The Lady(Bug) of the Household: December 2016

Remember The Dream

"I HAVE A DREAM"
Dr. Martin Luther King
Lincoln Memorial
Washington, DC
August 28, 1963

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the speech in its entirety...

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the 'unalienable Rights' of 'Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.' It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, 'When will you be satisfied?' We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: 'For Whites Only.' We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until 'justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.'

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and 'nullification' -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; 'and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.'

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that: Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring. And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!"

MJ Walk of Fame

MY FAVORITES LIST
I Want You Back
Who's Lovin' You
You've Changed
Can You Remember
Chained
Born To Love You
Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah
ABC
The Young Folks
The Love You Save
One More Chance
2-4-6-8
I'm The One You Need
I'll Bet You
Don't Know Why I Love You
True Love Can Be Beautiful
I'll Be There
Mama's Pearl
Goin' Back To Indiana
Can I See You In The Morning
Reach In
Darlin' Dear
The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage
How Funky Is Your Chicken
Feelin' Alright
Never Can Say Goodbye
Maybe Tomorrow
Sugar Daddy
Christmas Won't Be The Same This Year
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Got To Be There
Lookin' Through The Windows
Little Bitty Pretty One
Skywriter
Rockin' Robin
I Wanna Be Where You Are
Ben
Dancing Machine
Good Times
Enjoy Yourself
Blame It On The Boogie
Shake Your Body Down To The Ground
Show You The Way To Go
Ease On Down The Road
Heartbreak Hotel
Can You Feel It
Torture
We Can Change The World

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Rock With You
Workin' Day & Night
Off The Wall
Girlfriend
She's Out Of My Life
I Can't Help It
It's The Falling In Love
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Baby Be Mine
The Girl Is Mine
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Billie Jean
Human Nature
P.Y.T.
The Lady In My Life
We Are The World
Bad
The Way You Make Me Feel
Speed Demon
Liberian Girl
Man In The Mirror
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Dirty Diana
Smooth Criminal
Leave Me Alone
Jam
Why You Wanna Trip On Me
Remember The Time
Heal The World
Black Or White
Will You Be There
Gone Too Soon
Dangerous
Scream
They Don't Care About Us
Earth Song
You Are Not Alone
Childhood
Smile
Unbreakable
Heartbreaker
Invincible
Break Of Dawn
Heaven Can Wait
You Rock My World
Butterflies
Speechless
You Are My Life
Don't Walk Away
Cry
The Lost Children
Whatever Happens
This Is It

GONE WAY TOO SOON!
Michael Joseph Jackson
08/29/1958 – 06/25/2009

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called The Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to The Rainbow Bridge. There are hills and meadows for all of our special friends so they can play and run together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine where our friends are comfortable and warm.

All of the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made strong and whole again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are content and happy, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all play and run together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Their bright eyes are intent; their eager body quivers. Suddenly they begin to run from the group, flying over the green grass, their legs carrying them faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress their beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then, you can cross The Rainbow Bridge together...

Paul C. Dahm

🕊 In loving memory of all my family pets, 6 dogs and 1 cat! Chaka, Champ, Duchess, Duke, King, Pebbles, and Queenie!

Saturday, December 31, 2016

SBC Watch Night Services

Meet us at Sharon TONIGHT as we bring in the New Year. And, if you're coming to the 10:00pm service, don't forget to join us for the after party happening ALL OVER the church campus! #OneForTheSon

Watch Night

Emancipation: "Waiting For The Hour"
(click on image for larger view)

The following information was actually written as an essay by Charyn D. Sutton, The Onyx Group, in December 2000 and revised in August 2004. The essay appears here in its entirety...

If you grew up in a black community in the United States, you have probably heard of "Watch Night" Services, the gathering of the faithful in church on New Year's Eve. The service usually begins anywhere from 7:00pm-10:00pm and ends at 12:00 midnight with the entrance of the New Year. Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate. For others, church is the only New Year's Eve destination.

Like many others, I always assumed that Watch Night was a fairly standard Christian religious service, made a bit more Afrocentric because that's what happens when elements of Christianity become linked with the black church. And yes, there is a history of Watch Night Services in the Methodist tradition.

Still, it seemed that most white Christians did not include Watch Night Services on their calendars, but focused instead on Christmas Eve programs. In fact, there were instances where clergy in mainline denominations wondered aloud about the propriety of linking religious services with a secular holiday like New Year's Eve.

However, in doing some research, I discovered there are two essential reasons for the importance of New Year's Eve services in African American congregations. Many of the Watch Night Services in black communities that we celebrate today can be traced back to gatherings held on December 31, 1862, also known as "Freedom's Eve."

On that night, Americans of African descent came together in churches, gathering places, and private homes throughout the nation, anxiously awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had become law. Then, at the stroke of midnight, it was January 1, 1863 and according to President Abraham Lincoln's promise, all slaves in the Confederate States were legally free. People remained in churches and other gathering places, eagerly awaiting word that Emancipation had been declared. When the actual news of freedom was received later that day, there were prayers, shouts of joy, and songs of praise as people fell to their knees and thanked God.

But even before 1862 and the possibility of a Presidential Emancipation, African people had gathered on New Year's Eve on plantations across the South. That is because many owners of enslaved Africans tallied up their business accounts on the first day of each new year. Human property was sold along with land, furnishings, and livestock to satisfy debts. Families and friends were separated. Often they never saw each other again in this earthly world. Thus, coming together on December 31 might be the last time for enslaved and free Africans to be together with loved ones.

Black folks in North America have gathered annually on New Year's Eve since the earliest days, praising God for bringing us safely through another year and praying for the future. Certainly, those traditional gatherings were made even more poignant by the events of 1863 which brought freedom to the slaves and the Year of Jubilee.

Many generations have passed since that time and most of us were never taught the significance of gathering on New Year's Eve. Yet, our traditions and faith still bring us together at the end of every year to celebrate once again, "how we got over."

Please pass this information on to your family and friends so that they will know the true history behind the tradition we call "Watch Night".

Friday, December 30, 2016

Accentuate The Positive in 2017

Quote of the Day

Thursday, December 29, 2016

In Memorium

WYCB: 131 Celebrities Who Died in 2016...
and the number continues to rise as the year comes to an end!

Quote of the Day

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Mother & Daughter Together Again...

R.I.P. Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds
(April 1, 1932 - December 28, 2016)

R.I.P. Carrie Frances Fisher
(October 21, 1956 - December 27, 2016)

Throwback Photo: Debbie & Baby Carrie

PEOPLE 10/23/15: Debbie Reynolds Shares Adorable

Vintage Picture of Baby Carrie Fisher For Her Birthday

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Video of the Day

Mannequin Challenge

Monday, December 26, 2016

Oh, No... Not George Michael Too!

R.I.P. George Michael

June 25, 1963 - December 25, 2016

A Different Corner, As, Careless Whisper, Cowboys & Angels, Desafinado, Everything She Wants, Faith, Fastlove, Father Figure, Freedom, Hand to Mouth, Jesus To A Child, Kissing A Fool, Last Christmas, Mother's Pride, Move On, Older, One More Try, Praying For Time, Roxanne, Soul Free, Spinning The Wheel, The Strangest Thing, To Be Forgiven, You Have Been Loved... I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, he will be missed.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas!

Children of Destiny Autism Prayer
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Merry Christmas From The POTUS & FLOTUS!

Christmas Video Message From The White House
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