Violette L. Meier's Blog, page 4

Books that Caress the Imagination!

BLACK THEOLOGY OF THE 60s

            The 1960s were one of the greatest times of turmoil for the African-American (Black/Negro) community.  It was a time of Jim Crown Laws, segregation, and racial injustice.  It was a time of humiliation, dehumanization, and attempted elimination.  Black people were banned from certain stores, experienced verbal and physical abuse, had little legal protection, were being mauled by police dogs and knocked over with the powerful water of fire hoses.  Lynching, burnings, bombings, rapes, and murders were used to keep Blacks “in line.”  Unequal housing, employment, education, and social standing were prevalent.  And all of these horrors were perfectly legal.  The South had become so accustomed to degrading the Negro that many of them could not see the need for civil rights.  But, Blacks became tired of the mistreatment, degrading language, fearing for their men, women, and children, harassment, voting blocks, back door entrances, white and black signs, police threats, the Ku Klux Klan, and the everyday struggle of being a Negro in America.  Black people were weary of the injustice, dissatisfied with substandard living, disgusted with the system, tired of the threats, sick of the dirty looks and venomous tongues, flabbergasted by the irony of racist Christians, frustrated with the hypocrisy of America (the land of liberty and justice for all--as long as you are white).  Out of this frustration, the Civil Rights, the Black Power Movement, and Black Theology were born.            “The Civil Rights Movement was at a peak from 1955-1965. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, guaranteeing basic civil rights for all Americans, regardless of race, after nearly a decade of nonviolent protests and marches, ranging from the 1955-1956 Montgomery bus boycotts to the student-led sit-ins of the 1960s to the huge March on Washington in 1963.”The leaders continued in saying that when America will keep its promises as being force for all people and do what is right and fair.  Then the call for ‘black power’ will not be needed.  But until a time come when the black experience is just as important as the white experience, the call for ‘black power’ will resound high.“The Rev. James Cone is the founder of black liberation theology. In an interview with Terry Gross, Cone explains the movement, which has roots in 1960s civil-rights activism and draws inspiration from both the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, as ‘mainly a theology that sees God as concerned with the poor and the weak.’"



Works CitedBettenson, H., & Maunder, C. (1999). Documents of the Christian Chrurch. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bill Moyer's Journal. (2007, November 23 ). Retrieved December 10, 2010, from PBS.org: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11232007/profile.html
Black Liberation Theology, in its Founder's Words. (2008 , March 31 ). Retrieved December 10, 2010, from NPR.org: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89236116
Civil Rights Timeline. (2007). Retrieved December 10, 2010, from InfoPlease.com: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/civilrightstimeline1.html
Jones, W. R. (2007, October 8 ). Toward an Interim Assessment of Black Theology. Retrieved December 10, 2010, from ChickenBones : http://www.nathanielturner.com/assessingblacktheology.htm
The Civil Rights Movement 1955-1965: Introduction. (1998, June 22). Retrieved December 10, 2010, from http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhist...





 (The Civil Rights Movement 1955-1965: Introduction, 1998)     Bettenson, p. 375    Ibid    Bettenson, p. 375-376Bettenson, p. 376IbidIbidBettenson, p. 376 (Black Liberation Theology, in its Founder's Words, 2008 ) (Bill Moyer's Journal, 2007) Bettenson, p. 378Bettenson, p. 379

15 Ways to Spot a Woman Who Isn’t Wife Material

There are so many articles, books, and blogs advising women concerning men but there are not nearly enough pieces of literature warning men about bad bad girls.  Contrary to popular beliefs, there are many men who want to settle down, get married, have children, and live happily ever after.  All men aren’t cheaters and liars who do nothing more than pant after panties.  There are many men looking for a good woman who they can one day marry. The purpose of this blog is to help nice guys find nice girls by detailing the kind of women to stay away from.  I’m going to reveal some unsavory qualities that some women possess.  So let’s begin 15 ways to spot a woman who isn’t wife material.
1.TALKING ABOUT HER BILLS ON THE FIRST DATE When a woman sits across from you at the dinner table on your first date and starts telling you a sob story about her phone getting cut off within minutes, please be sure that her main purpose of dating you is for you to be her pay master.  She only seeks to suck you dry of cash.  There will always be rent due, a bill that needs to be paid, and an emergency fund situation. This woman doesn’t have the decency to get to know you before asking you to save her financially.
2.    SEXUALLY INSANE WAY TOO SOONIf you have only known a woman for two days and not only have you already slept with her, she has sucked your toes, tossed your salad, tied you up, spanked you, gave you a “backstage pass,” and ingested all of your bodily juices, it is safe to say that she does this often and you will be better off seeking a test for STDs than a marriage license.
3.    MATERIALISTICThere is absolutely nothing wrong with liking nice things but if a woman’s focus is mainly buying things she doesn’t need, dressing to gain other’s approval, spending rent money on shoes, trying to peak at the label on your shirt when you bend over to tie your shoes, asking what kind of car you drive instead of your name, spending $400 on a plain white T-shirt just because she heard it was made by a certain designer,  it is pretty safe to say that this woman is shallow and measures herself worth by what she can purchase at a store.  When the money is gone, she will be too.
4.    ANGRY WOMAN WITH TOO MUCH BAGGAGEUnfortunately, there are men who have done a lot of hurting things to women and these women have not learned how to forgive and forget; therefore, women have become angry, resentful, distrustful, and spiteful.  They want to punish all men for the bad men that stumped all over their heart.  This anger is very understandable but it is also unfair to punish someone for the sins of another; so, this kind of woman needs to stay alone until she can work out her feelings.  In the meantime, stay far far away from her because she will never see you for the good guy that you are until her heart allows her eyes to see clearly.
5.    BAD MOTHERThis woman is the absolute worst because she puts everything before her children.  This is the woman who introduces her children to so many different men that her children’s “uncle” list is in the high double digits.  This is the woman who looks like a million bucks but her children look like rotten tooth dirt balls.  This is the woman who will let the jail bird next door watch her kids so she can go to the club.  This is the woman who dumps her children on her parents so she can live how she pleases.  She will sell her children for crack or tell her sixteen year old daughter to get pregnant so she can get government assistance.  This woman will have her smart child put in special education so she can get a check.  This is the woman who puts men before her children.  She will take his word over theirs in a heartbeat.  This woman is not wife material or decent human material.
6.    SELFISHSelfishness is a draining disorder that wears down everyone in close proximity.  No one matters but this person.  She wants this, she needs that, but your wants and needs are always invalid.  Courting this woman is like running up a slippery slope.  You will ultimately be unhappy and you will never make her happy.
7.    BAD HYGIENEThere is nothing grosser than a woman who has bad hygiene and doesn’t keep her body clean.  Bad breath and less than fresh body odor is a turn off for any man.  No one wants to see teeth covered in grits or see used feminine hygiene products.  This will probably not get better but worse.  If a grown person hasn’t learned how to wash properly by now, it probably won’t ever happen.
8.    KEEPS A FILTHY HOUSEThere is a huge difference between being a bit messy and just plain nasty.  If a woman has trash stains her kitchen wall, roaches crawling across your face as you sleep, dishes in the sink growing fur, dirty panties on the bathroom floor, animal feces on the carpet, and a smell in her house that makes your stomach queasy, you may want to back away slowly.
9.    FOUL MOUTH WOMANCuss words are not uncommon but a woman with a vulgar mouth is just plain grimy.  It shows that she is uncouth and do not know how to express herself intelligently.  A foul mouth will cause you embarrassment at times and you will be afraid to introduce her to others because you have no idea what may come out of her mouth.
10. NO GOALSEveryone should have goals in life.  Even if the goals are small ones.  A person with no goals is a person existing to fill empty space.  They are living an unfulfilled life.  They will probably live vicariously through you and expect you to accomplish everything on your own.  Your need for partnership will be inadequate.
11. UNINTELLIGENTBeauty will get you in the door but you need something more to keep you in the house.  Who doesn't want a woman they can talk to, confide in, who can understand little jokes or pick up on subtle things without someone having to be blunt?  Common sense needs to be common in a companion.  It is not required to have a slew of degrees or know the equation to the universe but having the IQ of a rock isn’t sexy on anyone. 
12. TOO NEEDYWhen a person is too needy, they become an emotional vampire.  You are the sole provider of all their happiness.  They can’t function without you being near.  They can’t make decisions without you, think without you, laugh without you, cry without you.  This person will make you old before your time and drain the very life from your soul.
13. MANIPULATES YOU WITH SEXSex should not be used as a tool to get things.  Withholding and punishing with sex damages intimacy and will ultimately doom the relationship.  When a woman manipulates with sex, she withholds for material items, when she’s angry, when she wants you to do something, when she wants to control you.  This is a terrible practice.  It breeds resentment and takes the joy out of lovemaking.  It also fosters the false belief that sex is just for men and women don’t really enjoy it.
14. NO SELF ESTEEMWhen a woman doesn’t love herself, it is impossible for her to love you.  She will be in a perpetual web of disfuction that is self sabotaging and will always force you to try to save her.  This woman hates herself.  You can see it in the way she talks, dresses, and acts.  She is always trying to find a way to be everything she isn’t naturally.  She is lost and will allow herself to be used and abused often.  A matter of fact, she is attracted to the abuse.  Run!
15. NO MORALSLast but not least, when a woman does not have morals, she will do anything.  Her moral compass is smashed to bits and everything is game.  She will cheat with your friends.  She dates married men.  She’ll invite anyone into her bed who wants to come and she isn’t opposed to group action.  She will do anything for money.  She’s a true hustler.  She feels that it is a dog eat dog world and she is vicious because she refuses to be eaten.  Little does she know she is a combination of all fourteen qualities afore mentioned.  This woman is burned and angry.  She wants to behave like she thinks men behave.  She desires to be hard and merciless.  Usually she is always unhappy and will end up alone because you can’t deal with her on any level.

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The Children

           Children.  When we think of children, we think of adorable faces and mischievous grins.  We think of pure happiness and innocence.  Children melt our hearts with their toothless smiles. Children are the best parts of us and they hold within them unlimited potential.  Even when they are not on their best behavior, we see the hope of the world in children.
            According to Childhelp.org, more than five children die each day due to child abuse and 80% of these children are under the age of four.[1]  The site states that, “Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.”  It is obvious that many do not see children as our sole hope for the future.  It is also obvious that the sickness of pedophiles, physical and verbal abusers, and parents who simply neglect these little ones have no fear of mortal or moral danger.
            My favorite philosopher, theologian, teacher, mentor (Jesus the Christ) said, “It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble” (Luke 17:2).  In modern words, Jesus is saying that you would be better off drowning yourself in the ocean than causing harm to a child.            Those who harm children are the worst among humanity.   They possess a twisted debased nature.  These culprits are more detestable than serial killers.  They are murderers of souls.  They kill the innocent internally and force them to grow up filled with dark and painful thoughts that cause them a lifetime of turmoil and trepidation.  Abusers overpower the powerless and defile the pure.  Yet our laws let these monsters who: rape children, murder babies, curse infants, starve toddlers, pimp pre-teens, and watch and do nothing off easy. Laws do not enforce long jail sentences or implement the death penalty (this is the most fitting punishment in my opinion).  Social services seem to take away the wrong children and ignore the ones who really need help.  It is time to take the law into our own hands and fight for our children.  It is our duty to protect the little ones and to prevent them from stumbling.  It is our duty to make sure that every child is fed, treated well, educated, and protected from hurt, harm and danger.  We can do this by monitoring who are around our children; teaching our children the difference between proper and improper body contact; teaching our children to tell if ANYONE is hurting them in ANY WAY.  Silence is deadly.We have to be real parents, real neighbors, real family, real guardians, real friends, and real members of the community. We have to be the advocates and activists for our children.             According to Dream Catchers for Abused Children:Abuse and Neglect of American Children Has Increased 134% Since 1980
Physical Abuse Has Increased 84% Since 1980
Sexual Abuse Has Increased 350% Since 1980
Emotional Abuse Has Increased 333% Since 1980
Child Neglect Abuse Has Increased 320% Since 1980[2]These numbers are staggering.  We have to do something to stop these crimes from continuing.  We have to hold ourselves responsible, our neighbors responsible, our legislators responsible for the irreversible damage being done to our children.  We all have the power to report abuse when we see it. We have the power to walk away before we hit too hard or say something damaging. We also have the power to give up children for adoption if we are not mentally fit to care for them. Abusers also have the power to turn themselves in and separate themselves from their victims.  Let us work together to stop child abuse in all its forms.  Our girls and boys deserve to have a happy childhood.  Change starts with us and we have the power to initiate change NOW!


[1] = United States Government Accountability Office, 2011. Child maltreatment: strengthening national data on child fatalities could aid in prevention (GAO-11-599). Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11599.p... http://dreamcatchersforabusedchildren...