Tuesday, June 9, 2009

What Do You Stand For?

So many things cross my mind everyday and I sometimes wonder what it is that I stand for. This may sound like a crazy question but before you Scooby Doo me, ask yourself the same thing. Things are constantly happening around us, I recently heard that Atlanta ranks second in the nation with its crime rate. How many of us are turning the other cheek because we think it doesn't affect us. The fugitive lists are long, are these people really that hard to find or is everybody is too busy to look twice at the people around them. Oh, maybe you stand for not being labeled a "snitch". As Fred Sanford would say "you big dummy"! Keep falling for it if you want too.


The question again is, what do you stand for? The videos that are played on t.v. that give young girls, teenagers and even grown women the wrong idea of what a real woman is, what she should look like, and subconsciously limits the things women can become. Do we stand for only entertainers, and booty shakers? Are our men (especially black men) afraid to be themselves because we think the only thing a man can become is a ball player, rapper, or just a hood figure? What have we become as a people?

Because I am blessed to have a job, does that entitle my employer to do, and say what he/she wants because they feel that I can't do any better because of this recession thing? What do you stand for when it comes to respect? How do you stand up for yourself, the people around you, your community?

People that stand for something don't fall for anything, they don't go for anything. When you take a stand you may find that things and people aren't always what they seem. When you stand for something the world looks different. You see more opportunities, you put yourself in the position for great things to happen. Back in the day, civil rights leaders and ordinary people stood for something. The village raised the kids. The kids are now our parents and/or grandparents. They are the reason we have choices today. If you think about it, we really don't have a choice but to do better for the next generation.

I challenge everyone today to stand for something. Even if its pressing the issue of getting better customer service at the grocery store. Let someone know they could be better at what they do and you deserve to be treated better in the process. Give people the respect they deserve and teach them how to respect you in return. Some simply don't know.

Remember stand for something or fall for anything.

I welcome comments @ freshholmes@yahoo.com