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Free Concert Series Visits Los Angeles to Continue Support for Ronald McDonald House Charities, Introduces New Scholarship for one HBCU Student

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— LOS ANGELES, CA— – McDonald’s USA announced the return of one of its staple events, the 12th annual Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour. The longest-running, brand-owned gospel tour of its kind is back with an award-winning talent line-up sure to please fans nationwide. This free concert tour began May 17 and runs until October 20, culminating in Los Angeles.

The 2018 nationwide concert series appeals to a wide range of gospel music lovers with its lineup of award-winning talent, including urban contemporary gospel artist and preacher Deitrick Haddon, choir master Ricky Dillard, contemporary artists, JJ Hairston, and Todd Dulaney, as well as hip-hop gospel artist Canton Jones. The tour is set to stop in Los Angeles on October 20th at the 13th annual Taste of Soul festival.

The concert will take place on the Brenda Marsh-Mitchell Gospel Stage, located on the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and W Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The concert kicks off at 10 a.m.

The tour is just one way that McDonald’s displays its commitment to changing for the better. In fact, for nearly 50 years, the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association (NBMOA) has given back to the communities they serve by providing scholarships, donating time and money to local schools and hiring minority youth.

As with previous years, the tour will celebrate McDonald’s continued devotion to Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®). At each stop, the national tour will raise a love offering to support families served by the Charity. In just the last five years, the love offering has raised nearly $800,000 to aid in helping families stay close when their children are ill, raising nearly a quarter of a million dollars in 2017 alone. Attendees will be encouraged to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California (RMHCSC®) during the show.

“Southern California McDonald’s operators look forward to the Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour every year, as it gives us the opportunity to connect with our community through our shared love of gospel music,” states Kiana Webb, President of the Southern California Black McDonald’s Operators Association (BMOA). “We’re excited to celebrate another year of uplifting music, food and fun with our Southern California family.”

As a new part of the tour, McDonald’s will award one HBCU college student with a $10,000 Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarship at a select tour stop during the Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour. This is one of five scholarships McDonald’s is sponsoring throughout the year. More information regarding the scholarships will be available on www.mcdonalds.com.

“It’s a privilege to be apart of the tour I’ve watched and admired over the years. McDonald’s is doing something incredible by giving back to the community through a dynamic gospel tour. Getting behind this was a must,” said JJ Hairston, an award-winning, first-time artist on McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour.

Legendary singer, songwriter, and producer, Donald Lawrence will return as the tour’s music director. Tour favorite, contemporary gospel artist and radio personality Lonnie Hunter resumes hosting duties.

As always, all concerts are free of charge. Tour dates and locations have included the below, with the final stop set for Los Angeles:

• May 17 – Chicago, Jones Convocation Center
• May 18 – Detroit, Greater Grace Temple
• May 31 – Philadelphia, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church East
• June 1 – Washington, DC, City of Praise Family Ministries
• June 8 – Raleigh, Wake Chapel Church
• July 12 – Birmingham, Bill Harris Arena
• July 13 – Atlanta, Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral
• August 9 – Memphis, Brown Baptist Church
• August 10 – Jackson, Jackson Convention Complex
• August 18 – New Orleans, TBD
• August 31 – Dallas, The Potter’s House
• October 20 – Los Angeles, Taste of Soul Family Festival

McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour is an extension of the brand’s 365Black platform, an initiative that celebrates the pride, heritage, and achievements of African-Americans year-round. Dr. Pepper® also returns as the tour’s sponsor, showing its appreciation and commitment to the African-American community.

Visit www.365Black.com to learn more about the 12th annual tour and McDonald’s scholarship opportunities. Follow @365Black on Twitter for tour updates and join the conversation using #365BlackGospel.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—-SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Saturday, October 20 at 11 a.m., Loveland Church in collaboration with Mission Africa presents: Uniting and Igniting Inland Empire Youth for Missions. The founders of Mission Africa have traveled from Ghana, West Africa to recruit Pastors and Youth to come back to Africa.

There will be a special Missions & Awards ceremony presented by Dr. Kodjoe Sumney, PH D and Dr. Akosuah Sumney PH D; founders of Mission Africa, Incorporated. Dr Chuck Singleton, Senior Pastor will be one of the award recipients, along with Apostle David Cunningham, Dr. Reginald Woods, Rev. Reginald Young, Dr. Joseph Gueste, Bishop Philip Powell, Dr Michael Edwards, Dr. Joshua Beckley, Dr. Raymond TTurner; special guest speakers will be Reggie Webb, Evangelist Jerry Musgrove, Stella Wiggins, and Sisters of Soul Youth Foundation.

Mission Africa is a 21^st Century Global Humanitarian and Missions Work founded by Dr. and Mrs. Sumney. They have mobilized over 1,000 volunteers from the USA to undertake various humanitarian projects in Ghana and other parts of the world. We are inviting you to join with us, on this day to help us to recognize our honorees, and to be a part of this next move of God. For more information visit us at www.missionafricainc.org or call 951-500-2609 or 909-356-5683.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- Assemblymember Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) recently held a media call with members of the Black press to discuss his plans for California’s education system. Thurmond is competing against Marshall Tuck for the post of state superintendent of public instruction.

Thurmond served as a West Contra Costa School Board member, Richmond City Council member and social worker before he was elected to the legislature.

He takes a more grassroots approach to educational problems.  He believes early-childhood education and reading programs are the solutions to producing better students.

As a legislator, Thurmond has also sponsored Assembly Bill 43 that wanted to levy taxes on the state’s private prisons and direct the money to the K-12 education system.  (The bill died.)

Thurmond said that, as a former school board member, he is aware of some of the problems black students face. Many of the reporters asked how Thurmond would solve the problem of high suspension rates of black students. He said we need to strengthen teaching training programs. Thurmond added that schools need to review their suspension rates because many students were being suspended for “willful defiance.”

He added that teachers need to look into their “implicit bias,” when dealing with African-American students. He also plans to create a pipeline to produce more minority teachers.

“Over the last year, I have spent time studying successful programs in other states to provide a model for California.  I am encouraged by the results of these recruitment programs and look forward to introducing this pilot program that will provide teachers of color with the tools they need to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders,” said Thurmond.

Several other states, such as Illinois and South Carolina, have implemented similar programs. According to a press release, minority representation among the teaching field is fairly low in California. Only 4 percent of educators are black and 20 percent are Latino. The numbers drop even lower when you look at male educators.

Thurmond said he was also concerned about the high number of black students who are being put in special education programs or diagnosed with ADHD. He said that in some cases they are just being normal children. Thurmond added that not all students fit in a traditional lecture-based class.

He said education needs to be more interactive and hands on. That is why he authored a bill that added $150 million for career technical education.  Other issues Thurmond wants to focus on are students learning a second language and STEM courses.

“We need to prepare our kids to compete in a global market,” he said.

Tuck, Thurmond’s opponent in the superintendent’s race, is former CEO of Green Dot Public Schools, a charter chain that has schools in the Los Angeles area.  According to Thurmond, Tuck has millionaire backers and a $30 million campaign fund.

Thurmond said he wants to serve students in all schools, but he’s not convinced that charter schools are always a success.

“The data I have seen shows most charter schools experiences are similar to public schools,” said Thurmond. “It’s not any better, not any worse.”

However, charter schools do benefit from smaller classes and the ability to expel students.

One of the worries about charter schools is that they operate as for-profit businesses that transfer money out of the local school system. Thurmond said he had co-sponsored legislation (AB 406) this year that was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. The legislation prevents for-profit charter schools in California.

By Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— Come dressed in your nines or at least dress to impress on Saturday, November, 3, for the premiere of Gospel Recording Artist Sherri Bryant’s video, “It’s My Time”. The premiere will be taking place at the classic and renowned Barnsdell Gallery Theater located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles.

It will definitely be a classy affair, so come photo op ready! Comedian John Hill will also be in the building to keep the guest entertained and the night flowing as the evening’s MC. Tickets for this event are just $10 and can be purchased via PayPal to sherribryant6@gmail.com, Cashapp to $sherribryant or itsmytime2018.eventbrite.com.

We also got to chat with Ms. Sherri where she explained the inspiration behind the video and what to except the night of the premiere.

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— I Give Myself Away, so You can use me ….Here I am, here I stand… Lord, my life is in Your hands… Lord, I’m longing to see Your desires revealed in me… Take my heart; take my life, as a living sacrifice. All my dreams, all my plans… Lord, I place them in your hands.  I give myself away… Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that, You’re my God, You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me.  I Give Myself Away…” [William McDowell]

When we recognize what God has done for us through his Son Jesus Christ, THE ONLY RESPONSE is to give ourselves completely to Him. Where would we be without God’s love and forgiveness? Where would we be without God’s presence in our lives? We have all sinned and deserve God’s judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve… I ask you; What shall we render to the LORD for all His benefits towards us?

I urge you; Paul said, in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove, what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  [Romans 12:1].

What shall we render to the LORD for all His goodness toward us?

We should lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. We should fulfill our vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. We should sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to Him…. [Psalms 116:12-19].

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.

“For thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” [Mark 12:30].

Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your Great Grace towards me. You love me with an everlasting love. You look beyond my faults, failures and flaws, and you choose to use me anyway; by Your grace, for Your glory. So I give myself over to You. I hold NOTHING BACK! I give You all of me. Everything I give to You. There is no area of my life that is off-limits to You. I refuse to keep things from you any longer. I refuse to hold back certain things, like I used to. There was a time when I was not completely committed to You, but that time is over. I die to me. I decrease that You may increase in me. I minimize me, that You may maximize Yourself IN and THROUGH ME. I withhold nothing from you and I declare You will withhold nothing from me! I give myself completely to You and You give yourself completely to me. I draw near to You and You draw near to me. I humble myself and You exalt me. I lay before Your feet and You lift me up! I offer myself as a living sacrifice before You, and You open doors for me in this season that no man can shut. You also shut doors for me that no man can open. I give myself to you on a greater level and You pour out Your grace on me on a greater level. In this season I will experience Your Grace like never before, because You want to bless me and I WITHHOLD NOTHING from You! I declare this by faith. In Jesus name. Amen.

“All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all. All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now. All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine. All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me. All to Jesus I surrender, now I feel the sacred flame. Oh, the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory to His name!” [I Surrender All – Israel Houghton].

“I Surrender All to You, Everything I Give to You… Withholding Nothing, Withholding Nothing…” [William McDowell]

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—-SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- JCPenney has partnered with the career service center at California State University San Bernardino for a college Suit Up event designed to help students dress for success and jump start their careers.

This private event will take place at the JCPenney in Inland Center on Sunday, October 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., to accommodate hundreds of students looking for advice on what to wear for job interviews. Faculty, staff and alumni from the California State University San Bernardino, along with members of the JCPenney team, will be on-hand to offer insights into the latest career fashion trends, how a suit should fit, what size to buy, how to tie a tie and more.

JCPenney will offer a special 40 percent discount to all California State University San Bernardino students with a valid ID during this event. Through this substantial discount, men can easily purchase a Stafford suit jacket and pants, shirts, ties, belts and shoes for under $200. Women can buy a Worthington suit jacket, skirt, shirt and shoes for under $100.

The Inland Center is located at 300 Inland Center in San Bernardino.

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—-SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- In honor of the start of their 90th concert season, the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra has scheduled an anniversary gala, a concert featuring world premier music, and a historical retrospective reception… all on Saturday, October 27.

The evening will begin with a black-tie anniversary dinner party to be held at 5 p.m. under the giant tent alongside the California Theatre. Guests will enjoy a delicious plated dinner and inspiring musical performances by some very special guests, chat with past conductors and performers, bid on silent auction items, and hear all about the up-coming concert.

Then at 7:30 p.m. immediately following the gala, the concert will begin.

This historic occasion will include the premiere of Emmy award-winning composer John Christopher Wineglass’ Voices of the West, a new work commissioned by the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the region whose name they proudly bear. This inspirational composition celebrates those things that most positively distinguish San Bernardino and the diverse peoples who established the region. With music inspired by the bird songs of the Serrano Indians, hymns of the Mormon pioneers, Spanish folk tunes, and African American spirituals, this beautiful piece of music will also pay tribute to the brave first responders, and to the region’s unique geography, from the majesty of the local mountains and vistas, to the built environment that provides homes and commerce to millions.

“Voices of the West fulfills a long-held dream,” said SBSO Board President Dean McVay. “We have hoped to be in the position to create something meaningful and important about the region for years and now, through the generosity of many civic-minded arts lovers* this dream is coming true.”

The widely renowned Los Robles Master Chorale, under the leadership of Dr. Lesley Leighton, will join the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra for Voices of the West. In addition to the new music, the concert will also include Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien, Op. 45, Respighi’s Pines of Rome, and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini which will feature young piano virtuoso HyeJin Kim.

The October 27th concert will be performed under the baton of guest conductor Laura Jackson. With glowing reviews from across the country, Jackson was selected to lead this historic concert because of her dynamic stage presence and ability to connect with the audience. Maestra Jackson is one of the ten outstanding conductors currently being considered for the position of San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra Music Director, a decision which will be made following the final concert of this season.

Following the concert, the San Bernardino Symphony Guild will hold a reception for concert ticket holders in the California Theatre’s California Room complete with a retrospective of historical artifacts from the city and region.

December, February, March, and April Concerts

Four amazing concerts follow the October performance. December 1, we will present our annual Holiday Concert. Under the baton of guest conductor Dean Anderson, the Orchestra will premiere another new holiday work, this one by Nilo Alcala, alongside music from Vaughan-Williams, Rimsky-Korsakov, Anderson, and Tchaikovsky in the first half of this festive concert. In the second half, we will welcome popular singer David Archuleta to perform holiday favorites with the Orchestra.

February 9, 2019, audiences will enjoy A Night at the Pictures. Guest conductor Ming Luke will lead a family-friendly musical romp through beloved favorites from Rossini, Mussorgsky, Strauss, and Mozart… all selected from cartoons and movies! This is a perfect concert to introduce young music lovers to the Symphony!

March 16, 2019, the Orchestra will present An Evening with Melissa Manchester under the baton of our Maestra Sharon Lavery. The first half will be dedicated to the music of George Gershwin, including selections from Porgy and Bess, and pianist Bernadene Blaha will perform Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. In the second half, Grammy award-winning singer/actress Melissa Manchester will take the stage to perform her tribute to “The Fellas” and some of her own popular songs.

To complete the 90^th season, on April 13, 2019, the Orchestra will present Celestial Sounds. Guest conductor David Cubek will lead a space-age evening of music including Holst’s haunting The Planets, Ravel’s glorious Sunrise, and Williams’ soaring Star Wars Suite. To add to the fun, audience members are encouraged to dress as their favorite Star Wars character.

Ticket Availability

Tickets are available by calling the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra office at (909) 381-5388 or through our website: www.sanbernardinosymphony.org. Student and active military tickets are always $15; all other tickets are available at $30. $45. $55, and $65.

By Aubry Stone, California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- African Americans usually vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic Party, but that doesn’t mean they are always in line with Democratic state issues. Findings from a recent poll of 1,200 African American voters conducted by Evitarus, a public opinion research firm released new data that shares insight into black voters in California.

The California African American Policy Priorities Survey (CAPPS) poll was commissioned by the African American Voter Registration, Education and Participation (AAVREP) Project. The group’s mission is to increase African American and urban voter registration, education, and civic participation.

The survey questioned people via cell phone, landline, and the Internet. However, 82 percent of the responders completed their answers online.

According to the survey, 65 percent of African Americans are in favor of Proposition 10, a measure that supports affordable housing. However, a third of black voters were in favor of repealing the gas tax. This law was passed by Gov. Jerry Brown and opposed by Republicans. Republicans also support Proposition 6, which would repeal the gas tax.

In the gubernatorial race, African Americans favored Democrat Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsom has made affordable housing one of the central issues of his campaign.

“We’re experiencing a housing affordability crisis, driven by a simple economic argument,” said Newsom, according to his campaign website. “California is leading the national recovery, but it’s producing far more jobs than homes. Providing adequate housing is fundamental to growing the state’s economy.”

The survey showed that 34 percent of black voters had a very favorable view of Newsom, while only 5 percent of them had a very favorable view of Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox. Cox is in favor of repealing the gas tax.  He also says that California’s many taxes make the state unaffordable for working families.

“California’s sky-high sales taxes, vehicle license fees, and the highest gasoline taxes in the nation are a major reason so many families just can’t make ends meet anymore.  These high fees are a major reason California now has the highest poverty rate in the nation.  The most urgent need right now is to repeal the new vehicle license and gas tax increases,” said Cox, according to his campaign website.

According to the poll, African Americans followed a familiar pattern on national issues. The survey showed that about 84 percent of black voters had an unfavorable view of President Donald Trump. This is not surprising since he criticized former NFL player Colin Kaepernick and other players who knelt in protest of police violence. Trump also called African nations “sh*thole countries.”

The survey showed that 53 percent of black voters said opposing the Trump administration’s agenda was a high priority. African-American voters listed public education, eliminating racial profiling and holding law enforcement agencies accountable and expanding access to mental health as more important issues.

According to Shakari Byerly, managing partner, and lead researcher, the survey findings will prove useful to politicians vying for the African American vote.

“One of the strongest findings from the survey is the high level of support for Proposition 10, which is aimed at increasing the amount of affordable housing, by giving cities and counties the authority to expand rent control. Affordable housing is a top priority for black voters, so it is not surprising to see such high levels of support. However, recent research conducted by PPIC suggests that support for the measure is lagging among voters overall,” she said.

Byerly also said, “Black voters will likely determine the margin of victory in key ballot measure propositions and congressional campaigns throughout California. It is therefore imperative that we understand the policy priorities and preferences of this important constituency. Candidates and ballot measure campaigns seeking to win this November ignore the black vote at their own peril.”

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Bill Steele, Navy Office of Community Outreach

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN DIEGO, CA— A 1997 Mojave High School graduate and Hesperia, California, native is serving aboard an Avenger mine countermeasure ship designed to clear mines from vital waterways across the globe.

Chief Petty Officer Martin Benitez is a Navy damage controlman serving aboard USS Champion under the command of Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

As a Navy damage controlman, Benitez is responsible for maintaining watertight integrity of the ship, ensuring that damage done to the ship is repaired properly, and training the crew on firefighting methods.

“There’s a lot of training that goes into being a damage controlman,” said Benitez.  “Overall my job is helping my shipmates move up into training positions and spreading knowledge.”

Mine countermeasure ships are designed as mine sweepers/hunter-killers capable of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines. These ships use sonar and video systems, cable cutters and a mine detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control.

Hunting mines is a slow, laborious task that requires a ship to stay in a small area until it’s done, according to the Navy. Since 1945, mines have sunk almost four times more U.S. ships than all other threats combined, said Navy officials.

The worldwide threat, which today totals more than a million weapons of some 300 different types, comprises rudimentary but still-dangerous World War I-era contact mines to highly sophisticated, multiple-influence and programmable weapons, reports the Navy. These figures are for sea mines, proper; they do not include underwater-improvised explosive devices that can be fashioned from fuel bladders, 50-gallon drums, and even discarded refrigerators.

The ships deploy a remotely operated mine disposal system and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) mine neutralization system. The disposal system detects, locates, classifies and neutralizes moored mines and mines resting on the seabed. The vehicle uses high-frequency, high-resolution sonar, low light level television, cable cutters and explosive charges to detect and dispose of mines, while remaining tethered to the vessel by a cable and under control of the vessel. Each ship accommodates a crew of 80.

“Serving on a minesweeper, you form a small brotherhood and family,” Benitez said.

As part of the Navy, Benitez explained that sailors are helping to build a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, including helping to develop new war-fighting capabilities to continue the Navy’s success on the world’s oceans.

“The Navy has blessed me and my family. I’m trying to pay it forward by helping others get to the position that I’m in,” said Benitez. “It’s a privilege to serve.”

By Wanda Hukares, Inland Empire Resident

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the me that I should bring my own grocery bag because plastic bags are not good for the environment. I apologized to the young girl and explained, “We didn’t have this ‘green thing’ back in my earlier days.”

The young clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations.”

I said that she was right — our generation didn’t have the “green thing” in its day. I went on to explain:

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So, they really were recycled. But we didn’t have the “green thing” back in our day.

Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags that we reused for numerous things. Most memorable besides household garbage bags was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our school books. This was to ensure that public property (the books provided for our use by the school) was not defaced by our scribblings. Then we were able to personalize our books on the brown paper bags. But, too bad we didn’t do the “green thing” back then.

We walked up the stairs because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn’t have the “green thing” in our day.

Back then we washed the baby’s diapers because we didn’t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220 volts. Wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that young lady is right; we didn’t have the “green thing” back in our day.

Back then we had one TV, or radio, in the house — not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she’s right; we didn’t have the “green thing” back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blade in a  razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn’t have the “green thing” back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service in the family’s $45,000 SUV or van, which cost what a whole house did before the”green thing.” We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger joint.