How AM~Erica Views FLOTUS

So anyway...

I'm gonna make it clear that I don't care what you think politically! It does NOT apply here!!

OK, now that I have that out of the way, and if we are all good in this understanding...I'm going to talk some FLOTUS.

Do you know what "FLOTUS" is? Many might...but I'm sure there's those of you scratching your heads, so let me explain...

About 3 years ago, the Simpsons had an episode where Lisa had started a blog for organic gardening. She did not have a lot of hits on her posts, but she always got a comment on her posts that were very sweet & encouraging by someone with the username "flotus1".

During the episode, Lisa starts getting kind of bullied for being an overachiever...so Lisa took to her itty-bitty blog about it...and that's when action was taken...

Eventually, Air Force 1 shows up to Springfield Elementary, and Michelle Obama stepped out, called out Lisa, spoke to the students about the good that can come out of overachievers, and to leave Lisa & those like her alone.

In Lisa's shock, she wanted to know how in the world Michelle Obama would know about her situation. That's when it comes out that it's Michelle Obama who had the username "flotus1". It stands for: First Lady Of The United States One (1). She then went on to say that "flotus" was already taken...and it's because little Ralph has it because he swims with his "flotuses on".

In real life, the First Lady of the US got onto Twitter for her birthday. I am so entertained by the fact that her Twitter handle is @FLOTUS. I thought it was brilliant!!

I got thinking about Mrs. Obama due to the media making a big deal about her mid-life crisis. As I said, she just had a birthday last month, and she turned 49. (I don't care who you are, she looks GOOD, right there...) It came out that she made a video screen appearance on Rachael Ray talking about what she chose to do. Apparently she didn't buy a fancy car, and she's not allowed to go bungee jumping...so she got bangs.

That's right people...the bangs that the fashion world blew up about, both positively & negatively, was her midlife crisis moment.

In the same interview, it's said that she talks about the one thing that is missed the most since going to the White House: just being able to live a normal life. She was "caught" shopping a Target a couple of years ago...because it was something someone would & should be able to be regular about. And the media went crazy over it!

It's not just Michelle, either...

Any woman who has been in that position would know what that was like. Taking in scrutiny for anything they did, wore, stood for, looked...how tiring!! Her hubs is the one elected, but the entire family all of a sudden must take on this role.

You don't have to agree with everything or anything the 1st Lady does, but you must look at her as trying to keep things as stable as possible within their family. But they get thrown into positions where they must take open stands on things. And they have to be advocates for different charities. My head swims thinking about what any of these women have to deal with WHILE trying to be a mother/wife!

I look at their position closely. Although it's not exactly the same, A PASTOR'S WIFE, SUCH AS MYSELF get a very different treatment.

Even in talking about it before, I still get called "First Lady". There are many other pastor's wives that get called "First Lady," too. I'm not sure how all of them feel about that tag, but I do know we want a sense of normalcy surrounding us. And I never use that "N" word of "normal" lightly.

We get scrutinized for where we sit, what service we are in, how we deal with our kids, what meetings we do or don't attend, what group or groups we do or don't associate with...
It's tiring!

As many of you know, I love playing with my own hair & fashion. Because it's fun for me. It helps me express myself! And there are many that want to show up to service or another church event to see if I'm there & what I'm wearing. It's sweet. I don't mind inspiring others to try something, but I am also not a walking landmark of sorts.

Much like our FLOTUS, Michelle Obama...her fashion choices are fantastic, but also get plastered all over the media, then praised or criticized for expressing herself. My favorite is when they give her a hard time (or any celebrity for that matter) for wearing the same outfit for a 3rd time in 8 months. Seriously?

I will make this clear for myself & for another pastor's wife/spouse (cuz there are hubbies, too) that we just want to be ourselves. We are involved in our own things & have our own talents. I try to make it very clear that I am not the former pastor spouse who was there before. I am not Edna & will not cook for the women's group...and you probably won't see me leading a class either. I will use my creativity to do drama or dance or something like that. If there's a spouse that likes to knit, let them! Just know the spouse following them probably won't knit. I don't play the organ or the piano. I don't sing in the choir. There are spouses who can & do some of that stuff...just don't expect that new spouse of the new pastor to take the other one's place.

This is important knowledge!

That's why I cringe so much at the "First Lady" title. I am one of the congregants of the church. I should not be on a pedestal. The higher the pedestal, the harder the possible fall.

Much like the FLOTUS...Michelle is not the same as Jackie O., even though the comparison has been made. She is not Laura Bush or Hillary Clinton (OH, MAN...I STOOD UP FOR HER AGAIN). Not Barbara, not Mary, not Lady Bird, not Martha...
All of these women are & have been completely different!

A collage of both presidents AND first ladies...and they are all different from one another

Yet, no matter who the FLOTUS is, she is plastered all over the media for anything she does, says, wears, looks...it's tiring!

And my little tiny corner of that thought does plague me because of what my hubby was called to do.

We all want some normalcy...and it doesn't happen. Even if I go to WalMart or Target or the mall...I get recognized & hope I don't end up saying something really stupid...cuz...IT'S BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN.

Whoever our First Lady of the US happens to be, I look up to them because their position, though much like mine, is much more intense.

I wonder if it will be treated the same when we get our 1st female president...and the media may have to deal with the First Man of the US (or something like that). Or let's pretend for a second (and so I can totally freak a ton of you out) that our next president is a gay man...who is married thru one of the states who has it legal. Either way, in those instances, there would be a man in what has been filled by a woman since the beginning of the US.

I can almost guarantee that they would be viewed quite differently...and probably not in the same way a FLOTUS would.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

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Why AM~Erica is Not Fond of Games

So anyway...

We've made it to a new year. Everyone is talking about what they are going to change (again), or try to start doing (again), and many of the same blah-blah resolutions they have made for years, and never seem to keep, but seem to keep making them goals for themselves. I hope this is the year you keep your resolutions this time, people!

 "Second verse: same as the first..."

Oh yuck. I've started this year with a cynical tone. But I've witnessed & experienced an issue that has leaked into the new year from the old from many (and it's fresher with some & ongoing with others) that is ugly. It's the ugly tone that was set thru last year that has left a taste in people's mouths that is disgusting, but we seem to keep going back to it as a whole.

When the elections kicked up, it brought out quite a sense of this ugliness that many are not willing to shake. Some already possessed this & use it to this day. Some found social media to continue their ways in this manner, or found this annoyance as a new sense of being. I see it happen with friends, family, coworkers, fellow church goers, with clients, on Facebook, on Twitter, in the media, in politics...

Any guesses as to what I might be talking about?
If you guessed "MANIPULATION," then you would be correct!
*DING-DING*

My family gets really frustrated because I'm not a fan of game night. I refuse to play any of them online, too. But I think I'm am so burnt out of daily manipulative game-play of hearts & minds...that I am sick of it. I don't play those games. And I'm even more tired of watching those who allow the games to go on & get sucked into them. Some of them...for years.

That's right! This Homey WON'T play dat!

Do you know what's even more sad? They don't want to be told they are playing these games or have been sucked into these games. Do you know what happens? I am one that gets looked down upon because I refuse to play. And since I don't play these games...anything I do or say around these situations gets tossed to the side. I've even been criticized for not being a pawn. That's not how it's worded...because these individuals don't realize they are being used as pawns, themselves. How dare me not be a chess piece in someone else's strategy to "win" at life in such manipulative ways.

Social media manipulation at its finest

And there's something worse. It's when the manipulators are being manipulated by someone else playing their own manipulative games. Or...the ones who are sucked into being pawns into more than one of these games.

I have played these games & have been played in someone else's games in the past. I don't like it one bit. Either side of it. It's awful & don't understand how people can live with themselves trying to crush people to make themselves feel better.

Sadly, it's when I stand up to these people (and I do & I will when need be) that it gets taken that I'm trying to crush them. I don't play those games. It's one thing to tell people like it is & another to crush someone on purpose. If what I say is scathing...it comes from truth. I don't just make up things to make anyone feel bad.

Trust me...I've gotten enough criticism about me. I know & realize when I'm wrong. Sometimes it takes a while to sink in, but I know. I can also take on good debates about things...if it's warranted. There's a time & a place for all of this stuff, my friends...and family. And I have witnessed & experienced stuff lately that leaves me scratching my head.

Many of these people who are the manipulators have deep issues of their own. Either they don't want to face them or are too afraid to. This past year, I made the effort to be very open about some very serious issues of mine. So you know where I'm coming from when I'm not seeming quite right, or if I snap at someone, or if I don't seem like myself.

This is one of the heavy-hearted posts. Because several have chosen to ring in the new year with such high levels of fake manipulation to make themselves feel better...it's actually pathetic. And...the people who let it continue to happen like nothing is wrong with the picture.

I am, generally, a very positive person. But I do try to see a whole picture of things, too. There are such one-sided, close-minded power trips going on...and the people out there rooting them & each other on in this ridiculousness.

I see it happen for "love", "money", "power", "acceptance", etc. And all of these things are in quotations because you cannot obtain any of these with manipulation...or if you think you do, you cannot sustain it.

One of my favorites is when the manipulators say they are the calm ones &/or they have seen the big picture...like they have it all figured out. I have found that these manipulators have lack of loyalty, lack of "common" sense (which really isn't common anymore), lack of actual positive attitude, and a lack of love.

I'm looking for my cape as we speak...

My blog has allowed me to open up & be straight forward about a lot of things. I thank all of you delightfully crazy people who have come along for the ride. And anyone who doesn't read my blog doesn't know much about me. That includes any family or friends or otherwise who try to start their manipulative ways with me. I cannot force them to read it, but it contains a lot of stuff about where I come from.

See the blog list over on the right? Those are my ongoing top 10 most popular blog posts. I don't control that. And, 8 of those 10 are SOAPBOXY ONES. And 8 of the 10 shown (and not necessarily the same ones) are from this past year. (the 8 of 10 stats are as of the time of this posting...it may be different in a month or so...or not) There's apparently a lot of people who care to read where I come from. I also find it interesting that most of these are ones that people don't know how to take. No comments, no feedback...nothing. But they are read. A lot. And it seems not from people who need to read them before approaching particular subjects.

I'm not going to lie to you...there will be a couple of traumatic things that have happened to me in my lifetime that may never make this blog. Those are too deep, too awful, and way too personal to even put out there. Even for me. However...I will bring them up in confidential conversation if 1.) I trust you, and B.) the conversation warrants the subject matter. But I have opened up about many other things. And there are those who have confidentially shared with me their stories, too. Those who needed to say something to someone without being called out. And do you know what? All of these people who connected with me on these subjects are people I have not talked to in years. Many of my own family & close friends (except maybe one or two) won't even acknowledge it. It's either they don't want to read what I have to say, which is fine, or they like their blinders on & want to pretend it's not true.

Because I have opened up quite a bit & am willing to stand up for myself & for my beliefs...be ready for me to either have good debate with you (if it's a warranted time & place), or be ready for me to tell you that you are off base or being over-the-top.

I hate politics. I really do. I don't like politicians either. But if I'm passionate about something going on...I do think we should be able to contact our law makers. I will also give credit where credit is due...even if it's painful for me to say it. Another thing I did last year was put many of my political views out there. Again...those close to me that disagree with me just ignored it...or they made a bizarre point to NOT acknowledge it. Weird. I know I'm in line with many who feel they need to keep their mouths shut because of the far rights & far lefts (or those who aide them) want to just shout really loud & throw a lot of stones because you don't drink their brand of KOOLAID. And, in me putting out there my true views as being absolute moderate, I have actually been accused (yes, accused) of being biased. *face palm*

I know of many who could learn from this. Especially that "when to stop thing..."

People, we the people, put these manipulative, power-hungry lawmakers into office...and then throw a fit when it didn't go "our way". And then blame anyone & everyone else who doesn't see it "our way".

This is a modern day game of thrones, people. And so many are so sucked into it.

Yes...this...with the sword jabbed right in the center

Much like buying someone a toilet for someone because they wanted it, then also bringing your own toilet paper to use it first...then wonder why they didn't put a toilet cover on it yet.

Yep...I went there with the "throne" analogy. I think you can figure out why, too. And that's one of the main ways manipulators use, or attempt to use, those around them. It's either that or they raise a raucous to make a point that isn't going their way...and then run to their own throne, close & lock the door...and then pretend that anyone else who needs to use the "throne room" isn't a priority anymore because they need to sit & think about whether they need to use the throne or not.

There is also the manipulator that I call "the ruiner." You know the one that always must have their nose in every piece of your business, the pawn trusts them & tells them...then they give away the information because they have to be the ones to tell it, the ones on top, the ones to beat you to the punch? Whether it's news or a gift...before you can do anything, they've jumped all over the information that they really had nothing to do with in the first place? Yeah...like walking into the throne room while you're in there, wants to know why you're in there...and then they tag along to the doctor & they tell the doctor what's going on with you before you can. Yeah..."the ruiner."

Now the question becomes whether or not any of this hits home with you. Does it? Are you offended? If so...are you the manipulator or (well, maybe "and") the enabler pawn in the game?

I guess this post boils down to this: what are we gonna make of this new year? Another one of tried-and-failed health habits? Another of tried-and-failed money habits? Or do we want to actually break free from this game-playing madness? If you are an enabler being used as pawns in these games, I urge you to take off your blinders & stand up for yourselves. Tough love is not a bad thing...tearing down someone is. And, by being used as a pawn is another way of being bullied. Yes, you.

Break free, think for yourselves. It's more liberating & there's less game-playing & tip-toeing & tongue-biting going on. Trust me...we will all feel better once the game of thrones in actual reality (not the scripted tv stuff) is over & done. And you might want to take notes from those not willing to play these games. Break free from blaming others & start working on yourself. The greed & false sense of pride need to make their way out the door! And it's up to you to shake any of the dysfunction...and not let  that & the drama run you & how you think you should "run" others...rise above it!

If you've ever watched the Mel Gibson & Helen Hunt flick, "What Women Want", there is eventually an athletic shoe slogan given:

"No games, just sports."

No more games, people...just life.

I am wishing everyone a better, blessed & more free New Year. Thank you for hanging with me. It's good to let things go & make it known.

*deep breath in, deep breath out*

...moving on to more positive...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Trying to Give Direction to Solution

So anyway...

The TRAGEDY IN CONNECTICUT is still fresh in our minds, as well as the shootings in Topeka. And it seems there's no slowing down the jumping to a solution of sorts to slow or stop all of this.

I was going to wait to give my take on all of this & really open up my thoughts & where I'm coming from, but it appears the time is now.

So...*deep breath in, deep breath out* here we go:

Off we go on more POLITICAL TANGENTS, even with the elections being over. It hasn't slowed up. It's frustrating. And, as usual, both "sides" are sounding as insane as ever.

With the fiscal cliff looming (Solution: FLAT TAXES by percentage of what you make. Too easy? Whatever, just do it & get over it.), there are still people mudslinging from all directions.

Here's the dealio, y'all...the focus on gun control is not the answer...solely. Like it or not, there needs to be a major tightening. And even if you don't like to hear it, mental health issues need to be on the background checks for gun purchases, at least a reference from a doctor/phycologist/counselor, and a number of guns cap needs to be set. It's not a matter of taking them away, there is an issue of "control". Yet many just want to carry around pistol...or automatic weapons, like we are back in the old west. You know, settle an argument at high noon with a dual because you felt threatened. If you are not part of law enforcement or in the military...there is absolutely NO reason for a civilian to carry a gun unless it's in the woods because you are hunting for food...NOT GAME! The conceal & carry is a sham, in my opinion. I didn't say take them away. There's those who want to have them at home to defend their household & property from trespassers, but just note that you can still be shot, wounded, deablilitateyd, or killed by the trespasser who may have a gun. Your own gun would have done you no good. Will it keep the guns out of the hands of the "bad guys"? No. But keeping an actual registration of guns in the possession of persons will be a major start. You don't have to agree with me...but there is actual common sense here.

The biggest problem is the insurance & healthcare thing. Obamney-Care (that's right, it's still based off of Romney's stuff) is not the answer. Do we need all to be covered? Absolutely! But not at such a high of price. There is absolutely no reason anyone should be charged $20 to take 2 Tylenol while getting hospital care. It's about price gauging, for sure. Make it illegal to charge so much for use of equipment & things. Bring the price down so healthcare is affordable. Oh...and make it OK for people to get the prescriptions they need & make it OK to see the right specialists without the hinderance of insurance barriers. Trust me...it's happened to us. And marketing prescription drugs publicly is not OK, and should be taken away from them. Why? It's up to health professionals, not the everyday WebMD checker, to tell if they need it. Cut out that marketing & hopefully that will help with "big name" prescription costs going down. No one should ever have to pay $400 for any medication! When drug stores can offer $4 prescriptions, that should set a precedent.

It is so very wrong for people who need a particular attention given to them, but can't because insurance won't pay for it, and then one cannot afford to pay for it out of their own pocket. It's a disgusting vicious cycles that has to be broken! Oh...and taxing people who can't afford healthcare isn't the answer either.

These two issues are completely tied in together. It's both/and...not either/or. (see about my PURPLE POLITICS)

I, personally, am against the possession of civilian guns. That's my thinking. But...I wasn't brought up with them, either. No defending "my side" will make me want to jump into that mold of defending my 2nd amendment right when I've never had to deal with it...and been just fine. And the segway is that if I did want to get one, I truly hope I was turned down. Why? Because I have mental health issues.

If you remember when I've talked about my DEPRESSION ISSUES, I also said that I had been suicidal. I tried to overdose, and it didn't work. Luckily. However, those issues are never truly gone for me...I can easily slide back into those deep, dark areas. And I have brought up that I imagine another way of doing it, but I cannot make that work, which is a good thing. I can imagine the barrel of gun at my temple & can feel the cold metal against the right side of my head. If there was a gun in our house, I might find a way to use it. So the possession of this weapon is off limits!

That being said, I know there might be some kind of violation of privacy, blah-blah, if health records were a part of this background check to purchase a gun. I know of more than one person who either owns a gun or would like to that have mental health issues & are on medication. If this is the case...a weapon of destruction should not be in your possession...or under the same roof where they reside. Friends & relatives should know what your issue is & know that showing you where they stash their firearms or lending one (or more) to you is a serious lack of good judgement.

You know what all of that leads to? Murderous rampages. When someone who is in serious need of psychological help uses a firearm to take out many, and you turn around and defend them having a gun...guess what you look like. (Note: at the same time, whining & pouting because someone does have a firearm is just as crazy...because it is in the constitution.)

I have seen a couple of posts from people who have shared painstaking stories of loved ones who were lost to mental health issues to the point that they were no longer the same person. Good people, but who ended up with a twisted view on life for whatever reason. It's sad & horrible.

We have to realize that, if these people who need mental help, they can still use any means necessary to get their "point across"...they will find a bat or club, knives or axes, even create a bomb.

Along with some of these psychological triggers is the incidental glamorization of the assailants in these tragedies. If every name & face of these killers are all over the news & media, they got what they wanted...notoriety. Remembered for something big. The more we talk about their names & cover every inch of their lives...they have made a name for themselves...just as they had hoped to do - you know, like the last guy who did it. If we focus on the victims, it is no longer about the killer. We don't glamorize them anymore. But we get this sick curiosity about them & try to get into their minds. Why do we even want to be there when we see the outcome?

Morgan Freeman was credited with pointing out the media for being the big issue of a lot of these tragedies by sharing the name & face of the assailant over & over & over &...
As it turns out, Morgan Freeman didn't say it. But the words still ring true...to a point. The media is another large portion of the issue. Don't give anything personal away about any murderer. They seek & crave that kind of attention in these cases. And then we still cover their trials & every moment leading up to what's coming to them.

The glamorization of "reality" television with the people we make celebrity for outlandish behaviors & our lack of talking openly & honestly about mental health issues contribute greatly to this.

Gun control, healthcare, and media have jaded us as a people. Keeps us divided because we are focussing on the wrong things at the wrong times.

I've also heard that it's because God isn't allowed in our schools anymore. There is still prayer happening, mostly silently by teachers for their students & their days, and by students about to take a test. There is still gathering at flagpoles & Fellowship of Christian Athlete clubs that still meet & pray...in schools. We have worked SO hard to not offend, that we have been forced to be the defensive. And it forces us to hand out participation trophies & not make anyone work for anything. Just show up & you get recognized.
Where are our priorities, people? What are we really wanting & really fighting for?

President Obama, once again, delivered a beautiful speech at the inter-faith service for the fallen children & faculty in Newtown. Again, he spoke from being a parent. He was truly emotional...and I know. My hubby had to deliver A HARD SERMON this weekend & had the same tone. You get emotional, but know you have to keep it together in that moment. And when the president said that changes need to be made...everyone jumped to conclusions as to what he might mean. You know what he meant? He meant that CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE! That's it. That was not the time or place to spell it out. Did he elude to it? Yes...but guess what? It was a lot of what I pointed out here. It's more than gun control, folks...it's mental health issues, too. Don't just hear part of it...hear the whole of it. Much like scripture...take the whole thing instead of dissecting it into just pieces you want to get out of it.

I apologize for covering this so soon...but I'm sick of people's focus on just a couple of things while others deeply mourn.

I mourn. As a parent, as a human, as an American...I mourn.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Just Sees a Bunch of Chickens

So anyway...

Here we are again, in the midst of yet another situation making the divide even larger. Way to go again, media!

We are in a situation that is completely out of hand. The media took a circumstantial comment totally out of context & has turned it into this huge deal that really shouldn't be.

If you haven't guessed yet, I am talking about this whole Chick-Fil-A fiasco. It takes one misguided story from the media trying to create a story out of nothing, and things go crazy-haywire. Shame on any & all of you sucked in by it. ALL OF YOU!!!

There's a lot that went down with the story that has been so twisted that it is now a false story & has set our country into another divided frenzy. It's sickening.

Whether you did well in science or not, we should all know that for every action, there is an equal (sometimes greater) and opposite reaction. So shouting for a boycott will make the "other side" turn up in great force. So...congrats, boycotters - you've increased Chick-Fil-A's sales & have sent lines out the door. Nice job promoting that boycott. And those on the other side of the boycott...do you think this makes you look like a great person for all of a sudden showing up to a company that you've never eaten at & may not even like their food just to prove a ridiculous point against other humans? What is wrong with you???

Let's take a moment to get something straight here:

It was the son of the owner & he was asked a question about his personal stance in a conservative interview. This was not something said in an official statement for the company in a press conference; it's a view of one person at a Christian-based company. Then it got blown out of proportion. Now it's twisted & out of hand.

I, personally, like the food. I love everyone. There are black, gay, straights, whites, married, and single employees that work at Chick-Fil-A establishments that feel caught in the middle because society twisted a situational comment. These poor employees are being called haters AND being praised for hating. It's horrible. They are not gonna turn away business & they are not gonna turn away employees. It's a sad situation that shouldn't be blown up like this. 

One person's stance is not about an entire company. If that were the case...everyone should boycott every company out there for something.

We are in hater appreciation times. Yep...talking both sides. If you are not FULLY aware of the story, do some research. How sad we have to get huffy-puffy at each other for having a disagreement in views. Disagreement & hate are two completely different things. Learn the difference. It's OK to agree to disagree, it's a whole different thing to promote hate against the other side. If you are in full support of the Chick-Fil-A appreciation because of a "stance", you would be wrong in doing so. That is promoting of a misplaced hatred. For those of you in full support of the Chick-Fil-A boycott because of a "stance", you would be wrong in doing so. This promoting a misplaced hatred.

If you remember, I did a 3-part blog post on this very thing. And many dodged reading the second post...and even more dodged before reading the final post.

I hope people wake up quickly - on BOTH sides - and just hug it out & live our lives together. It's a sad & unfortunate turn of events. Congrats to the media for getting their way again...making their own story instead of reporting on what's really happening.

How about this: stop listening to just the media & do your own research. And research ALL parts of the story, not just what you want to hear. Liberals, conservatives, Non-Christians & Christians...stop giving your "group" a bad rap by being so wrongly motivated. That's awfully cowardly.

Can we all actually get along? Like...actually get along. Or are we still going to promote ugly hatred spewed at each other?

Hmmmm...

Stay tuned...


God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Needs You to Put Away the Hoodies

So anyway...

I do realize I've been really soapboxy lately, but there's be a whole lot to be soapboxy about. And this subject I'm about to soapbox on is not out of knee-jerk reaction, but out of ongoing frustration of misconceptions & running with it.

Oh yes...I'm going to give my take on the Tayvon Martin case. I'm going to tell you upfront that what I will be saying here will be a lot. You are not going to agree with everything or any of it, but I do ask you to read to the end, breathe & think on it BEFORE you give a knee-jerk reaction response. So, if you're up to it & think you can handle it, then strap in brace yourselves, and here we go!

I'm going to start by saying this whole event is tragic. It's sad that it even happened. But I'm going to lay out a lot of stuff & I am not taking sides. You'll understand why in a moment.

Thanks to the media, national media, no less, has done such an injustice to this whole ordeal. They manipulated what they wanted to show to stir things up...and did they ever!

The 911 call that was replayed early in this mess was edited. Edited in a way that it caused a mass hysteria over an issue that it has nothing to do with. Over an issue that did not need to be torn up when such strides have been made. An issue that has taken over 300 years to continue to make better has been thrown backwards so far...it's nearly unmentionable (but I'm talking about it anyway). Thanks to the media, this whole thing was thwarted into a racism war. It's awful.

People reading this. Put your hoodies away. Quit buying Skittles if you weren't purchasing them before. This whole thing was absolutely NOT about race! It's about some horrible law in one state, guns, actions that should never have happened & a continually deceptive media trying to get rating instead of putting the full truth out there.

We already know that George Zimmerman was overzealous in his neighborhood watch duties. He was actually a bit of a nuisance to the police department. But he was trying to do what he thought was right, even if it wasn't, necessarily.

George saw something in his neighborhood that seemed suspicious, even though he apparently saw many things as suspicious. I would love to know what else he called in to give some perspective.

However, he made the call to the police to report yet another suspicious thing. He'd never seen Trayvon in his neighborhood before. Now...I need you to take a couple of deep breaths before continuing. I know there will be some of you already stirred up, but I need you to hear this out...
When the actual tape of Zimmerman's call was played, he talked about someone walking in his neighborhood. The dispatcher asked if the figure was male or female; the answer was male. Then the dispatcher asked George if the male was white, black, hispanic; George answered the dispatcher's question with "black". He didn't just jump to conclusions & give up information. The dispatcher pried it out of him, people!

And, for those who think he is so racist, he's Latino. Did you even realize that? I bet you would've felt differently if his name were at least Carlos or Juan or Jose; maybe even with a last of something like Gonzales or Rodriguez.

OK, let's move along now to the fact that he called in his suspicious thing in the neighborhood...again...and then the dispatcher said they had the information & told George to not approach, the police would check it out. This is where it went terribly wrong. Zimmerman should never have left his vehicle. Ever. But he did...with a gun in his pocket.

Before I move along with that, I want to point out that the early MEDIA reports made it sound like Trayvon was anywhere from 8-12 years old. Then he was portrayed as an early teen, maybe. Ummm, folks, Trayvon was 17. Trayvon had been suspended from school for possessing marijuana. Trayvon had his Twitter profile pic of him with gold teeth & tweeting pretty rough things. And people are upset as to how Trayvon is being portrayed?? What he puts on his twitter account is HOW he wanted to be portrayed! He was [allegedly] smoking pot. And guess what, people. If Trayvon would have been the shooter instead, he would have been viewed as an adult. Most states have very blurred lines as to what "adult age" is when it comes to legal matters. Trust me. I know. And many who have read my most read post will know & understand.

Folks, there are 8yo's & 11yo's being tried as adults. In high school, students are being prepped for making adult decisions. Trayvon would have been an upper classman. He was not some helpless baby that happened to be shot for nothing kind of deal. He was 6 foot in stature. This is important to keep in mind, too.

Thanks to the MEDIA, all the pictures shown of Trayvon are of him at 13 & younger. No wonder people think he was the defenseless little thing.

The pictures used of both involved were & continue to be wrong portrayals of both. They used an old mugshot type pic of George, not an updated one except to blow across the screen quickly. The media only used out-of-date picture of Trayvon to make him seem so much younger than he actually was. Shame on you, Media!

Oh, speaking of MEDIA screwing with this whole thing, let's talk about Geraldo Rivera who took it to a new disgusting level of adding the hoodie angle. Really? So...more insult to injury? And what was worse was the fact that people took the race thing & the hoodie thing to a whole new level. And since Trayvon wasn't armed, only possessing Skittles & iced tea at the time, people had giant protests set & ready before actual information was even out. They ran with partial information & the media created these mass protests over skewed information.

Here's the real issue: a civilian with a handgun took advantage of a Florida law. Keep in mind that Zimmerman is 5'9". Most 17yo's look quite a bit older, especially when they are tall. They were both trying to defend themselves, but Zimmerman also thought he was protecting his neighborhood. When he is overtaken by someone bigger, he felt his life was in danger & shot. We don't know how it all went down, but the fact is this part took place. Zimmerman felt threatened & shot.

Bill Cosby is an Afro-American with a good head on his shoulders. He calls things in a worldly way. Even he came out & said it wasn't a race issue. He says it's about guns, and goes on to say that he owned a gun. He had a discussion with an officer about the gun in Bill's pocket one day when he was told, "Once you pull that trigger, you can't take it back." Hmmm...wise words, officer. That was a wake up call for Dr. Cosby.

So, you have the Conceal & Carry law on top of the Defend Yourself if You Feel Threatened law, and it's a recipe for disaster.

If anything needed to be protested, it should be the law.

The fact that it was blown up (thanks to Media) into a giant race issue is frustrating. Supposedly these protests were for trying to get Zimmerman arrested. But it was made into something completely different...nationwide! It was Media that screwed over the life of a man that needs help. Does he need to be held accountable? Absolutely!

But we (as a nation) couldn't let this guy get any kind of fair shake. I say that in this regard: "You are innocent until proven guilty." Giant protests went up, with Media involvement & scrutiny, that allowed racist gatherings to yell "CRUCIFY"!

Whites have worked hard to make relations better between races. But when someone white makes a comment that seems the least bit derogatory toward another race, the torches & pitchforks come out. But when the tables are turned, then whites are questioned on why they are offended. There is major racism on all ends. And it's awful when it gets stirred up again & has major setbacks when the Media screws that over. And how dare all of us fall into that trap.

When anyone automatically makes a issue a racism one, even when racism is a part of it, then that is racist as well. Keep that in mind. Look at all things.

I know that knee-jerk reactions are human nature. At first, I had a knee-jerk reaction to this whole situation based primarly on what Media put out there. And it was wrong. So, so, so wrong!

So when I see these hoodie protests (thanks again, Geraldo, for that), it makes me sick. I think how far we have fallen off for that moment as a nation. I was even more frustrated when there was a protest in KC & the mayor turned out for it. Inappropriate in so many ways.

There are things that we all don't know about concerning this case. There are things we may never know. There are reasons that we don't know about as to why Zimmerman wasn't taken in at that time. But it seems he was questioned for 5 hours. And it wasn't enough because he wasn't yet crucified. Then he was landblasted over his head injury claims over a grainy video. All that had to be taken in was a report by the EMTs on the scene. My belief is that he should have been apprehended for disobeying direct dispatch orders & abuse of the neighborhood watch system. Then the law can take it from there.

You know...he turned himself in to shut you people up. You all made him the new most hated person in the nation. Why? Because of the Media! Did you know the guy that wrongly edited the original story resigned because of what he did? Well, it happened!

And then you have people trying to cash in on this mess. Like a depiction of George Zimmerman (the old, out-dated mugshot) done in Skittles. Like there was supposed to be some kind of deep irony there. It's rude & an artist trying to make a name for himself. And when Media covers junk like that, it perpetuates this whole deal into a deeper, faster downward spiral. For shame! For real!

Again, Zimmerman needs to be held accountable for his actions. If he needs psychiatric help, then I hope he gets it. Trayvon is no longer here & it is sad that he was taken at such a young age. But it was for being in a wrong place at a wrong time and with the wrong neighborhood watch guy.

But I am going to throw out there that Trayvon was still a teen. If he retaliated, we must remember that, even though we try to prep teens for adulthood, the good decision-making part of the brain shuts down until the 20's. He made a bad decision to attempt to [allegedly] fight back.

Those who are calling this a racist issue, you are being racist. For those who are in support of the conceal & carry thing, a life was taken. For the Media who perpetuates the wrong image of this case, stop it!

Now then, Zimmerman is in custody. But because of the insanity created in these protests, he may not get a fair trial. You know what that means? It means it will be dismissed & he will be let out & will have to deal with hateful people trying to track him down to make sure he gets crucified.

Everyone is in a bad light in this. No one is/was innocent. We need to drop all of this race issue within this case as we have to try to mend relationships yet again...over something that had nothing to do with race.

On a side note: Our Latino suspect is being supported by right wing conservatives for this move. He's a registered Democrat. I hate that I know that, but it's a point worth making. Simmer on that for a while.

I will step off of my soapbox for now. I know this may have really aggravated many of you. But that's how it is. Sometimes the truth does hurt. I am not taking George's side. I am not taking Trayvon's side. I am taking the side of the justice system & will have high hopes that this brings crazy laws into the forefront to be taken care of.

Stay tuned...if you dare...

God Bless, AM~Erica