tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142881862024-03-15T20:10:22.058-05:00My Name is VictoryMy name is Aisha. I'm some sort of professional writer, marketer, PR practitioner. Communication and community make me happy. I like anime, books, comics, games, livetweets, music, poetry, and soccer. In my dreams, I'm a cosplayer.Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.comBlogger301125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-28375708734289624212018-03-25T20:41:00.000-05:002018-03-25T20:41:25.234-05:00I'm Tired.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdR9GKV4yGWP99NxWbdW-Z2tQf1fJA1mloSwwLUUBtKayD4xg6hDRJUq07ruSg1YyAM1Lx8x1Nh_6cynInUE6ag4Z7NscMIv6Ef3mxJdwcWR5XGxNtz29jA68eskfelAZF7R-/s1600/I%2527m+tired..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdR9GKV4yGWP99NxWbdW-Z2tQf1fJA1mloSwwLUUBtKayD4xg6hDRJUq07ruSg1YyAM1Lx8x1Nh_6cynInUE6ag4Z7NscMIv6Ef3mxJdwcWR5XGxNtz29jA68eskfelAZF7R-/s320/I%2527m+tired..png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_932803931"></span><span id="goog_932803932"></span><br />
Truth is, I'm tired.<div>
<br />Silence is an exercise and that membership has been paid<br />Awakening again.<br />The best plans laid have been exposed for lies, after years of hearing the cries of the mistreated<br />You thought my silence meant I'd been defeated, but you missed the memo<br />Head down, not in fear or shame but unlearning, researching, relearning and growing</div>
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You think you know it all, but your fruit is all the proof I need to know <br />There's been the promotion of a lie that you're now willing to die for <br />But this argument that you continue to present, while you vent and assure me, I need to repent is the one rooted in deceit<br />And the tree planted at your feet, you're using for refuge will one day refuse to shelter you</div>
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And you wonder why I don't want to spend my time with you<br />And you ask why I removed my presence<br />My soul, my essence is worth protection and until you stop with this incessant rejection of facts you will not see me back<br />Because truth is, I'm real tired<br /><br />Untold years of this misbehavior and I'm supposed to believe you suddenly really see me through the eyes of a Savior?<br />Whom you swear is also mine but somehow my sins are seen as a greater crime because, well...<br />Let's just say your understanding of diversity is limited because your actions tell me you want assimilation and my train doesn't have time for that station <br />I'm going to keep rolling on to find another location where the damnation of outcasts isn't seen the final culmination for their hopeless situations </div>
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<br /></div>
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Where extortion isn't exacted weekly to make someone feel guilty because they chose the roof over their heads or to feed their family<br />Where who you know or how much you give doesn't earn you a seat at the table or access to the Members Only elitist culture that does more to separate than to satiate the need for reconciliation<br />Where a good amount of talk is done and names are dropped, making the actions done seem somehow cheap</div>
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Let me stop before I'm called out for calling out what I've seen, what I've been<br />But know, I see you, I know you, and I won't be afraid of you anymore<br />Because truth is, I'm real tired</div>
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And I'm trained, and my faith remains strong as ever<br />I'm tired but I'm clever and I'm going to continue to do the work given me to do<br />I'm tired but I'm chosen so I won't be frozen in place by the limitations you try to corral me with<br /></div>
<div>
Because I'm tired, I refuse to let the next generation burn themselves out before their time<br />I may be tired but I'm no fool<br />I may be tired but the passion of generations before me is my fuel<br />I'm tired but I'm going to fight because the moral majority was never right<br /></div>
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And I've been given a light and a voice<br />I refuse to let the weight of that choice drain and demand everything of me<br />I'm going to live the life given me as carefree as I can be and hope to possibly inspire others to take their stand </div>
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I'm tired because I carried the weight of your expectations for so long I was convinced it was my burden <br />But I'm no beast and my back won't be broken doing the labor for your child-like, selfish entitlement <br />Hear what I said and know what I meant<br />I am who I am and for that, I won't repent<br />You may soon see me again, but please know my friend the shadow of who I was won't ever be seen again<br /><br />Truth is, I was tired but now I've been set free<br />I'm no longer sacrificing myself on your altar of gentrified piety</div>
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Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-83768087012914344722017-06-13T19:38:00.000-05:002017-06-13T19:38:52.677-05:00RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack Reaction: Like Morning Follows Night<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7JlQdgZ4ZuRSjgM_9jA5o_BmWsFC-Rsfr1FMAsnJahRlCNip4RHOjEiJDgz5JJ98-T3PxRT-rhpfOmFM3CdRcQKEgGZzPj92opDfZw3X-p078Dr2iP3PwJH3zXuuzHiKiMQe/s1600/tumblr_inline_on4xpyLkA61tjk7q0_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="445" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7JlQdgZ4ZuRSjgM_9jA5o_BmWsFC-Rsfr1FMAsnJahRlCNip4RHOjEiJDgz5JJ98-T3PxRT-rhpfOmFM3CdRcQKEgGZzPj92opDfZw3X-p078Dr2iP3PwJH3zXuuzHiKiMQe/s320/tumblr_inline_on4xpyLkA61tjk7q0_500.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/search/blacksun%20rwby" target="_blank">BlackSun RWBY Tumblr</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1480253856"></span><span id="goog_1480253857"></span><br /></div>
Wait! I see neither morning, nor night. What's happening here, Aisha? Well, nothing yet.<br />
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The RWBY Volume 4 Original Soundtrack & Score won't be released until June 16, 2017. So until then, no arguments about whether or not this song is another allusion to Black Sun <i>(Eclipse)</i>. Of course, I totally think it is, just like <i>"Not Fall In Love"</i> from Volume 3. But I'm not here for ship wars as much as I am for music. đ<br />
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All of that to say, my reaction will be available sometime within the next couple of weeks after release. In the meantime, if you haven't read the introduction, <a href="http://lifeandvictory.blogspot.com/2017/06/rwby-volume-4-soundtrack-reaction.html">check out the first post</a>. Make sure to grab your pre-order on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rwby-vol-4-original-soundtrack-score/id1243958486" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rwby-Vol-Original-Soundtrack-Score/dp/B071WGDP95" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, or grab a hard copy in the <a href="https://store.roosterteeth.com/collections/rwby" target="_blank">Rooster Teeth Store</a> when it's available.<br />
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Rock on, y'all!<br />
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<h3>
RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack Songs List</h3>
<div>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://lifeandvictory.blogspot.com/2017/06/rwby-volume-4-soundtrack-reaction-lets.html">Letâs Just Live</a></li>
<li>Like Morning Follows Night</li>
<li>Bad Luck Charm</li>
<li>This Life is Mine</li>
<li>Home</li>
<li>Armed and Ready</li>
<li>Lusus Naturae</li>
<li>Bumblb</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<i>Lyrics on <a href="http://rwby.wikia.com/wiki/RWBY:_Volume_4_Soundtrack" target="_blank">RWBY Wikia</a> or Lyric Videos on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/dalittleman001/videos" target="_blank">FlyntofRWBYNation's YouTube</a>.</i></div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-4147555931820486992017-06-13T18:14:00.002-05:002017-06-13T19:45:18.362-05:00RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack Reaction: Letâs Just Live<object height="577" width="450"><param name="movie" value="https://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf?1"><param name="flashvars" value="id=388643967&width=1337"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="https://backend.deviantart.com/embed/view.swf?1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="577" flashvars="id=388643967&width=1337" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://kimmy77.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-Poster-388643967">RWBY Poster</a> by <span class="username-with-symbol u"><a class="u regular username" href="http://kimmy77.deviantart.com/">kimmy77</a><span class="user-symbol regular" data-gruser-type="regular" data-quicktip-text="" data-show-tooltip=""></span></span> on <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/">DeviantArt</a>
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These are my thoughts on <i>âLetâs Just Liveâ</i> from the RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack. For more details on each of the song posts check out <a href="http://lifeandvictory.blogspot.com/2017/06/rwby-volume-4-soundtrack-reaction.html">my introduction here</a>. If youâre looking for a different song, hyperlinks at the bottom of the page will get you there quickly. Enjoy!<br />
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<h3>
The RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack Reaction Awakens</h3>
Many of the new songs for RWBY Volume 4 made a big impression upon me, but this one hit me right in the heart. Iâve loved <i>âLetâs Just Liveâ</i> from the first time I heard that opening drum and guitar drive, and this full-length version only reinforced my affinity for it.<br />
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It took me almost 20 minutes to get through the five-minute song, because I kept pausing so I could reflect or cry. Lately, Iâve struggled with the value of my life, if it has any meaning other than repeated failure. Iâve wondered why I keep trying, why do I keep fighting when life continues to dole out utter trash? I know, thatâs just life. To see whatâs happening all around the world and feel like thereâs nothing I can do to help, to see friends and family struggle and not have anything to give; itâs tempting to want to give up. Incredibly tempting.<br />
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Hearing the anthemic declaration <i>âLetâs Just Liveâ</i> is just what I needed. I am ridiculously moved by words and music, so this is powerful to me.<br />
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The second verse continues to tell the story of Beaconâs favorite students and the challenges theyâve faced as the realities of life smacked them in the face. There are some moments here where matching the lyrical flow of the first verse get a little, interesting; but it doesnât halt the experience.<br />
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By the time it gets to the breakdown in the latter half of the song, thatâs exactly what happened to me. I paused as the tears ran down my cheeks. I listened to the words, more than a couple of times in that slowed down section.<br />
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I love the theatrical build of this song. It comes back with a powerhouse guitar solo and finishes with an altered chorus for the outro. Man, it is so good!<br />
<h3>
<br />Final Thoughts on Let's Just Live</h3>
Life has its ups and downs, but we make decisions to get back up when we fall, to face the scary parts, to move forward even when weâre faithless or feel that everything has fallen apart. I really do love this song! Oh and the Easter egg in here - all aboard the Feels Express. <a href="http://rwby.wikia.com/wiki/Jeff_Williams" target="_blank">Jeff Williams</a> has my heart in his hands.<br />
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Itâs not without its hiccups. There are parts where the mix seems weird, maybe itâs just my audio setup, but overall itâs a strong showing.<br />
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The RWBY Volume 4 Original Soundtrack & Score will be available June 16, 2017, and is currently available for pre-order on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rwby-Vol-Original-Soundtrack-Score/dp/B071WGDP95" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rwby-vol-4-original-soundtrack-score/id1243958486" target="_blank">iTunes</a>. Hard copies are sure to be available in the <a href="https://store.roosterteeth.com/collections/rwby" target="_blank">Rooster Teeth Store</a>.<br />
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<h3>
RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack Songs List</h3>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Letâs Just Live</li>
<li><a href="http://lifeandvictory.blogspot.com/2017/06/rwby-volume-4-soundtrack-reaction-like.html">Like Morning Follows Night</a></li>
<li>Bad Luck Charm</li>
<li>This Life is Mine</li>
<li>Home</li>
<li>Armed and Ready</li>
<li>Lusus Naturae</li>
<li>Bumblb</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<i>Lyrics on <a href="http://rwby.wikia.com/wiki/RWBY:_Volume_4_Soundtrack" target="_blank">RWBY Wikia</a> or Lyric Videos on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/dalittleman001/videos" target="_blank">FlyntofRWBYNation's YouTube</a>.</i></div>
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Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-53880859787522019702017-06-13T17:42:00.001-05:002017-06-13T20:20:07.239-05:00RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack Reaction: Beaconâs Ready to Bop!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgfqsyacKWWC8tWrFw39BYfzeE5KFj9xLVvjP7kEilXHJVXP9rDrU3wSByzfxhnWNdtH_9O6xrceP7fr-PYmoE9FLsKEkaMEy7fxf1T7mcNicPBNd757FiRiOzUZ8depDthqI/s1600/RWBY+Vol+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgfqsyacKWWC8tWrFw39BYfzeE5KFj9xLVvjP7kEilXHJVXP9rDrU3wSByzfxhnWNdtH_9O6xrceP7fr-PYmoE9FLsKEkaMEy7fxf1T7mcNicPBNd757FiRiOzUZ8depDthqI/s320/RWBY+Vol+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover Art for the<br />
RWBY Volume 4 Original Soundtrack & Score</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The RWBY Volume 4 Original Soundtrack and Score has a release date of June 16, 2017 and four tracks are available for pre-order now on both <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rwby-vol-4-original-soundtrack-score/id1243958486" target="_blank">iTunes</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rwby-Vol-Original-Soundtrack-Score/dp/B071WGDP95" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. Nothing in the <a href="https://store.roosterteeth.com/collections/rwby" target="_blank">Rooster Teeth Store</a> yet, but as of "print" promotional social media has begun.</div>
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Yes, I downloaded the pre-order; darn my impatience when it comes to music! I wasnât planning on a write up, but three minutes into <i>âLetâs Just Liveâ</i> that changed. Jeff Williams loves playing with emotions, I see.<br />
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<h3>
RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack: The Way My Reactions are Set Up</h3>
My RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack reactions were written in the moment to capture the <i>Oh My Gosh This is FINALLY Happening!</i> of it. I paused long enough to write out how I felt or what I was thinking. I say this because there are sudden transitions, which I left unfiltered, because I hope it better captures the moment. I edited for grammar and, full disclosure, there are some spots where I went back to complete my thought.<br />
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The first paragraph for each song has my initial thoughts, based on what we knew from its appearance in the show, or in the case of <i>âBumblbâ</i> how much I think <a href="https://youtu.be/SD9RrQ18jqo?t=37m37s" target="_blank">Jeff Williams loves trolling the fandom</a>. Because, câmon yâall know he had fun at the expense of BumbleBY shippers. Iâm going to laugh if he later says itâs a ReNora song, or something crazy like that.<br />
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In addition to my reactions, Iâve added thoughts on the songs themselves, lyrics, production, musicality, etc. I donât want to call it a legit review, but itâs as close as I get. As some of the reactions had quite a bit of content, Iâve split them into separate posts and provided links to navigate directly to each song.<br />
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When the full soundtrack is available, Iâll add the other four songs. Yes, I know full versions of <i>âArmed and Readyâ</i> and <i>âLusus Naturaeâ</i> already exist, but those arenât <i>final</i> so Iâll wait. Yâall rock, thanks for stopping in. Click below to quickly move to the various recaps.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack Songs List</h3>
<div>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://lifeandvictory.blogspot.com/2017/06/rwby-volume-4-soundtrack-reaction-lets.html">Letâs Just Live</a></li>
<li><a href="http://lifeandvictory.blogspot.com/2017/06/rwby-volume-4-soundtrack-reaction-like.html">Like Morning Follows Night</a></li>
<li>Bad Luck Charm</li>
<li>This Life is Mine</li>
<li>Home</li>
<li>Armed and Ready</li>
<li>Lusus Naturae</li>
<li>Bumblb</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<i>Lyrics on <a href="http://rwby.wikia.com/wiki/RWBY:_Volume_4_Soundtrack" target="_blank">RWBY Wikia</a> or Lyric Videos on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/dalittleman001/videos" target="_blank">FlyntofRWBYNation's YouTube</a>.</i></div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-66551484848416799042017-05-27T14:20:00.000-05:002017-05-29T16:50:08.258-05:00RWBY Chibi Season 2 Episode 2 Recap - Who You Gonna Call?<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>*<b>note:</b> this review has potential spoilers if youâre not caught up with the main RWBY series*</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Salutations! The title alone for </span><a href="http://roosterteeth.com/episode/rwby-chibi-season-2-2-f83hkg" style="font-family: inherit;">RWBY Chibi Season 2 Episode 2, Geist Buster</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, begs for this post to be riddled with 80s references, jokes and slang. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(You did read the title, right?)</span></i> How can I fall for such a cheap trick? Thereâs a lot a material for a girl to work with, but Iâll try my best not to push it too far. Are you giving me the, âWhatchu talkinâ âbout Willis?â face yet? </span><b style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Surely you knew I would not resist. Surely. </i></b></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Letâs check out what the beautiful ones are up to in this weekâs episode!</span><br />
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<h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
RWBY Chibi Lit up by Literature</h3>
<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
Our first short, <i>âBook Loversâ </i>starts with the belle of the bookish ball, Blake, immersed in a good book. Enter the RY of Team RWBY. An âinnocentâ question leads to monumental joy from the usually somber <a href="http://lifeandvictory.blogspot.com/2017/05/rwby-chibi-season-2-episode-1-recap-my.html">Baewatch #1</a>, who is convinced her teammates have finally converted into normal, book-loving people. Look at this sheer happiness!</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeSztFwq01IjWL8o212U_SNOIrM5e_HBKBrFT9cjbVONnCnVR6N82RBzSWHLTIg_yj70h9YVGUh-1DDyt69HVp-rVT0icF3-SjA4cfqLL7hyLxqpWu6pBj0ZrO5TI5lhYJmo2/s1600/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+2+Book+Lovers+%257C+Happy+Blake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="383" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeSztFwq01IjWL8o212U_SNOIrM5e_HBKBrFT9cjbVONnCnVR6N82RBzSWHLTIg_yj70h9YVGUh-1DDyt69HVp-rVT0icF3-SjA4cfqLL7hyLxqpWu6pBj0ZrO5TI5lhYJmo2/s200/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+2+Book+Lovers+%257C+Happy+Blake.png" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot: Hello Happy Kitty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><i>She likes big books and she cannot lie, these other kittens canât deny/ When she sees a thick spine, with a story thatâs divine, she hits a yowl/ Kitty got stacks!</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Now to be certain, the Xiao Long-Rose sisters are not to be trusted. Do they want to expand their minds? Of course not! Their cheeky chuckles are a dead giveaway there will be no enjoyment of the written word. Heathens! #smh #icant #wtf</span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT446g4bIKwzfGa06gjbMLKAwRfTpDeQ0YS-RT3Rxp9hBgcsHUuR9o11WUkAag2Q69cVsqDh1HXxqB2QI3aax2Qj50rVOBHM-31DZvfM8duKBlVi-XF85rpGM5hrRffcbcmtbh/s1600/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+2+Book+Lovers+%257C+Xiao+Long+Rose+Girls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1159" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT446g4bIKwzfGa06gjbMLKAwRfTpDeQ0YS-RT3Rxp9hBgcsHUuR9o11WUkAag2Q69cVsqDh1HXxqB2QI3aax2Qj50rVOBHM-31DZvfM8duKBlVi-XF85rpGM5hrRffcbcmtbh/s400/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+2+Book+Lovers+%257C+Xiao+Long+Rose+Girls.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot: Feel the wrath of Team Xiao Long-Rose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
Yang may be Baewatch #2, but dafuq you doing boo? What did books ever do to you? At least she continues to embody <a href="https://youtu.be/Y_UmTeepGLw">Pun-kelman-senpaiâs sense of humor</a>. Anyone else expect a punny book title and pause the video? Your unlocked achievement reward was book titles, âHow to Arm Yourselfâ and âAnother Punâ thrown from Yangâs right hand. Pure, freaking comedic <a href="http://rwby.wikia.com/wiki/Gold">GOLD</a>!</div>
<div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><i><b>Additional book titles: </b>Slave to the Sword, The Man With Two Souls, The Sais of Passion, How to Read and Write: Part 1</i></span></blockquote>
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<h3>
Just Monkeying Around</h3>
RWBY Chibi Season 2 continues to give us Sun, as he swings his tail into action in the bump. It made me think of the old Fairy Tail bumps with Happy. We move on to a saddened Neptune attempting to clean and polish his Vale Junior Detective badge, lamenting its inability to shine. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Yet another song in your head!)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
This short, aptly titled <i>âShiny Badgeâ</i> continues with some peanut butter, cheeky lines from Sun and a super cute Zwei⌠and thatâs really all I can say about that. I mean Sun and Zwei, in the same shot, what else do you need? Also once you watch it #ewwwwgross!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Gutbusting Geistbusters</h3>
The next bump stars fan-favorite villain and master of the permanent hair flip, Roman Torchwick. I always thought heâd go out with a bang, but he got Attack on Titanâed instead. But I digress.<br />
<br />
Best girl is back with her Wile E. Coyote-esque signs. Sheâs neat, petite and cruelly sweet - itâs <a href="http://rwby.wikia.com/wiki/Neopolitan">Neo</a>!! The one person who can kick Baewatch #2âs butt and I wonât mind. In <i>"Geist Buster",</i> Torchwick is devising a nefarious scheme to end the girls called <a href="https://youtu.be/5LGI2YNGPY4">Plan G</a>. A sneaky little poltergeist Grimm is sent on its way to wreak havoc. Hello maniacal, evil overlord laugh!<br />
<br />
Blake is literally not having any luck with books today. Chibi Yang punching at the air in an attempt to fight stray books is cuter than it should be. And Snow Angel works Myrtenaster to try to lend a hand, but all of their efforts fall flat.<br />
<br />
The Devious Duo go on to destroy âLittle Redâ, when they find her with the other favorite kitchen ninja, Ren! His perfect pancakes quickly become home to a new host, causing our heroes pain and leaving Roman to believe heâs finally won.<br />
<br />
Until Nora, Ms. Steal Yo Scene casually enters the picture. I donât know how Samantha Ireland gets through her lines, there has to be hours of outtake laughter. Iâm sure I donât have to tell you, but Torchwickâs plans burn out, thanks to the Valkyrie.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWLLCCm-uIxZHdvYxnozPbgBUG5LB67ZNf2EO5gfXFjp5Gn7avP-IIx8VYOTDH2v-jL7LhGmaJqQpJwKsXnn7_t7QWPz6yUSKIOyvHTNMNg573mk2vA8SXVuf3uXKHkyLs-GX/s1600/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+2+Geist+Busters+%257C+Nora+Always+Wins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="1025" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWLLCCm-uIxZHdvYxnozPbgBUG5LB67ZNf2EO5gfXFjp5Gn7avP-IIx8VYOTDH2v-jL7LhGmaJqQpJwKsXnn7_t7QWPz6yUSKIOyvHTNMNg573mk2vA8SXVuf3uXKHkyLs-GX/s320/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+2+Geist+Busters+%257C+Nora+Always+Wins.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot: Nora, the hero we all deserve.<br />
All she does is win, win, win no matter what.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
RWBY Chibi Season 2 Episode 2 Final Thoughts</h3>
<br />
RWBY Chibi Season 2 Episode 2 was super short at only 2:57. I laughed, on the first and third shorts and I was grossed out by the second one. Well, honestly I did laugh at Mr Cool not being able to keep up; Iâm so mean! Itâs not my favorite episode but it was solid, in my opinion. That may have to do with the large amount of Blake and/ or Yang screen time. Youâve probably noticed, theyâre my faves.<br />
<br />
The RWBY Chibi wardrobe styling is pretty freaking amazing! The attention to detail for all the characters is quite something. From the rich value of the ombre on Blakeâs tights, to the vivid red ruffles on Rubyâs skirt and boots, to the brilliance of Yangâs emblem, transparency of the sheer on her skirt, to the little, bitty lavender bandana at her chubby knees, and the way Weissâs patterns stand out, these animators must love what theyâre doing! Itâs also noticeable with Neo and Roman, with all the little markings we know so well from their 2D counterparts. Who else just thought of <a href="http://gorillaz.wikia.com/wiki/2-D">this guy</a>?<br />
<br />
What did you think of RWBY Chibi Season 2 Episode 2? Did the adorable Zwei gross you out? Is Nora your hero? Comments are open.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Adventure Points:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Puns are fun! </li>
<li>Plan G Easter egg</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-23804273450250042872017-05-20T10:20:00.000-05:002017-05-29T16:51:51.535-05:00RWBY Chibi Season 2 Episode 1 Recap - My Cheeks are Red Like Roses from Laughter<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5p5J6MskE4j86T__knlzEfZuCmX8XzrWoeSLPuTYSHiNi41MqPYtsBNw_OXVPc5-57rSSeWdb0ep_6Fc3DJe2G_Vu8Yn_2-nFL3_nSiOROmLs-IpWqQzIa_nUgXWT6Qq2Ess/s1600/rwby_chibi_season_2___team_rwby_fan_poster__v1__by_raidenraider-db92uld.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5p5J6MskE4j86T__knlzEfZuCmX8XzrWoeSLPuTYSHiNi41MqPYtsBNw_OXVPc5-57rSSeWdb0ep_6Fc3DJe2G_Vu8Yn_2-nFL3_nSiOROmLs-IpWqQzIa_nUgXWT6Qq2Ess/s320/rwby_chibi_season_2___team_rwby_fan_poster__v1__by_raidenraider-db92uld.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://raidenraider.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-Chibi-Season-2-Team-RWBY-Fan-Poster-v1-680377441" target="_blank">RWBY Chibi Season 2 <br />Team RWBY Fan Poster by RaidenRaider</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>*<b>note:</b> this review has potential spoilers if youâre not caught up with the main RWBY series*</i></span><br />
<br />
Laugh and the world laughs with you, laugh at yourself and youâll always be entertained. My twist on a classic quote and something I try to live by to keep myself from being so dang serious. Laughing at yourself is good, unless youâre like the Joker, then itâs probably criminal, but I digress. Letâs get to recapping <a href="http://roosterteeth.com/episode/rwby-chibi-season-2-1-fhs8yg">RWBY Chibi Season 2, Episode 1: Director Ozpin</a>!<br />
<div>
<br />
<h3>
RWBY Chibi Season 2 picks on RWBY writers</h3>
Geeks, nerds, and the like, itâs back! RWBY Chibi is ready to tickle our funniest bones, and as the above intro suggests, <a href="http://roosterteeth.com/">Rooster Teeth</a> is poking fun at themselves. This begins with the stunted observation powers of usually wise headmaster, Professor Ozpin, pre-Oscar <strike>nomination</strike> transmutation, in the âDirector Ozpinâ short.<br />
<br />
We have the same adorable intro as last year until Baewatch #2, aka Yang, accidentally uses her super strength to push over the âCHIBIâ portion of what is revealed to be a set, causing Baewatch #1, Blake, to tumble from the RWBY portion up top, and fall onto Yangâs head. Two seconds in, and we already have shipping AND handling; and all the <a href="http://rwby.wikia.com/wiki/Burning_the_Candle_(score)">BumbleBY shippers</a> fangasmed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv9IYCFQuDq8GNrDPXohF_Owu09BfSvohMyurnAOeJROz1dPlkmwKnJMf2IoZAjycs6gpcILlq01Oc5YJX5kkCML7pBc9hcaVJp8jVZ7kO7_L1qNOc9uWJAzSNZ-_SxFehSyP/s1600/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+1+Intro+%257C+Blake+and+Yang.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv9IYCFQuDq8GNrDPXohF_Owu09BfSvohMyurnAOeJROz1dPlkmwKnJMf2IoZAjycs6gpcILlq01Oc5YJX5kkCML7pBc9hcaVJp8jVZ7kO7_L1qNOc9uWJAzSNZ-_SxFehSyP/s320/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+1+Intro+%257C+Blake+and+Yang.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RWBY Chibi Screenshot: BumbleBY Shipping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In strides Chibi Ozpin <i>*fangirl squeal*</i> to find out whatâs going on when Ruby suddenly starts to have the Scooby-gang worthy idea that maybe there is subterfuge within the ranks?! <i>*gasp*</i> Our wistfully optimistic Ozpin tries to put her anxious mind at ease, laughing off her concerns, and sending our brave huntresses-in-training to play in the Grimm-filled woods. < sarcasm font ><b><i>What a leader!</i></b>< /sarcasm font > I wonât say exactly what happens, but Mercury and Emerald are on hand at opportune moments. <br />
<br />
To wrap it up with the ultimate burn <i>(yes, yes I said it)</i>, Cinder is there to add her fiery, sarcastic pokes at Milesâs and Kerryâs writing. I mean, why not? The rest of the fandom does it.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Side note:</b> Can I just say that Karaâs delivery of Weissâs âso not here for the shenanigansâ voice makes me think of the greatness that is Rihannaâs donât give a funk attitude. Itâs a thing of glory and beauty. Thank you Kara, I applaud you.</i></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
RWBY Chibi is out of this world</h3>
I donât know why CRWBY enjoys tap dancing on our geeky little hearts, but they do it. Often. Making us alternate between laughter and tears like pubescent teenagers, Ă la <a href="http://animaniacs.wikia.com/wiki/Katie_Ka-Boom">Katie Ka-Boom</a>, with their stories. The bump before the next short, âUFOâ prominently features Pyrrahâs <i>(pour one out for the homie)</i> shield spinning across the screen. Yes, this is right after watching Ozpin get handled by Cinder. Rooster Teeth, feel the burn of my side eye. ALL. OF. IT.<br />
<br />
In any event, Nora, Queen of the Boopdom, Jaune, the Duke of Personality, and Pyrrah, our beloved, inCinderated Knight are gathered around farm toys <i>(a callback to Season 1's Compost King)</i>, producing their own alien abduction story, where the spinning shield is the âUFOâ <i>(excellent transition, btw)</i>. It all falls to hell suddenly when Pyrrah loses control due to a sneeze. Yay for the return of Jen Brownâs epic âSorry!â Also, Nora with her extraness; the trauma, the drama! Boop.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeRZ08IuRBMRBw8g_ab1gkbNK5rasHg1ETu9_8ex-rJ6_rVFmmKmD_41ME86XWYsfftom8P89HjRMDf649lFbC7FFt1ZuTbLfT5MnebAJ6bSc_cRjoLPAyEOol99o8Bq5mBay/s1600/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+1+UFO+%257C+JNPR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeRZ08IuRBMRBw8g_ab1gkbNK5rasHg1ETu9_8ex-rJ6_rVFmmKmD_41ME86XWYsfftom8P89HjRMDf649lFbC7FFt1ZuTbLfT5MnebAJ6bSc_cRjoLPAyEOol99o8Bq5mBay/s320/RWBY+Chibi+Season+2+Episode+1+UFO+%257C+JNPR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RWBY Chibi: JNPR Shenanigans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
No dodging friendship in RWBY Chibi</h3>
Finally, itâs time for a friendly game of âDodgeballâ in the short of the same name. Ruby, Yang, Jaune, Nora, Absmaster Sun, Bro No Hydro Neptune, Zwei!!! and the ever-precious, Penny are gathered here today to get through this thing called Awkward Social Interactions.<br />
<br />
After some Captain Obvious-style statements from Bro No, the game begins, faces are crushed and mega-important extremities lost in retaliation. Although obvious in heading, the schtick was still funny af and weâre treated to an ending shot of a poised and happy Penny and Bro No, decked out in his Junior Detective âstache, so allâs well that ends well.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Final thoughts on RWBY Chibi Season 2 Episode 1 </h3>
Iâm excited for the new season of mini RWBY goodness, and ready to laugh my *** off. I thought this was a solid episode, clocking in at just over three minutes, with three shorts giving us Zwei, two new Chibi versions of characters, three villains, the four mains, and five friends. <i>(see what I did there?)</i> The animation is lovely, almost sparkly and I like the return of the vibrant colors and whimsical music. As a final note, character wardrobes continue to follow Volumes 1 - 3.<br />
<br />
Itâs great to hear all the voices, and yes I readily admit, Lindsayâs Ruby makes me happy â fight me. It would be great to see Chibi Ironwood <i>(OMG how do you even make him adorable?)</i>, Glynda <i>(but yeah, I know)</i>, Klein, Qrow with a baby flask, and Raven simply because sheâs a badass and I want to see that in cutesy form.<br />
<br />
Taking shots at themselves was a great way to start the new season. Iâm hoping to see more RT-worthy antics, dry humor, and find Easter eggs from other Rooster Teeth properties in RWBY Chibi Season 2.<br />
<br />
Which RWBY characters do you hope to see in Season 2? Are there any stories youâre hoping they tell? What did you think of the first episode?</div>
<div>
<br />
<h4>
Adventure Points:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Poking fun at self </li>
<li>Use of the word â<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nefarious">nefarious</a>â </li>
<li>Pennyâs use of ânormal meat personâ made me think of <a href="http://www.vertigocomics.com/browse?content_type=comic&keyword=CLEAN-ROOM-2015">Gail Simoneâs âClean Roomâ comic</a>, where I believe the term was âmeatbagâ</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-64930616290885272672017-04-18T17:55:00.001-05:002017-04-18T17:55:44.502-05:00Worthless Dreams<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgfuTSv3C5vOGYSbZMHKQl5vydO1q_6oHw3qkCpqigWKe6emCO7FVaujGSKGvwtjTWHL0VZbSmleKHoFkNGvIn8XfxSkQ66bzqzc-jPOjlP7Mxd2dyXxu2pIk_fBUubUvITsP/s1600/Dream+Shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgfuTSv3C5vOGYSbZMHKQl5vydO1q_6oHw3qkCpqigWKe6emCO7FVaujGSKGvwtjTWHL0VZbSmleKHoFkNGvIn8XfxSkQ66bzqzc-jPOjlP7Mxd2dyXxu2pIk_fBUubUvITsP/s200/Dream+Shadow.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/evelynishere/3309499794" target="_blank">EvelynGiggles</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span id="goog_2006291460"></span></div>
I hate dreams.<br />
<br />
I aged into it. As a child, I loved them. I lived for them. I now know I wasted so much time, head in the clouds, certain the world would change through dedication and hard work.<br />
<br />
It hasn't. It refuses.<br />
<br />
And so, as many who have gone before me, I find dreams and any semblance thereof,c to be of little value. <br />
<br />
Dreams are nightmares waiting to happen. <br />
<br />
Dreams are waiting for a seeming eternity and yet "fulfilled" in anti-climaxes. <br />
<br />
Dreams are internet trolls pranking us. <br />
<br />
Dreams (well fulfilled ones) live in a village I can't find the directions to. <br />
<br />
Dreams are debilitating. <br />
<br />
Dreams take your breath away and laugh as the sparks of hope that once danced in your eyes flicker out.<br />
<br />
Follow your dreams, be brave, step on the edge, fall to a figurative death.<br />
<br />
Get better or get bitter, or best yet, stop having dreams and there's nothing to worry about.<br />
<br />
F*ck hope and her sister faith.<br />
<k and="" br="" faith.="" her="" hope="" sister=""><br />Dream at your own risk.</k>Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-57348465255757180092017-01-18T17:02:00.000-06:002017-01-18T17:02:01.901-06:00I'm Building My Own Sandbox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPYIFeggT8AKVuL1b2pITfrX7xO_7Liy6gNm29-g4rrytjppBDy9jPF_VPGzawAmpcTWjI8KUnCHHrL4s9b59krMcDB40L358qlqT_I_pA06rak6Yaw2BsySHGHTao8_j5Ol0/s1600/Sandbox%252C_gardens_of_Scho%25CC%2588nbrunn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPYIFeggT8AKVuL1b2pITfrX7xO_7Liy6gNm29-g4rrytjppBDy9jPF_VPGzawAmpcTWjI8KUnCHHrL4s9b59krMcDB40L358qlqT_I_pA06rak6Yaw2BsySHGHTao8_j5Ol0/s1600/Sandbox%252C_gardens_of_Scho%25CC%2588nbrunn.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I will succeed. I will be happy, healthy, financially stable, debt free, and able to give exceedingly. I will have time to spend with my family and friends.<br />
<br />
Not everyone's path is the same. Not everyone's success is similar. Tenacity is important, but one person's drive may not resemble another's.<br />
<br />
Our differences in approach to life are as diverse as our external makeup. I've often discounted and disqualified myself because I'm not like the other people I admire who are incredibly successful.<br />
<br />
But we all have our own ways.<br />
<br />
Life likes to help you along sometimes, forcing you to make a quick choice or by virtue of needing to put food on the table, you're moved into something maybe you wouldn't have chosen.<br />
<br />
But I believe in THE DIVINE, not coincidence.<br />
<br />
I downplayed the friend who said maybe I was like other geniuses... she said when they didn't fit, they created their own paths. I thought she was being silly. After all, I'm no {insert famous trailblazers name here}.<br />
<br />
But later, I asked myself why not? Why couldn't I be like them? Why wouldn't I be like them? I'm not difficult for the fun of it; I'm particular.<br />
<br />
I do GOOD work, and when I'm with the right team, it's GREAT work. But as a person who has said for years it's important for me to know the rules so that I know I'm effectively breaking them, I think she might be on to something.<br />
<br />
Chaos, disorder, problems... I see it and I solve it. And in my mind if I've done it correctly, you never have to know I was there. Communication is one of the major keys to problem solving. I have a knack for it. This post may be disjointed as all get out, but I usually present polished information - whether verbally delivered or via print. I take pride in that.<br />
<br />
Mediation is important to me in an effort to reach reconciliation. That doesn't mean everything is delivered in "acceptable," milquetoast, mamby-pambyisms either. But that desire within me to use communication to reach better conclusions, that's a marketable skill. The ability to assimilate information into viable strategies, yeah people pay "consultants" for that.<br />
<br />
As another friend said to me recently, "Don't give all that away for free. Do not be afraid to let people know that's how you earn your living." Or in Aisha terms, "My mind is my moneymaker."<br />
<br />
I may be the world's latest bloomer but you will feel the light of my life shine on you at some point, whether you know it or not.<br />
<br />
I'm building my own sandbox and the castles therein.Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-57432384912121819122016-12-17T15:32:00.001-06:002016-12-17T15:32:55.571-06:00Encourage YourselfIt won't always be like this.<br />
<div>
<br />
I know if "feels" like it hasn't changed, like life will always kick you in the face when you've already fallen down, but surely it will get better at some point. </div>
<div>
<br />
Surely.</div>
<div>
<br />
At some point.</div>
<div>
<br />
Don't give up.</div>
<div>
<br />
Don't. Give. Up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Don't you dare give up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know you're tired. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know you hate this.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You're more than the sum of your failures.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It won't always be like this.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It can't be.</div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-45609724259407540162016-10-09T22:59:00.000-05:002016-10-09T22:59:15.804-05:00Excuse Me.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqoeMaXqO42KGGYtxSzXDALTSGpgJG2EyGHxZHu9dz5oB_wSYcTNEpRnJK4_RVJePLyK6OFZY0ZUz2srPfE5GVe5yC9ke91UgdlaLGZZtZXSQYyxus8cHBIhgnj1R074jjADt/s1600/Excuse+Me..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqoeMaXqO42KGGYtxSzXDALTSGpgJG2EyGHxZHu9dz5oB_wSYcTNEpRnJK4_RVJePLyK6OFZY0ZUz2srPfE5GVe5yC9ke91UgdlaLGZZtZXSQYyxus8cHBIhgnj1R074jjADt/s320/Excuse+Me..png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatâs not going to happen here is an excuse</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea that something so horrid and hurtful can be swept away as âguy talkâ</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Should be something that makes us all balk</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And not because you have a mother, sister, wife or a daughter</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But because you are simply human</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1108ac19-acb0-5afd-f089-f2b5f732d86e" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do we have to bargain, to prove our right to exist?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why should the length of my skirt, or curve of my hip</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or heaven forbid, the kissability of my lips</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be at fault for someone elseâs deviant actions?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was five maybe six the first time my lips came in contact with a manâs penis</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I didnât do anything wrong, I was a child, at the level of kindergarten</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What could I have done to make a young man want to know what grows in my garden?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NOTHING!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the time it happened again, I was six or seven, and this time an older girl did me in</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She made me strip down to nothing and let a little boy hump me</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While she played to her own satisfaction</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My cries and tears, all of my reactions</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meant NOTHING!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I grew older and withdrew from the femininity within me, everyone assumed I was gay</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And if I was, whose business was it anyway?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But perhaps I was just hiding my own beauty, my womanly curves</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps I cursed them because I thought it was my fault</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And you see, I canât count the times my backside has been grabbed,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my breasts pushed up against, the times Iâve been wrapped up from behind while a semi-erect penis pressed into my back</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But see, I bet you didnât know this all the times you called me awkward</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I kissed a girl once, I was still a child and so was she, and I never stopped feeling guilty</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because I was six years older than she and I should have known better</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did I do to her what had been done to me?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iâve painfully contemplated this repeatedly, over a kiss</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I find itâs easy for others to dismiss the actions of full-grown men</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who canât be told âNoâ without devolving and giving in</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to lustful rage and taking what they think belongs to them</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We excuse, we say prison would be too much for him</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet the survivor is questioned again and again about what she drank</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And if she leadingly tempted him?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See, society seems to think âmen are only menâ</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that somehow that gives them an animalistic pass when dealing with women</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That they are only at the mercy of their lusts</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that because of our curves they canât resist us</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And itâs all our fault, and we mean nothing</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And our lives are put on trial</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And we become a spectacle for a while</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our lives pulled apart, everyone attempting to detect our lives</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Excuse me, lies</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But we would hand over the highest office to a man who gets off</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On preying on someoneâs weakness</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As if weâre so star struck by wealth and fame</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he considers women a game, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">young girls a thing to be toyed with</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the morality crowd tosses him their kiss</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And blames actual victims for not fighting back</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A moral center is something you lack </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you tell a victim she should be ashamed</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That she is responsible and to blame </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the reprehensible, unbelievable things that happened to her</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âMaybe you should haveâŚâ</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps YOU, yourself should take a step back</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heaven forbid you have to walk an inch in her shoes</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And have to fight the feelings and demons she powers through</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God bless your soul if you had to pay the same toll</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">See, I was a child left in hands of protectors, who turned out to be predators</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet I consider myself lucky to only face what I did</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had to learn to forgive, no not the perpetrators</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But myself</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had to set myself free from that closet floor</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The place where I wasnât strong enough to hold closed a door</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And part of my innocence was left behind</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did nothing wrong</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iâm not the one who needs to be excused</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And I wonât excuse the behavior of those who chose to hurt me</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wonât let my little self be their excuse</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I also wonât let this bruise remain on my soul</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will champion the hurt and broken, we share a bond of words not spoken</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wonât let the continued silence of victims be turned against them as violence</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You canât excuse this as lewd words, because there are women behind them that have been hurt</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stop the excuses, reveal the lies</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Itâs not OK, to continually make survivors cry</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find your moral compass and follow it back</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To a place where weâre not blamed for our attacks</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you think Iâve said too much, or that maybe I was too graphic</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps what you should stop to see is thatâs a bit tragic</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iâve freed myself from my own fear here</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through these few words Iâve shared</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Youâll have to forgive the pain of their truth</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iâve lived through my own nightmare</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So youâll have to forgive me and take this as my proof</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because actions that lead to this kind of pain, are not something I will just excuse</span>Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-68399650787276368832016-09-17T21:15:00.000-05:002016-09-17T21:15:25.469-05:00Dear Arlington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bTFrZz6FHHVjRKYK8iV7UBTgmZFHVDiPrPKVFMQLYwHCbR-chauY_NpNWQYngLQnJi77NJwRg1xczJexy8IEl18JHt0o8KElLlDnLlE_wQS2Z1cSTOAWjhdw5_qobkhnOYmW/s1600/Dear+Arlington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bTFrZz6FHHVjRKYK8iV7UBTgmZFHVDiPrPKVFMQLYwHCbR-chauY_NpNWQYngLQnJi77NJwRg1xczJexy8IEl18JHt0o8KElLlDnLlE_wQS2Z1cSTOAWjhdw5_qobkhnOYmW/s200/Dear+Arlington.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
Dear Arlington,</div>
We've had this awkward relationship for a while now. The first time I lived here, I was but a child, 18 years old and attempting to take on the world.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Like many, I showed up to UTA with hopes, dreams, and determination to conquer whatever was thrown at me. Round One went to you. Four years after I arrived I ran home, broken, depressed, insecure and unsure of who I was and what I was meant to do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All of that hard work, all of the focus, attention, and dedication seemed for naught. You even served as the place I experienced my first real heartbreak. And for all of that, I despised you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fast forward, slowly 13-1/2 years and I came back. Not quite as hopeful, more than a bit hesitant, but still looking to fulfill a dream. One that I swore would never live again, that was somehow resurrected through unusual circumstances.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
UTA, though seen as a place of defeat was now going to come up off of what was mine - I was going to fight! And fight, I did. And cry, I did. And fail, I did. And disappoint myself, I did. And get up again and again, I did. But I wasn't alone, or trust me, I would have stayed down. So I learned and I grew. You may have broken my heart before, Arlington, but I was willing to try again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A great community came together to PUSH me forward, to believe when I wouldn't, and to support me when I couldn't. And for all of them, old and new, I thank God. I will not forget the kindness shown to me or what I have learned from each of them. I absolutely would not be here, at this moment, were it not for them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last December part of the dream came true. I finally obtained what I set foot at UTA to do, in a different (but the perfect) discipline. I found out more about who I am, and what I was always created to do. Also, that incredibly expensive certificate doesnât define me; I give it value, not the other way around. (Selah, think on that)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I wonât lie, I didnât like the process of getting here, but here I stand, prepared for the next round. I am in a new place, sent an invitation from someone who was willing to take a chance; my gratitude for her willingness and faith in my ability knows no bounds.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have new challenges to face and new roles to embrace. Thanks for all the lessons, and for all the incredible friends, but itâs time for this chapter to come to its end. I am not defined by a title, I am not limited by fear, and so it is with great pleasure I say, âGoodbye Arlington, dear.â</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Twelve days until the next chapter begins in McKinney!</div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-42186375388124371172016-07-21T04:14:00.003-05:002016-07-21T04:49:00.996-05:00What? If.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8KLHp4KG7WCMT-l33OHt0rX5RJyZnKF7n2aLktNPPFiANf9Jo5iyqr6A1BY7eTeHf5QY5RbZtx9OoBhrYYgibA7oJxsFLoQwV1wyCQ3cPg6hgMTfBM68om3Cj9yG62BOV35Y/s1600/What-+If.+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8KLHp4KG7WCMT-l33OHt0rX5RJyZnKF7n2aLktNPPFiANf9Jo5iyqr6A1BY7eTeHf5QY5RbZtx9OoBhrYYgibA7oJxsFLoQwV1wyCQ3cPg6hgMTfBM68om3Cj9yG62BOV35Y/s320/What-+If.+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
What can you do?<br />
<br />
If you say anything, you're criticized.<br />
If you do something, you're scandalized.<br />
<br />
If you ask for freedom, you're told it's not free.<br />
If you ask for justice, you're given grief.<br />
<br />
If you look for empathy, you may be stabbed in the back.<br />
If you search for help, you're told to grab a bootstrap.<br />
<br />
If you want the truth, you'll have to wade through lies.<br />
If you want unity, somehow you still have to pick a side.<br />
<br />
If you show them your scars, they claim self infliction.<br />
If you want to see change, it's time to move with intention.<br />
<br />
If my voice is shaking, I'll still speak with conviction.<br />
If my story bothers you, then YES you're the you that I mentioned.<br />
<br />
If we allow this to go uncontested, how will we explain to generations<br />
We had the power to change, but we settled for manipulations?<br />
<br />
What will we do?Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-88551846076657129912016-07-09T21:19:00.001-05:002016-07-09T21:36:05.462-05:00How Will History Record Our Response?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8s1AVS0nB88bga5w4phtPWo6Nfpr03qCc4owpKniUvipH9y3ttiPrxUIrwbj33qHZXz0DxAlsjSpkBRgrJzamCxOpem6FhDC9CV3Cb0PAPUEJHS5QhoiliNMnvRqWQqCCnxz/s1600/13612122_1210483218984564_6177454770938282130_n.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8s1AVS0nB88bga5w4phtPWo6Nfpr03qCc4owpKniUvipH9y3ttiPrxUIrwbj33qHZXz0DxAlsjSpkBRgrJzamCxOpem6FhDC9CV3Cb0PAPUEJHS5QhoiliNMnvRqWQqCCnxz/s320/13612122_1210483218984564_6177454770938282130_n.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
My emotional cup runneth over. I was quite vocal about the issues from earlier this week. I didn't make it Downtown Thursday to support because a friend needed an ear, and that is important to me, too.<br />
<br />
I wasn't there, but I know many who were and I'm grateful they are home, safe. I don't have the words to describe how I feel about the events that happened that night. I've been telling you all week how valuable life is to me. That hasn't changed. Doesn't matter if they wear a uniform or are an everyday person.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<h2>
<b>Life is Valuable and to be Honored</b></h2>
<div>
For those who are trying to make this some sort of debate about whether police lives or black lives matter <i><b>more</b></i>, you've missed the point entirely. Life is precious and to be honored, no matter what. It's not a matter of putting the life or lives of one against another. Think deeper than that, allow for the fact that there is not an either/or situation happening. There is a massive systemic issue at hand and it has colored all of our thinking.<br />
<br />
But I will say this, you can clearly see, when civil servants fall in the line of duty, everyone rallies together to care, to show concern, to voice outrage, to see what can be done. That's good and that's normal. I would hope we care about that. I hope we honor and remember these men with pride and dignity for their service, and their sacrifice.<br />
<br />
But when we see black, latino, indigenous, Asian men and women hurt, raped, or killed by the overreach of those in authority, many question why we as people of color (POC, those who have been denigrated by global systems of white supremacy) care, especially since we don't know the person or the families affected. Well, years of oppression, "otherness," and a system against us has shown us something, and that is that collectively our lives don't seem to amount to much in that system. (Again, I am not saying POC lives matter more, so don't see/hear/sense or make it out to be that)<br />
<br />
Our deaths or harm can be seen repeatedly through various media, and the court of public opinion will still say we deserved it. I'm not attempting to paint anyone with a broad brush here, again itâs a systemic problem, but hear me when I say, we've learned that our "cornrows" are unprofessional but "boxer braids" are cool. (for those who donât know, itâs the same hairstyle) That may be a fashion thing, but the point is, the differences in reception to what is done by and to POC and others is vast, this includes our deaths.<br />
<br />
I noticed that as Alton Sterling's and Philando Castile's names were trending and the situations were highlighted, there were a few non-POC leaders who said something. There were some who acknowledged that this was painful. We heard the silence of the rest, until Thursday night. I'm not saying everybody has to say something all of the time, because they donât (and thatâs unreasonable), and Iâm not attempting to shame anyone. Also, itâs a brilliant thing to know when to hold your tongue (or your fingers). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But in the face of the recession, leaders said things; in the face of terrorism, leaders said things; in the face of âblack-on-black crimeâ and black fatherlessness leaders say things; Thursday leaders said things. But in the face of black death at the hands of rogue authority figures, there seems to be nothing to say.<br />
<br />
The Lt. Governor of Texas somehow believes Black Lives Matter should be held responsible for <a href="http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/officials-ambush-suspect-was-planning-larger-attack/268432422" target="_blank">Thursday nightâs tragedy</a> because of their "rhetoric," but he actively allows the KKK to continue in this state - and for those of you who think there is any parallel between the two, Iâd ask you to rethink that.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<h2>
<b><a href="http://video.statesman.com/Shame-on-him--Austin-Police-chief-on-Lt-Gov-Dan-Patrick-criticizing-Black-Lives-Matter-protesters-31115675?playlistId=15517" target="_blank">Anarchists Versus Activists</a></b></h2>
</div>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>KKK</u></span></b></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7q82ZoSkkgjgR0MgGDlgqXDL3HymN4euYRy2hapVjenSBQVI5J1gzWiXQmcNk4g9PuLmvxhnuxhouEwlYUJ78wzXcrTXNyKOjsLfrd8sxgJxJvYBaoRXTJlfvSElMl3k3ukf0/s1600/KKK-Hero-AB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7q82ZoSkkgjgR0MgGDlgqXDL3HymN4euYRy2hapVjenSBQVI5J1gzWiXQmcNk4g9PuLmvxhnuxhouEwlYUJ78wzXcrTXNyKOjsLfrd8sxgJxJvYBaoRXTJlfvSElMl3k3ukf0/s200/KKK-Hero-AB.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">history.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Look at history and youâll see how the system brought about and supported the creation of the notorious supremacy group the Ku Klux Klan. To get things "back in order" after the Civil War, this "fraternity" began. They were afraid and they continued to spread lies about the lack of humanity of black people to justify their actions. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The KKK has violently destroyed any life or way of life not like their own. They lynched, burned, blew up churches, burned crosses (CROSSES!!) on front lawns, dragged people to death behind vehicles, and more. The KKK believes they represent the chosen, that the rest of us are the problem, and they have a divine right to âdeal with othersâ as they see fit. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They believe a celebration of diversity or things like interracial marriage are âwhite genocideâ (check that hashtag on Twitter if youâve ever hoped or actually thought racism was over) In short, the KKK terrorizes and kills. They want to live in an all-white utopia, which sounds a bit like anarchism to me. Also note, if the destruction of other people groups is at the core; there are no âgood guysâ amongst the KKK.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>BLM</u></span></b></h3>
Now for Black Lives Matter. It's an activist group, relatively new and borne out of the stress in this nation from repeatedly seeing unarmed black people tried and executed or harmed (reference the girl in McKinney last year) on the street by out of control police officers. Police brutality happens. (Do I really need to insert here that I love and appreciate civil servants and that Iâm not anti-police? Of course I do, because thatâs life.) BLM also shed light on the death of Zachary Hammond and harm caused to Sureshbhai Patel. They're looking to destroy a system, not people. They meet with and work with leaders for better.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZy6BPJY6dYJyUajC_t7NCd0VpFD4jyN59aCYFUzmv7RXcwTtXgQ7GOxAERLu4UtbjAD9NTxc2RMGQJ4Qw_E9Xg1vkYpGgy6V7VQomUgz2xxXGEG8-u3Zf2Mjo06uvXDqL3lP/s1600/blacklivesmatter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZy6BPJY6dYJyUajC_t7NCd0VpFD4jyN59aCYFUzmv7RXcwTtXgQ7GOxAERLu4UtbjAD9NTxc2RMGQJ4Qw_E9Xg1vkYpGgy6V7VQomUgz2xxXGEG8-u3Zf2Mjo06uvXDqL3lP/s200/blacklivesmatter.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">BLM galvanized because this system has displayed that black (POC) victims get put on trial, in actual courts and that of public opinion, while others get taken for food on the way to jail, six months in a cushy jail away from other inmates, or probation along with the benefit of the doubt for things like murdering folks in cold blood in a church, raping an unconscious woman or killing and maiming people while driving drunk. Black Lives Matter exists to bring change to a system that overwhelmingly does not support us, seems bent on destroying us and attempts to blind others to these facts. It hopes to correct the system for the benefit of all. </span></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">
</span><b><br /></b><br />
<h2>
<b>The Breakdown</b></h2>
It's also sad that I have to add this, but for those who will miss it, I did not say all black people are perfect, all the time and that there are no criminals among us. There are <i>âbad applesâ </i>in every shade, nation, and occupation. There is fatherlessness and crime in other communities, too. Yes, we aware of Chicago. As a matter of fact many black people (and POC) for generations, myself included, have marched and talked and sat down with our own communities and leaders to try to make things better. The only reason some don't know or recognize this is because they're not there and then don't listen when we tell them that we do.<br />
<br />
BLM is a rally cry. The phrase does not say "ONLY, Black Lives Matter" but somehow people have been led to believe that's what's being said. The truth is, what is being said is "Black Lives Matter, Too." There probably are some not so âgood guysâ who use the phrase and consider themselves part of the movement, but that is not a representation of the movement. There are black folks and additional POC who are prejudiced, Iâm not denying that. Iâve seen those kinds of situations addressed family to family and Iâve seen people change. Hell, I have a good friend who used to be a white supremacist but changed when he really began to learn about God. But hear me, when POC are prejudiced against someone else, there is not a system behind them supporting it. Those hearts have to be dealt with, too but thatâs not what weâre dealing with today. Today this system has to be exposed, seen, accepted as real and changed.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<h2>
<b>The System</b></h2>
The system looks a lot like me being shadowed when I walk through a store, when no one else there receives that same treatment. The system is the story of the man named Jose who couldnât get callbacks for jobs until he changed the name on his resume to Joe. The system looks like exorbitant unemployment rates for black people, who are trying to work, who are absolutely trained, educated and qualified, but still canât find work.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The system looks like no money in poor school districts and those students barely receiving a proper education. The system looks like the situation with the water in Flint. The system looks like a traffic stop where one man explains he has a concealed carry permit and a gun in his glove box and gets a ticket for speeding, but Philando Castileâs body is being prepared for burial. And the system is also filled with smaller issues, called microaggressions, that POC face every day. We feel it. We hear things that we allow to pass through the filter of, "They don't know any better,â so we donât say anything.<br />
<br />
And you may ask why we don't say anything in these moments. Well, when we do weâre told weâre being too sensitive or that âpolitical correctnessâ is the real problem in America. Also, it looks something like this:<br />
<br />
<b>Take 1</b><br />
<b>POC:</b> "Black, Native, Brown, Asian Lives Matter"<br />
<b>Response:</b> "All Lives Matter"<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Take 2</b><br />
<b>POC:</b> "Look, this Black, Asian, Latino, Native man/woman went into town to get something and was shot in cold blood because he asked a question when the police officer told him to do something he didn't understand or that the person felt was a violation of his/ her right as an American."<br />
<b>Response:</b> "He/She should have complied."<br />
<b>POC:</b> "Philando Castile"<br />
<b>Response: </b>"Why is the fiancee so calm?"<br />
<b><br /><br />Take 3</b><br />
<b>POC: </b>"We think some of our state representatives and senators really don't represent us, care about us and they're keeping us from voting."<br />
<b>Response: </b>"You're making that up."</div>
<div>
<b>Reality: </b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a former congressman.</td></tr>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Take 4</b><br />
<b>POC:</b> "It's very difficult to find work, even when you're qualified." or </div>
<div>
"I was laid off in the massive company changes and it's been difficult to find work." or </div>
<div>
âIâm seriously thinking about changing my name, because Iâm not getting callbacks.â<br />
<br />
<b>Response:</b> "Pick yourself up by your bootstraps. Nobody helped my family." or</div>
<div>
âLazy, black people always looking for a f-ing handout.â or </div>
<div>
âItâs easier to be black in America, youâve got affirmative action and all that, I donât know why they act like they canât get jobs.â or </div>
<div>
âPoor people are so lazy, they should get an education and do better.â </div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">{by the way, yes Iâve heard these things myself, sometimes people forget Iâm black. Then they say things like, âWell youâre not really black,â which is another conversation altogether.}</span></i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<h2>
<b>What Will We Do?</b></h2>
I could go on but I'm tired and you don't want to read anymore. My point is this, please stop trying to convince us that the reality we live in doesnât exist just because some don't (or won't) see and accept it. We are working to make it better, as best we can. Not all black people and POC are on or have been on welfare, nor are we looking for a âwhite saviorâ or a handout - real talk. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with needing help. Please note that even with educational disparities, because separate but equal is a lie and still happens, black women are the most educated segment of the American population. (Iâm going to let you Google that for yourself, but there were headlines when the news broke)<br />
<br />
Not all immigrants are terrorists or are stealing jobs. Jobs have been sent to other countries for the sake of better bottom-line profitability, because you can underpay workers in other countries that donât have the same regulations as the U.S. I like profitable companies, thatâs important and I like a healthy economy. But when the companies are growing and the people are suffering for it, there might be an issue. Money and power are powerful drugs. <br />
<br />
If you truly care about the POC in your lives, I suggest listening to their stories and why it matters that Scarlett Johansson was cast as a Japanese woman, in a distinctly Japanese story or that a white man played Martin Luther King, Jr in a play. Please hear me when I say this, we listen to the "majority" stories and opinions all the time, via media and entertainment. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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We also listen both to what is said and not said. We learn early on that the system of supremacy is one we must know the ins and outs of intimately. We are here, as always at the table, ready to listen even more. Weâre just hoping that we finally get to have a say, as well. I donât see this as "just a skin issue," Iâm not trying to guilt anyone into action. Iâm writing for the sake of awareness and to selfishly process all of this.<br />
<br />
Look, Iâm a lover and a reconciler. I look to Jesus as my savior - I have not walked away from that and Iâm looking to Him for strength, strategies and answers. Yes, I know âracism is a sin problem, not a skin problem.â But Iâm over pat answers and phrases that mean nothing. Iâm not here for a round of the blame game and revisionist history. Iâm not here to make anyone âget it.â I am here to learn, understand, grow, and do my part to change history.<br />
<br />
When Iâm done grieving, I will get up stronger than ever. I want to work together to correct a broken system. I donât hate anyone. Indifference and dismissal get me pretty riled up, though. I am one who chooses to love and forgive, but that does not mean I donât observe and recall. Yâall Iâm tired and yes, I am angry but I am not bitter. I am still grieving the losses from this week, two black men from other states and five police officers from my own hometown. Dallas, the eyes of the world are on us.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My ancestors, literally and figuratively, alongside many allies and friends, worked too hard for us to devolve in this moment. Can we not reason together and bring this change more than 400 years in the making? Letâs do this, people.</div>
</div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-36925708667322839672016-07-06T02:37:00.001-05:002016-07-06T02:37:23.001-05:00Melanin Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br /></div>
Everyday I feel Iâm put on trial for existing<br />
In this melanin-tinted skin Iâm in<br />
I never know when it could be the end<br />
Because of the suspicion from years of traditions<br />
That prompted fear when you saw my kin<br />
Yes indeed, Iâm about to go in<br />
<br />
And though Iâm known to be brilliant and witty,<br />
and even on occasion, sometimes pretty<br />
If I make a âwrongâ move at an opportune time<br />
What will be the narrative of my life?<br />
Nothing of the truth will be what you find<br />
Because posthumously will I be tried<br />
With little evidence for every crime<br />
And the story will state I was the one who defied<br />
<br />
My brilliance, a faint recollection<br />
But my predilection towards depression<br />
Will be the section of my life highlighted<br />
Forget about all the love and affection<br />
Shown and how I gave<br />
Or how I tried to face everyday brave<br />
Even though most of those days<br />
I was scared and afraid<br />
Because when youâre my shade<br />
You can bet the benefit of the doubt <br />
Will be the first thing thrown out<br />
<br />
âWell I guess we never really knew herâ<br />
Is what they will shout<br />
And over my grave <br />
my guilt will be contained <br />
In the minds of those who never knew me<br />
But the media will lead you to see <br />
All of the darkest parts of the deepest part of me<br />
And before my family would even be allowed to grieve<br />
Others who never knew will lead them to believe<br />
âIf only she had,â and really thatâs sad<br />
<br />
But thankfully this isnât my story<br />
Iâm here to shed light for the ones <br />
Who are already in Glory<br />
Because someone feared them<br />
Or didnât like their tone of voice <br />
So they made a fatal choice<br />
And now instead of families rejoicing<br />
Over graduations and happy situations<br />
Their loved ones are a hashtag<br />
<br />
An empty soulless shell<br />
A burial plot holds the remains<br />
Of the hope and joy, dreams of fame<br />
And what could have been<br />
But fear the color of their skin<br />
Is what did them in<br />
Only when it seemed their<br />
Lives were about to begin<br />
<br />
But tell me Iâve made this up<br />
That this holds no truth<br />
That my observations lack proof<br />
That if my people would just comply<br />
But itâs a lie<br />
And what kind of free society <br />
Subscribes to Comply or Die?<br />
<br />
So yes youâll hear me say <br />
Black Lives Matter<br />
The âminorityâ comprises the majority<br />
No matter what you say about âAll livesâ<br />
And how they matter<br />
Day in and day out weâve learned<br />
Through dreams and hopes shattered <br />
Thatâs not really the case<br />
<br />
Itâs just a deflecting phrase <br />
used to derail <br />
A necessary conversation<br />
About evil situations<br />
That continue to occur<br />
And you can be sure<br />
I will continue to fight <br />
Until all of our plight <br />
Finds us unified<br />
Or Iâll die <br />
in the process of making it right <br />
<br />
<br />
Š Aisha N. Willis 2014/2016Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-11794147715194938932016-06-24T09:00:00.000-05:002016-06-24T18:58:56.013-05:00Begin Again<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<br />
For some of us, finding our voice isn't the problem. We're blessed with one and we know it early on. Others look to us, those who seem to have no fear, to speak on their behalf. And we do, gladly, eagerly, because it's what we do. It's as natural as breathing.<br />
<br />
But.<br />
<br />
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction - or so I've heard. When you're young, you have to be taught to tame your tongue, to rein it in, because you can't always say everything you want when you want it. This is a delicate dance. Those in authority have to train the child without crushing their spirit. Thatâs difficult. Many of us push through even when crushed. Some may even speaker louder, longer, and more often.<br />
<br />
But some - even the ones who seem to be the most fearless, lose a bit of themselves. We allow ourselves to be controlled by the reins of others, instead of learning the hoped-for self control. We have so much to say, so much to do, but fear we are wrong, fear we are unacceptable, fear we will be rejected, for using the very gift given to us.<br />
<br />
So we sit still. Quiet. With a roar burning within. So much to say.<br />
<br />
Occasionally, we may say something. It's well thought out, planned, researched, balanced instead of biased - but the moment the words run free so do the Tone Police, writing their citations of disagreement in the name of keeping the peace.<br />
<br />
And so once again, we sit there - a champion who can represent a King, but sitting in silence, in the prison of caring what others think.<br />
<br />
The most solitary of confinement. The warden, a public who wouldn't adore the most Perfect. And yet we long for their acceptance. A pat on the back, a "good job" or the like.<br />
<br />
But.<br />
<br />
We can't please or appease all. Some will not understand our fight, our plight, or the fire which burns within.<br />
<br />
The sound of our voices is the sound of our freedom. If you want others to respect your rights, your freedom, it's not too much to ask for reciprocity. The space to live in dignity, free from the condemnation readily given just because we may have a differing opinion.<br />
<br />
Now, here I am. At a crossroads and I am the only one who can adjust for my burden and carry my load. Another's opinion of my life is not a foundation I can build upon or currency I can spend. So I stand here, scared and scarred into a silence that has to end.<br />
<br />
<i>It's time to begin again.</i><br />
<br />
Yes I said 'some' and 'us' and 'we' but that's only because sometimes it's hard to say 'me'.<br />
<br />
Yes, this is my fight. This isn't where my story ends. This is a rebirth.<br />
<br />
<i>It's time to begin again.</i><br />
<br />
I am greater than my faults and failing has never done me in. I'm standing for my freedom.<br />
<br />
<i>It's time to begin again.</i><br />
<br />
I swam in the seas of doubt, and drowned in lies rehearsed with no end. But I refuse to stay under.<br />
<br />
<i>It's time to begin again.</i><br />
<br />
I've been blamed for centuries of someone else's sin. But I was reborn as an innocent.<br />
<br />
<i>It's time to begin again.</i><br />
<br />
I'm willing to fail forward, and work even smarter to finally win. Today, the lies found their end.<br />
<br />
<i>It is time to begin again.</i><br />
<br />
The battle is on every side, so I choose discipline.<br />
<br />
The greatness of humble meekness is what I wrap myself in.<br />
<br />
That doesnât make me a pushover, my learning isnât thin.<br />
<br />
I'm getting my mind right. I know that I will win.<br />
<br />
<br />
Death, just lost its hold on me.<br />
<br />
<i>It's time to begin again.</i>Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-53670196883328589972016-06-19T17:48:00.001-05:002016-06-19T17:48:25.849-05:00Memory of a Kiss<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Lips Isolated in White, Creative Commons</span><br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-8b87eb77-6ad3-52bd-a536-21513af08119">Iâm still haunted by the memory of your lips<br />Our last gentle kiss<br />When the heat radiated from your eyes<br />And emanated from your fingertips<br />Which danced along my arms<br />While across my heart, so did your charms<br /><br />Those deep brown eyes pulled me in<br />And I was tempted by you, like you were a sin<br />Waiting all day just to hear your voice<br />To experience your stories, I made a choice<br />I believed for a moment, all too brief<br />In the reality of a you and me<br /><br />You, of course, turned out to be a thief<br />My heart carried in your capable hands<br />And just like an elegant and eloquent rogue<br />You talked me out of my affections<br />And for all of my walls and impenetrable protections<br />I still surrendered willingly to your directions<br /><br />And then it was too late<br />At this point, I sealed my unfortunate fate<br />I dared step into your arms for a dance<br />Lulled by your hypnotic rhythm, your advance <br />Intimately connected by a shy glance<br />In the grip of your wiles, I never had a chance<br />Now, my soul bears scars with your resemblance<br /><br />And now here I am alone, no sleep<br />The evidence of your presence kept in the deep<br />Shadowy parts of my heart and mind<br />Those places time doesnât shine<br />And darkness doesnât pass<br />To your memory, I raise this glass<br />Which holds the imprint of my lips<br />And so do you<br />Your body and your soul still hold my kiss<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /><br />(c) 2016 Aisha Nichole Willis</span></span>Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-64306056817171040582016-05-01T01:21:00.002-05:002016-05-01T01:21:55.479-05:00We Asked for Better, You Gave Us Bitter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I hoped for better in my lifetime than a regression to the "days of yore." But really, that time is not what most romanticize it for, it's a dangerous, dark and deadly door.<br />
<br />
Now, here we are, in the future with a penchant for a past that doesn't exist, except in the minds of creative and deceptive revisionists.<br />
<br />
The same who want to tell me that a protest isn't right, that that is not how Americans fight. I'm sorry, I'm sure I didn't hear you right.<br />
<br />
This America, founded as the home of the free and land of the brave, made up of people running who, weâre told, didnât want to be religious slaves. The ones who decided the rule and dare I say, oppression, of a king wasn't really their thing.<br />
<br />
This America, taken from the hands of those who owned the lands through deceit and forced migrations, and stipulations that the indigenous are still paying for. You wonât even look at the receipt. Reservations set at a table at which no one should have to eat. The sky was the border until you brought disorder, and now they die bound on set lands. <br />
<br />
Heritage and pride, ancestry and thriving lives, in your eyes, reduced to mascots.<br />
<br />
This America, where we fight for a corporate logo instead of the people it purports to represent. How terribly indecent, how far our descent into insensitivity. And yet you say to just get over it.<br />
<br />
This America, built on the backs of the blacks, forced from homes and brought here through abhorrent means. The families and lives destroyed, the pain of their humanity, traded as they were demeaned to be property. <br />
<br />
Demons. Sexually immoral. Lazy. In need of a leader. Too feeble. Weak. â of a man. Childlike. Unable to speak up for themselves. To be coddled because they are ignorant. And still we pay the bill for these thoughts.<br />
<br />
Like the native peoples, referred to as savages. Yet those who did these terrible things flipped through passages of a Bible that says "whosoever will" will be free indeed. Using the name of Jesus to enact the most horrible deeds.<br />
<br />
This America, where a messaging strategy brought a thing created called Manifest Destiny, that is revered as the will of God. But it was an excuse used to confuse, to lay claim to what wasnât yours- and as we still love to do, we came in kicking down doors, taking whatâs not ours.<br />
<br />
And now, youâre sour. Your greatest fear is that another group will come here and do what you did. You close your borders to those just like you and become hoarders of this so-called liberty that was once extended, but now is to be defended through hatred.<br />
<br />
This America, where the poor are the problem. Where we laugh at the uneducated as we take their books and close their schools. We point at them on TV and refer to them as fools. We claim to be pro-life but let families starve with no regard for their hardship. We regale stories of grandads working hard, forgetting the subsidies that helped them to charge forward. <br />
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Programs of government were OK back in the day when the benefit went only to you. But now we talk about âhand outsâ and âfree stuffâ as if no one has the guts to put in a full dayâs work. You say, âIf only the poor werenât so lazy,â yet thatâs obviously crazy when theyâre balancing a job or two, and still canât do whatâs basic. <br />
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âGet an education!â But itâs hard to get one when charters are the new destination for segregation keeping the âseparate but equalâ lie alive. Here take this loan but donât bemoan the 200% interest at which you must pay it back. And here they are, the educated and poor, living in lack. <br />
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Or what of those who work trades? Whose work was sent away, in the name of corporate greed, but we like to call by itâs acceptable name, profitability. We blame technology for the end of skilled labor but donât talk about overseas sweatshops filled with penny-a-day wagers. <br />
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We blame the poor, on whom we shut the door and give low ceilings and slap them in the face when they come appealing for more. We take their chances for greatness in the name of morality and tell them to bootstrap their reality and that it will all be OK.<br />
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This America, where we like abstractions of the truth and distractions from the proof our own guilt. This truly wonderful place built with slave labor, poor families, immigrants and the indigenous so that our own tycoons could get rich. Then even richer and sell us a picture of what could be, if it werenât for the âother guyâ standing next to me; creating a dichotomy of us versus them, where we fight, only for the ones with no skin in, to win. <br />
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This America, where coded language is used to assuage guilt and incite hate. Turning brother against brother, each of us against one another, but weâre to believe in the beneficence of an oppressor, that has been the distressor since our story began.<br />
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Blame me, tell me Iâm the problem. Yet I was born to solve them, to dismantle systems of destruction. Tell me, Iâm the one whoâs sedated, lulled to sleep by the lies of the âliberal media.â Who is always to blame when they shine light on the games you play. The check to your unbalance, only true when they agree with you. But the same media, guilty of being your tool to spread lies that defy the humanity of the âminority.â <br />
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And now, youâll say Iâm un-American and shame me for reading through history and revealing the artistry of your well-crafted lies. You tell me to, âShut up!â because you despise the tune of my song. You say that Iâm complaining, but, in truth, I love my home. Tears at âOh say can you see?â But for me, I can see. I know my freedom isnât free. Far too many paid a hefty price for me. No, not ungrateful; tired. Too much blood watering seeds sown in the hopes of a better future.<br />
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Better. My grandmother worked hard for better. My mother integrated schools for better. My sister and I live to bring better. Yet today, youâve shown me that in this America, swallowing a bitter pill of recognition and repentance is not an option.<br />
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You're bitter that the âold waysâ arenât good enough. Bitter, that you cannot say and do what generations taught you was cool. Bitter because things got better for more than just you.<br />
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You're bitter that youâre not better than all the rest. Bitter that your lies must be laid to rest. Bitter that we wonât rest until better has come through. Better will be better for you, too. <br />
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Now come on, weâve all got work to do.<br />
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For a while it may be bittersweet, but the fight will only be complete when you dismantle the inferior systems of supremacy. Or you can choose to stay bitter. But thatâs not the route for me. I am moving on to better, because I refuse to accept defeat.<br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-5f2697e1-6add-7cac-a752-bbcb129b8412"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Š 2016 Aisha Nichole Willis</span></span></span>Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-6271736604661273062015-12-24T03:49:00.001-06:002015-12-24T03:49:08.817-06:00Control<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs6VFZ4CAWejDn8hkzVcqs9YlRm0rG6D3FlrZR8XhK9hvt56I-aK2OPqVxIf2K9Z_QJNV3GZ18dBaRBp5HAxVXwvM3nOemElI1KRLuOksXyj9UgbPBGkQAgXdayaSrUEsLTZV/s1600/Generic-remote-control-shallow-focus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs6VFZ4CAWejDn8hkzVcqs9YlRm0rG6D3FlrZR8XhK9hvt56I-aK2OPqVxIf2K9Z_QJNV3GZ18dBaRBp5HAxVXwvM3nOemElI1KRLuOksXyj9UgbPBGkQAgXdayaSrUEsLTZV/s320/Generic-remote-control-shallow-focus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wikimedia commons</td></tr>
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Mankind has a control problem. Man wants to be in control all of the time. Although man once controlled it all, we fell. We only had one rule to obey but we didn't, and though we maintain dominion it's not quite the same.<br /><br />Now here we stand confusing said dominion with domination, influence with manipulation, and conversion with control. In our quest for control we are even foolish enough to attempt to control God. We put Him in a pretty box with a bow and serve Him up with an understanding called religion. <br /><br />For 400 years from Malachi until John the Baptist religion continued to perform and increase in form and feature instead of wisdom and stature. The Spirit was not attending as He had previously yet business continued as usual. Religion. <br /><br />How many suffered at the hands of the religious leaders? How many could not reach mythical plateaus of perfection attempting to not only follow Levitical Law but the additional laws of Judaism? All packaged with a bow called Yahew, yet He Himself was not wrapped within?<br /><br />And then, in due time, a Son came. He was the greatest King, yet He had humble beginnings. His legitimacy questioned from birth. His mission difficult, yet fulfilled masterfully. His followers selected, taught, loved, empowered, and finally after He had perfectly prepared them, sent. The prophecies were fulfilled, the message was simple. Yet man still has his need to control.<br /><br />And so along the way the love and grace, mercy and kindness of God were cast aside for an angrier, more selective version. This distorted view of a dictatorial ruler who longs to destroy became the narrative to control the population. Religion was used as a tool to cause pain, to start wars, to impose great economic inequality, and sadly to oppress the very people that were meant to be set free.<br /><br />This desire to control others has led to some of the greatest atrocities of history. And yet somehow, there were always those who knew He was more. They chose to believe and lived in such a way that the Light lived through them. They were willing to give up their desire for control and were instead controlled by the greatest Love ever known.<br /><br />Today we still desire control. But what will our response be? Will we continue to use religion as a tool to manipulate and dominate or will we finally come home to compassion, empathy, and love? Will we go beyond in our thinking about Who our God really is and what His character is filled with?<br /><br />Will we continue to make excuses for our god of Religion, or will we exercise the faith it takes to walk in love as our true God has called us?<br /><br />Will we repent for the years of oppression and dissension caused in "the name of Jesus" or will we continue to look away turning a blind eye to the pain? Are we brave enough to reconcile so that a new outpouring of grace can be revived? After all we keep praying for revival, but keep living as though our pride's survival is of utmost importance.<br /><br />Are we willing to relinquish control and finally obey? Who knows, maybe that's the recipe for us to all participate in the greatest love story ever told.Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-10946199436253886202015-10-30T00:38:00.000-05:002015-10-30T00:38:25.140-05:00Heartbreak<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwTpJASOnSFPTtp16FLZ3-IK1CDH3E24Te7QNAOfx4j0id7PQAEGmr1FLCvkBCZg0UrQNTZa-30jM12iPi8RU9GkDWy67S_YYdZ9QakMC_XjdU6stnso4MdRifxc1hYqMfG4V/s1600/Broken+Heart+Grunge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwTpJASOnSFPTtp16FLZ3-IK1CDH3E24Te7QNAOfx4j0id7PQAEGmr1FLCvkBCZg0UrQNTZa-30jM12iPi8RU9GkDWy67S_YYdZ9QakMC_XjdU6stnso4MdRifxc1hYqMfG4V/s320/Broken+Heart+Grunge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken Heart Grunge<br />Nicolas Raymond on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/80497449@N04/10011881004" target="_blank">Flickr</a></td></tr>
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I'm never ready for it. EVER.<div>
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If I could turn my heart off I would. If I could find a way to not connect with and engage with others I would do it. In a heartbeat.</div>
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Because all I've ever found is one heartache after another.</div>
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I love too damn hard.</div>
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I connect to others entirely too quickly.</div>
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I don't want to anymore.</div>
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Not ever again.</div>
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But I always do.</div>
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It's me. My fatal flaw is that I always care.</div>
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No, I didn't lose a lover. </div>
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I'm so single, other single people measure their time as singles in Aisha units.</div>
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I just dared to believe I had a friend who believed. </div>
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But apparently I failed that friend because it's over, called to a decisive end.</div>
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And I can't even ask why. </div>
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I defend the best way I know how to minimize hurt. If that was insufficient, I'm sorry.</div>
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I like to fix things.</div>
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I love to love.</div>
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I don't like to break people.</div>
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But I apparently did.</div>
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And now, once again, I'm heartbroken too.</div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-77491102745765735222015-10-21T21:18:00.001-05:002015-10-21T21:18:56.035-05:00Found on Facebook: Church Hurt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQpPD1m-jCBpq_NK-zP10vevFycaj27__99OiKujOv0gEbocS0loNzmhTst6O_KLqXvjwEDhMuSyBKEp5gMigBHTeilVBZLPg3Kqqk6bSIuUN8qYgul6XFa_jmY3pG31VlH2b/s1600/Church+Hurt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQpPD1m-jCBpq_NK-zP10vevFycaj27__99OiKujOv0gEbocS0loNzmhTst6O_KLqXvjwEDhMuSyBKEp5gMigBHTeilVBZLPg3Kqqk6bSIuUN8qYgul6XFa_jmY3pG31VlH2b/s320/Church+Hurt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can I be honest and tell you I don't like this? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm probably putting too much thought into it, but I've seen what "Church Hurt" does to people. This includes those who have a strong foundation in God, those who seek Him desperately, and look only to serve Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are responsible for how we treat others. The Bible tells us that leaders will be judged with greater weight because of their position of authority. Leaders are called, much like husbands, <a href="https://bible.com/59/eph.5.25-30.esv" target="_blank">to love as Christ loved the church</a>. Sacrificially. In return, those who are following leaders as the leaders follow Christ are to submit to their authority, in a healthy way, and pray for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That makes sense. If someone is carrying a heavier weight, we lift them with our assistance, in this case our <a href="https://bible.com/59/heb.13.7,17.esv" target="_blank">prayers</a> and encouragement. Also, biblical.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, this statement here seems to blame the victim. Don't get me wrong, I've seen it where someone is truly bewitched by the charismatic charm of some dynamic leader. But many more times I've seen those with genuine hearts, harmed by the attitudes of sensationalist Christian leaders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There has to be accountability on all fronts. We live transparent lives of integrity loving and helping one another. Yes even with <a href="https://bible.com/59/gal.6.1-3.esv" target="_blank">sin</a>. Even when things are difficult. Yes even in disagreement, we <a href="https://bible.com/59/eph.4.1-3.esv" target="_blank">bear with one another in love</a>, we carry each other's burdens, and correct one another without condemnation. Yes, there are times for <a href="https://bible.com/59/luk.17.3-4.esv" target="_blank">rebuke</a> but even that is done from love, with forgiveness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We do have to watch out for bitterness, but how about <a href="https://bible.com/59/luk.17.1-2.esv" target="_blank">we each take care to not cause another to sin</a>. Issues happen, we're human. But we love and we work through because He first loved us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, maybe I'm putting too much though into but I like the simplicity of, "Let us love one another."</span>Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-21102642866062315702015-08-10T23:15:00.000-05:002016-01-18T13:23:05.494-06:00systemically<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIm95ySGcxWbPSaWMtZrJEt5hL4auJibJG5ugacULIEflb68UkDlCtbqgp577eNQ0-nrgFqdkKLuZp9UDquhgbP2yklCn2w1z6dl4yxAjxsek4rY9pwvRx108Uv1AC5tYuVdl/s1600/FB_IMG_1439261205852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIm95ySGcxWbPSaWMtZrJEt5hL4auJibJG5ugacULIEflb68UkDlCtbqgp577eNQ0-nrgFqdkKLuZp9UDquhgbP2yklCn2w1z6dl4yxAjxsek4rY9pwvRx108Uv1AC5tYuVdl/s200/FB_IMG_1439261205852.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook: Charles Singleton</td></tr>
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Death is given out like candy<br />Here's some for you and some for you<br />Don't resist or you'll get some too<br />It's a crazy game<br />The system's on the hunt<br />Never touched drugs<br />We'll Photoshop in a blunt<br />You're no angel<br />You're some kind of freak<br />You have unseen powers<br />Is what some think<br />Bow before these commands<br />Meet unreasonable demands<br />Don't show grief<br />We'll make you look like a thief<br />While the system takes more life<br />And reinforces lack of worth<br />Yeah we'll protect your birth<br />But then there's a dearth<br />Of help along the way<br />We've trapped you here<br />We want you to fear<br />Don't question the system<br />Don't rebel<br />Or else<br />I feared for my life<br />Is the story I'll tell<br />You're nothing<br />You're no one<br />It's your own fault you lack<br /><br /><br /> Welcome to the world of how it feels to be black.</div>
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Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-33786157357055263942015-08-06T20:04:00.000-05:002015-08-06T20:04:03.138-05:00Me, a writer? Really? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPVEUi0dFmh-wW4wlR17Hn7dpnJG-GQzb8YCuiGlWCoyLF4q-UQrU9dDtBh7P35H-TYIH7EWHkW3Z3ce-76-WxbILRJywJngLJ8m_dyhI_2Hnyb3aRyZ1RMWwpVqLH4CqeGdz/s1600/Writer-.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPVEUi0dFmh-wW4wlR17Hn7dpnJG-GQzb8YCuiGlWCoyLF4q-UQrU9dDtBh7P35H-TYIH7EWHkW3Z3ce-76-WxbILRJywJngLJ8m_dyhI_2Hnyb3aRyZ1RMWwpVqLH4CqeGdz/s200/Writer-.png" width="200" /></a></div>
I ask myself this question too often. I've never written a traditional story, I don't write a certain number of words a day. Commas are my sworn, mortal enemy, I love run-on sentences, and there are other rules of grammar that I'm afraid I break, regularly.<br />
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Even in my professional business, I remix many of the same words and phrases because I am beholden to the structure of SEO. And my ability to research is, at times, crippled by my ability to get distracted while following a trail right down the rabbit hole.<br />
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So I wonder, am I truly an artist, a creative who has that almost-magical ability to transport people into a calm and comforting, or disorienting and adventurous world of words of my own making?<br />
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Today, I spent an hour or so writing down words from the thesaurus so each would readily pop into my mind. I don't like breaking writing rhythm to look up a similar word, and I've found when I write it down it helps me to remember.<br />
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Which then meant, of course, I spent time reading the dictionary to make sure I was using the words properly. Oh and to find new ones, which led me back to the thesaurus. It's a bit of a cyclical pattern.<br />
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Oh, and did I mention I'm working on a plan to launch an official website for my business, the Write Solution? I've been strategizing with my mentors about blog topics to get started. And there's that uncanny curiosity of mine that keeps my public relations-bent mind going back to journalism. I often wonder if this or that is being worked into a story. But I digress.<br />
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So in answer to my own question:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Who, other than a writer, does that? </span></b></div>
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Seriously.</div>
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In the matter of whether or not I am a writer, I believe these events, and many other print-related infractions, make me guilty as charged. I guess I'll go ahead and serve this life sentence with joy.Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-52458015315622690982015-06-23T08:00:00.000-05:002016-10-13T02:31:51.291-05:00Quiet.<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You want to hush my zeal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You laugh at my #Activism.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You tell me it isn't real.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">You say âMartin wouldn't do that.â</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But you forget you killed him too.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I ask you to have empathy.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Something you refuse to do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">And if I say I love my blackness.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You tell me to take it back.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">âBecause that love excludes all others.â</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another lie you use to attack. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You tell me it's no big deal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You say that weâre no angels.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To invalidate how we feel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">You say that we are violent.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But lynching was up to you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Youâll say that Iâm the racist.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My life proves that isnât true.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Youâll lie about our fathers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then ignore statistical facts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You spread your hatred, calling it news.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And try to tell me how to be black.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You want me to make you comfortable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or to look a certain way.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Iâm still looking for some empathy.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it didnât come today.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You tell me my fate is sealed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because Iâm tinted with melanin.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You think Iâm OK to kill.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Iâve sat for years in silence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And taken my requests to God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He never told me to ignore violence.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Itâs time for Justice to do her job.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is much work to be done.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And you can come and lend a hand.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can ask many questions.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But stop making silly demands.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I want to cry, Iâm going to.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And if I feel a protest is right.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is where you will find me.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until others have seen the light.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Go ahead and listen to the lies.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under the wings of those who yell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who tell you that weâre looting.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who tell you that weâll fail.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But in </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-f08734be-1eba-93d6-e527-48e85602bb69"><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;">hundreds of years</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of oppression. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You have never truly won.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So tell me again how this is senseless.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I refuse to be numb.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quiet.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Itâs time for our nation to heal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Your discomfort will not stop me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My voice youâll never steal.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If my sound annoys you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then go ahead and mute.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But many other freedom fighters. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will follow our noble pursuit.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are no longer quiet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have more stories to tell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will hear us in solidarity.</span></span></div>
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listen for our quiet yell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span style="line-height: 20.7000007629395px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Š</span><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aisha </span><span style="line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nichole Willis 2015-</span></span></div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-46479728325150343622015-03-05T14:08:00.000-06:002015-04-18T21:53:12.501-05:00mentors and inadvertent lessons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg7cFJAiCpLXyM2RL4u3UwkZb75H_kTX_bF7JX82-eYB6gHp8L2G3DxaBsLRs56otUj6u7RzjjAJMcld1vrmYWXDcnN2fMRHRs26znQJ1IdFTTHIn-z0rAO6fBiycHP0XZkYt/s1600/recite-1x7c1bn.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg7cFJAiCpLXyM2RL4u3UwkZb75H_kTX_bF7JX82-eYB6gHp8L2G3DxaBsLRs56otUj6u7RzjjAJMcld1vrmYWXDcnN2fMRHRs26znQJ1IdFTTHIn-z0rAO6fBiycHP0XZkYt/s1600/recite-1x7c1bn.png" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two days ago a mentor suggested I share some of my thoughts about current events and issues via this blog. I replied that I didn't think it was a good idea. She pointed to my passion about certain situations as proof that I had something to say. As I thought about it later, my own hesitation gave me pause.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why was I so tentative? What was I afraid of?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Acceptance is something I long for; it's a topic I've written about a number of times. I keep to myself with certain things because of that. I'm also a reconciler, I want to find common ground to bring opposing sides together. Somewhere in my mind, and in fear, I let all of this become confused. The idea that I cannot share what I think or feel because it may destroy what I'm working toward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But it won't. It can't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And until someone is willing to talk about issues openly with a heart for reconciliation, change will always be a far-off, distant goal. That said, I'm going to do this. I'm going to be me, not someone's hoped-for representation of who I should be, just me. Which means I finally had to accept that someone's discomfort with my views isn't my problem. I make it a point to accept people as they are, even when we disagree. If I'm in relationship with someone, all I ask is reciprocity. If not, at least I tried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So to the mentor who nearly got fired for missing mentor time (jk) and for willingly throwing me to the controversy hounds, you're reinstated. Thank you for challenging me to grow, even when you don't know you're doing it.</span>Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14288186.post-36272234654217511332015-02-03T09:30:00.000-06:002015-02-03T09:30:01.282-06:00The Breaking and Making of a Writer: a Scene From the Life of Aisha Willis<div id="E36" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E36" style="display: block; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E37" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E37" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was the feeling of heaviness in </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E38" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E38" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E39" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E39" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">limbs after treading water for an extended period of time. The cloying weight of water and betrayal by the body </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E40" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E40" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E41" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E41" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E42" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E42" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> head slips beneath the surface. The burn</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E43" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E43" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ing</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E44" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E44" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the lungs as they ache for air</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E45" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E45" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E48" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E48" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That is how in over her head she felt. Recently over promoted due to a supervisorâs departure, she was doing her best in an impossible situation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E51" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E51" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Solace was found in her childhood hobby, writing. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E52" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E52" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E53" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E53" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he night of </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E54" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E54" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday, </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E55" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E55" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">April</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E56" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E56" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 10, 2012 she wrote what would become <a href="http://lifeandvictory.blogspot.com/2012/04/when-i-grow-up.html" target="_blank">a defining blog post</a>, a point from which she marks time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E59" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E59" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Encouraged, lifted above those </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E60" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E60" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dangerous </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E61" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E61" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">waves by her faith and</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E62" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E62" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a recent venture back to her love for the written word, she </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E63" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E63" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fatefully </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E64" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E64" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pen</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E65" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E65" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ned</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E66" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E66" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, âWhen I grow up, which is NOW, I am going to be a writer.â</span></span></div>
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<span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E69" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E69" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Six days later Aisha Willis learned she was losing her job.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E75" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E75" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E76" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E76" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E77" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E77" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">donât know how to give yourself any grace</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E78" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E78" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E79" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E79" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â The words of </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E80" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E80" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judy Horton, best friend</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E81" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E81" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E82" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E82" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> mentor</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E83" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E83" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E84" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E84" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and other mother </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E85" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E85" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">comforted like nothing else.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E88" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E88" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E89" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E89" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was May 2013</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E90" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E90" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E91" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E91" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E92" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E92" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Aisha </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E93" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E93" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was still</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E94" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E94" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> fight</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E95" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E95" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ing</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E96" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E96" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E97" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E97" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">an old </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E98" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E98" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">darkness</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E99" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E99" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E120" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E120" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âI didnât finish</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E121" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E121" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E122" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E122" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E123" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E123" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">N</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E124" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E124" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ow Iâm here for writing,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E125" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E125" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E126" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E126" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> she </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E127" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E127" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">complained</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E128" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E128" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E129" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E129" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E132" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E132" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E133" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E133" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aisha, y</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E134" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E134" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ou made all Aâs your first semester after </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E135" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E135" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14 </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E136" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E136" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">year</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E137" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E137" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">s</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E138" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E138" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and you want to talk </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E139" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E139" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">failure?â</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E142" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E142" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E143" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E143" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he idea that she was heartbroken over </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E144" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E144" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not being an architect while exceling at </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E145" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E145" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">communication </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E146" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E146" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">suddenly</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E147" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E147" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> seem</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E148" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E148" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ed</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E149" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E149" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E150" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E150" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">absurd</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E151" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E151" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E154" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E154" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E155" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E155" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I canât afford to fail again.â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E156" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E156" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E157" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E157" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It had taken more courage than she knew she had to </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E158" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E158" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">return to school. She felt this was her final chance to </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E159" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E159" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">succeed</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E160" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E160" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E164" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E164" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E165" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E165" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You wonât. Your dream is alive</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E166" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E166" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E167" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E167" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E168" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E168" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kicking.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E169" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E169" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And Iâm here with you to help you. I love you.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E170" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E170" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E176" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E176" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sun had just set April 20, 2014 </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E177" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E177" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E178" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E178" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">she prepar</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E179" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E179" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ed</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E180" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E180" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to leave. Easter dinner </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E181" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E181" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E182" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E182" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at her sisterâs house and</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E183" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E183" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> hugs with </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E184" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E184" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the adults </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E185" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E185" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">were complete. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E188" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E188" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As she </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E190" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E190" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spoke</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E191" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E191" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with her soon-</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E192" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E192" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to-be 10-year-old niece, Lauren, </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E193" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E193" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aisha</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E194" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E194" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E195" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E195" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">heard an odd</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E196" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E196" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> tone in her</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E197" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E197" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> own</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E198" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E198" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> voice. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E199" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E199" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E200" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E200" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Kennedy, the youngest</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E201" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E201" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E202" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E202" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> whose eyes never quite met hers during the conversation</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E203" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E203" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E204" is="qowt-run" named-flow="FLOW-5" qowt-eid="E204" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" is="qowt-run" named-flow="FLOW-5" qowt-eid="E204" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">turne</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E205" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E205" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">d for a quick kiss and ran away with a âBye!â</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E208" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E208" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E209" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E209" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was the </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E210" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E210" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">next </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E211" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E211" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">conversation</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E212" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E212" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that rang the alarm inside. Jordan, the </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E213" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E213" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7-year-old, </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E214" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E214" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">middle child, exhibits characteristics of autism and born with an extra chromosome, Downâs syndrome.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E218" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E218" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She is </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E219" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E219" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">affectionate</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E220" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E220" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E221" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E221" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but her attention is usually elsewhere and </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E222" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E222" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">when she </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E223" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E223" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">speaks, itâs on the level of a 3</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E224" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E224" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E225" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E225" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or 4</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E226" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E226" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E227" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E227" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">year</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E228" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E228" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E229" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E229" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">old. That night she looked into her Aunt Nikkiâs eyes as she spoke </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E230" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E230" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E231" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E231" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a big smile. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E232" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E232" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">W</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E233" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E233" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ithout prompting</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E234" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E234" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E235" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E235" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jordan joyfully said, âI love you Aunt Nikki!â and wrapped her little arms around Aishaâs neck</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E236" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E236" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E237" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E237" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E238" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E238" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E239" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E239" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he haze was broken.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E242" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E242" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aisha could see her </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E243" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E243" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">destructive </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E244" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E244" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">thought pattern. But she </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E245" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E245" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">chose to </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E246" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E246" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">focus on the arms holding her </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E247" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E247" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as tears disappeared into Jordanâs wavy mane of brown hair.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E250" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E250" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was saying final goodbyes to the children, </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E251" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E251" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E252" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E252" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ensur</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E253" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E253" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">e</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E254" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E254" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lauren took care of her little sisters, that Kennedy listened to her parents and that Jordan was always careful.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E270" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E270" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iâm a failure. Life</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E271" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E271" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E272" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E272" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I hate you.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E273" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E273" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E276" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E276" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The weight of waiting had taken the air out of her lungs. She was underwater</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E277" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E277" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and ready</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E278" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E278" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to drift into the darkness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E284" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E284" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The difference in her was marked. Her head was down, eyes not as bright and she wasnât reaching the heights expected</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E285" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E285" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E286" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E286" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">person</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E287" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E287" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ally or from </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E288" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E288" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">others</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E289" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E289" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E292" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E292" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âThe first time I heard her</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E293" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E293" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E294" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E294" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> she struck me as a different kind of student.â Mindia Whittier recalls over a cup of tea in her office. Sheâs a senior lecturer of public relations at University of Texas at Arlington. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E297" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E297" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She i</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E298" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E298" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">s referencing an impromptu speech given by each student on the first day of class. </span></span></div>
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<span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E301" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E301" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">âAisha was eager to present and her delivery struck me. She is the kind of person who has an influence on others.â</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E304" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E304" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the Aisha she witnessed in late April 2014 was not the same. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E305" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E305" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She had only submitted one graded assignment and appeared to be distracted. This behavior was inconsistent with her participation and conscientiousness about her performance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E308" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E308" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E309" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E309" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a one-on-one</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E310" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E310" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> session</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E311" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E311" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Whittier asked </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E312" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E312" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">permission to ask a personal question</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E313" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E313" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. That was all it took.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E316" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E316" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Judy said</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E317" is="qowt-run" named-flow="FLOW-7" qowt-eid="E317" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> about Aisha, âShe loves and lives like a child. Once she determines that someone is </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" is="qowt-run" named-flow="FLOW-7" qowt-eid="E317" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">safe, she throws her cards in and will trust </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E318" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E318" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">them</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E319" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E319" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.â</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E322" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E322" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having decided that Whittier was âsafe</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E323" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E323" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E324" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E324" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â she shared th</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E325" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E325" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">e</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E326" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E326" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> issues she was facing</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E327" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E327" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E328" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E328" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of it stemmed from the</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E329" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E329" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E330" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E330" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">financial burden</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E331" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E331" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E332" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E332" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> not working for two years</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E333" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E333" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E334" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E334" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This inability to perform in </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E335" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E335" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a profitable </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E336" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E336" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">work</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E337" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E337" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">place</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E338" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E338" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> made </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E339" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E339" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aisha</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E340" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E340" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> hesitant in school</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E341" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E341" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E344" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E344" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was working for the </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E345" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E345" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">student newspaper</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E346" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E346" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E347" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E347" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">everyone knows you donât go into journalism for the pay. She was facing the possibility of four Fâs for the semester and eviction</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E348" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E348" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from her home</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E349" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E349" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. She felt as though she failed. Again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E352" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E352" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The gloom was the water she had been treading.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E353" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E353" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But somehow in that moment</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E354" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E354" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> she saw a light</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E355" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E355" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E356" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E356" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This woman across from her, an</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E357" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E357" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> instructor</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E358" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E358" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who had no obligation to her</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E359" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E359" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, seemed t</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E360" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E360" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">o </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E361" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E361" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">care.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E364" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E364" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It wa</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E365" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E365" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">s April 22, 2014</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E366" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E366" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E367" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E367" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and she with her head down and in a quieter voice than normal, told Whittier of the dark thought</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E368" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E368" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">s</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E369" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E369" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> she had been thinking.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E375" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E375" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E376" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E376" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E377" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E377" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">picture</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E378" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E378" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> will go here.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E379" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E379" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E380" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E380" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E381" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E381" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MacBook</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E382" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E382" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âs display showed</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E383" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E383" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the companyâs âLeadershipâ web page</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E384" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E384" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E385" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E385" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aisha</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E386" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E386" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âs</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E387" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E387" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> picture</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E388" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E388" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and story </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E389" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E389" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">would live</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E390" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E390" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> there soon</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E391" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E391" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. âDo you want to give me the copy?â </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E392" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E392" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeremy</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E393" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E393" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> asked with a bright smile.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E396" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E396" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E397" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E397" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">N</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E398" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E398" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">o.â The</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E399" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E399" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ink was still drying on an agreement</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E400" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E400" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for her to serve as the content </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E401" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E401" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and communications </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E402" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E402" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">manager</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E403" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E403" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E404" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E404" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E405" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E405" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">his </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E406" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E406" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">c</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E407" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E407" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ompany</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E408" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E408" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E409" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E409" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E410" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E410" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At his inquisitive </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E411" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E411" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">glance</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E412" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E412" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E413" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E413" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âI think you should write it. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E414" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E414" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to know what made you pick up the phone</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E415" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E415" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to select me</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E416" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E416" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E417" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E417" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">r</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E418" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E418" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> why will be others</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E419" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E419" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E422" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E422" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reason to trust me too.â</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E425" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E425" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He nod</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E426" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E426" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ded, still smiling</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E427" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E427" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E428" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E428" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Th</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E429" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E429" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">e</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E430" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E430" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> partnership was off to a good start. The first client to benefit from this connection </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E431" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E431" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">arrived</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E432" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E432" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E435" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E435" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The gentlemen discussed </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E436" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E436" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">while she </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E437" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E437" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">began </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E438" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E438" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the research process to craft the best message. Aisha chimed in with aspects to consider from the communications </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E439" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E439" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and sales </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E440" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E440" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">standpoint.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E443" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E443" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the three discussed business in the sun-filled seating area</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E444" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E444" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E445" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E445" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Aisha couldnât help but</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E446" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E446" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> marvel internally. Was I really that close to the edge </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E447" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E447" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">four months</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E448" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E448" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ago? I</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E449" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E449" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">âm</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E450" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E450" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E451" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E451" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E452" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E452" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> leadership team of this company and can </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E453" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E453" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">envision </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E454" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E454" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a future for my own team</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E455" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E455" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E456" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E456" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E459" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E459" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wonder of it all nearly brought her to tears but she chose to express with words. </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E460" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E460" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taking to</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E461" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E461" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Facebook </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E462" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E462" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">she</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E463" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E463" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> pen</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E464" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E464" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ned</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E465" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E465" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> another set of defining words.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E468" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E468" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E469" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E469" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apparently you can, in a short space of time, go from surviving one of your nightmares to living out a dream. Time to put in more work.â</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E472" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E472" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She smiled</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E473" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E473" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as she thought,</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E474" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E474" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E475" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E475" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E476" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E476" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E477" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E477" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Iâm coming for you.</span><span class="qowt-font4-Calibri" id="E478" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E478" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">â</span></span></div>
Aisha Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16593421873053633396noreply@blogger.com0