When was the last time you used your own mind

Its amazing how we can hear the same thing at the same time, but yet we hear or understand different things. Tonight in House District 26 of New York a Democrat beat out a Republican in a heavily favored Republican district. The question is how can this happen? In my opinion it happened because people stop listening to sound bites and began using their own mind. Should older Americans be concerned about Medicare being taken away, of course they should. Should the disabled and low-income families be concern that the only healthcare they have be taken, of course they should.

Fortunately, this isn't about party lines but about people, American people! From the famous words of The New Colossus"...give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! From a beacon that represents America, the Statue of Liberty. Have we forgotten the America we live in, have we forgotten the America that many soldiers gave their life for? When was the last time you used your mind to truly understand how decisions affect your life?

We are currently struggling with high gas prices but no one is questioning why our elected officials, primarily Republicans are subsidizing oil companies. How much sense does it make? Well here is the sense it makes to some folks...According to analysis from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the 48 senators who voted against ending oil subsidies received more than $21 million in career oil contributions, compared with $5.4 million in contributions for the 52 senators who supported the subsidy-ending bill. So what does that say about using your own mind?

Presidential Inauguration 2009

I Was There! is what is inscribed on the button but it can only tell part of the story. The story that I am referring to is the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20th 2009. The story is the history that was made with the swearing-in of the 44th President of the United States, Barack H. Obama, the first black man elected to the free world.

As I sit and reflect on the events of the Inauguration I must admit that I'm left speechless, I can't even begin to describe the experience, the atmosphere, the whole nine yards. What I hope to do is just give you an inkling into one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed in my life.

First the experience in itself, was daunting because like many folks traveling to Washington, D.C. I didn't even know where I would stay or how I would manage to get around a town I didn't even remotely know. My dear cousin Risha (nickname) made her place available for me to stay so that eased some of the worry. However, she went one step further in purchasing Metro day passes so we wouldn't have to wait in line the day of the festivities. Might I add this was the first time Risha and I met, and to think that our grandmothers are(were) sisters. But nevertheless we hit it off great and off we went.

Now I knew there would be lots of folks but I had no idea that it would be close to 2 million folks and counting. I don't think most of the elected officials thought this as well. I guess it goes to show that the time for change didn't only happen on election day, but in celebration of our first black president. So many people didn't think they would ever get to see this in their lifetime so they wanted to ensure they would be in the atmosphere. You know there is a common term we use in the black community known as "CPT" (color people time). All I can say is that at 4am in the morning there was so many people waiting in line to get into their specific areas that CPT was not an option. Not only did folks show up, they were on their best behavior. In Washington, D.C. there was not one issue of violence or crime reported on that day. I applaud my fellow inaugurators and might I add that I was very proud to be an American.

Lest, I keep you too long, this was truly a day to remember, it was a reported 12 degrees outside and folks came wrapped up to endure the event. I had the opportunity to meet folks from Florida, California, Ohio, Texas, Arizona and Iowa, and it was just amazing. There were chants of "we have overcome" to the famous O-ba-ma. There were tears, hugs, and great jubilation! Most of all there was a certain amount of pride in knowing that America came and America saw that a new day was upon us! I may never attend another presidential inauguration again, and that would be fine, because on January 20th, 2009 I was there!