Mr. E-Man

(Photo from Tulsa World)

You must check this out....it's wonderful to see the sunshine!

You can follow here to read about his milestones and successes!

emilychristinephotography

Launching the debut of my photography site!

emilychristinephotography

enough said.

Just substitute "site director" for "driving instructor."

Enough said.

I'm still overwhelmed.

My thoughts through my friend......

A dear friend of mine, a sorority sister in college...a fellow Christian, wrote this today after thinking and processing Sarah Palin's speech. It perfectly summarizes my thoughts.....her words are better than mine, so I'm going to stop here. Check out what Becky says!

After watching coverage of the Republican National Convention last night, I find myself wondering – Have we truly lost all sense of history in the search for our nation’s future leadership? To hear a prominent political figure and a hopeful VP candidate implore such disdain for the value of community organizers – and receive such elated praise for doing so – left me with a sense of bewilderment, and quite frankly…disgust. Think for a moment about some of the greatest leaders in history….Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela …a few that quickly come to mind. Were these leaders – revered for their inspirational rhetoric and ability to ignite their faithful followers into action – not, in effect, “community organizers”? And before they became ingrained in the collective subconscious as such great leaders, what were they doing? One was a pastor, one a lawyer and state and U.S. congressman, and one spent 27 years in prison for doing what? – being a community organizer. And what did he do after that? Only lead his nation to freedom from one of the most horrific and oppressive governments in modern history – before doing what? Becoming President of that free nation he helped create. If the McCain camp is so big on putting “country first,” perhaps they could learn a thing or two from that community organizer!

In fact, what great movement EVER takes place without the people who are willing to get out there amongst those who are living on the margins of society and empower the powerless to stand up, fight for their rights, and pull together and ORGANIZE in order to bring about justice, freedom, and equality? Governor Palin may not think that takes work, but ask any foot soldier out there who volunteers or works for a community organization or non-profit, and they will tell you – it is A LOT of work. These are some of the hardest working people in our country and in our world. And most of them do it without getting paid. Sure, it’s great to give up the luxury jet and drive your own car to work – if you have a car, and a job to drive it to. Community organizers take the public transit system or walk their way through their own neighborhoods to encourage and inspire their neighbors to fight for healthcare, jobs, affordable housing, peace, justice, and the list goes on and on. And as for responsibility? Try taking the cares and concerns, the real life needs, frustrations, and dire situations of your fellow neighbors, resting them squarely on your shoulders, and then vowing to do something about it. No, I guess there’s no responsibility in that at all.

Shame on the RNC for using the tactic of insulting millions of hard-working, caring, compassionate people around the globe to fling some ill-fated insult at Obama! If they don’t like his policies, fine. If they don’t like his plans, fine. If they don’t like his voting record as a public official, fine. If they want to attack the Democratic platform in general, fine. But to use the fact that he started his journey into politics as a community organizer to show that they are somehow the better choice for the future of our country? Perhaps they need a little reminding that the only way ANYONE is ever elected into ANY public office is through the hard work of his or her own faithful followers – yea, community organizers – out there in the streets, working day in and day out, on top of their “day jobs”, on top of their family responsibilities, putting their candidates’ ideas and beliefs out there and inspiring others to join the cause. What an insult the leaders of the “GOP” just heaped upon every delegate sitting in their own convention hall!

And as for those famous community organizers that come to mind….there’s another I have not yet mentioned. One would think that this particular example would have come to mind for someone like Governor Palin before she threw out her insults. But apparently, she’s more concerned with winning an election, or perhaps with winning a war, than she is with this particular movement….

A couple thousand years ago, a carpenter (not a member of the PTA, not a city councilman, not a mayor, not a governor) – a carpenter – began the very necessary work of calling people together for a common cause. He called people to stand up for the widows and the orphans, to feed the hungry, to take care of the sick, to take in the immigrant and treat him as if he were your brother. He was not a warmonger, but rather, an instrument of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. He called for people to be good stewards of their money, their time, and the earth’s resources. He denounced the authorities of the day for taking advantage of the poor. He started a movement that continues to spread throughout the entire world, two thousand years later. He started this movement by gathering up a few misfit fishermen and otherwise unpopular citizens from the areas he could cover by foot or boat. Not on a luxury jet. Not in a car. He didn’t start out by recruiting city councilmen, mayors, or governors (although many of those folks claim to be his faithful followers these days). I don’t believe he started with any beauty queens either. He started his movement amongst the poor and the outcast of society – the “ugly” people on the margins. That’s where it began because that’s where the need was – in the community. He organized people to see his great vision – a vision that carries forth love for all of humankind and hope for a greater tomorrow. And slowly, others began to see that vision too. When the status quo became too threatened by this message, he followed his cause to his death. (Something he has in common with a number of history’s other great leaders, whose lives may have lasted “only a season,” but whose leadership and inspiration has reached far beyond a lifetime.) He was an agent of change. He was, in fact, the greatest community organizer of all time…

If Governor Palin has such a difficult time seeing the value of community organizers, perhaps she should read her Bible.