Manns Medium

  For anything to operate, there needs to be a process. This process can consist of many different things but there are a few common denominators that will exist in all of them. This requirement covers all actions, and the only variance is the degree in which each occurs. All behaviors are comprised of three other components which will always be present. First it is the event which spurs a thought, and this thought spurs a feeling which leads to our actions/behaviors, even personalities. Let us take for example, as a child you were playing in your front yard when a big mean dog charged toward you. Once noticing the charging animal (which is the event), there quickly appeared a thought as to the intending of the dog, then based upon that thought, you experienced a feeling (often fear). Based upon that fear, you either took flight or was frozen in place which is the behavior. What takes place now is recorded by the mix-match negative which is the only cognitive part of the amygda...

Let me begin first by advising anyone reading this article that I am not a professional movie reviewer but I do know what I like and am never afraid to share when I am moved by anything or anyone.   Having said that, I must admit that this movie did much more than move me, it demonstrated who we are as human beings and how even non-verbal communications and body language can inspire feelings in any movie-goer. Secret in Their Eyes is rated as a PG-13 movie and categorized as a Crime, Drama, Mystery made on 20 November 2015 but it carries not only a star-studded cast but a story line that is often see but never felt to the degree this movie makes you feel.   It is described as “A tight-knit team of rising investigators, along with their supervisor, is suddenly torn apart when they discover that one of their own teenage daughters has been brutally murdered.” directed by Billy Ray with writers Billy Ray (screenplay) and Juan José Campanella.   It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor...

Throughout the history of this world, man has always had an excuse, a villain upon which to blame its failings.   In the early days of creation the fault was placed upon the snake who talked Eve into convincing Adam to take a bite of the “forbidden fruit”, it then continued the British being called oppressing, the Indians being called savages and nearly every single different group from those who appeared to be in control, this trend continues even today with women not being able to make decisions involving their own bodies to this mythical being many blacks call “the man”.   One would think that by now we would have learned that the only ones truly in control of all of our decisions and the results that comes from exercising those decisions are us but not so fast, now here comes another excuse to dodge responsibility for our own choices, our own actions, and our own lives.   Now comes the excuse of being mentally ill to explain why bad people do bad things.   Is i...

Listening to my local news and wondering, out loud, how someone who has millions of dollars to spend could find themselves millions of dollars in the hole just really did not make sense to me.  Especially since the money that they were spending did not totally belong to them.  I had a hard time understanding how someone trusted to represent those who elected them, could ignore their pleas and cries while pretending to hear them at the same time.  After several days of this and many rhetorical questions later, my wife made one solid suggestion.  She suggested that I either stop complaining or run for office and fix the things I saw was wrong.  As I looked into her eyes, saw that she was serious and felt the faith that she had in me to not only care about the suffering but my ability to figure out a way to stop it, I became convinced that she was right.  It didn’t take much longer for me to begin to conceive of ideas and ways to fix these issues as well as j...

You can call it selfishness, you can call it jealousy, you can call it ignorance or you can call it greed but whatever you wish to call it the number one driver of violence is simply the hatred and complete disdain we have for ourselves. There are no truer statements than the one that credit is given to Eleanor Roosevelt which says “no one can make you feel inferior” and the one I coined that says “our only true limitations are those we place upon ourselves”, both meaning that no one else’s causes you more pain than the pain realized when you know within the depths of your very soul that you are the main reason your life is stuck where it is today and every day.  Anyone may have the strength to knock you down but only you can give them the power to hold you there. You can set up all the barriers you want, you can set up all the obstacles you wish and you can put up as large or high walls and hurdles as you please but you will never stop me from achieving that which I find the ...

For many of those still searching to hear the word of God, closely pay attention to the voice of a child.  A child that has not yet been tainted by the disease of evil, a child that speaks softly and has more wisdom than most adults who may have existed far too long in this hell-hole of our own creation. I speak about the recent tragedies of children dying like the article titled “ Desperate search for missing two-year-old Noah Chamberlin ends in tragedy as boy's body is found a week after vanishing while on a hike with his grandmother”   found in the Daily Mail or this article titled “ 5-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot in Beloit found on WIFR dot com.  Remember back when your child begged you not to fight.  Did you listen or did you allow evil to possess you and wanted to make sure you taught whomever a lesson about messing with you?  Do you constantly tell your children not to take anything from anyone and the true measure of a little boy being a man is when h...

One of our local news station here in Rockford, Illinois, WREX posted a story on their website titled “ Several armed robberies reported in Rockford ”  by Breane Lyga and leave it to our local closet Klan members to be the first to chime in with comments and statements that would make most people say shut up.  They offer solutions that simply don’t make no sense because these are the same solutions they offer what any story that they comment on.  It’s somewhat annoying to read these things and often times you skip them thinking that they are not worth the time.  In this case you would be wrong because one of the comments did have smart advice and caused me to think of how we can put a serious halt to all this crap without violence as many suggest. The article reported that; “ The entire city of Rockford is on high alert after a string of robberies to people and businesses. Police confirm at least 13 armed robberies since 3 p.m. this afternoon and 12 of them seem...

For all those wanna-be bad asses in America that think the only way to solve a problem is behind the butt of a gun, let me ask you a few questions.  The true meaning of ownership is that which you can take with you wherever you go even in death and since none of the material things you covet, you are able to do that with, what is it that you truly own.  In death, all you will be able to take with you is your soul so why is it not the most important possession to protect?  Why do we pretend that what we purchase is worth the life of another person when it is not something we can take with us where ever we go and why is it so important to pretend to care about the plight of man on one hand while pulling that trigger on another man from the other?  How many of you would be willing to be responsible for the taking of 10 lives simply because you were so set on ridding the world of all those who don’t think or act like you. I asked this because I ran into this article...

You read that title right America, my school will reduce veteran suicides because the numbers do not lie and it is clear that what has been attempted in the past is not working.  We have assumed that throwing money at veterans would be the answer.  We have assumed that holding job fairs and offering businesses tax credits for hiring a veteran would do it.  We have assumed that placing them on disability and welfare would do it.  We have been convinced that donation and charity would answer the screams of veterans all over this nation demanding help and getting none.  We have assumed that saying “thank you” would quiet the voices within the heads of these veterans and within our own very souls.  We were and still are so very wrong.  We are wrong because we lack the understanding that the main underlying issue faced by veterans who contemplate suicide has nothing to really do about money.  It simply has something to do about dignity and respect. ...

Stumbled upon this article titled “ Boy, 8, faces murder charge in beating death of Alabama toddler as child's mother partied at nightclub: authorities ” written by Nicole Hensley for the New York Daily News and was mystified to find that more than just the mother of the victim and the 8 year old boy was charged.  Would have thought that the mother of the 8 year old would also be charged with nothing less than neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The article reports; Katerra Lewis, 26, has been charged with manslaughter in the death of her young daughter. The girl’s mother, Katerra Lewis, left Kelci Devine Lewis alone with five children overnight as she partied with a friend at a night club on Oct. 11. The 26-year-old found her only child unresponsive at a Birmingham home the following morning. The murder charge was announced against the boy Tuesday, AL.com reported, making him the youngest such suspect in Jefferson County in recent memory.  A 6-year-ol...

There is not much that can get my dandruff up more than seeing an official abuse their authority or say one thing while doing another.  You see this a lot in politicians, promising one thing on the campaign trail but seemingly to quickly forget their first few hours in office but they are not as closely related to the community as a whole than those elected to sit on our benches in our courts.  Most Americans see this place as the only place left on earth where they can get a fair shake and the impartiality of those wearing that robe would listen, hear and understand their plight, provide them with a sense of belonging and even help where ever they could.  Today’s justice is not benched with judges such as these but people with their own agenda, their own bias and an overwhelming mixture of self-importance.  This can clearly be seen in the case reported by an article titled “ Florida judge berates domestic abuse victim, sentences sobbing woman to jail ” by Melissa C...

I remember growing up watching shows like “Adam-12”, “Emergency” and “Chips” along with “Baretta”, “Dan August”, “Ironside” and “Perry Mason”, all of these shows lead me to believe that the world was simply black and white, good or bad, right or wrong.  It made wishing to choose good and because good often always won over bad, as a kid I wanted to be on the winning side.  I share this with you because I think, this may have been the same reason the subject of the below article choose to put forth the efforts necessary to earn wearing the uniform of the Providence Police Department.  It may also have been the reason his son, stood side by side with him when they refused to just stand by and watch a crime happen, when they choose to stop sitting on the sidelines and get into the game.  The major difference is my results of dreaming and achieving can never compare to what happened to him and his son. I speak about an article titled “ A Black Officer Finds Himself O...

I know that I cannot be the first to suggest such an unthinkable solution to what many are calling our over populated prison system but I don’t hear much coming from those born with a microphone.  I am very much aware that the reason for this is the enormous amount of money this system generates for those able to capture it and make it private.  I am aware that it could be that those closet Klan members (black, white and Hispanic) sitting on America’s bench, would rather keep their finger pressed down upon those that they see as beneath them and this is the only legal way that they can do that.  I am aware that the threat of jail used to be all that anyone would need to get a confession even from an innocent person and now all it appears to be is a warehouse where those who we see as inferior can be placed without it ever being referred to as a concentration camp. Knowing all this, it still escapes me why not many others are calling for or willing to stand up and mak...

Often we dream about what others will say about us when we are gone and what, if any, affect have we had on the world while we were here.  Many attempt to get their names in lights or on the tongues of many others who remain while there are some whose idea of making a difference is meddling in the affairs of others.  But what seems to be missed by so many who claim to be paying attention is the greatest lesson you can teach and the only real legacy you will leave is the education you have passed on to your children. An example of this is an article titled “ Beloit Police arrest two 12 year olds in Family Video robbery ” posted by Mark Mayhew for our local station WREX.  In it he reports that “ Beloit Police arrested two 12-year-old boys in a Sunday night robbery at the Family Video store on Henry Avenue.  The original report stated two black males displayed a handgun and left with cash.  Beloit Police were able to identify the boys and arrested the first on...

Talk to anyone who has a strong opinion about immigration, gay marriage, terrorism, racism or choose from any other highly dramatized topics of today and you will hear someone say that we are losing our country.  The sad part is they are correct but the rational for saying it could never be further from the truth. Some wish you to believe that we are losing our country because of the massive influx of immigrates sneaking into this country and violating our laws, our people and it’s way of life.  Others wishes you to believe that we are losing our country because of those who envy us and our way of life so they are bound and determined to make this nation into what they would like it to be.  And then there are those who say that certain Americans are destroying this country from within by pushing the agenda of a certain evil never before seen.  All can present a pretty good case for their belief but it does not make it right, it only make it passionate. My th...

I am sure you have heard the saying, be careful for you wish for.  Well the voters of Illinois are probably regretting their strong support and vote for Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner now.  Since taking office, many of the planned projects designed to better equip Rockford to join the 21 st Century have been put on hold as well as programs designed to help those struggling families of the Stateline being cut under the guise of balancing Illinois budget. Never mind that over 3 million dollars, which could have been used to fund many of the programs Rauner is, has or thinking about cutting was used to upgrade the governor’s mansion.  Supporters say that was because that money was slated for that cause so my question becomes hy then is he justified with taking the money slated for those services and using them for other purposes? Classic example is an article found on WREX.com from the Associated Press titled “Democrats to hold hearing on Rauner education czar's sa...

To many, racism is defined as black and white and because it has been accepted in that form for far too long we outwardly wonder why it has been so hard to eradicate.  Simple answer is because our definition of racism is poorly defined and is far from what actually tells the complete story. I was quite appreciative of a video I saw featuring Morgan Freeman who said the words that I have been trying to say for so long.  It will not do it justice to try and repeat those eloquent words here so I direct you to that video found on Essence Magazine’s site titled “ Morgan Freeman Explains the Deeper Issue Behind Racism ”.  You can find it here ( http://www.essence.com/video/morgan-freeman-explains-deeper-issue-behind-racism ).  You owe it to yourself to listen and please have an open mind when you do because so much can be explained by this revelation.  Racism comes in many different forms and not all of it has anything to do with race.  There are whites ...

With all of the stories about police brutality, many wonder what can be done to stem or even change this behavior.  They often times research the policies and procedures of police to find the answer but sometimes the answer could be as plain as the nose on your face.  Here is a suggestion for those who encounter today’s era police where they are very much aware that nothing they do will ever see the light of a court room.  Remember the old saying that you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar; well the same is true in this case.  If you are a religious person, use the lessons from the Bible when dealing with not only hostile and angry police but any hostile or angry person. Stay humble, make your point but do not argue because you will not win.  Officers have a catch-all crime that they can use to charge you with and still keep themselves convinced that they did no wrong.  The charge is resisting arrest coupled with assaulting an of...

Calling all parents, not just those who are with the kids from birth but those also who contributed to the creation of that child.  It is time for all of us to step up and put an end to this type of senseless violence as only parents can do.  How many more young lives are we going to watch get destroyed before we say enough and step up to show them a different way than the way of the streets. This is the third type story that I have read this week and it is three to many.  It can be found at Missoulian.com and it is titled “Teens plead not guilty in homeless men's deaths”.  In it you will read, “Three teenagers indicted in the beating deaths of two sleeping homeless men in Albuquerque have pleaded not guilty.  The teens entered their pleas Friday and were ordered held on $1 million cash-only bond.  The 15- and 16-year-old suspects were charged as serious youthful offenders and indicted on first-degree murder charges. They will be tried alongside 18-yea...

Far be it for me to judge but the truth often hurts especially if it is a truth that no one really wants to hear.  This is the case with this article so for those with sensitive egos, you may wish to stop reading here. Speak to anyone who takes their parenting really serious and the first thing you will hear from them when addressing why they make some of the decisions that they make and you will hear “I don’t want my kids to grow up like me.”  That statement alone is not only a cop out and an excuse but a poorly constructed one to boot.  Think about it!  You don’t want your children to grow up like you. You who takes their parenting responsibilities so serious that they stay in a loveless marriage or in a thankless job in order to keep the family together.  You who take you’re parenting responsibilities so seriously that you make time to show up at each and every event that your child or children are involved in.  You who take you’re parenting so se...