Fear Ye Not
For the future is reachable, inevitable
The past though regrettable, is barely memorable
And the present is unmentionable, forgettable
There is no practice, there is no final buzzer
Every second is the game
Play as if it is always one tick, in the final period
And the goal line is an inch away
The rim is at your fingertips
And the ball is on the brim of your glove
Dive
Dunk
Snatch
Life!
For while victory's glow lays firm in your grasp
It is always shadowed by defeat
Live in the Light
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
State of the Union (Red + Blue = Purple)
My name is Ryan Emmanuel Phipps, a 23 year old Black American graduate of Baylor University; current employee of the Bank of America. A resident of Dallas, Texas, a son of Dallas, Texas. Now, after all the identifiers, the only one that really matters, is the fact that I am an American. The others differentiate me, and separate me. And they have separated us for far too long.
This is America, We are America.
I would say people have forgot that, but the problem is that people don't remember that.
People love to go back and invoke memories of the forefathers and foremothers, but I cannot. I was born in 1987 in the Piny Woods of East Texas, in a small town of Trinity, Texas. My first President was Bush the father, who I was not cognizant to, but still have felt the ripples of his tenure in my life time. Early on I was socialized to believe how people wanted me to believe, but being the stubborn know-it-all I am, it never worked. I could since right and wrong from a very young age. What was wrong with me being extra nice to my white teacher, or having a white girl friend in pre-kindergarten? What was wrong with me being born out of wed lock or not knowing my father? What was wrong with my skin color and why was it such a big deal? Those were questions I did not want to ask, but were forced to. And as I grew I asked many more of the same type of questions. Why does my mother have to work 2 jobs and become stressed while other moms don't? Why do I have to live by drug dealers and gang bangers? It's not about fair, its about whats right. And it seemed to me this land of opportunity for the fortunate few.
This is America.
Not fortunate as in wealth, but as in luck. Far gone are the days where working hard gets you somewhere. Far gone are the days where you can even find work. To have a job is fortunate in this time where unemployment rates are up and everyone no matter degree or pedigree are fighting for the same low paying, no opportunity jobs.
Far gone are the days where we politics where left in the meeting rooms and agendas where they belong. The socioecopolitical society that we now are deeply rooted is the major cause of most of the inability to change in this country. Everything becomes an issue, everything becomes a story, every thing becomes a battle ground. This wins go for the party, not the country, the loobyist, not the people, the corporation, not America.
This is America.
We live in a time where we don't even know the people who live next door to us. To say neighbor would be a severe overstatement. We are closer with people hundreds and thousands of miles away from us, thanks to the evolution of social networking. But your face book friends aren't watching your house when you are way, your my space friends aren't watching your car when you aren't looking, the people you are following aren't even following you and they cant tweet you when your kids are playing in your front yard and get hurt. What happened to our communities? What happened to our neighborhoods? No wonder we are in the situation we are in. When you don't know your child's teachers, principles, the officers that patrol your neighbor hood or even the name of your city mayor? How can you be a neighbor, a member of the community, a citizen of the city? Moreover, in this time, people drive 45 minutes plus just to go to worship. They probably pass hundreds of churches on there way to this mega church where you cannot even talk to the pastor. When you have to make a 2 week advanced appointment to meet your pastor, then there is a problem. When your pastor has bodyguards there is a problem? America we have a problem because this is America, now.
But it doesn't have to be forever.
Go back in to your homes. Talk to your kids, get to know your kids, love your kids. Find out who there friends are, teachers are, principles are, idols are. Go back into your neighborhoods. Knock on your neighbors door, find out who they are, chat with them, bond with them. Stop a cop and ask him who he is, why is he patrolling your neighborhood, how you can help. Go back into your communities, go to worship in your community. Find out who the people are that live around you, get to know the issues that their facing, how y'all can come together to get y'alls common goals accomplished. Go back into your cities. Find out what areas need the most help and go and volunteer, go and build them up. Invest in them, invest in the people, invest in yourself. Go back into our country! Take a family vacation to New Orleans and find out why it is no place to vacation to. There was over 61 million raised by Hope for Haiti, but the New Orleans telethon only raised 30 million. If you go to the wards of that city you can easily find where 31 million more dollars could be desperately needed. Churches and groups do thousands of missionaries overseas and invest millions of dollars abroad, but that charity, money, time, and supplies can be seriously used in the post hurricane carnage of new Orleans, slums of new york, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles...of America
!
This is America! We are America!
So let's start acting like it!
http://www.blurpled.blogspot.com
This is America, We are America.
I would say people have forgot that, but the problem is that people don't remember that.
People love to go back and invoke memories of the forefathers and foremothers, but I cannot. I was born in 1987 in the Piny Woods of East Texas, in a small town of Trinity, Texas. My first President was Bush the father, who I was not cognizant to, but still have felt the ripples of his tenure in my life time. Early on I was socialized to believe how people wanted me to believe, but being the stubborn know-it-all I am, it never worked. I could since right and wrong from a very young age. What was wrong with me being extra nice to my white teacher, or having a white girl friend in pre-kindergarten? What was wrong with me being born out of wed lock or not knowing my father? What was wrong with my skin color and why was it such a big deal? Those were questions I did not want to ask, but were forced to. And as I grew I asked many more of the same type of questions. Why does my mother have to work 2 jobs and become stressed while other moms don't? Why do I have to live by drug dealers and gang bangers? It's not about fair, its about whats right. And it seemed to me this land of opportunity for the fortunate few.
This is America.
Not fortunate as in wealth, but as in luck. Far gone are the days where working hard gets you somewhere. Far gone are the days where you can even find work. To have a job is fortunate in this time where unemployment rates are up and everyone no matter degree or pedigree are fighting for the same low paying, no opportunity jobs.
Far gone are the days where we politics where left in the meeting rooms and agendas where they belong. The socioecopolitical society that we now are deeply rooted is the major cause of most of the inability to change in this country. Everything becomes an issue, everything becomes a story, every thing becomes a battle ground. This wins go for the party, not the country, the loobyist, not the people, the corporation, not America.
This is America.
We live in a time where we don't even know the people who live next door to us. To say neighbor would be a severe overstatement. We are closer with people hundreds and thousands of miles away from us, thanks to the evolution of social networking. But your face book friends aren't watching your house when you are way, your my space friends aren't watching your car when you aren't looking, the people you are following aren't even following you and they cant tweet you when your kids are playing in your front yard and get hurt. What happened to our communities? What happened to our neighborhoods? No wonder we are in the situation we are in. When you don't know your child's teachers, principles, the officers that patrol your neighbor hood or even the name of your city mayor? How can you be a neighbor, a member of the community, a citizen of the city? Moreover, in this time, people drive 45 minutes plus just to go to worship. They probably pass hundreds of churches on there way to this mega church where you cannot even talk to the pastor. When you have to make a 2 week advanced appointment to meet your pastor, then there is a problem. When your pastor has bodyguards there is a problem? America we have a problem because this is America, now.
But it doesn't have to be forever.
Go back in to your homes. Talk to your kids, get to know your kids, love your kids. Find out who there friends are, teachers are, principles are, idols are. Go back into your neighborhoods. Knock on your neighbors door, find out who they are, chat with them, bond with them. Stop a cop and ask him who he is, why is he patrolling your neighborhood, how you can help. Go back into your communities, go to worship in your community. Find out who the people are that live around you, get to know the issues that their facing, how y'all can come together to get y'alls common goals accomplished. Go back into your cities. Find out what areas need the most help and go and volunteer, go and build them up. Invest in them, invest in the people, invest in yourself. Go back into our country! Take a family vacation to New Orleans and find out why it is no place to vacation to. There was over 61 million raised by Hope for Haiti, but the New Orleans telethon only raised 30 million. If you go to the wards of that city you can easily find where 31 million more dollars could be desperately needed. Churches and groups do thousands of missionaries overseas and invest millions of dollars abroad, but that charity, money, time, and supplies can be seriously used in the post hurricane carnage of new Orleans, slums of new york, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles...of America
!
This is America! We are America!
So let's start acting like it!
http://www.blurpled.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Trials, Tribulations, Triumph
The trials of a people already sentenced
Born a suspect
Raised a criminal
Lived a fugitive
Died a convict
Probated on earth
Paroled in America
Imprisoned in society
The tribulations of a people already troubled
To their past they are contracted
To their past they are indentured
To their past they are enslaved
THEY tell them to catch up
THEY preach how THEY already caught up
THEY scream to stay back
The triumph of a people already crowned
Blessed to live
Anointed to survive
Promised to thrive
Exonerated on all charges
Exterminated of all burdens
Exalted to Calvary
Soon & VERY Soon... We Are Going to See the KING!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We Are Going to See the KING!
Born a suspect
Raised a criminal
Lived a fugitive
Died a convict
Probated on earth
Paroled in America
Imprisoned in society
The tribulations of a people already troubled
To their past they are contracted
To their past they are indentured
To their past they are enslaved
THEY tell them to catch up
THEY preach how THEY already caught up
THEY scream to stay back
The triumph of a people already crowned
Blessed to live
Anointed to survive
Promised to thrive
Exonerated on all charges
Exterminated of all burdens
Exalted to Calvary
Soon & VERY Soon... We Are Going to See the KING!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We Are Going to See the KING!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Jealous Bitches (JOATMON)
Bitches were jealous of me...
Ever since I had my training bra, when other girls were still rocking side ponytails
Every guy wanted me
Every girl wanted to be me
I skipped sizes like hopscotch
A's to C's to Double Ds.
Endowed with the bosom that busted
They got me out of tickets and into clubs
My first husband and fed my kids
Lol Bitches were jealous of me...
But now--They are gone...
Well one is, but THEY are not here...
I am not here
Who am I?
What am I?
Am I even a woman?
Bitches were so damn jealous me but now
Bitches pity me...I pity me
Think Pink
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is October
Follow Me @TRPhipps
The Ryan Phipps
www.ryanphipps.blogspot.com
Ever since I had my training bra, when other girls were still rocking side ponytails
Every guy wanted me
Every girl wanted to be me
I skipped sizes like hopscotch
A's to C's to Double Ds.
Endowed with the bosom that busted
They got me out of tickets and into clubs
My first husband and fed my kids
Lol Bitches were jealous of me...
But now--They are gone...
Well one is, but THEY are not here...
I am not here
Who am I?
What am I?
Am I even a woman?
Bitches were so damn jealous me but now
Bitches pity me...I pity me
Think Pink
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is October
Follow Me @TRPhipps
The Ryan Phipps
www.ryanphipps.blogspot.com
Thursday, October 8, 2009
It Was Just My Imagination Pt. 1 (From Her) (JOATMON)
On a snowy Kansas night
With a star studded sky tucked in to the clouds
I saw you
As our eyes met, our minds meld
Our souls synced and our lives linked
Piper or not, my mind had no fear, no doubt
You beckoned me
And as if our feet were fused, in lock-step
We inched closer and closer
Those almond shaped eyes grew more soft
That reassuring smile grew more comforting
That towering statuesque frame grew more chiseled
My consciousness was knocked unconscious
Though stranger, this feeling was so familiar
And as we stood nose to nose
There were no thoughts, no nervousness
We both knew what was next
And as we inched closer, lips perched, hearts throbbing
It was only a matter of time before we reached nirvana
And as I leaned, reality careened
Forbidden Fruit, bursting with ripeness, ready in my hands
I ran, but I stayed.
And as I turned back, I saw you there looking for me
And as that tempest raged into a hurricane
I was forced into denial that...
...it was just my imagination...
Follow Me
Fan Page on Facebook
JOATMON
With a star studded sky tucked in to the clouds
I saw you
As our eyes met, our minds meld
Our souls synced and our lives linked
Piper or not, my mind had no fear, no doubt
You beckoned me
And as if our feet were fused, in lock-step
We inched closer and closer
Those almond shaped eyes grew more soft
That reassuring smile grew more comforting
That towering statuesque frame grew more chiseled
My consciousness was knocked unconscious
Though stranger, this feeling was so familiar
And as we stood nose to nose
There were no thoughts, no nervousness
We both knew what was next
And as we inched closer, lips perched, hearts throbbing
It was only a matter of time before we reached nirvana
And as I leaned, reality careened
Forbidden Fruit, bursting with ripeness, ready in my hands
I ran, but I stayed.
And as I turned back, I saw you there looking for me
And as that tempest raged into a hurricane
I was forced into denial that...
...it was just my imagination...
Follow Me
Fan Page on Facebook
JOATMON
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Social Networking (JOATMON)
Facebook pulls you up as a "Friend I May Know"
May know?! Quite a bit, I'd say so
All up in my news feed
It's like I got a Ustream
Maybe a tributary
Because I'm cut off--My river ran into the cemetery
It's selfish, but it hurts more to see your happy updates
Flipping through our old tagged photos keeps me up late
This wouldn't be if I could have had everything my way
Since it ended I can't even look at MySpace
You still my Top Friend, I can't change it
It hurts too much rearrange it
I start to sweat at the sight of ya @mentions
Twitter got me bitter, but I act like I pay it no @tention
But you have been pounded in my mind
#You the trending topic
It seems to follow @you and I cant stop it
I see you log on and I feel even more miserable
Because I need you, but to you my status is invisible
I try to stay in your life by sending an occasional message
It hurts trying to fit in your life, that's why hearts aren't a shape in tetris
But pathetically i still log on
Because my home page is you.com
@TRPhipps
FOLLOW AND FEEL
May know?! Quite a bit, I'd say so
All up in my news feed
It's like I got a Ustream
Maybe a tributary
Because I'm cut off--My river ran into the cemetery
It's selfish, but it hurts more to see your happy updates
Flipping through our old tagged photos keeps me up late
This wouldn't be if I could have had everything my way
Since it ended I can't even look at MySpace
You still my Top Friend, I can't change it
It hurts too much rearrange it
I start to sweat at the sight of ya @mentions
Twitter got me bitter, but I act like I pay it no @tention
But you have been pounded in my mind
#You the trending topic
It seems to follow @you and I cant stop it
I see you log on and I feel even more miserable
Because I need you, but to you my status is invisible
I try to stay in your life by sending an occasional message
It hurts trying to fit in your life, that's why hearts aren't a shape in tetris
But pathetically i still log on
Because my home page is you.com
@TRPhipps
FOLLOW AND FEEL
Thursday, September 3, 2009
It Was Just My Imagination Pt. 2 (JOATMON)
Our love was like a fantasy.
We always felt like each other was a mirage,
Until we reached the oasis of us
The dream paled in comparison to the sun kissed tan of our reality.
Paradise…
I trusted you. I believed you. I loved you
I could find no flaw…
I wanted you to be my everything…
I would do anything…
I wanted you to want for nothing
You trusted me. You believed me. You loved me
Your cries of how much you love me soared to the heavens
Hell, you wanted to be my everything…
You would do anything…
You wanted me to want for nothing
But…where are you now?
Where are those reassuring hugs?
Where are those comforting kisses?
Where are those rainy days of holding?
Where are those laughter loaded hours?
Did they ever really happen?
Or was it…just my imagination?
Follow Me on Blogger
Follow Me
Fan Page on Facebook
We always felt like each other was a mirage,
Until we reached the oasis of us
The dream paled in comparison to the sun kissed tan of our reality.
Paradise…
I trusted you. I believed you. I loved you
I could find no flaw…
I wanted you to be my everything…
I would do anything…
I wanted you to want for nothing
You trusted me. You believed me. You loved me
Your cries of how much you love me soared to the heavens
Hell, you wanted to be my everything…
You would do anything…
You wanted me to want for nothing
But…where are you now?
Where are those reassuring hugs?
Where are those comforting kisses?
Where are those rainy days of holding?
Where are those laughter loaded hours?
Did they ever really happen?
Or was it…just my imagination?
Follow Me on Blogger
Follow Me
Fan Page on Facebook
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