We cannot sit by and simply watch from the sidelines. There are no sidelines. Under the laws of Physics, in order to maintain the same relative position to a moving body, one cannot stand still. As others change, so must we…we cannot sit by…we cannot…simply watch from the sidelines…there are no sidelines…laws of Physics…one cannot stand still…as others change, so must we…cannot watch…no sidelines…cannot stand still…as others change, so must we…so must we…must we…we…must…change.
“Alright, it’s 10 minutes past; so I’m going to go ahead and get this thing started.”
“For those of you who don’t know or may have forgotten, My name is BT Solution, and I am the Founder and Director of the ‘Read For the Stars’ Program—the reason for which I assume that you all are here. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to my Co-Director, Ms. Gene Yus. I would also like to recognize returning volunteer and this year’s volunteer coordinator, Ms. Rose McCauley. Become familiar with these three faces. If any needs, concerns, or issues arise, feel free to pull one of us aside and address them. That is why we are here—to serve you as a volunteer.”
BT continued to lay out the foundation for how the summer was going to work. Then, Gene came to the front of the room and effortlessly went over all of the critical points that BT had forgotten. Gene had been spending hours and hours prior to the meeting talking on the phone and sitting down face-to-face with BT getting his program organized. BT outlined out his plan to Gene and told her of the issues he had had the previous year.
Of course, Gene did not let BT know so bluntly, but she could see why BT had so many problems. There were so many holes in his plans that needed to be filled. Not to be confused, Gene was impressed by BT’s vision. He made it clear to her that he wanted to dream—and dream big! She knew BT found something he believed in with this literacy program. But, like the old book told her, faith without works is dead. So, in order to keep his dream alive, that is just what she supplied—work.
Unfortunately, the group of volunteers sitting in the seats of that old school, where they held their meetings, did not know how much effort in which Gene had put forth. If they had, maybe Gene would have received more respect, as she addressed them. But, the clamor of whispers, bathroom exits and returns, and cell phone ringtones said otherwise. Yet, she did not let the people know that it bothered her. She just kept right along, talking and mapping out the masterplan to inspire the next generation.
Gene could never understand it. The volunteers hated BT. He was blindly optimistic and insensitive. He was garrulous and pompous. However, when he spoke, they listened. He commanded their attention. No one loved him, but for some strange reason, they all respected him. There goes that name, again.
Gene continued going over the specifics of lesson plans and activities that were going to be implemented. As she spoke, the disrespectful clamor escalated. Minutes later, mayhem erupted. Meanwhile, a man walked in from the back of the room and took a seat in the very back row. He crossed his legs and cracked a smile, as he watched what was soon to be an apocalypse.
But, soon never happened. As BT stepped back to the front of the group to try to assuage the situation, a voice spoke out,
“I can’t believe you all are acting like this. Don’t you know what’s at stake? I think all you all need to take a good look at yourselves and ask yourselves why you are here. And, if it is not for the right reason, then you should get up and leave! I don’t know about any of you, but I’m here to change some things around in this town.”
“I made it to college just like all of you, but—for me—it was hard. I got rejected by every school I applied to because my test scores were too low. Why was I having problems with the tests? In high school, I was reading at an 8th grade level. So, after high school, I had to spend an extra year working on my reading skills in order to try and get into a school. All I did was work and read. And, it paid off—it got me into Hughes College.”
“Imagine if people like me, who are our age, had had a program like this when we were coming up. Imagine if a few college students from the area had decided to care during the summer, when they came home. But, you can’t imagine, if you’re distracted. And, you can’t imagine, if you don’t listen to the dream.”
“This is not something we can do. This is not even just something we should do. This is something we must do! We can’t just continue to sit around and watch the kids in Alexandria fail. There ain’t no seats! So, all we can do is stand up and make something happen or lay down and get ran over. And, that’s all I got to say.”
Rose sat back down, after speaking words of passion. The room was silent for a moment. The only sounds were Rose’s words still echoing off the walls. BT, standing in awe, moved to the front the room and brought the meeting to a close. He stayed after and congregated with the other college students for a while. Then, he headed to his car, and as he put his backpack in the backseat, he looked up and from his side view mirror, saw Gene and Rose.
They were talking about something. BT didn’t ponder on the topic of their conversation for too long. He was too busy rejoicing. For once, he finally felt like was not alone in the battle.
This time, BT had others latched onto his dream, and he prayed to God that they would not let go.
“BT, I need to talk to you for a minute” yelled a strange voice from the other side of the parking lot.
OxyJon
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Solution Series: The Dark
I find it hard to say that everything is all right.
Don’t look at me that way, like everything is all right.
Cause my own eyes can see through all your false pretenses,
But what you fail to see is all the consequences.
You think our lives are cheap and easy to be wasted,
As history repeats so foul that you can taste it.
And, while the people sleep too comfortable to face it.
Your lives’ are so incomplete and nothing can replace it.
...hard to say…everything is alright…while the people sleep…you think our lives are
cheap…while the people sleep…easy to be wasted...while the people sleep...nothing can replace it…while the people sleep….the people sleep…people sleep….sleep…the people…
“Hey mama, I finally made it in town.”
“I should be home in about 15 minutes.”
“Ha! Yea, I know it’s past your bedtime, but you told me to call you once I made it in.”
“Yea, you’re glad alright! You’ll be glad once I hang this phone up, and you can back to sleep.”
“I know, I know, I’m just joking, mama.”
“Well, I’m back now. “
“So you can get some rest.”
“See you in a few.”
“Ok. I love you too.”
“Bye.” BT hung up his cell phone and placed it back in the cup holder that sat between him and the passenger side—the gateway between the controller and the controlled.
It was less than a week after BT had taken his final exams. Moreover, it was around two o’clock in the morning, and BT had finally made it back to his home—Alexandria. Alexandria was a mid-sized suburban city with rural tendencies. It had a slow pace, and not much ever changed there. If something did change, it happened slowly. It was met with distaste and cynicism, or it happened so quickly that no one could control it. So, the Alexandrians did the one thing they do best—judge.
By the time of BT’s summer visit, Alexandria was two generations removed from the movement. BT was far too young to be able to witness what took place, but he could still hear the screams echoing off the old City Hall building at night. You could still see the shadows of young men and women thrusting through the air, as the fire hoses faithfully did their masters’ work. It made BT remember when the kids from that old college were heroes—a retro Justice League with the power to save the day from the city’s arch foe. This is the Alexandria that BT saw at night. Well, except for that other part.
BT called it “Hell”, but only in one of the closets tucked neatly inside the back of his mind. It wasn’t a specific district or block, but BT would sometimes drive through the flames. And, that night he had to in order to get home. Undoubtedly, he would see them again—the fallen angels—dancing to the beat of Satan’s drum. They were all under a spell—hypnotized by sips taken of the Devil’s brew.
BT wanted to judge them, but he couldn’t. I guess because when the Sun swapped places with the Moon the people did it for him. Then, he found himself wanting to defend the creatures of the night. For some strange reason, BT understood them. In actuality, he was almost one of them. The only thing that kept him from becoming them was the heat; he couldn’t take it nor could he dish it out. He heard stories of men dying with their hands on burners underneath dark skies that blazed only for the single moments that would usher the dead into eternity. Forever called them, she came knocking at their doors. With her plodding around the dark, there was no need for BT to judge.
So, since he could not judge, he figured he would come to the rescue. There goes that name again, giving a young man messianic thoughts about himself. He figured that, if he could catch the angels before they fell to the ground, they might just have a chance; maybe then they wouldn’t feel the wrath of the flames and get addicted to the stimulated rush of the inferno. If he could only get them to realize that they are why the people shot us with hoses in the first place—this is what they hoped we’d become. BT figured they could change all that and rewrite their own destinies, if they would just read.
Fifteen minutes had past. BT pulled into the driveway of his house, just as he told his mother he would. He went inside the house, dashed straight to his room, and splashed onto his bed. He didn’t bother to take in his bags. He would do that when the Sun swapped places with the Moon again. For now, it was still dark, and he had his first meeting of the summer with his group scheduled for that day. He needed to figure out what he could say to get his peers to realize why his literacy program was so important. He needed them to have the strength of the ones who marched, protested, took beatings, and fought through the water hoses.
BT stayed up a few more hours that night wondering, envisioning, and thinking, while the people were asleep.
OxyJon
Don’t look at me that way, like everything is all right.
Cause my own eyes can see through all your false pretenses,
But what you fail to see is all the consequences.
You think our lives are cheap and easy to be wasted,
As history repeats so foul that you can taste it.
And, while the people sleep too comfortable to face it.
Your lives’ are so incomplete and nothing can replace it.
...hard to say…everything is alright…while the people sleep…you think our lives are
cheap…while the people sleep…easy to be wasted...while the people sleep...nothing can replace it…while the people sleep….the people sleep…people sleep….sleep…the people…
“Hey mama, I finally made it in town.”
“I should be home in about 15 minutes.”
“Ha! Yea, I know it’s past your bedtime, but you told me to call you once I made it in.”
“Yea, you’re glad alright! You’ll be glad once I hang this phone up, and you can back to sleep.”
“I know, I know, I’m just joking, mama.”
“Well, I’m back now. “
“So you can get some rest.”
“See you in a few.”
“Ok. I love you too.”
“Bye.” BT hung up his cell phone and placed it back in the cup holder that sat between him and the passenger side—the gateway between the controller and the controlled.
It was less than a week after BT had taken his final exams. Moreover, it was around two o’clock in the morning, and BT had finally made it back to his home—Alexandria. Alexandria was a mid-sized suburban city with rural tendencies. It had a slow pace, and not much ever changed there. If something did change, it happened slowly. It was met with distaste and cynicism, or it happened so quickly that no one could control it. So, the Alexandrians did the one thing they do best—judge.
By the time of BT’s summer visit, Alexandria was two generations removed from the movement. BT was far too young to be able to witness what took place, but he could still hear the screams echoing off the old City Hall building at night. You could still see the shadows of young men and women thrusting through the air, as the fire hoses faithfully did their masters’ work. It made BT remember when the kids from that old college were heroes—a retro Justice League with the power to save the day from the city’s arch foe. This is the Alexandria that BT saw at night. Well, except for that other part.
BT called it “Hell”, but only in one of the closets tucked neatly inside the back of his mind. It wasn’t a specific district or block, but BT would sometimes drive through the flames. And, that night he had to in order to get home. Undoubtedly, he would see them again—the fallen angels—dancing to the beat of Satan’s drum. They were all under a spell—hypnotized by sips taken of the Devil’s brew.
BT wanted to judge them, but he couldn’t. I guess because when the Sun swapped places with the Moon the people did it for him. Then, he found himself wanting to defend the creatures of the night. For some strange reason, BT understood them. In actuality, he was almost one of them. The only thing that kept him from becoming them was the heat; he couldn’t take it nor could he dish it out. He heard stories of men dying with their hands on burners underneath dark skies that blazed only for the single moments that would usher the dead into eternity. Forever called them, she came knocking at their doors. With her plodding around the dark, there was no need for BT to judge.
So, since he could not judge, he figured he would come to the rescue. There goes that name again, giving a young man messianic thoughts about himself. He figured that, if he could catch the angels before they fell to the ground, they might just have a chance; maybe then they wouldn’t feel the wrath of the flames and get addicted to the stimulated rush of the inferno. If he could only get them to realize that they are why the people shot us with hoses in the first place—this is what they hoped we’d become. BT figured they could change all that and rewrite their own destinies, if they would just read.
Fifteen minutes had past. BT pulled into the driveway of his house, just as he told his mother he would. He went inside the house, dashed straight to his room, and splashed onto his bed. He didn’t bother to take in his bags. He would do that when the Sun swapped places with the Moon again. For now, it was still dark, and he had his first meeting of the summer with his group scheduled for that day. He needed to figure out what he could say to get his peers to realize why his literacy program was so important. He needed them to have the strength of the ones who marched, protested, took beatings, and fought through the water hoses.
BT stayed up a few more hours that night wondering, envisioning, and thinking, while the people were asleep.
OxyJon
BP: The Oil Has You Slippin'
As you can see, the oil spill caused by the multi-million dollar fuel corporation, BP, has devastated the Gulf Coast. We will, in the near future, see how volatile of an effect this tragedy will have on our entire nation and possibly even our entire ecosystem. BP, you need to step up to the plate take the advice our friend has presented to you in the sign above, "Clean up the Gulf"--be a part of the Solution.
OxyJon
Monday, May 10, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
You Make Me Proud, Sun!
I just want to take time out and applaud the Phoenix Suns’ owner, Robert Sarver. A few days ago on Cinco de Mayo—a Mexican holiday, Sarver decided to take a stand against the newly implemented piece of Arizona legislature known as the “Senate Bill 1070” by having the Suns play in their home playoff against the San Antonio Spurs wearing their "Los Suns" uniforms. Off of the court,this immigration bill has been met by much scrutiny because of the fact that it gives Arizona Police Officers the right to make “lawful contact” with people within our borders, when “reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States”(S.O.L.N.A).
We are all aware of the fact that illegal immigration is a major problem in the US; it has been for decades. I agree that desperate times often call for desperate measures, but they also call for just measures. This bill takes our country over 150 years backwards, past the Dred Scott Decision. I believe this is a problem, and I commend the actions of Sarver, the Phoenix Sun players and fans, and even the man who has adopted more causes than Angelina Jolie has kids—Rev. Al Sharpton. Thank you for deciding to be a part of the SOLUTION!
To read more on the Senate Bill 1070 click the link:
OxyJon
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Solution Series: History
But as I was thinking about the words to share with this class, about what’s next, what’s possible, and what opportunities lay ahead, I think it’s not a bad question to ask ourselves: “What will my place in history be?”…what’s next…what’s possible…what opportunities lay ahead…not a bad question…ask ourselves… “What will my place in history be?”…next…possible…opportunities…place in history be….in history be…history be…be… history….
“Gene”, BT earnestly muttered only to take a life-quenching deep breath afterwards.
“I’m going to need your help with this thing”
Are you going back to Alexandria this summer?”
Gene paused and stared at BT for a moment before she answered, stretching time past its limits. She needed that long moment. She thought that maybe—just maybe—she would be able to understand BT, for just one moment. But, no matter how long she would stare and how far she bent the laws of space and time, she would not understand him and what he had become. So, she finally answered:
“Yes, I’ll be there for part of it, at least. “
“I’ll help you.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Well, I don’t know if this would be possible or not, but I would really like for you to play a heavy role in the planning and organizing process.”
“I need you to help me be the brains of the operation,” said BT with a smile to let her know of the intended pun in his statement.
Gene was the smartest person BT knew, out of the people close to him in age. Secretly, BT wished to have her level of intelligence. He wished he could recognize the things in the world around him in such a way as Gene. But, his biggest wish of all, was that he wished Gene knew she had this power; maybe then she would understand him.
Gene was beautiful too. She would never be a fashion model or a pop icon. Actually, you wouldn’t really know she was beautiful unless you got to know her. Then, you could see the sunset in her eyes and glow of sunrise on her skin. BT saw this. In fact, BT almost loved her. But, he knew that, to her, he was just another guy. And, a girl can meet an army of guys in half a lifetime.
Besides, there was too much pressure for him even to have time to love someone. Most of his time was occupied by battles and the war. The war started when he was born. The two young lovers gave him that name—BT Solution. From then on life was a struggle. The symbol used to identify him became what they expected him to be. They didn’t even understand what his name would mean, unaware of the trouble they’d caused. BT couldn’t blame them, though. They were just two young lovers accidently making miracles and reshaping the world.
The struggle started when he had to step out from under the covering of the two lovers. All he had then was his name. As he excelled in life, they started believing those words were not a name, but some type of divine ordinance—a prophesy being fulfilled by the Most High through him. They all wanted him to be something so badly! And, secretly, half of the time he wanted to be that something too.
The other half of the time, he wished he didn’t have to live up to his own name. He wished they would just stop calling him that. He wished he did not have to have all the answers—solve all the problems. Damn, those two lovers! They made everyone think he was something he could never become—the solution.
“BT Solution”, a voice spoke.
“BT Solution!” the voice thundered loud enough to shake a dead man’s soul
BT blinked sharply, snapping back into reality.
“You can stop smiling now.”
“I get it.”
“I’ll think about all the information you’ve given me so far, and I’ll call you later with my ideas.”
Gene was crazy. She was not schizophrenic or compulsive. She had no multiple personalities. She had no major psychological disorders—at least no more than the next person. But, she was insane. There were people, who owed her nothing but were being dealt bad hands in life. There were people whose futures' were being determined for them and not by them. And, deep down, she was crazy enough to care about that.
This is why BT almost loved her.
OxyJon
“Gene”, BT earnestly muttered only to take a life-quenching deep breath afterwards.
“I’m going to need your help with this thing”
Are you going back to Alexandria this summer?”
Gene paused and stared at BT for a moment before she answered, stretching time past its limits. She needed that long moment. She thought that maybe—just maybe—she would be able to understand BT, for just one moment. But, no matter how long she would stare and how far she bent the laws of space and time, she would not understand him and what he had become. So, she finally answered:
“Yes, I’ll be there for part of it, at least. “
“I’ll help you.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Well, I don’t know if this would be possible or not, but I would really like for you to play a heavy role in the planning and organizing process.”
“I need you to help me be the brains of the operation,” said BT with a smile to let her know of the intended pun in his statement.
Gene was the smartest person BT knew, out of the people close to him in age. Secretly, BT wished to have her level of intelligence. He wished he could recognize the things in the world around him in such a way as Gene. But, his biggest wish of all, was that he wished Gene knew she had this power; maybe then she would understand him.
Gene was beautiful too. She would never be a fashion model or a pop icon. Actually, you wouldn’t really know she was beautiful unless you got to know her. Then, you could see the sunset in her eyes and glow of sunrise on her skin. BT saw this. In fact, BT almost loved her. But, he knew that, to her, he was just another guy. And, a girl can meet an army of guys in half a lifetime.
Besides, there was too much pressure for him even to have time to love someone. Most of his time was occupied by battles and the war. The war started when he was born. The two young lovers gave him that name—BT Solution. From then on life was a struggle. The symbol used to identify him became what they expected him to be. They didn’t even understand what his name would mean, unaware of the trouble they’d caused. BT couldn’t blame them, though. They were just two young lovers accidently making miracles and reshaping the world.
The struggle started when he had to step out from under the covering of the two lovers. All he had then was his name. As he excelled in life, they started believing those words were not a name, but some type of divine ordinance—a prophesy being fulfilled by the Most High through him. They all wanted him to be something so badly! And, secretly, half of the time he wanted to be that something too.
The other half of the time, he wished he didn’t have to live up to his own name. He wished they would just stop calling him that. He wished he did not have to have all the answers—solve all the problems. Damn, those two lovers! They made everyone think he was something he could never become—the solution.
“BT Solution”, a voice spoke.
“BT Solution!” the voice thundered loud enough to shake a dead man’s soul
BT blinked sharply, snapping back into reality.
“You can stop smiling now.”
“I get it.”
“I’ll think about all the information you’ve given me so far, and I’ll call you later with my ideas.”
Gene was crazy. She was not schizophrenic or compulsive. She had no multiple personalities. She had no major psychological disorders—at least no more than the next person. But, she was insane. There were people, who owed her nothing but were being dealt bad hands in life. There were people whose futures' were being determined for them and not by them. And, deep down, she was crazy enough to care about that.
This is why BT almost loved her.
OxyJon
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