Manns Medium

  As far back as the memories will allow, life has not been the subject of legends living with Doris. From the denial of saying goodbye to your father at the age of three to leaving your alone to fend for yourself at the age of seven. From attempting to sell your off to marry for off to some very old guy to disappearing for weeks with no word and no apology when she finally returned. All of these your still find it hard to forgive and even though your wish you could forget, you know that forgetting is not possible so your simply exist and struggle every day not to retaliate especially since you took her into your home over seven years ago and her health is declining. For the remainder of her earthly life, you dedicate yourself to her service, making and transporting to hundreds of doctor’s appointments, juggling work, family, and her care. Going to bed each night mentally and physically drained only to get the very next day and doing it all again. Weekends bring a small bit of ...

  The Idea that because something bad has or is happening to me, gives me the right to take any action that I deem appropriate even if it results the most unnatural act of all, the taking of another human being’s life.   Ethan Crumbley entered his Oxford High School armed with a pistol and the knowledge that it was okay to shoot it up because his family had been totally disrespected by those immigrant parents who did not care about learning and is the primary cause to his family’s financial struggles. He wanted to change his mind and was hoping that someone would talk him out of it or stop him from completing his task, but no one stood up for him, no one saw him, no one heard him, and no one listened to him.   The desire to win the admiration of his parents won out that day and ends now with a 15-year-old teen being charged as an adult on 24 counts of murder and terrorism. He sits in his jail cell, under suicide watch and with a public defender at his side, while ...

  If we are completely honest with ourselves, even the blind can see the connection between mental issues and criminal activities.   You can gather all the proof your need through live interviews with those who are currently incarcerated or those who have a criminal record including misdemeanors.   Since there are not one human being free of trauma in their lives which spawns a mental issue, the alarm should ring quite loudly when you hear them say that they are fine, normal, sane, or free of sin.   The very fact that a living, breathing human being thinks that they are immune from mental issues should, itself, be very alarming. We all begin contact with mental issues at birth.   Abandonment is the first mental trauma we face as we are forced out of the only safe and secure environment that we know.   We then spend most of our time trying to make sense of this new world that we are now a part of.   To get an idea of how we are supposed to...

  I remember the times when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, many called him the “Anti-Christ” and proclaimed that he would lead many down a very destructive path.   A destructive path that will cause major damage to humanity and this very nation but last check, Barack Obama preached calm and even demanded protest to remain peaceful and non-violent.   Can we, honestly, say the same thing about Donald Trump, by which, none of those claiming Obama as the anti-Christ even whispered this titled be attached to Trump.   Let’s be honest, for it is written “Romans 16:17-18 says I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve”.   Which explains why, I was not too surprised to find this headline in th...

  The very nature of this species called “man” is one where we can be easily influenced and with an unchecked amount of influence can be easily corrupted.   This corruption can come in many different forms and often we focus on a simple type while ignoring or refusing to see the others. I contend that the filibuster is one form of corruption wielded by those who care less about the majority and more about the group of which they, themselves, are a member.   As a species, we find comfort in aligning ourselves with like-minded individuals and because of that we convince ourselves that what we envision is always the correct path for a town, a city, a community, and a nation.   To view it any other way would mean we would have to force ourselves to consider another’s truth and their opinions even if they differ from our own. As many of you well know, a filibuster is a parliamentary procedure used to prevent a measure from being brought to a vote. It occurs because on...

  No other adage can be counted upon to be proven true than the adage which says that history repeats itself.   This is abundantly evident with the newest moves from the Georgia State GOP.   According to the Associated Press dot com, in an article titled “ Georgia House passes GOP bill rolling back voting access ”, it is reported that “Republican lawmakers in Georgia muscled legislation through the state House on Monday that would roll back voting access, over the objection of Democrats and civil rights groups gathered at the Capitol to protest.   The bill comes after record turnout led to Democratic wins in Georgia’s presidential election and two U.S. Senate runoffs. House Bill 531 passed the lower legislative chamber by a vote of 97-72. It now goes to the state Senate for more debate. The far-reaching bill would require a photo ID for absentee voting, limit the amount of time voters have to request an absentee ballot, restrict where ballot drop boxes could be loc...

  To say that I was surprised to be directed toward an article titled “Evanston, Illinois to begin distribution of up to $25K in reparations to Black residents” written by DeMicia Inman for Yahoo News dated March 4, 2021 would be an understatement.   I guess my surprise came when I realized that this action, while maybe of good intentions, would clearly do more harm than good in the long run.   The article reported that “the midwestern city is the first in the country to establish reparations with a commitment of $10M over the next decade.  In Evanston, Illinois, eligible Black residents will receive reparations up to $25K as part of a commitment from the city. ABC News reported that the city, north of Chicago, will begin issuing payments this year. 5th Ward Alderman Robin Rue Simmons pushed for the legislation. She was inspired to work on closing the racial wealth gap through her own experience growing up Black in Evanston and still living there t...