Come fly with me...

I'm sitting here in Fort Lauderdale International Airport waiting for a delayed flight and I figured, why not take the time and blog about my experience. Well here I go! I will try and be diplomatic about the situation, but I'm not promising anything...

I few weeks ago a friend of mine invited me to spend Thanksgiving with her and her family in Atlanta. I didn't accept right away, because I thought the flight might be rather expensive and not worth the hassle. However, after a few days of searching, I found a flight with Spirit Airlines for $105. Perfect, I thought, until the hidden fees made their appearance. Do you know they charge you for every piece of luggage? The incentive is to purchase your luggage check-in on line and save about $5-10. Simply ridiculous!

In any event, I can't travel without clothes; so I was forced to check a luggage. The charge for one checked luggage online is $15 each way, making it $30 for a round trip. Though this was not the end of the hidden fees, I elected to skip ahead an just confirm my flight. They charge you to pick your seat, $30 for a window, $15 for an aisle. They charge you $2 for curbside check-in, not a lot but it's the principle. They charge you for water on the plane and other amenities. Be advised, that most airlines charge these days for things that used to be complimentary, but Spirit is the worst in the pack.

So what to do? How do we correct a problem and make these airlines accountable for their actions and their misrepresentation of their services and mistreatment of their customers? The original reason for these price hikes and hidden charges was blamed on the rise in gas prices. Now that the gas prices have fall well below what they have been in decades, shouldn't these airlines correct their pricing plans now? It's actually relatively cheaper to rent a car and drive to where you want to go now. And the benefit there, is you have a car to use while you're there. So to the airlines, I say it's time that you fix your billing practices. To my bloggers, I say it's time we bring these companies to their knees and make them accountable. Force their hand, like they are forcing ours. Let's GO!!!

Let's pop some wine coolers...

Is the Hip-Hop world finally going mad?

It seems that the roles of men and women are changing. Women are becoming the more dominant and persevering, while men are falling back and becoming more, to say the least, feminine. Not to get into a long drawn out post, I'm talking about the Hip-Hop archetype men. These are the same guys that are pronouncedly homophobic, oozing nothing but machismo in their lyrics and person. However, when you dissect it, how much more different are they from that of the women they bash in their lyrics.

These rappers, for lack of a better label, are the same ones that "bling" their wrists, chests and ears out with more diamonds than Liz Taylor. But as far as I remember it, the marketing slogan has always been, "diamonds are a girl's best friend." Now it seems to be the rapper's best friend. Okay, so we'll let that one slide, but what about the other things. If you look close enough, they have been plucked more than chicken feathers. Rappers today are doing spa treatments, complete with manicured and pedicured nails, "tweazed" and "thredded" eye brows, waxed mustaches and body hair, while adding the occasional facial and make-up touches to start the day. Now, I'm not sure, but is that the role of men? Is that how we are supposed to do these days? Women, is this what you want? Let me know!

Though, the most foreseeable occurrence of late is the integration of marketing in their videos of NUVO liquor. Now the other offenses can be excused; to each their own. But when you begin to market to me a product that is clearly not made for me in the disguise of it being right for you, when it isn't really for you either, that's when I have to say something. NUVO liquor, if you don't already know, is a sparkling vodka, that has been introduced to the market via Miami as the new social drink. However, this pink sparkling liquor, was initially made for and promoted to women. In fact, they bottle itself says, "NUVO: L'ESPRIT de PARIS - For Her." Though made for women, it has been the new "bottle-poppin" liquor of choice in many of the new videos, from Jim Jones to DJ Khaled to Ludacris to Lil' Wayne and many more.

Just makes no sense to me, these dudes have settled to drinking a $30 a bottle wine cooler. They can save their money and buy a case of Bartles & Jaymes. Or better yet, ask the bartender to keep the peach scnapps martini's coming. If they're going to go that route, might as well, right? What are your thoughts? I want to hear from the women. What do you think about these "hardcore" dudes drinking wine coolers in the club? Am I bugging or is this worth some concern?

It's not my battle...

For the past few days, the news has been reporting on the election of President-elect Barack Obama and what he has planned for the future of his cabinet. We have heard discussions from who he has chosen for his staff to what he plans to do with regards to international relations to the choice of the first family's pet dog. However, that's not all that has plagued the headlines.

California's Proposition 8: Gay Marriage Ban

Proposition 8 is a California State ballot proposition that would amend the state Constituion to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. It would overturn a recent California Supreme Court decision that had recognized same-sex marriage in California as a fundamental right. The official ballot title language for Proposition 8 is "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." The entirety of the text to be added to the constitution is: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

This amendment, prior to the elections, was not of any concern to me. In fact, prior to this week, I never even heard of it. When it began to be a stated issue by the conservatives as to how many millions of people voted for the ban, I decided to look at my sample ballot again. I quickly realized, that I was one of those millions that voted "YES". It got me thinking, how many others voted for the ban without reading or understanding what it entailed. But, what does it really mean?

If passed, this amendment writes discrimination, of a large group of people, into the Constitution, creating a legal platform to discriminate against certain individuals. Not only is it homophobic in nature and intended to adversely impact the rights of one group of people, it is prejudicial in a most discriminatory manner. At first thought, it is not my battle and it does not affect me, because I am not part of that group. I'm not gay, I'm not lesbian, I'm not a homosexual; but do you have to be either of these labels to fight against discrimination? To answer this question, we must look at the plight of America's Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 1960's.

For African-Americans, the Civil Rights Movement meant reform movements aimed at abolishing public and private acts of racial discrimination and racism. In a political system that upholds discriminatory practices, even if every person is treated equally by the state, there may not be equality due to discrimination within society, such as in the workplace, which may hinder civil liberties in everyday life. Our progress in society and as a nation is evident with the recent election of President-elect Barack Obama. However, even with the large turnout of minorities in this election, it was the help, participation and votes of progressive-thinking whites that enabled his win. In comparison it was sympathetic whites who valued liberty over oppression, equality over discrimination, and progression over regression, that helped the success of the Civil Rights Movement.

I am not gay, not lesbian, not homosexual, but my fight is aligned with theirs, for I fight for a nation of equality, tolerance and advancement to civilized society. A society, in which these words mean more than just ink on a paper:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

No matter how you read it, interpret it, argue it or understand it, discrimination is inherently wrong and it should not be tolerated.

Why we fight...

November 4th, 2008, we won a huge victory in the United States of America. We came out in significant number to vote for the very best candidate for the President of the United States of America. What makes him the very best candidate is not what he promises, not what he represents, not the colour of his skin, not his character, not his family background and not his educational background, but rather all these things combined.

However, this is an extremely pivotal moment in our country's history. We have voted into office of the President of the United States of America the first Black man or more political correct, African-American. This is significant in many ways, because this Black man won by a landslide of popular votes (almost 10 million) and electoral votes (more than twice his adversary). This Black man is the first Black man to be backed by a major political party, the Democratic National Party. This Black man is now our Commander-in-Chief, which is presently the highest job in the USA. Though, since we are the current super power, that job is now the highest position attainable in the world.

Given the reality of these issues and many more, there is a significant reason why we should all celebrate this achievement. We should celebrate because Black slaves built the house that our President will be occupying. We should celebrate because we, as a nation, are moving forward in progress. We should celebrate because for once, in a general election, our votes counted. We should celebrate because we now have a Black family, to inspire the urban youth of tomorrow. But most of all, we should celebrate because we made a difference and we chose change.

Change we can believe in, but our fight is far from over. In fact, our fight has just begun. We need not become complacent, instead we need to stand up and voice our choices. We now need to step up and be men and women of change. In this moment, we must be aware of our community. We must be activist for progress. We must mobilize the youth to discuss more limitless possibilities. We have an opportunity to be a part of this new organization in front of us. Our fight does not end with the election of a Black president, it does not end with us turning out to vote, rather it begins here. It will be a hard, long and difficult battle, but we owe it to ourselves to see it through. We owe it to ourselves to help our President-elect Barack Obama to become individual organizers of our community. You don't have to change the ideas of everyone in your community, but if you get even one person involved, you have won the fight. Let's get involved. Let's change the community. Let's change our futures. Let's change our world. Yes we can!!!