Time to UNTEACH Racism--Our Children deserve It

by Larry Peterson

When the verdict was read at the Zimmerman trial the words, "not guilty", reverberated across the entire country. Following  those words a dark and ominous cloud of racial pollution drifted out of that courtroom in Sanford, FL and managed to blanket the entire nation.

Why? The American system of justice had worked, had it not? An impartial jury had weighed all of the evidence and, following the law as instructed by the court, rendered a fair and impartial verdict. Whatever is going on? Isn't that what we wanted? Why all the vitriol? Why all the hatred? Here's why--politics.  Politics has become anathema to the very fabric of our  nation because, for those in  power, their politics trumps God, family and country.

I truly believe that the vast majority of the American people, white, black, brown, red, yellow or whomever, are NOT racists.  The true racists are the ones who foment anarchy using race as the bait. You all know who I mean so no sense going into a litany of names. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, remember? These people are making a mockery of his legacy and turning his "dream" into a nightmare.

See this picture above? The caption is TRUE. Want proof, read on.

The day after the "not guilty" verdict in Sanford, the 49 year-old manager of a Family Dollar store in Tampa was shot to death during a robbery. Horsley Shorter Jr., a 26-year Army veteran, was coming to the aid of the clerk who was being held up.  The clerk he was defending was white. The perpetrator of the crime was a black man. So was Horsley Shorter.

Mr. Horsley cared about helping his fellow man, not the man's skin color. He gave his life so this man might live. I have not heard anything about Horsley Shorter Jr. on any TV or radio programs. Why not? Horsley Shorter is an unsung American hero.  But I guess his story provides no political advantage to anyone? Isn't that a sad thing?

The picture above demonstrates the innocence of children. They do not care about skin color. They just care about each other. Racism enters their lives when mature, narrow-minded people, uneducated and educated alike, teach them to "HATE". It is disgusting and the people who are promulgating and playing this "race card" have perverted the enormous gains that have been made between whites and blacks over the last century.

From the bully-pulpit commanded by the President, to the Attorney General, to the former Secretary of State and U.S.Senator, to the Sharptons, and Jacksons and Hollywood know-nothing elitists; it is time for all of you to start preaching brotherhood. Our children deserve that. All of us do.

                      ©Larry Peterson  2013 All Rights Reserved

For Kids (Adults too) Overcoming Differences: You Can Do It !!

Review Redux:  Slippery Willies Stupid, Ugly Shoes

5.0 out of 5 stars Overcoming Differences: You Can Too! 

By 

Sweet'n Treats - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes (Hardcover)

I had the opportunity to review a children's book, Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes by Larry Peterson. It is an easy read for school-aged children where they can relate to the message. Peterson depicts an excellent message that is it okay to be different than everyone else and sometimes your own fear is the biggest hurdle. Many children face bullying in school by their peers and this story gives children courage to be themselves.

I wanted to read this to my daughter but it is a little too mature for her age right now but I would love to purchase the book for her to have when she is older to read and understand the message of accepting differences. Everyone is not the same and you should not put a person down or make fun of them because they are not like you.
                                          **********************

Scroll down on right to a Story Cub presentation of Slippery Willie and to view the book trailer

 

Faith Can Move Mountains, if You Believe: An Amazing Book

Review Redux:  The Priest & The Peaches  from 2012

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Book!, 

By 

N. Medina "LizzieBeth" (WTBY, CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Priest and the Peaches (Kindle Edition)

Often times, faith is something almost all of us have a hard time in having. Believing in something you can't see is testing, most especially for those of us who have strayed from the Lord's path. Believing in his goodness, in the fact that he'll lead us along the righteous path, well, it can honestly be trying. The reason for this is because for some, the trials and tribulations they face along the way hard from them to place their trust in a being they're really not sure exists.

For the Peaches, both young and old, their lives haven't been that easy. The children lost their mother and grandmother at a very young age and have dealt with the consequences of their deaths ever since then. When their father falls ill, the children realize it's another blow of disappointment they've been dealt with - a disappointment none of them wish to deal with just yet. Despite this, they're determined to band together in hopes of helping their father through his ordeal.

The task of keeping the family afloat falls upon Joanie and Teddy's hands, the oldest of the Peach children. Beeker, Dancer, and Joey don't quite understand what's going on, but for their father's sake, they're willing to pretend that everything is fine and dandy. Unbeknownst to the Peach children, their problems are just beginning.

When their father takes a turn for the worse and dies unexpectedly, Joanie, Teddy, and the children must find the strength within themselves to face the adversity that has now been lain at their feet. Their faith has been shattered and each one of them begin to wonder as to whether they'll be able to bounce back from the brink of a darkness that seems intent on engulfing each and every one of them. Determined to pick up the pieces of a life they'd once known, Joanie and Teddy do their best to keep their family together.

The children's unexpected saving grace arrives in the form of Father Sullivan, a man who believes completely in the blessings and virtues extoled by God himself. His faith is firmly cemented in the fact that God will provide for his flock no matter what happens along the way. Father Sullivan has tried to make this fact known to all those he meets wherever his feet have taken him. While there are a good many that shun the message he tries to deliver, he knows that there are a good many who will take the Lord's words into their hearts and do the best they can with what they've been given - a certainty that becomes apparent when the safety and well-being of the Peach children inadvertently lands in his hands.

This was such a beautiful story. I enjoyed it immensely and recommend it to anyone for reading. It's meaning, and the lessons found throughout the story, will touch a soul to its very core. While this is a Catholic fiction story, I think it's one that will leave the person reading with a better understanding of God, of faith, of death, and even of life, be it whether they're a religious person or not.

We're able to feel the Peach family's pain, their laughter, their fears, and their triumphs as they seek to make the most of a situation that is way out of their control. We're able to watch a family grow within a period of seven days while faced with an adversity that, at times, seems to want to topple the family altogether. The fact that they're able to bounce back and find strength and meaning within the very world they live in goes to show us that anything is possible only if you believe.

It's like a Christian song that was taught to me when I was little, if your faith is like that of a small mustard seed, you can move mountains. The book made me realize that it's very much true. Anything is possible, but only if you believe. More so, if you believe that God will be there with you no matter what comes your way.

"The Book is a Winner and has a Message for all Ages"

Review Redux:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Ten of 2012

By 

susan mahoney - 

This review is from: The Priest and the Peaches (Kindle Edition)

Is an amazing heart wrenching story about a family and their bond with each other, the unseen forces and the people in their lives. The family consists of a father and five children living together under one roof. They lost their mother to illness and their dad became lose in the world of alcohol and grief. He loves his family and does the best he can consider the circumstances.

When a tragedy hits the Peaches Family they have to fend for themselves and became a close knit family. More calamities occur and they are lost in a personal tumult storm and experience events that were detrimental yet they are courageous, miraculous and the trails transform them all. Their father was as I was seeing my own father when alive; a man who would give his own shirt off his back to help his neighbor and kept his deeds quiet. His mantra of L.Y.N. is such a powerful tonic of unconditional love and teaches others to share. The theme of paying forward had this reader reaching for the tissue box.

The hidden poetry of the story was so familiar to this reader's life I felt as I was reliving some of my childhood experiences and was being pulled into a whirling pool of emotions, from love, anger, hatred and finally forgiveness. The writer has the gift of a master in explaining the secret of how pride, anger and hatred blocks the wondrous gifts that were meant to be cherish, and are lost in the rush of daily life of all business and some strangers and loved ones unleashing their selfish ego attitudes it is not to be spiteful but to hide behind the defenses so they do not have to unveil their broken hearts and shame secrets. I think this author is trying to tell the readers to keep their priorities in order and live life as it was meant to be and let the petty things go.

Everyone in this story is like a family member and it is easy to connect with each one. It was like my uncle and aunt was whispering to me and sharing wisdom with this reader. It is filled with knowledge, love, hope and faith and mysteries we all ponder about.

This author broke down all those barriers by writing a touching soul wrenching story about trials in life and shows with faith anything is possible. The twists and life rituals of this wonderful family and their personal journey through heart ache to victory is very inspiration and has this reader thinking about returning back to her former faith and strive harder to release the human qualities of pride and ego; to connect more with a higher force which may be the answer to live on this planet and we should live as in Let It Be as in the Beatles song.

This book is a winner and has a message for all ages. I was joyfully taken hostage by the story and sad to be release. This reader definitely looks forward to read more enlightening stories from this writer. This choice will probably stay as my number one choice for 2012.