"NO MORE MONKEYS JUMPING IN THE BED!!!" 

Cleveland, Ohio has been home to uncountable social injustices that have violated the public at large for generations.... Turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the little things that snowballed into Jimmy Dimora's, Frank Russo's and a list of folks who transformed the character, integrity, and respect of our town into a cesspool of corruption has demoralized too many citizens along the way.

Politics are a dirty business of negotiations, pawns, and yes, behind the scenes transactions that make or break communities. Our city is a prime example of allocations being steered out of communities, of failed projects with federal funding, and an amazing not for profit network that continues to prosper under the premise of doing something positive for the people; better yet, for the "victims" of years of deprivation.

In this thing we call life, someone at the church told me that I had the power within to choose between good and evil... Sometimes taking the road less traveled in a community submersed in "connections" that are not always transparent creates merky waters. So, we survive amidst the muddy waters constantly seeking some fresh spring waters that are clear and healthy.

I do believe that there are a combination of polluted victims who have been born to criminal minded parents who raised them out of the box of normalcy. (But what exactly is "normal" anyway?) I have watched certain parents train their children to be thieves, to be prostitutes, and to be liars. They never "own it" but they are experts at "blaming the rest of the world" for their choices. Yet, do those criminal minded parents initiate these actions due to need, desire, greed, or survival? I cannot answer that myself. Yet, my observations have sadly found that it occurs in all types of families from all financial means and more.

As adults, we meet people in our world and we have choices to associate ourselves with others at all levels and think about how that will affect other's perception of us. I am glad that the priests don't berate, belittle, and break the spirits of the questionable souls on our planet. I just wish that some of these high and mighty "regular people" who keep trying to play "GOD" and lay judgement would begin to appreciate the goodness of folks from different backgrounds in our community.

Ultimately, we all become victims at some time in our lives to something or another. How we react to it is up to us as individuals. Some of us have money to react with legal ease, some have fists that fight our way through things, some of us have words to speak eloquently or classlessly to others, and some of us have nothing to fight back with at all... Yet, pooling the resources, the wisdom, and sharing the information that will help others react effectively is imperative to a sense of community. Uniting to disrupt unethical practices is imperative all the same.

At the end of the day, having a sense of community whereever we are in life facilitates promise, hope, and the belief that you might be able to share the resources needed to react to situations. Yet, when all those avenues are removed from your community; one at a time; over the years; you become isolated and lose that community that empowered you historically. Without that community, you fight for survival.... good, bad, and indifferent.

The challenge in life along the way is not to lose your infinite "spirit" within that says to keep on keeping on...and as momma used to say, "Keep your chin up, kiddo!" Any which way we react; we have to deal with the repercussions of our choices...and that's life.

Amazing Grace..... Our people just don't deserve to continue eating the lies, deceit, and manipulation of public servants who abuse our tax dollars and we have rights to stand up and react as we see fit...Perhaps we are not always right, but we are fighting for what is right...it's not like we are violating the public at large by caring and sharing along the way!