Thank you President Bush

There are lists and blogs and articles and editorials about the awful presidency of George W. Bush. He was especially dogged during this presidential election – by both Democrats and Republicans. While he certainly made some serious mistakes and I didn’t agree with all of his decisions – it is sad that the main (and possibly only) thing that anyone will remember about President Bush is the war in Iraq.

Whatever your personal opinions about George W. Bush, he must have done at least one or two things right because he was re-elected in 2004. He served our country in the most demanding, highly scrutinized and difficult job in the world. The citizens of this country owe him a simple “thank you” if nothing else.

As we move forward and begin to support and pray for our new president – let’s not fail to thank and continue to pray for our outgoing president. Thank you President Bush!

Proposition 8 -- California

My home state got it right. Californians passed Proposition 8 yesterday. Proposition 8 eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Great job Cali! This will be a continued war for sure but every battle victory on this issue should be celebrated.

President Obama

Congratulations to Barack Obama!

Pray

No matter how you are voting (or have voted) today -- please remember to pray for Barack Obama and his family. There remain people in this country who would rather go to jail or even die than to accept a Black man as President.

Racism is alive and well and living in every state, city and neighborhood. Let's pray that the Obama family does not become a victim of the ugliest display of racism.

Let's all pray for their safety. Then let's continue to pray for our nation.

Lord help. . .

I Can Only Imagine – Part II

So what might an Obama presidency look like?

With Obama in the White House, Black folks will have a direct and private line to the President of the United States. We will finally have someone in the White House who will make significant, positive changes in minority communities. We will have change beyond anything we could ever imagine.

With Obama in the White House our financial woes will be no more. He will make sure that all of the “little people” are not only heard but paid. Obama (the Robin Hood of “The Hood.”) will right all that is wrong with the world. President Obama will create peace on earth and good will toward all men. There will be hope at last for all the people who have been forgotten over the last 8 years.

I swear – this is what I hear on Black radio every day! Comical ain’t it?

I Can Only Imagine

What might a Barack Obama victory look like? Black radio and TV stations are absolutely working themselves into a frenzy with anticipation. Black folk know how to party and an Obama victory will have “us” literally dancing in the streets. Honestly, the history making aspect of it makes me proud as well.

For the first time in American history there will be an opportunity for Black folks to celebrate a significant event -- simultaneously. Not even the freeing of the slaves could have been as momentous (in terms of a collective celebration) because the news of freedom was spread so slowly. It will be a celebration like nothing we have ever seen.

Democrat or Republican, pro-Obama or pro-McCain – no matter how you vote, if Obama wins, I believe (at least initially) every Black person in America will celebrate the extraordinary moment. Just a few short years ago I said that I did not think there would be a Black president in my lifetime. And now, it’s a real possibility – even an eventuality.

But OK, Black folks, after the celebration be mindful of the fact that the excuses that we’ve used for so very long will no longer be valid. Hopefully we will begin to look to ourselves for solutions. Hopefully we will begin to accept responsibility for our own “stuff”. No longer will we be able to point to that obscure “man” as the reason for our continued struggles. If Obama wins – “the man” will be one of us.

Pagophagia

Growing up my mother often told stories of me to standing in my crib, peeling the paint off the walls and eating it. She also said as a toddler I would go outside, put my hand into the gopher holes (my grandmother’s yard was full of them) and grab a handful of dirt to eat.

My own memories of craving the unusual go back to elementary school. I seemed to always have an ice cube in my mouth. Over the years the “ice thing” has grown increasingly worse. I crave ice like crazy – all the time.

My second husband hated the sound of my ice crunching so much that I was banished to the garage to eat it – as if going outside for a cigarette or something. I am so used to it and so close to it that I can’t tell but the sound of it must be incredibly loud and annoying. People mention the sound even when I don’t even realize I’m eating ice.

Several years ago I was told that the craving was a symptom of anemia. I’ve been so diagnosed several times throughout my lifetime and consequently prescribed iron to address it. But, for whatever reason, I’d rather eat ice than take iron.

This disorder is called Pica. Pica is defined as a medical disorder characterized by an appetite for largely non-nutritive substances or an abnormal appetite for some things that may be considered foods, such as food ingredients (e.g., flour, raw potato, starch, ice cubes).

OK, confession time -- my cravings go a bit further than ice. I actually crave the smell of rubber – as in rubber tires. I can stay in the tire section of a store forever, just sniffing away. Tennis shoes often have the same scent and I love it. (Go ahead and laugh.)

Today I was thinking about my cravings and decided to do some research. According to all I’ve read, both the ice and rubber issues are tied to my iron deficiency. I find it fascinating that the human body responds to deficiencies in this way.

Today I learned that Pagophagia is the name for craving ice specifically. So now when people are annoyed by the sound of my ice crunching I can tell them I can’t help it. I suffer from pagophagia.