In the Spirit of Sankofa and Real Truth!
What we live by awo dino, The Core Principles, you would do well to read or re-read and apply comprehension:
Peace and Blessings Family,
Over the years, i've referenced our "core foundational pieces" without ever officially presenting them. They are in my heart, mind, soul, body, and Spirit. They've been referenced on occasion, throughout the community, but i've never spoke on them specifically. For this i do apologize, because i've fussed at some of you for getting close to violating them, and you really didn't know what they were. Imagine that! All these years, i've operated thinking everyone knew! Thinking you all knew we had a specific agenda, a specific goal to attain and maintain, and that we were all on the same page with that! I thought everyone knew we had a purpose for being, that would not take a back seat to any other purpose or agenda, no matter who it was presented by. I thought yall knew. I'm sorry.
This community's agenda is deep and wide, able to easily accommodate a multitude of other agendas brought by all those who join and share here ... but it will not let any one of them ... overwhelm its own. If you have an agenda, and most folk do, it's not a bad thing ... please realize that it must fit within the confines of our agenda, or it is not welcome here.
I started this community because of the passion and seed that God put in me. It is the ONLY reason i and even it, continues, because God and Our Ancestors gave it to me and God and Our Ancestors sustain it. I believe this with my whole heart, and have put my life, my money, my thoughts, my heart, my everything, on the table for it. I'm true to this, and will not let ANYONE in this whole wide world, come here, and make what God gave me to do, be something other than what it was meant for.
The majority of our Members are Grown Men and Women. We are not raising children here. We believe that if a person is a whole grown man or woman, they already know how to do and be, and don't need us to teach them. I don't want that job, and i don't believe for one second, it is required of this community to do ... to try and raise already grown men and women. We will not do it. Now of course, we do have children amongst us, and they are exempt from this. We want those who consider themselves grown, to demonstrate that here. Make right and proper choices, basically things most learned as a child. If you can't do that, or don't know what right and proper is, you will not be allowed to remain here. We just don't have the time or wherewithal to teach you. We need Sisters and Brothers that already know right from wrong, what's considered proper, respectful, etc. It doesn't matter how long you've been a Member. I've been a Member since day one, and even i must tow the line. I must respect the core foundational pieces of this community, even those contrary to what i'd rather do. For example, cursing isn't allowed here, but i like to cuss every now and again, believing that sometimes only a curse word fits. But it's not allowed here, so i don't get to do it here. So that dog, "they've been a Member here so long," just won't hunt anymore. The respect you receive, will be a direct reflection of the respect you give, and not how long you've been a Member here, or anything else.
Every Sister and Brother is welcome to interact here, respectfully.
Every single Sister and Brother in the entire world, no matter how they live, what they think, how they worship, if they're unemployed, a killer, a drug dealer, crack addict, alcoholic, single Mother, illiterate, educated, politician, actor, rapper, teacher, singer, christian, muslim, atheist, demon, angel, robber, pimp, prostitute, grandmother, grandfather, short, tall, fat, skinny, dark, light, permed, pressed, natural, student, dropout, felon, police, judge, doctor, lawyer, indian chief, blind, homosexual, straight, krazee, krippled ... do you get my point ... ??
Every single Sister or Brother is welcome here, so long as they interact respectfully.
We will not work hard to make everyone feel welcome, tell them to make themselves at home, then sit back and watch you attack them. That is not the reason we've welcomed them, to set them up so you can kill them. In fact, it is at this very juncture, that your agenda, and the community's is clashing, and you need to stop or leave. I am not taking this position because i am personally all these things, but my people are, which means ... as they are, so am i ... whether i like it or not. That is me. That is my people, and i don't believe we can afford to throw even one away, at this dire time in our existence! For with love, patience, and encouragement they too can rise up out of the muck and mire, just like i did! I will not give up on them, my people, and i will not let anyone make them not feel welcome in this community. Period.
This community is for all Black People, every single one of us. It matters not what choices you've made, where you find yourself in life right now, or where you hope to be. This is just a place where we can all come together, breathe a sigh of relief, realize that we are oftentimes (all) going through the same things, and that we recognize the power of our coming together peacefully and respectfully. Some do recognize this, and i thank you for being here, lending your Spirit and energy to this effort. The great energy we create just by being together ... the way we can rejuvenate our minds, bodies, and Spirits, by focusing on the few things that bring us together. To be able to laugh and smile with each other, like we can only do with each other. This community is a refuge, a haven, a safe place. No one has to worry about fighting here, or getting beat up or called out of their name, or ever really having to rise to that "flight or fight" place, that the rest of the world usually keeps us at. No, we don't have to do any of that here.
A Brother long ago told me, "Destee, when i come here, i feel like i can take my armor off, and rest." These were some of the most beautiful words i've heard, describing this community. He didn't know about the core foundational pieces! Coming from a Brother that i know fights long and hard throughout his day, for his family, his life, a Warrior always prepared, acknowledging the great need of being able to take the armor off, and rest ... and that he was in that place ... oh my gosh. It was like God speaking.
That is what this community is about. That is its core foundational piece. That we be that place where a Sister and Brother can come, and relax. After fighting folk on the job, fighting the kids, fighting the system, fighting everybodee ... we can find a place where we do not have to fight, and we can rest, rejuvenate ourselves, renew our strength ... for the next fight, that is sure to come.
That is what this community is about.
It was said last night, that friction (fighting, chaos, etc.) is needed for growth, and i am willing to agree. Brothers killing each other every night, folk calling each other out of their names, stabbing, killing (in word or deed), thinking the worst of each other, pointing fingers at each other, all of this may eventually yield us something great and positive. It's certainly possible, as i'm of the opinion that there is some good in all things, if you twist it just right. I have no problem with those of you that feel the need to perpetuate this kind of behavior, you are free to do it, you just can't do it here. There are many places on the Internet where you will find Sisters and Brothers fighting each other. There are places built for that sole purpose, to give Sisters and Brothers a place to publicly disparage one another. It's almost like on Jerry Springer, when they ding that bell, and the folk get to fight'n again ... people know exactly what buttons to push, what topics, words, insinuations, suggestions, etc., that will get us up in arms. Yes, these places exist, and i'm glad they are there, so you all can have a place to live, if that is what you seek ... for this is not it.
We have a different and unique agenda, one that requires everyone to get along with everyone else. Now, if your agenda, whatever truth you have to share, can be articulated without disrespecting another Sister or Brother, calling them out of their name, cursing them, talking about their Momma, etc., then that agenda is welcome. If you can't present it, without disrespecting another, please go to the places built for manifesting disrespect.
This core foundational piece i've mentioned, seems to have layers. I guess i've not attempted to share this before, because God is still giving it to me. Over these many years, as the challenges present themselves, and i'm grappling with how to deal with them ... i'm always taken back to our core foundational pieces, being soothed and directed by the depth of them ... so please bear with me, as i try to get this out.
Another layer of it, this great essence of us ... working together respectfully ... manifesting the best interactions toward each other, is key to our people overcoming all that ails us. I believe this with my whole heart. If we could learn to love ourselves, and then, love each other the way we know we deserve to be loved ... collectively giving ourselves proper care and concern ... everything would change, in the blink of an eye. Overnight. Without it costing any one of us a dime. I believe that, and while i may not live to see it come to pass, collectively, i can do my individual part toward that end ... that agenda ... right now ... and i am doing that (what God gave me to do) ... right here at destee.
As i've traveled on this path, the further i go, the clearer the picture becomes! WE ARE RICH! We have Sisters and Brothers in a plethora of life paths, occupations, experiences, covering most every area known to man! We could teach each other every thing! We do ourselves a great injustice, by wiping out with a broad brush, any GROUP of us! We weaken our own selves! We throw the baby out with the bath water! We're willing to throw the good and bad away together, just to get rid of a little (so-called) bad! Instead of reasoning respectfully with that Sister or Brother, we attempt to beat them into submission! As if we bring so much to the table, that we can dare say who should be allowed to eat, and who should not. We hurt our own selves Family. We manifest the crab like mentality often spoke about, when we do this ... but we don't even see it. Well, the core foundational piece of this community sees it, and has taken it into consideration. We need the diversity all of our people bring to the table, and there is a chair for each and every one that is willing to dialogue respectfully.
Family, i knew too, that choosing this path, from all the many others that were available to me, was not the most financially lucrative. I have built and worked for all kinds of web sites. I could have built a site steeped in sex, drama, chaos, and negativity, the things that most certainly generate popularity, traffic, and ultimately money on the Internet. I have worked for those kinds of sites, and building / maintaining them requires virtually the same skill set it takes, for this one. I was even told by many, in the early days, that this effort would never be a success. They told me that i was a fool to depend on Black People, to put all my eggs in that basket, because Black People don't support Black People. I went in with my eyes wide open, knowing full well, that if it was going to be a success (on any level), God and Our Ancestors had to bless abundantly. I was confident i had them with me, so i moved forward, in spite of the naysayers. So for those who think we aren't generating the kind of traffic, money, etc., that we could, please know, our very purpose plays a part in that. People only want to see us fighting each other, they are not nearly as interested, when we are getting along. Our traffic soars, when we're fighting, but when we're loving and respecting each other, it's just a few of us. While it's hard, always struggling to keep us alive, i embarked upon this knowing the challenge it would be.
I so respect what God gives someone to do, that even if i disagree with them, you won't find me talking about them. You won't find me tearing them down. You won't find me spending too much time, trying to convince them, that God didn't give them that to do. You won't find me wreaking havoc at their spot, or using our sacred space to hurt them. No, i won't do that, because i respect too greatly what i've been given to do, and what God and Our Ancestors are doing for us. I want ours respected, so in turn, i will respect yours. It is not necessary to believe, agree, or live like another, to respect them. I want to be a good representative of the message i deliver, the love i claim to have for my people. I do this all because of the core foundational piece, the seed, that God gave me, years ago. I have remained true to it, i am serious and passionate about it, and i will not let anyone come here and disrespect it.
I don't care if i'm ultimately left here alone. You freely chose to come, and you are certainly just as free, to leave. Whatever our end may be, i'm confident that it will be what God and Our Ancestors intended. I will trust that and believe that, and be happy in it. I have no problem with that, or any thing that God has in store for me. There is a season for all things, so i've heard, one to be born, and one to die. When that time comes, this community will be found dying, the same way it lived, respectfully.
I Love You All!
Thanks for listening.
Destee
Is there a limit to how many stupid threads i can start in a day? ...here is information that may help
What we live by awo dino, The Core Principles, you would do well to read or re-read and apply comprehension:
The Core Foundational Pieces of Destee
Peace and Blessings Family,
Over the years, i've referenced our "core foundational pieces" without ever officially presenting them. They are in my heart, mind, soul, body, and Spirit. They've been referenced on occasion, throughout the community, but i've never spoke on them specifically. For this i do apologize, because i've fussed at some of you for getting close to violating them, and you really didn't know what they were. Imagine that! All these years, i've operated thinking everyone knew! Thinking you all knew we had a specific agenda, a specific goal to attain and maintain, and that we were all on the same page with that! I thought everyone knew we had a purpose for being, that would not take a back seat to any other purpose or agenda, no matter who it was presented by. I thought yall knew. I'm sorry.
This community's agenda is deep and wide, able to easily accommodate a multitude of other agendas brought by all those who join and share here ... but it will not let any one of them ... overwhelm its own. If you have an agenda, and most folk do, it's not a bad thing ... please realize that it must fit within the confines of our agenda, or it is not welcome here.
I started this community because of the passion and seed that God put in me. It is the ONLY reason i and even it, continues, because God and Our Ancestors gave it to me and God and Our Ancestors sustain it. I believe this with my whole heart, and have put my life, my money, my thoughts, my heart, my everything, on the table for it. I'm true to this, and will not let ANYONE in this whole wide world, come here, and make what God gave me to do, be something other than what it was meant for.
The majority of our Members are Grown Men and Women. We are not raising children here. We believe that if a person is a whole grown man or woman, they already know how to do and be, and don't need us to teach them. I don't want that job, and i don't believe for one second, it is required of this community to do ... to try and raise already grown men and women. We will not do it. Now of course, we do have children amongst us, and they are exempt from this. We want those who consider themselves grown, to demonstrate that here. Make right and proper choices, basically things most learned as a child. If you can't do that, or don't know what right and proper is, you will not be allowed to remain here. We just don't have the time or wherewithal to teach you. We need Sisters and Brothers that already know right from wrong, what's considered proper, respectful, etc. It doesn't matter how long you've been a Member. I've been a Member since day one, and even i must tow the line. I must respect the core foundational pieces of this community, even those contrary to what i'd rather do. For example, cursing isn't allowed here, but i like to cuss every now and again, believing that sometimes only a curse word fits. But it's not allowed here, so i don't get to do it here. So that dog, "they've been a Member here so long," just won't hunt anymore. The respect you receive, will be a direct reflection of the respect you give, and not how long you've been a Member here, or anything else.
Every Sister and Brother is welcome to interact here, respectfully.
Every single Sister and Brother in the entire world, no matter how they live, what they think, how they worship, if they're unemployed, a killer, a drug dealer, crack addict, alcoholic, single Mother, illiterate, educated, politician, actor, rapper, teacher, singer, christian, muslim, atheist, demon, angel, robber, pimp, prostitute, grandmother, grandfather, short, tall, fat, skinny, dark, light, permed, pressed, natural, student, dropout, felon, police, judge, doctor, lawyer, indian chief, blind, homosexual, straight, krazee, krippled ... do you get my point ... ??
Every single Sister or Brother is welcome here, so long as they interact respectfully.
We will not work hard to make everyone feel welcome, tell them to make themselves at home, then sit back and watch you attack them. That is not the reason we've welcomed them, to set them up so you can kill them. In fact, it is at this very juncture, that your agenda, and the community's is clashing, and you need to stop or leave. I am not taking this position because i am personally all these things, but my people are, which means ... as they are, so am i ... whether i like it or not. That is me. That is my people, and i don't believe we can afford to throw even one away, at this dire time in our existence! For with love, patience, and encouragement they too can rise up out of the muck and mire, just like i did! I will not give up on them, my people, and i will not let anyone make them not feel welcome in this community. Period.
This community is for all Black People, every single one of us. It matters not what choices you've made, where you find yourself in life right now, or where you hope to be. This is just a place where we can all come together, breathe a sigh of relief, realize that we are oftentimes (all) going through the same things, and that we recognize the power of our coming together peacefully and respectfully. Some do recognize this, and i thank you for being here, lending your Spirit and energy to this effort. The great energy we create just by being together ... the way we can rejuvenate our minds, bodies, and Spirits, by focusing on the few things that bring us together. To be able to laugh and smile with each other, like we can only do with each other. This community is a refuge, a haven, a safe place. No one has to worry about fighting here, or getting beat up or called out of their name, or ever really having to rise to that "flight or fight" place, that the rest of the world usually keeps us at. No, we don't have to do any of that here.
A Brother long ago told me, "Destee, when i come here, i feel like i can take my armor off, and rest." These were some of the most beautiful words i've heard, describing this community. He didn't know about the core foundational pieces! Coming from a Brother that i know fights long and hard throughout his day, for his family, his life, a Warrior always prepared, acknowledging the great need of being able to take the armor off, and rest ... and that he was in that place ... oh my gosh. It was like God speaking.
That is what this community is about. That is its core foundational piece. That we be that place where a Sister and Brother can come, and relax. After fighting folk on the job, fighting the kids, fighting the system, fighting everybodee ... we can find a place where we do not have to fight, and we can rest, rejuvenate ourselves, renew our strength ... for the next fight, that is sure to come.
That is what this community is about.
It was said last night, that friction (fighting, chaos, etc.) is needed for growth, and i am willing to agree. Brothers killing each other every night, folk calling each other out of their names, stabbing, killing (in word or deed), thinking the worst of each other, pointing fingers at each other, all of this may eventually yield us something great and positive. It's certainly possible, as i'm of the opinion that there is some good in all things, if you twist it just right. I have no problem with those of you that feel the need to perpetuate this kind of behavior, you are free to do it, you just can't do it here. There are many places on the Internet where you will find Sisters and Brothers fighting each other. There are places built for that sole purpose, to give Sisters and Brothers a place to publicly disparage one another. It's almost like on Jerry Springer, when they ding that bell, and the folk get to fight'n again ... people know exactly what buttons to push, what topics, words, insinuations, suggestions, etc., that will get us up in arms. Yes, these places exist, and i'm glad they are there, so you all can have a place to live, if that is what you seek ... for this is not it.
We have a different and unique agenda, one that requires everyone to get along with everyone else. Now, if your agenda, whatever truth you have to share, can be articulated without disrespecting another Sister or Brother, calling them out of their name, cursing them, talking about their Momma, etc., then that agenda is welcome. If you can't present it, without disrespecting another, please go to the places built for manifesting disrespect.
This core foundational piece i've mentioned, seems to have layers. I guess i've not attempted to share this before, because God is still giving it to me. Over these many years, as the challenges present themselves, and i'm grappling with how to deal with them ... i'm always taken back to our core foundational pieces, being soothed and directed by the depth of them ... so please bear with me, as i try to get this out.
Another layer of it, this great essence of us ... working together respectfully ... manifesting the best interactions toward each other, is key to our people overcoming all that ails us. I believe this with my whole heart. If we could learn to love ourselves, and then, love each other the way we know we deserve to be loved ... collectively giving ourselves proper care and concern ... everything would change, in the blink of an eye. Overnight. Without it costing any one of us a dime. I believe that, and while i may not live to see it come to pass, collectively, i can do my individual part toward that end ... that agenda ... right now ... and i am doing that (what God gave me to do) ... right here at destee.
As i've traveled on this path, the further i go, the clearer the picture becomes! WE ARE RICH! We have Sisters and Brothers in a plethora of life paths, occupations, experiences, covering most every area known to man! We could teach each other every thing! We do ourselves a great injustice, by wiping out with a broad brush, any GROUP of us! We weaken our own selves! We throw the baby out with the bath water! We're willing to throw the good and bad away together, just to get rid of a little (so-called) bad! Instead of reasoning respectfully with that Sister or Brother, we attempt to beat them into submission! As if we bring so much to the table, that we can dare say who should be allowed to eat, and who should not. We hurt our own selves Family. We manifest the crab like mentality often spoke about, when we do this ... but we don't even see it. Well, the core foundational piece of this community sees it, and has taken it into consideration. We need the diversity all of our people bring to the table, and there is a chair for each and every one that is willing to dialogue respectfully.
Family, i knew too, that choosing this path, from all the many others that were available to me, was not the most financially lucrative. I have built and worked for all kinds of web sites. I could have built a site steeped in sex, drama, chaos, and negativity, the things that most certainly generate popularity, traffic, and ultimately money on the Internet. I have worked for those kinds of sites, and building / maintaining them requires virtually the same skill set it takes, for this one. I was even told by many, in the early days, that this effort would never be a success. They told me that i was a fool to depend on Black People, to put all my eggs in that basket, because Black People don't support Black People. I went in with my eyes wide open, knowing full well, that if it was going to be a success (on any level), God and Our Ancestors had to bless abundantly. I was confident i had them with me, so i moved forward, in spite of the naysayers. So for those who think we aren't generating the kind of traffic, money, etc., that we could, please know, our very purpose plays a part in that. People only want to see us fighting each other, they are not nearly as interested, when we are getting along. Our traffic soars, when we're fighting, but when we're loving and respecting each other, it's just a few of us. While it's hard, always struggling to keep us alive, i embarked upon this knowing the challenge it would be.
I so respect what God gives someone to do, that even if i disagree with them, you won't find me talking about them. You won't find me tearing them down. You won't find me spending too much time, trying to convince them, that God didn't give them that to do. You won't find me wreaking havoc at their spot, or using our sacred space to hurt them. No, i won't do that, because i respect too greatly what i've been given to do, and what God and Our Ancestors are doing for us. I want ours respected, so in turn, i will respect yours. It is not necessary to believe, agree, or live like another, to respect them. I want to be a good representative of the message i deliver, the love i claim to have for my people. I do this all because of the core foundational piece, the seed, that God gave me, years ago. I have remained true to it, i am serious and passionate about it, and i will not let anyone come here and disrespect it.
I don't care if i'm ultimately left here alone. You freely chose to come, and you are certainly just as free, to leave. Whatever our end may be, i'm confident that it will be what God and Our Ancestors intended. I will trust that and believe that, and be happy in it. I have no problem with that, or any thing that God has in store for me. There is a season for all things, so i've heard, one to be born, and one to die. When that time comes, this community will be found dying, the same way it lived, respectfully.
I Love You All!
Thanks for listening.
Destee
