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The Children Are Not Alright But We Can Make It Right

By on September 22, 2011 in Faith, health, Society

See, it’s not just Americans who think every child having a mother and a father is the best for children and society. Even Europe where everything goes has its bulwarks against the insanity of s of families that are proliferating world-wide.

Speaking to London’s Sunday Times recently, Scottish business owner Brian Souter says Scotland is in danger of becoming a “Babylonian-Greek society” where sex is “primarily a recreational activity”. He said: “We are arguing here about what kind of society we want to live in. Are we going to be in a Babylonian-Greek-type of society, where sex is primarily a recreational activity, or are we going to stick with the Judeo-Christian tradition, where procreation is something that we want to put within a marriage context?”

His arguments for the latter are to protect society from “imploding” as he puts it. Couldn’t have said it better myself. His remarks were partly in response to the gay-marriage debates in Europe but he could use Black America as a case study on where the Babylonian-Greek lifestyle in all it’s incarnations will actually take a country.

I haven’t lost hope but as far as I’m concerned the African American community has already imploded with a nearly 73% out-of-wedlock birthrate. THIS IS UNHEARD OF!!! and it is patently unfair for any Black child suffering under such a situation. Souter must be looking at American society really close because Black people have gone way beyond reducing sex to a recreational activity. The ramifications of this fact are on public display with the detrimental behaviors of the progeny of this years-long trend. The obvious illustrations including the tacky dress habits and increasingly vocabulary-limited vulgarity in the music (and that’s just the current crop of young parents I’m talking about, not only their kids) continue to proliferate. Of peculiar interest is observing the natural course of cultural transmission with so many white kids picking up some of the sorry, saggy habits. Particularly disturbing is the growing tendency for young teen and adult females to emulate these things.

The verbal pollution from young people’s mouths has become appalling. Yes, that is also connected to particular family groupings and what is taught as acceptable language and self-respecting behavior. It’s unbelievable that so many young women in this generation allow young men to call them “bitch” and they don’t get offended. In fact it has become the new “nigger”. Some of these girls just take it from a guy like it’s their name and allow the conversation to continue as normal like there’s nothing to it. The girls from my generation would have checked that madness immediately. I’m telling you, the new bad normal is pulling us down collectively.

The backwards trend is backed by any number of statistics. According to the Pew Research Center, “The share of 30- to 44-year-olds living as unmarried couples has more than doubled since the mid-1990s.”so there really is no mystery to the genesis of these particular societal ills.

Despite the ongoing marginalization of those of us who believe in traditional views of proper family structure, I think the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) does a great job in doing what’s in the best interests of children. With more efforts like theirs perhaps we still have a chance. Yeah, more Black kids with a mother and a father raising them without some of  society’s deranged cultural activists using our children as social experiments is what’s actually in the best interests of the African American community.

As an “actionist” I try not to whine about a problem but actually do something about it. I am a traditionalist who believes every child deserves a mother and a father who are in fact a man and a woman. That’s not a political statement of social warfare. That’s a fact of our cultural welfare.

I could write extensively about my beliefs on one way of living versus the other but NOM has already done a significant job of that since 2007. Are their particular efforts about gay bashing or intruding upon individual rights? Of course not. Is any of this about hating on single parenthood. Again, certainly not. You’d have to be crazy to make such kindergarten level oversimplifications. It’s about children’s rights and if you like me are tired of Black kids being sociopolitical footballs then do something about it. I’m challenging you to do what I’m doing this week. Contribute to the National Organization for Marriage and show greater support for groups like it to help turn the implosive tide.

Beyond political action though, young ladies today it’s about you in particular. Stand up for yourselves and your own well-being. Here are a few reasons that you young ladies (and you are young ladies, not bitches) valuing yourselves more benefits all of society. Before you hit the sack with a guy, make him commit to an altar bound promise to you and your future children that you will have together. Before you give up the goodies too soon make him earn it. Tell young sir, “No wedding, no womb!”.

 

 

Be sure you keep these thoughts at the top of your mind with a cool new beat from Speech. Share it with your friends and lets all turn this thing around.

 

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Get Your Social Action and Cardio Groove In Gear

By on April 8, 2010 in General Interest, health, Politics

A couple of weekends ago I began the battle of the gut. I bought myself a nice used bike from Blackstone Bicycle. It’s one of a number of non profit bike shops around the city of Chicago that refurbish and sell bicycles. This particular shop has the added goal of teaching kids in the surrounding neighborhood how to pick up some mechanical and business skills.

While I was in the shop being helped by one of the young adult employees, there were lots of kids on the premises as part of their Youth Bicycle Education program. While I  was there some kids were putting spare parts in bins,  others were getting repair instruction from the adults and one young lady trainee rung up my purchases (bike, helmet, bike lock and replacement seat for the wife’s bike).

A bunch more kids were taking a nice Saturday break playing basketball against the fence. Someone showing some obvious mechanical improvisational talents, strapped a big plastic paint/chitterling bucket to the fence. They had a soccer ball doubling as a basketball for the afternoon. (Brought back lots of fond memories of alley basketball from my childhood).

The Blackstone Bicycle shop is one of the arms of the Experimental Station which is the actual 501c-3 non profit organization. It’s located in a nondescript stretch of Blackstone Avenue at 61st Street right across from the University of Chicago steam plant.


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If you’re looking to get your body and health back in gear but you’re not a runner then a biking is a good place to start your efforts. Having places like Blackstone Bicyle as a resource means you don’t have to begin with Olympic caliber hardware either. Take a little extra time to search out a place like this in your community and start with something simple . You can work on improving your health and your corner of the world all at once.

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General Heart Health and Preventive Ookie Killer

By on March 19, 2010 in General Interest, health

I’m beginning to get a little concerned hearing about so many of you with heart problems and other ailments on major drugs to keep the ticker and other tissues in check. Well you know we here at MartyBLOGs are big time actionists so I’m going to make a serious proactive suggestion to you. I have quite a few friends with heart problems in particular. The plants listed below are known to be cleansing for the body in general and for the heart and blood in particular.

For you heart patients, diabetics and people with other common major ailments why don’t you give it a try, then tell your doctor about your efforts to be more proactive about your health? They likely already want you to have a better diet than you’re used to providing for yourself so here’s a start. I’ll bet you anything you’ll start coming off of some of those meds because you’ll be helping your body to heal itself (or at least put less pressure on your organs) slowly but surely over time.

Not to mention what you can do for your overall health when you simply begin seasoning your cooking with these same ingredients. Heal yourself and improve your home cheffing skills all at once.

O.K. so here’s the recipe:Two cloves of garlic
A few slivers of ginger
A few slices of onion
Apple cider vinegar
A few squirts of agave

Grind it up with your favorite hand veggie chopper or blend it in your fave mixer. Mince the ingredients as much or as little as you like. Pour the mix into a pot of boiling water and let it set for a while so all the oils and flavors have plenty of time to seep out.

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Pour the juice into a container (Use a strainer to retain the veggie pieces) and dilute it to your personal taste bud tolerance. You may like it stronger or weaker (more or less extra water), more bitter or sweet (as is or a touch more agave). Drink as a general daily tea to ward off the ookies or dose heavily to subdue them when they try to overcome you.

Try this for a while for your own benefit and see if you don’t shock your physician with improved readings on all of your statistics on your next visit.

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Celebrate World Aids Day Every Day

By on December 1, 2009 in General Interest, health

Guess what people? You can celebrate World Aids Day, beyond today, the multitasking way. Every time you donate blood or blood and platelets (apheresis) your blood is automatically tested for AIDS and the HIV virus. You can donate in either fashion mutliple times during the year. If you have AIDS or HIV or any other major health issues that are detected in your blood you will be informed privately to follow up with your physician for treatment and your blood won’t be added to the blood supply. The tests insure that tainted blood doesn’t risk endagering potential recipients.

If you are not privately informed about any issues detected in your blood then you know that you are healthy AND you’ve contributed red and white blood cells to the national blood supply. Read this apheresis information link for more details on the the procedure then find your local American Red Cross donation center and improve the country’s health on two fronts.

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Shea Butter

By on August 12, 2009 in General Interest, health

Have you been looking for a reliable skin moisturizer that actually moisturizes? Let me recommend one that could prove to be more effective than your typical lotions. I think it even beats the usual natural alternatives like aloe and cocoa butter.

I’m referring to African shea butter. It’s made from the fruit of the shea tree and it definitely works better for me than the usual store bought stuff. Since it’s made from an African plant it is custom made for the skin of African people and people of African descent but I recommend it to everyone.

Use it as a healthier option for your skin. Just as fruits and vegetables are good for your inner organs this is good for your all around outer organ. There are two forms. One is off-white in color. The type mixed with palm oil is more yellowish. As with the African Black Soap give each a try to see which is most effective in resolving dryness for your particular skin type.

If you have calloused feet or ashy knees and elbows start using shea butter. And if your skin is reacting to chemo or other medicines definitely give this a try to recondition it. There are these and a number of other benefits to using shea butter so you can’t go wrong making it a part of your daily regimen.

I prefer the unrefined version that you can buy at the arts fairs at the table of an African or Carribean arts dealer. They often have scents, spices, soaps and conditioners like these as a part of their wares. There are also refined types that you can probably buy at a health store. I just haven’t happened to look for the product there. Either way buy some soon and throw out what you’ve been using. You won’t regret making the switch.

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African Black Soap

By on August 10, 2009 in General Interest, health, Society

If your regular store bought soaps are creating a sensitive reaction in your skin or you’re not getting the cleansing effect you were hoping for maybe a more natural solution is the answer to that problem. I recently came across a product called African Black Soap at an arts festival. If you’re familiar with shea butter that is typically sold by African arts and spices venders at the usual arts and cultural fairs around the country then the Black soap is usually not far away.

The ingredients include the foundational component created from the skin of the plantain fruit with palm oil or palm kernel oil to form the soap. The plantain is a natural source of vitamin A, E and iron. It helps exfoliate your skin and reduce acne among other benefits. We’ve recently started using the Nubian Heritage brand which includes oats and aloe. It has worked well for me. I have also seen this Dudu-Osun brand at the fairs.

Since Black soap doesn’t have the typical additives it should work well as a healthy alternative for those of you have major illnesses. It’s another of those healthy cleaning options recommended for cancer patients for instance. Variations of the base may include shea butter or coconut oil in place of palm oil depending on the region of origin. Do some web searching or stop in your nearest health food store and experiment with two or three different formulations to see which particular type works best for your skin health needs.

Some sites that I’ve searched on the subject say that Black soap in the hard bar form isn’t the real thing. They say color is added to give it a darker than normal look. So maybe part of your experiment will range from the bar form to the more traditional beige-to-brown hued block form of the soap. An African dealer we talked to told us that the raw form he sells may be a little too strong and could irritate the skin if you haven’t tried it before so he told us to maybe try a version from a store first.

As I mentioned I’m impressed with the store brand since it has all the components but I think we’re going to try one of the more regional brands next time and see if we can’t get the maximum benefits. I also encourage you to buy a bar and bless your skin.

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Go Green Under Your Armpits With Natural Deoderant

By on August 6, 2009 in General Interest, health, Society

If you’re like I used to be a few years ago, occasionally you’ll have lumps in your armpits. Check the label on your deoderant/anti perspirant. Very likely that’s the culprit. It’s probably the aluminum content that your skin is reacting to. The solution that is typically recommended is alternating two different deoderants daily and for me that actually worked to solve the lump problem.

However it didn’t do much for my personal aroma (LOL). We found a solution in our home that took care of both issues and I recommend it to you as well. It’s a brand called Naturally Fresh Deoderant Crystal which can be found at just about any health food store. What makes it so effective is that the mineral salts fight the bacteria that cause the odor with your armpit perspiration. It’s a deoderant only, not an antiperspirant. That’s important because you still need to sweat so that your body can rid itself of the toxins in your body through those pores just as with the other sweat glands in your body. The great thing is you can now have moist arm pits without the odor.

As you can see on the link they have all the familiar forms of applicators. The spray on and roll on types have a mineral salt water mix in the container. The stick can be raised and lowered just as with the typical stick brands. The difference is that it’s a mineral block which you wet under your faucet before rubbing it on.

For those of you with major health issues who are incorporating more natural and preventive health habits into your lifestyle you should definitely consider adding deoderant crystal to your shopping list. It’s hypoallergenic and paraben/PG free. There may be other brands. This just happens to be what we use in my home.

Whether you have a chronic illness or are perfectly healthy, the next time you go out to fill the cupboards and medicine cabinets, give it a try and make a personal test for a week. You may have to take the time to figure out which one works best for you – the stick is most effective for me – but I think you’ll be satisfied with the results.

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True Confessions That Matter from Lenny Kravitz

By on June 17, 2009 in facebook, Faith, health

Hat tip to facebook friend and fellow blogger La Shawn Barber for this link on Lenny Kravitz’s mature stand on his lifestyle and moral standards.

Lenny has been celibate since 2005 and says he’s not pulling his penis out of his pants for any woman again until he finds the one he marries. Let’s hear it again for abstinence as solid moral and health policy! Lenny is sticking to the scriptural imperative, not playing around with God and doing better to live his faith day by day.

Also amazing is his father’s last minute conversion to Christianity. Demonic visions in the hospital had him confess Jesus as his savior days before he passed. Amazingly still, the visions turned angelic afterwards. Just as for the thief on the cross next to Jesus, the last minute wasn’t too late to get it right.

Really nice read into Lenny’s world. Take a few minutes to check out this amazing article by Chris Heath for yourselves and share it with your friends.

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