Manns Medium

Commentators, pundits and experts wonder aloud why it is that this President and his Administration does not get the credit that they deserve.   While it is true that it is due to those opposing this president at every step are allowed to misrepresent his accomplishments, it may be also because many news agencies concentrate more on the confrontations than they do the real meat of the argument. Take for example an article written by Laura Rozen for The Envoy titled U.S. announces diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea .   All day today, we have heard nothing much mentioned about this huge milestone in the fight to give credit where it belongs.   Instead they have spoken mostly about the Arizona and Michigan primaries.   Now while that is also an important news story, I believe that something this huge would at least get an honorable mention. In this article Ms. Rozen reports that “t he United States announced a major diplomatic breakthrough with Nort...

It appears that every single time, Washington does anything to help ease the pain of the middle class and poor in this country, some egghead or a group of them see this as an opportunity to take advantage and make money on the backs of those who have suffered most in our country.   When are we going to say enough is enough and start hitting back?   When will the middle class and the working poor stop being a victim and start reclaiming our mantle as more than just dollar signs with legs to those who prey on us? Recently, the Obama Administration secured a very large down-payment for those homeowners who have done the right thing and kept up with their mortgage payments even though they were the only ones playing by the rules.   The task force assigned to bring those responsible for this casino creation to justice is still working diligently and for those Americans who did all that they could to keep their homes and their American Dream alive but were victims to th...

With all of the recent rhetoric about who may or may not be a Christian, I decided to check the only true authority on the subject.   I looked through my Bible and here is what I discovered. First John Chapter 1 to 6, 9 through 11, 15 through 17, and 26 through the 27 th .   I combine these because I believe each verse has a particular message that we all need to hear.   It begins; “my little children, I am telling you this so that you will stay away from sin.   But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father.   His name is Jesus Christ, the one who is all that is good and who pleases God completely.   He is the one who took God’s wrath against our sins upon himself, and brought us into fellowship with God; and he is the forgiveness for our sins and not only ours but all the world’s.   And how can we be sure that we belong to him?   By looking within ourselves:   are we really trying to do what he wants us to? ...

I sat and watched the funeral on television and heard the wonderful words of those who knew her best but as they were talking, I could not help but wonder if she knew and had heard God call her home.   The more I thought about it, the more I began to see a pattern which leads me to believe that she did hear the voice of God calling her home. I first began to think about this when her bodyguard of many years mentioned that she never came into his room before but had this time.   He mentioned that she laid her head upon his shoulder to tell him that “we are going to be alright”.   It was as if she was telling him in her own special way, that you were a great friend and a comfort to me so do not cry because we will be alright.   Then other things being said started to come to mind.   I recall of being told that Whitney attempted to contact a friend of her’s but they kept missing each other.   I recall hearing that Whitney had been advised against baths...

Some time ago I wrote an article about this very same subject and for those who may have read it, please forgive me if I repeat.   For those who haven’t read it, then please ignore this request and stand by to receive the thoughts and opinions that I possess. For many in the African-American community this word carries with it a term of endearment and others is stinks of disrespect.   Depending on which side of this issue you find yourself on, determines what you may feel about it.   While it is in my nature to respect the thoughts and feelings of everyone, I feel that no one should allow any subject, topic or idea to define them and please do not be unwilling to except the fact that not all you converse with on this subject will change their minds.   Excepting that premise, please bear with me as I detail my thoughts on the subject. I believe that the original title came about when the slave traders were attempting to label the slaves that they brought back ...

In a month where many celebrate the achievements and advancements of African-Americans which contributed a lot to the current status of this nation, another group which has had the same dramatic effect has been the plight of women rights which appears to be under assault by those who claim to want a smaller government but are now willing to place police in the examination rooms.   Take for example the recent decision made by Susan G. Komen to stop funding breast cancer screenings through Planned Parenthood.   In an article by Lylah M. Alphonse titled Planned Parenthood Decision Puts Spotlight on Susan G. Komen's Politics she reports that “The Huffington Post reports the decision came just months after Komen hired Karen Handel to be their senior vice president for policy in April 2011. Handel ran for governor of Georgia in 2010 on a pro-life platform and promised to eliminate state grants to Planned Parenthood, even as she acknowledged that the state money did not fund a...

On Tuesday night Show Rachel Maddow brought this story to us about the Republican controlled State House and Senate passing a bill which would require doctors to perform a transvaginal ultrasound on any woman seeking an abortion without her approval.   That means that doctors will be allowed to ram an object into a woman’s vagina without her permission legally.   How ignorant is that and why was it allowed to even get this far? Up until she expanded her coverage with a segment in tonight’s show, this seemed too farfetched to believe.   I could not believe that veterans like I was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice so elected officials could take away freedoms earned on the battlefield.   But what truly makes my blood boil is that it seems the voters of Virginia is just sitting by and allowing this to happen.   It makes me quite sad that Virginia voters care so little for the blood, sweat and tears that veterans spilled so they could have the freedom of ch...

By no stretch of the imagination am I pretending to be as smart as or smarter than those who do politics for a living but as a connoisseur of this mess, I do develop a few thoughts and opinions every now and again. Many professionals say that if the economy gets worse, President Obama will have a harder time getting a second term and I can see their reasoning for it but I think that a few opposers of this president have discovered a more plausible reason to deny him a second term.   It is in the turnout.   Many voters who are very much aware of the tactics being played by those who are really trying to block their vote will be driven to the polls for that reason alone but it’s those who are so confident that they do not have to bother because of the lack-luster opponents fielded by the GOP that worries me.   We saw this in the midterms which now explains clearly why we are in the position we find ourselves today. Many will surmise that surely the others will...

Regardless of how you frame your stance on this debate, one thing is clear.   No one will be happy with the outcome whether there is a compromise or not.   For some it’s about giving all women the same rights and freedom as every other woman when it comes to protecting their health.   For some it’s about being forced to do something that goes against their teachings and their religious freedom and for some it’s about Catholics objection to the co-pay of providing contraception coverage.   For the rest of us it’s one of the best arguments for a single-payer health system which allows businesses to keep that money and re-invest it back into their business or hire more workers.   Either of these would work as a wedge to keep us from finding the correct balance as long as we phrase it as “us against them” so bottom line, no compromise will frankly be many calling card. I to find myself falling into that category some times and can be as stubborn as any...

It sometimes appears that events happen without a reason but I am a full-fledged believer in everything happening for a reason.   Even though we may never understand why they happen, there can normally be found a very good reason for them.   It must be made clear, however, that reasoning is totally up to individual interpretation and in that arena, who can really say whose wrong or right. I say that because of the recent fallout over this contraception debate which now has turned into an assault of religion.   Many first complained that the Affordable Care Act forced religious organization to violate their oath of not having anything to do with contraception.   It has now been made clear that many who are complaining the loudest have supported the opposite position in the past.   Mike Huckabee signed an identical law into law when he was Governor of Arkansas; Mitt Romney did nothing to change that same status while he was Governor of Massachusetts, many ...