WHERE DID THEY HIDE THE QUIET?

I went to the local Barnes and Noble for the second time this month to research Home Designs in the many magazines published today on the subject. Its seems that every time i visit this particular store i'm barraged with a never ending cycle of disruptions by one entity or another. The last time i was there the chief protagonists were special needs children running amuck throughout the store. Before you think of me as an insensitive monster, know that I love the fact that a book store is on their visit list; i just believe that special needs or not they should be properly supervised to insure that they don't bother other patrons. The disruptions of the latest visit couldn't have been planned better by the most twisted of screen writers. I reveled in the fact that I got there early and that the place was only occupied by a few people, but that sense of elation was short lived. Immediately after gathering my magazines and sitting down at a table isolated from foot traffic, a woman made a B line directly towards me; pushing past countless empty tables before dropping her personal bags noisily onto the table next to mine. She then proceeded to side step the clear path to the seat on the other side of the table, and she stood directly in front of me with her fat miss-shapened ass 1' away from my face while she slowly removed her coat scarf and sweater. I kept my composure and only left after she sat down and pulled out her cell phone. I left the second table after a young girl of 8 or 9 began to pace around the adjacent table with what sounded like tap shoes on a wooded floor. The strange thing is she was wearing what looked like sneakers and the floor was carpeted. I believe that she was wearing one of the brilliant new inventions marketed for children these days (shoes that make noise and light up with each step), just what the world needs most. The third and final location really took the proverbial cake. The disruptions started with the restocking lady dragging her plastic footstool back and forth across the same 2 feet of floor as she re-racked magazines that were left in the isles by the lazy and the privileged. The situation quickly progressed when another worker started running a vacuum cleaner in symphony with her scrapping stool noises over a no larger area of carpet in the same vicinity. If you believe it stopped there you're sadly mistaken. A cloaked and hooded 20 something 'Y.O.' man sat down beside me with music seeping out of his earbuds as he grunted out incoherent rap lyrics. The final straw came when a woman sat next to me, pulled out her cell phone and proceeded to order what seemed to be a membership to AARP. She gave and spelt out her name, complete address, birthdate, phone number, and a barrage of other personal information. She then made it clear that she wanted to pay by money order. My guess is the last phone call of this nature that she made left her without Credit. All the while abrasive music play loudly on the overhead speakers. Remember the day when an older lady with horn rimmed glasses went around shushing anyone who dared to raised their voice above a whisper with threats of expulsion, how I long for those days. I really don't expect a completely quiet environment free from verbal interaction between people, or the occasional quick and quiet cell phone call; but loud and abrasive disruptions as afore mentioned should be unacceptable by anyones standards. Next time I'll try Borders.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

I Just watched a smiling Barack Obama energetically exit Air Force One, and give a slap handshake and a hearty half hug to one of his staff members. It immediately dawned on me that America has a Black President. For all of you who are wondering what rock I was hiding under for the last few years, I offer up my long winded explanation. I spent a good part of my time the last few years campaigning for Barrack Obama, disseminating misinformation, and attempting to quell the fears of White Friends and Co-workers who felt threatened by the possibility of a Black President. Even bigger challenges where the fears of success by many African Americans and other people of color. You would not believe the amount of people who didn't hesitate to say that they would not vote for him for fear of him being assassinated. Those fears where well understood and quickly preyed upon by the opposition, who floated it in the air during much of the primaries as well as in the general election. My walls are adorned with pictures of Barack Obama, his family, and his inauguration, so how could it just hit me that we have the First Black President of the United States.
Michelle Obama Once stated that 'for the fist time she was truly proud of her Country' in reference of her husband election, many took immediate offense and denounced her as unpatriotic. I knew immediately what she felt and what she truly meant by this statement. I'm a lifetime Civil Servant. I've served my Community, City, State, and Country from my Youth and will continue to do so as long as life permits. I see no greater service than that to the general public. There are many flaws in this great American Society that go unchecked even when challenged. I've seen a level of greed and lack of empathy that surpassed criminality and crossed into the realm of evil, but throughout my limited 50 years of existence I've never come to a point where hopelessness prevailed. No matter how discourage I became by the actions of any group or individual, it would not take long before I was inspired by another group or individual. Although I screamed loudly and protested often, I've always loved my Country and my goals were always to make it better. The Election of President Barack Obama is the pinnacle of individuals and groups coming together and inspiring a nation. People from all walks of life in the most diverse nation in the world selecting a new direction for a great country that was rapidly loosing it way. Seeing past race, not succumbing to fear mongers, and navigating their way through a sea of malicious misinformation. In America will still have a seemingly growing racial and religious intolerance, as well as a propensity to blame those who suffer instead of the system that causes (or at least allows) their suffering. We blame home owners instead of bankers, the unemployed instead of corporations, and the sickly instead of insurance companies. These facts make the election of a Black President with a Muslim name all the more a great testament to the ability of the American people to overcome their own demons. The election of President Barack Obama was not a panacea, The challenges for the future are great and the opposition strong. Although we must still contend with a mass media the feeds us what we tend to crave (sensationalism and controversy), as well as politicians and pundits that put their careers above the well being of the entire Country; the great majority of the American People are intelligent and will continue to strive for the best America possible. The election of President Barack Obama is a big step in the right direction and should bring pride to the entire nation.
We must not forget these great feelings of pride and accomplishment, and never take for granted these milestones in achievement. We cannot rest on laurels, there will always be opposition to the development of this great nation (both external and internal); so the struggle to educate them must continue as we continue to be progressive in our endeavors.