Cleveland's "Teddy Bear" goes home!

Once again I am left numb as I sit and listen to the many remembrances of Cleveland's own Gerald Levert. I can't believe he has passed on at the tender age of 40. Cleveland has lost one of their favorite sons at the prime of his life. His body is gone but his spirit will forever live in this city where in the last few hours everyone is recalling how they knew Gerald or they knew this person who was friends with that person etc. If you live in Cleveland you know how it goes.
Above all the last two days have once again proven that we are not in control and the Master has drafted a plan - today could be your last so make the most of it. Live, love and enjoy each day you have.
My deepest condolences are sent to the Levert family and the many members of Gerald's inner circle. You will be missed.

A Trailblazer Makes His Transition

Hearing that veteran CBS journalist Ed Bradley had passed away left me numb yesterday. I admired Bradley and found that he was one of the best interviewers in the business. Ed Bradley asked pointed questions. He pressed for a response when the subjects tried to evade him. Yet he went from serious to light as he laughed and joked with Tiger Woods or flirted with Lena Horne and cooked up a meal with Aretha Franklin.
Through it all he made you feel as though you were in the room as he interviewed countless celebrities and news makers over the course of twenty-five years on CBS' 60 Minutes. Before ascending to 60 Minutes Bradley was one of the first black journalists on network television and as a youngster I recall watching and admiring this man who was a foreign correspondent as I once hoped to be.
Over the years the number of black journalists on television has continued to grow, but Ed Bradley and Tony Brown of Tony Brown's Journal were the early ones and I am truly saddened to hear of Bradley's passing.
The tributes have been wonderful and Mr. Bradley will be greatly missed. God Bless you Ed Bradley for opening the doors for so many that have followed you, but also for bringing the world into the homes of millions.

Tomorrow's the Big Election Day!

Ok, we're not electing a President tomorrow - ah shucks, can we please! Instead we are electing the next Congress and in Ohio the Governor among other statewide elected offices and I can't wait until the polls close.
We have been inundated with the worst smear and smut that I can recall in a non-Presidential election. All of the political pundits are analyzing the elections and issues and declaring victory in most cases for the Democratic Party and laying the blame at the feet of the Republicans and President Bush for his inaction as it relates to the War in Iraq.
Listening to talk radio today I heard an interesting comment and referral to the mega preacher Creflo Dollar and I was a bit surprised. Maybe I shouldn't have been after talking with a few people who follow the mega ministers. It appears that the right Reverend Dollar (and I am assuming here) has joined forces with the right-wing ministers in a "United We Stand" campaign in support of the War in Iraq. To see more stop here.
I am opposed to the War in Iraq for a number of reasons with the Number 1 Being - We Don't Belong There! Let's think back to how we became engaged in war with Iraq. As you may recall we were attacked September 11, 2001 and all arrows pointed to Osama Bin Laden, but our President decided that now was the time to go after his father's nemesis Saddam Hussein and the infamous Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Fast forward five years and there are no WMD's, Osama is still laughing at the U.S. and we have now captured, tried and sentenced Hussein to death. Do you feel safer? Have the terrorist attacks ended? Well it's been quiet on our Western front, but the terrorist cells are still very active and continue to hate the US.
As to Dollar a friend said to me 'he's just that Creflo Dollar' and I'm sure he's being paid for his endorsement. This truly saddens me because I recall how a few years back in the early days of the mega ministries Dollar was one of the leaders and he brought many men and women to the Word, but now I wonder how many did he lead down a dark path.
I'll continue to think on this as I prepare my thoughts for my posting on Good vs. Evil.