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A Shameful Embrace
rown men molesting
young girls who are barely teenagers isn't a bad thing after all. This I re- cently learned from Donald Trump and members of the Republican Party.
Just when you thought that the business of politics couldn't get any lower, in their defense and support of Roy Moore, the Senator from Alabama who's been accused by multiple women of sexually assaulting them when they were children, Republicans have shown that, when it comes to hold- ing on to power, there's no depth to which they would- n't consider sinking in order to maintain their grip.
The swamp that Trump once promised to drain is not only still teeming with the slimiest of critters, but the water seems to have be- come even cruddier.
I guess it shouldn't be too surprising that the GOP doesn't have a problem pushing for Moore's re- election in the midst of such a despicable scandal. With
an administration that con- sists of a president who openly admitted that he likes to "grab 'em by the p****y," a Klansman for an Attorney General and that once had a Nazi as Chief of Staff, harboring a child mo- lester is actually par the course.
Everything we're wit- nessing stands as a prime example of why people have lost faith in elected officials and the government in gen- eral. The moral compass that was supposed to guide our leaders in the right di- rection has been replaced by one that guides them to wherever they believe they'll receive the greatest benefit.
Of course, the irony of it all is that while men like Harvey Weinstein, Rus- sell Simmons, Kevin Spacey and Matt Lauer have been vilified, their rep- utations ruined and their earning potential compro- mised for engaging in simi- lar predatory behavior, a man like Moore could very possibly have the chance to
continue on with his career because of the important role he plays in a much larger political agenda. Up- standing character be damned.
The really pathetic part of this entire debacle, though, is how the Evangel- ical branch of the Republi- can Party has gone out of its way to defend Moore's transgressions by using the story of the Virgin Mary, and her much older hus- band, Joseph, to justify Moore's pedophilia. As if him stalking an Alabama mall in search of young prey for his depraved dalliances is remotely comparable to the Biblical mythos.
This is hypocrisy at its absolute finest, the idea that any fault can be overlooked or excused as long as the person committing the of- fense is a valuable player on your team.
If embracing this kind of seediness is what it takes to make America "great" then, as far as I’m concerned, this country is much better off remaining average.
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A Sincere Apology Is Overdue
erhaps, we’re opening a can of worms. But, so be
it!
Besides, the can has been open for ages. And its con-
tents are reeking. Meanwhile, John Conyers stayed home, today.
That’s Congressman John Conyers, the man who once rubbed shoulders with the likes of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; who knew past Presidents by their first names, and who, as a member of the Black Caucus was also a member of some of the most powerful com- mittees on Capitol Hill.
But today, John Conyers decided to stay home be- cause he’d been accused of sexual harassment and per- haps, sexual assault while on Capitol Hill.
He, of course, denied the charges, but the accusa- tions were simply too much for the moment to bear. But if he did what they said he did, should we be moved?
Sexual harassment, by its nature, is cruel, blind, and arrogant. It ignores the words “No,” “Don’t,” and “Stop” in favor of “Oh, well, if you insist,” or “Just this one time.” It sidesteps love, or mutual attraction in favor of power and control.
For those reasons, sexual harassment and sexual as- sault are not to be confused with a one-time “May I buy you a drink.” But tens of thousands of men and women in America mistake certain signals of “Go Away” to mean “Go Ahead.”
For them who fall victim to a home-grown American tradition, we offer a heart-felt, overdue apology, whether they be male or female, heterosexual or gay.
Yes, America is a strange, hypocritical society. It brags about being a place of sexual equality, but it isn’t. And because it isn’t, we, all of us, may make terrible, festering mistakes.
We hurt people and call it “The American Way.” Yes, John Conyers stayed home, today. Maybe, some of us should have stayed home with him.
You Are Qualified
Empowered Greet- ings. For those of you that are in the process of
launching a business or start- ing a new phase in life, I want you to know that you are qualified. Life’s circum- stances has a way of causing you to think that you don’t have what it takes, when in all actuality, you do.
It is because of the hand that life has dealt you, that makes you qualified. Every- thing you have gone through up until this point has pre- pared you for this moment in time. Don’t focus on your shortcomings, they will only blind you and leave you feel- ing stuck in a rut.
Instead, focus on your strengths, the things that you do well. Take a sheet of paper
and list all the positives you possess. List your skills and any certifications or degrees that you hold. List the things that you can do well. Review your list. They should be con- fidence boosters for you. They should let you know that you have something you can build on, to take your life upward and onward.
Success is at your finger- tips. Trust in the fact that you are qualified and have what it takes to not only launch your dreams but to create the fu- ture of those dreams. You are qualified to predict the suc- cessful outcomes that you want to see for your life.
Mentally prepare yourself to perform at your best and create a positive self-fulfilling prophesy by monitoring
what you think, say and do. Assure yourself of your self- worth through your self-talk.
Value the things great and small that you are capa- ble of doing for they rein- force your qualifications to do that which you have been called to do. You have the power to perform any task set before you. So launch your business, ministry, or- ganization, career, educa- tional endeavors or whatever you desire with the confi- dence and courage that will inspire you and cause others to see you as a person to ad- mire.
Selphenia would love to speak, train or facilitate at your next event. Call her at (813) 603-0088.
Stay connected to Selphenia on social media. Let her know you read her column in the Florida Sen- tinel Bulletin.
Facebook: Selphenia Nichols Success Coach To Women Instagram: @Selphenia
Twitter: @queenof- success1.
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