(ThyBlackMan.com) Just days after Diva Rihanna wished her ex, Chris Brown, a happy birthday via Twitter, the two are now no longer following each other.

So what happened?

Well, when Chris Brown released a freestyle version of Kanye West’s “Way Too Cold” (formerly “Theraflu”) last night, he could be heard rapping, “Don’t f–k with my old bitch/It’s like a bad fur/Every industry n—a done had her/Shook the tree like a pumpkin just to smash her/Bitch is breaking codes, but I’m the password.”

Speculation quickly began to run rampant that Chris Brown was referring to Rihanna, who may very well have thought the same thing seeing how she immediately unfollowed him.

Soon after, Chris Brown himself stopped following Rihanna, as well as tweeting out the following regarding the rumors: “Assumptions! I didn’t say any names so if u took offense to it then it’s something you feel guilty about.”

All of this comes less than three months after the two joined forces on remixes of each other’s songs. So it seems Birthday Cake was just that, as there is still tension between the two. We know Chris Brown is deeply hurt but he only has self to blame. Rihanna was his everything until he decided to beat her literally. Rihanna has definitely move on yet the two seem to continue to collide. We know Chris Brown has a new lady yet that’s not stopping him from stalking Rihanna literally.

Would hate for this to end up in the courts again. So Chris Brown needs to get his act together fast. Rihanna is the queen she is, awaits for such a thing to happen.

(ThyBlackMan.com) Welcome to foggy London, UK town, Kim Kardashian & Kanye West!

The paparazzi were waiting for Kim Kardashian when she touched down at Heathrow today, prompting Kim Kardashian’s latest tweet, “What a warm welcome!!!!”

But though Kim Kardashian was photographed leaving the airport alone, looking sleek in black pants and a leather jacket, she was soon joined by her now regular traveling companion, Rapper Kanye West.

So, what will the jet-setting duo, whose recent public outings have included taking in the Lakers’ final game of their first-round NBA playoffs series and hanging in Toronto together, be up to in London?

Well, as was the case in Toronto, where Kim Kardashian had a jewelry line to launch, this was a Kim Kardashian – centric trip across the bond.

First up, Kim Kardashian has an interview with BBC Radio 1 tomorrow at 10 a.m., London time, and then she’ll tape a TV appearance for the talk show Alan Carr: Chatty Man, which airs Friday at 10 p.m. on Channel 4.

Also Friday, Kim Kardashian is scheduled to make a promotional appearance for her perfume, True Reflection, at Debenhams department store, and she’ll be hosting the U.K. launch of QuickTrim at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel that night.

Now, that sounds like an event she’ll need a date for!

As for Kanye West he will tag online with his queen. Kanye West shall also hit the studio while in the UK. Rapper Kanye West suppose to also visit a few radio stations. Kanye West is just enjoying time with Kim Kardashian. This couple is the new it thing in hollywood. We can only wonder what is next for them, and if Kanye West can behave literally.

(ThyBlackMan.com) Jason Woods is no stranger to the concept of documentation. Through photography, he takes snapshots of humanity and records its effects with a click of a button. Since the early 90s, Woods has been collecting, documenting, studying and making a name for his artistry. Doubling as one of the hottest DJ’s in Houston, Woods is even more fascinating when he spins tracks from the past and future.

Fast-forward to today, the multifaceted artist is a force to be reckoned. His latest photo exhibition, Surrounded by Giants, recently debuted at the Community Artist’s Collective and proves that Woods is well on his way to becoming the next…

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Woods developed his love for photography at Jakes Yates High School. Upon graduation, he knew that photography and spinning records would be the food that keeps him alive, so he earned a degree in photography from Sam Houston University.

Having been in the photography business for 10 years, the laid-back Houstonian said candidly, “Photos always spoke the most to me.”

To that end, Woods’ alter ego even has a name—Flash Gordon Parks—a name given to him by his good friend, Eric “Equality” Blaylock.

In 2004, Woods and Blaylock stumbled on an opportunity to collaborate on a photo-poetry exhibition called, The Beautiful Side of Ugly. The exhibit depicted the realities of urban areas in Houston, Texas, and featured images by Woods, words by Blaylock, and included a commemorative book.

Through his work, Woods passionately captures and documents dynamic images in the city of Houston and beyond.

 “Houston is layered and can fool you,” said Woods. “There are so many different dimensions that are unique and interesting. The people are genuine and have a southern feel. The city is a big enough metropolis that is fast and slow—just what you need. When I take pictures, I look for the sultry in things that we commonly see and overlook and try to capture an understanding on a new level.”

His latest project, Surrounded by Giants, was commissioned this month to exhibit at the Community Artist’s Collective. The show is a tribute to the diminutive details that shape the African American community and exposes bigger meanings within the culture.

Through this exhibit, Woods felt moved to shoot cultural nuisances and extract the microcosms of life through the lens of his camera. Surrounded by Giants is an 18-piece photographic documentary featuring work from Houston and New Orleans.

Also a record collector, Woods is the founder of Straight No Chaser and Easin’ IN— two monthly music series.  It is through record collecting that Woods studies music then translates his own ideas and concepts that emerges in the raw when he’s deejaying.

 “The true art of a deejay is by knowing all genres of music. You have to be a student first,” said Woods.

With all of the hats that Woods is wearing at thirty-two-years old, Jason Woods is a modern day Renaissance man.

He begs to differ.

“I don’t like to box myself in to that scenario,” said Woods. “Life is not hard at all. I am original because I am me. I want to do what I want to do and not be confined by anything,” he said.

Follow Jason Woods on Facebook and Twitter.

Associate Editor; kYmberly Keeton

To learn more about this talented writer feel free to visit; Kreative Young Millionaire, Inc….

Need a website or blog? Head over to; Kym K Balance Network.

(ThyBlackMan.com) Since President Obama made his public affirmation of same-sex marriage. The debate within the Christian community and political circles has been non- stop and vigorous. But the black community, especially the black church has been hit repeatedly with massive verbal accusations of intolerance, archaic homophobia and bigotry labels in regards to gay-marriage, from all sides of the spectrum but mostly from the professional black left (professors, politicians, preachers, activist, media pundits).

Think about, it when was the last time we ever saw so many black clergy on all the news cycles?   

I’m sure maybe it has something to do with that first black president thing? But who knows; although to Newsweek he is the first Gay President! With a  glowing rainbow halo over his head! Man that is… for a lack of a better word “messed up”. But his campaign motto in 08’ was “change”.  Although I don’t know if this Newsweek cover was what he had in mind four years ago.

Anyway…

Last year a Washington Post article asked the question; Can Obama hold on to African American voters in 2012? This is a question that is being re-visited in light the Presidents recent unsurprising announcement. To quote Andrew Sullivan’s Newsweek column:

 “When you step back a little and assess the record of Obama on gay rights, you see, in fact, that this was not an aberration. It was an inevitable culmination of three years of work.” And President Obama has much in common with the gay community. “He had to discover his black identity and then reconcile it with his white family, just as gays discover their homosexual identity and then have to reconcile it with their heterosexual family,” Sullivan writes.”

Okay number one …; I’m really soooo tired of Gays comparing their gayness to my ethnicity! You notice they never do that with any other ethnic group, like Jewish people, who have suffered horrible tragedies throughout history.

Being gay and being Black are not synonymous!

Number two…Sullivan is right, this announcement should come as no surprise, if you look at his in your face pro-gay polices over the past three years the writing was definitely on the wall.

So why some black clergy were surprised, hurt , felt betrayed, and caught off guard by this; tells me they fell into the “code of blackness” (the support of the prez because he is black; policy) or they were just “public policy ignorant or lazy”. Either way both do a huge disservice to the people they pastor.

Back to the article…it actually displayed the blatantly obvious disdain for dissenting opinions within the black community and that the black professional left (professors, politicians, preachers, activist, media pundits) have little or no room for public dissent or debate on a variety of issues, most notably public policy and politics.

The article cites Tom Joyner telling his listeners to get in line with the president. “Stick together, black people,”

“Let’s not even deal with the facts right now. Let’s deal with just our blackness and pride — and loyalty,” Joyner wrote on his BlackAmericaWeb.com blog. “We have the chance to re-elect the first African-American president, and that’s what we ought to be doing. And I’m not afraid or ashamed to say that as black people, we should do it because he’s a black man.”

He along with Steve Harvey’s message of support for Obama and who called Tavis Smiley and Cornel West “uncle toms” for their critique of the President.  As well as Al Sharpton who told the president’s black critics, “I’m not telling you to shut up. I’m telling you: Don’t make some of us have to speak up.”

Then there is the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) when they are not a some party somewhere!  They are in a political schizophrenic flux, because they know that black unemployment is still too high and a recent Washington Post-ABC News polls have shown a drop in the number of blacks who have ”strongly favorable” views of Obama and those who think his policies are improving the economy. This would be a slam dunk if the President were white or a Republican. The members of the CBC would be following the normal liberal playbook about systematic racism in Washington, and how its current policies are having a negative impact having on Black -Americans.  Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) admitted to this conundrum we he said “If Obama wasn’t president, we would be marching on the White House”.

The fact that these people say things like this to Black people and aren’t challenged; is a travesty an insult, and shows an intellectual disrespect to the people who listen to them.

Fast forward to today, the gay-marriage issue is front and center and the Obama surrogates are telling Black-Americans again, support him anyway!!!. He is still our best hope. Never mind your conscience or traditional beliefs based in biblical teachings; because they are out of touch with mainstream society anyway! When what they really mean is YOU are not in line with what we want to do! Just ignore the history of heterosexual marriage as a foundational pillar that existed even before the church or the state.

The same way Obama’s HHS dept told the Catholic Church a few weeks ago you are going provide birth control for employees weather you want to or not.

And to those who speak up in defense of marriage and what the Bible says about it? Well Michael Eric Dyson has a defined your stance and has a few chose words; You are a Religious Bigot and Sexual Redneck!

His rapid-fire intellectual dishonesty, along with his, I wish I was a gangsta rapper style of verbal bullying is a part of the modus operandi of the Black professional lefts’ goal of demonizing, ridiculing, marginalizing and insulting anyone who doesn’t bow the knee and pay homage their liberal/progressive goals and gods. They expect a piped-piper like allegiance; Regardless of the ineffectiveness of the policies they represent. This is insulting, and leaves Black Americans as a whole with no political power or leverage and keeps in place failed policies and inept leaders that should have been shown the door a long time ago.

The election of the first Black President and his divisive policies has brought to light the rabid intolerance and racism that exists at the core of liberal/progressive ideology and with the professional black left.  And how they will devour their own if they get out of line (just ask Bill Cosby).

Now is the time to challenge the Black left establishment. Letting them know; we will not be held captive to your black liberal fascist ideology anymore.

We gave up education, when liberalism asked for it

We gave up arts & entertainment, when progressives asked for it

We gave up the sciences when secularism asked for it

We gave up businesses when the left asked for it.

We gave up government when atheist asked it

We have even given up denominations when liberals asked for it  

Now liberals/progressives/secularist/atheist  want the crown jewel marriage and family!

Well we are not giving it up, and not only are we not giving it up. We are coming to take everything back that the left stole from us.

(ThyBlackMan.com) When does a boy become a man? At puberty? When he fathers a child? When he can provide for himself? When he can support a family? Or is it simply, when he turns 21? In the Old Days a knight in training could not become a full fledged warrior, until age 21 when he would he be strong enough to fight in heavy armor.

Young males have a tendency toward action, athleticism and violence. In primate troops the older males sleep with the females and young males stay up all night and guard the group from predators. The younger the male, even among humans, the more sexually potent, active and reckless. They make good warriors whether in a traditional band of humans or in the armed forces of an established society. And since most males, be they in a band of primates, a traditional society, or an army engaged in protracted warfare, do not  survive, sexual potency of very young males is essential for the survival of the group.

(ThyBlackMan.com) Today it was reported that Time Magazine has printed a controversial picture of a woman breastfeeding her three year old son, which will be featured in the May 21^st issue.  Of course when this hit the news Twitter and Face Book posts were blowing up the internet.  I am unsure if people were upset because of the woman simply breastfeeding or the fact that the child was three years old and standing in a chair doing, it as opposed to being an infant.

According to the Associated Press reaction to the Time cover underscored a cultural rift between traditional childrearing and what some have deemed  “extreme parenting.” The attachment philosophy encourages mothers to respond to their babies’ every cry and form close bonds with near-constant physical contact through “co-sleeping” (letting them sleep in the bed with parents rather than in cribs) and “baby-wearing” (carrying them on slings instead of pushing them in strollers).

The cover story deals with the ideal of Attachment Parenting. Advocates of Attachment Parenting believe that this parenting style nurtures a very strong connection between the parents and the child, resulting in a child growing up to be a more caring and compassionate adult. 

Attachment Parenting is the constant presence of a parent being within reach of a child. This form of parenting has been called extreme parenting by some. While watching a piece on Attachment Parenting months ago on the news I found it very interesting to see parents taking turns holding their children as is they were afraid to let go. Many of these children are breast fed well past the age of four. They also sleep with their parents up to the point of entering school. Proponents of attachment parenting advise that the constant presence of a parent is a positive one.

Dr. Mayim Bialik who plays the nerdy neurobiologist on CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” shares her parenting experience in her new book, “Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way.” 

Attachment parenting is most known for its principle of co-sleeping with your children, but Bialik explains that it’s so much more. She says it’s about addressing the needs of your child in a way that will bond her to you. It’s choosing natural childbirth, breast-feeding, wearing your baby as much as possible in an infant sling or carrier and using gentle discipline when he gets older. It’s not putting him on a feeding and sleeping schedule or using a crib or letting him “cry it out.”

This leaves to question if wearing your child is a good thing and if allowing your children to sleep in a family bed is healthy.  Does this really help the child in the long run? Will this take away the child’s ability to become independent?  Will it also take away their ability to socialize with others, especially children their own age?

How much is too much when it comes to parenting? Is there a limit? Is there such a thing as too much parenting?

Even though some believe this helps to prevent violence in society as a whole. Can attachment parenting do more harm than good or is this parenting style a better alternative to traditional parenting? I am sure the answer is still left open for debate.  When it’s all said and done I suppose parents know what’s best for their child.

For more information visit Attachment Parenting International.

Staff Writer; Eleanie Campbell

(ThyBlackMan.com) The facts cannot be denied or ignored about the importance of parents talking to their children before the Prom. As Proms dates come concern is taken in clothing to shoes, hairstyle to perfume or cologne.

Rental cars and limousines, and all the other extras that go with Proms; If car rental agencies are checked now most would already be booked well in advance of each schools respective Prom date.

Proms traditionally are a high school event or rite of passage from high school student to transitioning graduate. The pressures of social marketability, notoriety, popularity and economic visibility have created an atmosphere where even juniors in high school, middle school students, elementary school students and private/home school students plan Proms. 

The logistics alone border on levels of military planning and execution. Parents plan months if not a year in advance for hair appointments, makeup consultations, pre-evening, evening and after Prom attire.

The list of chores and duties grows the closer the main event gets to execution. Several items that many parents do not address either out of fear, denial, ignorance or forgetting is the discussion of possible sexual encounters during and after Prom.

When all the pageantry, partying and pimping/primping are over what may transpire afterwards are Booty Calls, Drunkin Parties, and possible Sexual Encounters. This may sound vulgar, contrite and harsh to some that read this, but many parents spend several minutes or seconds warning, joking or playfully dancing around the issues of sex after the Prom. Parents must make sure their child(ren) and the others they are traveling with, escorting and meeting with later understand the ramifications of potential pregnancy, STD’s and other dangers associated with unprotected and multi-partner sexual exchanges.

“We live in a society where teens have sex”, as Nikki Gionvanni stated on her recent visit to EWC, “teens have sex, that’s what they do. Parents have to wake up and be honest with the reality.”

Proms are ongoing now and parents should be talking to, planning with and discussing potential drinking and driving, sexual encounters and other potential dangers. Parents should remember THEIR Proms and the events and activities they took part in or were witnessed too and even some travesties either loss of life, loss of limbs or undesired, unwanted and unexpected pregnancies that stopped college entrance, military service or travel plans and scholarships to higher education. It takes more than parents saying, “they know better,” “if they do it and I catch them they know I’ll be disappointed,” “they would  never do that.” Truer words have been spoken, but the results have been devastating from unwanted pregnancies and realization of exposure toSTD’s or HIV.

Parents remember your responsibility to teach, train and raise your child or children, but also understand the dangers of peer pressure, societal influences of alcohol, drug use and pressures to have sex. Teens are having sex with multiple partners, and involved in oral and anal sex.

This Prom season talk to your children and their friends before Prom is knocking at your door. Before your child either male or female is ready to step out the door is not the time to try and have “the talk” or try to place condoms or other types of protection in their hands or strategies in their heads.

Conversations should be honest, respectful, open and share a high level of expectation for safety and maturity. Senior Prom only comes once in a young person’s life, parents should make sure all the memories are pleasant, happy and fun. No one should have a devastating Prom that leaves them with lasting consequences of frustration, pain, sorrow or unpleasant memories of their last year in high school.

Staff Writer; William D. Jackson

Find out more about this talented writer over at; OCS For Education.

Also check out; http://www.About.Me/WilliamDJackson

(ThyBlackMan.com) The battle for Los Angeles has begun. After years of mediocrity and playing second fiddle to the LA Lakers, nowadays the Los Angeles Clippers have their eyes on destiny.

After finishing off Memphis 82-72 in regulation led by All Star point guard Chris Paul, the Clippers look like a new franchise. A winning one. This particular win is legendary.

It’s going down as the third time since 1971 LA Clippers have won a playoff series.
 
Game 7 will be remembered for many years to come thanks to Chris Paul who chipped in 19 points and 4 assists.

The most surprising stat of the night was 9 rebounds, somehow pulled in by the 6 foot Chris Paul, proving that “it’s not the size of dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” Its no secret BIG things come in small packages.

Throughout NBA history, small guards have excelled from Tiny Archibald to Isaiah Thomas and now Chris Paul. That’s good company to be in. Both have won NBA titles.

Good point guards lead their teams to victory and Chris Paul is no exception. His move to Los Angeles started selling out Staple Center and included Sports Center highlights via alley-oop lobs to a young star famous for dunking over a car…Blake Griffin.

The newly improved Clippers started giving its neighbor [LA Lakers] a run for their money. LA was divided between both teams while Chris Paul’s LA Clippers picked up a fifth seed going into this years playoffs. Popularity increased but respect was tied to playoff results due to LA Clippers playoff history.

All eyes were on Chris Paul to perform playoff heroics. Pressure mounted in the first round as Memphis refused to go away, forcing a deciding game seven.

Chris Paul commonly called CP3, laced up his Jordan brand sneakers and took control of the game. He was tenacious on both sides of the ball, forcing turnovers, making key assists and grabbing his share of loose balls and rebounds.

The trade to LA makes a genius out of David Stern who gave his blessing after shooting down Chris Paul’s trade to cross town rival LA Lakers. Clippers fans will never forget his generosity.

History may be tied in that one decision. The Clippers move into the second round against heavy favorite San Antonio Spurs.

Facing a number one seed, former championship team and Tony Parker will keep the average point guard up all night, but not Chris Paul. Don’t forget he’s not average.

He’s CP3… Rescuing his LA Clippers from NBA obscurity, one game at a time.

Staff Writer; Deigo Mack

For more info on this talented young man feel free to check out; Mad Mack Smag.

(ThyBlackMan.com) The word from GOP insiders close to presumptive GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney is that he will pick “a boring white guy” as his vice presidential running mate. That’s true for one obvious reason and another even more fundamental reason about the vice presidency. The obvious is Sarah Palin. There’s little debate that she did irreparable damage to the at-best problematic chances of GOP presidential candidate John McCain’s chances of bagging the White House in 2008. Sarah Palin was a desperate gamble by McCain to melt the frost that ultra-conservatives, and conservative Christian evangelicals had toward him, and hopefully appeal to some women voters. But Sarah Palin was the most poorly vetted, polarizing VP candidate in decades. She, yes Sarah Palin singlehandedly turned off every minority, environmental, civil liberty, and gay activist group, conservative Democrats, centrist independents, and even an array of old-line GOP establishment conservatives who broke ranks and endorsed Obama.

The irony is that in 2008 Mitt Romney would have been the one choice that would have come closest to giving McCain the ticket balance that he needed; plus the equally crucial necessity: money. He would have been a cash cow for McCain and with Obama’s phenomenal ability to jingle the campaign cash registers off the counter, this would have been a huge asset to plop on McCain’s political balance ledger. This was another fatal blow to McCain’s slender chances when Obama slaughtered him on fundraising $750 million to $450 million.

Mitt Romney won’t make that mistake. That’s why some of the names floated as potential Mitt Romney VP picks such as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, and even New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would be too risky. They are either too new, too untested nationally, or too potentially polarizing. It would be Sarah Palin all over again.

The bigger reason, though, that he needs a boring white guy on his ticket is that vice presidents must do three things. They must balance the ticket, make up a real or perceived deficit that the presidential contender has, and hopefully help him win the presidency, or at the very least don’t help him lose it. Then-Democratic presidential contender Obama understood this. He picked Joe Biden because he fulfilled all three requirements: balance, experience, and most importantly, took away one of McCain’s strongest hit points against Obama — his perceived woeful lack of foreign policy credentials.

There was much pressure on and temptation for Obama to pick Hillary Clinton as his VP running mate. But she violated the rules of thumb in politics. She was a Northern, moderate Democrat, as is Obama. She was with lots of personal  and political baggage. She would have piled the X Factor of gender bias to the already worrisome X Factor of racial bias on top of Obama.

Bill Clinton was the one recent exception who defied the rule of thumb on balance in picking a VP. Al Gore, like him, was a young, Southern Baptist. It worked because Clinton needed Gore to bolster his pitch that he was not another stereotypical tax-and-spend — soft on crime, weak on military and national security Democrat. This was the traditional attack point that every Republican going back to Richard Nixon in 1968 hammered their Democratic opponent on.

The vice presidential pick then has become a high stakes game in the evolution of presidential politics from an office that was for decades considering a graveyard for the politically ambitious or at best, an after-thought ceremonial title that carried no real importance or distinction.

The VP is more than just a standard dressing up of the presidential ticket. He or she must be able to actually help a presidential candidate win. There have been a few times in past elections when VPs have made a difference. Lyndon Johnson in 1960 is the textbook example of that. He brought legislative savvy, he was a Southern then still in good stead, and he could deliver two or three Deep South states. He did his job. Bush Sr. also helped Reagan in 1980. He brought experience, insider connections, and as a transplanted Southerner, the regional balance that Reagan needed. And he was moderate enough to give Reagan a little edge with moderate Republicans.

A vice president is increasingly called on to be directly involved in discussing, implementing and even helping to formulate domestic and foreign policy. The near textbook example was Biden’s blunt statement that he backs gay marriage. Though some claim that this forced Obama’s hand and even put him on the spot on a volatile, political minefield issue, Biden essentially reflected a position that for months had been much discussed, debated, and thought through in the Obama administration. The VP as is now the case in presidential politics is often right in the center of the political debate.

The 2012 presidential election will be a nail biter. But even if it was a potential runaway for either Obama or Mitt Romney, the vice presidency would still be important. Obama knew it and picked Biden. McCain missed it and picked Sarah Palin. Mitt Romney won’t miss this and will pick a boring white guy.

Written By Earl Ofari Hutchinson

One can find more info about Mr. Hutchinson over at the following site; TheHutchinson ReportNews.

Also feel free to connect with him through twitter; http://twitter.com/earlhutchinson

(ThyBlackMan.com) In 2007, Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat, and Ron Paul, a Republican, were kindred spirits: Demure in size, but mighty in spirit, the congressmen were steadfast in their outsized battle to change American foreign policy as they sought the presidency.

“As the Democratic [presidential] nominee I’d consider Ron Paul as my running mate,” Kucinich said without hesitation during a 2007 interview with Free Minds TV.  “He and I agree tremendously on international policy. You might see a vote being 235 to 2 in Congress; you’ll know who the two are: Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul.”

Though successful in forging a friendly and admirable bipartisan bridge on issues of war and largely peace, neither was successful in their 2008 presidential bids. And now both men, who prided themselves on political  integrity and purity, grass-roots base and a lack of corporate and lobbyist affiliations have been moved off the political stage, perhaps for good.  Brimming with political will and spirit, but short on money, the two doves have flown into the proverbial political coop.

On Monday, Ron Paul effectively ended his campaign, after he said he would stop spending money in the 11 states with upcoming party primaries. Previously, Ron Paul had announced that he will be retiring from the House of Representatives. In March, Dennis Kucinich, of Toledo, lost his congressional seat to Rep. Marcy Kaptur, also a progressive Democrat from Toledo, and one of the longest-serving women in the House.

It just seemed just like yesterday Dennis Kucinich was not far from Ron Paul’s mind, when Ron Paul mirthfully stated during a ReLOVEution presidential campaign interview that if elected he’d consider putting the liberal Ohio congressman in his administration, creating a “Department of Peace,” where the peace-loving Dennis Kucinich could really shine.

“You’ve got to give credit to people who think,” Ron Paul said of Dennis Kucinich at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, as reported by the Hill on Sept. 21, 2011.

Like the photographic inversion of monochromatic mirror images, Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul reflected each other in their general antiwar stance, foreign policy views and civil-liberty reservations about what they and their supporters perceive as our modern-day surveillance state. While political outliers in their respective parties, they both asked tough questions that challenged us morally and encouraged reflection.

Dennis Kucinich recently gave a commencement speech at the American University of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates emphasizing the significance of world peace and harmony given our global interdependence.

Dennis Kucinich, who often questioned whether our policy of preemptive war had evolved into “permanent warfare,” suggested to the graduating class that each nation should create a cabinet of peace to help cultivate a sustainable ecosystem of global peace and accord.

Ron Paul, a non-interventionist by nature, opposed what he called the “terrible cost of war.” A staunch civil libertarian, Ron Paul evoked the admonition of Benjamin Franklin, “Those who would give up essential  liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety,” when arguing against expansion of war and domestic surveillance to enhance national security.

In attempts to atone for racist newsletter allegations, Ron Paul would go on to state the obvious and attack the war on drugs as “racist” and “discriminatory.” He also highlighted the fact that he provided medical services to black and interracial couples as an ob/gyn doctor at a time when many other white members of his profession would not.

In the bellicose Shakespearean wilderness of “pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war,” this world has become, perhaps it’s time for that bipartisan cabinet of peace that Dennis Kucinich called for during his recent commencement address, “to develop social structures for peace and strategies to avert conflict between groups and between states.”  What a fitting memorial to two departed advocates of global peace and understanding. They may be gone from politics, but they won’t soon be forgotten.  Their political legacies no doubt will live on — how is yet to be seen.

Staff Writer; Joy Freeman-Coulbary

Feel free to connect with this lawyer via Twitter; enjoyJFC.