Fashion, Movies and Television and Travon Martin

This blog is not about the debate over the Travon Martin shooting. Like any parent, my heart goes out to this young man's family over this terrible loss. It is not about the Stand Your Ground Law. This blog is about fear that is fed by this nation's love affair with stories of violence and the effect it is having on the young. The most recent hero is now the bold archer from the Hunger Games who is involved in a struggle to the death sponsored by media moguls in control of in a Roman Empire like culture that drafts young people to "star" in their real life movies of a fight to the death. I'm sure the fashion industry will now make a fortune designing bold archer type costumes for young, adolescent women. What happens if one of these young women finds herself in a situation similar to Travon Martin - identified as a threat because of what she is wearing? Isn't this what happened to Travon?

What about the hoodie he was wearing? As a young teenager he was just wearing something that all young men his age wear. When I heard about this, I started to watch some television shows that I don't watch and in one week I saw several television shows involving bombings and mass deaths. The most recent was Castle on ABC. In all of these shows the suspects were young men - black, white, hispanic - who roamed the area in hooded shirts obviously worn to protect their identities. Does the media and those who sponsor and make these shows have any accountability for feeding this mass fear that has turned into paranoia since 911? What about the fashion industry that promotes wearing clothing connected to violence? Do we need to look further into our culture for justice for our adolescent young? Once again, my prayers and compassion go out to all those involved in this senseless loss with the hope that we can find answers so that these acts are not repeated again.

Thoughts from the Dahli Lama

Although violence and the use of force may appear powerful and decisive, their benefits are short-lived. Violence can never bring a lasting and long term resolution to any problem, because it is unpredictable and for every problem it seems to solve, others are created. On the other hand, truth remains constant and will ultimately prevail. Dali Lama

This is at the heart of my book "The Peacemaker." In this 21st Century weary of constant cycles of famine, war and inhumanity we need to return to the principles of truth espoused by The Peacemaker in the 11th Century. Visit http://kentuckywoman.net for more information.

Beneficial Points About Your Heart ~ Habibi Halaqas

Beneficial Points About Your Heart ~ Habibi Halaqas.

We are all one striving to love and understand the spiritual One that lives inside us all.

Gaelic Blessing

During the month of March we think about rainbows, pots of gold and the luck of the Irish. May you enjoy this Gaelic blessing to bring peace to your soul.

http://youtu.be/B3JDTQBGyJo