Saggin’ Summit Saturday at Dallas City Hall
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Society & Culture
I wrote a little post a while back called Sagging Pants: Fashion or Disrespectful and for some reason it received a lot of attention. Now I feel I’ve written some better posts than that and those haven’t received any comments. So I’m left to think this is a very important topic to people.
I heard about it on the radio this morning and knew I had to blog about it. Saggers, this is your chance to be heard. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway is spearheading this event and he is calling on all who disagree with him to debate the issue. Now that we have a black president, he feels we as black men need to step up our game and attire is a good place to start.
I won’t be able to attend, but if you or someone you know goes, please send them here. I want to know what happens because this is going to be good (if anyone shows). I still feel as I did before. While sagging isn’t my thing, your attire is your personal preference and no government should be able to regulate that. But don’t complain when people form negative opinions about you.
From what I’ve heard, the summit is Saturday, November 8th at Dallas City Hall in the Council Chambers. They’re supposed to start at 9am.
Photo Phinish: Future Presidents
The reason I chose this photo is because this is the future of America. While there are still many things we need to work on as a nation, there’s no other place like it on earth. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to see an African-American become President of the United States. I figured my sons would get to see it, but not me (and I tend to be an optimist about things). Last night changed my perspective on a lot of things.
As kids, I think we unknowingly take on some of what our parents and grandparents experienced during the civil rights era. While I may not have lived through it myself, there was always that feeling deep in the back of my mind that the playing field wasn’t always as level as everyone thought. While I tried not to let it get to me, there were times when it did. And it became even more evident when I attended college. You can teach the value of hard work all you want, but frustration can easily set in when ideals of equality is overshadowed by reality.
While Obama’s win may have broken the glass ceiling to the Presidency, there’s still work to be done. My boys get the opportunity to grow up under the leadership of a black president. Perceptions of the black family will be changed over the next four years. People are emotional and filled with hope because this is a big step for America as a country. Slavery may have been abolished under Lincoln, but the mindset of those freed slaves was still in bondage. There are a lot of things we need to work out amongst ourselves and Obama’s win is the first step in showing others (and us) that America’s past is just that.
The real work starts now with a renewing of our minds. The impossible is now possible and let us not forget that Obama’s win only happened because everyone worked together to get it done. If we begin teaching this to our youth, who knows what they’ll be able to accomplish. That’s what I want to pass on to my boys. As their father, it’s my job to equip them as best I can with the tools they need to achieve their dreams. The only limitations are those we dream up and those we allow others to place in our way. I want them to believe that anything is possible and no goal is beyond their reach. Not even the presidency.
What is Photo Phinish?
Colin Powell Speaks About Obama’s Victory
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Politics, Society & Culture
I don’t know of anyone else who could have stated President Obama’s win as eloquently as Colin Powell. I think once everyone gets past all of the things that were said and done during this election, we can start moving America down the road to recovery. I think Obama is smart enough to place people around him who will give good advice. He’ll also be one to listen to both sides and compromise where needed. Powell was emotional because he understands like all African-Americans what it means to us as a people.
We did it.
What Have You Learned From the Election?
Now that history has been made, what have you learned from this election?
What do think needs to happen in this country to heal some of the wounds that were created?
What steps can we start taking in our communities to make the change Obama spoke of a reality?
President Barack Obama
Filed under: Blog Entries, My Thoughts, Politics, Society & Culture
It’s done. Barack Obama is now the President of the United States of America. I never in my lifetime thought this would happen. This nation has gone through a lot. It’s time to rally behind the President and begin the healing process. This is America and Americans are used to surviving through tough times. Whether you supported President Obama or not, he needs your support.
I have so much more to say, but I’m truly at a loss for words. I’m still in shock and it’ll take a couple of days for it to sink in. Thanks to all who’ve supported the blog. It’s been fun. Now I need to find something to blog about.
Goodnight all.
Voting Watch Party at Friendship West Tonight
Filed under: Blog Entries, Community, Politics, Society & Culture, Technology
Tonight from 7pm-1am CST I’ll be in the bloggers room for the Friendship-West Baptist Church All The Way Live Election Watch Party. There will be a lot going on and I’ll try to bring as much of the action to you as possible.
At 9pm Central, Dallas South will host a Live Blog discussing all the returns in the Presidential Race as well as Senate races, House races, and local elections.
Then at 10pm Central I’ll have a 30 minute Blog Talk Radio Show. Tune in to the show by clicking here.
Here are some of the ways you can watch what’s going on online:
- http://www.theotalks.net
- http://www.twitter.com/tjohnson3
- http://www.ustream.tv/channel/theo-live
- http://www.utterli.com/tjohnson3/profile
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/theojohnson/tags/obama08
- E-Mail: podcast @ theotalks.net
- Voicemail: 972.535.THEO (8436)
- Skype ID: theo.johnson
Tomorrow Is Election Day
Filed under: Blog Entries, Laughable, Politics, Society & Culture
Tomorrow is the big day and as all the votes are coming in I’ll be at the Ultimate Election Watch Party (more info to follow later). I talked with a lot of people regarding the election this weekend. All had early voted and like me were in awe to have the opportunity to elect the first black President of the United States. Before casting my vote, I just stepped back and looked at the screen. I never thought I’d ever get the chance to do this, but this hasn’t been the first time I’ve been wrong.
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know there is more to my vote than race. Obama is not the first African-American to run for office. I thought from the beginning that he should be VP to Clinton, then make a run for President. I honestly didn’t think he could take the Clinton Machine down. But after his announcement stating his intent to run I was down. What impressed me the most was when said in an interview, that he wasn’t running the race to be a Vice President. He knew from the very beginning what he wanted to do and I could respect that.
In talking to some of my friends I found they had a similar reaction to the one I had in the voting booth. They said they reviewed and re-reviewed the screen before submitting their vote. No one wanted to mess this one up. A lot of people also admitted that they were still nervous despite what the polls were saying. I think the last election made us paranoid because I have to admit I had the same feeling also. Something has to come up at the last minute to cause some sort of controversy. Even the writers of the Simpsons have something to say about it. I guess we’ll see tomorrow.
If you haven’t gone already, good luck at the polls.
Before voting you must:
- Have a Voter’s Registration Card or ID
- Vote at the correct precinct (found on card)
- Have no party paraphernalia
- Expect long lines
Wassup 2008
Filed under: Blog Entries, Laughable, Politics, Society & Culture
Cool video. Glad to see them back. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. Talk about making a statement. The next president has a lot of work ahead of him.
GOBAMA!
What the President Has Signed Into Law – Sept and Oct 2008
I know! I’ve haven’t been good at posting this every month, but I have a good reason. The purpose for this post is to inform you of the new laws and acts enacted by President Bush. It’s good to know what’s going on because some of them may benefit us as a people. It’s important for us to watch every step our government takes. We elect them, so we need to make sure they are doing their job. The laws I list are posted at whitehouse.gov. For a more unbiased version, I’d recommend doing additional research at govtrack.us. As always feel free to leave any additional comments.
I fell off from doing this the past couple of months, so I grouped September and October together.
On Thursday, September 18, 2008, the President signed into law:
S. 2403, which designates the new Federal Courthouse, located in Richmond, Virginia, as the Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr., United States Courthouse.
On Friday, September 19, 2008, the President signed into law:
H.R. 6456, which extends and modifies certain authorities of the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors; and
S. 2450, which limits the circumstances under which inadvertent disclosure of information results in waiver of the attorney-client privilege or work product protection.
On Monday, September 22, 2008, the President signed into law:
H.R. 5683, the “Government Accountability Office Act of 2008,” which adjusts pay, retirement benefits, and financial disclosure requirements for employees of the Government Accountability Office.
On Wednesday, September 24, 2008, the President signed into law:
S. 2617, the “Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act on 2008,” which provides a cost of living increase for the beneficiaries of veterans’ disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation.
On Thursday, September 25, 2008, the President signed into law:
S. 3406, the “ADA Amendments Act of 2008,” which clarifies and broadens the definition of disability and expands the population eligible for protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
On Friday, September 26, 2008, the President signed into law:
H.R. 5938, which authorizes the U.S. Secret Service to provide protection to former Vice Presidents, their spouses, and their children under 16 years of age for up to six months after the date the former Vice President leaves office; and makes several changes to Federal criminal law related to computer fraud and identity theft, including authorizing restitution to victims of identity theft for the value of the time reasonably spent attempting to remediate the harm incurred as result of the offense.
On Tuesday, September 30, 2008, the President signed into law:
H.R. 1777, the “Need-Based Educational Aid Act of 2008,” which extends until September 30, 2015, the current exemption to antitrust law that permits two or more colleges or universities that admit all students on a need-blind basis to use common principles of analysis for determining the students’ need for financial aid; and
H.R. 6984, the “Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2008,” which extends through March 31, 2009, authorities to: collect taxes that fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund; make expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund; and make grants to airports under the Airport Improvement Program.
H.R. 2608, the “SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act,” which extends, for two years, the eligibility of certain qualified aliens, including refugees, asylees, and certain humanitarian immigrants, for Supplemental Security Income benefits; and authorizes the Department of the Treasury to withhold portions of a taxpayer’s refund to collect certain unemployment compensation debt owed to States;
S. 171, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located in Commerce, Oklahoma, as the Mickey Mantle Post Office Building;
S. 2339, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Alpena, Michigan, as the Lieutenant Colonel Clement C. Van Wagoner Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic; and
S. 3241, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the CeeCee Ross Lyles Post Office Building.
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