Leadership is Missing in America

The last time I wrote a controversial piece was the jury deliberations in The State of Florida vs. Zimmerman case. Pundits lost the message as they set out to start another narrative about gun ownership. The media loves to have two sides to any controversy. It creates drama and tension for their ratings, but it's still not a solution to a problem.


I think people speaking out about Kaepernick's right to protest isn't a solution either. All you manage to pull off is discover how many supporters each side has in their court. Kaepernick is an ignorant young man. He protested on the only stage he has and it just happens to be a large stage with a captive audience. It was a controversial thing to do and this fact is diluting his message. Those types of protests are ineffective. How does this help the communities that are deteriorating?


These communities are in need of strong leaders to serve as role models. Leaders don't burn down buildings, loot businesses, and disrespect the American flag.  Leaders evolve and rise to the top, but nobody is taking the lead inside these communities. Athletes with large stages protest but never step foot in the communities that are in trouble. And the leaders in the NFL community? From nowhere are they heard. Sad, isn't it? Let's put this in perspective here:

In 2012, the NFL fined the San Diego Chargers $20,000 because they failed to surrender towels on time when directed to do so by an NFL official.

 In 2014, the Cleveland Browns general manager used an electronic device many times. The NFL suspended him for the first four games of the 2015 season. The team incurred a $250,000 fine.

If these athletes are so passionate about making a difference, they should get involved. If black lives matter, go to the office of the Mayor and demand more. Go to the local leaders in the legislature and protest. Campaign to throw out ineffective leaders. The lazy way out is to sit out the national anthem while collecting millions from your fans and sponsors. This is why I'm boycotting the NFL. Maybe when the network ratings drop, the sponsors will wake up.


There is a bigger issue here than black lives or blue lives. It's about leadership and the lack of it in places where it's needed the most. When are the leaders going to step up and do something about it? There are generous black celebrities who use their wealth and power to help out black causes. Yet, the communities that need the most are those where it seems the only folks who visit are the cops.

These young athletes could use a reminder from Dr. King.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.   

    --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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HASHTAG boycott NFL - Fail

I understand that many are upset with the protests occurring during the national anthem at NFL games. Athletes refusing to stand for the anthem chaps my ass as well. I won't mention names because I think these guys already get plenty of the attention they crave. I'm writing this post, not to lambaste the players for protesting by sitting during the anthem, but to say, "Really, America?"

Here's the point. Hash tags are great and social media is a valuable tool to make your point. But, hash tags and trending on Twitter do not make #BoycottNFL speak louder than the acts of the protesters. If you're still attending games and tuning in, then you only have yourselves to blame.

These players have the freedom to protest how they wish, but they can still be swayed by the consequences of their actions. Capitalism is what gives these players their stage. This is how Capitalism works.  When you buy something like a game ticket, it's called demand. When they get paid millions to play, it's called supply. Stop using Twitter as if it were some magical device that will end offensive behavior by trending a message. Instead, stop buying tickets and tuning into these games. People think that the more outrage they show on social media the more impact it will have. Maybe it will get the word out, maybe it won't. What percentage of those outraged will actually boycott the NFL? I hope 100%! Who's with me? There's still college ball. :)

Yes, I know there are plenty of players who show respect and they shouldn't be punished for the few who decide to basically put their finger to the society who feeds them, all too well. In my day, if one part of your group acted up, the entire group paid for it. When one group member didn’t do their assignment, everyone in the group got a poor grade. When enough of that shit happens, trust me, those few acting up will assimilate as the team sees fit. Until you decide to stop feeding the problem, the problem will remain.  These NFL teams aren't going to get the bad apples in line as long as they are getting fed by the same hand (sports fans). See what I mean? 

Put your money somewhere else for the time being and watch these teams kick some petulant children in the ass. Until then, these things will spiral out of control. These athletes will continue to bring in multi millions from sponsors, because society can’t get enough of these wonderful athletes and celebrity douche bags.

Thanks for tuning in, but I'm tuning out (of the NFL). See you next time!

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Hurricane Hermine Aftermath

There are five things I'd like to share in the aftermath of Hurricane Hermine, because these days off from work bored me to tears and now I have the writing bug again. Here's to another Labor Day weekend disaster!


1. Hurricane Damage

I'm sure everyone in the Blogosphere has heard about Hurricane Hermine. It made landfall southeast of Tallahassee last Thursday and reached wind gusts of up to 64 mph in my neighborhood. Here are some photos to show the extent of the damage.

This is the main road heading to my subdivision

Power lines down!! Lost power in 80% of Tallahassee

Buck Lake Road

My back yard, not too bad.

Think I might need a new canopy...

This tree was uprooted. Had to secure it.

2. Jeep Shopping

A couple days after the hurricane, I visited a used car lot to look at a 2006 Jeep Wrangler (black). It wouldn't start without a battery jump, and touch-up paint dotted every 6 inches of the body. Sure, the vehicle was 10 years old. But, if you have that many spots to "touch up", put the damned Jeep in a body shop and get a real paint job.

"I'm thinking I'll paint it pink and get a zombie decal on the side."

"I won't ride in it if you do that." Charles shut that down quicker than Elly May Clampett could hog-tie a wild boar!

Okay, fine. I'll get a Barbie decal instead.

3. The Doggie Door Incident

The two bigger dogs figured out how to use the doggie door. But, my 4-pound Yorkie (Biscuit) didn't want to bump her delicate nose against the plastic flap to let herself in. Then one day, she managed to climb her way inside when we weren't looking. She did this several times, but only when nobody was around to witness it. I finally captured the mystery on video this weekend.

4. Candy Crush and Lasagna

During the power outage in Tallahassee, I was in Thomasville, GA playing Candy Crush while my boyfriend worked all day. It is the quickest way to get my OCD fix. Only it wasn't a fix because I quit the game early. I got frustrated. I couldn't beat level 158, so I reverted back to level 112. I couldn't manage to beat that level either. So, I made a lasagna. I recommend the Barilla Oven Ready brand, because you don't have to boil the noodles. Go figure...


Got bored with Snapchat

With the lasagna done, there wasn't a whole lot left to do. I spent most of Saturday at my boyfriend's house. This is me when I get bored. Snapchat is the most entertaining app when you have nothing else to do.

That's all I have to share for now. What was your Labor Day weekend like? Share in the comments!




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