Blame

It is time to open our eyes; we have been in the dark too long. We have put the blame of the Deep Horizon oil disaster on BP, the company that commissioned the drilling. We blame them, and spit venomous words in the direction of the company, even to the point of boycotting them. We grow disheartened that the disaster is getting worse, wondering why nothing is being done. The fact is that BP has done more than most companies would have done, they admitted the mistake immediately and have been working to fix the disaster, when was the last time a company did that? The truth is I see the fault not solely on BP, disasters will happen; it could have easily been Exxon, Shell, or any other company and it could have happened at any time.

You see, we don’t want to turn the finger in; each of us shares the blame for this disaster. I’m betting that most of you have forgotten when US gas prices soared to $4.00 a gallon; it seems to me that everyone has forgotten. The call at the time on all political fronts was “more Drilling,” “Reduce the need for foreign oil,” and my personal favorite “Drill baby, drill.” We then went about our merry way in our cars and trucks, drinking from our plastic containers changing nothing. You see, we are a greedy people, possibly more than any other nation on Earth, we like the status quo and we fight change.

Well, now we have an unprecedented disaster on our hands and that very resource we covet is costing lives of our animals and polluting our Gulf. Like I said, we blame this on BP and their inability to fix it, well they will get it fixed and we will clean up, and then like the $4.00 a gallon gas we will forget about it… at least until it happens again.

NO! We can not allow this to happen again, we as people need to turn our fingers inward and realize that we have a hand at this very disaster. It is as much our fault as it is BP’s and we need to do something to keep it from happening again. I will tell you that Boycotting one company will not do it; there are many others in its place. We need to change our ways, we need legislation to force companies to move us to renewable resources, and reduce our need for oil completely. We need to offer tax credits to individuals and companies that utilize green resources such as solar panels and hybrid vehicles, and eventually make it law. We also need to make recycling the law, no longer an option; you see those plastic containers are a product of oil.

The answers are clear, we can not place blame on anyone until we ourselves realize that we have as much fault in this disaster as anyone else. We as a people need to change our ways, or be prepared to accept the consequences of our actions, the time is now before it is too late. Mississippi and the USA need to take a more active role in passing Green Legislation regardless of Big Oil, and we need to shut big oil down completely. We can no longer allow these companies to build wealth by destroying what we hold dear, and only when we stop the demand will the fault no longer lie on us.

NOH8

People struggle for civil rights, and have done so since the beginning of time. We all wish to be treated with the same rights as everyone else, and alas it is not always the case that freedom is bestowed upon us all. Equality is a rare flower that grows in an unreachable place, always out of reach for many… guarded by the few. Only when we are all equal in one another’s eyes, and hate is erased… will we find peace with one another. It does not matter what we look like, who we love, or what we believe, differences need to be celebrated!

I took this photo in support of the NOH8 Campaign and the lovely work they have been doing!

Clouds

Clouds have been rolling in across Mississippi, scattered showers are expected… with the sun peeking out occasionally. Life is like that in many ways, we just have to keep a look out for the sun peeking… and take the clouds as they come, after all clouds can be quite beautiful… if you really want them to be.

The Gift

I was always interested in art, as this rare surviving drawing from my childhood proves. It was done in 1998 when I was 13 years old; I had seen a documentary on Picasso and was inspired to do my own cubist interpretation. At the time it was just an experiment, crayon on paper and my imagination gone wild. I had not had any training or for that matter much of an education in the arts yet. It and one other drawing from my childhood survive through the foresight of pure luck, most things were lost in 2000 when our home was foreclosed upon and we were only able to take what we could get. The fact that it and one other survive my childhood is in it self a gift, also the name of the piece.

Mississippi

Many states and countries can tout of beauty fair,
with their large cities where people hurry past,
or snowcapped mountains rising far on high.

Most people who visit are unaware,
and many consider us last,
they can not see the greatness in front of their eyes.

From the Gulf of Mexico to the fertile delta land,
To tall homes of Natchez and the somber battlefields of Vicksburg,
the swamps and rivers sing as the hills in the north bloom.

Our people greet you with an open hand,
warm friendship under the song of the mockingbird,
sharing sweet tea near the fresh picked magnolia in our living room.

I look around under the warm sun,
At the beauty that can be found.
I know that no justice can be done,
For this sacred fertile ground.

The one named for a river wide and strong,
Mississippi where I belong.


Photo: The Mississippi State Capital, in Jackson.

1,000 Words

Part of the Wordless Wednesday!

The 'O'

America is full of many different restaurant chains, and I always had my preferences. I always loved O’Charley’s, the food is pure Americana, and the people always seem to be genuinely friendly. I always wondered why people I have known seemed to love to work for the company. It was not until February 2009 when I found employment with the restaurant that I discovered just how special my O’Charley’s is, we are a family. I always hope that others find a place that is as fun and supportive a place to work, I am lucky to have two wonderful jobs.

Update: Sadly, this location has closed. 

Come eat with us sometime!

Being Human

Sometimes we have to separate ourselves from the world around us. We need to shed all that holds us down, and step out into our own. We are not defined by the status quo; we are the rebels, the revolutionaries, the ones that make a difference. We rise above the others, and do our own thing… that is the essence of being human.