Murderer: Rest in Peace
November 11, 2009
DC Sniper John Allen Muhammad
Tonight at 9pm, in Jarratt, VA, by means of Lethal Injection, DC Sniper John Allen Muhammad will be executed.
I lived in the DC area around the time at which he and his accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo murdered ten innocent victims. I understand what it meant to be subject to their reign of terror. This is personal to me.
Right now, 7 years later and years before then, I cannot say that my opinion has changed on this subject. I do not and cannot support tax-payer funded murder, that is, by and through the Death Penalty.
I personally give credence to the theology of forgiveness as taught by most world religions. In light of that, I hope that he was able to ask forgiveness for what he did and dare say may he rest in peace.
Recycle!
April 27, 2009
656 lbs of Paper loaded and ready to go
The 90 degree temperature today was incentive enough for me to do my part to help thwart Global Warming. Today I took 656 pounds of paper from my office to a local Recycling Mill. That is in lieu of the regular trash receptacle.
It is estimated that using recycled material to make paper products saves between 40 and 60 percent of the energy that it takes to create paper products from raw material.
The recycling of 1 ton of paper material will save about 3 cubic meters of landfill space.
This is about the size of a common bathroom or utility room at 8 foot long by 8 foot wide with 8 foot ceilings.
The United States EPA has found that using recycled materials in paper production causes 35 percent less water pollution and 74 percent less air pollution; however it does produce a polluting by-product called sludge.
Paper usage and waste is seen in massive amounts in the business world with American businesses generating enough paper to circle the globe 40 times every day.
Destination- World Recycling in Cheverly, MD
You can take the initiative to help reduce this waste by recycling and reducing your usage of paper products by using used scrap paper for notes, bringing a washable cup for your coffee and using cloth towels for clean ups instead of paper towels.
Source: environment-green.com
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Christmas Message
December 25, 2008
By now you would have the chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost might be nipping on your nose while you listen to Yuletide Carols.
It is almost impossible to miss out on the excitement that this season brings. I’ve always enjoyed Christmas time; it could never come soon enough each year.
I have fond memories of wildly tearing away the gift wrap of presents under the tree on Christmas night as a child, while in the corner of my eyes
looking on to see what my sister and brother got.
While I have always enjoyed the season, for others it can be a very stressful time. Christmas time means more traffic on the roads and longer lines at the checkout counter. For many, because of circumstances beyond their control, it would be just an ordinary day.
For many children around the world, that is what Christmas Day is; just an ordinary day. I have a soft spot in my heart for the families of the 450,000 killed in the Darfur Genocide and the 2.5 million more who have been displaced as a result of this.
Just in case you are not aware of them, I will like to introduce to you two organizations that I support that work on behalf of these
people. The first is Children International. Through them, I sponsor three beautiful children (pictured) from India , Ecuador and The Philippines.
I cannot express enough the joy that comes to my heart from receiving letters and progress reports from these kids, knowing that I am making a difference in their lives.
The Save Darfur Coalition has been working around the country and across the globe, inspiring action, raising awareness and speaking truth to power on behalf of the people of Darfur. They have also been working with world leaders, demanding an end to the Darfur Genocide.
The aforementioned is not for self-praise mind you. It is for the purpose of extending an invitation to you to join hands with me in making a difference in the lives of others this Christmas.
Christ himself said in Matthew 25:40 that “whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” I feel strongly that God expects us to use the blessings that He has given us to help the weak, the poor and the marginalized.
Let us forget not the gift given to us in that little town of Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago. The best way I believe, to remember that precious gift is to give the gift of the chance for a better life to another.
Below are the links to the organizations I mentioned that would afford you the opportunity to find out more about what they are doing and how you can join in.
Finally, I’m offering this simple phrase to kids from one to ninety-two; although its been said many times, many ways, God bless you and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
Becoming change
August 21, 2008
At a prayer meeting in the early 1900s, Mahatma Gandhi was confronted with the general consensus amongst those in attendance that they had no power to affect change. It was there that he uttered the now famous saying “we must become the change that we want to see in the world”.
Senator Barack Obama, the self-designated ‘Change Candidate’ in this year’s US Presidential Election once said “I’m asking you to believe not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington…I’m asking you to believe in yours.”
Both men in articulating what I find to be an inconvenient truth, understood what can be done when the populace becomes engaged in their communities by and through the Political Process, by advocating Social Justice and by working to improve the lives of the least regarded.
Jesus’ example, as is seen in the writings of the Holy Bible and Holy Koran, is a great reference point on how this can be done. The Christian faith tradition speaks to that He did not leave affecting change exclusively in the hands of the prophets, He stepped out of His comfort zone and became and affected change Himself.
You and I have the power to affect change in our own communities or in distant lands. For me, this has included sponsoring three children from the Philippines, Ecuador and India and volunteering at a Homeless Shelter in Washington, DC. For you, it could be as simple as getting involved in the electoral process and even volunteering in your local community.
Here’s how you can make a difference…
RESOURCES
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
China: Estinguish the flames of Genocide in Darfur
August 8, 2008
From The Save Darfur Coalition…
As the primary economic, military and political partner of the Government of Sudan, and as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has both the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to a just peace in Darfur.
The atrocities in Darfur continue to intensify. Of the seven million inhabitants of Darfur, over 400,000 have already died due to the conflict and 2.5 million have been displaced. Rape and sexual violence have been and continue to be used as weapons of war against untold numbers of girls and women.
The Government of Sudan has also been involved in the forced relocation of people from refugee and Internally Displaced Peoples camps. Without homes to return to those displaced are left vulnerable to further attack.
As host of the 2008 Olympic games, China has a special role to play in ensuring that its actions this year are commensurate with the Olympic ideals of peace and international cooperation.
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Oil Companies
June 11, 2008
Senate Republicans blocked a proposal yesterday to tax the windfall profits of the largest oil companies; yet another reason to not support a 3rd Bush Presidency!
QUESTION:
I find it hard to blame the oil companies for trying to make a profit. If I’m the CEO, that’s my mandate–to make as much money for the stock holders as I can.
I believe we’re having trouble because our government has no will to realize that we can both drill on our own soil (which has oil reserves greater than Saudi Arabia) and protect the environment at the same time.
The price at the pump crunch is happening because the companies aren’t able to get their hands on enough crude to manufacture the gas.
Thoughts?
MY ANSWER:
I agree with you up to the point (and to the extent), that “our government has no will”. Whether Republican or Democrat-controlled, the king of do-nothingness and no-solutions reigns supreme on Capitol Hill…but that’s another topic.
There has been much talk about drilling on American soil. At what cost though? Who foots the bill? Taxpayers should, according to the Presumptive Republican nominee, a proponent of tax breaks and other subsidies for Big Oil. Under the Bush Administration, Big Oil made approximately $525 billion in profits while at the same time, home foreclosures rose by as much as 45 percent, wages declined by nearly $1,700 and the number of Americans without Health Insurance increased by 6 million. If we were to be honest with ourselves, who really needs a tax break, who really needs a subsidy? What I am getting at is that we should be weary of any proposals laid on the table by these high-priced Big Oil lobbyists.
Furthermore, how could I justifiably support the proponents of Big Oil as they push for legislation to industrialize national treasures like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the peril of already vanishing polar bears, arctic foxes and caribou? That is and should never be an acceptable solution for the energy crisis.
Notwithstanding the established fact that there is a shortage of crude oil, I, neither should you make any excuses for the contrivances of the Oil Companies; they already have 525 billion excuses!
In the DC area, we pay more than $4 a gallon (the highest gas prices have reached in US history). Exxon Mobile made around $83,000 a minute last year ($83,000 a minute!) , netting record profits, legally, but not honestly with corporate markups and profiteering. Yes, making a profit is the ideal for any business model, but shouldn’t there be a hedge when making a profit becomes or borders on what is exploitative?
In the final analysis, will drilling for more oil on US soil bring a solution to the current energy crisis? Possibly. But, we must first consider the cost of lives (human and wildlife) . We must secondly consider the cost where the environment is concerned (which ultimately affects our quality of life). We must consider the cost to taxpayers. Moreover, we must take into consideration and invest more into alternative energy sources.
More drilling only serves to further fatten the coffers of Big Oil Companies. The longterm (and short term) benefits for our environment, and (ultimately) our children and grandchildren by investing in and using alternative energy sources far outweigh those of the self-serving Big Oil narcissists who have the audacity to seek empathy where retribution is justified.
Bottom line, the cycle of direct and indirect killing (of humans and wildlife) for profit under the cloak of progress can be stopped and must be stopped.
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Global Day for Darfur Rally Footage
April 15, 2008
At Global Day for Darfur Rally- Washington, DC
With Genocide Survivor Mohamed A. Yaya
Yesterday I attended the Global Day for Darfur Rally and March on the White House in Washington, DC. The event served the purpose of increasing awareness of the Darfur Genocide and to urge President Bush to exert diplomatic pressure on countries, including China, the main supplier of the weapons that are largely responsible for the murder of more than 400,000 Darfuri citizens.
Below, check out some of my video footage from the Rally and March.
Global Day for Darfur Sponsor sites
The Save Darfur Coalition
STAND- Students Taking Action Now: Darfur
Amnesty International
Washington DC Rally for Darfur
April 9, 2008
SEAL The Deal: STAND To End Genocide
Join hundreds of activists from Amnesty International, Save Darfur, STAND and the Genocide Intervention Network on the National Mall in Washington DC at 11am on April 13th. This event will include an exhibit featuring interactive tents to raise awareness of the plight of Darfuris in refugee camps. This event will be immediately followed by…
A March of Remembrance led by STAND students from the National Mall to the White House in commemoration of the victims of the genocides of the 20th century. At Lafayette Park, a short rally will call on President Bush to SEAL the deal and make peace in Sudan part of his Executive Legacy.
For more information, visit www.savedarfur.org
At birth, we do not choose our surname; we choose however, the legacy that we leave here on earth. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a surname that was prophetic. King who submitted to the King of Kings (Christ Jesus) and King who had the leadership qualities that laid many a cornerstone that helped positively shape the history of this great nation.
The Bible speaks of the believers in Christ as being a Royal Priesthood and a Chosen Generation. (1 Peter 2:9) As such, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the opportunity presents itself where we too are called to take a stand for freedom and equality; against genocide and the social, judicial and economic disparities that exist at home and abroad.
The opportunity presents itself to Christians to stand up against everything that divides us, against cynicism, apathy and violence in every form.
The opportunity presents itself to Christians to stand up against and do what we can to stamp out the racial and sexist stereotypes that for generations have been used as fuel for self-fulfilling prophecies in place and stead of trying to discover the content of one’s character for oneself.
In late March, the Olympic Torch Relay started. Before the torch reaches its final destination in Beijing in August, it will travel more than 85,000 miles. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. started his own torch relay about half a century ago, he started a relay with a torch that had many names. It was called Peace and Justice and Love and Tolerance and Equality.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. knew what it meant to carry the name King. Do we know what it means to carry the name Royal Priesthood? Do we know or have an appreciation for what it means to be Chosen, to be Set Apart, to be Called to Greatness and to take the Lead?
The challenge is for you and I to step up to the plate, to be agents of change for the better, to put the nails in the coffins of apathy, cynicism, racism, sexism, homophobia, genocide and injustice as Martin Luther King, Jr. did (and as he would do if he were alive today).
A couple weeks ago, in the festival of Easter, we honored the King of Kings who was also assassinated so that you and I could experience the gift of salvation. Today, I honor the other King, Martin Luther, King, Jr. who was assassinated this day, 45 years ago.
January 15, 1929 to March 04, 1968
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Black History Month
February 22, 2008
A friend recently commented that while my banner says ‘Celebrating Black History Month’, I have not written much (if anything at all) on the celebration of Black History Month. She is right.
Admittedly, I have been so caught up with the US Presidential Elections that I forgot that this month (February) is Black History Month.
Considering that, I wanted to share with you, a few articles I have written on issues affecting the black community.
- I had a dream- 45 Years after Martin Luther King, Jr delivered his ‘I have a dream’ speech, should we still be dreaming?
- Free Jena 6? – Is freeing the ‘Jena 6′ sending the wrong message?
- Nappy Headed Hoes- Don Imus is actually the lesser of the evils
- Kramer (Michael Richards)- He did not have the qualified freedom to use the ‘N’ word
- 2008 Presidential Elections- Should Gender/Race/Experience matter?
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Thank you for your support!
February 13, 2008
Tonight I will briefly stray from the heat of Politics to express my heartfelt thanks to all who supported the pharaohsprotege.com Save Darfur Effort. More than 80 Save Darfur Packets were mailed out (the last two today) to heroes in almost every state in the United States.
The pharaohsprotege.com Save Darfur Effort served to increase awareness about the ongoing Darfur Genocide. It also served to raise the volume on the cry for our leaders to do more than give lip service to the more than 2.5 million who continue to suffer in the Darfur region as a result of the Genocide.
The people of Darfur (and more recently Kenya) need ordinary people like you and I to do what we can to help lessen the suffering there. I continuously pray that I will not allow the distractions of life to overshadow my need to remain committed to this cause. I urge you to do the same.
Friends, keep striking up conversations with your friends and family about what is happening in Darfur and Kenya; write your representatives, demanding immediate action and finally, pray for the people of Darfur and Kenya- they need our prayers!
Author Frank Tyger once said “if you cannot lift the load off another’s back, do not walk away; try to lighten it.” Let us continue to do what we can to lighten the loads of the millions who continue suffer as a result of the atrocities in Darfur, Kenya and other regions.
God bless you,
Akhenaton
RESOUCES
- Call 1-800-GENOCIDE – a Hotline with up-to-date talking points and actions your Legislators can take to help end Genocide.
- Write your Elected Official here
Video of Presidential Candidate Barack Obama speaking about the Darfur Crisis
FREE Save Darfur Wristband offer is back!
January 22, 2008
Friends, thank you for your (overwhelming) support for the Save Darfur Wristband Offer last December.
The response was great; so great that I ran out of wristbands!
Now, more than ever, more voices need to be added to the pleading for a better life for the people of Darfur (and more
recently Kenya) and I am thankful that you have added
your voice.
Many are still not aware of the genocide that is taking place in Darfur right now. Sadly, our leaders continue to give nothing but
lip service while as many as 400,000 have been killed and 2.5 million displaced.
You and I can help end the genocide by taking small steps that can make a big difference for the people of Darfur. One of the
most effective ways to end the suffering in Darfur is by offering the tools necessary to take further action.
In light of that, I will like to offer for the second time, FREE Save Darfur Wristbands which means, no obligation on the part of anyone who accepts the offer.
I am offering this Wristband because I believe that it can serve as a visible declaration of your desire to bring an end to the violence and atrocities in Darfur. Moreover, the band will further awareness and education efforts by stimulating conversation on the crisis. This offer includes a free brochure with updated information about the crisis.
To order your FREE Save Darfur Wristband, please send an email to offer@pharaohsprotege.com with your contact information.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
NOTE: THIS OFFER IS NOW CLOSED. WRISTBANDS CAN CURRENTLY BE ORDERED FROM THE DARFUR STORE AT WWW.SAVEDARFUR.ORG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
RESOURCES
Save Darfur Coalition Web site
I HAD a dream….
January 21, 2008
I remember the first time I stood at the steps of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial; the very place where Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
I recall asking myself what would be the subject matter if he were standing next to me that day, 45 years later, delivering yet another speech. Would he have said “I HAVE a dream” or would he have said “I HAD a dream and it came true”?
It has been 45 years since he delivered that speech. I think he would expect that by now, we would not be dreaming, but we would be awake to the realities of freedom, justice for all and equality.
The sad reality is that his dream has not been realized to it’s fullest extent. The unfortunate events surrounding Don Imus, Jenna Six and Hurricane Katrina testify to that fact; but progress has been made.
We see that progress in the successes of accomplished women like Oprah Winfrey and Condoleezza Rice, two of the most powerful women in the world and the relative success of Barak Obama in the lead-up to the US Presidential Election.
A lot yet needs to be done in realizing the dream of Marin Luther King, Jr. My prayer though is that we would reach that point where we would say ‘I HAD a dream that was realized‘ rather than I HAVE a dream. My prayer is that we would not only dream dreams, but we would wake up to the reality of those dreams some day.
Wishing you all a Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
mail@pharaohsprotege.com
Another genocide on our watch?
January 3, 2008
According to popmatters.com, in the last year network
coverage on the Darfur Genocide averaged seven or eight
minutes. Coverage of Britney Spares (in comparison) numbered in the hundreds. It is no secret that the mass murder of blacks (especially on the African continent) is often given scant regard in the media.
Now I am not taking this article down the road of white over black disparities in media coverage; this is about another issue on which I will expunge later on.
I want you to know that I am writing about this not because of a feeling on my part of disappointment about the inaction by world leaders and lackluster attention given in the media on the mass murder of blacks; I am writing out of rage.
So what’s with the topic of this article? ‘Another Genocide…’? This article is about the disturbing happenings in Kenya over the last few days. What’s happening in Kenya? I’m glad you asked!
Time does not permit that I go into the details about what led to the current violence there; you can read it here. In summary, more than 100,000 people from the Kisi and other minority tribes have fled their homes, sometimes forced to leave the dead bodies of their relatives (at least 300 as of today), while seeking refuge in churches and police stations for fear of being killed by those of other tribes.
At the East African (Seventh-day Adventist) University of Baraton (link), according to telegraph.co.uk, close to 200 students and staff are currently trapped on the campus, fearing for their lives. Why? Outside the campus gates, tribal warriors lay siege.
So what’s the big deal about this? Yet again, I’m glad you asked! In 1994, close to 800,000 were killed in what is known as the Rwandan Genocide and as I mentioned earlier, 450,000 in the (current) Darfur Genocide.
Of what relevance is this to Kenya? The tribal killings there and more recent media ban has striking similarities to and seem to be heading in the same direction as that of the genocides in Rwanda and Darfur. This must not happen! This should not happen!
Martin Luther King, Jr. when he addressed moderates of the white South on the issue of slavery said “…history will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” I believe that the answer to the question on who is to be held accountable lies in that statement.
From my heart, to yours,
Akhenaton
Resources
