Tag: Politics

Decade of Blogging

~ K ~ Leave a comment

June 29, 2019 marked 10 years of having This Journey Is My Own. I still haven’t bought the domain name. I probably should but I’m rather lazy and I don’t have that much readership.

Over a decade, I’ve blogged about God, Christianity, faith, employment (in general), career, infertility, parenting (after infertility), family, goals, books, Haiti, politics, LGBTQ+ issues, my identity, music, current events, race, and other thoughts. Everything is always random. Nothing makes sense. There is no structure to anything. My views are ever-evolving.

How far back can I go to blogging? Well, I have a LiveJournal that dates back to September 2, 2001 but that’s private and I haven’t touched it since 2012. Public blogging? Depression Introspection was begun on July 21, 2006. Technically, I have almost 20 years of blogging under my belt.

So where do I go from here? What topic is left to explore or re-explore? What pisses me off so much that I want to rant about it again? Nothing right now. I’m not passionate about much right now. I just want to survive. That’s all I’m trying to do these days. Is survive. Between work and my personal life (parenting, new house, commute), I’m just trying to survive. Self-care has gone to the wayside. Survival is my new hobby.

Seek justice and correct oppression

~ K ~ 1 Comment

I have a lot of anger and frustration right now. My country, its citizens, people I work with…injustice all around. 

I’m not sure where to begin. I don’t process any of these thoughts and feelings on Facebook as I don’t feel that is the appropriate venue for them. 

I am not your typical black, female, liberal Democrat. I didn’t like President Obama and Michelle Obama wasn’t the greatest First Lady to have ever existed in my lifetime. (Hillary Clinton still takes the cake, in my opinion.) 

I am not pro-choice/pro-abortion. “Family planning” is a misleading term as abortion or “the woman’s right to choose” usually involves the LACK of having a family. “Reproductive rights” is a misnomer. More like rights to NOT reproduce. Everything about being “pro-choice” is “anti-reproduction.” 

The women’s march pissed me off considering that the official organizers had to put out a statement uninviting a pro-life organization and taking an official Pro-choice stance. This march no longer represented me or my voice. They claimed to but they did not. I had no say against Donald Trump and his administration and it was clear that because I believed in the sanctity of life on this ONE ISSUE, I would be shunned from this community of women. 

And I don’t care to be part of this kind of political fellowship. If they don’t care to look past my political differences and embrace me, then fine, I’ll continue to move forward and work without them by my side. 

Let’s keep lowering the abortion rate. With or without having Roe v. Wade overturned. Let’s make sure that we make sure women know about ALL available options to prevent pregnancies: birth control AND self-control. If pregnant, expecting moms should know that infertile couples are willing to sponsor women who want to give their babies up for adoption. Abortion doesn’t have to be the last resort or ONLY option for many women. In a majority of cases, we CAN choose life. Let’s continue to make life a first option and do all we can to ENCOURAGE it and not discourage it. 

I can’t express my opinion about this administration because I’m not supposed to like it, right? And on the whole, so far, it isn’t great. But an executive order has been reinstated that ceases to give NGOs that perform abortions federal funding. And I’m happy about that. +1, President Trump. #conservativeliberal

I could list all the stuff Obama did that I’m unhappy about, especially as a lame duck (*cough*Palestinian money*Israel betrayal*drones*ending Cuban wet-foot/dry-foot policy*cough*). Lord knows there’s plenty of fodder for me to complain about Obama’s actions as president. I won’t even begin to question his motives. 

I don’t expect Trump to be a good president. In fact, I’m afraid he will suck majorly. Even worse, I’m afraid he’ll do well enough for Middle America to win another 4 years but that the popular vote will not outweigh his electoral vote…again.

Trump’s opponents annoy me more than Trump himself. They were my biggest fear when I thought of the potential of a Hillary loss (which seemed so unlikely) and now it’s a nightmare realized. 

Someone get me out of here. 

I wish everyone got what they rightly deserved, especially when they worked hard for it. I hate to see people promised something and then get delayed, brushed aside, jerked around, and then left in the dust wondering what they did wrong and what they could’ve done better. Why do we play favorites? Why do we treat some people better than others? We know who works hard and who doesn’t. Why do the lazy get rewarded and the hardest toilers get stranded in the dust?

Being blackballed is a thing, it seems. And it makes me sad. I hope that redemption is still possible. One day…?

I know I’m speaking in vague generalities but I suppose I have to right now so specifics aren’t brought out. Also, I’m sort of “typing aloud,” letting my thoughts flow freely onto digital paper, so to speak. 

Just really tired of injustice and oppression everywhere I turn. Sure, it’s not affecting ME personally but it’s affecting others I love and care about. This bothers me. And if I don’t stand up and say something for them, who will? Aren’t I in a position where I can do good for others and help those who need it? 

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” —Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)

Thoughts on My Political Leanings

~ K ~ 2 Comments

I took a Pew Research Center quiz that determined I was a New Coalition Democrat, or rather likely to be a member of the New Democrat Coalition. I’ve been on a journey to determine whether I am a true Democrat or whether I was just avoiding becoming a Republican because I see the tough road Black Republicans must tread. I’ve discovered that my political positions indeed do lean Democrat and here’s why:

  • Pro-gay rights. Give gays the right to marry. (Or simply give consenting adults the right to marry.)
  • I believe the way to reduce the debt is to cut spending and raise taxes. (I am dubious of any politician who promises reducing the debt without raising taxes.)
  • Anti-death penalty. Abolish the death penalty federally.
  • Give amnesty to illegal immigrants. Force them to pay taxes and graft them into a path to citizenship.
  • I believe there are still social inequalities for racial minorities that sometimes need government (state or federal) intervention.

Here’s why I thought I leaned Republican:

  • Anti-abortion. Abolish abortion except for extreme cases.
  • Religion is an important aspect of my life. I am a born-again Christian. (They tend to vote Republican.)
  • My household is financially well off.
  • I don’t believe businesses are generally evil. Most businesses seek to make a good and honest profit. (Now that I’m in business for myself, I understand the concept of profit a little bit better.)
  • Welfare should have term limits. After five years, able-bodied citizens should begin working at McDonald’s or be cut off from government benefits.
  • I think wars are sometimes necessary, although I am a strong advocate of extensive diplomacy. I am not isolationist.

Apparently, my so-called Republican leanings simply make me a centrist Democrat rather than a left-leaning liberal. According to the Pew Research Center, the following describes members of the New Democrat Coalition (estimated to be 10 percent of the public):

What They Believe
  • Strongly pro-government
  • Upbeat about the country’s ability to solve problems and an individual’s ability to get ahead through hard work
  • Approve of regulation and environmental protection
  • More positive about business than other Democratic-oriented groups
  • Generally liberal on racial issues
  • Hospitable to immigrants: 78% believe they strengthen society
  • Very religious and socially conservative
Who They Are
  • 56% are Democrats
  • Majority-minority group: 34% white, 30% black and 26% Latino
  • About three-in-ten are first or second generation Americans
  • 55% have only a high school education or less
  • 23% are not registered to vote
  • Only 34% read a daily newspaper
  • Half are regular volunteers for charity or non-profit groups

Thoughts on Politics

~ K ~ 9 Comments

I will not be a Black Republican because I prefer the path of least resistance. I am not a trailblazer, and I don’t like going against the grain. However, I don’t like President Obama’s pro-abortion policies, and I do not think this country is better off after four years of having him as president. However, I do support the Democratic Party platform of marriage equality for gays. But I also don’t want to be told to vote for Obama.

On the flip side, I’m not sold on Mitt Romney either. I’m not sold on the Romney-Ryan ticket, but I don’t like seeing people attack them more ferociously than the President. While I support the Republican party’s pro-life stance, I don’t want a constitutional amendment (or anything legislative) guaranteeing marriage as something between a man and a woman only. I’m not sold on Republican ideas of getting the economy going again, but the Democrats (President Obama especially) have failed to do anything.

I admit, I’m sympathetic to minority Republicans because they believe strongly enough in the political arena to catch flak from their fellow minorities who are likely Democrats. People like Condoleeza Rice, Susana Martinez, and Marco Rubio provide hope that the Republican party won’t remain “the good ol’ White boys club.”

But I don’t know that I’ll vote for Romney. I don’t know if I’ll vote at all.

Git ‘Er Done: Tackling Debt and Entitlement Programs in the U.S.

~ K ~ Leave a comment

Image from gregmankiw.blogspot.com

I don’t normally use my blog to talk about politics. At one point in my life, I was heavily involved in politics: volunteering for a grassroots political party in NY and working for a high-profile senator. Now, I try to stay out of the loop of politics, mostly because being involved in it just makes me mad since very little gets done on a grander scale. So this post will be brief.

DEBT CEILING

Imagine the following conversation:

ME: Hello, I’d like to increase my credit limit with your company.

CREDIT CARD COMPANY (CCC): It looks like you have a $20,000 limit, and you’re almost maxed-out on your credit card at $19,500.

ME: I know, but I’d like to keep spending in order to dig myself out of debt so I’m requesting a credit limit increase.

CCC: All right then. (pause as application processes) Looks like your request to increase your credit limit went through. You’ve received a $10,000 increase. Happy spending!

How am I supposed to decrease my spending if I raise my credit limit in order to spend more? I know the example doesn’t translate exactly as the government needed to raise its debt ceiling but without decreasing any significant spending, it’s simply putting a Band-Aid on gunshot wound.

ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS

I call this the $&!t the government won’t touch.

Social Security benefits: Social Security is unsustainable and MUST BE phased out for anyone 35 and younger. The retirement age needs to be raised from 67 to 70 for those currently 35-50 years of age and early Social Security benefits must be completely eliminated. Sorry, we can’t afford for you to collect early. If you’re disabled or have special needs (taking care of a family member), apply for an exemption.

Welfare: Families or individuals max out on this program after 5 years. This is supposed to be temporary assistance, not a way of life. If you are still popping out tons of kids after 5 years  to stay on this plan and haven’t learned to either use birth control or keep your legs shut, it’s time to put your kids in government-assisted day care and get a job at McDonald’s. Dropping people after five years is more than enough time to allow a family or individual to get some kind of job and get back on their feet.

Unemployment benefits: I know this economy sucks and it’s not easy to find a job that pays well. As a result, the government can’t keep paying all the people who get laid off. But guess what? There are jobs out there. It may not be the white-collar, best-paying job out on the market, but if you’ve been on unemployment for more than 52 weeks (1 year), it’s time to get a minimum-wage job or work two part-time jobs in order to make ends meet.

National health care: Time to put this on the shelf for a while. (It pains me to say that.)

Medicare/Medicaid: This one isn’t as easy to eliminate or phase out as there are millions of people who legitimately need this kind of assistance. The problem with government insurance is that it’s also compounded by the fact that private insurance costs are so high. But I’m sure there are ways to trim spending within this government program.

But thanks to partisan politics and fear of voter backlash, nothing will get done and all Americans will be forced to suffer for it.

Obama on the defensive for Democrats

~ K ~ 1 Comment

AP headline today: “Obama: GOP hasn’t been honest with Americans”

Sorry, Mr. President, but it’s the Democrats who haven’t been honest with Americans this time around. You control BOTH houses in Congress and can’t get the job done. Time to shift balance of power so you stop taking advantage of your voting bloc and realize you actually need to get things done and work for US.

(Not that the Republicans will fare much better but voting Democrats out will give you guys the wake-up call you need.)

Read more about this.

Thoughts on He Talk Like A White Boy

~ K ~ Leave a comment

I recently completed reading Joseph C. Phillips’s book, He Talk Like A White Boy. You may best remember Mr. Phillips as Lt. Martin Kendall, Denise’s husband, on The Cosby Show.

Now, I gotta be honest. I picked up the book for two reasons:

  1. He was one of few black men I always thought looked handsome (even as a kid!).
  2. The title.

I don’t remember how I initially happened upon it but a few years back, I stumbled across the book, saw the title, and thought to myself, This is on my must-read list before I die. I’m glad to say I wasn’t disappointed.

The title of He Talk Like A White Boy juxtaposed with the image of a black man resonated a chord with me. I instantly thought, I have got to read this. Black people have told me all my life that I talk like a white person. I can identify with this.

And identify I did.

Although 20 years of age separate us, it’s amazing how he was able to relate his experiences from things that occurred in the 60s and 70s, only for me to identify with much of it having grown up in the 80s and 90s.

The book seems to be a collection of essays that he’s written in the last decade (the book was published in 2006) so it was divided up into five primary sections:

  1. Character
  2. Family
  3. Faith
  4. Idealism
  5. Identity

But before I even cracked open the book, I read the book jacket. Apart from acting, Phillips also works as a conservative commentator and was a heavy supporter of George W. Bush. Knowing that made me cringe. (If I’m honest, I still do.) But I determined that I would give Phillips a chance to speak to me on politics. Even though I’m not wholly a conservative, I feel that black conservatives are some of the most disdained members in the political arena. Keeping this in mind, I decided to be, you know, tolerant.

While I enjoyed reading the first three sections, I most enjoyed the latter two. (Although, admittedly, the book got progressively better going through each section.)

Once I stumbled upon the essay Black Conservatism, Black Pride at the beginning of the Idealism section, I took a deep breath before I began. Be tolerant and open-minded, I told myself. You never know what you might learn.

I indeed learned quite a bit. Despite the fact that I am not a Dubya fan, I am willing to give credit where credit is due. Phillips pointed out that Bush II had the most racially diverse presidential administration in the nation’s history up until the Obama administration. And despite all cries that Dubya was a committed racist, he consistently had a black Secretary of State during each term he held. (He could have easily replaced a white person in Colin Powell’s spot after Mr. Powell resigned.) So I’ll give Dubya credit for having the most diverse administration of his day.

Phillips also goes on to speak about Dubya’s journey to Africa and the money he pledged to fight HIV/AIDS and terrorism in the country. For a president who many cried were racist (especially as a result of Katrina), Bush II appeared to be more of a friend to black people than he is given credit for.

*Discuss Black Conservatism, Black Pride – how he could not be a Republican back in the civil rights era, how it’s okay for blacks to believe whatever they want on the political spectrum (my view)

*Discuss Reparations, Affirmative Action, how he attacks inherent racism in Hollywood and liberals

*Then speak of identity – how it impacted me and how I was able to relate to it: Black & White, especially.

Blacks suffer from slave mentality under the Democratic Party

~ K ~ 4 Comments

For the past few months, I have purposely tried to remain ignorant of political news with the exception of getting my breaking information from various Twitter accounts: BreakingNews, CNNbrk, jaketapper, and chucktodd. So when I saw that Sen. Harry Reid, a Democratic Party member and Senate Majority Leader, had made some ignorant statements about (then) presidential candidate Barack Obama being “light-skinned with no Negro dialect unless he wanted to have one,” I chose to initially ignore that too.

What I can’t ignore, however, is how black leadership (in the Democratic Party, of course) has been completely inconsistent on matters of race, playing politics to allow Sen. Reid to “stay in power.” This makes me angry.

Continue reading “Blacks suffer from slave mentality under the Democratic Party” →