Fish Without Bones, Please

Remember when we were children and while eating fish and grits we would need a slice of white bread and water in front of us to get up enough confidence to eat that fried whiting with all those tiny bones? Oh my goodness! I can picture myself crying, "Mommy, I have a bone in my throat!" I'd have to spend the next 20 minutes stuffing plain white bread and water down my throat hoping it would grab and take with it - - that sharp painful bone sitting in my throat!

Some things in life are annoying and unpleasant... uncomfortable and unnecessary. Do you know what I find to be one of them... cussing. We always referred to it as "cursing"when I was a child.

To many of my students - adults and children - I have expressed that... 'the larger your vocabulary, the more impressive your daily speech can be. You will make far better impact by speaking intelligently using meaningful words than by cussing or cursing. Why? Because those words do not bring out the most and best of your intellect.

They are shallow and empty... and mean nothing. When you are angry, consider using other words with real meaning to express the way that you feel".

Now see... I ve lost some of you already. You're about to show more of your anger, your independence, and your autonomy. Oh yeah, I can see you now rearing yourself up to 'read me' (so you say) by SHOWING ME rather than CONSIDERING YOUR ways. Well - - you know - - it's a right of passage you gained when... well when... well, I don't know when cause now (or I feel a bit of nostalgia to say) now-a-days SOME children are cussing as they learn to speak the English language. By age three, they already have context, tone, and intensity down, when they cuss. Anyway, you get my drift!

So today, from the White House to your house cussing is what you do. It's a norm, nothing to get excited about. Everybody does it. Some Pastors have even flavored their Sunday messages with it to garner more acceptance from their followers.

Guest Speakers in other settings deliver meaningful speeches and throw in a few choice words to capture your attention. To get that impressive R rated status for movies, those in the movie industry will place a a few curse words in the script. And you know this one... some speakers claim cussing/cursing helps them make their point more effectively.

Well, listen I have been following this Chicago story about the precious Woman and her two children who were assaulted by school children, while in route home, from school. Y'all are On It! You are Doing business! Making it Known that We Have Not and WILL NOT tolerate children attacking Mothers and their Babies! Around the nation, we are so proud of you for doing that!

Your response is timely, done in earnest, and truly reflects the heart of ALL Black, White, and Brown people. Wow! I hesitated right there. I wanted to say "mostly all" but that's another blog. Today, we are discussing the verbal responses of people who are rightly offended by the behaviors, attitudes, and demeanor of the children (and their parents) who committed crimes.

I have watched video after video searching for more information about the offenders. Having worked with children all my life, I was certain that in this situation, there SHOULD HAVE been a DHS/CPS intervention into their lives very early on. Sounds like another CPS/DHS FAILURE. But I'll move on... another blog. I have been moving from post to post on social media wanting to learn more about those involved.

I have listened to well meaning persons of all statures, socio-economic backgrounds, cultures - within the Black race, and both male and female, and I have been eating mostly fish with bones.

I have been eating fish and not having enough bread in place to catch those annoying little bones.

Y'all cussing like sailors! I feel like I'm running to safety trying not to be sprayed by bullets or attempting not to get wet by giant raindrops at the beginning of a rain shower. Whew!! It's work! Sometimes - though it seemed what you had to say would have been really good I just couldn't fight past those sharp little bones.

You won't believe what happened... yesterday, as I was sending a voice message about this horrific situation to my Son, I was trying to find the words to describe what one woman said about an offending child's (perceived fake) apology. There I was... trying to find a way to NOT USE an actual cuss word - - but instead - - say something like "F-in". But the real, trifling, nasty, worthless word came out of my mouth!! Dear Lord Jesus!!!!

Probably, the last cuss word that came out of my me was when I tried to curse as a teen (once). Back then, it didn't come out too well either. Didn't have enough punch to it. Yes, I did write and apologize to my Son for that mistake.

But those bones! By last night I wasn't able to get through many of the posts. It seems that most of the people writing believe that their passion is displayed best when they are cussing... especially every three words. I couldn't make it through the raindrops.

I realized there was no chance of not being soaked. I have run out of bread needed to capture those bones. I can't pick my way through another - what could have been - tasty piece of fish. I want to hear what you have to share... but... that bone in my throat though!

Is it possible? Can you give me the fish without bones? I really do love the flavor of your fish. It's fresh, timely and relevant. Can you make it without bones? Please?!

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Check out this tasteful, well stated video discussing the story of the beating of the Chicago Mother and her children.