Well folks, 36 years ago today, I remember picking up my soon-to-be and going to the florist to pick up flowers to take to our soon-to-be wedding. We were standing there with a room full of last minute Mother’s Day Flower purchasers. I remember Nancy speaking up from the back of the line informing everyone that were were there to pick up the flowers we had reserved for our wedding. Like the red sea parting for Moses, all the guys separated so we could go to the counter pick up our flowers.

Once we were outside of Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship I was amazed at all the people who were there to witness today’s event. I remember being in a daze throughout the ceremony but I do remember distinctly that I did not fumble my Bahá’í Wedding Vow “We will all, verily, abide by the Will of God” (which did concern me a great deal because I have never been comfortable speaking while the world was watching).

 I rarely post my political views on FB. At times though, I feel it's important to express my opinion or to take a stand on certain issues. 

But I have been extremely disappointed and disheartened by what happens when I do express myself politically. 

Suddenly I'm hosting a battle that I don't feel prepared to deal with. Nor do I care to be a referee in an argument on my social media page. 

Name calling on my posts is unacceptable. I have been upset by it and at a loss about how to handle it. This is the reason for this post. Please keep reading. 

We all have a right to our opinions and to voice those opinions. I will read what you have to say on my thread and even though I may disagree with you, you have a right to respectfully express your opinion. Educate me, if need be. I haven't stopped learning. 

Original Facebook Post:

Yes this article is 10 years old and the monument is finished and dedicated but i ask the question now, "Was this a slap in the face to Black People to have a monument to one of our most famous/influential figures rendered by someone of a different experience?"
I was surprised (and somewhat disappointed) when I learned of this.

The posted Article:

State NAACP joins protest of Chinese artist chosen for MLK monument

The California branch of the NAACP has joined a growing protest against the selection of a Chinese artist to sculpt the tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. planned for the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Now that Mr. Trump has been elected President of the United States we have seen him making a great many unpopular decisions.  I am not here to add to that discourse as there already have been millions of other Americans of all backgrounds who have taken on that rhetoric.  I would like to try to redirect some of the conversation to one area where we might be able to get Mr. Trump to follow through and take action on some (possibly) positive items he has put down in writing.

I am including Mr. Trump’s 10 Point Plan for Black America.  This document probably marks the first time ANY President has presented a strategy designed to uplift the Black Community on a national level. I feel this would be a good opportunity to initiate a discussion about something that can achieve some good in an environment where there is a lot of despair and fear being brought forth.

It was about August 9, 1981, and I was visiting the Baha’i House of Worship which was something I did a lot when I ran into my friend Charles Young.  He invited me down to his neighborhood the following Sunday to meet at the South Shore Country Club to see Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. This sounded great to me as the Count Basie Orchestra is my all time favorite musical group and Dizzy Gillespie is the Father of Be-Bop and is also a fellow Baha’i.  The South Shore Country Club is a big place but Charles told me that to find the other Baha’is all I will have to do it look for the balloons.

“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves.”
-Michelle Obama

These words were spoken by Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention and with these words have come much curiosity.

Yes!  This is true.  The White House and a great deal of Washington D.C. were built by free men and slave labor.  Slaves were used to perform many of the tasks and functions necessary, unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled. Most of these slaves were leased or rented from their owners.  

A couple of years ago I read a book that went into this as well as many little known facts surrounding the White House.  The title of the book is “The Black History of the White House” and besides being a history of the White House from the “Black” point of view, and showing the history of Black people.  

Today, before work, I went out for breakfast and while there a fairly large group of people came in.  I was not sure as to their ethnic background but I am somewhat sure that they were of Muslim background (the restaurant is across the street from a Mosque). As I watched them I was taken with a "spirit" that seemed to emanate from them and that got me to thinking about some of my attitudes.

As an African American, born here in the U. S. and raised in a society that is slow to accept minorities I got to thinking about some of the difficulties and barriers they face as immigrants. I am aware that it is not easy for them, leaving their homeland, and coming here to make a fresh start, and create a new life. I put myself in their shoes and realize how hard that can be and this is something I had not thought about before.

Originally posted here:  http://nibahai.org/blogs/adrian-mckee/forgiveness-wake-charleston-massac...

There has been a lot of discussion about forgiveness lately that started after the families of the victims of the Charleston Massacre expressing their forgiveness to Dylann Roof at his arraignment. Then yesterday a friend shared a Washington Post news article titled “Black America should stop forgiving white racists”.  She then commented on the article asking the question, “The notion of forgiveness has been on mind recently -- after reading The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal -- on the possibilities and limits of forgiveness - "You are a prisoner in a concentration camp. A Nazi soldier asks for your forgiveness. What would you do?"

Originally posted here:  http://nibahai.org:80/blogs/adrian-mckee/what-ruhi-10328

Here on Northern Illinois Baha'is there is a lot of mention about Ruhi classes so I decided to include this short explanation of what Ruhi is for those who are curious about it.

Bahá'ís everywhere are engaged in a global process of learning that is helping to build their capacity to apply the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh (the Prophet Founder of the Bahá'í Faith) to the transformation of society.

The purpose of Bahá'í study circles is to provide participants with the knowledge, spiritual insights and skills to enable them to contribute to the betterment of society, starting with their own neighborhood. This is done through systematic study of a sequence of courses based on the Bahá'í Writings using the courses of the Ruhi Institute.

Originally posted here:  http://www.nibahai.org:80/blogs/adrian-mckee/being-bahai-cowboy-state-10142

Though this radio broadcast is not focused on the Northern Illinois Area, it discusses Baha'i Celebrations and Holy Days (since Tuesday February 26 starts our Festival of Ayyám-i-Há). I thought I would add the link to this broadcast from Wyoming Public Radio entitled "Being Bahá'í in the Cowboy State".

Most Wyomingites have long since taken down their Christmas trees and wrapped up their winter holidays… But for people who practice the Bahá'í faith, the Festival of Ayyám-i-Há – where families get together and exchange small gifts, is right around the corner.