The Synergistic Pen

a member of the family.

Now, so you know, in my family, people express themselves in very interesting ways: hubby draws, so does that son of mine. My daughter does really interesting things with small children, and I turn a mean trick with wooden beads. Oh yeah, sometimes, I write stuff down and people say they like it. I have a couple of cousins who do amazing things with food. A few sing, some dance, others are musicians.

Well, other people in the family express themselves also. I'd like you to meet one of them.

This is my husband's neice, Khia... she's an educator, a poet and a publisher. Oh yeah, she's 29 years old.

Check her out... KhiaStone

ok... back to being brilliant with beads... amani na baraka rafikis...

but, I don't get it...

were things so bad for the previoius administration that anything and everything this administration says is like honey on the tongue?

I'm am probably one of the few African Americans on the planet that thinks the POTUS shouldn't have received the Nobel Peace Prize. Actually, he intimated so, himself, but this ain't about his thoughts on it, it about mine.

I remained cautiously optimistic throught the long, grueling campaign. I knew there would be moments where if he said the right thing, we'd all cheer and even when he said the wrong thing, we'd justify it by saying, well, its better than what John said. I also knew, and felt deeply in my heart, he's pretty green, and that, yes, green could be good, as long as SOMEONE in the joint wasn't as green as he was. He fixed that with most of his cabinet appointees... starting with ole girl Hilary. No problem.

When he was elected, yes, I drove through a lake effect blizzard in 12 degree weather to be witness to the historical inauguration. I was and continue to be happy for him in his successful career thus far... except for one tiny thing....

he really hasn't accomplished anything yet. Or, maybe I missed something.

So, when the announcement came trickling down to me via my favorite politics loving 8th grade student (this child will be such a politician one day, pray for him), I was a bit shocked. My initial response was, who nominated him, when and why?

So we looked up the Nobel Prize, and all that was involved in getting nominated and who could nominate and when nominations closed and when did the voting occur and whatnot. It began to make sense.

He was nominated right after the inauguration apparently... after that fabulous speech about everyone getting along and how we, as Americans know we're buttheads, but we're gonna fix that, if everyone else will admit that they're buttheads too. Yeah, great speech, remember, I was there, I heard it.

Except...(and I know, its only been 9 months), not a whole lot has happened "peace" wise... again, unless I missed something. (I have been extremely preoccupied lately, and there was my self imposed news blackout for the sake of sanity period in there)

Did he receive the prize for the glorious rhetoric of it all? Do people get awarded (rewarded) for rhetoric? (don't answer that, it was rhetorical...hahaha! *sorry*)

this is the letter that came out of the White House the morning of the announcement... does he feel he's earned this?

This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace. But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.

These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace.

And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

I have three acquaintances, intelligent, educated women. We all met as teachers several years ago. We are all ambitious women, with plans for ourselves and goals that are attainable.I'm the only one that's married. With that said, its generally known and understood that I made choices early in my marriage that kept me from working on secondary and terminal degrees until recently. My acquaintances made choices that have included working on degrees... and not being married.Two of them are currently working on their PhDs in education... the third on finished her PhD in education a couple of years ago... and is now working on a SECOND PhD... why? "I love learning"...yeah, right.


I love mah girls... really, I do. I think it fabulous that they've done these amazing things. I ask them, so, Doctor... what you gonna do now?"get back to my classroom, of course."What???I wish I would go back to my middle school classroom with a PhD in my pocket.

Why did they REALLY get the terminal degree? Again, I love them, but I think it was because they have nothing else to occupy their time. Lots of wome with multiple degrees work hard at the career and the education in an attempt to fill their lives... No man, no children... no problem.. back to school I go.

I have a male friend with a PhD who attempted to explain it to me. He is a college professor and works with several women with terminal degrees and no personal obligations. He asked a few of them how they ended up where they are in their personal lives...

"They started out with the idea of establishing their careers and getting a bachelors and masters degree and then, they'd marry and start families. But, the men weren't there when they finished the masters so they went on back to school and got the PhD. Still no man, and no other goal other than "getting a man"... so off they go to college professorships and/or jobs they're overqualified for."