I Have a Dream Too

It begins wondering what Dr. Martin Luther King would do and say today.

I won’t or cannot pretend to understand the difficulties of blacks in America today. I read from the Chicago Tribune’s Laura Washington who understands and tries to explain the case. I could listen to her for hours. The amazing Henry Louis Gates, Jr. with his efforts of explaining the history of the blacks through today, and the difficult thought that he once was arrested for attempting to break into his own home offers a tiny bit of light of the plight. When one black friend said, “Mr. McCarthy, blacks wished they weren’t born black,” that took me aback so far. I could not ever think that I or anyone else I ever knew would say, “whites wished they weren’t born white.” Strenuously I try to understand and listen to the difficulties of blacks today, and there’s no doubt that you need to walk a mile in their shoes to have a glimpse.

I have not heard a sole say that Ex-Policeman Derek Chauvin was right. Americans are in agreement that was wrong, a tragedy and most likely murder. A crime was committed.

Circling back to Dr. King – I think he would understand there is an image problem.

Protests easily could have been peaceful following Dr. Kings philosophy.

I am sure the vast majority of protesters came peacefully, marched peacefully and went home peacefully. However, the image we are given makes it appear that all protesters are complicit in arson, vandalism, theft, mob violence, assault, mob action, etc. We need everyone to be equally treated Americans.

Would Dr. King have grown his thought of peace, and realized demonstrations are needed to show an image that the protesters are not only good, but responsible, helpful, and do things better than most other Americans?  What if, the marchers came with shovels, push brooms, rakes, loppers, plastic garbage bags, razors to remove stickers and strings tied around lightpoles. What if when they passed one block, there weren’t even weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalks, they were all pulled. What if they left every foot they passed cleaner and more civil than when they arrived.  All that’s left is a trail of full plastic bags at the curbside. Show the world they are better than the police, better than any other group out there.

What if there were so many different marches in a city, not only in the big business district, but their own neighborhoods where they block the streets, take over the parks and make them spotless with helicopters hovering over watching this take fold? The footage would be startling.

What is that image today? The thugs I see today I want nothing to do with, there is nothing I wish to learn from them. Lawbreakers all of them. Their “cause” is not advanced, it is ignored.

However, a Dr. King image of a better people, of those who do care, of those who are gracious would be a group I would sympathize with and try to understand better and wish to help.

I Have a Dream Too.

A boy wakes up after falling from the sky and finds himself in front of a giant tower with no other choice but to reach the top. Along the way he meets a cute little cat animal thing who joins him on his journey to reach the top, and hopefully recover his memories.

LUNA the Shadow Dust is a PC puzzle adventure game by Application Systems Heidelberg and Lantern Studios. You play as the unnamed boy and an unnamed animal (who is referred to as “pet” in the description.) The characters are interchangeable and you will need both to solve the various puzzles in each room. You go into LUNA the Shadow Dust completely blind. No hints, no voices, no words –cept for the occasional sign – no explanation on what to do, nothing. They want you to be as clueless as the boy is.

You enter each new room and floor to find a puzzle waiting for you. You have to do a lot of moving things and climbing and random button pressing and level pulling and other stuffs. The puzzles are complex and unique and involve a lot of trial and error. On the plus side, you can’t make any fatal mistakes so just try everything till you get it. The rooms are all linear and everything you need to solve it is in that room as well so don’t worry about thinking you missed something.
There are no hints or skips in LUNA the Shadow Dust. It would have been nice to have even a small hint option as some of the puzzles are rather complex. However, having no help at all gives you a real idea of how the boy is feeling – being trapped in a room with no idea how to get out. But this isn’t reality and darn-it people like hints!

The art of LUNA the Shadow Dust is very well done and just beautiful. It’s all hand drawn and well designed. Each item really stands out and even the facial expressions of the two characters are detailed. The visual story is revealed slowly as you complete levels and travel higher in the tower. No background is given at first and no explanation of who the boy or pet is till you play higher and higher. Even when things are reveled, there is still no words or voice, just enchanting visuals.

The music was one of the best parts of LUNA the Shadow Dust. Each room has it’s own unique song that not only gives you nice peaceful ambiance, but also really sets the mood for each room. For instance, if the room is more calm then the music is calmer, if the room is a bit scary then so is the music. Either way, the sounds are beautiful and makes the hard puzzles a bit less stressful. LUNA the Shadow Dust is not very long either, you can complete it in one or two sittings.

So though it is short and there are no hints or help given to you in the game, I found LUNA the Shadow Dust to be very well made, fun and just a beautiful beautiful game! The art and music are perfect and really adds sometime special to the gameplay. The puzzles are challenging but logical and actually really fun. I give it 4 ½ outta five baby dragons!
LUNA the Shadow Dust. is now out and available on Steam for $19.99. For more info check out Lantern Studio’s site here. Happy gaming all!!

There is no question that almost everyone’s lives have changed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Some people’s lives have changed drastically; with a loss of a job or sadly even a family member. Other people were simply implemented with minor inconveniences such as boredom at home or not having a mask at hand for Walmart. 

Though the economy has installed many adjustments to create a temporary “new normal,” what about the other factors that go into everyday life that have been affected by this global pandemic, such as the dating world. 

Personally for me, self-quarantining has actually been what initially inspired me to want to download apps such as Tinder and Bumble. Certainly not because I’m genuinely looking for a serious, committed relationship (I wouldn’t go to “the hook-up app” for that anyways) but more-so because my boredom has evoked a curiosity for how it all even works now that my “match” can’t take me out to dinner!

Much to my surprise, the mindless swiping and the corny pick-up lines were the perfect way to pass time during those uneventful first few weekends of quarantine. I actually enjoyed sitting in on Friday nights and talking with these strangers about their experiences during these hard times and even acquired some new FaceTime buddies. On the contrary, I could not believe that despite the entire world being shut down (this was late March btw) that some of the men I had matched with had suggested hanging out and actually wanted to meet me (a stranger) during a pandemic! What if I had the COVID? Do they simply not care? Not only that but there is no place to go. No Red Lobster to justify the one night stand with Ben from the neighborhood down the road. Would they wear a mask? No, probably not considering they’re texting me telling me how kissable I look. These men. I just could not wrap my head around their social distancing mentality. Survival of the fittest I guess. I personally do not believe any vagina is worth the risk of a ventilator but I guess that’s a question we haven’t yet asked Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Who is on the 2020 election ballot in November.
You are. And I am. And all Americans.
Either we vote for bigotry, hatred and tribalism—or we vote for tolerance, love and inclusiveness.

If  you don’t, you..yes YOU will devolve America to another Banana Republic a la Russia and Putin.

Pay ATTENTION AMERICA, or you lose it.

Let’s Stay Together Talk Show is saddened and angered about the senseless death of George Floyd. The tyranny of injustice within our government against African-Americans continues to show its ugly pattern of racism and the symptomatic, stereotypical views that continue to divide our nation. Witnessing how a person can willingly end the life of another, who is helpless to defend himself, will be a continual strain in my soul, but sadly, it seems commonplace in America. 

What we do about this situation is crucial; however, how humanity handles this horrific event is paramount. Regardless of ethnicity, all Americans need to speak out against racism. We are all accountable for the treatment of others. Speaking privately to family and friends can no longer be the norm. This current situation demands that you speak out not only today, but anytime injustice occurs. Be the change that you wish to see in the world. 

Protesting has always been the modus operandi that people used to fight against injustice; however, an injustice protest benefits no one. As the brother of George Floyd echoed, “Let’s try it another way!”   

On our show, I’ve preached about the importance of voting, listening to news affiliates within your area, contacting your government officials, and demanding that they heard the voice of your community. We must demand that our government, including our aldermen’s, mayors, and governors, listen, or vote them out. The Bible says, “The people perish for the lack of knowledge.” We need to know what is happening within our communities, our government, and our cities to affect change. We also need to clean out any corruption within those communities and demand that we have honest law enforcement to protect us. Despite the rhetoric from leadership, we must have a non-violent unity and work together to secure peace.   

To our destructive citizens, violence, destroying property, and looting isn’t the answer. Floyd and others like Tamir Rice, Freddie Gray Michael Brown Jr., Walter Scott, and Eric Garner, who die by the inhumane treatment of African-Americans and people of color, should not be and will not be reduced by your senseless behavior. We understand your frustration; however, you are diminishing those that fought and died for justice by your actions. We plead for you to stop and come together for change. 

Use your political voice to make a change. Form a non-bias group that speaks for the people within your community and demand a forum that works with government officials within your city to secure justice. Although there is civil unrest across America, “No Justice, No Peace” should never be about violence if justice isn’t received. The history of America has shown that violence has been a mechanism to fight against the tyranny of oppression. However, there is never a time for violence. Martin Luther King said, “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence.” We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.” We must demand justice, and many have nobly died for its cause, but your life is more important and should not be quieted by an otiose moment of violence. I abhor violence for change, but sadly I must admit, freedom never seems to come without it. King also stated that “A riot is the language of the unheard,” which is troubling to my spirit that these words still echo today. People have been forced to riot because the system in place to hear them has ignored their cries. If two wrongs don’t make a right, why are we continuously seeing the chaotic dilemma in our society of which came first, the chicken or the egg? Enough is enough! Let’s stop playing chicken.  

To those who are protesting in a non-violence nature, we commend you. We understand your anger and agree that justice for Floyd needs to occur and that criminal charges ordered against all officers involved. King wrote these words regarding his peaceful protesting. “The only weapon that we have in our hands this evening is the weapon of protest. That’s all.” Stay the course of non-violence. Your unity among the races is a beautiful example of agape love.     

We must also demand that our Democratic and Republican leaders not use this horrendous situation to criticize each other, point blame, berate, or use this historical moment as a political tool to win an election. This is the time for profound, radical change where history can see Americans united together to secure justice for all.  

A word to my non-African-American brothers and sisters that see George Floyd’s death as a travesty, we love that you can see our pain, but where have you been? Your voice is needed! You have the power to erect the necessary change, but where have you been? Please do not let this be another isolated discomfort where you feel you can relate to our historical anguish living in America. We love that you feel our grief; however, we now need you to hear us. 

Believe us when we tell you about the fear we have living around you. The pain we feel when the media degrade us, only showing us in a negative light, which causes you to fear our existence. Understand we want to live peacefully and not be looked at as a criminal just because we are in your neighborhood or walking down a street. Don’t judge all African-Americans just because one person does something wrong. Please get to know us and let us get to know you! You will see we have more in common than the things that divide us.      

To our police brothers and sisters, that honor the badge, your silence for those within the honorable system of justice established to protect, will be sullied if you allow corrupt individuals to destroy that honor. You are implicitly guilty if you kneel in prayer then allow those behind the shield to kill and not speak out. Your fundamental duty is to serve humanity; to safeguard lives, to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men. Remember, no matter the political power that speaks, one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch. Follow the law of protection and not the rule of anarchy expressed by leadership. We love and honor your service, but we are applauded by those that use the badge as a weapon to kill, steal, and destroy lives.       

To the news media across the United States, that continuously report negative stories about African-Americans, we demand you stop criminalizing us as a people. As the Bible says, “We all sin and fall short of God’s glory.” We are honorable, law-abiding people seeking justice without violence and condemn all wrong-doing, including any bias coverage that vilifies one race. You are responsible for how you bring about societal change. Make your coverage a positive change that the world will remember.

As a child, I pattern my life from the life and words of Martin Luther King Jr. King wrote many profound statements like, “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right,” so this next statement may sound naive. I’m hopeful that we have reached a moment when these horrific events can replace the mentality of violence with a mindset of victory through honest and fair communication.    

Lastly, for those that say that there is no symptomatic racism, your world is the world we all want to witness. Symptomatic racism has been here in America since the days when boats brought slaves to American ports. We must come together to remove the waves of racism and bring us to the shores of equality. History will look at us as the people that (negatively or positively) change the world. How we move forward is up to us all!  

We welcome you to join us tomorrow on Let’s Stay Together Talk Show at 6:30 central time on Soar Radio or Facebook Live. 

“Naperville police are investigating the defacement of property at a local park,” according to ABC 7 Chicago and other news outlets.

“White Pride,” gang symbols and other phrases were spray-painted early this week at Cantore Park in Naperville. https://t.co/05Z0JinbXD

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) May 30, 2020

The graffiti has since been erased by the Naperville Park District.

PHOTOS: Fallout in Chicago during protests of the death of George Floyd