Monday, January 22, 2007

Drats, I've Caught A Cold...



High Tea Time...

Your resident procrastinator is back to add another entry to the old blog. I meant to update before now but I couldn't decide on a new blog theme. With the big to do about the new beta version of blogger, I think they forgot to add some new blogger themes. I really don't feel like building a page, but whatever. In addition to my persistent procrastination, I've been dealing with a cold that just won't stop. Believe me. I've done everything in my power to prevent catching a cold, since I seem to keep barking (coughing) for at least 2 weeks after initially getting the sniffles. I'm that kind of person who will get on your nerves with my constant handwashing and my supply of handwipes, disinfectant cleaners, etc. But how effective can this all be when the guards at my job are required to touch every employee's photo badge at the gate? That's about a few thousand, and you know someone had to have had the cooties. Whatever the case, I'll be back coughing (it sounds like a german shepherd's bark) at work tomorrow after taking off a couple of days.

Between sneezes, coughs, and other nasty cold-related stuff, I did manage to watch enough tv. And from the comforts of home over the weekend, I was able to watch a fellow blogger get married via a webcast. It was absolutely beautiful. I didn't have to buy a dress or get all dolled up. *lol* I just sat in front of my computer screen feeling happy for the bride and groom. Ain't love grand? Of course it is. Now if it can ever happen to me, that would be super duper fantabulous times ten decimal point 50.

But this is what's really on my mind. Have you ever felt like you've been called to do something? Were you ever able to determine whether the calling was self-motivated or spiritually communicated to you in such a way that only you could understand it? I haven't been able to find the answer yet. Don't you hate how vague my posts can be sometimes? What specifics? Well, I can never be too sure who is reading my blog. *shrug*

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

The Flack With Op.rah...



How Could Charity Go Wrong???...Isn't That A Good Thing???...

Happy New Year and all the jazz to everyone! I hope that the New Year is treating everyone well so far. I didn't get a chance to make out a list of resolutions. I heard and read all over the place how other people declare that they don't make resolutions, so that they won't have to break them and how silly resolutions are. Blah, blah, blah. I believe in the "to each his own " approach. Whatever works. Procrastinators like me need to clearly outline goals, milestones, and achievement dates. Otherwise nothing would get done. We've got to start somewhere, right? But oh well. I've got about 5 or 10 minutes to type this entry. So bear with me.

The Beginning of The Flap...

Okay. Now onto the flap about Op.rah's school In short, by now many of you may have heard about the multi-million dollar school Op.rah set up in South Africa to educate girls. The school opened with a lot of fanfare, media, and stars who came out to support Op.rah and her cause. Over the years, I've commented on Op.rah's actions. Frankly, I think she landed on her face with the whole "A Mi.llion Little Pieces" fiasco with James Fr.ey. And I really don't care for the fact that she sometimes goes around telling people that white women work for her with the exception of one black woman (probably not Gayle). What's the point of that? She doesn't want us working for her or what? *insert annoyed facial expression*

But in all fairness, I try to keep an open mind and "judge/comment on" (whatever you want to call it) her actions on a case by case basis. And my verdict is that I don't see anything wrong with her helping poor students in another country. Why not? The continent of Africa has been continuously raped and stolen from via slavery and colonialism. Some of the people there are struggling under some really horrible conditions. Many of the girls picked to attend Op.rah's school are orphans because their parents died of diease. They don't have the necessities. Clothes are in short supply. And many don't know where their next meal is coming from. So, if Op.rah wants to take her own money and finance a school, why are some folks here in the U.S. crying foul?

The Badmouthing Begins...

Well according to some folks like Linda Sta.si of the New Y.ork Post, Sta.si feels that Op.rah made a huge mistake in not building the school in the U.S. As Sta.si puts it, charity should start at home and not in the place of one's ancestors. *triple huh?* Then she went onto talk about how her grannies or great grannies got on a boat from Italy to come to America to make a better life. I guess somewhere down the line or in the middle of the Atlantic ocean someone forgot to give this cow a History book to let her know that most black folks' ancestors didn't have a choice in coming here. There was that thing called slavery, which later gave way jim crow laws, which begot subtle racism that still exists today in that folks like this chick still don't the understand the ramifications of it all. And nobody, do you hear me???, nobody should ever get out here trying to compare their hardships to ours in an attempt to chastise us about our choices. If Ms. Sta.si disagrees with Op.rah's decision, then Ms. Sta.si can very well raise her own money and do with it what she sees fit minus the flapjacking of her mouth. But let me just say that Ms. Sta.si possibly could have had some merit to her discussion if she didn't have such a nasty attitude.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due...

While I'm no Oprah-bot serving a high position in a Pope-rah fan club, I have to admit that her school project is an excellent one. Just think about the impact that the school is going to have on the the South African nation as a whole and the lives of the young people who hail from some really modest backgrounds. They'll be free to explore a whole new world, which may include a new love for reading and a feeling that anything is possible if they can dream it. Forgive me, but I just get all excited about education and all of the possibilities. I sincerely hope that their outcomes far exceed our expectations.

On the flip side, I have to admit that I had to frown my eyebrows a bit when O.prah told the media that she didn't build the school in the U.S., because the poor kids here aren't serious about education and that they only wanted i.pods or something to that effect. Then later, when asked the same question, she admonished herself for using such a broad brush when referring to American kids. But in hindsight, Op.rah's probably thinking that she should have just said that she wanted to build the school in South Africa and left things at that and not mentioned the U.S. I somewhat disagree with her. I believe that we all have the capacity to help the kids in Africa and in the U.S. , because I hate dichotomies. Why does everything have to be about "Eithers" and "Ors". Why not "Ands?" The kids from both countries are poor, but in different ways. The kids in South Africa may be poor financially, while the kids in the U.S. may be poor morally (by no fault of their own) because of the overall materialistic/money driven culture that we live here and that Op.rah is a part of (she is a brand name). With that said, rich kids are equally asking for the i.pods instead of uniforms and extra books. So although I'm in disagreement with O.prah to certain extent, I can't totally condemn her. The woman did step up to the plate and make a school come into fruition for some kids who need it. I just want to encourage her to not give up on the American poor kids.

Okay, I'm officially late for work. I've got to run. I'll clean up the typos later.