Do We Really Live In A Post Racial America?

I am sure that most of us have heard or gotten the notion from certain segments of society, and the media, that the election of President Obama means that we now, all of a sudden, we live in a country where racism has become a thing of the past. That we now have a level playing field for which we should be grateful. I almost get the feeling that some people actually believe that the election of a black president some how makes up for 400 years of slavery, and decades of oppression there after. But in all reality bigotry is still pervasive in certain parts of this country.
An African American couple in Mississippi were denied the right to get married in a pro dominantly Caucasian church in which they were members simply because they are Black. The congregation even threatened to fire the Pastor if he held the ceremony there. When The story broke I assumed that the commenter was referencing to a story from the 50's or 60's. Imagine my surprise when I realized that he was actually talking about something that happened a few days ago, in 2012!!!
This is proof that Jim Crow is still alive and well in certain parts of the country, and the idea that having Barack Obama as President is going to erase 465 years of slavery and cultural conditioning is ridiculous. Especially with people like Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck, fanning the flames of racism each and every day. Gun sales in America have soared since the Presidential election in 2008, due to the propaganda and fantasy created to convince middle America to vote against their own self interests. Their being told that the President is going to give the country to African American's, they are being told that universal health care is wrong because it, in some way, takes away from their quality of life. They are bombarded by bias news outlets that play to their worst fears and, had misguided them by stating fiction as fact. Do we live in a post racial America? NO! Will we ever?
Speak on it!

PR

Why Is It That Suddenly Anything Goes?

Recently I saw a disturbing photo on Facebook. It was the picture of a pre teen boy proudly posing in a dress! Almost as disturbing were some of the comments that followed. People said things like, we should love him because as Christians we should love everybody. But since when does love mean acceptance. The reason that I set standards for my children is because I love them and I have certain expectations of them. My son once said that he wanted to be a Pro Wrestler but I didn't run out and sign him up with the WWE. My youngest daughter decided once that she wanted to be called "Hello Kitty Brown" but I didn't run out and change the name on her birth certificate in the name of being supportive. I just explained to both of them difference between fantasy and reality. I also explained to them the fact that just because something seems good to you does not mean that it is good for you.
One of the things that makes us a civilized society is the fact that we don't indulge, or give creedence to every urge and impulse. My job as a father is to guide my children in the right direction because they are not mature enough to guide themselves, or make their own decisions. Our job as a Christians is to set a standard for others to follow by being Christ like, not to rationalize the actions of those who are in the world by encouraging the way they live their lives. If we don't stand up for what is right, it's the same as condoning what is wrong. I realize that everyone is influenced by a certain set of circumstances but we have to try to promote positivity especially in our children, not encourage immorality.

PR

The Colorado Tragedy, Law Enforcement, & The Media

The senseless slaughter of 12 innocent movie goers in Aurora Colorado was one of the worse tragedies in American history. There is no doubt about that. But I must admit that I am perplexed by the way law enforcement handled the arrest & by the way the media has been handling the news coverage of the story. First I'll start with law enforcement. How in the world was this guy able to leave the theater dressed in fatigues with an assault weapon in his hand after murdering all of those people without being fired upon by one police officer at the scene? No matter what kind of make shift uniform I had on, if it had been me the outcome would have been much different. Sean Bell was shot and killed by Police & he wasn't even armed. Amadou Diallo was shot & killed by Police & he was only reaching for his wallet. There have been numerous cases where unarmed men and women have been shot & killed by Police for doing nothing, and without provocation. It's seems to me that some people are automatically deemed threatening, while others are given the benefit of the doubt.
As for the media, their coverage of this tragedy leaves a lot to desired. I have heard James Holmes, the perpetrator of this crime called a suspect, a hard working student, and a relatively normal guy. I have never heard him called a thug, a savage, a terrorist, a gang member, or a violent criminal. All adjectives often, and readily used in reference to other segments of society when they are accused of crimes. Who cares about his academic aptitude. Does anyone care about what kind of student Charles Manson, or Hitler was? No, because the fact that they left their mark on the world as blood thirsty mass murderer's.
It almost seems like the groundwork is being laid for an insanity defense. All you see is pictures of this guy looking doped up, with his crazy red hair, suggesting that he has a mental defect, and while it is tempting to believe that he is insane, I hope that his punishment fits his crime, and he does not get away with it by pleading insanity.

PR

How Can Anybody Not Believe In God?

I had a very interesting conversation with one of my coworker's recently. He explained to me that he is an agnostic. Basically what that means is that he neither confirms or denies the existence of God. It's like saying that he doesn't really believe in God but just in case God is real he'll be on the right side of things because he didn't just disregard his existence outright. I was completely baffled, and a little disturbed by this revelation, & when I asked him why, he explained to me that he has a hard time believing in something that he could not see. Yet he believes in the air that he breathes, and he'll admit that there are many things that man just cannot explain. I refuse to believe that the entire universe was created by happenstance, circumstance, or a big bang. I refuse to believe that the engineering of my eyelashes to keep the dust out my my eyes just some how happened to be. The Lord has proven himself to me too many times for me to believe that he is a simple figment of my imagination, steeped in tradition, upbringing, and fantasy. I feel sorry for those who do not believe, and I pity them even more.
Living your life without at least being a believer is a dangerous game, because you have no standards by which to guide your moral compass. It's hard enough living life as a Christian and true believer. I couldn't imagine living my life being guided by my flesh. Choosing to live life by my own personal code which I could and probably would adjust any time that I was in the mood or felt that I was justified in doing so. My last words to him were "I'll pray for you".
Psalms 14: 1-7
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

PR

Do Absentee Father's Deserve Rights?

Father's rights has long been a sensitive subject especially in the black community. I have often heard women complain about the dead beat father's of their children, who are unable or unwilling to provide for or have anything that vaguely resembles a relationship with their offspring. This narrative has been repeated so often that it has almost become synonymous with African American males, and absentee father's in general. But the reality is that their are many good father's out their who have fallen victim to a bias and corrupt system which has more often that not, been used as a weapon by some bitter and vindictive women.
Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of males who are not equipped to be fathers or men for that matter, but their are a lot of us who enjoy being in our children's lives, and could not imagine life without them.
The family court system can be a useful tool when it comes to protecting children and looking out for their welfare but in cases where custody, child support and visitation are involved, fathers are often demonized and treated as if they do not have the capacity to be responsible. I have known men who have paid child support, got visitation orders, and still were not allowed to see their children . The child's mother got angry because the father moved on and decided to use the child as a weapon against him. Not realizing that no one is going to be hurt in this situation more than the child.
The bottom line is when you decide to lay down with someone there is always a chance that you can become linked to them forever, and the child being that link should have the benefit of being raised by both parents regardless of any issues or animosity. That being said, those fathers who want to be active in their children's lives should have every right to do so without obstacles in their way.

PR

"Half Way Christian's"

There is no gray area when it comes to salvation, & it has been my observation that a lot of us Christian's use what I call creative interpretation in order to justify their personal feelings instead of denying their flesh. The Lord has given us a guidebook (The Bible) by which we must live, and abide. We must pray for wisdom, & discernment before we read scripture, and we must be a part of a good bible based church.
Life is always going to have it's ups and downs but we have to remember to live our lives as uncompromising examples, so that others will see our light's shine, not wavering, uncertain, halfway Christians willing to
compromise with the way of the world. When you were in sin you were "all in".
Then you should be "all in" with salvation.

The Day Super Man Left

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you! This is the very first posting of my weekly blog, "The PRBrown Report". On this blog I will be discussing many subject's but I would like to begin my foray into the world of blogging with a personal poem.

It was a warm June night, the day that Superman left.
Upon hearing the news that I didn't want to hear, I could not believe that he actually took his last breath.
I fought back the tears as the sadness came, and my children asked "Daddy, what's wrong?
I remembered the words of another hero of my mine, saying, son, you have to be strong!
I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying, but it just may be the hardest thing that I have ever had to do.
I just pray that my life will have half the impact that his did once my life is through.
Super man never judged me even when I judged myself, and he was always there to rescue me whenever I needed a little help.
He never criticized me, and was always there to lend a helping hand.
He never failed to be a shining example of what it is to be a man.
It is only now that I realize that he is not truly gone, because when I look deep into to my son's eyes I realize that his legacy still lives on.

PR