THOUGHTS ABOUT POLLUTION AND GLOBAL WARMING

THOUGHTS ABOUT POLLUTION AND GLOBAL WARMING – increase in pollution leads to warming? I think it’s a politically clever move to use young people as the urgent voice for immediately changing the sources of our energy. Since today's youth will experience the horror of a world no longer habitable they have a personal stake in the result of unabated pollution. Whether or not pollution has a causal effect on the warming of our planet may not be the better question. Perhaps the better question is whether or not earth's temperature is rising. If it is then what can be done to stop it. At one time in my dumb-life I thought pissing in the water at the beach made no different in water quality. I thought when the truck took away our trash and garbage that all that bad smelly stuff magically evaporated. Even after I learned about landfills I thought buried it could be forgotten. In my reasonably smart-life I now know that our natural water systems are polluted; the air I breath can and does cause disease and death. I've heard some adults dismiss the comments of youth activist who fill the media with their cautions and concerns, purely on the basis that they are too young to know. If our waste has polluted our air and water systems it may also be true that the waste of creating energy is polluting how our weather systems operate. Amazon.com/dp/0983947724

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION WITH A TWIST

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION WITH A TWIST – a vision in black and white Reparation will become a reality well within my remaining life time. At 84 it means I'll have to live at least to 90 and at most to 100. Since I intend to live to 150 yrs. I'll see reparation become a government institution. It won't be without treats of state successions, group and individual visions of a dreaded socialism, also black/white race tension and probable conflict. Reparation, however, will not be all black. Although it remains silent and off the front page there are poor white people in this the wealthiest country on earth. For some whites poverty has been a way of life for generations. As it stands now there is a swell of white resistance to reparation for the American descendants of slavery. That resistance will only intensify as reparation moves closer to becoming a reality. Congress will not be able to seriously consider reparation without including in their considerations relief for white poverty. Even with such a consideration the rich and powerful white men of this country will always work to maintain the status quo. Despite their wealth and power white men will not be able to stop the shift that will change the economic, social, and political landscape of our country. amazon.com/dp/0983947724.

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION REALITY

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION REALITY – will the debt be paid? The creators of ADOS, Yvette Carnell and Antonio Moore, gave focus and direction to reparation becoming a reality. For years the crime of slavery has been in the minds of most mature human beings. For years most mature people have thought about some punishment for the perpetrators of institutionalized slavery. For years reparation has been thought of as a just penalty for the injustice of institutionalized slavery. For most of these years no specific person of group of persons could be identified as the sole perpetrator of institutional slavery. For most of these years no specific person or group of persons could be identified as victims of institutional slavery. For years black leaders have labored to find a clear and legal definition for perpetrator and victim of institutional slavery. Through pure unrelenting genius Yvette Carnell and Antonio Moore have discovered a definition for perpetrator and victim which fits historical and legal frames. With their definition who benefited from institutional slavery, who were the victims, and who is to be paid, is easily identified. Their definition excludes no descendant of African slaves from justice through reparations. All descendants are justified in their claim for reparation. Since there are many descendant groups there is not one perpetrator. Since there are many perpetrators each group must find justice through reparation from those who directly benefited from their slave ancestor labor. American Descendants of Slavery–ADOS–identifies a specific group of slave descendants. America built itself on the labor of slave ancestors and its continued denial of full citizenship for slave descendants. It is often said that most white people object to reparations. I remind you that many white people objected to anti-lynching laws–white men and their families enjoyed the spectacle of good lynching regularly. Baseball is now a more enjoyable sport for the family to enjoy. amazon.com/dp/0983947724.

THOUGHTS ABOUT CREATIVE RISKING

THOUGHTS ABOUT CREATIVE RISK TAKING – nothing ventured nothing gained For any risk taker there is a cost for taking that risk. What a risk taker strives to achieve is a reward for taking that risk; he or she expects the reward to be greater than the cost for taking the risk. When a risk taker has the total cost of the risk in hand, meaning he or she already has the cash needed to take the risk, such a person is beginning with a distinct advantage. It doesn't make for a certain reward but the cost is kept to a minimum. When a risk taker has others, say a bank, cover part of the cost he or she begins with an obvious disadvantage. The accrued debt eats into the expected risk-reward and makes reward difficult if not impossible. Since my retirement I continue to work as a professional actor and independent writer/publisher. As any creative artist knows, art making cost money; the ability to keep making art depends on the rewards received from consumers of his or her art. For me it's been a life on the edge. amazon.com/dp/0983947724

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY THOUGHTS

THOUGHTS ABOUT MY THOUGHTS – thinking aloud what I’m thinking I recently finished my 4th novel; I think it’s my best work–not perfect but good. I’m well into research for my 5th book; not yet ready for the story outline. I was with Lynn Burnett and a group of actors at Coffee Chatter the other evening when I had a chance to introduce my novel to a presenting writer for screen and TV. He asked if I had considered adapting it to film, I told him I had; he asked if I would do it or have someone else. Perhaps my response sounds a bit egotistical but I told him no one could do it better than I. The truth is I believe that. Another truth is I’m working on the 5th book–do I stop to write an adaptation or do both? For me, neither choice is plausible. Easy for me to decide but doesn’t stop my mixed emotions. Another thing has been haunting me lately–perhaps its due to age. Most of my adult life I’ve lived alone. I married twice and ended both in divorce. I have two loving siblings, five wonderful children grandchildren and great-grands. I’ve had a number of great lovers along the way but have purposely avoided marriage. For some time now I’ve been without a woman in my life. My writing and acting has, until now, kept me busy enough to avoid the creeping consciousness of feeling alone. I have good social contact but nothing on the personal level. No good mornings, no good nights, no how you feeling today baby, you feel like doing it? Now that life for me is slowing down I’m becoming more sensitive more perceptive more aware of what’s important in life. I do love life but I’m a little tired of living it alone. Amazon.com/dp/0983947724

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION AS POLICY NOT JUST PRINCIPLE

THOUGHTS ABOUT REPARATION AS POLICY NOT JUST PRINCIPLE I recently became a follower of American Descendants of Slavery, ADOS. I’m a black American who is independent in his thoughts, meaning I don’t usually follow groups. I have a specific reason for aligning with ADOS–its commitment to reparation for ADOS. I think it’s a debt long long overdue. The leadership of ADOS was wise enough to bring clear focus to reparation: who gets it and why. ADOS does not equivocate about its commitment. I know more than a little about institutional change, my academic and work experience awards me that. Specific focus has to be given to the goal; the same specific focus has to be given resistance to the goal. Much like changing the mindset of an individual institutional change is a very difficult process–not impossible but difficult. Change makers must never lose sight of the condition that will exist after the change. Change makers must guard against getting bogged down in the opposition to the intended change. Opposition to change will often cause dissension among change makers, resulting in failure to reach the goal. Whenever change makers doubt success that doubt will add to the opposition to change. It may seem improbable but any opposition can be overcome. Although in favor of reparation, some black people believe too few white people supporting a policy for reparation make its reality unrealistic. There is a way for reparation to benefit white people as well black. Find that way and reparation will become a good policy rather than a good principle. Amazon.com/dp/0983947724

THOUGHTS ABOUT LITERACY AND EDUCATORS

THOUGHTS ABOUT LITERACY AND EDUCATORS–good reading skills make good teaching possible I have written a novel of historical fiction. It covers three (3) generations of a black family: 1930s, 1940s, and 1980s. This story may be compelling enough to attract the interest of young as well as adult readers–particularly those endeavoring to increase their literacy skills. Educators and literacy trainers seeking reading materials may find “DIFFERENT ROADS SAME STOPS” an ideal aide for teaching American History, ethnic studies, and personal development. As the author I am willing to send you a free copy for review. If you are in Southern California near Los Angeles I would also meet with you and students to discuss the story in detail. Email: adolphusward@aol.com. Please identify yourself and purpose in the subject-line. www.amazon.com/dp/0983947724.