Adia,
You and I went out to get some groceries today. When we were driving through the neighborhood I noticed only one American Flag. We are the youngest family living in this neighborhood, and the only family who flies an American Flag. At first, the thought just made me kinda sad, then it made me angry. We have become so comfortable, as a nation, we take our freedom for granted. And we don't unite as one people. Right now, there is a lot of bickering over the current Obama Administration and the Republicans are fighting each other for the nomination to run against Obama later this year. I am very interested in politics and very passionate about what I believe. Your daddy and I have our own political debates, and I'm sure once you can form sentences you will join in. And I encourage and will hope that you educate yourself on politics. But I don't want you to be political and not patriotic.
Sometimes we are so busy with the messy details of each party that we forget we are ALL Americans. No matter if people are Democrats or Republicans... We are all Americans. We should all be so patriotic and grateful for our freedom that we all fly American flags. We should all respect the soldiers who have fought for our freedoms. We should all stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and when the National Anthem is played.
Tonight I was watching news coverage of rebel fighters in Syria who are trying to overtake the current government. The government has now killed 6,000 people and Syrians are pleading to the US for help; to save their lives. And there I sat, sitting on my couch eating tacos. I thought how awesomely free I am. I'm sitting here with basically no immediate worries on my mind, while there are people in other countries getting killed because they voice disapproval of their government. It's times like these I swell up with pride in and thankfulness for my forefathers who sacrificed so much for me to be free.
We decorate every Fourth of July. We stand when we ever hear the National Anthem and place our right hand over our hearts. We pay our respects to American soldiers by attending memorials. We shake a soldier's hand every chance we get and say thank you for your service. We vote to make sure Veterans get their well deserved benefits. They took care of us, we need to take care of them. And we fly our free nation's flag proudly!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
African American History Month...
Adia,
If there is one thing you learn from me I hope it is seeing everyone as an equal to you. No matter the skin color, you are no better than anyone else. Growing up in the south is not an easy place to be if you're trying to be accepting of all people. There are still many hard lines drawn in the sand about what is right and what is wrong when it comes to other races. It's getting better though, and my hope is that it will be an even lesser issue when you are grown. I also encourage you to cross those lines, ignore those prejudices, and to be 'color blind'.
February is African American History month. I have always been interested in the history of African Americans and the civil rights movements of the 1950's and 1960's. I have tried to educate myself on African American history, which I will encourage you to do as well. I am looking forward to taking you to Montgomery, Alabama to see where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. There is a Rosa Parks museum in Montgomery and a Civil Rights Memorial/Museum as well. I grew so much as a person from going to those places and being surrounded by that history.
In the Rosa Parks museum, they have a walk-through exhibit of the exact events that occurred the night Rosa Parks was arrested. The museum has a replica of the bus that Rosa Parks was on that world-changing night. As I was standing in front of the bus, listening to audio of men and women screaming obscene, demeaning vulgarities and threatening the life of Mrs. Parks, I started to shake. My heart started beating faster. I started breathing heavy, and was getting chills. The audio ignited the 'fight or flight' mechanism in my body and I wanted to run. I felt this hopelessness wash over my body and was frozen in fear. When the audio went off, I exhaled with relief thanking God it was over. Then I realized, this was an every day occurrence in the life of so many African Americans during that time. My heart broke into so many pieces over and over during the days I spent in Montgomery, Alabama. It is so impossibly hard for me to believe that one human being could treat another human being so horribly. I believe it happened for far too long, and I passionately believe it must never happen again.
Some people you encounter through the years will voice that they don't see why there should be a month specifically dedicated to African American history. The reason I want you to remember is, we need this month to come around every year so we will never forget the horrible things African Americans have gone through. History must not, and simply cannot, repeat itself in that way. So by remembering all the tortured African American souls and their stories in February of every year, surely we will be reminded of the inhumane mistakes we made and continue to learn from those mistakes. We also need this month to remind people about all the great accomplishments and inventions African Americans have contributed to our country and to the world. Some people will continue to be raised to think African Americans aren't an equal, but by reminding them of the genius minds of African Americans, maybe one day they will realize their ignorant beliefs are so unfounded.
A personal story relating to our family during the 1920-40's in the south: Your Great-Grandfather Moore was pretty much raised by a black man, named Sam. When I first learned about this as a younger child, I was so ashamed that my family would participate in, what I thought, was slavery. But I later learned the real story and he was not a slave at all. Your Great-Grandfather's mother preferred and loved working outside, so she would work the fields while Sam watched the kids. The exact quote to describe a typical day in their life was, "Mrs. Moore would be out working in the fields while Sam sat, played and read with the children under the trees." I think that is such a neat history. Sam lived with the Moore's and I'm assuming they paid him to watch after the kids, but I know they treated him as one of the family. I wish so badly I could have met him. I believe he helped mold the mind of your Great-Grandfather. Sam helped your Great-Grandfather see that everyone is indeed equal. Your Great-Grandfather passed that knowledge down to your Papa and your Papa passed it on to me. From what I've heard, Sam was an easy-going and down to earth man, as was your Great-Grandfather. I truly believe Sam is very much a part of who I am, and a part of who you are as well... And for that I feel privileged and so thankful.
I am very much inspired to learn more about Mr. Sam. And I hope to record it all down for you. Always remember, every human being is a gift to this world so make sure you treat them that way.
If there is one thing you learn from me I hope it is seeing everyone as an equal to you. No matter the skin color, you are no better than anyone else. Growing up in the south is not an easy place to be if you're trying to be accepting of all people. There are still many hard lines drawn in the sand about what is right and what is wrong when it comes to other races. It's getting better though, and my hope is that it will be an even lesser issue when you are grown. I also encourage you to cross those lines, ignore those prejudices, and to be 'color blind'.
February is African American History month. I have always been interested in the history of African Americans and the civil rights movements of the 1950's and 1960's. I have tried to educate myself on African American history, which I will encourage you to do as well. I am looking forward to taking you to Montgomery, Alabama to see where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. There is a Rosa Parks museum in Montgomery and a Civil Rights Memorial/Museum as well. I grew so much as a person from going to those places and being surrounded by that history.
In the Rosa Parks museum, they have a walk-through exhibit of the exact events that occurred the night Rosa Parks was arrested. The museum has a replica of the bus that Rosa Parks was on that world-changing night. As I was standing in front of the bus, listening to audio of men and women screaming obscene, demeaning vulgarities and threatening the life of Mrs. Parks, I started to shake. My heart started beating faster. I started breathing heavy, and was getting chills. The audio ignited the 'fight or flight' mechanism in my body and I wanted to run. I felt this hopelessness wash over my body and was frozen in fear. When the audio went off, I exhaled with relief thanking God it was over. Then I realized, this was an every day occurrence in the life of so many African Americans during that time. My heart broke into so many pieces over and over during the days I spent in Montgomery, Alabama. It is so impossibly hard for me to believe that one human being could treat another human being so horribly. I believe it happened for far too long, and I passionately believe it must never happen again.
Some people you encounter through the years will voice that they don't see why there should be a month specifically dedicated to African American history. The reason I want you to remember is, we need this month to come around every year so we will never forget the horrible things African Americans have gone through. History must not, and simply cannot, repeat itself in that way. So by remembering all the tortured African American souls and their stories in February of every year, surely we will be reminded of the inhumane mistakes we made and continue to learn from those mistakes. We also need this month to remind people about all the great accomplishments and inventions African Americans have contributed to our country and to the world. Some people will continue to be raised to think African Americans aren't an equal, but by reminding them of the genius minds of African Americans, maybe one day they will realize their ignorant beliefs are so unfounded.
A personal story relating to our family during the 1920-40's in the south: Your Great-Grandfather Moore was pretty much raised by a black man, named Sam. When I first learned about this as a younger child, I was so ashamed that my family would participate in, what I thought, was slavery. But I later learned the real story and he was not a slave at all. Your Great-Grandfather's mother preferred and loved working outside, so she would work the fields while Sam watched the kids. The exact quote to describe a typical day in their life was, "Mrs. Moore would be out working in the fields while Sam sat, played and read with the children under the trees." I think that is such a neat history. Sam lived with the Moore's and I'm assuming they paid him to watch after the kids, but I know they treated him as one of the family. I wish so badly I could have met him. I believe he helped mold the mind of your Great-Grandfather. Sam helped your Great-Grandfather see that everyone is indeed equal. Your Great-Grandfather passed that knowledge down to your Papa and your Papa passed it on to me. From what I've heard, Sam was an easy-going and down to earth man, as was your Great-Grandfather. I truly believe Sam is very much a part of who I am, and a part of who you are as well... And for that I feel privileged and so thankful.
I am very much inspired to learn more about Mr. Sam. And I hope to record it all down for you. Always remember, every human being is a gift to this world so make sure you treat them that way.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
What you do for your children...
Adia,
Lately I have been unfortunate to see parents not doing the best things for their children. I whole-heartedly believe that as your mother it is my 100%, God-given responsibility to do anything and everything to provide you with a safe, happy, loving, and healthy life.
On a general level, parents may sometimes have to work a job they hate in order to provide for their children, parents may have to move away from the only home they have ever known in order to provide a healthy, adequate living for their children. Parents might not be able to do the things they did before they had children. They might have to give up going shopping anytime they want, going on trips, or buying expensive nonsense 'things' for themselves. Once you are a parent, everything is about your child/children. No matter how much you don't like the sacrifice you need to make, it's your duty as a parent.
On a personal level, if your Dad and I had not moved from Florence I would have never been able to be a stay at home mom. There were no jobs available for Dad in Florence in order for him to be the official bread winner, allowing me to stay home. Granted, I had to make a major sacrifice. I had to move away from my family and friends. That was not easy and still isn't easy. I don't think it will ever be easy being away from my family. It's hard living in a new city where I don't have close friends. It's hard not being able to have date nights with my husband because I don't trust anyone but my parents to watch you, yet. We also had to limit our spending on ourselves in order for us to afford my staying at home. Daddy had to give up his shopping for designer clothes/new cars, and I had to give up my addiction to eating out at restaurants/weekend getaway trips. BUT I am able to stay at home with you every day. I know you are being fed exactly what you need to eat, I know you are being changed when you dirty your diaper, and I know you are being treated the way little ones should be treated. I was able to witness your first steps, and hear you say 'Mama' for the first time. I can take you to the doctor at any time you need to be there. When your Daddy and I were both working, that was a big issue.
So believe me, the sacrifices I made have been worth it. There is nothing in this material world that would keep me from taking care of you to the absolute BEST of my ability. There is nothing that would stand in my way of keeping you safe and healthy. If I had to move to a new place every year, in order to give you the best life possible, we would make it work. There would be no excuses. We would work jobs we didn't necessarily like, we would live in a one bedroom apartment, we would sell our cars and use public transportation, we would starve so you could eat. I promise you, you will always be taken care of, no matter the sacrifices we have to make. No sacrifice is too much for you. I only wish all parents would come to realize their duties.
Lately I have been unfortunate to see parents not doing the best things for their children. I whole-heartedly believe that as your mother it is my 100%, God-given responsibility to do anything and everything to provide you with a safe, happy, loving, and healthy life.
On a general level, parents may sometimes have to work a job they hate in order to provide for their children, parents may have to move away from the only home they have ever known in order to provide a healthy, adequate living for their children. Parents might not be able to do the things they did before they had children. They might have to give up going shopping anytime they want, going on trips, or buying expensive nonsense 'things' for themselves. Once you are a parent, everything is about your child/children. No matter how much you don't like the sacrifice you need to make, it's your duty as a parent.
On a personal level, if your Dad and I had not moved from Florence I would have never been able to be a stay at home mom. There were no jobs available for Dad in Florence in order for him to be the official bread winner, allowing me to stay home. Granted, I had to make a major sacrifice. I had to move away from my family and friends. That was not easy and still isn't easy. I don't think it will ever be easy being away from my family. It's hard living in a new city where I don't have close friends. It's hard not being able to have date nights with my husband because I don't trust anyone but my parents to watch you, yet. We also had to limit our spending on ourselves in order for us to afford my staying at home. Daddy had to give up his shopping for designer clothes/new cars, and I had to give up my addiction to eating out at restaurants/weekend getaway trips. BUT I am able to stay at home with you every day. I know you are being fed exactly what you need to eat, I know you are being changed when you dirty your diaper, and I know you are being treated the way little ones should be treated. I was able to witness your first steps, and hear you say 'Mama' for the first time. I can take you to the doctor at any time you need to be there. When your Daddy and I were both working, that was a big issue.
So believe me, the sacrifices I made have been worth it. There is nothing in this material world that would keep me from taking care of you to the absolute BEST of my ability. There is nothing that would stand in my way of keeping you safe and healthy. If I had to move to a new place every year, in order to give you the best life possible, we would make it work. There would be no excuses. We would work jobs we didn't necessarily like, we would live in a one bedroom apartment, we would sell our cars and use public transportation, we would starve so you could eat. I promise you, you will always be taken care of, no matter the sacrifices we have to make. No sacrifice is too much for you. I only wish all parents would come to realize their duties.
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