Highland Park, MI, Residents Protest Disposal of Black History Collection

 A large collection of books and media on black history and culture was recently found in a dumpster near Highland Park Renaissance High School in Highland Park, Michigan. City Emergency Manager Donald Weatherspoon said workers were clearing the school library's second floor to make room for offices, and they threw the collection out by mistake, says CBS Detroit WWJ. I wrote this article as straight news and so couldn't give my opinion. But on my blog--that's another story. Disposing of books is wrong on many levels. When there's a book burning people come out in protest. Yet here's loads of valuable collectibles dumped and only a handful object. There was no issue of offensiveness. They were just deemed as too cumbersome. How does it cost the school any more to house the collection? And if maintaining it was so expensive, why not donate? And if the school is in so much debt as to require a emergency manager, why not SELL it?? I have no choice but to conclude that this is a racist act of imperialism, plain and simple. Highland Park, MI, Residents Protest Disposal of Black History Collection

Understanding How to Play the Blame-Shame Game

The Blame-Shame Game is a term used in psychology and 12-Step recovery programs to explain behavior that is prompted by blame or shame. The blame -shame game is an avoidance and projection coping mechanism. The Blame-shame gamer attempts to avoid and cover his monstrous sense of shame by projecting the shame onto others (blame).

Here's how the blame-shame game is played. Rules are very important in the blame-shame game,but the can change. What the rule says, depends on who turn it is. Here's what I mean. The blame-shame game requires at least two players, but three is better. This way blame-shame gamers can richocet blame and shame off from and between the other two players. The blame-shame gamer can also form alliances with the person he isn't currently blaming-shaming.  Understanding How to Play the Blame-Shame Game

Control Freaks and Power Struggles in Relationships

Relationships like machines, require balance. Power struggles and control issues indicate a lack of balance in a relationship. Power struggles and control issues stem from one or both partners having poorly developed self-control. Over-controlling results from lack of self-control. Control freaks, usually unbeknownst to themselves, attempt to control other people when they feel out of control of themselves. Those that they attempt to control may fight back, realizing that the control freak is trampling on their boundaries. Hence it may appear that a power struggle is ensuing. However, this is not a true power struggle. A true power struggle is when two persons wrestle over control of a neutral person or separate issue, situation.

If someone is trying to impose his will on yours and you fight back, the controller probably won't understand. It doesn't matter . You're not being controlling when you take control of your life or something that affects you (living situation, safety, health, home, family, personal space). You're attempting to avoid being controlled and asserting your boundaries. This is healthy behavior. You shouldn't cede control of yourself, what affects you or those you are responsible to (kids, for example).

But it doesn't usually look very pretty. No matter how calmly boundaries are enforced the control freak doesn't like it. She rages, sulks, hits below the belt, tries to intimidate and/or shame her partner back into her web of control. She's not in control of herself. She feels it and panics. She instinctively grasps for something or someone external control. Why? Read more Control Freaks and Power Struggles in Relationships

Parent coping tips for teen anger and mood swings

Clinical teen depression is relatively uncommon, but tell that to parents of teens and they may not agree. Bouts of moodiness are hallmarks of teen behavior and one of the most worrisome for parents. Here's a parent survival kit for dealing with teen mood swings.Parent coping tips for teen anger and mood swings

Best Adult Movies to Watch with Mom on Mother's Day

 On the second Sunday of every May, we celebrate Mother's Day. need some great movies to enjoy with mom or in memory of your mother? These movies will make you laugh, cry and fall in love with your mom all over again. Whether you are a mom, grandma, adoptive mom, foster mom, surrogate mom, primary care-giver, aunt, step-mom, god-mother or you were born of a mother, you need this list of movies. Are you missing your mom this Mother's Day? Celebrate the love that moms represent with these movies.  Best Movies to Watch with Mom on Mother's Day

Facebook, Social Media Impairs Real-Life Communication

Facebook and social networking are bubbles. They occupy a lot of time and airspace for a significant number of people. A spectrum of users interact instantly and globally. We don't yet know what all the impacts will be. From my own experiences, I see that digital interaction impairs face-to-face communication. Here's how.  Read more

Detroit's 1914 David Whitney Building to Finally See Resurrection

When I first started visiting Detroit, in 1982, I was surprised that gorgeous old buildings could be left to rot. In my hometown, locals got militant to save a catwalk on the pier. I never thought that historic landmarks would be allowed to fall into ruin, spill interior rubble onto the sidewalk and everyone was okay with this. I watched people casually walk around piles of refuse from broken-down buildings as if they were used to it...because of course they were. They  had no choice but to move on. I was admittedly very naive. And people are certainly more important than buildings. But when buildings crumble it's like they take neighborhoods, made of people, with them. That's why I'm happy to share that after more than a decade, Detroit's famed David Whitney Building is finally getting her long-awaited face lift. The Detroit Free Press says a team, Whitney Partners LLC, will be the developer of the $82-million conversion of the Whitney into retail, apartments, and a boutique hotel. The long-vacant Whitney is an iconic structure downtown at Woodward and Grand Circus Park. On first glance, the Whitney looks pretty dreary and common place. It is now, thanks to a woeful 60s renovation that removed most of the elegant neo-classical City Beautiful exterior design elements. But the glorious Beaux Arts interior remains and only wants a bit of sprucing up. Detroit's David Whitney Building to Finally See Resurrection