Friday, October 26, 2012
Powerful in the Present
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Price of War
Written and performed by Lena Williamson
Look In The Mirror Poetry Collection
Lena Land Books
Bound By Time
Written and performed by Lena Williamson
Look In The Mirror Poetry Collection
Lena Land Books
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Biggest Commitment of your Life
I know without a
doubt that there are people who feel that parenthood is one of the biggest
personal commitments in life. While
others will argue that this honor should be reserved for marriage. After all, both of these events can alter
anyone’s life dramatically.
However I would
like to introduce another HUGE commitment that few people care to nurture,
Self-Love. There are those who are
stable, dependable workers, faithful members of the church and loving
individuals. From the exterior, on the
outside looking in their life seems enviable.
I might have classified myself as one of these people. Through constant conversations and
observations I quickly learned that the parallel between those individuals and
me became broader when I could effortlessly do the one thing that they cringed
at the thought of, being alone.
Furthermore, I
not only embrace the idea of being left alone with myself but I relish in the
fact that at any given time of the day I am always in the company of the one
person who will stay with me through good times and bad for richer or for
poorer, and in sickness and in health.
ME!
I get to spend
the rest of my life with someone who genuinely cares about my opinions whether
rational or irrational, right or wrong.
I am in love with someone who does not hesitate when time comes to take
me out for a night on the town whether I’m in jeans or a dress. I am immersed in a love affair with someone
whose only purpose in life is to make me happy.
I am hopelessly and unconditionally in love with me.
It took me quite
some time, years, pains and tears to realize that the love I had been searching
a decade to find amongst others was with me the entire time. As I look in the mirror lately I think of how
foolish I had been to not see the love I wanted right in front of my eyes.
I challenge you
as an individual to love you more. I
dare you to release the narcissism and selfishness. Self love is not about me, me, me or I
deserve this or that. No, self love is
taking yourself to the movies without needing or wanting the company of
another. Self-love is about spending
time pleasing the neglected part of you.
It’s about whisking yourself away on vacation to the locale of your
choosing just to give yourself the well-deserved attention that would usually
go to your children, spouse or significant other. Become your own significant other. I believe self-love is one of the biggest
commitments of your life. Self-love is
the celebration of you.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The Art of Being an Activist
For as long as
there has been an established Government in place, there have been Activist
protesting and denouncing its crippling grip on society. I am also aware that as long as activist have
been marching, sitting and shouting for the freedom of all, Artist and their
various art forms have been the first journalists on the scene giving minute to
minute detail of what is happening around the world. I am not sure if activism inspires art or
vice versa but one thing is certain; one is always a mirror for the other.
Whether the tool
of change is a paintbrush, a Bic pen or a microphone, artists often shed a
spotlight on the destruction that befalls us.
Diego Rivera, a
Mexican painter and member of the Mexican Communist Party during the 1920s used
his murals to expose the atrocities of the Church and its crooked Clergymen.
John Steinbeck,
author of Grapes of Wrath used his
pen to detail the depressing and life-altering journey from Oklahoma to
California during the 1930s Dustbowl Migration.
Marvin Gaye used
his voice to speak for a weary generation of people who were tired of being
beaten and abused, tired of being ignored by the government, screaming out for
an answer in the form of “What’s Going
On?”
Both Artists and
Activists have always walked hand and hand, willing to speak for the masses
because no one else is willing to listen.
They live among us and carry our message to the powers that be. Not always receiving a welcome or thank
you. More often than not they are
greeted with backlash and scrutiny. As
the country music group the Dixie Chicks learned after speaking out about their
disgust toward former President Bush and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Rapper Jay-z’s
song “Minority Report” speaks volumes
about the lack of a response or support from the White House and former
President Bush after Hurricane Katrina destroyed Louisiana and
Mississippi.
It is amazing
that as human beings we can feel powerless until we have that one weapon. That one weapon that once wielded can raise
an army and destroy one just as easily.
That one weapon of mass destruction, a pen, a voice, a paintbrush or
YOU!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Quinn Chews Out Chick-Fil-A While NYC Workers Die
It amazes me how
politicians that rise in the ranks within the political arena always seem to
start off as for “the people” but lose “the people” along their journey toward
candidacies for Mayor, Governor, Senator or President.
I admired
Christine Quinn’s political ambition and ascension especially when it came to
her support and loyalty to the LGBT community.
I later learned that she was a lesbian as well. I appreciated her taking a stand against
Mayor Bloomberg on issues such as displacing the Homeless when they clearly had
no other alternative other than the overcrowded shelters they were vying to
occupy.
However Council
Speaker Christine Quinn seems to have lost her focus on recent issues. It did not surprise me in the least to hear
that Quinn took offense over Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy’s view on the
state of gay marriage. Nor did it shock
me to learn that she tried to have the only Chick-Fil-A in New York City thrown
out of NYU.
My disgust and
anger toward Quinn bubbles up from the knowledge that she made time to harass
the President of NYU and release a statement asking Chick-Fil-A’s President Dan
Cathy to overcome his homophobia while quickly and callously dismissing the
fact that there are hundreds of thousands if not millions of under paid New
Yorkers working without being paid for sick days.
Felix Trinidad
is the latest casualty in Quinn’s war on everything anti-gay. Trinidad died of stomach cancer on July 12th
of this year at the age of 34. He was
the sole provider for his wife and two young children. What really gets under my skin and festers is
knowing that Quinn will fight tooth and nail for causes close to her heart and
that furthers her political agenda but the same people who get out of work too
late to kiss their children good night but early enough to cast their vote on
election day so that she can keep her seat are being made to work with terminal
illnesses, debilitating pain and agony so that the small businesses that line
Quinn’s pocket will not suffer.
I was once one
of Christine Quinn’s biggest fans and supporters but come Election Day when its
time to choose Bloomberg’s successor this is one vote that Quinn can count on
losing.
Sources: Albor
Ruiz and Erin Durkin of the Daily News
Friday, August 10, 2012
Lena Land Books to Release a Domestic Violence Anthology “When Angels Bleed”
Author L.S. Williamson exemplifies the motto, “No rest for the weary” as she barrels ahead with her next book When Angels Bleed. The book soon to be released will be a compilation of true stories of the battles in the fight against Domestic Violence from the male and female perspective. The victims will be both familiar and indiscriminate as are the effects of abuse. There are women and men being verbally, physically, psychologically, financially, sexually and emotionally abused by those closest to them.
No
one ever tells you to enter at your own risk when walking through the gates of
love. They will badger you into marriage and threaten you with tales of
shriveled eggs if you wait too long to have kids but have no dialogue of
deliverance when that lover of yours leaves you beaten and battered. When it
hurts to be touched, not one of those hugs are light enough to feel or strong
enough to heal.
Warn
us from the time we are old enough to understand that tender kisses and blinding
punches are not a prerequisite to love at all. Let the knowledge of all forms
of abuse be as melodic as a song.
When Angels bleed God sheds a tear
As the blood
flows like a river, far and near.
The Heavens
quiver and the fires in Hell rise higher,
Blaze brighter
as pure evil snuffs out the Angel’s light.
Where goodness
once shined brighter than a July sun,
Now lives fear
and despair, the darkness has come.
Battle scars are
beauty marks on the soldiers of God.
By Lena S. Williamson
Psalm 34:19 "Many are the afflictions of the
righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Have You Ever...
Lena Land Books
http://lenalandbooks.intuitwebsites.com/index.html
All In A Day's Work
In the world of Public Relations getting the word out is
essential. However at World Wide
Communications most of the juiciest tidbits of information revolve around the
employees.
Through the eyes of the Office Manager, we get a
glimpse into what goes on behind closed doors at this small but successful New
York PR agency, which mirrors society as a whole. Delivered through a tone of humor, this story
explores the depths of racism, sexism and the class system. As Regina the office manager mentions, “certain that she makes
less than everyone there, maybe less than the college interns why is it that
she can perform ten duties in ten minutes and Stanley a senior account
executive cannot use a damn fax machine?
Not one of those
recent college graduates who become Account Executives can make a cup of
coffee, fax a document or get dressed properly without Regina holding their
hand and walking them through it. But
they get paid the big bucks.”
A death of one of
their own in the office seems to be the least of their problems. A mole watching their every move may cost
these employees to lose their jobs, if not their lives.
Lena Land Books
A Diamond In The Rough
A Diamond in the Rough
is a coming of age tale about a typical young girl who is growing up faster
than she should in a world that is all too accommodating. Diamond finds love in another lost kindred
spirit at an early age, only to lose the love of her life through tragedy
shortly after. Her world is suddenly
turned upside down, and at a time when her peers are going off to college and
discovering first love, Diamond is turning tricks and ducking death.
As you follow Diamond’s journey from adolescence to
adulthood it is easy, as an outsider to recognize all of the wrong turns and
pitfalls she succumbs to.
A Diamond in the Rough
is a story about the decisions made during youth that end up crippling our
lives forever.
Friday, August 3, 2012
The Catch 22: Everyone should carry a .22
With the latest
tragedy coming out of Aurora, Colorado a question being posed is “would it have
been safer or less chaotic if everyone in Aurora was carrying at the Dark Knight Rises premiere?”
As a long time
resident of New York City violence especially attributed to gun use is not a
new topic. Most of the shootings
committed in this city are a result of illegal gun sales. At the age of 10 years old I can clearly
remember being afraid to go to the movies because of the reoccurring shootouts
at local movie theaters. With the
release of movies like Boyz in the Hood
and New Jack City, gun violence was
an unwelcome result of the release of urban films.
However the
Aurora, Colorado shooting was not a result of reckless inner city youth acting
out over the release of an urban film, where it would likely be expected. This massacre was different and unique in so
many ways.
First of all the
gunman was not a disadvantaged youth who obtained an illegal weapon. The Colorado gunman was college educated and
from a decent family. His guns were also
purchased LEGALLY and over the counter, just like a bottle of painkillers and
as easily as a cup of coffee. In
Colorado it was within his rights to do so, along with the other residents of Colorado.
The question
then becomes what would have happened if the victims of this tragedy had their
guns with them that evening? My first
issue with this is before the Dark Knight
Rises premiere, who would have thought they needed to bear arms at the
movies? There were several children who
were also victims. Should their parents
have strapped AK-47s to their backs along with the baby’s diaper bag? I can just imagine a scene straight out of
the O.K. Corral with guns blazing, mothers and fathers letting off endless
rounds at the gunman who was dressed head to toe in tactical gear. No one left standing once the smoke
cleared. How many victims would there
have been then?
Law makers are
split on whether or not gun laws should be made tougher but unfortunately most
of these politicians are afraid of ruffling the feathers of the NRA (National
Rifle Association) and any talk of eliminating the presence of guns in the free
world is not going to happen. So how do
we find a manageable solution to prevent further bloodshed?
I can remember
going to get my passport for the very first time at the age of 26 years
old. For that process I needed state
approved documents detailing whom I was, various forms of State and City issued
identification and to be accompanied by my mother. The latter, was most important for
verification of who I was. Imagine if
our government put that much effort into prohibiting illegal gun sales and
restricting legal gun purchases, maybe, just maybe there would be fewer weapons
on the streets from state to state.
(I did not
include the gunman’s name purposely in this article to prevent any further spotlight to
be focused on him)
Monday, July 30, 2012
Why do I need religion? I have GOD
Recently I
discovered something about myself that I had not paid close attention to
before. While I have always been aligned
with The Most High God and also an appreciative recipient of the purging of my
sins through the bloodshed and death of Jesus Christ, I am not a fan of
religion.
I have family
members who consider themselves to be Christian, Baptist, Pentecostal and I
might be related to a few Atheists.
However, I myself have never identified with one religion exclusively. What I have identified with is the fact that
I am in awe of everyone’s belief systems and the choice to worship without
condemnation. I admire the kosher
lifestyle of the Muslim and Jewish faiths.
I can closely identify with the dedication to family and marriage
exemplified by Catholics. Through
exploration and understanding of others I find myself without warm regard for religion
but full of spirituality.
It is documented
fact that wars have been ignited in the name of religion. How many wars can we prove have begun because
of a person’s spirituality?
Our spirituality
or the “vital principle of conscious life, which animates the body mediating
between body and soul” is where our true essence lies. Our value system within this life, the
goodness of our character that we want to pass on to our children, sharing and
community are common to all people and unlike religion bring us closer together.
I believe in
Spirituality but I am not religious. I
will always have God but why do I need religion?
Some people may
believe that without submitting to the doctrines of an established religion
that you have no moral compass but if morals played as big a part in religion
as it should there would be no religions that called for the bloodshed of
innocent citizens in the name of any God.
In polytheist
African villages animals are sacrificed to the gods. In the Baptist church monetary offerings are
made to god. When our lives are going
well or according to our plan, any God is good.
However it is the midst of crisis that a God or Gods are either praised
or cursed. But at the end of the day we
all need to believe in powers stronger, wiser and higher than ourselves. In a chaotic and sometimes callous world
faith and hope are the only things we truly own.
Source:
Dictionary Reference. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Spirit?s=t
Friday, July 27, 2012
Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me?
Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me?
I can choose to
love the way I want to!
From a very
young age in homes all across the world children are taught who and how to
love. Growing up with my mother and
stepfather I learned through their interaction that a man slapping his woman on
her backside as she sashay pass him signified his attraction to her. In that same household I observed that
silence is not always an indication of peace.
Watching the parents of my friends I discovered that yelling and
screaming, backed up by shouts of “I hate you and get out of my house”, did not
always lead to a breakup or divorce. It
was “just how they are”, and an ingredient in the cake of love.
In some
households young women are groomed to take care of the house by cleaning,
cooking and sewing (even in this day and age) in hopes of landing a suitable
mate. Meanwhile their male counterparts
are learning a trade in order to provide for an imaginary future family. Subtly as children we are taught to seduce,
entice and lure a significant other for the preservation of the previous
generations concept of marriage, family and happiness.
In some
countries such as Africa and India suitors are presented to children before
schooling, grooming or playing with imaginary friends has taken place. Marriages are arranged, dowries are paid and
here in the United States inheritances are like marriage licenses.
What is not
asked of children is their opinion or input.
It does not matter that one day they will have to live with the choices
set forth and planned by parents who themselves have either married for money
and only received love or vice versa.
Parents and loved ones fail to realize that when they pass down their
relationship habits that we also inherit the bad along with the good. Along with the house we inherit abuse
(emotional, financial, physical, sexual, dug and alcohol), insecurity and co
dependency issues.
Is it no wonder
that men and women “suddenly” discover that they are bi or homosexual. There was never a chance that these people
could have voiced the fact that they did not want to marry nor have
children. Just think about the people
who know they don’t want to be parents and have children to please their own
parent or a spouse. Had they been
allowed to speak their peace we would possibly have a world with fewer unwanted
and abandoned children. I am curious to
know if children were allowed to feel and not simply follow how more beneficial
would their lives and personal relationships become.
I have friends
who are happily married with no children (and don’t want any) living estranged
from their families because of their decision.
I know single mothers who are fortunate and blessed but have no husbands
and are frowned upon. But isn’t our
individual happiness most important, that in first knowing and loving ourselves
we can fully love another?
So why is our
individuality stifled in childhood to conform to society and tradition only to
be used as a weapon against us in adulthood?
In my thirties I
now know without a shadow of a doubt that I can live with and love anyone I
want regardless of age, race, religion, economic status or gender. But why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?
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