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Obama: A Family Affair
The influence of the children on this election can’t be ignored. Last week, I found myself leaving work early to go to the Obama Rally in Grant Park in Chicago. I hadn’t planned on being there because I was working. But my 12 year old felt he couldn’t live without being there to mark history. Barack Obama was the first Illinois state senator he knew who climbed the ranks to become President-Elect of the whole country. He had to be there. So my husband and I brought him.
 The day after the election, I read my older son’s Facebook page. “Change is here.” With several exclamation points following that statement, it was his latest entry. Since the start of the presidential race my children were Barack Obama supporters. We live in Chicago and are White Sox fans, so it was no surprise they supported the south side candidate. For them, it was an issue of new versus old. They were partial to Chicago’s favored son. And they were hooked on the word “change.” Issues of Race and Political Party did not dominate the household discussions.
Early on, I quizzed them. There were more than a dozen Democratic, Republican and Other Party politicians who wanted the job. I wasn’t sold on Barack Obama. But days before the Democratic primary election, I hammered in my support for the candidate my children supported. And it was all due to a child I never met and who literally lived half-way across the country.
 The first weeks of the presidential battle turned into months, months into more than a year and now it was days before the primary. I was going to support Hillary. That’s when several “power women” held a rally for Obama in Los Angeles. Oprah talked about a need for a new direction in our country. Michelle Obama talked about her family’s struggles growing up on the south side. And then Maria Shriver spoke. She said at first she was afraid to be at the rally because of her position as the Republican First Lady of California. But she said it was time for this country to be inspired again.
She also said she wouldn’t be there if it hadn’t been for her daughter. They were riding that morning. Her daughter said, “Mom, you have to be there. If you change one person’s mind, it will be worth it.”
I want to tell Maria Shriver and her daughter that she did change one vote. It was mine. Just days before casting my ballot, I made the switch to support Barack Obama for President.
A child told California’s First Lady to speak up. A child encouraged this workaholic to quit early and attend the Obama Rally. And a child wrote on his Facebook page “Change is Here!!!”
Barack Obama owes a large part of his success to the young people and to the older people who take the time to listen to the children.
Bernard Jeffrey McCullough: More Than a Comedian
by Vincent Hearne
Bernie Mac, the world famous actor and comedian was born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on October 5th 1957 on the South Side of Chicago. Bernie was raised by a single mother who died of cancer when he was only sixteen years old. He started his career early on, entertaining friends and putting on shows at the Chicago Vocational Career Academy. After high school his jobs included UPS agent, furniture mover and the one we all know, stand up comic.
When Bernie Mac turned 32 he began getting recognized for his comedic talents, winning the Miller Lite Comedy Search at Chicago's Cotton Pickin Club. From there he started a comedy show called Midnight Mac that did not catch on, but sharpened his skills enabling his fame spread. What followed were hysterical roles in movies including How to Be a Playa, Booty Call, and What's the Worst That Can Happen? These early assignments prepared him well for his ascent to stardom becoming an A-list caliber actor hosting Fox's Bernie Mac Show, premiering in 2001. The sit-com is similar by design to Bernie's own life. Bernie played himself taking custody of his sister's three children while she enters re-hab. Bernie also worked along side such talents as Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D.L. Hughley. The four were known as the Original Kings of Comedy as they toured the continental United States together. Bernie was not satisfied with just being known for his comedic genius. He broke that mold with roles in Ocean's Eleven, Guess Who, and Transformers.
In addition to all of his awards, from the Emmy's, Golden Globe, and NAACP, Bernie Mac also was a family man and a good citizen. Mr. Mac was not only an inspiring actor, but also had many successes off screen. He married his wife Rhonda in 1977 and was the proud father of JeNiece in 1978. JeNiece received a master's degree in Mental Health counseling graduating students from Xavier University. Bernie's untimely death on August 9th 2008 was thought at first to be an inflammatory lung disease called sarcoidososis that he claimed was in remission, but his publicist stated that he had died from pneumonia.
6000 people attended Bernie Mac’s funeral at the House of Hope Megachurch in Chicago. Bernie was working on the movie Soul Men before his death, along with another entertaining legend, Isaac Hayes. Hayes died mysteriously the next day. Bernie Mac was only 50 years old. He's gone too soon, but thankfully left us so much.
Comedian George Carlin On Age: An Oldie But Goodie 
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life. You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. You become 21 yessss!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He turned; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
You become 21, you turn 30, then you're pushing 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you reach 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You make it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you become 21, turn 30, push 40, reach 50 and make it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you hit 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you hit Wednesday!
You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you hit lunch; you turn 4:30 ; you reach bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was just 92.'
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!' May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
How to Stay Young:
- Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'
- Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
- Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
- Enjoy the simple things.
- Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
- The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive.
- Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
- Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
- Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
- Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
And always remember:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
The Soccer Ball Soldier 
U.S. Army soldier Jose Nunez has a tough job. He signed up for Operation Iraqi Freedom – the President’s plan to liberate Iraq and then keep the country safe for democracy. While serving his country, Nunez got an idea that wasn’t in the military handbook. While on his patrols, he said he kept seeing children who asked him for soccer balls. Nunez was a little puzzled. “They didn’t have shoes or anything,” he said.
Nunez patrols take him through the hotspots in Iraq. After he believes all is secure, he hands out soccer balls to the children. He was asked if he played soccer. “No, I just know they like soccer,” Nunez said to a WGN-TV cameraman in Chicago. Having been trained to work for others, Nunez put that spirit in operation and went looking for more soccer balls. The few he found he handed out to the children. His mother and three brothers helped by sending more.
The family started one of several programs aimed at helping Iraqi children sponsored by families of U.S. servicemen detailed in Iraq. This one is called “Operation: Play for Peace.” There’s another program called “Child to Child” sponsored by a mother in Nebraska. Nunez and other soldiers hope the soccer balls will help foster peace.
“We’d much rather they be passing out soccer balls than IEDs,” one member of the crowd yelled. It was a gathering for Nunez on Chicago’s northwest side on June 1st. It was the start of his 18 day leave. Nunez was the object of a hero’s welcome complete with Patriot Guard Riders and representatives from Latino and Veterans’ motorcycle groups. His mother was there, along with his three brothers. They had a surprise for Nunez, one that visibly touched this soldier.
 Nunez’ family and friends handed him pictures. They were of soccer balls and soccer equipment. All of the things the children in Iraq would need to play full fledged soccer games. They were donations that many people contributed to, including members of the motorcycle groups.
“I want to say thank you. I didn’t expect this.” Nunez was standing underneath a tree on this hot day. He spoke slowly to the group that gathered near his home. “I love you guys for all this,” he said.
Someone in the crowd yelled back, “We love you, too!”
Yes we do. Thank you for inspiring us. If someone with as tough a job as you have can spread some joy, then maybe we can too.
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The Dream is Color Blind
 Dr. Robert Michael Franklin was faced with a surprising decision to make as the school year ended in Atlanta this year. As president of the prestigious Morehouse College, historically African American, he had to approve this year’s valedictorian. By the numbers, the best choice for the top spot was a little different. In naming him, it would start a firestorm of controversy in some circles. The student is Joshua Packwood. He’s Caucasian.
This month, Packwood became the first Caucasian valedictorian of Morehouse College of Liberal Arts. It’s the self-proclaimed school of choice for many African Americans, but Packwood passed up full rides at other top schools to get a diverse education there. Packwood’s achievement is of course worthy of merit. But here at www.heavencantwait.org we offer our accolades to Dr. Franklin as well. It must have been a curious thing, after crunching the numbers and evaluating the achievements, to come up with a valedictorian that, to some, would appear as if he didn’t fit in.
Packwood was special. He had a perfect 4.0 average, graduating with a degree in Economics. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, studied abroad and worked on Wall Street in New York City. In Freshmen year he made a name for himself in Student Council and taking on leadership roles at the dorm. Packwood lived up to the president’s dictum to be a “Renaissance Man.”
Speaking to CNN News Anchor Don Lemon earlier this month, Dr. Franklin said this about those who disagreed with his decision: “Mr. Packwood is deserving. He has earned this. We are committed to merit, to hard work, no matter who it might be.”
Oh, Congratulations Dr. Franklin, for putting your money where your mouth is! It must have difficult fielding phone calls from powerful alumni disagreeing with your move. But maybe the heat was lifted a little after graduation. The first Caucasian to be a valedictorian at the school, Packwood followed in your example and proved himself worthy of being a Morehouse man.
 Packwood spoke with perspective, the kind of perspective that another Morehouse graduate talked about. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr had a dream that one day his children would be judged by their character and not the color of their skin. Dr. Franklin, following Dr. King’s lead, did not judge Packwood by the color of his skin. And Packwood did not chose Morehouse based on the color of the skin of its students.
During his speech, Packwood said, and has said before, that despite the differences in skin color, he sees no difference between himself and his 500 fellow graduates. He says during his years at Moorehouse and still today, he looks beyond a person’s skin and talks about interests, using other things to determine who an individual is.
“Though there may be diversity of race, ethnicity, religion or background, we are all brothers of Morehouse College,” Packwood said during his address. It is precisely what Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about – judging each other by character. That’s how Packwood sizes up his fellow students. That’s how Dr. Franklin chooses valedictorians. These two men are living King’s dream. And as we all know, thankfully, that dream is color blind.
Bren Bataclan
So, what do you have to smile about?
 Keep your eyes open! You could be the one who will find a piece of original work of art in your city. You could find it anywhere, even on the street – and it’s yours for the taking; compliments of the artist. The SMILE PROJECT is coming to a city near you. Give props to Bren Bataclan, who began this idea in Boston. Here’s how it works: Bren creates cartoon art on thin boards and leaves them at locations around the city, like the schools, parks, trains and malls. If you spot a painting it’s yours to keep. But Bren asks something in return. He asks that you smile more often at people you don’t know. That’s it: a few random smiles for an original piece of art. 
Bren’s artwork has appeared in places around the world where he hasn’t been, thanks to friends of “The Smile Project.” Earlier this month (March 2007) Fran left one on a cruise in Antarctica and in February, Liona left one in Tel Aviv. While Bren is taking his project worldwide, it’s the inner city that inspires him when he draws.
 Bren says he gets his inspiration from urban graffiti. He says he appreciates the art form, but could not bring himself to draw on other people’s property. (Don’t you love this guy?) So, take a clue. If you are in the city, take a look at the graffiti, you just might find a piece of Bren’s artwork nearby for the taking. But don’t forget to repay him with your smiles.
Watch for Bren’s book to come out this spring, The Smile Project. It features some of the places his artwork has been photographed. And for more information on Bren Bataclan and The SMILE PROJECT, go to www.bataclan.com. |
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Immaculee Ilibagiza
 When heavencantwait.org was in its birthing process this summer, this lovely woman hit the airwaves with her story. I am unabashedly showcasing it because it is the ultimate heavencantwait story: Immaculee Ilibagiza. It's worth taking a moment to say her name out loud. Immaculee Ilibagiza. She was 22 years old when she faced brutality most of us couldn't imagine. Immaculee was on her way home for Easter vacation, at a time her country of Rwanda was in the midst of genocide. Her family was murdered during a killing spree that unimaginably lasted three months and claimed the lives of a million people. Immaculee survived the terror by hiding silently in the bathroom of a local pastor. She stayed there for 91 days with 7 other women. It was here she says she discovered the power of prayer. She says she shed her fear of death. And when she came out of those cramped quarters, she says she discovered the meaning of unconditional love - a love strong enough to forgive her family's killers. You can find more on Immaculee's incredible life on hayhouse.com, the publisher of her book, Left to Tell. Immaculee's story is proof that heaven can't wait. We can have it now.
Stephen Lapthisophon
 What do you do for a living? Imagine for a minute that you're an artist. Not a starving one: you are quite successful and making a name for yourself in Chicago and Dallas with a number of projects in several galleries. But in your late 30's you lose the better part of your eyesight. Doctors say it could be neurological, but Stephen Lapthisophon still doesn't know how it happened. He does know that the myelin, the protective coating of nerve fibers around his optic nerve, was damaged. That left him legally blind. That was more than twelve years ago. This would change anybody's life, but Stephen is the successful artist you imagined you were just a moment ago. He's an artist who can't see. I caught up with Stephen at LaSalle Language Academy in the Old Town neighborhood in Chicago. He was speaking to Ms. Cohen's 4th grade class on disabilities. Later, I asked Stephen how a legally blind artist can make a living in a very competitive world. He gave me the details and then he gave me a lesson about strength and growth and opportunity. "I think many things I experience are more colorful, not in a linear sense, but in a broader narrative," says Stephen about his life today at 50 years old. "Strength, you can get from friends and family, but you also get it from the rewards of one's own work, rewards from just persevering and not being defeated by something, that's a source of strength."  Stephen is making art with a wide variety of content including large scale framed works, light, language and text, as well as sound. He's done several "site specific installations." These are works that are done for a specific location, a specific show, and then torn down. They are temporary. Stephen writes, "Although much of my work relies on reference to popular culture and commercial entertainment, the purpose of these references is to draw attention to the place of time and language in our public exchanges. Cultural discourse at present emphasizes the slick surfaces of a market captivated by technology and speed. Rather than producing products for this market, I present temporary situations--ephemeral experiences that dwell in the past-and their ghosts, filled with the dignity of the past and the process of that retrieval. This is the work of rescue." Going back to the early months of his vision trouble, Stephen thought his eye problems would be temporary. So, he kept creating. And now his creations are seen in a different light. "I think there have been ways in which one grows and learns through creating during an illness. It's one's own story. There are strengths that one has to call upon, which you couldn't have to call upon if you hadn't had these difficulties." For more information on Stephen Lapthisophon's art and biography e-mail us at geri@heavencantwait.org
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