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Editorials/Columns
FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN
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S. KAY ANDREWS, PUBLISHER C. BLYTHE ANDREWS III, PRESIDENT/CONTROLLER ALLISON WELLS-CLEBERT, CFO GWEN HAYES, EDITOR IRIS HOLTON, CITY EDITOR BETTY DAWKINS, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR HAROLD ADAMS, CIRCULATION MANAGER TOYNETTA COBB, PRODUCTION MANAGER LAVORA EDWARDS, CLASSIFIED MANAGER
Opinions expressed on editorial pages of this newspaper by Columnists or Guest Writers, do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of The Florida Sentinel Bulletin or the Publisher.
Live Your Mission
Empowered Greet- ings. Do you have a mission for your life? One
that you have personally de- fined for yourself? Not a mis- sion or something that someone else has told you – you should be doing. Do you have a mission that res- onates with you? A mission that you feel emotionally connected to. A mission is an important assignment that has to be carried out. It is an aim, ambition or calling that you are compelled to fulfill. Your mission is what gives you purpose.
If you’re going to live your mission, you have to first define it. Take time to describe who you are at your core. Take inventory of your character traits. What are
the things that inspire you? What is it that you value as a person? When you can an- swer these question hon- estly, you will gain clarity and awareness of yourself. This awareness allows you to correct character flaws and redirect your life to live your mission.
Your mission will define the impact that you want to make in life. It should be a guide to all you do and how you govern yourself. Quality decisions are made from quality information. When you know the quality of per- son you want to be this will enable you to live up to your own expectations. Other- wise, it is said that when the purpose of a thing is un- known, abuse is inevitable.
Thus, you may find yourself taking your life down a road that leads to a wrong turn. However, when you have a mission, that will give your life meaning. That will drive your life on the path to suc- cess.
My mission is to em- power you, so that you can learn to empower yourself and eventually take what you know to empower someone else.
Need help to define the mission you want to live? Call Selphenia at 813-603- 0088 for a complimentary “Mission Possible” consulta- tion.
Stay connected with Selphenia through social media:
Facebook Business Fan Page: Selphenia Nichols Success Coach To Women Instagram: Selphenia Twitter: queenofsucces1 Call 813-603-0088 to in- vite Selphenia to train or speak at your upcoming event.
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The Mexican Wall: A Target Or Trap?
ince America’s earliest days, Mexico has somehow been
our country’s fall-guy. Call it the bullying of a non-white New World nation beginning with the Mexican-American War that lasted from 1846 to 1848 and ended with America raping Santa Anna’s homeland of territory that would later become the entire two-thirds of the American West and Mid- west while allowing the future state of Texas to defy Mexico by owning Black slaves until the end of the Civil War.
No wonder many Mexican-Americans remaining after the fall of the Alamo, were famous for saying, “We never crossed (the American) border. But the (American border) crossed us,” a comment that was eerily similar to what Malcolm X ob- served about Black slaves when he said, “We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock, (but) Plymouth Rock landed on us.”
So, as President Trump tries his best to goad Mexico into an economic war by threatening to assess a 35% tariff on all of its exports to America (since our country receives more than 80% of Mexico’s exports), if Mexico refuses to pay for a “Trojan” wall. Could the reason for such aggression (and the martial law that would follow it) be the product of an America about to experience its own Third Reich, or instead, is this another ruse to keep Americans’ eyes from focusing on Pres- ident Trump?
Mexico is more than our neighbor. In all the wars we have fought, the blood of her children has heroically mingled with our own.
Therefore, it is an insult to victimize her once again while the real villain hides hands and bank accounts. For, remem- ber: No wall is high enough or wide enough to hide the truth.
Be Careful Baby Girl
s a parent you never
reach the point where you relinquish your job of pro- tecting your child. Even after they grow into adulthood you still often find the need to help keep them out of harm's way. After all, for humans, being there for our offspring is part of our natural instincts.
This occurred to me recently after reading about the tragic death of Sade Dixon, the 24- year-old pregnant Orlando woman who was shot and killed by her boyfriend, Markieth Loyd, a few weeks ago.
Seeing how close in age and appearance she was to my own daughter, it wasn't hard for me to imagine the pain and an- guish that her parents proba- bly experienced. A significant portion of their heartache most likely, stemmed from the fact that they were unable to save their child's life.
In Ms. Dixon's death I re- alized that, while we can't al- ways be there for our children (particularly our daughters) when they need us, it is still within our power to better school them before they leave the nest. By doing a better job of teaching them how to spot the "red flags" of potentially hazardous character flaws we can, not only, assist them into better situations but, also, keep the random psychopath from taking our baby girls from us.
To help with this cause I've put together a list of the 8
male types every young woman should avoid while dating. Ladies you may want to keep this on your night- stand.
8.) He's so immature: If the guy you're involved with is unemployed, "thuggin' " and trying to pursue a rap career after the age of 30, he has a lot of growing up to do. This indi- vidual is still capable of engag- ing in extremely childish behavior. Remember, danger is always present when you're dealing with an overgrown ju- venile delinquent.
7.) Mr. Possessive:
Whenever a man claims you as his property, it is definitely a bad thing. You may think his jealousy is cute in the begin- ning. But, with this type, things often turn dark very quickly.
6.) The Control Freak:
Telling you what you can and cannot wear is only where it starts. In time it will come down to his way or the high- way. And the repercussion that will come for not going with his program will make you re-think not leaving when you had the chance.
5.) The Narcissist: This pretty boy can't stop admiring his own body long enough to appreciate yours. Everything in his life revolves around him. The minute you slack up on giving him the adoration and positive reinforcement his in- security craves, bad things will begin to happen.
4.) Mr. Bi-Polar: He can
be the nicest person and the biggest a---hole in a matter of hours (if not minutes). You never know what the forecast will be with his temperament on a day-to-day basis. This kind of unpredictability isn't worth the risk.
3.) He's Uneducated:
Not finishing high school or obtaining his G.E.D doesn't make him a bad person. But it could signal that he lacks the development of certain social skills and any kind of work ethic. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker. But his inability to secure financially satisfying employment could lead to big- ger issues with frustration and anger down the road.
2.) He Loves To Threaten: Anyone who tells you he will hurt you, will even- tually follow through on that promise. It makes absolutely no sense to wait until that day arrives.
1.) The Abuser: The first time he physically or verbally abuses you means it's time to go. To him, you sticking around translates into your ac- ceptance of the punishment. That kind of misunderstand- ing almost guarantees a repeat performance.
Of course, there will always be times when bad behavior is exhibited by those who we least expect. But, by staying clear of these terrible 8, our daughter's chances of living long and healthy lives increase ten-fold.
I just hope that they're wise enough to take the advice.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can write to Mr. Barr at: Clarence Barr 43110-018, Oakdale F. C. I., P. O. BOX 5000, Oakdale, LA 71463.
The King’s Ten Fingers
n overwhelming truth which President Trump or any-
one else in his position must acknowledge is as follows: The immensity of the office precludes buffoonery. No, Hitler could not have survived the meat grinding pace of American presidential life. Neither deaf, neither dumb, nor blind could he have found himself outside the purview of shattering re- alities on a daily global basis. Such is the situation when one lives in an upfront/ online community rather than on a mountain top in some medieval inaccessible Trump-in-Won- derland kingdom.
Therefore, if Donald Trump had any notion of becoming king of these United States, the stinging reality is he was born 400 years too late . . . either that or he needs to hire the com- plete staff of Disney World.
Meanwhile, the so-called Leader of the Free World con- tinues to read the book How To Insult Your Neighbors and Tick Off Your Friends. Counting on his fingers, he has leveled at least five Executive decisions with 5 more decisions to go, if he counts his remaining fingers.
Indeed, a picture of Trump’s first several weeks of office would seem to resemble a covered wagon hooked to a team of runaway horses. What’s worse is the position of the people who seemingly are riding helplessly inside. Everyday seems to be a new and harrowing adventure on the Trump wagon train where not even Republicans feel safe anymore.
What’s the solution? We return or our original argument: The United States is too magnificent and complex to be taken apart piece by piece by a modern-day John Ringling, or a
wannabe Mussolini. Let us hope that the men and women still in charge are of the same opin- ion.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5
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