What Got To Me Today: Hate Speech in Easter Eggs

Hate speech of any kind is hard to take.  Thank God most of the time I am able to tune it out, keep it away from the ears of my children, and hopefully not give any kind of unwarranted attention to those evil people who spread hatred and prejudice.  I am, after all, a real fighter for free speech, even when I don't agree with it.

Sometimes though, I'm so struck by something so putrid, that it makes me want to rally the troops and spread awareness in hopes that maybe it'll do some good.  The difference with this story, is the method of which the free speech was delivered, how it landed on private property. 

I caught a snippet of news today as I was walking through my living room, something about hateful messages in Easter eggs.  What I thought was a Michigan story, turned out to be a national story.  The plastic eggs I'm about to tell you about were distributed in Oakland County, near Pontiac in Michigan, but originated out west in Idaho, and were copied in other locations across the country.

Leaders of a white-supremest, nationalist neo-Nazi group (I refuse to print their organization's name), spent their Easter holiday spreading colorful plastic Easter eggs all over the lawns of neighborhoods.  Unfortunately, the eggs were filled with recruitment fliers and racist and anti-gay slurs. 

I tried to imagine what it would feel like to find one of those eggs in my yard.  I tried to think of the fury I would feel if one of my children opened up one of those eggs, looking just the same as others filled with candy and loose change.  How would I be able to explain what they had found in a way that wouldn't devastate them on one of the most joyous and holiest of holidays?  How would I explain it on any day?

Then I thought, my kids would be as sad and angry about the messages as I was, because my husband and I have taught them to know what is unfair, unjust, and just plain mean.  Even at their young age, in a way that is age-appropriate for them, they know that people are just "people", not labeled by a color, a religious belief or by who they choose to be with. 

So I guess the best defense of this kind of behavior is offense.  The awareness I choose to spread today is that of a power that is real.  It is the power of knowing what is good, what is right and what is responsible. We are the ones who should spread the word of equality, fairness and a love of thy neighbor. The more we choose not to give these horrible people our energy, the less they will be fueled.  They can have no power if we choose not to give them any.  Knowledge is the real power and we know better.

To those people who received those eggs, I'm so sorry that happened to you.  Just please know there are so many more people that stand with you, then those who do not.  We, united, will someday drown out the voices of those who choose to live in hate.

What Got To Me Today: Silencing Voices at Catherine Ferguson High

I have refrained from taking the time to complain in my blog about all of the issues I am having with Michigan's new Governor.  I have refrained from writing about how I feel about appointing Emergency Financial Managers in cities like Detroit and Benton Harbor, and who knows how many others?  I've been quiet about the idea of some business CEO coming in and muting out our elected officials.  I have stayed quiet about Union Busting and tax breaks and the threat to end the film industry. But the schools, Mr. Governor...there are other ways

So I've been quiet until today.  Today I became aware of a public school in Detroit, recently under fire.  Now you might say, "What schools in Detroit aren't under fire?"  But this school is different.  It is inner city. It is a farm. It successfully graduates ninety percent of its students.  It sends 100% of its graduates to college. That's right, ALL of them. Did I mention the graduates are all pregnant teenagers or new teen mothers?

Catherine Ferguson High is named after a woman, a freed slave, who lived in New York in the 1800's.  She dedicated her entire life to the betterment of education in impoverished areas.  The school began with a couple of desks and one playpen, then under The Salvation Army. 

The school in Detroit uses adjacent plots of land for vegetable farming and livestock.  Each student works the farm, in addition to their college prep courses, and then is privy to the fruits it bears.  This, in a place where fresh vegetables aren't exactly plentiful. 

The school offers on-site childcare so these young mothers and mothers-to-be can finish their education and provide a life for themselves and their children.  The idea is to break the cycle.  Give these girls a chance of getting out, to believe they are worth educating, to stop their children from falling into the same situation.  These girls are succeeding.

Did I mention that in order to graduate, students MUST have been accepted into college? 

So back to what got to me today...Catherine Ferguson High is on the chopping block...with many other Detroit schools.  Troubling to say the least.  But what is more troubling is what happened when the girls tried to come together and save their school.  See, last year the school was up for closure and was stopped by communtiy outcry and protests.  Detroit knows this award winning school is a gem within its walls.  They know these girls don't have nearly as good a chance at success without it. 

It makes sense then, when the girls found out about another possible shut down, they gathered at their school to plan a peaceful protest.  During Spring Break, they met up at the school to paint signs to protest.  They were just "planning and preparing for" a protest, they weren't even protesting yet. 

Apparently, they weren't supposed to be gathering and preparing, so the Detroit Police Department showed up to arrest these girls for gathering and preparing?  I'm curious what the charges were?  Perhaps they were having a "sit-in" and there have been many a protester who have been taken away in cuffs for their cause, so perhaps there was indeed a squatting or trespassing charge...that, I get.  If they weren't allowed to be in the building, and refused to leave, then I get it.

But what REALLY irked me was how the arrest was handled.  There happened to be a news crew on site when the arrest took place.  So...to keep the camera crews from hearing what the girls were saying, what they were trying to tell the news crews, which in turn would tell the public, the police department blared their sirens to drown out their voices.  So on camera we have police officers putting teenage, pregnant, handcuffed, straight A and B students into their police cars to the tune of voice drowning sirens.  In cuffs or not, these girls have the freedom of speech.  They have every right to express their opinions. 

GRrrr....I get fired up just thinking about it. This is forever my cause.  Nobody has the right to silence another.  We all have our right to free speech. We all have a right to be heard.  We don't have to listen, we don't have to agree, but we ALL have the right to speak our own opinion.  We ALL get a voice. 

Shame on those sirens.  This is what got to me today.

Walmart's "geo-Girl" anti-aging make-up line for 8 yr. olds. This is What Got To Me Today

At first, I thought a new eco-friendly cosmetic line, free of chemicals like paraben, phthalates and sulfates was quite progressive for Walmart.  The make-up is highlighted for its anti-aging properties, how well the products exfoliate and calm the skin.  Hmmm?  Not bad so far.  Until....

It is a cosmetic line called "Geo-Girl" for 8 TO 12 YEAR OLD GIRLS!  It is for parents who want their third graders to have make-up with natural ingredients, and to help girls who have sensitive skin.  They are eight year olds, of course their skin is sensitive! 

Anti-aging?  Calming properties?  Is youthful skin not at its most youthful, most flawless, most calm as it is on the faces of our children?  These are children!  They have a youthful glow already!

Do girls not have enough pressure on them to be beautiful?  Aren't there enough expectations out in the world for girls to be sexier, thinner, more popular because of these things?  Are we going to let our 8 year olds, even 12 year olds, think they need make up to be beautiful?

The Geo-Girl product line has 69 products, ranging from blusher to mascara to lipstick and will be sold at Walmart stores beginning in March 2011.

I know, I know, those who love Walmart will say that it is the parents' responsibility to buy or not buy the product, that Walmart isn't "making" any children wear the make-up.  That we live in a capitalist society and Walmart has the right to make a profit, blah blah blah.  Walmart also has the right to set a better example to benefit our youth.  The bottom line is Walmart wants to make money.  Look at the packaging of the Geo-Girl line.  Its not trying to appeal to parents.  It is even sized smaller for little hands!  Look here from the Household and Personal Products Industry:

According to the company, the colors, while bright and exciting in the package, go on super-sheer and see-through to give her skin a healthy, natural glow.The formulas are mistake proof and easy to apply successfully.The product packages themselves were created to fit in smaller hands and apply to smaller features.

Walmart does not have to choose to supply products that contribute to the absolute encouragement and expectations that young girls, little girls, need make-up to gain acceptance and feel good about themselves.

I know Walmart gives a ton of money to charities, amidst their many, many sins, once in awhile they do something good.  So why can't they take a stand in protecting the self-esteem and empowerment of young girls?  C'mon Walmart.  Here is a chance to make a difference.  Do not put Geo-Girl on your shelves.

I also know there are people who will blame parents for setting the example by wearing cosmetics ourselves, doing everything we can to stay youthful.  There is a time for everything.  There is a time for a first date, high heels, outward self-expression.  The age for shimmering, sparkling cheeks, thick blackened eyelashes and anti-aging properties is not age 8.

I am irate over this. Really irate.  I know Walmart isn't the only one at fault here, Walmart is just the pusher. The producer is a company in California called Pacific World Corp.  Click here for their contact information to lodge a complaint. They make the product, but they would stop making it if Walmart wouldn't sell it. As for Walmart, click here to voice your opposition.  I am so fired up, I might get a petition going.  Stay tuned.

As parents, it is our job to protect our children, their health and wellness, their self-esteem and confidence. If Geo-Girl indeed ends up on the shelves, at the very least let this be a teaching moment to our young girls on what not to buy and why.  At least we'll be able to try and teach them to be better consumers, and it will give us another opportunity to tell them how beautiful they are without Geo-Girl.

Debate has become hate. This is What Got To Me Today.

We have a saying in our house about using the word "hate".  Since both our children were very young, my husband and I have always encourged them to refrain from using the word, even if used in a sentence as harmless as "I hate when my cereal gets soggy!"  So whenever the word slips out, someone will voice the reminder, as if an auto-responder, "We don't like 'hate'."  Said enough over time, to this day you would be hard pressed to hear a member of our family use the word, or at least pause before they do.

We don't like "hate".  More today than ever, more last Saturday than ever, I don't like "hate".  I've not written about the tragedy in Tucson until today because I have been so angry, so hurt, so concerned for the future of our political process, that I feared I would spew something venomous, or yes...hateful.  So I waited.

Today however, I'm not really going to talk about the shooting.  There are plenty of media sources still covering the tragedy, as they should.  The victims, their families and all who are affected deserve as much support and justice as we can muster up as a country.  I, like many, am still tuned in to the coverage, both horrified by the investigation and inspired by the reaction. What I want to talk about today, however, is how much these kinds of atrocities are considered when one chooses whether or not to go into public service.

I think about the people I know personally who are serving in office.  I think about my political "rock stars" who I dream of knowing one day.  I think about all of the important things that get discussed and accomplished because there are people who dedicate themselves to public service and public office.  I am so appreciative of these people, whether at a local level within my City, or in Washington D.C. at national and international levels.  I know we need these people.  Which brings me to my next thought.

Debate has become hate.  Peaceful rallies have become places to fear the worst.  Somewhere there is a young, enthusiastic guy or gal, just itching to get involved in the political process who is taking pause because he/she wonders if it will be a safe occupation for his/herself and family.  Opposing ideas have become vicious roadblocks and attacks instead of a means to find a way through to a solution. Broken windows or painted graffiti at a candidate's headquarters are common during election season. Common. Death threats are expected for someone with a passionate voice.  Expected.

People who know me know I am extremely passionate about my political views.  There are definitely people I do not like, whose policies I find ridiculous, who dumbfound me by things they say and do. All of us have our opinions and have the right to voice them.  We should not, however, have the right to intimidate, threaten, fearmonger or cause harm to others because of our opinions. Opposing opinions should not be so hateful that they give pause to those wishing to serve. It seems ridiculous to even have to say this outloud, or put in print.  Isn't this common sense? Treat thy neighbor?  The golden rule?  What is taught in kindergarten?

Will the tragedy in Arizona help tone things down? I don't know.  If it does, then isn't it a shame it took such a horrific action to make it happen?  Can't we all just adopt the phrase my kids say and know by heart? 

"We don't like 'hate'."

Little Dresses For Africa are What Got to Me Today

I have a new hero to add to my growing list of awesome people doing amazing things on our planet.  Last 

night I was watching the Nightly News with Brian Williams and learned about a woman right here in Michigan who saw a need, and made a decision to help fix it.

Rachel O'Neill lives in Woodhaven (Brownstown Twp.).  While visiting Africa on a mission, she noticed that so many of the little girls there had mere scraps to wear for clothing.  One child might have one single outfit , to wear again and again and again.  Well, thankfully for thousands of little girls, this particular fact kep tugging at Mrs. O'Neill's heart, and she found a way to do something about it.

Little Dresses For Africa is a non-profit organization that makes little girl's dresses out of pillowcases.  Pillowcases!  In four easy steps, which O'Neill gives on her website, just about anyone can change a pillowcase into something colorful, frilly, girlie and NEW for a little girl who has never had ANYTHING new and all her own.  More importantly, these little dresses help instill a feeling of worthiness to the girls who wear them.

O'Neill's organization is growing at a record pace, thanks to a lot of media attention and national coverage.  Individuals and groups from all over the U.S. are having "sewing parties" and sending them to Woodhaven, MI for distribution.  To date, more than 120,000 dresses have been shipped to several different countries in Africa.  And...so not to leave the little boys out, Little Dresses For Africa also makes "Britches for boys" shorts.  How awesome is that?

I'm just blown away by Rachel O'Neill and the lesson she teaches us, and the simplicity of her mission.  One person.  One idea.  Endless results. Mega kudos to Little Dresses.  Anyone can help by sewing or donating.  Here is the website: http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/.

Ready For The Stage! Can you believe it?!

Hi Everyone,

Oh my dear blog....I've missed you so.  As a matter of fact, I've missed ALL of my blogs!!! Ladies and gents, the book manuscript is in final editing...and just when I thought I was going to take a breather (yeah, like I take breathers)...

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?????

Okay, I totally auditioned for a national public speaking contest called "Ready For the Stage".  It's taking place in Washington D.C. this week at an event called SEVEN.  I am so lucky to be here learning from the best in entrepreneurial everything, and how to use speaking and events to launch more of what I love to do best: help women, write about women, make women superstars!  Just think of how I will be able to promote my book "Off the Couch, Back to Business"-- A Woman's Guide to Success After Setback, as well as all of the awesome and important topics I love to write about, like cool mom stuff, women's rights, bringing positive energy and optimism into your life, orgaizations doing right by women and children and exposing the ones who aren't, and totally hot sports for chicks!

GUESS WHAT ELSE??????

I am one of the semi-finalists!  If I make it to the top four, I'll be competing on stage Thursday night from 7:30-9:30 PM Eastern.  And...you can watch if you like!  Here is the link to opt in, or just "like" Ready For The Stage on Facebook.

And finally, if you are so inclined...you can place a pre-order for my book.  Just click http://offthecouch.eventbrite.com/ and as soon as it becomes available you"ll get it right off the press!  Planned release is for first quarter 2011.

I've missed blogging so much!  I'll be back in Michigan before I know it and will be sure to get my bloggin' on!  Until then, I hope you'll tune in Thursday night and vote!

Thanks readers!  You are all awesome!

april S.

What a Night! A meeting with Congressman Mark Schauer

I realize I am supposed to be on hiatus to meet my book deadline, and I am so thankful for your patience in doing so, but some things are too good to skip out on writing about.  What a night I've had!  I'd like to tell you about it...

I attended the 2010 Saline Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards.  This is always a great event, but tonight was fantastic.  Of course, I was thrilled to be there to support award honoree Jill Hartman, of Hartman Insurance, who is a smart and savvy business woman and super involved member of our community.  I was also pleased to see Leibherr Aerospace and Gear Technology win the award for a larger business.  Saline really is fortunate to have both of these businesses in our city.  Kudos also to A2YP.TV for filming tonight's event.

I was so happy to be there tonight, you'd think I was the one receiving the award. I may not have brought home a plaque or trophy, but I brought home a memory of an evening I won't soon forget.  The company at my table couldn't be beat.  Let me introduce you to my table-mates.

I was so pleased to dine with Congressman Mark Schauer, Saline City Councilman Brian Marl, Senior District Representative Fran Brennan, Mayor of Saline Gretchen Driskell, City Manager Todd Campbell and savvy business owner of DesignHub in Saline, Karen Ragland.  I couldn't have dreamed this up any better!

An evening like tonight is a perfect way for me to remind all of my readers to vote this November.  Now it's obvious from this post who I am voting for, and I've got some great reasons for doing so. (The only other candidate I wish had been there was David Rhoads, Saline City Council). I hope you'll consider doing the same.

It is so important to exercise your right to vote, especially YOU, ladies.  The reason I say that is we must remember how many women in so many other countries will never have the freedom to fill out a ballot and have a voice.  We are so fortunate here in the U. S.  We may not have a woman in the Oval Office yet, but she's coming...ahem...Hillary. 

Thanks to all for such a wonderful evening, to Mayor Driskell, Todd Campbell and Brian Marl (and David Rhoads who we missed) for taking such good care of our Saline citizens.  Thank you Congressman Mark Schauer and your camp for looking out for so many people.  I wish you all nothing but success this November!

(photos top right, me and Congressman Schauer, bottom left me and City Councilman Brian Marl)