We All Should Care

Accept the call for a deeper purpose.

This rant is brought to you by Damien, Spider’s 6 year old son. He is the most passionate, caring person that I know. Young and old alike.

Out of somewhere (he has a train of thought, I can’t say nowhere) he says to Spider and I quote:

“Everything is made in China, and although stuff made in China is cute,the way they treat kids and other people is NOT cute.”

Do you ever think to pick up a product and look at the label, to see where it’s made?

Do you even know how badly people and especially the children, who work in those “sweat shops” making a lot of these products that we frequently buy, are treated?

Have you ever even given a second thought to it?

Damien has.

So, look forward to more posts from him, “Rants By Damien” is the newest addition to We All Should Care,next time under his name.

His mom may have to help him type it, but the tangent will belong solely to him.

Damien, you ROCK.

It’s been a while, since I’ve spoken of Spencer Bell here, and perhaps you’re wondering why, since I did, in all honestly promise a post a day for Spencer.

It hasn’t been that I’m being a slacker, it hasn’t been that I’ve lost the passion to show his legacy to the world, it’s that he deserves so much more than a lukewarm, mediocre post daily.

Quality over quantity if you will.

So why now,right? Why today?

Because after finding out that my grandmother is dying of cancer, reading Richard Bach, reflecting on so many things in this life…
I have been hit with something very bittersweet.

Bach believes, as I always have, that once your purpose on this planet is finished, that you leave this world.
Maybe to begin again elsewhere, maybe to look over the ones you love, all of that is left up to your belief system.

My point? If you’re still here, your purpose is unfulfilled.

Spencer not being with us, hurts so many,(His family, and friends that I cannot thank enough for sharing him with the world) and even though I have a harder time grasping someone being taken from this world so young, maybe he had fulfilled his destiny, his purpose.

Maybe it was to enlighten many about art, and how it should be.
Even though he was extremely talented, he was a firm believer, that music, and any art really, comes from the heart, the soul, it doesn’t matter if the rest of the world thinks you’re good at it, so long as you love it, and are impassioned by it.

That alone is inspirational.

His wit, his bravery, his unwavering sense of self that is very clear in his legacy, it is awe inspiring.

I know that nothing can bring those that were close to him comfort, that they miss him EVERY SINGLE DAY, every minute of every day, and that no reasoning in this world is good enough that he isn’t here.
That nothing eases the pain, the void that is abundantly clear every time something happens that makes them think of Spencer.

I also know that my mere words falter, so often, that if people could read solely what is written upon my heart, and embedded in my soul, that this message would come out more eloquently….

Since finding his Legacy, Spencer Bell has touched my life in ways that are hard for me to explain. He picked me up when I didn’t think I could stand, and forced me to persevere when I wanted to quit.
His legacy has introduced me to friends that I know will last a lifetime, his words, his art, his music resonate more loudly, more beautifully than the most professionally composed symphony.

Once again, Jackson Rathbone (FRIEND of Spencer Bell, human being), said it better than I could ever put it: ” my hero was much younger than I when my hero was immortalized… ” and then “…there’s no grave for the soul no vinyl coffin made of gold”

Every Friday, we have deemed “Spencer Bell Day” on Twitter.. but quite honestly, we should celebrate the life that this young man had, every day. When I started using the hashtag #spencerbellislegendary I meant it very literally.

Nothing, not even death, can hold him back from expressing the depth, the intensity, the erring human soul, that was and IS forevermore Spencer Bell.

[[image courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]

Rid yourselves of the preconceived notions that you have about suicide, and just try to read this objectively.
I know how hard that is, but please try.

I have often heard that suicide is a cry for attention.
Perhaps, in some rare cases, that is true.
More realistically? For those that honestly intend on taking their own life, it is a lot more involved than just wanting a hug.
And it happens among all races, sexes, and ages.
It is not exclusive to one type of person.
It’s only requirements? That you’re broken, scarred, hurting, aching, agonizing and wanting OUT.
You want the pain to stop.
You don’t stop and think about what will happen in the morning when the sun doesn’t rise for you, all that matters is that hollow in your chest will be gone.
You’ll no longer have to put forth effort to merely breathe, and put one foot in front of the other.
No more auto pilot.
No more pretending.
You’ll be free.
So see, there is someone who DOES understand.
But you know what?
It’s not true.
It won’t make the pain go away, it will only cause more. It will hurt people that love you, and I can promise you, even if you don’t talk to them daily, there is someone that can’t live without you.
There is someone that loves you so much, that their lifeline is connected to yours.
Do you want to be responsible for THEIR hollow? Their pain?
If you’re reading this and you’ve been there, I may not know you (or I may) but I CARE.
If you let me, I’LL REACH BACK when you’re extending your hand.
Nothing may ease your pain, but by damn, I’ll share it with you.
But ending your life? Stupid, inconsiderate, selfish, cowardly.
You’re above that.

Statistics to back up what I’ve said:

• Males take their own lives at nearly four times the rate of females and represent 79.4% of all U.S. suicides.1

• During their lifetime, women attempt suicide about two to three times as often as men.5

• Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for males and the seventeenth leading cause for females.1

• Among males, adults ages 75 years and older have the highest rate of suicide (rate 37.97 per 100,000population).1

• Among females, those in their 40s and 50s have the highest rate of suicide (rate 7.53 per 100,000population).1

• Firearms are the most commonly used method of suicide among males (57.6%).1

• Poisoning is the most common method of suicide for females (39.1%)
Among American Indians/Alaska Natives ages 15- to 34-years, suicide is the second leading cause of death.1

• Suicide rates among American Indian/Alaskan Native adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 34 (21.7 per100,000) are 2.2 times higher than the nationalaverage for that age group (10.0 per 100,000).1

• Hispanic female high school students in grades 9-12 reported a higher percentage of suicide attempts(14.0%) than their White, non-Hispanic (7.7%) orBlack, non-Hispanic (9.9%) counterparts

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 25-34 year olds and the third leading cause of deathamong 15- to 24-year olds.1

• Among 15- to 24-year olds, suicide accounts for 12.3% of all deaths annually.1

• The rate of suicide for adults aged 65 years and older was 14.7 per 100,000.1 Nonfatal, Self-Inflicted Injuries*

• In 2005, 372,722 people were treated in emergency departments for self-inflicted injuries.6

• In 2006, 162,359 people were hospitalized due to self- inflicted injury.1

• There is one suicide for every 25 attempted suicides
In 2007:

• 14.5% of students, grade 9-12, seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months (18.7% of femalesand 10.3% of males).4

• 6.9% of students reported making at least one suicide attempt in the previous 12 months (9.3% of femalesand 4.6% of males).4

• 2.0% of students reported making at least one suicide attempt in the previous 12 months that requiredmedical attention (2.4% of females and 1.5% ofmales)

You can read the full post of statistics HERE

Remember, when you think you have nobody, that nobody is there.
Look a little harder, a little deeper.
If you can’t talk to someone you know, if you can’t talk to me, then please ASK FOR HELP HERE
It’s a site with all the numbers you’ll need to find someone to help.

I met an amazing man today, but forgot, like the winner that I am, to ask his name. He had been sitting in front of the Walmart entrance since 9 A.M (it was 5 p.m by the time I made his acquaintance) taking up donations for a remarkable organization.
One that I didn’t even know existed, but since hearing about it, I can say that I am beyond proud to be a residence of the Charlotte metro area.
The organization? U.C.A.R.E (United Cancer Alliance Reaching Everyone).

Their Mission Statement as taken from U.C.A.R.E:

“United Cancer Alliance Reaching Everyone, Inc. (U.C.A.R.E.) is a non-profit organization, founded in Concord, NC and is based in Charlotte, NC. U.C.A.R.E. was organized to provide financial assistance to individuals and the families of individuals receiving cancer treatment in the Charlotte, North Carolina Metropolitan Area and vicinity.”

How can you help? Well, I’m glad that you asked!

* You can DONATE to the cause

* You can Volunteer to help spread the word and collect donations

* If you own or operate a business, you can become a Sponsor

You don’t have to live in or around the Charlotte, NC. Metro area to help, donations are accepted from all over.
The only requirement is that you have a giving heart.

It’s beautiful when people reach out to help those in their community, see, there IS good in this world, you just have to look a little closer.

Naomi Campbell, one of the most famous black models, who has achieved feats that most would never have thought possible, has recently been slated as saying:

“there’s at least one facet of the industry that’s just as bad as it ever was when it comes to black models: fashion advertising. And the recession is making it worse.
She goes on to say “[Italian Vogue] made some noise, but, unfortunately, we are the same as before,” she said. “People, in the panic of the recession, don’t dare to put a girl of color in their campaign, full stop. Nor of any other race. It’s a shame. It’s very sad.”

In this day and age, you’d THINK we could grasp equality in general.
It infuriates me that our society puts such a huge emphasis on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation. Strip all of that away and what do you have?
A human being.
All of us are made up of blood, bones, muscles, tissues, organs and skin. Does it really matter what package it’s in?
I understand that modeling is about outward appearance, and pleasing society’s standards of such, but beauty is beauty, no matter the color of someone’s skin.
This world needs to wise up, get with the program and treat all models the same, they all do the same job, they deserve equal pay, and recognition.

[[image courtesy of google images]]

It is hard to find any unbiased information on the West Memphis 3 and most people have strong opinions but it is easy to become passionate about the travesty of our so-called justice system, especially in relation to this case.

Damien Echols, Jesse Misskelley Jr., and Jason Baldwin –known as the West Memphis 3– were arrested in West Memphis, Arkansas June 3, 1993 for the assault, mutilation, and brutal murders of 3 children. The evidence that connected Damien Echols, Jesse Misskelley Jr., and Jason Baldwin to the murders was a love of Metallica, Stephen King, and black t-shirts. Oh and the worst part of it all *rolls eyes* Damien dyed his hair and was interested in Wicca. The case was actually a witch-hunt! They were no more than scapegoats for a small town community plagued by police corruption and Satanic panic. Seriously, there were no murder weapons, no evidence whatsoever linking them to the crime. Only small town mentality and that they were different, they stuck out like sore-thumbs in a town of good ol’ boys. They were arrested and convicted based on Jesse Misskelley Jr.’s (who is considered mentally handicapped and has an IQ of 72) confession during a 12 hour police interview, without counsel and without parental consent. Only 45 minutes of the police interrogation in which Jessie “confesses” (which he later unsuccessfully tried to recant) to being involved, alongside Damien and Jason, in the murders to West Memphis police was recorded.

There are many discrepancies in this case including much of Jesse’s confession. Wounds on the children thought to be bite marks did not match molds of the three’s teeth so they were assumed to be made with a serrated knife now have been decided to be caused by animals.

Damien, whom I have had the incredible fortune of receiving a letter from, sits in solitary confinement on death row waiting for lethal injection. Jason Baldwin was sentenced to life without parole. Jessie Misskelley got life plus 40 years.

Arkansas Circuit Court has turned down countless appeals, change of venue requests, etc. Thanks to technology and DNA testing that was not available 16 years ago, on August 10th Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin began a hearing on their motion for a new trial based on ineffective counsel. Damien Echols is seeking a new trial in Arkansas Supreme Court based on new DNA and forensic evidence and juror misconduct. DNA tests found that no DNA taken from the crime scene matches Damien, Jason, or Jessie.

Enraged? Want to help? Sign the petition here, write letters, and visit wm3.org
(which redirects you here while the site is down for maintenance)
www.freewestmemphis3.org
Also you can get live updates at Twitter

[Image courtesy of WM3.org]

Spencer Bell has left behind so many profound words. His lyrics are powerful, and the song “Dandelions” is no exception. In fact, it’s one of my favorites.
Don’t let life pass you by, enjoy it, take it with a grain of salt, none of us get out alive anyway, sit back, enjoy the ride. I’m sure we could all take away something different, and that is what I take away from it.
Spencer had a way of putting things, so that all of us could get it.
I love that. Blunt, straight forward and to the point.
“To all our friends who will meet us at the end.”
I don’t know what supremely awaits me after this life, we can’t know with certainty. Whatever it is, I hope Spencer is there on the other side with a cold beer and is ready to do some talking.
If you’d like to know more about Spencer, please visit his Legacy site by clicking on his name at the top of this post.
And if you’d like to donate to help fund adrenal cancer research, please click HERE. We can make a difference!

[[Image provided by and property of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]

I love this. I think what initially pulled me to this piece of Spencer’s was the color. Purple is my favorite, of course. So understandably, I’d go “oooh purple!” *laugh* But what kept my attention was the words around the outside of the drawing itself.
There is not enough imagination, compassion, thoughtfulness, creating, inventing. We should strive to create something better, a more beautiful world. Something worth leaving behind for our children, grand children, great grandchildren. Don’t you want to leave them with something that they can be proud of? A legacy that they can look back on and know that they too can be influential, inspiring, make a difference?
I wish there were more Spencer Bell’s of this world. I know he was far from perfect, that he was merely human, but even with his flaws, his imperfections, he still stood out and made a difference.
That’s all we should all hope for, to make an impact.
You want to make an impact? Go here: DONATE and donate to help support research for Adrenal Cancer. Together, we CAN make a difference in the fight with this disease.

[[Image courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]

When I saw this piece of art, I kind of clicked with it. Like I have said many times, I’m sure I don’t take away exactly what the artist has in mind, when I look at art, but I love to hear the varying interpretations of my work,so I can hope that others feel the same way.
Spencer Bell was an amazing artist, is a beautiful soul, and this piece was something that like so many other things I’ve seen of his, may stem from something so few of us learn that young in life.
The key to peace, to acceptance, to unconditional love, to ending racism, or bigotry of any kind,the key to tolerance, starts before birth, essentially. It lies with your parents, the creators of your PHYSICAL form. That is not to say, that if you’re raised around bigots, or fighting, that you can’t make the decision for yourself to be different, I did just that. However, parents are very influential,and some people can’t bring themselves to fight against narrow-minded mentality,even if it’s their own. Hell,most especially if it’s their own.
This world is made up of diversity, none of us are exactly alike, and I find that beautiful. I don’t care what religion you are, what color your skin is, whether you’re tall or short, chunky or thin, everyone has the potential to be beautiful. Beauty for me, is about peace,love,understanding,empathy,compassion,tolerance,knowledge,intelligence, so many things rolled into one.
When will we,as a HUMAN race, understand that the Key to Peace is within reach, it is within ourselves?

If you want to see more of Spencer’s Art, click on his name above,and if you’d like to contribute to research about Adrenal Cancer, the disease that took his life, please, go here: RESEARCH All donations are greatly appreciated.

[[Image courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]

Standing in line today, at the grocery store, I got physically ill. Please, allow me to tell you WHY. Normally, I don’t bother even looking at those crap gossip rags, the horrible tabloids that do nothing but spin lies, and alter the truth so horribly that you couldn’t find one shred of decency in it if you TRIED, today was no exception.
What got to me today, though, are the headlines about Robert Pattinson. I know he’s “IT” and “Golden Boy” of the moment (forgive me Rob) and people want to capitalize on that, strike while the iron is hot, so to speak, but I, for one, can’t stand it. Is there no integrity left in this world? Is his soul only worth $3.99 of horrible fallacy to you?
I know that the magazines, and I use that term loosely, are only printed because of supply and demand. Which tells me that instead of wanting to know the truth about Rob, people tend to gravitate towards the things that make him into something he isn’t.
I put this to the true Robert Pattinson fans, admirers, what have you, out there.. do you really believe that he is the person they portray him as in the Gossip Magazines? Or do you read them because you find them entertaining?
If it takes me relishing in lies, someone else’s pain and embarrassment to be entertained, then I’ll opt for being bored for the rest of my days.
Do I judge people for reading them? No, to each their own.
However, I have to say that you should read up on Rob, familiarize your self with who HE is, as much of him as he lets be seen that is.
It seems to me, that most of the Twilight Saga cast are fairly private, and they are entitled to that privacy.
Rob is no exception to the rule. If he doesn’t even like watching his movie Premieres, if he prefers to stay inside out of the public eye, do you really believe he’s some dark, sinister playboy by night, and charming Don Juan by day? Come now. Not that he doesn’t have it in him, we’ll pretend for a moment that he does, but he isn’t one to flash that around.
I have said this time and again, I grow tired of repeating it, but since constant vigilance is my mantra, I’ll continue with it…
Celebrities are people, just like we are. They are not infallible, they are not flawless, they should not be placed on a pedestal. They deserve privacy, and more importantly respect.
Think about it this way..maybe it’s fun to you to read malicious gossip about a celebrity, because they’re “untouchable” “unreachable” to you, but what if YOU were in their shoes? What if it was your son, daughter, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, someone that meant something to you on a personal level? Would you WANT to see those headlines? Would you spend your $3.99 to be entertained THEN?
It breaks my heart to know that we have become so apathetic and indifferent to the plights of others, that we allow trees to be sacrificed, just so we can read bullshenanigans (thank you Jackson Rathbone for the use of that word) about celebrities. Sacrifice trees for education sake, classic literature,poetry,prose,art, instruction manuals, fine, but to lower ones IQ? It’s a travesty.
Those that run these Gossip mags, laugh all the way to the bank, and will continue to do so, until we take a stand.
You love Robert Pattinson ? Jackson Rathbone ? Kellan Lutz ? The rest of the Twilight Saga Cast? If you do, PROVE IT.
Show them some respect. When you’re in line at the grocery store, or wherever you see these crap magazines, pick them up and turn them around. Do not pick them up and read them, and most certainly do not purchase them. Will it stop the crap rumors? No, but it will make an impact.
It only takes ONE person to make a difference, to take a stand.
Be the change you want to see in the world, and it’s contagious. Others WILL follow suit.

[Images by DISCIULLO/bauergriffinonline.com]
[This article of mine was originally posted at TEN GOSSIP ]