I want to warn all of you that this post is going to be real controversial. Some of you are going to find it offensive and some of you might agree with what I have to say… All I ask is that the comments about this post be presented in an educated manor. I will give the same respect to you if I post on your wall. Journal Entry 10/11/2011 As I watch the news I become frightened at what I see. I find myself wondering if free thought has gone through the window in Mississippi. I have no doubt that the prop. 28. Legislation will pass and all abortions be made illegal. In the Roe V. Wade trial it was found that women could legally have an abortion. Mississippi saying that it is going to shut down all clinics is unprecedented. I do not agree with abortions but one must realize that God has nothing to do with the law. In a letter that Benjamin Franklin wrote to a friend, he stated that religion had nothing to do with politics. The law is absent of race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation. People like to twist the law to make it fit their own means. I hope someone takes Mississippi to the Supreme Court. In Pike County people have started to say the Lord’s Prayer at ballgames when the Supreme Court decided that religion should be left off of school grounds. If I were a Jew and my child were made to pray at a ballgame I would be furious. Now let’s turn the tables shall we. Let’s say that Christianity was in the minority of all religions and a child was made to say a Jewish prayer. Would you not as a parent be offended that your child was made to say a Jewish prayer? In schools people who are homosexual have had a hell of a time in Mississippi schools. When I become a social worker I am going to report every instance of school bullying that comes across my desk and prosecute them to the extent that the law will allow. What happened to free thought? People want educated people to come to Mississippi to make it a better place but how is a person of educated through supposed to feel when people are still using the term “homo” “rag head” “sand nigger” and the list goes on. God forbid you were a…. should I dare say it…., Atheist!!!! At this point I can hear the huddled mass cringing as they read this post. At the Monkey Scopes trial the Supreme Court rules that evaluation could be taught in classes. The story about Eve’s rib is scientifically impossible. That is not saying that God did not create women but in that part of the Bible it was a symbolic jester of defining man and women. In closing I have to wonder what my “great state” is going to do next. Mississippi wines and complains because it does not have enough artists or scientist. There is a news flash for you guys; most of your scientists are either Atheists or Muslim. Most of your artists do not follow traditional Christianity and have sought to find their own form of religion to better expand their view on life. Until Mississippi can allow for free thought and let the intellectual community thrive and stop giving into closed minded people and oppression then Mississippi has nowhere to go. I have said my peace and have a nice day. Tyler

No Hate

People often wonder how I could be so open to many people and many different cultures, it is due to the simple fact that one must see the big picture before one can really measure how much of an impact we make in this life. Many people, who know me, know that I have a “No Hate” policy. When I say “no hate policy” I simply mean that no derogatory terminology should be directed to a single group. As far as Facebook is concerned I think that a person should be able to get on their own PERSONAL Facebook without having to defend their self every time they turn around. This weekend I was subject to messages that were of an anti Muslim subject matter. Those letters have been sent to Facebook staff. Anyone that has been on the receiving end of hate knows where I am coming from. I have been called everything from “nigger lover” to “terrorist” and a lot of other words. I am sorry that me having an open mind offends people. I will stand up against those people who are of a closed mind and speak my peace. I welcome a debate but PLEASE make it an educated one. Don’t just say “all Muslims are terrorists”. At USM I was spit in the face because I stood up for what I believed in and the ACLU and other organizations backed me up. What do you say to that gay person who was beat and dragged at the end of a truck in Texas? What do you say to that soldier who fights for the US that he is going to have to hide his family because the very country he has fought for is turning against him? You should see the faces when I mention the fact that our own Government has committed genocide as far as Native Americans are concerned. This Nation was founded on the Freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. As I stated earlier all I ask is that you come at me with an educated statement. I promise complex sentences are not hard to make. I was asked if racism in the south still existed and I said yes and no. It is not as bad as it used to be but racism still exists in some places. It is time for some people to wake up and realize the world is bigger than they are. I have a friend who is an atheist and we argue all the time but I accept him for who he is because he comes at me with educated material. To those people who hate “rag heads” or “niggers” I really pray for you. I pray that one day that you will find peace and realize that we are all one people with different beliefs. I wish all of you the best and I have listed the site for the ACLU if anyone needs it! Have a Nice Day

For many, the ten year anniversary of 9/11 will be an emotionally charged time. People lost friends and loved ones on September 11, 2001, and those who didn’t know people who did. President George W. Bush had a great opportunity, as did the American people, to use the events of 9/11 to unite us and work together to make the world a better, safer place for all people. Instead, Bush and his White House team used the 9/11 attacks to make money, create disunity among the people, break international law, attack our fundamental freedoms and increase their political power. Here are some of the ways in which 9/11 was misused by those in power and the people in general and how the events of 9/11 are being exploited to this day. 1. We have used the attacks to censor dissenting voices. The terrorist attacks pushed us to censor our media. War friendly voices at the New York Times helped sell the Iraq war for the administration. Meanwhile, the millions of people who protested Bush’s saber rattling were not heard from. Massive anti-war protests got far less media coverage than today’s much smaller Tea Party rallies. 2. The attacks were an excuse to create an unprecedented surveillance regime. The United States government has a history of spying on the American people under the guise of security and during a time of perceived national threat. The events of 9/11 are no exception. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, better known by its acronym, the USA PATRIOT Act, was signed by President Bush on October 26, 2001, barely a month after the 9/11 attacks. This law allows the government to act unconstitutionally in the name of freedom. Constitutional Amendments can be circumvented through the Patriot Act. The protection against unlawful searches and seizures (Amendment IV) is violated by Title III in the PATRIOT Act. The right to a speedy trial (Amendment VI) is circumvented by the Act’s provision for indefinite detentions if a person is deemed a “national security threat.” In fact, all provisions of Amendment VI can be deemed null and void for security purposes according to the PATRIOT Act. Furthermore, the law also eliminates the need for the signing of warrants by judges and almost entirely eliminates the judiciary from decisions in criminal cases regarding terrorism. 3. The Bush Doctrine of preemptive war and unilateralism was justified due to the 9/11 attacks. For all of the noise made over Obama’s actions in Libya, no President has gotten a formal Congressional authorization for war since WWII. But President Bush took his war power one step further, introducing the nation to the concept of “preemptive war.” He decided it was okay to attack sovereign nations because of the perceived threat they posed, specifically, the possibility that Iraq might have WMDs, and amazingly, that was enough for most members in Congress. Although many people no longer supports the wars, the wars continue, albeit with some signs of a draw down in the near future. 4. Our post 9/11 national security regimen has legitimized torture. Because we were (and are) angry and wanted revenge, we said nothing when the Bush Administration (along with Congress) approved the torture of terrorism suspects, a policy whose opposition seems to consist of nothing more than lip service from the Obama Administration. Sadly, the American people have also expressed support for torture, even when they learn that it does not work as a means of garnering reliable intelligence. . We used 9/11 to justify the rendition terrorist suspects. Rendition means taking a terrorist suspect from the United States, where we will be judicially banned from torturing them, to a nation such as Syria. Syria is the home of President Assad, a known war criminal. And in Syria, they have no qualms about using torture on those who may, or may not, be terrorists. 6. People used 9/11 to justify their Xenophobia and Islamophobia. Attacks on Muslims rose in the United States after 9/11, as did the hateful rhetoric. People will argue that this type of behavior is “unAmerican.” I would counter that it is very American…and European, and African, and Asian. In fact, it’s human. The more we fight the tendency to stereotype entire communities based on the actions of a handful of people who just happen to be tied culturally to Islamic terrorists, the better. 7. The terrorist attacks were used to increase military budgets and expand our mercenary army. We have spent $208 billion on private contractors for the war effort. Reports estimate that at least $30 billion of that amount consisted of pure waste. People say we can’t afford food stamps, but they look away when it comes to war spending. The misuse of our capital due to the 9/11 attacks is staggering. This spending not only led to larger deficits but was also one of the major causes of our economic collapse. 8. We used these attacks and the wars to reelect of George W Bush. George W. Bush was both reviled, and reelected, because of his wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ironically, the same President who failed to heed national security warnings prior to 9/11 was praised for “protecting us” since 9/11. Not only did this “protection” lead to further war spending and huge tax cuts to the top 1%, but also to further deregulation of the banking industry which, in turn, had an enormous impact on the recent recession. The 9/11 attacks have been used to justify the heinous behavior by a handful of our troops overseas and continuous attacks on civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The 9/11 attacks have brought out our racism and xenophobia and shown our worst character. Instead of a nationalistic ceremony of puffery followed by hatred and fear, my hope is that the anniversary of 9/11 can be, for some, a somber occasion to remember those lost. It can also be a time to rebuff those who have taken advantage of the attacks for personal gain. Peace, Tex Shelters Photo credit: http://www.aclu.org/photo Edited By: Sherri Yarbrough Copied from:

Still I rise

Still I rise By Maya Angelou

 You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. Maya Angelou

Update

I hope this message finds everyone in good spirits. Some people have inquired as to how I am doing these days and I wanted to include everyone in one letter. As I was drinking out of my Harry Potter mug that my sister bought me I looked upon how far I have gotten. First off I have waited and will apply for a degree in clinical social work. As most of you know I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and hit rock bottom. I entered into a treatment program and I decided that I wanted to enter clinical social work because I could interact with clients better if they know I suffer from the same condition as they do. My case manager suffers from bipolar disorder and it has helped me to know that he is going through the same things I feel.
This time last year I was a wreck and generally had lost my faith in God. Not many people know that but now it is in the open. I started praying every time I was feeling down, every time I cried, every time I saw someone in need, and in doing so I have come to know God! I realized that one must work to know God. With my history background I have been researching the nature of the term “God”. It is a natural human emotion to seek the “divine”. In finding God I have opened up to my therapist and I can feel God working with me now to heal. I want everyone to know that one is not “cured” of a psychological disorder or an addiction; one MUST be in “control”. Everyone has their own cross to carry and I have found that it is up to each individual rather you are Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, or whatever religion you choose, that you must work to accomplish a connection with the divine.
I did not get to this road alone. Sadly a lot of my friends have left and I do not blame them for some of the things I put them through. However there were some friends who stayed and help me through this process. I want to thank my parents for all that they have done for me. I want to thank my sister no matter what I know you love me and I know that you will always speak the truth. There are other friends out there (you know who you are) who have helped me. Now that I have started what some might call the “blossoming” process I must get a plan in order. Short term goal is to stay in control of my condition. My second goal is to get a degree in clinical social work and work in drug court. I will subject myself to random drug test and continue seeking psychological help just so that my clients see that I am going through the same thing. The third is acquiring a membership with the American Psychological Association and advocate for the need of knowledge of psychological disorders in religion. The Buddhist already has that up and going, it’s called Buddhist Psychology. I am not going to hide my problem I am going to advocate because there are people that need help and I can only pray that God gives me strength to do so. With a warm heart I wish all of you well and may God bless you.
Ps. I want to say a special thanks to my Muslim friends in the UK for helping me as well for the US. To you I say As-Salaam'Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatu..

Freedom at Last!

Today in Washington the monument was reviled for the late Rev Dr, and Martin Luther King . If it were not for his dedication and hard work many people of color would not have accomplished the goals they worked so hard to accomplish. Both black and white people worked together to abolish the so called “Jim Crow Law”. The “separate but equal” clause was a joke. Even though there were separate facilities, the construction was totally different. For example in the movie the help a bathroom was made for one of the maids who ran the house but it was small and only made out of four pieces of wood. People of color were scared to speak their mind and I personally applaud their efforts to obtain freedom. I think we should all take a moment of our time to talk to people from that time period. I think there is a lot we could learn. My hat goes off to you Dr. King, your legacy lives on today. I thank you for liberating the south from closed minded thought and hatred for people just because of the color of their skin.
“I have a dream that my four little children will not be judged by their color of their skin but by the content of their character”.

Making blog Agian

I have no clue as to what to say today. I know this is so EMO of me but I feel as though people do not understand me. I also feel that they do not understand my condition and sometimes that is frustrating to me. Psychology has made great stride in recent years. For those of you that do not know I have Bipolar disorder and thankfully I have it under control with the help of my therapist. I guess you could say in a way that it is a blessing to me because it has allowed me to find the existence of God. When I say God I am not just talking about Christianity, I am talking about God in the sence of all relegions. If one looks through the history of religion one will find that it is man’s nature to search for the devine. When you have something like I have you have to reach out to that higher power so that you can obtain the strength to continue. There are a lot of people who turn their nose up at people who have mental disorders and claim that their son or daughter is perfect.
I have no idea where I would be if we had not gotten control of my condition. It is hard living in the place I live because the people are so close minded. If you are not a white person who goes to church you are basically left out of the loop here and referred to as “trash”. As far as the “giving of tides” I give my tides in helping to keep the supply house stocked for the homeless people. People in church write those checks but they never want to see the people they help. I know I just made a lot of people mad with that comment but it is the truth. I find it so funny when potations all of a sudden find God when they want to win an election. God can give just as much as he can take away and that goes for any religion.
The things I want to do before I die is go to a Masque and witness their religion. The religion of Islam is a very beautiful religion. I have taught many people from overseas how to teach English and the nicest people I have ever met have been Muslims. There is a restaurant in Hattiesburg that I go to and the people are so nice there and I can read about Islam without anyone turning their nose up at me. As for the Masque they want to build in Mississippi, I say go for it. I have not heard of its compleation yet but I want to go. Regardless of what people say, we are not at war with Muslims. We are at war with extremists. Christians have killed Muslims; look at the guy in Norway who shot all those people just because they were Muslim. I think the Muslim religion will enhance my knowlage of God and I will have a better understanding of their religion.
I have a friend named Ema who lives in Saudi Arabia who has been so kind to me and has taught me so much about the Muslim religion. I can also tell you that the Muslim relgion is very accepting of those with Mental disorders. I know people who go to church who have mental disorders and people turn their nose up at them the first chance they get. One of the rules of Islam is that all creatures of God are to be treated with respect. In Mecca it is against the law of the Qur’an to kill anything within those walls. The reason some Muslims want American troops out is because of the violence.
Do not get me wrong I love my troops, they are men and women who deserve the utmost respect for doing what they do for their country but now that we have fought for them what is going to happen when we leave. According for some sources the people are not ready for the Americans to leave because they have not been properly trained but we can no longer afford a war. In closing all I ask is that you open up your mind when someone tells you that they have a disorder and be kind and respectful of other people’s religions. I dream of the day when the people of Brookhaven can interact without anyone treating them badly because they are different.