Message Board

Michelle Obama, Super Woman

glc3 — Thur, 04 Sep 2008 00:42:32 GMT

Hi this is George Cook of Let's Talk Honestly at www.letstalkhonestly.com and I would like to invite you to watch my short 1 minute video tribute to Super Woman BKA Michelle Obama. Please give your feedback. I think this is a video your readers would like.

You can watch the video here: http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Forum: Let's Talk Honestly

Michelle Obama CNN Intrview

glc3 — Thur, 28 Aug 2008 20:57:37 GMT

Click the link below to watch the video below of the next first lady
Michelle Obama interview with CNN's John Roberts. She reveals more about
herself and our next president Barack Obama:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Forum: Black News, Black Views

Did Obama pick a good VP?

glc3 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:56:51 GMT

Did Barack Obama make a good choice in Biden for VP? Give your answer and your opinion here: http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/LTHQOTW.html

Yes, it helps with the experience issue and adds so much needed help in foreign affairs.
No, Biden is part of the old way politics are done in Washington DC.
I'm not toatally against the pick but I think he could have done better.
It was a good safe pick.

Forum: Let's Talk Honestly

Just joined

dmspi5 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:39:32 GMT

Hi my name is Debbie and I search the internet for missing and unidentified persons and try to make matches to submit to Law Enforcement.

I volunteer with a group called Porchlight International for the missing and unidentified.

I was recently going thru some unidentified female files in 1977 and came across two black females found in the same area about 2 1/2 months apart. They are both teens to young adults. I am in the process of compaing notes and going to call the ME and see what they think . I personally think these 2 girls were killed by the same person. I then went and researched all available missing person reports online in 1976 (mostlikely) killed in Oct. I only found one girl who went missing during this time in Fla. It may be they weren't from Fla. but still there are no reports online of missing black girls during or before this time.

Forum: LTH WELCOME FORUM

Biracial kids, cuter but badder?

glc3 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:32:12 GMT

A recent study " The Plight of Mixed Race Adolescents " shows that many feel biracial kids are much cuter than others but that they exhibit the worst behaviors of both black and white kids. Read more interesting facts and the entire report here:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Forum: Black News, Black Views

Should Kwame Kilpatrick step down?

glc3 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:14:52 GMT

Should Kwame Kilpatrick step down as mayor of Detroit? Give your answer here: http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/LTHQOTW.html

Yes.
No.
If he won't he should be forced out.
He should be allowed to hold office until actually found guilty of something.

Forum: Black News, Black Views

5 Newark boys missing for 30 years

glc3 — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:57:48 GMT

Thirty years ago, five teenage boys vanished after playing basketball in Newark, N.J. They were never heard from again. Melvin Pittman, 17, Randy Johnson, 16, Ernest Taylor, 17, Alvin Turner, 16, and Michael McDowell, 16, who have become known as "The Clinton Avenue Five," vanished Aug. 20, 1978. Wednesday marks the 30th anniversary of their disappearance. Read more about their story by clicking the link below:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/missingblackwomen.html

Forum: Black News, Black Views

Section 8 Tenants and Increased Crime

Agnes — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:58:34 GMT

In response to the article about the crisis in Antioch, CA with Section 8 tenants, I believe that the police department knows exactly what it is doing to infringe upon the liberties of Section 8 tenants.

I also believe that many of the tenants bring their own set of problems and drama into the suburbs. So, what? So do white people in the suburbs who are reluctant to aceept these individuals into their commmunities and offer help. I know that these suburban white residents gear up early on to seek ways to keep Section 8 out of their communities. In part, some of their fears are justifiable. On the other hand, they are just fears.

Just as black people have innate fears about the police when they decide at 11 p.m. to venture out for pizza and get pulled over on a bogus profile cause, so does white people such as the woman in the article being worried about the black youths walking through her neighborhood when she returned from work at night.

When does all this stop? It will stop when our community leaders and politicians stop shifting black people away from their hubs and face the underlying issues that make their natural environments plummet. Who wants to live next to a boarded up home and chalk outlines of dead bodies? When these homes get boarded up, those families are forced to move where there is available housing in the program. That is often in a suburb lacking accessible transportation, jobs, education. Black people must learn to struggle in a community that makes it clear it is not really interested in helping them. Being snatched away from your home is another form of slavery. The suburbs become the plantations. Wal-mart jobs are few and if you do not have transportation, you cannot get to the decent-paying jobs.

Because of the cuts from the White House, educational opportunities are also lacking and we won't get into the standardized tests nonsense with No Child Left Behind. All of these situations increase poverty. When poverty exists, there will be crime because people become frustrated and desperate to survive. It will be interesting to see what happens with the white crime rate in those same neighborhoods as the nation's economy downsizes.

When you couple that with those who "have" in the suburbs, and they do not see the significance of building community programs to aide these people, but rather turn their nose up and feed into the racist tactics of law enforcement, you are left with a growing problem.

When I drive downtown Baltimore, I am increasingly sad about the deterioration of the homes where my cousins once lived and played on the sidewalks, etc. What is left after they and other families were forced to leave these homes after decades of living in the neighborhood, are the worst of the wosrt in many cases. By that I mean the addicts or trifline folks who won't follow through on paperwork to be eligible to move. In addition, are the few who really fight hard to keep their homes and try to build the community back up. On top of all that, you have major players like Johns Hopkins Hospital buying up those boarded up homes and turning them into medical offices, parking lots, high-rise extensions of the hospital, etc. Imagine living in a home for 30+ years and it is taken from you to build a 12-car parking lot and you have to make it the best way you can in a foreign land on a fixed income? That has to hurt!

I ventured into the only corner store in a 12-block radius and it was owned and operated by a white couple who burned my back with their security-system eyes. What happened to this community? What happened is that JHH and its clones decided that the families were too worthless to invest in and they forced them to be shipped to the county. Nobody prepares these folks for such a drastic life change in most cases and because of their economic status, they are often under the dillusion that life will be better where the green grass grows.

They do leave some responsibility behind to improve themselves, but when you are scared, frustrated, poor, and nobody is listening to you, you end up going with the flow. The flow becomes racism at its worst, or at least highlighted like you never knew before. White home owners will jump for the rent subsidy without fear of failure to pay, but what are they contributing to the community to acclamate that black family into the neighborhood? Surely, when one black family is tossed out, another one is brought in because that mortgage gotta be paid! It becomes a cycle. Meanwhile the children in those families are being shuffled around from school to school and in the process, they lose hope. and become angry. They want to rescue their mama's and gangs become the fastest way in their eyes.

I am recalling the story about a city incognito. As I recall, the westerners would ride into Indian reservations and chase them away. They then would build a town. This is the white flight in housing that fuels both high crime and racism. Now, when the housing slump is cured, black families won't have a chance to find subsidized housing in the suburbs or the city because the westerners are claiming both territories. The only place left for us will be mars.

The bottom line is that black and white folks are going to have to come to an agreement and a workable plan for everybody to live in harmony as productive citizens. For every loophole in government programs for blacks, there is one for whites. It just seems like they find all the ones first such as if we can come up with a violation, we can get them out of there. What is tried and true for white people is to take the head of the black family away so if a man and woman are trying to reconcile their family, marriage, why would you want to use that to boot the whole family?

I dunno..., fix the dang houses in the city and stop businesses from buying out the neighborhoods and help folks educate themselves and uplift the community.

Agnes ~ Too Wise Not To Praise Him!
Author of: "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bi-Polar Woman." Winter 2008 Release Pending. ISBN 0975461206

Founder/President of Levine-Oliver Publisher - the exclusive publishing home of Swaggie Coleman. Experience Swaggie's Voice at http://swaggiecoleman.blogspot.com and win prizes!

Forum: Let's Talk Honestly

Jeremiah Wright not writing book

glc3 — Thur, 14 Aug 2008 21:48:17 GMT

CNN's Roland Martin is reprting that the rumor floating around about Jeremiah Wright penning a book are false. Jeremiah Wright's daughter has confirmed that there is no book. Read the short story by clicking the link below:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Forum: Black News, Black Views

Section 8 moves poor to suburbs

glc3 — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:00:40 GMT

Under the Section 8 federal housing voucher program, thousands of poor, urban and often African-American residents have left hardscrabble neighborhoods in the nations largest cities and resettled in the suburbs.

Law enforcement experts and housing researchers argue that rising crime rates follow Section 8 recipients to their new homes, while other experts discount any direct link and think racism may be playing a factor. Read the story of one town Antioch CA. by clicking the link below:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Forum: Black News, Black Views

BACK TO SCHOOL!

Agnes — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:15:11 GMT

This is the season that most parents secretly jump for joy! It is the time of year when we inhale deeply because summer is drawing to a close and the weeks of feeding children all day long and keeping them busy with summer camps and activities is coming to an end. It is also the time of year when parents eagerly look forward to the start of school. Those eight hours a child is away in most cases is "down" time for parents.

For children, it is an exciting time as they plan to start school with school shopping and getting their cliques organized! School is a social time for children that is much needed, but should not be over-done. It is a time for learning and priorities and discipline must be the focus. Making new friends can be both scary and fun so parents need to also take time during this time of year to have frequent talks with children about expectations and what is appropriate classroom behavior. Discuss with your children school rules and procedures with cell phone use as well as completing school assignments. Don't forget about parent responsibilities, too. Plan to meet your child's teacher and swap e-mail contact information. Go a step further and actually contact your child's teacher two weeks down the road and be sure to stay on top of any and all behavior concerns. At home, keep communication open with your child about school friends, classwork, assignments, activities, and know the same technology that you allow your child to use.

One of the most important things for parents is to know ALL of your child's friends and their parents! Know where they live and have their parents' contact information. Do not be shy about speaking with the parents of your child's friends and be open and available to speak with them. These are some of the tips that will help your family have a successful school year! Do you have any tips to share that can be helpful to other parents of children of all ages for the school year?

I think there is one more area that needs to be thought about as we parents prepare to send our children Back To School. That is the under-recognized depression that many children, especially adolescents, experience at the start of school. It may be because he or she is attending a new school or just returning to the same school. There will be anxieties about boys from the girls and vice versa. There will be concerns about the ability to be successful in school and we know that juniors and seniors have added pressures about dating, college selection, proms, and graduation.

Parents need to pay particular attention to the moods of their children and keep communication open about what they are feeling just as importantnly about what they are wearing! Parents need to screen what websites their children visit as well as who they are contacting on their cell phones! If your child seems to be a loner and never was before, you should be concerned, if not, alarmed! Ask deep questions about why your child is a loner. Why does your child spend a lot of time in bed when not in school? Encourage your child to talk to you about sex and boys (girls) and drugs. Does your child regularly fall behind with school work? Be a parent and responsible adult to your child. They will appreciate it in the long run and so will you!

Educate yourself and your child about depression as you would about other health issues like safe sex. Know the signs of depression because 3.4 million children in America show early signs of depression at the childhood stage. They may be ADHD or diagnosed with a clinical depression. These early mental health issues can lead to more serious mental health issues such as Bipolarity by the time your child is 20!

We live in a world where there is a lot of stress for the average adult and that trickles down to our children. We should not be ashamed to seek help for our children if they show signs of depression such as irritability, mood swings, sleepiness, lack of interest in friends, television, activities, and meals. While we should not press the panic buttons at the mere signs of these behaviors, we should keep a watchful eye and have a willingness and plan to help them if it becomes obvious that these signs are interrupting the success and progress of your child.

By taking notice of these mental health issues early, we can prevent major mental health issues for our children later. That leads to a stronger community of productive people. That also leads to the decline of unhealthy individuals and community. Of course, we parents can also introduce good mental health habits to our children that they can use as adults to cope and manage the stresses of life before something major happens. It goes without saying that church, GOD, must be a part of our daily lives to sufficiently sustain us spiritually. When we are spiritually well, all other things will fall into order. We must lay those seeds early on with our children!

To learn more about mental health disorders, you can contact the National Institute of Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov) and for kids, the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (www.bpkids.org). Remember that Bi-Polar is not curable, but it is treatable and manageable!

Agnes ~ Too Wise Not To Praise Him!

Author of: "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bi-Polar Woman." ISBN 0975461206. Winter 2008 Release Pending.

www.levineoliverpublisher.com is the exclusive publishing home of Swaggie Coleman at http://swaggiecoleman.blogspot.com - check out August' Up Close and Personal Interview with Pastor Lee S. Michaels from Heaven600/Heaven600.com, the No. 1 Gospel radio show in the country and have a chance to win a prize!

Forum: Let's Talk Honestly

FOOTBALL PRACTICE v. DEPRESSION

Agnes — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:07:54 GMT

In America, football practice takes priority over mental wellness! Recently, a football athelete missed a few practices and the media and fellow atheletes went beserk! The athelete who missed practice happens to suffer from depression and was struggling with the depression that caused him to miss practice and become the target of some very nasty muck-raking.

It seems that a greater importance was put on him practicing the sport with teammates and we know money is a factor in that, than dealing responsibly with his mental illness. Here's my question: What is more important? Who is really a muck in this situation?

I remember the early days of being diagnosed with bi-polar and not knowing anything about it. The one thing I did know was that I was "crazy" and that scared me to no end. I was locked away and treated horribly in a state facility and then I bumped into a good friend, or so I thought, several weeks later and she literally ran from me. That was over ten years ago, but when I realize that folks still are not compassionate about this debilitating disorder, it seems it has only been an hour.

We live in a great country where we accept just about every immigrant and spend billions on finding cures and better treatments for various cancers, etc. I mention immigrants because they are "foreign" and although they are, we provide many benefits and help to them. That is not true for the "foregin" brain disorder known as Bi-Polarity. We never embraced this disorder as important enough to provide the best all around. The result is that we pushed mentally ill people further into the dark and caused them shame, humiliation, embarassment, and now hefty fines!

Our media is greatly responsible for this because they refuse to highlight the people living with Bipolarity in a positive way and as a beacon of light to others who suffer. The media dropped to its knees and prayed for the Olympic star who learned he had cancer. Why not drop to their knees and pray for this athelete?

Because the media is not positively educating us about Bipolarity, and nobody else is, we see ourselves displayed across the channels when somebody is not well or being treated and explodes.

I guess this country was built around sensationalizing unusual and tragic news so that we rarely pay attention when good things happen in the lives of ordinary people. For example, who really cares that despite having a mental illness, I have started my own business, became a published author, furthered my education since my diagnosis, teach part-time to make a difference in the future for our youth, received an honorary teacher award, and advocate for the needs of individuals with developmental delays? I struggle to afford my meds and I work hard to stay well through life changes such as diet and exercise and finding time daily for peace and meditation.

Will I make the evening news? Of course, not. When we do learn about individuals who lose control, we do not react in society co-hesively to make positive long-term changes. What I mean is that we still do not have good mental healthcare in this country, drugs remain very costly and unaffordable, education about the mental illness is vague and minimum. Imagine a national campaign promoting Bipolar awareness much the same way AIDS/HIV, Diabetes, etc. are promoted.

The shame is a major factor, too. Will we as a country ever get past the shame? Will men stop viewing depression as a wimp's issue all the time? As long as we put individuals away rather than seek better ways to help them, no. The education has to start from the professional end and filter down to families who are terrified when the doctor says your child has the same illness that the man who killed 40 people did. Men are taught not to cry so when depression hits and they feel sad, they must also feel even worse because traditionally and historically, men should not feel sad enough to cry.

Hopefully, with people like you, myself, and others, we will continue to help this country mold into accepting the brain disorder first and then the people who have it. Depression does not have to end in hefty fines and terminationof a job, but compassion and understanding to allow the individual to get past the hurdle is better in the long run. That is because people can work around the illness and not hide. So for the athelete who had to miss some practices, does sick leave enter into play at all? (no pun intended).

Considering that over 2 million adults have Bipolarity and the fact that approximately 3.4 million children have early signs of Bipolarity (depression, ADHD), America has to step up its approach to treating the brain disorder. Everybody cannot be hidden in a mental facility. Society should not have to needlessly suffer from persons who are diagnosed or undiagnosed with the mental illness. Education must start at the school level so that children will learn to appreciate mental wellness just as they are taught at the school level to avoid drugs, sex. It is not an end-all solution, but a step forward in the right direction.

Once we understand the positive ways of living with the brain disorder, we can help those who have it achieve success and manageability. That will include educating families and friends. That would also include viewers contacting the media and letting them know that beating down on an individual who has a valid mental health issue will not be tolerated any more than we would allow a reporter to rip apart an individual who has to seek cancer treatment while participating in Olympic games and beyond.

Agnes ~ Too Wise Not To Praise Him!

Author of: "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bi-Polar Woman." ISBN 0975461206 Winter 2008 Release Pending.

www.levineoliverpublisher.com is the exclusive publishing home of Swaggie Coleman at http://swaggiecoleman.blogspot.com. Check out Swaggie's Up Close and Personal interview of Pastor Lee S. Michaels of the popular Heaven600/Heaven600.com - N0. 1 gospel radio program in the country and have a chance to win a prize!

Forum: LTH Sports Forum

Bernie Mac dead at 50

glc3 — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:13:11 GMT

In some very sad news Bernie Mac died today 08/08/08 from complications related to his recent bout with pneumonia. News source CBS News Chicago. Read the entire story by clicking the link below:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Forum: Black News, Black Views

Pride and Hate in the USA

RedGirl — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:40:56 GMT

http://www.geocities.com/nativegirlinamerica/Pride_Filled_Nation.html

Forum: Let's Talk Honestly

House apologizes for slavery

glc3 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:39:16 GMT

On July 29th the U.S. House of Representaives formally apologized for slavery. You can read the actual resolution in a PDF format by clicking the link below:

http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html

Forum: Black News, Black Views

Message Board

Michelle Obama, Super Woman

Michelle Obama CNN Intrview

Did Obama pick a good VP?

Yes, it helps with the experience issue and adds so much needed help in foreign affairs.No, Biden is part of the old way politics are done in Washington DC.I'm not toatally against the pick but I think he could have done better.It was a good safe pick.

Just joined

Biracial kids, cuter but badder?

Should Kwame Kilpatrick step down?

Yes.No.If he won't he should be forced out.He should be allowed to hold office until actually found guilty of something.

5 Newark boys missing for 30 years

Section 8 Tenants and Increased Crime

Jeremiah Wright not writing book

Section 8 moves poor to suburbs

BACK TO SCHOOL!

FOOTBALL PRACTICE v. DEPRESSION

Bernie Mac dead at 50

Pride and Hate in the USA

House apologizes for slavery

Yes, it helps with the experience issue and adds so much needed help in foreign affairs.
No, Biden is part of the old way politics are done in Washington DC.
I'm not toatally against the pick but I think he could have done better.
It was a good safe pick.

Yes.
No.
If he won't he should be forced out.
He should be allowed to hold office until actually found guilty of something.