KELEIDOSCOPE

I wasn’t there…

You weren’t there…

I don’t know if Eddie Long was sexually involved with those young men. I don’t know if Mr. Cee was involved in fellatio with a man in a car.  I don’t know if any of this stuff is true… But it sure does look like that stuff is true. (FYI- I’ve seen fellatio spelled about 6 different ways, *scratches head) Anyway… I’m not pleading guilty or giving up $15 million dollars for an act that I’m not guilty of. But maybe there’s some other stuff involved, that none of us know about, that caused these innocent men to partake of post violation steps that only guilty people typically partake of…

I know adults… Not children, but adults who are bothered by having to say the words, “I’m Sorry.” I know adults whose lips you will NEVER hear the words, “I was wrong” come from. I have no children of my own but based on what I’ve seen of the Parent/Child dynamic, the most important words you can teach your child are Yes, No, Please, Thank You and I’M SORRY. Yes & No are the foundation for all of our choices. Please & Thank You are the foundation for our compassion and how we interact. I’m Sorry is the foundation for humility and character, to a degree. If you teach these words to your child and have them use them properly, you are on your way to raising a decent human being. It bothers me that there are ADULTS… People OVER THE AGE OF 21 who do not know how to use these words properly and it’s a direct reflection of who they are. I have held doors for adults and have had to sarcastically say, “Ummm… You’re Welcome” just to get a thank you out of them. I have held debates/disagreements with people whose version of, “I was wrong. I apologize. How can we fix this?” is more like, “Ok, so it happened, you want me to go back in time and make it right?” I have dealt with people who cannot keep their word because they have a difficult time even telling themselves NO! What is wrong with us?!?!?!

“But, Kel… I came to this post thinking I was going to read some juicy details about Mr. Cee & Eddie Long. I thought I was going to hear some low down dirt. What’s Yes, Please, and I’m Sorry have to do with these guys?” I’m glad you asked. As I stated earlier, I don’t know if these men are innocent or guilty but A- Because it looks like it… B- Because you are taking steps in the direction of admitting guilt… C- Because you have a public platform and a following, I think you owe some type of conversation to that following. Maybe not Mr. Cee but definitely Mr. Long. I am in no position to judge anyone… Which is why I’m not judging… I’m corrected and we all need correcting from our neighbors at times. There are times when I post something and some of you correct me below in your comments. I don’t take that as judgement. I take it as correction… Healthy & Mature correction. So allow me to correctly correct… If you were unable to properly use the words “Yes & No” as it pertains to your own desires (which we’re all guilty of in some shape or form) you should at least have the decency to properly use the words “I’m Sorry” OR bring clarity to those who have no clarity on the issue. The same clarity that is used in showing people why they should follow you… Why they should support you… Why they should partake of your movement (often paying money to do so) should be the same clarity given to these people in admitting your mistake (which we’ve all made) and assuring them that you will change… OR that you won’t change if that’s the case lol!

We never needed to know that Magic Johnson contracted HIV. We never needed to know that. But this man stood in front of cameras and admitted that he had extramarital relationships… that he had them without use of sexual protection… and that he was sorry and ashamed of it. Despite how disgusting you may think his actions were… Despite how immoral you may think his actions were… There is no way to not respect his admission of guilt and willingness to do better. That’s the way my father raised me to deal with error. It just pains me to see men in prominent positions, Not only making the mistakes that we’re making but also not dealing with them properly once they’ve been made. It makes me question the model of manhood that’s out there. I think Mr. Cee is talented and a pillar of Hip Hop. I think the same for Eddie Long as it pertains to the Christian Faith. I wish both of these men, nothing but the best as it pertains to their futures and I hope they never have to go through (nor put anyone through) anything like this ever again. They are my brothers. By brothers… and myself included, I say this out of love… We Must Do Better. I’m spent. Tell me if I’m buggin out…

-Kel Spencer