by Rupe | Sep 11, 2011 | Reflections
Today was a hard reflective day for me. Â Went out with family for breakfast and then went to the beach at Naval Station Mayport to listen to the waves.
It has been 10 long years now since that fateful day; I still remember standing in my tiny living room in Bangor Washington on Naval Submarine Base, Bangor.
I still remember the stunned, dark, empty, helpless feeling that came over me. Â I suppose terrified would be an understatement. Â I remember calling Ingrid who had just left the house to drop off our son (Marcus), then 2 years old, and telling her to get back home – she said I sounded scared; crap I was probably shitting my my pants.
I remember the intense feeling of dread for me and my family, because living on a submarine base, the possibility of a catastrophic incident was a very real possibility; at that time things were so “screwed up”, we had no idea what was going on…were these nuts planning to attack the base, fly or sail something into one of our nuclear submarine.
I remembered the many hours at work – working to ensure that our nuclear submarines were protected from attack…an attack that would mean serious consequences for the entire Pacific north west.
It has been 10 years now, my son is now 12 and my family is relatively safe and healthy.  As I reflect on the many loved ones who perished on that fateful day and my many fallen “brethren in armsâ€, who have paid the ultimate price since, so that we might not experience such evilness at our doors, I cannot help but feel both humbled and a little undeserving.
This country we call the United States, with all its faults, is truly the best hope on this entire globe, and I am only so lucky and blessed to be  afforded the chance to be protected within its borders and to call myself an American with deep pride. I am truly the  luckiest man alive.
by Rupe | Aug 29, 2011 | Mad Musings, philosophy-religion, Reflections
One of the most noteworthy movies of the summer is “The Help.†Set in Jackson, Miss., in the early 1960s, it focuses on the relationships between white upper-middle-class women and the black domestics who took care of them and their children. Although many reviews of the film were quite positive, numerous critics, including some African-American commentators, have lashed out against it, arguing that the film does not deserve the accolades it has received.
Cultures function and persist by consensus. In Jackson and other bastions of the Jim Crow South, the pervasive notion, among poor whites and rich, that blacks were unworthy of full citizenship was as unquestioned as the sanctity of church on Sunday. “The Help†tells a compelling and gripping story, but it fails to tell that one.
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Source: New York Times
My Comments:
This is an awesome piece by Prof. of African American studies, Patricia Turner, a vice provost at University of California, Davis.
I have not seen “The Help” but I do intend to. I have a somewhat unique perspective on race and racism that I hope to write about in the near future as time allows. I do agree with Prof Turners insights, they are close to mine.
by Rupe | Aug 6, 2011 | Mentoring, Reflections
Here are the top mistakes parents make with their teens and tweens, and how to avoid them.
Things aren’t the way they used to be. Your 12-year-old no longer comes to you first when she feels hurt or disappointed. When your son misses curfew — again — the time-out corner that used to work wonders is now simply, lame. As your child grows into adolescence, you need to adapt your tried-and-true parenting skills to a rapidly changing world.
As tempting as it might seem, don’t throw away everything you know about your child — or yourself as a parent. Your teenager may seem like a stranger in your home, but behind the slammed doors and mood swings, she is still your child. You will face many unknowns in the years ahead. What you can expect is that your limits will be tested and your patience will, at times, wear thin. Here are the top mistakes parents make with their teens and tweens, and how to avoid them.
My Comments:
I can’t believe that my son is getting older and is now in his tween years.  In a couple of week he will be 12 years old…oh boy! it seemed as if it were yesterday when I first held him in my arms.  That tiny bundle of joy that brought so much love to my heart.  I love him so much.  I only hope that I can be a worthy parent to guide him toward a good path in life.  To be a strong, responsible, caring and truthful man.  I ask for understanding from the Most High…I ask for  guidance.
Source: WebMD (Joanne Barker)
by Rupe | Aug 29, 2009 | Reflections
Started reading this book – Denial of Death by Ernest Becker last week and if by coincidence I found out about a buddy of mine – Dave that I wrote about in a previous post. The book rolls across the landscape of Pschotherapy with the greats – Freud, Jung,…, but the premise is that the fear of death stands at the center of man’s motivations. Will provide more a bit more once I am finish reading it here.
