First of all, I agree with Lady AKA and some other's comment regarding staying focused on the issues at hand, although I am needless to say, saddened and disappointed at the news.

Secondly, to answer an early question regarding the mother of this child, I heard this morning that she's a PH.D. that taught on the collegiate level. I only thought that was semi-interesting, because when I first heard this story, I ASSUMED she was a young, dumb gold-digging type. (Guess that's why mama said don't ASSUME--find out).

I still think most of the PUBLIC onus is on Jesse, since the "other woman" didn't have an international reputation, family, wife, supporters and, oh yeah, GOD, to whom he pledged to serve when he was ordained as a MINISTER, to think about. I don't condone this type of behavior from either party, BUT don't be so quick to "put it on" this woman. And that "men will be men" and can't-hold-themselves-together crap doesn't wash with me. If this is so, then why are we still allowing men to control our national and international governments and businesses, since they seem to be so out of control?

BTW, one of the sorors I made back in the day told me that her mom was hit on by Jesse after he spoke at a church in their hometown. When I shared that info with my mom, she just laughed and said that in her day, the big open secret in Chicago was how much both Jesse AND his wife got down with other folks. I mention this to make the point that today's news didn't surprise me.

Another BTW: I'm sure the right is LOVING this little tidbit now!

It's sad that this child will grow up labled as the "love child" of Jesse Jackson. Basically, Jesse is only human and nobody's perfect. Just like when Bill Clinton cheated, it was like "big deal." I'm more angry that now the white people (who really don't like him anyway) have something else to talk about.

I'm always hesitant to post about topics like this, because they can get so touchy. This whole ordeal doesn't bother me at all. Well, I guess I shouldn't say that. This might end up being a long post. I'll say it like this: I'm not surprised. Unfortunately, I have to disagree with many. I agree, undoubtedly, that what happened was wrong. What I don't agree with is people being so disappointed in him. HE IS A MAN, and by that I mean human, of the flesh. I agree, he should've known better. At the same time, the title REV. does not give him any special powers. He does not have a shield that protects him from temptation. Satan preys on him the most, probably, because Satan knows that WE create role models. Satan knows that WE follow people, so he preys most on the ones we follow. WE choose to follow PEOPLE. That, to me, in my OPINION, is walking a fine line of idoltry. Jesse shouldn't have no followers. Period. He is supposed to be leading others to follow CHRIST. If we strip him of his title of REV., we might as well take it away from each and every minister, priest, reverend, pastor, etc.

WE need to stop creating these role models. I mean, who determines the criteria for a role model anyway? Who made Jesse (or Bill) role models? They sure aren't mine. I can't think of a single human being that I can say, "I want to be like him/her." Not one. I have always had a problem with this. We have taken the "it takes a village" thing too far. And we never learn from it!!! We are constantly talking about these "role models" and how we are disappointed in them. Bill, Whitney, Jesse. Stop allowing these PEOPLE to be your role models. I mean, how many of yall know Jesse? Why would you allow someone you don't even KNOW to be a role model???? All we know about him is what we see on TV. For all we know, he coulda been beating his wife for years. The point of the matter is, we don't know about these people's private lives. We don't know them socially. All we know is their persona that they WANT us to see. It's for this very reason that I don't believe in role models. Leaders are one thing, role models are another.

What's the difference in a role model and an idol, anyway? This is not a rhetorical question, I really want to know. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif




[This message has been edited by Ideal08 (edited January 18, 2001).]

Wow! Where have I been? It is 11:00 P.M. and I am just hearing about the drama.

Original Ape I couldn't agree with you more.

Professor, you always crack me up! LAWD LAWD LAWD!

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You are the master of your own destiny!

OHhhhhhhhhhhh Soror...

You don't believe in role models? Anyway, that's your believe...BUT, speaking for myself, my role models have been those who I can touch, see, speak to on a daily basis, etc.

My role models have been/are:
MY MOTHER
MY LATE FATHER
MY AUNTS
MY former TEACHERS
FRIENDS of my Family
MY Grandmother

These are the people who I have "looked" up to. These are the people, well, some of them who had NOTHING and made SOMETHING for themselves. These are the people who I emulate. These are the people who lead by example. These are the people who were there to give me advice personally AND professionally. These are the kinds of people I call role models, idols, mentors, or whatever label you want to give it...

NOW, as a teacher, there are many at my school (low socio-economic area) who have seen what I have achieved and say, oh..."I want to go to different schools like Ms. XYZ did" I want to be an AKA, like Ms. XYZ did. I want to be able to support myself and do for myself like Ms. XYZ does. So NOW, I AM IN A position to be a role model for these children, male and female.

Going back to your statement that you don't have role models, now, why was it that you went to college, wanted to become an AKA, or wanted to live a "certain" life? I am only being curious. Again, Soror, you have the right to your opinion about this.

But I too agree that role models should not be these people on TV, cause 9 times out of 10, they are usually putting on a FACADE, anyway. Still, there are many people in our communities, churches, schools, households who, to me are the REAL ROLE MODELS....

All of this is just my opinion! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Discogoddess:
[B]I still think most of the PUBLIC onus is on Jesse, since the "other woman" didn't have an international reputation, family, wife, supporters and, oh yeah, GOD, to whom he pledged to serve when he was ordained as a MINISTER, to think about. I don't condone this type of behavior from either party, BUT don't be so quick to "put it on" this woman. And that "men will be men" and can't-hold-themselves-together crap doesn't wash with me.


Let me clarify, I was in no way condoning, or saying that Jesse wasn't at fault. I have to agree with you on the term "boys will be boys" is kinda played right now.

We all make choices. Choices not chance determine our fate in life. I was simply trying to state that the blame should be shared equally since she knew that he was married. I also heard things about Jesse stepping out and doing his thing years ago. A friend of mine from college told me that a cousin of hers got involved with Jesse, and slept with him and she never heard from him again. So I also wasn't supprised when I heard this.

Also, there was an article I believe in Essence or some other magazine a few years ago that talked about the dirty little secreet of Ministers "letting their dogs out" with members of the church.

There are a lot of things that go on in our community that we simply look the other way on.

Peace and Luv

MN

I determine who my role models are. However, the media places these labels on people such as the "leader of the African-American community" or whatever. I never asked them to speak for me!

If they choose to step into that role then they better realize the awesome responsibility they take on and come correct. I know that no one is perfect and mistakes will be made, but I agree that he (and whoever the woman is) should have known better. Now that the world knows, he wants to take a "hiatus" and take time to heal and reconnect with his family.

I am so disappointed. Yes, he's human, but ministers must realize the weight of their actions. There are so many people out there that refuse to go to church, that call the church a "hypocrite" house that chritians must be very careful in what we do. If we don't then we drive away the very people that we're trying to save. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. Yes, I do believe that this was strategically planned (revealing the information) however, this is another reason why we should be more careful.

On another note, I am praying for his wife. I know she must be going through alot of pain right now.

And finally, as someone mentioned before, what about this woman that he committed adultry with. What kind of woman would have sex with - not only a married man- but a married Reverend. The Charlotte Observer has a picture of the 2 of them at the White House. I have the picture, but haven't had much success posting it (it keeps showing up as a little "x".


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"Things that make you go hmmmmm..."

-Arsenio Hall



[This message has been edited by tickledpink (edited January 19, 2001).]

She was there with him WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif

RUN JESSE!!~!

It's not that I don't believe in "leaders", I just don't believe in role models. I think it's because my mother was constantly telling me that I can only depend on Monique, other people will only disappoint you. So for that reason, I never truly looked up to anyone. As far as why I went to college, it seriously wasn't an option for me. I knew I was going to college in 5th grade. I went to college to have a better life than my parents had and to be able to provide a better life for my children. And as far as having a "certain life," I could have said growing up that I wanted certain "things" that someone else may have had. But never, "I want to have a life like his/hers." It's not that I don't think that people can "lead" you in a certain direction, I do, I call that guidance. But I don't emulate people. I can understand someone saying, "I want to be as good a nurse as Mary," or, "I want to play basketball as well as Michael Jordan." What I don't understand is when people say, "I want to be like Mary when I grow up," or "I wanna be like Mike." I don't want to be like anyone. When people look at role models, for lack of a better term, I think that they should focus on the attributes of that person instead of the person themselves. I'm trying to explain this as best I can, but I don't think I'm doing a very good job at it! Sorry!! I think it's fine to have people in our communities that offer guidance and leadership (parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, etc.) and instill good solid morals and values into our children. It is by those standards that we "should" live by. Instead, we live by what people do. I also understand that you should lead by example. But if we stop believing in people, and believe in our morals and values, things like what happened with Jesse would have us so disappointed. We should never be so disappointed in human beings. Our children should be able to say, "Adultery is wrong," not, "Oh no, Jesse committed adultery, I don't know what to believe now." That's what happens. You look up to someone for so many years. Then something foul happens, and you're stuck, mentally exhausted, trying to figure out what went wrong, how could this have happend, so disappointed, and confused on what to believe. When you look up to your role models, you tend to emulate them and their actions. That is where the problem lies. We shouldn't be emulating ANYONE. We shouldn't want to be like anyone but CHRIST.

Ok, I think I came up with a better word. Mentor. I can hang with mentor. Someone to show you the ropes and guide you through. You don't necessarily have to look up to that person, but you can appreciate their wisdom and their experiences, and learn from them. You don't have to want to be like them or look up to them or emulate them. That way if they slip, you can walk away with what you learned and leave the disappointment behind!

Did that help explain it? Sorry this was so long, but yall know I'm long-winded! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I couldn't agree more. No one's perfect, but there is something called honesty and integrity. He not only made sacred vows to God to "forsake all others", I'm sure he also made vows to God upon accepting his call to the ministry. Besides, if he was that unhappy in his marriage, then you leave before it gets to this point. No one can ever be too angry with someone who tells the truth from the beginning and before too much damage is done.

He took her to the White House but with several other staffers of the Rainbow Coalition, right? I saw the picture and I thought at first he took JUST her and introduced her as his baby mama. But apparently it was business and it was like 6 people. Old girl was all gushy inside because she was preggers with Jesse's baby, etc.

She is a scholar who taught at GA University. Wrote a book on Jesse for publication and wrote her doctoral dissertation on him.

Mrs. Jackson was pissed and went to tell the girl off.

All I can say is "I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (OOH!) I am for real!"