I don’t have the money, nor the recognizable voice of a Bill O’Reilly, but I wrote a book inspired by my grandchildren. I’ve also studied history and have done my work on Black history, which was denied me through my limited formal education.  I am also a 22-year Navy veteran, born during the era of Jim Crow; lived through the March on Washington, the Civil Rights Act, the Affirmative Act, and the Voting Rights bill; all of which, was stood up against with an antidote as if it were a threat to America.  Examples: Claims of voter fraud when there was none.  The election of an African American President and the seeds of disrespect and discontentment in the form of antidotes began to flow from all directions. Bill O’Reilly, in 2014, in an interview, lectured the president rather than asking questions.  House Speaker John Boehner invites the Israeli Prime Minister to speak to Congress without consulting the White House.  Rudy Giuliani “I do not believe the president loves America, speaking of then-President Obama.  During an address to a joint session of Congress, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) yells, “You lie!” The claims of being a Muslim (as if it was some disease) and, of course, the birther movement.  Subliminal messages are planted in the minds of an unsuspecting but already discontented America.  Now, it’s “Black Lives Matter” – the antidote – “All Lives Matter.”  Of course, all lives matter, but the movement was watered down intentionally by people like Bill O’Reilly.  While the whole purpose of “Black Lives Matter” was to bring national attention to an ever-growing problem.

There’s history like Black Wall Street and the Apartheid Baltimore Style Act of 1917; in time, if it were not for the televised Bloody Sunday, the Civil Rights Act might never have happened.  I don’t believe Bill O’Reilly understood the human toll that happened on Bloody Sunday.  But he does know what he’s doing with his diversionary tactics of hitting below the belt.  I wrote my book, “Guidance: Against the Odds” at the age of “72,” to give my grandchildren a reflection of my life growing up in America and an insight into how important it is to know history.  I served my country in the United States Navy for Kaepernick to have the right to do what he thinks is a just cause and also (unfortunately) for dirty mouths to keep their snowball rolling under free speech.  The only antidote to a violent society is for all of us to revisit history and try to understand cause and effect for a decent conversation to be had.  If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside cannot hurt you; an old African Proverb.