like everyone else. Let's see how the story unfolds. Pay close attention to the highlighted areas.

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[b] us, such as all the other nations have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

Referring to the Bible again, The Ten Plagues of Egypt (10 disasters that God brought on Egypt when Pharoah refused to let the Israelite nation leave; water turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the killing of firstborn children) is another example of the sufferage of a country due to its leader. What's to say that this Covid-19 is not plague number one in our modern era? With Trump as our leader, there could be more to come.

I couldn't imagine anyone voting for Trump in 2016 and after everything we have been through with him as our leader, I really can't imagine anyone voting for him in 2020, yet there will be those who for some reason do not have the capacity to see that what the man is doing is wrong. He only cares about "he, himself and he." So goes the head, so goes the rest of the body. America is sick today because it is sick at the top.

We Don't Know Who We Will Be Buried Next To

My father's headstone. He's buried next to a Ridley

When I created The Critical Thinker, the intent was for the reader to critically think and reflect upon each post.

It is not my intent for the reader to agree with me the writer; however, it is for him or her to think about an issue that he or she may or may not have thought about before. This post is written to do just that.

Often when we read, talk or think about death, we immediately think in terms of it being morbid or something we don't want to read, think, or talk about. But the truth of the matter is, death is the great equalizer. The two main equalizers are the fact that we were all born and the fact that we are all going to die. Many say death and "taxes," but as we have seen, folks know how to get around taxes. No one, however, will get around death.

As we all know racism, classism, and prejudice are very prevalent in life, yet in death, it will have no meaning whatsoever. In fact, all the toys, titles and material items will mean nothing either. In life we can obtain titles such as “Doctor,” “President,” “CEO,” etc. etc. that really won’t mean a thing once the hearse transports us to the cemetery.

I had been toying with writing this post for a little while and confirmation for me to write it came when I attended the funeral services of a close friend. While I was at the cemetery for the interment, I looked around at the various names on the headstones or grave markers surrounding my friend's burial plot and it came to me once again that we have no idea who we are going to be next to in our final resting place. It doesn't matter if the interment is in the ground or ashes being placed in a mausoleum, we really don't know who we are going to be lying next to. This is why the racism and prejudice thing in life doesn't make a lot of sense to me because the same prejudice or racist person, in the end, can be buried next to the very skin color or gender that he or she was prejudiced or was a racist against in life.

African Americans are buried next to Caucasians. Christians are buried next to Muslims. Jews are buried next to Gentiles. Men are buried next to women. The elderly are buried next to the young. Heterosexuals are buried next to the homosexuals, etc. etc.  My point is, in the end, we are all human beings and will come to that juncture in life where it [life] ends. Now I know, some of you are thinking that people purchase family plots and private plots and do know where and who they will be next to. That’s true to a degree, however, unless you are buried in the woods with no one else around you there are going to be others placed in your proximity.

If you'd like to test my theory, visit a cemetery and just walk around and read the various names on the headstones placed alongside each other. I believe you will find it interesting and probably something you've never thought about. Once you've tried this little experiment, I'm sure you'll agree that racism and prejudice seem extremely silly. So, one day when I had absolutely nothing else to do, I compiled a list from A-Z of who could possibly be buried next to each other. The list goes as follows:

the alcoholic can be buried next to the astronaut

the Bishop can be buried next to the barmaid

the crook can be buried next to the cop

the drug dealer can be buried next to the deacon

the engineer can be buried next to the embezzler

the financial analysts can't be buried next to the flimflammer

the gang banger can be buried next to the gardener

the hooker can be buried next to the hairstylist

the insurance broker can be buried next to the identity thief

the jailer can be buried next to the junkie

the keyboardists can be buried next to the kidnapper

the librarian can be buried next to the lion tamer

the makeup artists can be buried next to the murder

the nurse can be buried next to the nutritionist

the optometrists can be buried next to the obstetrician

the pastor can be buried next to the pimp

the Queen can be buried next to the quality control technician

the receptionists can be buried next to the robber

the sales rep can be buried next to the shoplifter

the teacher can be buried next to the terrorist

the usher can be buried next to the urologists

the veterinarian can be buried next to the violinist

the waiter can be buried next to the welder

the xylophone this can be buried next to the xenophobe

the yoga teacher can be buried next to the yard worker

the zookeeper can be buried next to the zipper machine operator

By now I think you get my point. While we are alive, we really need to abide by the Golden rule of doing unto others as you would have it done unto you. Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated. Let us do away with this age-old nonsense of racism and hatred because at the end of the day you never know who you will be lying next to in your final resting place. Something to critically think about.

You can hear me live each Saturday from 6-9 a.m. EDST as I host The Reading Circle with Marc Medley on FM radio in northern NJ WP88.7 FM. The show is web streamed around the world on gobrave.org, the TuneIn Radio Network, and RadioFX. I invite you to visit my website marcamedley.com as it is the gateway to all my media projects and services.

It Hasn’t Been That Long

Guest Post by Ayo Sekai

It hasn’t been that long
But lately, you have been marinating in my thoughts
Salivating images that make me throb and my heart beats fasters
With every inclination of you

It hasn’t been that long
Yet you are perusing beneath my skin
Leaving me itching in a way I have forgotten could feel so good
Stirring mind with palpitating palate drenching excitement

It hasn’t been that long
Too short really
Too short to feel breathtaking sighs
And passion-filled wetness sending pheromones from my thighs
Too short to sit holding hands in the park
Basking in the sun
Too soon to want to wrap myself around the strength of your muscular body
Too quickly have I opened up to you
Sensationalized excitement for new possibilities

It hasn’t been that long
Yet I feel I have been laughing at your silly sense of humor forever
Lately
Escalated dreams filled with daily desires to romance you is captivating me
So easily you were able to convince me with your smile
Seduce me with your kiss
Serenade me with your passionate optimism

But I am left in a quagmire
Does anyone have a remedy?
A panacea for this dilemma
It hasn’t been that long
Yet it’s been forever
Haven’t been that long
Yet you are everlasting

It hasn’t been that long…

June 3, 2005

Ayo Sekai is the Chief Executive Officer at Universal Write Publications, LLC and a current Doctoral (Ph.D.) student at Howard University (Black Politics and International Affairs). Universal Write Publications (UWP) has a publishing purpose to produce social, anthological, and ethnographical scholarship that dignifies the rich histories of the culturally diverse peoples who make up our society. We want to strengthen the voices of the diaspora through pioneering works that blend the creativity through which Griots tell stories with the necessity of peer-reviewed publications. Be it pieces on cultural heritage, education, the environment, visual arts, or innovators, our books are well researched and richly illustrated, appealing to general readers as well as academic researchers. 

Put Your Child First

Guest Post by Ayo Sekai

It doesn’t matter what your circumstances
Happenstances
Crisis or whatever you face
There is no more joy than seeing your child contribute to the race

No more Me! Me! Me!
For your life is no longer your own
Put your child first
That child depends on you and you alone

Don’t think of what you must sacrifice or give up
Or no longer try
Look at that beautiful baby
You are blessed with a child
They don’t ask much to love you
Demand that you change or do anything that you don’t want to do

Their love is unconditional
And they love you just for you

Loving a child is the hardest job you could ever do
Twenty-four-hour on duty
Three hours and sixty-five days of strives, worry, and confusion
Sleepless nights from birth to gripe
Unknown distress and teething
There are even circumstances unexpected
But the rewards are doubled from watching your investment grow
Is the beauty aide
Age secret
And joy some may never know

Put your child first
Do the best to make them smile
They are your bosses
And their happiness will make your job all worthwhile
Precious little people trying to find their way
Until the day they will thank you
And you will say
You did the best for your child

March 31, 2003

Ayo Sekai is the Chief Executive Officer at Universal Write Publications, LLC and a current Doctoral (Ph.D.) student at Howard University (Black Politics and International Affairs). Universal Write Publications (UWP) has a publishing purpose to produce social, anthological, and ethnographical scholarship that dignifies the rich histories of the culturally diverse peoples who make up our society. We want to strengthen the voices of the diaspora through pioneering works that blend the creativity through which Griots tell stories with the necessity of peer-reviewed publications. Be it pieces on cultural heritage, education, the environment, visual arts, or innovators, our books are well researched and richly illustrated, appealing to general readers as well as academic researchers.