... For our Future...

What most of you, esspecially as parents fail to realize is that dreams (good or bad) turn into visions, that help make our decisions for what we do in life. For example... I grew up having dreams of being a successful model, dancer, singer, or actress. So growing up in Cleveland in an area of town that really didn't really focus on those "arts" I drew an intrest of these things more thru TV, on channels like BET, MTV, and VH1. The women and lifestyles that these different networks portrayed  an image that may have looked beautiful but wasnt exactly beautiful. Dancing with little clothing, smoking, drinking, drugs and gambling were not too much to say that these were things that people did in the industry, but (on a different level of thinking) that these were you needed to do participate in to get into the industry. Lucky for me there was Cleveland School of the Arts (CSA). CSA was an urban outlet for inner city kids with talent. They showed me the power of my talent within the study of music. They showed me the paths that I could take to enjoy what I love without dishonoring my morals. After that though its up to you as to what you do with the knowledge. So, though I did not graduate from CSA I continued to study and learn within my art. Through continued "formal" education, it taught me selflessness, compassion, and discipline... definately discipline last, and through time patience. So the terms of me saying all of this is to ask that  you reflect back on your lifestyles and your current social dealings. What image do you currently portray to our children's future? What dreams do they have? What visions do they see from you? What decisions will they make from your visions? I ask that we stop the greed, anger, arrogance, and hatred. Because these are the things that lead to the violence that kills, mutilates, deprives, damages, and steals the innocent/ profitable visions of our youthls minds.  So once  again I ask visions do our children see from you, their leaders? If they want that nice car, that big house, that successful business, what are we doing to see that they obtain it without killing their own? For if you are not anchored by something greater than your surroundings then that is all you will become.