Man has the ability to change if he allows the positive spirit to dwell within him; even an evil heart can be changed. It is the spirit of man that defines the heart, and the heart dictates our action. These are lessons we must bear in mind as we learn more about the people who we elect for public office. They should be scrutinized when they head in the wrong direction and held to a higher standard of behavior than the ordinary citizen. They must lead us in a positive direction, and we must demand that their actions and deeds uplift people. These officials have a responsibility to put their best effort forward; they need to show everyone how good citizens should live and act within their communities, acting as role models. The Long Journey Continues aims to open the eyes of Americans citizens, tell us that we hold the key to our politicians' positions. We should never condone negativity in any form; we should expect more from the ones that seek our approval.

The Long Journey Continues

By James L. Bryant Jr.

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 James L. Bryant Jr.
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-8253-6

Chapter One

BORN: WESSON, MISSISSIPPI

AUTHOR: JAMES L. BRYANT, JR.

FIRST BOOK: THE LONG JOURNEY, PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 20009

THE LONG JOURNEY CONTINUES: A SECOND EDITION OF THE JOURNEY.

CHARACTERS; POLITICS AND CANDIDATES, BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS, NEW WAY OF COMMUNICATION AND WORKING WITH OTHER NATIONS

The Long Journey told of "my youth, and living on the farm in a Southern Mississippi County, it told of the hardship and the school/ church that we attended and the move from the farm to Jackson, the capitol. The Long Journey told how I, the Author, had to fight three wars to overcome obstacles along the journey. A psychological, Spiritual and a physical war" had to be fought to overcome "demonic forces that were against progress".

The hardest enemy to fight was "the psychological war that was being waged deep within me" a transformation was needed in my life. A new way of thinking and doing had to be accepted. Making new friends and adjusting to integration after moving to Portland, Oregon, having to choose which school to attend. The reasons for leaving Mississippi and settling in Portland, Oregon, attending the schools of my choice and the first full-time job that I ever held and a job that paid more then I had ever earned. This is where I had become a real man, physically, psychologically and spiritually. The work was hard, hot and dusty.

Joining the Army Oregon National Guard to beat the draft, and taking basic training at an infantry training post, I met soldiers from all over the U.S. and the territories for training. My experiences with other peoples from other different places, gave me the assurance that all peoples are not the same. My reformation had been re-enforced and now I felt more at ease in my surroundings and my integration into a new society. There were strict laws and regulations that governed the actions of the soldiers. Before I had joined the National Guard, I had already met a young lady, who would later, become my wife.

Enjoying all of the natural surroundings, my love for the out doors grew and my love for fishing, hunting and camping grew also. Enjoying the sure beauty of the landscape and the many lakes and rivers, the beautiful snow capped mountains, the high desert and the beautiful Pacific Ocean, the tall trees in the forest and the history of the native people. This gave me a feeling of belonging to the human race. There is no way that men can deny the power of the Almighty, after seeing all of the beauty and the majestic towering mountains, this solidified my beliefs in the higher power. Men cannot create things of this magnitude.

After many years of dating the lady of my dreams, we decided to become husband and wife, a date was set! and the families of both were notified. Like all parents, none of them wanted their children to leave home, although they knew that it would happen someday. Parents had traveled this same path to independence, and they knew the move to independence would not be easy. Parents want to know if we truly love each other, this is the only sustaining power that we will have, the power of love will help us through all times. Through our sickness, through prosperity, through disagreement and agreement

The Long Journey, the story of my life, tell of living in a plantation house on a plantation farm, father working for very little or nothing at all, giving half of what ever he raised on the farm to the plantation owner. When I look back over the past, I can truly see the long journey that I have traveled. None of this could have been possible, if it had not been for a God fearing people. They prayed to God for a way out of this no win life style. God answered their prayers and placed us here. This is where I prospered, raised my family.

I had begun to be interested in the candidates that were running for public offices.

Presidential Candidates, for the office of the highest position in our country, I watched and listened to all the candidates and found all had a story to tell, if the public would listen, then they would tell them what they wanted to hear, whether it be true or false. Truth on just what length the candidates would go to get their messages across to the public. There were many lies, exaggerations, falsifications and other dirty politics being played out. How could the public allow this type of campaigning to continue?, this type of campaigning has gone on for hundreds of years and the public seems to like what they hear and what they see, it seems to be no objections to this type of campaigning for our public offices. It is my belief, that "laws and strict policies be adopted" to govern anyone that is seeking public office. Candidates should live a life that is beneficial to the public to whom they are sworn to serve. Accountability for what they say and what they do.

Keeping abreast of the Presidential Candidates; during the time of campaigning for the office of the President of the U.S., I watched television, listened to radio, and talked to many peoples about the historical election. I became very much interested in this election because History was being made and I had lived to see this Historical occasion, never in our History have so much attention been upon the Candidates for this office. Every speech that was made by the Candidates was scrutinized and analyzed by the news media. They helped to persuade public opinions on what was said and who had said it, never has a Candidate gone through so much scrutiny and lies as the first "Black Presidential" threat to this office, the war was on to derail him at any cost, including misleading the public about his religion. It was not until we had a Black Candidate that offered a real threat to status quo did his opposition increase their verbal attacks upon the young Black Candidate.

The opposition party worked the base of the voters, the older, mostly White and Republican voters to lie and twist the truth. In this base, the opposition party could spread lies and try to defame the "Black Candidate" in anyway that they could, and to get away with dirty tactics. How could a Christian Nation that love God and speak of his laws and justice for man kind, allow these practices to take place or a case of talking the talk, but not walking the walk? We expect our children to grow up and have respect for others and to respect the laws that we are told to live by. We were told that the Christian faith is the only true faith to believe in, but how can our children understand what we are trying to tell them to do? "There is definitely something wrong with this type of teaching and living". How can we win people over to Christianity? We put ourselves in a position to show others how they should live. The public should expect more accountability from candidates and what they do to gain our vote and trust for the office they seek. Not only were there back stabbings in the opposition party, but the back stabbings goes on within the same party. Many people feed on this kind of campaigning. They will attend as many campaign rallies as they can, just to be part of the negativity that would exist. However, there are many people with good intentions that would like to see these tactics stopped and to be more civil in their search for the public votes. It is hard to change the minds and the hearts of some of our older citizens, they have been taught to believe that they are the only people that God has placed all of his trust in to rule the world and this Great Nation. As time goes on,...