Double Murder as children watch their parents killed. Hoke County North Carolina

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=8608934&rss=rss-wtvd-article-8608934

Trayvon Martin - My 2 Cents..What's yours?

What happened to Trayvon affected many of us because we were touched with the senseless way he was murdered and the way it was handled by the local police department. It is my hope that Zimmerman will have his day in court since Trayvon never will. I can't help to think about my younger male brethren, nephews and cousins who are often stereotyped and placed in a negative light while they attempt to find their way in the world. It is up to us to lead them from boys to men. It is up to us to show them a love for God, the opportunity to follow their dreams and show them right from wrong.

While I am greatly humbled with the energy from people of all races and backgrounds who are speaking out on the injustice of this tragedy, it is my hope we can take this energy and tackle the disproportional number of Black and Latino males behind bars and the disparity in sentences they are granted for their crimes. Don't get me wrong, if you do the crime you should do the time, however our current model of building more prisons and cutting funding to schools and educational programs is not working. It is my hope that we can work to reduce the murders on our streets that comes from poverty situations and self hatred. If we are all Trayvon than we must not let his death be in vain and change our society. We must not let this effort die with him after the ending of this chapter is written. 

Old Spice's manly man is marketing at it's best

When was the last time you were actually looking forward to a commercial? How about willingly searching for a commercial? By now, you have seen at least one commercial from Old Spice, the men's deodorant and fragrance company where a confident, fit, shirtless and self-absorbed manly man asks women "Does your Man looks like me? No. Can he smell like me? Yes." The television commercials are a hit and the internet spots are popular as well. What was once a product deemed for the older clientele of manhood has now found new life with their new advertisements and it's marketing genius through social media sites such as YouTube and Twitter.

To read the entire article click here

Cavs owner not happy with Lebron

To say Cleveland Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is not happy with the choice Lebron James made in the ESPN spectacle of announcing his intention to join the Miami Heat is an understatement. Gilbert's comments resonate as if his ungrateful child left his home and never bothered to thank him for the love and support he received.
Dan Gilbert is on record saying to The AP that it's "accountability time" for (Lebron) James. "He (Lebron) has gotten a free pass," Gilbert said in a phone interview with The AP. "People have covered up for (Lebron) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."

Gilbert even went as far to say that Lebron quit on his team during this year's playoffs. "He quit," Gilbert said. "Not just in Game 5, but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar."

Perhaps the most surprising statement Dan Gilbert gave is his proclamation of a championship for the Cavs before the Miami Heat will obtain one. "We will win a championship before (the Heat) do." Gilbert continues "It's not about him leaving, It's the disrespect. It's time for people to hold these athletes accountable for their actions. Is this the way you raise your children? I've been holding this all in for a long time."

To read the entire article click here.

Photo: AP/ESPN

Men united to march against crime in Vallejo

When: June 12, 2010
Time: Meet at 7:30 am, March begins at 8:00 am
Where to meet: Vallejo side of Carquinez Bridge.

On Saturday June 12th, men are welcomed to join the "Stop the Violence" march that will begin in Vallejo and cross the "new" Carquinez bridge (connects Crockett and Vallejo - Hwy 80) in an effort to stand against violence in the City of Vallejo. There are currently two Carquinez bridges, the newly built bridge has a separate platform used for pedestrian traffic. This portion will contain the march.

Representatives from the city of Vallejo, civic groups, community leaders and faith-based communities are planning to attend the event. The "Stop the Violence" march is open to all Men regardless political views and spiritual beliefs.

According to the organizers, the goal is to have 1,000 men take a stand and march against violence in the city of Vallejo. The City of Vallejo has taken it's lumps in recent years. Most notably by becoming the largest city in California to file for bankruptcy. The City is also facing budget cuts to its police and fire departments , a high percentage of it's budget allocated to retirement costs, decrease in property tax revenue and according to reports, a crime rate higher than cities of a similar size in California.

Out of all of this Jonathan Bogard, a proud Vallejo resident received a vision for this march to address the issue of crime in Vallejo.

Mr. Bogard states: "Lately, I have been reading about alot of violence on our streets. Kids are anxious and angry. We need to give them hope. We need to give them jobs. They need positive activities. The march means hope and a chance to not be confrontational, but show the true agape love that Jesus would show. "

For more information on the "Stop the Violence" march please contact community organizer James Canady at jcanady670@aol.com. You can also write your questions below in the comments section and I will do my best to respond.

Al and Tipper, can marriage survive?

When the reports surfaced of Al and Tipper Gore filing for divorce after 40 years of marriage, it was just another realization of not taking marriage for granted. It was also a realization of not making the following statements "Oh that will never happen to us...." and "Divorce is not an option" This is proof that in life you never really know what can happen.
You would think after that 40 years of marriage with your partner, you have seen just about everything and probably survived just about everything one can throw at a marriage (kids, infidelity, sickness, financial instability, bad habits, etc.). After all, there are many divorces finalized within the first five years of marriage and some divorcees are still paying off the wedding. Many have married for the wrong reasons and later realized they did not love the person they married. With the Gore's on paper married for 40 years, I don't feel the right to give advice but more so seek advice on not falling into the same situation.
To read the entire article click here.

Michael Steele's peculiar position

Michael Steele is in a peculiar position. Well actually he already is in a peculiar position as Chairman of the RNC. The recent drama of inappropriate spending put the party of family values in bondage (pun intended) with a small portion of donations funding a night of voyeurism, freaky situations and partying. One may expect stories like this to come from the Democratic ticket however the embarrassment of this reality within the righteous right has caused quite a stir.

As an African American in the position of Chairman of the RNC, Mr. Steele has established himself as a pioneer within the party, an outcast to many in the African American community, an apologist to Rush Limbaugh and an embarrassment to many Republicans. Although he is a pioneer with the title of "First African American to head the RNC," it has become an achievement many African Americans find difficult to embrace. With an overwhelming majority of African Americans historically supporting the Democratic ticket, especially in 2008 as Barack Obama campaigned for President, the Republicans (especially Mr. Steele) did not receive much love speaking out against (then) candidate Obama from Democrats and particularly the African American community. Mr. Steele never received the kudos for being the first in his position as President Obama did when he took the oath of office. Grant it, the President of the United States is a position that overshadows the head of the GOP and the DNC, however Mr. Steele's nomination was considered by many as an afterthought and a weak attempt to show diversity within the party.