Bringing Relief to the Aid of Haiti

Peace Asiatics,

Aside from the joys of new parenthood, it's been solemn times in my household as we focus on the hell our brothers and sisters in Haiti are going through - reading news reports and viewing reflections online. All I can say is, I've never been more relieved NOT to have cable because I would be watching CNN all day and existing in a state of depression (as my mother-in-law called us crying and expressed that that's what she's dealing with from watching video footage of the disaster).

Last week I put together a care package of dozens of baby clothes, some sanitary napkins and diapers but didn't have anywhere to send the goods to. If Doctors Without Borders can't even get their surgical supplies and other equipment - as the US Military, who is regulating Port-Au-Prince's single-runway airport, keeps turning away airplanes; calling themselves prioritizing the order in which they land. What could be more of a priority than life-saving medical equipment?! On top of that it's been reported that tons upon tons of food is trapped in warehouses... WTF!??!

Another thing to consider with this apocalyptic-like disaster is how prepared are we - in our households - to survive and struggle through a natural disaster? Would you/we be starving and dehydrated after less than a week because we don't have a stockade of non-perishable food and purified water? Some of the reasons Haitians are in such desperate condition is (1) their poverty is extreme in comparison to ours, so many people were malnutritioned to begin with (2) they're on a small island which means receiving aid is more difficult because it must come by air or sea and only so many planes can land in a particular time frame and from what I've read their seaport was not functioning (3) their infrastructure was weak and many homes and buildings were erected without the supervision of codes or standards (4) many of the aid workers/organizations were instilled with a fear of the Haitian people and are moving like snails to get them aid because they are anticipating that our people act like savages and (5) with a nearly non-existent corrupt government and the corrupt US government vying for dominance among the countries bringing aid, there are no natural born leaders/citizens of that country to lead the way in organizing efforts to save the people.

I am grateful that one of the Gods out here in Atlanta, Allah Justice Allah, contacted us (The FTP Movement) to join in his efforts to start the Haiti Aid Society (H.A.S. www.haitiaidsociety.com) - as it has enabled us to put in work that will, ideally, EVENTUALLY bring relief to the aid of our people, if only in the most minute way. We're also working with a collective of our comrades to put on a massive concert in order to raise gold. If not for these efforts I would be doing nothing but sitting up watching - via my over-priced computer, my free internet, my comfy couch - and stating my criticisms without doing anything to counteract that which I criticize. And really, who AM I to criticize... I said something snide about the fact that some Earths mentioned watching the Golden Globes on facebook and realized I have the time to bulls**t on facebook - SHAME ON ME, what am I doing that's beneficial to the people of Haiti, what am I doing that's productive period?! That's what I should have been focused on, and that's what I urge you to ask yourselves - because we ARE our brothers/sisters keeper and the civilized are responsible for the welfare of original people period!

I know the Earth Beautiful SeeAsia out in Now Justice is working with a collective to put on relief efforts for Haiti out there. Are there any other efforts being put on or supported by the Gods and Earths throughout the wilderness reading this? I know many of us have donated to Wyclef's organization Yele Haiti via texts - which I definitely support regardless of the media reports that they've mis-managed funds which I see as another way for mass media to divide and conquer us. Others still support the Red Cross (regardless of their mis-management of funds donated specifically to Hurricane Katrina relief - just had to throw that out there).

What can we do to bring relief to the aid of our people? Or have we relegated ourself to the role of mere witness?

Peace,
Eboni Joy Asiatic

Keeping 120 Relevant, or is it?

Peace. First of all, Happy 2010 to all of our readers and followers out there. On behalf of the staff of The 14th Degree and Beyond, we thank you for your support of our Blog and magazine over the last year and a half. We are continuing to build and renew our history with you, for you, and for US as a collective and we build that you continue to ride this wave with us.

In on our last blogs, Eboni Joy asked you all if you still get anything out of our blogs and what, if anything you want to see moving forward. A few of you gave great feedback and we will definitely be looking at the blogtalk radio, and in general, keeping our role in your ciphers relevant. Thinking on that, brought me to another questions (which relatively ties to where we want to go with our magazine) and that is,

HOW DO YOU KEEP 120 RELEVANT IN YOUR CIPHERS, OR IS IT?

For me, I am not memorization guru, and I frequently have to find myself renewing my degrees because I start tripping over them, combining them, or just completely drawing a blank on them. Many of you know what I mean? But what I've found is that in renewing of my own qu'ron, that that is usually the beginning and end of it - memorizing the degrees. I KNOW that we should internalize them, absorb their meaning on different levels, and build on how it applies to us...yadda, yadda, yadda. However, in all honesty, it become redorick after a while. We are in a day when single mothers are not nurturing and rearing their children properly because we are busting our ass 10-12 hours a day just to make sure the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter are met...with little to no additional support. Our Black Families are crumbling because our Original Men and Original Women who come together in the name of love, still do not know how to sustain it long term, or even how to initiative a serious committed relationship based on communication, trust, and devotion. Our Original Men are struggling to find employment in this economy, while still struggling to support their babies, women, and selves by progressing themselves through education or trade training. How in the world can 120 help with these daily challenges we face?

I can't tell the next God or Earth how to keep 120 relevant for them and some would answer questionably whether it even is or not. However, what I DO know is, that arguing over whether the knowledge knowledge degree of the 1-14 says "shall" or "will" won't teach your babies or keep the rent paid... but rather, the degree itself may be able to help you set realistic goals for 2010, start looking at GED or University programs and scholarship opportunities to pay for them. UNDERSTANDING the degree may help you find ways to improve the relationship between you and your mate by re-affirming your bond and commitment to each other, or attending a couples retreat together.

As the times change, so must our ability to apply change within our ciphers. When I look at my lessons now, I tend to spend equal, if not more, time on how the degree will help me better myself and my family in more practical terms, rather than just simply memorizing words on the 4 corners of a page.

So, I ask again...HOW DO YOU KEEP 120 RELEVANT IN YOUR CIPHERS, OR IS IT?

Add on.

PEACE
Victorious Lanasia Earth

PS - Also, stay tuned for our Winter 2009-2010 14th DEGREE AND BEYOND Magazine...out this month!!

Rules

Peace -

Recently I found out my daughter had an email address and I made her delete it. Mainly because of her reasoning behind...online games. lol. She and I have a very close relationship but I do worry because she is getting older, developing and I want to protect her.

I know that other friends of mine have children with e-mails in the same age range but I am still uneasy... so I compromised and said she could use mine. Perhaps it's because I didn't have an e-mail address until I was 20 or so... but that was a different time. I think that there is a certain paranoia that parents have now because of everything that is out there that WASN'T when we were younger.

I don't allow her to go on sites that require usernames and passwords nor do I let her 'chat'. At her age (which is under 12) I don't think it's a good idea.

As parents - what are some of the more strict rules you have an why? I will list some of mine below to start off.

1) No TV or Phone Calls from friends during the week - It's time for school work
2) No Sites that require UN and PW
3) Be concious of the reasons why you want things. Be able to articulate your reasoning for things whether it's something that made you upset at school or why you chose to do something a particular way.

I don't expect all to agree... I just know what works for my cipher and what I know keeps my children safe. We can't protect them from everything... and we can't keep them sheltered to the point where they do a complete 180 when they leave. We can give them the tools they need to make smart decisions and for the mistakes we know they know they will make, they will be able to understand why it happened and try not to do it again.

Peace