Don't you know I'm ALWAYS right??

One morning on my way to work I was enjoying a radio sermon that spoke about the debilitating effects of "being right." He talked about people wanting to have their way in a relationship without regard to the overall health of that relationship. He said that one can be "right" but there is a way to BE right that doesn't demean or embarrass another person in the exchange.

I recall once a friend asking her husband a question when they were out and among friends. His retort only served to make her seem stupid for asking as evidenced by his facial expression and condescending manner. Everyone who saw this could see how embarrassed she was as she was not seeking to be dismissed in such a way.

Were his intentions to denounce her or was it to make himself seem correct? Probably a lot of both as they were soon divorced and everyone they knew saw it coming.

But, is this the flavor of many of our interactions with each other? Do we want to be sooooooooooo right, and not only "right" but right "out loud" that no matter how you make the other person feel, you don't care because you "won."



I have written before about "fighting to win" and how no one actually wins when one sets out to denigrate their partner through their own haughty behavior. I sense that it is a form of narcissism that causes this but, I'm not a therapist or even Obi-wan Keno-be anymore (smile).

But, what I do know is that there is always a middle ground and in a solid relationship, both halves have to be given an avenue to be who they are to that relationship. It cannot be "my way or the highway" because if anything happens and you can't drive anymore, the new driver won't know where to go, eh?

Lots of attention has been paid to the acrid behavior of both sides on the health care debate. It is seeping into every other realm of the political arena as well and, as I have noted, both sides WILL lose if things don't take a different tack.

Are you so strident in your beliefs that you allow no quarter for the the other party/person to learn anything from you? Can they even hear you over your shrill attestations of your "correctness?" Are you not even listening to them to see where you could possibly be in error yourself?

Will your being so right mean more to you than having nearly every other dream come true? Is it a Faustian bargain? Do you even recognize it as such?

I can bet that nearly all of us can look back and see exactly where one of our relationships, or past jobs, etc., went bad and we can all point to a moment of selfishness (maybe you could not see it then but retrospective reasoning can reveal it now) that cost you something precious. So many of us are good at seeing it with others but not with ourselves and will deny it in a fit of self-righteous pique.

There is a way to love fairly, fight fairly, debate fairly, even lose fairly. If you want to live a healthy, well-rounded life full of abundance, you must recognize and respect those with whom you will live this life...or it can be VERY lonely otherwise.

Republicans and Ethnic Cleansing

You know, it's hard to be a Black person in America and, frankly, everywhere else for that matter. We are the contrast to the right wing vision of how life is supposed to be and as such we are at the other end of the Doppler shift. Being that far away from what they believe should be "normal" seems to paint us into a position of de facto abnormality.

We cannot afford to be color-blind no matter how much you want us to believe that it is in our best interest. As long as you insist on redlining us out of the opportunity to prosper from the unkept promise of America, then you have apartheided us into our own corner of America where the bars are meant to kept us in. We must comply with rules that are inherently against the dreaded diversity that you fear will make you marginal and an afterthought.

As a registered Republican (not for much longer), I have to cringe when I hear those on the furthest limbs of the conservative tree with a polished glibness savage anyone who simply has a difference of opinion as some sub-human life form that deserves deletion from their capitalistic and political hard drive.

You cannot stand to hear people hyphenate themselves but you are not prepared to remove all of the things that apparently warrant such a label. You see, I personally am not an African-American. I am Black. But, if I wanted to be African-American as a way of providing just some semblance of ethnic pride, you sputter that I should be happy to be an American...an American like you.

You push out those who somehow believe in your twisted logic and who look like us as proof that the rest of us can somehow make it. You know, the Larry Elders of the world who do not believe that there are actually victims of what you do. Of course, we can do what ever we want--as long as you believe that we are trying to be made in your image. If not, then we must be cleansed.

Sirs and Madams, with all due respect, I cannot be any less Black than I am now as far as you're concerned so what is your point? You have already by your discomfit corralled me with the worst of my ethnic group--those made that way by your laissez-faire treatment of those you sought to colonize and cleanse of all self-pride to make them a better commodity for you.

I remind you that you hated your own color palette when you sought to minimize the Irish, the Italian, the Slav, or any other group that was not an original American -- in your eyes.

So, you sought the course of least resistance and turned us against each other by having sex with us, your livestock, giving us your surnames, and insisting that we look like you rather than ourselves. And, when we did all of that, we were still less than human to you.

I do not need to read a Willie Lynch letter to see for myself what you've done to my people. Even when you have someone who is successful, dedicated, and a Republican--like General Colin Powell--a man who ascended to the top playing by your rules, doing things your way, speaking your language and when he dares to differ with you, now he is no longer worthy of your company.

You eat your young.

You could care less about those who come here with nothing until they show they can be what you want them to be.

When you have a person like Judge Sotomayer who dares to be who she is, a Latina, eminently qualified but not quite there because she lives out her ethnic pride...you know, rising to the top...overcoming all obstacles...not taking any affirmative action handouts...but just not quite good enough because of it, you are the ones who need to question one's racist charges.

What is the difference between what you espouse and what you know that David Duke does? Honestly...answer me that. Why do you let convicted felons like Ollie North or G. Gordon Liddy be your mouthpieces?

So, you want to believe that anyone can make it in this country? But, only if they believe what you believe? Only if they can escape the ethnic cleansing that you practice?

You may not think it so but, from our point of view, it looks dramatically different.

But, then again, we ARE in Rome and when in Rome...

So, here's what I want you to do when it comes to Black and Brown people who are decent, hardworking, and honest people. People who are that part of the human equation that does not seek to be a criminal. People who are family-oriented. People who believe in their God. People who are talented beyond your suspicion that they are not.

I want you to shut up!

If you want to classify us in terms of our political belief system and differ with us, then by all means, you are free to do so. But, do NOT paint us as inherently inferior because of our hue which YOU believe makes us politically opposite of what is the right thing to do; because that is exactly what you do when you dare to label us as racists or sexists because it is logical to have racial pride (just like David Duke) and to believe that a woman can comprehend what it takes to be both a woman and racial -- not racist.

If you want to see America at its best, then you need to see what the melting pot has wrought in terms of all of the things from which you benefit today because we're here. I cannot nor do I wish to be anything other than who and what my father and mother produced. If you want to see the REAL America, just open your damned eyes and see what is really happening out here where capitalism is dirty and hard scrabble. Where WE try to overcome all odds on a daily basis just to be something other than just a "nigger."

But, as was so poignantly said in The Great Debaters, you need to decide by your actions what kind of Black person you want here. A talented one unfettered and free to be themselves, or an angry one who will be just pissed off enough to not appreciate your constantly pointed out how our differences make US inferior.

Your last President wanted to leave no child behind...how about not leaving ANYONE behind?

Timeshares or Global Resorts Network

In these difficult financial times, it is imperative that one maximize the value from every dime they spend on anything. Traveling is an important way to enjoy one's life, build family unity, and allow one to enjoy God's handiwork, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune to do so.

Timeshares at one time were a good way to travel to quality locations and enjoy the amenities at a decent cost. But, now timeshares can be prohibitive and the fees never seem to end. Smart people know that Global Resorts Network removes nearly ALL of one's financial concerns and provides the highest in value by only offering resorts that are three-star or above.

Compare this opportunity to the Disney Vacation Club ($17,000+?) that Steve Harvey keeps talking about. The Disney Vacation Club is STILL a timeshare with restrictions and no where near the choices that a Global Resorts Network membership provides. In terms of performance, flexibility, and cost, a Global Resorts Network membership is your BEST travel value!

Global Resorts Network GRN has the marketing exclusivity of one of the world's most luxurious travel memberships. This travel membership has been on the market for over 20 years and just in 2007 was offered exclusively through Global Resorts Network GRN for a very, very low price.

Global Resorts Network GRN members enjoy access to over 5,000 resorts worldwide literally at their fingertips: simply click and go! Global Resorts members can book online 24/7 and pay as low as $298 (actually, $98.00!!) for a whole vacation week for the whole family.

With these types of benefits it's now very easy for the average family to go on vacation several times a year for life (Global is a lifetime membership).

Here are a few differences between Global Resorts and Timeshare ownership to help you make a wise decision:

1. Low Investment: Global Resorts Network GRN's typical investment is only $1,495-$2,995 while timeshares normally cost between $7,500-$40,000(!!!).

2. No Annual Maintenance Fees: With Global Resorts you have no annual maintenance fees; with timeshares you have between $500-$1,000 a year that you must pay.

3. No Added Weeks Fees: With Global you don't have to pay any extra fees to go on more vacations. With timeshares you have to pay a fee to add weeks to your timeshare.

4. Excellent Referral Compensation: Global Resorts pays you $500-$1000 on each referral you refer to the program. Timeshares will typically never pay you for your referral efforts.

5. Access to cruises and hotels: With timeshares you get to go to only to the specified resort or resort chain, with Global you get access to over 5000 resorts all over the world plus discounts on cruises and hotel stays.

6. 5,000 resorts worldwide: With Global Resorts Network GRN you get access to over 5,000 3- to 5-star resorts worldwide, while with timeshares your travel destinations are much more limited.

7. State-of-the-art online booking: 24/7 booking right on your computer with Global Resorts!

8. Last-Minute Booking: With Global you can book at anytime, no hassles!

9. Travel Weeks Per Year: Buying into a timeshare will allow you to book 1-2 weeks per year for your vacation, but with Global Resorts you can book up to 52 weeks if you want at no extra fees. That means you can travel all year long if you want to!

After looking at these comparisons, Global Resorts Network GRN really looks like a no-brainer, and I believe it really is a no-brainer for those who are...

1. Looking to enjoy the amenities of a timeshare, and
2. Wanting to travel the world, and...
3. Looking to make a great income from anywhere in the world.

No joke; no catch; no worries! It is the perfect home-based business! See the difference while seeing the world!

I hope this helps you make the right decision about whether you should go with a limiting timeshare or the abundant travel and income opportunities of Global Resorts Network GRN.

For more information, please go to http://www.traftontravel.com/. You'll be more than happy that you did!

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