THOUGHTS ON RIDDING MYSELF OF CLUTTER

THOUGHTS ON RIDDING MYSELF OF CLUTTER – stripping down to what I really need Not quite sure why my mind and efforts have moved toward getting rid of stuff; perhaps my getting older has something to do with it. A few weeks ago I set out to see more empty floor and wall space. It turns out I’m really good at getting rid of stuff. When I was less old it was near impossible for me to part with books I’d read and reread, and I kept buying more books; it was as if to part with them was eliminating a part of me. I’ve now sold or given most my books to readers – it was like my donating an organ that keeps both of us living. In the past few weeks I’ve sold and given away books, furniture, sports equipment, bedding, empty glass picture frames, and other items that had occupied floor and wall space. I can now see more wall and floor space than stuff in my one bedroom apartment. I’m now taking a critical look at my closet full of clothes. I’ve decided to start wearing items I seldom if ever wear: my one suit, sport coats, dress trousers, dress shoes, dress shirts, tux, dinner jacket. So, if you see me wearing a dinner jacket, jeans, and running shoes having an espresso at Starbucks, I didn’t just come from nor am I going anywhere special – I’m just delaying getting rid of more stuff. http://www.adolphusward.net http://www.amazon.com/Adolphus-A.-Ward/e/B00OSDSSRC

THOUGHTS ON BELIEFS - gods devils heaven and hell

THOUGHTS ON A FEW BELIEFS – gods devils heaven and hell I don’t believe in a God a Devil a Christ an Antichrist or the angels who are supposed to attend them; I believe all of them grew out of mythology and evolved into reality through the spoken and written stories told by creative minds – today, some of us believe it all to be true and real. Not only that, but some of us actually believe Gods or Devils plan and direct our individual and collective lives. I’ve already said I don’t believe in Gods or Devils so it should be understood that I certainly don’t believe any God or Devil plans and directs my life. Whatever the state of our existence – individual, race, country, or world – humans have created that state by their actions or inactions. I said this to a relative once and almost got put out of her house. When our thinking is trapped in mythology it’s difficult if not impossible to see and admit that we did more than anyone else to get where we are – at this moment, each of us is where we are and doing what we do because of the choices we made; exception, of course, but nonetheless true. Prayer is a wonderful tool to envision an alternative state of being; but without enabling action the time could be better spent.

THOUGHTS ON WHAT BLACKS KNOW ABOUT WHITES..

THOUGHTS ON WHAT BLACKS KNOW ABOUT WHITES AND VICE VERSA Black people know more about the lives of white people than white people know about black lives. This is not a new thought but one that should be repeated often. There’s a reason for this difference in white and black knowledge. Black people were and still are forced to learn about white history, white science, white literature, white art, and of course white gods. White people have never been required to know anything about black people but have been fed a constant stream of caricatures by media makers. The obvious intent for this was and still is to maintain a position of dominance. All media, including that for stage and film, is created from a position of dominance – and to that extent it’s propaganda. Where black media workers tend to think altruistically about their work, white media makers think politically – maintaining dominance. The most reliable and durable way to get more black faces in stage and film media is to produce more stories about black life: these stories must be written by black writers and from a black perspective. Black makers and viewers of media must move beyond the feeling of altruism to the political perspective of purpose. This must be done for the progress and survival of the black mind. http://www.adolphusward.net http://www.amazon.com/Adolphus-A.-Ward/e/B00OSDSSRC