First Amendment Rights-Are We Losing Our Freedoms

Americans are entitled to free speech. This I have been told since I was a third grader learning my first history lesson. They even showed me proof...they showed me the Constitution. The one document that is to serve as the guideline for how all Americans are to be governed. Yes, as an American, I am entitled to free speech.

Or so I thought.

Turns out that free speech isn't necessarily free. Nor is it discounted in some cases. Nope...as Americans, we pay FULL PRICE for our abilities to say and do what we want. Sad, but true. We really do not control the words that flow from our mouths.

Today, I read Yahoo news, and I find out that five of the Falcons players were fined for their displays of solidarity with Michael Vick. Some to the tune of 10,000 dollars. Now, I know for them, this is a drop in the bucket for what they make, but seriously, the principle is what is being violated here. How can you tell a man that you can't verbally support a teammate during a game? How can you penalize someone for speaking their mind to uplift a downtrodden (albeit foolish) comrade?

Now grant it, freedom of speech should have some limitations. Hate speech should be governed, simply because the impact of those words have caused death, violence, and mayhem throughout the history of the US. Yelling "FIRE" in a movie theater is against the law since it could lead to mass frenzy and injury, even though it is just a word. Those types of rules, I understand. But the recent punishments handed down by the NFL simply blows my mind.

But this is the current trend I am seeing. It seems that different agencies/institutions/etc. have realized that the Constitution only applies to the government, but they don't have to offer that same service to their constituents. Examples include:

-Speaking out against improprieties and maltreatments in fraternities and sororities. It seriously sickens me that so many people can be thrown under the bus because they choose to speak out against things that they feel would BETTER the organizations they love. Of course, they label it as "conduct unbecoming of a member" but it really means "conduct that may expose our dictatorial control." (Of course, I am not referring to anyone group in particular, since all of the organizations I am familiar with aren't that vindictive towards members. *WINK*)

-School protests. To be honest, America swears that our generation doesn't have the gumption and the will to fight for what we believe, but as soon as we do, those same individuals are there to stifle our creative and intellectual minds. (As I write this, I hear the words "Don't Tase me Bro" echoing from Gainesville, FL.)

-Speaking out in the workplace. It amazes me how many people want to say something on their jobs or at the workplace about what is truly going on IN the workplace, but get fired or demoted once they do.

And there are countless other examples, but because I don't want to go into witness protection, I will stop here. But you get my point.

At what point are we going to act like adults? Adults understand that we can verbalize, express, and discuss varying points of view without threat of backlash or punishment. Adults realize that I may not agree with you and your ideas, but I respect and defend your right to say them. Adults believe that forward progression of any institution (be it schools, sports, or fraternal organizations) hinges on the abilities of individuals to be able to think and present those thoughts as rational ideologies that can help the future of said institution, whether the higher-ups agree or not. Definitely, adults wouldn't penalize or punish other adults for simply speaking their mind in a non-confrontational way. But then again, I suspect that being an adult nowadays simply refers to your age, and not your maturity.

Bottom line is... you are entitled to free speech, as long as no one can hear you!

Does Hip Hop Deserve the Flack that It Receives?

Lately, a lot of buzz has come from the article by Jason Whitlock called "The Black KKK." In it, he likens the criminal activity of some of Black America's constituents to that of the Ku Klux Klan, mainly because he sees them as a generation of people who terrorize and kill Blacks, much like the KKK did in the early 20th century. He also takes a very pointed approach towards placing some of the blame on Hip Hop and the violent messages that have emerged in music as a catalyst for alot of the trends we see in Black America.

The last portion of that paragraph is where all hell broke loose.

Many of the young people who read this article and others similar to it began to lash out at critics of Hip Hop by saying that it is taking an unfair beating for several reasons. The rest of this blog will deal with the predominate arguments that I have heard, and my take on each one.

1. Hip Hop is just a mirror of what happens in society. Drugs, guns, and violence have always been a part of American Culture, not just Blacks.

Okay, so this is a valid point. American culture has made a nice name for itself as being one of the most unsavory breeding grounds for violence, drugs, crime, etc. And yes, it affects all cultures, not just Black America. But let's look beyond the emotion of this argument to see what the people who espouse this argument are saying. Basically, this is a way of saying that it's okay, everybody is doing it. That, to me, is a cop-out, and should not be accepted. Just because other societies, other media, and other groups are doing the same thing does not make it right. But the fact of the matter is, some Hip Hop has become the vehicle through which this violence has made it to our community. This is in addition to drugs, gangs, etc. But the thing we have to remember is that these elements co-evolved, and Hip Hop has played a role in the integration of gangs, gun violence, and drug use into our communities by bringing it to our doorstep in a nice, neat little package.

2. Poor-parenting is the problem. Kids need to be disciplined more, and Hip Hop can't negate personal responsibility of the home.

Now this argument is the one I think carries the most weight. Poor parenting in the home started long before Hip Hop was ever created, and it manifests itself tremendously in the overall regression of our children and their activities. But we have to remember the theory of "tabula raza." Tabula raza (or clean slate) says that a person is born with a mind that is essentially a clean slate, and that societal influences (parenting, community, music, arts, etc.) write on that slate and create the individuals consciousness. To expand it a little further, some of this stuff can be erased, or overshadowed by other events that write HARDER on the slate (so if a parent is doing their job, then the influence of other outside forces should be minimalized) and that essentially the biggest influences will take up the most room on the slate. With this being said, the Hip Hop industry is one of many things that write on the slate of our children, so even with parenting, there is still a chance for it to affect the minds of our youth, especially when you have negative music and lyrics infiltrating our parental influences when our children are at school, on the bus, etc. So unless you live on an island, this negativity can still reach the children, and therefore, can still cause negative influences, despite good parenting. So Hip Hop is still not off the hook.

3. We have so many other problems in Black America, so music can't be that big of a deal. If we fix the other problems first, then we can deal with Hip Hop.

I pose a question...if someone has gonorrhea and chlamydia at the same time, which do you treat first? The answer is...you treat them both simultaneously. You don't wait for one to be cured first, because the other will fester until then. You have to use a multi-faceted approach, and the same goes with the ills of Black society. If we really want to try and fix our communities and our people's issues, then we have to divide our energies and resources to address all of the problems simultaneously. So for critics like Whitlock, who points a finger at Hip Hop, that is where he chooses to focus his energies, and I don't blame him. Anyone who has a problem with his assessment of Hip Hop's negative influence on Black America should simply find an element of society that bothers them and work on it. But you cannot knock him for choosing to address this issue as HIS priority. It's called smokescreening, and when people try to say "This major problem is not as big as another major problem" then the problems eventually get skirted, and nothing ever gets solved.

And lastly...my favorite.

4. Hip Hop is no longer our culture. You can't blame the artists for doing what sells and what the white men that are over these companies make them do.

This is the biggest cop-out and hypocritical statement that could ever be made. On one hand, people love to say that Hip Hop is a powerful voice in the community when something good is coming out of it. But as soon as something negative is mentioned, then the argument becomes "Artists can't help what the companies tell them to put out." That is pure hypocrisy. Yes, there are people who pull the strings that may not relate to Black America, but Hip Hop is one venue by which the middle men (aka the artists) can actually make changes, if they were to all get on one accord. But let's face it, it is easier to take the big chain and contract then it is to take a stand. No one wants to see that though!

Bottom line is this. If you love something, then you should want to see it progress, and you should want to see it be positive. And you should want to evaluate it from time to time to see if it is representative of the thing you fell in love with in the first place. To me, a lot of the people that defend Hip Hop have not taken a critical look at it in order to make it progressively better. That is what real love does...it enhances all parties involved. So if you love Hip Hop, then try to enhance it, and make it better. And if there is still an issue after you have done your part, then maybe Hip Hop(in its current form) simply doesn't love you back!

Pseudo-intellectuals Pt. 1- Stagnating Thought Progression

Okay, so this is going to be the first in a multi-part series of things that I am feeling regarding the intellectual capacity of our generation and how we can improve certain aspects of it.

So lately, there have been a lot of deeper level conversations/forums/discussions/etc. that have opened my eyes to a variety of mindsets amongst the members of my generation. Many of these individuals are very well read, have studied many different philosophies, and are very articulate in their speech. But I am noticing a trend in the progression of the thought process, and that is that students nowadays are stagnating that progression through what I call pseudo-intellectualism. We do it in many ways, and in part one, I am going to discuss what I call "deifying your elders".

Many of the famous philosophical minds, particularly in Black history and culture, have been revered for their eloquence and sophistication in the evolution of thinking. They were men and women of great mental and conversational prowess, and their legacies have been time-honored contributions to our current methods of thinking. But what I tend to notice is that people in my generation have so much reverence and respect for these icons that we rarely ever challenge anything that they say or espouse. Rather, we often accept their word as law, and treat their words as irrefutable proof of our own arguments. And it shows the most when you see students quote W. E. B. DuBois, or Benjamin Mays, or Martin L. King...and everyone in the audience starts clapping as soon as the quote is finished.

But what did YOU contribute to that rationale that those men espoused? What are YOUR thoughts aside from what they have said? How does this relate to YOUR intellectual development?

This is a major problem to me, because it hits at the very core of what makes academia so great...our ability to agree, disagree, align, and depart with other mentalities, so that we all are making contributions to the whole of the educational and intellectual process. And for the Black community in general, we are trained that way from the jump in many cases. (How many times have you been told not to question your parents, or felt that because mommy said it, it must be true?) It's innate in our upbringing to show respect for those who come before us, but few of us ever toe the line to say, I respect what you say, but I respectfully disagree as well.

I make it a point, nowadays, to try and decipher not only what a person is saying in a text, or in the scripture, or in any body of work, but to understand why that person said it. Maybe the times during which the body of work was written have changed substantially, making it a anachronistic message. Maybe the person lacked a well-rounded view of the situations about which they argued. Maybe they simply saw one point of view, and that there is another new point of view that is relevant now. Either way, I try not to deify my predecessors to the point that I cannot think for myself or express anything that goes against their contributions.

Contribution of our own intellect is valuable to the progression and movement of intellectual development. Each generation must do their part to add to the whole, so that the we do not stagnate the development of these thoughts and ideals. By deifying our elders, and having fear of challenging them because of our respect for them, we essentially miss out on our chance to contribute our own thoughts, and to one day be elevated to the same level of admiration and respect by future generations.

Regular Black

Okay, so at the forum the other night (Black Caribbeans vs African Americans) I told the story of how when I got to FSU, and I introduced myself as African American, the Caribbean students said that I was "regular black" and all laughed. I told the group that it was one of the most offensive things I had ever been called, and people looked puzzled. Last night, at another workshop, I overheard some of the girls from the forum discussing my comment, and they said "I don't understand why he was insulted, there are so many other things he could have been called."

Here is my explanation, for those who need it...

Many Caribbeans are taught by their parents and culture that African Americans (i.e. non-Caribbean, slave descendants) do not have culture. That we lost our history through slavery, and so, we don't have knowledge of self. That notion is one that pervades the minds and conversations of many Caribbeans, and though they may not say it for political correctness, it affects how they view me and others who identify as African American.

So to call me "regular black" in my mind suggests that I am generic to them. As if my culture is bland, and that I have no cultural flavor simply because I can't name an island to claim as my home. It is tough enough in America knowing that other racial groups think lowly of African Americans, but for other Blacks to make a distinction like this is demoralizing, no matter what other terms I could have been called in its place.

Let's face it...the major reason why people claim their cultures so much in America is because they are not in their homelands. No one who lives in Jamaica is trying to prove to everyone that they are Jamaican. No one from Trinidad has to really brag that they are Trini while they are there. It is when you get immersed in a land that is different from yours that you have to identify yourself. Hell, it wasn't until I got to Florida State that I felt the need to SAY that I am African American due to the large number of Caribbeans...before then it was just understood. And because of that, it seems that there is so much MORE pride from Caribbean Blacks, but that's not because of a lack of culture or history for African Americans, but because they HAVE to identify themselves since they are not in their homelands. (And I know African Americans are not in our homelands either, but for now, America serves as our reference point.)

The other thing is that I feel Black Caribbeans often view African Americans through the same channels as other races do, and that is through the exaggerated and exacerbated stories in the media. To be honest, when Caribbeans are in America, and they are surrounded by African Americans, a lot of times, they feel the need to talk about their history and their culture because it is novel to the listener. But if you try to tell them about African American history, they assume they know it. (This adds to that generic notion about where African Americans derive.) So the conversation is usually one-sided, with Caribbeans speaking about their food, music and stories, and African American stories being shelved as understood.

I wrote all of this as clarification for why I felt insulted by being called "regular Black." To reduce someone's history and culture to a generic story, to me, is harmful, especially when that mindset is what led to most of the history that group has. We have to be careful with the words that we speak, and what we are really saying when we speak them, especially as it relates to race, culture, and history.

United as Blacks (I apologize upfront for any feelings I step on)

Last night I attended one of the most interesting, and probably the most thought provoking seminars I have seen in a long time. It was a discussion on the cultural differences between Carribbean Blacks and African Americans. Although a lot of the comments I heard last night, in my opinion, were either shallow attempts to sugarcoat real feelings or major appeals to emotion, I found a lot of useful information in the process, so I enjoyed it overall.

There was one particular statement that bothered me, and it kept being repeated over and over again by the students that were in the room. They all kept comparing Black Unity, or the lack thereof, to the perceived "unity" of majority society. And it was said in a variety of ways. One person said," You never hear white Germans beefing with Polish Whites." Another person said, "White people never have this problem." I heard one student whisper, "Neither do Asians." No matter how it was presented, it came off to me as "Other groups have it together, why don't we?"

I have a MAJOR problem with that notion, and I will tell you why...

Historically, any group of people that have arrived in America, be it by force or by choice, have had internal strife in some way, shape or form. The Chinese and the Japanese, as history will tell you, fought each other for land and conquered many lands in Asia. The Mongols of upper Asia did as well. A lot of that has carried over to America, though Blacks may rarely see it. The people of India still participate in active slavery of its own people. Italian Americans beef heavily with Sicilians, even though they are from the same basic region of the world. White Americans (some, not all) dislike White Canadians, Irish, etc.

Which leads me to the following conclusion...

ALL RACIAL GROUPS ARE DIVIDED. PERIOD. You wanna know why majority society doesn't seem have the same problems we as Blacks think we have? You know why they don't have forums on how to be unified? It isn't because they have it together and are unified...it's because they don't give a damn about being unified. Same goes for Asian Americans to some extent, although they do tend to bond a little more than the majority. Since Blacks are actively seeking unity, and constantly keep this as a forerunning thought in our existence, we tend to be critical about how this gets accomplished. That manifests itself in different ways, but the reality is, we are the ONLY group that cares about being unified as a whole people. That is what makes us SEEM as though we are fighting to be unified...cause we are the only group that cares.

I think this point, if valid to you, needs to be internalized for several reasons:

1. If we constantly think we are behind, then we will never get ahead. So many of us dog ourselves when we talk about our lack of unity, not realizing that we are actually the only group that could possibly achieve it, if we keep actively seeking it. And I think we should embrace that distinction, since ultimately, it will be our strength once we are faced with another crisis against our own.

2. Once we get on one accord, we can see where the real problem is...and that is money. Race relations is a by-product of a class/economic issue that plagues EVERY group. When we look at the White race, all we really see are the iconic members of their race. The wealthy and the affluent. But to be honest, there are Whites that have the exact same struggles that we have, and I submit to you that most of the hate Blacks receive from White America is perpetuated by the middle and lower class whites who feel we are a threat to their entitled legacy. Affirmative action, for example. doesn't matter to the super-rich...their children will probably get into whatever school they choose because they can afford it. But the people who are fighting it are the ones who are in the same position as most of us are in terms of class. (And I don't mean all Whites, but those select ones that do feel this way, it applies to them. No offense to anyone reading this.) Unity, for us, will allow us to start becoming forerunners in progression in America, and if we realize that we are on the cusp of this, then we would feel more empowered.

3. America thrives on the fact that we are all different, and cohesion of similar groups could be detrimental to the fabric of this country, at least in the eyes of those in power. So as Black people, if we understand that we could be the first to break through that, we would actually be elevating ourselves past many other racial groups in terms of forward progression of the whole, instead of forward progression of individuals. (It was happening with Black Wall Street, and we see how that turned out. )

I guess my whole point in this blog is to point out the inherent self-loathing that we do in an attempt to catch up with others. Once we assess where others are in their movement towards unity, we will see that we may be setting the trends, instead of catching up to the pack in terms of our oneness.

Protecting Our Women

Women are the strongest creatures I know. Point blank. I realize that physical strength is something that is usually dominated by men, but mental and emotional strength is something that is very powerful in our women, and it is this strength that I admire so much. With that said, I am writing this with tears in my eyes as I think about what our women have to endure.

I saw the short film "Bid Em In" on BET, which talks about selling of slaves, and they showed how a Black woman would be advertised for their bodies and abilities to produce children. Yet in 2007, not much has changed. So many of our women have been exploited, both commercially and locally, by us...men. And in all honesty, we do it without realizing exactly what the impact is that we are having on the esteem of women as whole.

In talking with many of my female friends and colleagues, it really amazes me how many of them have been victims of sexual/emotional/physical abuse at the hands of a man. About 90% of my female friends and family fall into being victims of one of those three categories, yet to look at them, all you see is strength and that smile that hides the pain that they have endured. I'm talking more than just a bad relationship, but rapes, and molestation, and domestic violence, etc. And they may deal with their past in many ways. Some may suppress it and push on. Some may develop a profound distrust of men. Some may accept this as their fate and become allow themselves to be used in these fashions. What's even more disturbing to me is that many men approach women in these same traumatic ways without any regard to the possibility of what they may have gone through in the past (and I used to do the same thing, so I really understand how mindless it can be to come at a woman that way without thinking about the repercussions). And though we may get responses that seem positive to us, it may be that we are adding to the trauma that was placed on them during their innocence.

So I guess this is my plea to my brothers to change the game, and how we treat our women. Being a sincere gentleman (not just the gentleman that is nice until he gets some) is a small gesture that every man can do to add to the security of our women, and to support them through what they are going through. Letting our women know that we are there for them for more than just how they look or what pleasure they can provide will go a long way towards helping rebuild our social and mental bond with the female gender. Uplifting women who may have even forgotten their own self-worth could start the trend towards better dialogue and stronger relationships between both sides. Because the bottom line is...whenever you approach a woman for what may seem like playful chase, you never know what wounds you are actually in danger of re-opening.

Michael Vick-A Black Man's Perspective

Okay, so the Michael Vick thing has me vexed...

Not because the media is making a big deal about his situation.

Not because he is being charged with crimes that pale in comparison to others that have gotten lighter sentences.

But because I think this case was the case I needed to see if we, as Black people, really understand the court system as a whole. I am more convinced than ever that the Black community, as a whole, is throwing out the race card inappropriately in this situation.

A couple of things to consider before saying that Vick was treated unfairly...

1. Michael Vick is accused of committing a crime that directly infuriates one of the largest public interest groups in America, and that is PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.) Now in general, that may seem like a small matter, but they are based in the SAME DAMN STATE as the dogfighting operation (Virginia). You have to be slightly off your rocker to do that. The culture of Virginia is one that will protect animals at almost any cost. (Ask the colleges around the area about how much trouble they get from ALF and PETA regarding research animals.) Bottom line is, you have to know your surroundings when you commit a crime.

2. As I see it, one of the main reasons Black people commit crimes is because they need to survive. Regardless of what anyone says, I truly feel that Blacks that commit crimes more often than not are trying to put food on the table and money in their pockets. But once you make money, there is NO LEGITIMATE REASON in my mind to continue committing crimes of financial gain. There is too much land to invest in, too many stocks to buy, and too much opportunity for people who HAVE money to make MORE money legally. It hurts me to see someone of Vick's stature make it out of the hardships laid before him, only to screw it up over something that was unnecessary. (I don't know his full situation, but hey, it's my blog, and I can be short-sighted if I choose.) John Elway became very wealthy in the NFL...know what he did with his money? Bought up almost ALL of Denver's automotive suppliers. All legal. Atlanta/Virginia would have gladly let Vick invest in something legitimate like that to help build the community around him...

3. Any real criminal knows that once you gain access to the financials of the operation, you don't get your hands dirty anymore. Point Blank.

4. My last point applies to everyone and every case across the country, and Black people need to understand this before we start diving in head first to support dumbasses...
Each and every court case in America is individualized to a large degree in terms of personnel, circumstances, precedents as they relate to the case, etc. Therefore, we have to stop assuming that just because our favorite celebrities catch bad breaks, it must be because they are Black. I AM NOT SAYING THAT RACE IS NOT A FACTOR IN SOME CASES...but it is not the ONLY factor either. When you commit crimes you gamble on several things...
1. The leniency of the judge that will have your trial
2. The selection/voir dire process used to screen the jury
3. How much incriminating evidence they have on you
4. The competency of both the prosecution and defense
5. Previous moral/criminal acts (Ron Mexico anyone?)
And a host of other things that can tilt the scales of justice for or against you. But the bottom line is that when you roll the dice and gamble on your criminal future, you may not always win. Yes, Vick's case may seem blown out of proportion by the media and the court system. Yes he may be facing a harsh penalty. Yes, he may even be made the example for others to see regarding dogfighting. But the bottom line is, what would we have been saying about this case if he had simply decided NOT TO DOGFIGHT! Not a thing, because it wouldn't have been an issue if he had opted to do right. You can circumvent most of the inherent disparities in our court system and our prison systems by simply opting to do right. (There are cases where that doesn't apply, like the Jena 6, but I am hard pressed to see how Vick had no other option than to fight dogs.)

I am hurt by the situation. He was a very exciting athlete to watch, and he actually had yet to really reach his full potential as a player. But I still think that when you leave your future in the hands of an institution that may or may not have your best interests at heart, then you gamble big, and when you lose...you take your lumps and keep it moving. That's why I am not jumping on the bandwagon of people who are trying to say that Vick is being unfairly treated. Had he taken the personal responsibility NOT to get involved in a senseless racket, then we would have no need to fight for his equal treatment.

People as Cars II: The Commercial

Quick questions:

When was the last time you have seen a Porsche commercial? Probably has been a long time, if ever.

When was the last time you saw a Hyundai commercial? Probably once a day.

Which company makes more money? I am sure it is Porsche, even though they don't advertise nearly as much as Hyundai does.


So where am I going with all of this? It leads me to the point of advertisement versus reputation. If you notice, most of your expensive, high quality merchandise is rarely advertised. Tommy Hilfiger, Maybach, Ferrari, Polo, etc...none of these companies ever have to sell you on how valuable their merchandise is....you just know that they have a reputation for putting out nothing but the finest. Companies like Toyota, Hyundai, Suzuki, etc spend millions of dollars yearly trying to prove how good they are and how they beat out the next car in testing and sales.

People are a lot like that when it comes to dating. I have noticed that a lot of people treat themselves as if they are Hyundais...they spend almost all of their time trying to convince you as a consumer that they are worth your time. They brag about their job status, sexual prowess, their money, and what they wear...and they do all of the things that they think you need to hear and see to invest in what usually ends up being a lemon. They also will spend loads of time trying to show how much better they are than the next man/woman. All of this build-up for what usually ends up being a disappointment...and the purchase of another "car" shortly afterwards. But there are some people who understand their value, and understand that EVERYBODY is not entitled, or can afford, to have them...and certainly they don't DESERVE to either. This is because Porsche people know that as long as they have a good reputation, and as long as they spend time making sure that they are upholding their own personal standards, then they won't have to prove to people how valuable they are...the world will just KNOW.

So I submit to you that a lot of self-evaluation should be done by all of us so that we can make sure that we have a reputation that will make us more marketable to the next consumer. Human value comes from within first, and when you raise your value, you won't have to brag or promote yourself to anyone else out there...if they can afford you, they will seek you because you have a Porsche persona, instead of being a Hyundai human.

People as Cars-Part 1

"I do good all by myself, but baby you, you make me better." Fabo and Ne-Yo.

Okay, so I really don't like Fabolous as an artist too much, simply because his flow to me is kinda boring, but this song has really hit home with me when it comes to evaluating the people in my life. I have noticed that when I classify people who are important to me, I tend to put them into two basic categories: accessories or enhancements.

Everyone that you meet in life will play a role in your overall development, no matter how big or small a part. But what their overall value is to you is not determined by the amount of time they are in your life, or the amount of love they have for you...but ultimately the value that they give to your life (and your value to them can be measured in the same way.)

Accessories, as with cars, are people who may look good in your life, but essentially play no major role in how your life functions. Spinning rims, fishtails, racing stripes, etc. are all things that we add to vehicles for aesthetics, but not for function. For example, we all have friends that are fun to go out with, or are great people to socialize with, but we would never spend anything more than that with them. Or we all have dated someone who is fun to look at, or even entertaining, but never seems to have more than that to offer. So besides their presence, very little is actually added to your life. They are to be seen, and that's it. The problem is that we often get so used to how the accessories make our lives LOOK that we rarely realize that they are not important to our overall function...and in many cases will actually devalue our vehicle as well. (Spinning rims and candy paint have never raised the value of a Chevy Caprice. LOL) At some point, we will eventually mature past the need for those accessories, and they get removed or replaced by newer accessories, which starts the whole process again.

Enhancements, however, are things that we add to vehicles that improve the overall function of the car. Better engines, dual exhaust pipes, fuel injection cleaner, etc...things of that sort. These are all things that when added lead to better waste emissions, higher horsepower, and better driving. People who are enhancements are the types of people who not only add value to your life, but their benefits can actually be noticed once they enter your life. It's as if they help to elevate your performance in some way...ways that mere accessories cannot do.


So I am learning to determine who in my life actually helps me to be a better vehicle, and who in my life merely are pleasant but not necessarily required. I submit to you to ask yourself if the people around you fall into these two categories, and it will provide clarity as to what and who is important to your overall well-being.