Coming Of Age-The Rights Of Passage:

Rights Of Passage-Or Coming Of Age:
In some cultures young boys at the age of 16 or even 13 years of age, are inducted into the social fabric of society, via certain ceremonial practices.
In Jewish culture, young practicing Jews of Judaism are expected to perform this traditional ceremony on their male offspring, when he attains the age of 13 years. This ceremony is called 'BAR MITVAH.' This ceremony is performed to symbolically induce the young male, for the responsibility that comes with manhood.
These 'social mores' have been evident in many cultures for centuries. But today, it is mostly done in societies that adhere to stringent traditional religious, and social values. Unlike Western Christian oriented societies, where such practices are not too stringent or enforced.
Has there been a 'right of passage' for young African boys? I would imagine so, but those of us who are descendents of former slaves, living in Western European cultures, may have lost that traditional African heritage or practice. And de-facto, does not indulge in any expected ceremony that will help our young men/boys to realize how important it is to understand their role in the family, the society, and the politics that influences the way we think, feel, and act as adults.
Because of this long lost traditional teaching, most young African male descendents, find it somewhat difficult to introduce values that is peculiarly our own. That will benefit and enlighten our own kind, in their quest at attaining manhood, and manhood responsibilities. What we have as guidance, are imposed rules, handed down to us in the societies in which we find ourselves captive, or circumstantial.
Albeit, the young Black male has to determine his role in a society that has conflicting roles and expectations for it's menfolk. This causes psychological conflict within him, that forever influences how he perceives himself, and his role or roles in the society in which he operates. His relationship to other men, and to women are also affected by this lack of solid moral and social values, hitherto lost, or discontinued, as a result of slavery.
Om Shanti.
Derryck.
Political Educator & Advocate.

What If A Dirty Bom Had Exploded In This Country?

What If a Dirty Bomb Had Exploded In This Country?

Hurricane Katrina has taught us (I hope), that America is still not yet ready to deal with a very large or horrendous disaster.
If it took one week or six days for the National Guard, to move vehicles through flooded streets, to rescue stranded citizens that had remained, or was caught there after the hurricane.
How will they respond to a terrorist attack upon any city with a Dirty Bomb, or even the sabotage of one of those LEVIES, that protects New Orleans from the Mississippi river?
It seems like the Homeland Security agencies, The State & Local authorities all failed to make the necessary preparations, that would have allowed them to respond with the imagination and expediency, that was necessary in such situations.
Furthermore, it took the President Of The United States, three days to personally visit the disaster regions. Imagine that! He is alleged to have said that he cut short his vacation by two days, in order to attend to this crisis. Now this comment bothers me, because what we have here is someone who was elected by the people, to attend to all of the people's needs in times like this. But President George W. Bush gives me the impression, that he was just OBLIGING Americans, by responding so soon!
I hope that all Americans will never forget this moment, or this disaster, and the people who were most affected by this disaster, and how their elected officials responded to them, in their time of dire need!
Om Shanti.
Derryck S. Griffith.
Political Educator & Advocate.