The Second Amendment

A little girl wakes up in the morning to the sweet scents of coffee and her mother’s favorite perfume. Mom is sitting on her bed, rubbing her forehead and giving her sweet kisses in order to wake her up gently & peacefully. It’s pure love. The little girl smiles says good morning and hugs her mom. Mom hugs back, rubs her hair and tells her it’s time for breakfast. The little girl hops out of bed and runs over to her parent’s bedroom where she knows her father is getting ready for work. She runs over to him and he picks her up in his arms, gives her a strong hug and a loving kiss on the cheek. The family has breakfast together, drop off their daughter at school and continue on with their work day without a care in the world. They know they will see their daughter again after school. So sure, in fact, that they don’t even question the safety of their child at school. Oh how times have changed.

President Obama has addressed the nation many times on how this needs to be a thing of the past. He has stated and reassured Americans that this is an epidemic that needs to be cut at the seam for the safety of our children and the nation. The culprits are guns. The only way to guarantee peace of mind is to ignore the Second Amendment and destroy guns. Guns are the blame of the senseless murders that have occurred over the last couple of years. From Columbine to Sandy Hook, the crimes could have been prevented if citizens did not hide behind the cloth of the Constitution.

I want you to take a good look at the 23 Executive Actions that the President signed on January 16, 2013. Now, I know that the majority of the crimes that have been publicized are involving guns, but correct me if I’m wrong, doesn’t someone have to pull that trigger and aim at someone in order to hurt or murder that individual? Why is it that the thirteenth, 13^th, action state “Maximize enforcement efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime”? Now, I’m not one to agree with Bill O’Reilly, but I have to admit the man has a point when he stated that there should be a mandatory ten year federal sentence for anyone caught illegally possessing a fire arm. If a child reaches out and touches something that a parent has warned that child about, and that child gets disciplined the first time, what are the chances that the child will commit the same error?

The President has gone on to state in his January 16 speech that the people will be warned about a “tyrannical all out assault on liberty [to] jet up fear [and] higher ratings.” An assault on liberty? I would have to conclude that this is exactly what it is. The last time I checked there was this thing called the Second Amendment and it states “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This right has been questioned over and over again. The militia part, the free state part, and the right to keep and bear arms. The bottom line is that our forefathers came up with all these rights because they lived in a time where they had to fight for freedom. This freedom that we wake up with every day was not given to us without cost. Our society today does not reflect on the lessons that were taught prior. If you don’t fight for it, it will be lost.

I read several Supreme Court cases in my hunt for some type of precedent for the types of laws that the President would like to take action on such as banning certain type of guns and the amounts of ammunition. There was one case that kind of caught my attention District of Columbia v Heller (2008). This was a case where a D.C. special police officer, who was authorized to carry a handgun while on duty, was denied a registration certificate to have a handgun in his home. Here is a man of the law, who is also a citizen, who wanted to have a firearm LEGALLY. The court stated “…the inherent right of self-defense has been central to the Second Amendment right. The handgun ban amounts to a prohibition of an entire class of ‘arms’ that is overwhelmingly chosen by American society for that lawful purpose. The prohibition extends, moreover, to the home, where the need for defense of self, family, and property is most acute.”

My argument is that it is impossible for the Federal Government to mandate what guns one can and cannot have in their homes. If one is going about the right way of obtaining these firearms, why are they being attacked? Shouldn’t the attention be focused on criminals, because the truth of the matter is that the tighter the noose becomes around the Second Amendment, it’s only Lady Liberty that suffers.

When Vice President Biden opened up for President Obama on January 16, he stated that he meet with various organizations representing different groups around the country who unanimously agreed that the laws needed to be stricter. In my YouTube hunt, I came across a video of a California Sheriff who stated that he was part of one of those groups. He stated that the current Administration was trying to denigrate the Second Amendment. He also stated that all they are pushing is “feel good legislation.” In fact, I found numerous interviews with different Sheriff Offices around the country where they are stating that if there are any restrictions on the Second Amendment, they will not enforce these Federal regulations in their state. What does that say about the Vice President’s comments? In fact an Oregon Sheriff sent a letter to the President. His letter went viral over a couple of days.

Ultimately, the exact extent of the text of the law that the Administration is pushing has yet to be released. Everyone is being wrangled into a corner using fear as a motivator. As we take a look at the country and the economic stance of each city, know that police forces are working with a minimum budget and a minimum man power. Calling 911 will not get the public the help they need in order to save their lives. A gun in the right hands is a life saved.

No matter what your stance is on this gun issue, it is your RIGHT to speak your mind and be heard. Please contact your legislature and let them know what you think on the issue.

The Doctor Will See You Now by Ymelda Ramirez

“I’m pregnant.” I could feel letters scrambling, beating each other up to form words to make this better; they were unsuccessful. There was nothing to make this better. I mean, I could have an abortion. Pretend it never happened. Technically speaking it was smaller than a peanut. It didn’t have personality. I wouldn’t even have known I was pregnant anyway. I only knew because I was three days late. I was never late.

Jacob, however, was always late. Always late with some type of nonsense excuse that would only make sense if I lacked self esteem, but I didn’t. I had my pride. I had my morals. I bowed down to ignorance and accepted what we had. I loved him. I pushed aside all reasons and focused my energy on the type of person I wished him to be. I wished him to be mine. Only mine.

I had pictures of us on vacation spread out through my apartment. He had a side of the closet and a toothbrush in the bathroom. My grocery store runs included all his favorite snacks and beer. He loved Yuengling, especially with grilled wings. He loved when I rubbed his back while watching prime time. We spoke over twenty times a day on the phone. Every weekend we went off on some adventure and more often than not, he slept in my bed. My friends didn’t even know, that I, was the other woman.

“Huh?” His eyes opened up and I could see the fear building up inside him.

“I’m pregnant.” I looked away; I couldn’t bear to see the rejection of our love in his eyes.

“Ummm, well….you…I mean what do you want to do?” He walked over to the kitchen, opened the fridge and searched for an answer.

“What do you want to do?” I followed him into the kitchen and stood with my back against the wall staring at the cold truth. I was in this alone. His fun was over and my world was about to change.

“I have two kids. You know that.” He finally reached in and grabbed a Yuengling. Something stirred inside me. It was too early to be the baby, but I felt like it was telling me ‘This is what you chose for us?’

“What do your two kids have to do with this one?” My heart raced and I knew what was coming, but the fear kept me from making a move. I couldn’t say it. Not yet. I was hoping that he would turn around, grab me, look into my eyes and tell me that we were in this together and that he was finally leaving her. Then he would kiss me passionately, make love to me and reassure me that it was all going to be ok as long as we had each other. Nothing could prepare me for what came next.

“I have two kids. Three is not an option. Get rid of it.” He sipped his beer as the cold oozed from his eyes. “How soon can we take care of this?”

“Get rid of it? You. Want. Me? ME? To get rid of IT?!? This isn’t a purse, a phone call, or some type of picture that would compromise your bullshit marriage, THIS is a life. I have a life growing inside of me that came from you.” The tears overwhelmed me, but the ignorance took a back seat to the obvious.

“What the fuck? How do I know that it’s mine anyway? I don’t know what you do when I’m not around.” He slammed the beer bottle on the counter and I couldn’t help but flinch. This person standing before me was not the Jacob that would tickle me at the nap of my neck whenever he wanted to remind me that he loved me. This was not the Jacob that would hold me close and whisper in my ear how happy he was that he met me. This man, this man was not the one who told me he hated her and the way she treated him and the kids and that I was different. This was something else. Something I didn’t know.

“It’s yours. Trust me it’s yours.” I looked at the kitchen tile and started making patterns in my head in order to distract the pain that my heart was pushing into my being. “It’s our child. Whether you want it or not.”

“I don’t want it. I can’t have it. Do you understand what this could do to me? Don’t you love me? Can’t you see what you are doing to me? What you are going to do to my family?” His face was flushed. Hot pink I think was the color on his cheeks.

“You? What do you think it does to me to know that when you aren’t sleeping with me, you are with her? How do you think I feel when I have to keep you a secret from my family and lie about where you are to my friends? I hate not being able to hold your hand or kiss your lips in public ‘because someone might see.’ To hell with you and to hell with her.” I stomped out of the kitchen like a teenager denied hanging out with her friends on the weekend. I could do this alone. I didn’t need him.

“Seriously? To hell with me?? LOOK AROUND YOU TRIST! I PAY FOR THIS SHIT. Every fucking thing you want, I pay for. I give you the world!! All that I ask for in return is your discretion.” He ran up to me and held me. Not the way a lover holds his beloved, but the way an abuser holds his victim. This is the part where he would make himself the victim, and I the reason. I refused to fall for it.

“Discretion? That’s all that you ask from me? I guess my to do list was a lot shorter than I made it out to be. You’re an asshole. I should have known better than to expect anything from someone like you. It’s been three years. Three long miserable years of giving you my discretion. I can’t do it anymore.” I pulled away and walked back into the kitchen. I stood in front of the counter that held his beer.

“Oh you can’t huh? You planned it this way? I’m not leaving my wife. I can’t.” His eyes became watery. I wasn’t sure if his emotions were genuine or something to once again trap me and keep me hanging on his wall of honor.

“It’s not that you can’t. It’s that you won’t. She’s not the bad one. You are. You are the one that wants the best of both words. I’ll make this very easy for you. Take what you want and get out. I’ll never ask you for anything. We will be ok.” I reach over for the bottle of beer and hold it in my hand.

Jacob pulled back and instantly the tears went away. The emotion switched to laughter and he couldn’t contain himself. “Ha…really? You will be ok. Wow! I must admit that I want to see that happen. Do you know how much a child cost? Whose going to help you with child care, or when the little shit wont’ stop crying? What are you going to do then?” He began to pace the kitchen. He was no longer talking to me, but speaking to the husband inside him. “This is over. No more of this. Walk away and this will go away. You’re not keeping it.”

“I’m keeping it Jacob. I am keeping this child, but I chose not to keep you. We are done. Get out.” The child growing inside me was giving me a strength that I lacked all these years. It was long overdue.

“You’re right. You need to think this through. Call me tomorrow. I heard about a clinic, not to far from here. I’ll take the money from my vacation fund and yeah…don’t worry about this kid. We got this.” He walked over, took the beer from my hand and drank. He finished the bottle in seconds, placed it on the counter behind me and then hugged me. He hugged me tight. He kissed my neck and held me.

I didn’t hug him back. I knew this was good bye. My arms dangled under his strong embrace. “I’m done.” The tears didn’t come. They disappeared into the self love I discovered. The self love that was now turning into someone to love that would always love me unconditionally. I didn’t need second class love. I needed genuine love, and that’s something that Jacob could never give me.

Jacob left that day. I was strong enough not to speak to him. He called. He texted. He emailed and even showed up at the apartment a couple of times. I just blocked him from my life. It’s a daily struggle not to think of him. He was my world. The one that got away. I realize now the value of me. The importance of loving myself first and not letting anything or anyone come in between me. Love is something that starts in the heart and spreads through every orifice, consuming the bad and expelling it. Each beat is another chance to heal the soul and make things right. I made things right, no matter who or what it cost me.

“Trista Stuart, the doctor will see you now.”

The Pen Bleeds

Welcome to The Pen Bleeds where poetry is more than rhyme, more than reason, more than words flowing with rhythm; it’s a combination of jagged thoughts, feelings, actions, and a unique language opening minds to see the world from a different perspective.

Do you recall the first time a succession of words played like a heavenly melody in your ear, stimulating your senses, causing you to hunger for more? I do. At the shy age of four I was seduced by Christina Georgina Rosetti’s poetic work of genius “Who Has Seen the Wind.” It’s amazing how the method of simplicity used to describe the wind as this epic force to be respected, could move a person to build deeper connections with people, nature, and the world through written word.

This month we’ll be exploring things that we love. Actually, the theme of the month is entitled “Things That I Love” but who cares about technicalities, right? Now, has someone ever written something that enlightened you, opened your eyes, and altered your thinking? Well, I’ve been inspired by two of the poets featured in this month’s issue. Keeping with this month theme, I’ll be introducing you to three sonnetists whose rhythmic flow and depth of subject matter, challenges your views on love addictions, soul mates, and how love can be equivalent to a natural disaster i.e. the Mexico City earthquake of 1985.

First up to bat, is Seven’s own bashful resident rhapsodist, K.S. Pratt., the current EIC (Editor in Charge) w/ADD of “The Pen Bleeds.” She composed the following poem/spoken word piece Untitled which chronicles one persons addiction to the idea of love, and how one can rehabilitate a broken heart through the discovery of self love. This poem also happens to be one of the Editor In Chief’s favorites. Next, Is D.D. Wright a mother, educator, poetess, and Author of Poetry 2Life: Youth. Struggle. Love. D.D. Wright is our first unknown featured poet who submitted Solid an ode to how love between two souls connected can surpass life’s circumstances, distance, and even time. If you’re not familiar with the name, then you need to make yourself familiar. Stop by www.about.me/ddwrightfor more information on this inspirational woman. She’s a bad mama jama! Finally, our pièce de résistance You Bring Out the Mexican in Me an elegy composed by famous Mexican American novelist, poet, and short story writer Sandra Cisneros. If you’ve ever been in love with someone who brought out the feral passionate side of your persona, then you can definitely relate to this masterpiece.

In closing, I would like to thank you for stopping by “The Pen Bleeds”; hopefully I’ve cajoled your brain to embrace literature, poetry, and perhaps inspired you to create a piece of poetry of your own.

Untitled – By K.S. Pratt

My obsession with the person I manifested you to be,

Spun me into a temporary state of dysphoria.

I became unwell.

The euphoric highs of immersing my being around your world,

Soaking up the essence of you like a sponge,

As if hanging on to your every word would quench my thirst.

I was so gone.

Unable to discern between reality and truth,

Caught up in my addiction,

Being mind fucked daily by your lies,

Knowing very well in my heart of hearts this could not be love.

I am partially to blame.

What wasn’t love was lust lurking in my loins,

Leading my heart to believe this lingering sensation was genuine,

So, I fed my fixation.

But damn!

Why everything that’s supposed to be bad makes you feel so good?

I knew better.

All common sense flies out the window when you’re thinking with your heart instead of your head.

If ignorance published bliss then I became their number one subscriber.

I had issues.

Believing in fantasies of prince charming on a white horse,

Climbing up the side of castle walls,

And if you kiss the frog he’ll be the one.

Then he and I would ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

I fell for that.

Never heeded the warnings that read like prophecies before my eyes,

Yet I still refused to see the truth in your intentions; because I was leaning on my own understanding.

I was blind.

Truth be told, this knight in shining armor turned out to be nothing more than a fallacy,

The virtues I sought after in him with my spirit evolved into unrequited adoration.

I woke up.

Realizing the love I had for self, was far greater than the bad habit I developed for my addiction,

I made it my mission to take steps towards loving you from a distance.

I entered rehab.

Still at times this bitter pill is hard to swallow; I crush and take it in small doses,

Slowly working you out of my system.

I am better.

With the passing of each day,

I move on from my faux pas,

Taking in every lesson learned from this life experience.

I let go of my beautiful, twisted, dark fantasy.

I am free.

Realizing that the greatest gift you’ll ever learn is to love yourself first, then accept love in return.

Solid
By D.D. Wright (Author of Poetry 2Life: Youth. Struggle. Love.)

For love to live through storms and distance means
it must be as real as the deep breath it takes to survive the pain,
not to be left breathlessly in the rain,
not to live fragmented, fighting to maintain,
without the one that holds the umbrella.
Often times, the one that reigns,
changes,
not with love lost,
turning lackluster with the wind is not for royalty,
unable to embrace the reality
of you and me,
I feel the need
to re-write history,
ever grateful for a pen and poetry.
See,
all of the caramel drizzled chocolate in the world
can not compare
to the sheer sweetness of us as a pair,
united, our story draws blank stares
on faces of non-believers.
How has it been over 300 days and
every day,
I have to pray,
that this soulmate-less nightmare
simply goes away
and I awake to you holding me…yes, you.
Destiny does not say that
I am to be cold or alone or
that my hot other half would flow
right out of my reach.
It is unfathomable for me to see
sand without a beach or
you and me without the “we”
figuratively nor literally
living separately.
In my stubborn heart,
I will never accept this sick twist of fate,
never, ever ponder a date,
without my imperfect mate.
The door will be cracked,
or if locked,
the key will be in that special place,
where only you know the space.
A whisper inside of me just convinces me
that you will return to me,
safe and ready,
one day.

Copyright @D.D. Wright 2012
If you loved D.D. Wright’s poem, check out her book. Click the picture above for more information on where to purchase a copy.

You Bring Out the Mexican in Me
By Sandra Cisneros

You bring out the Mexican in me.
The hunkered thick dark spiral.
The core of a heart howl.
The bitter bile.
The tequila lagrímas on Saturday all
through next weekend Sunday.
You are the one I’d let go the other loves for,
surrender my one-woman house.
Allow you red wine in bed,
even with my vintage lace linens.
Maybe. Maybe.

For you.

You bring out the Dolores del Río in me.
The Mexican spitfire in me.
The raw navajas, glint and passion in me.
The raise Cain and dance with the rooster-footed devil in me.
The spangled sequin in me.
The eagle and serpent in me.
The mariachi trumpets of the blood in me.
The Aztec love of war in me.
The fierce obsidian of the tongue in me.
the berrinchuda, bien-cabrona in me.
The Pandora’s curiosity in me.
The pre-Columbian death and destruction in me.
The rainforest disaster, nuclear threat in me.
The fear of fascists in me.
Yes, you do. Yes, you do.

You bring out the colonizer in me.
The holocaust of desire in me.
The Mexico City ’85 earthquake in me.
The Popocatepetl/Ixtaccíhuatl in me.
The tidal wave of recession in me.
The Agustín Lara hopeless romantic in me.
The barbacoa taquitos on Sunday in me.
The cover the mirrors with cloth in me.

Sweet twin. My wicked other,
I am the memory that circles your bed nights,
that tugs you taut as moon tugs ocean.
I claim you all mine,
arrogant as Manifest Destiny.
I want to rattle and rent you in two.
I want to defile you and raise hell.
I want to pull out the kitchen knives,
dull and sharp, and whisk the air with crosses.
Me sacas lo mexicana en mi,
like it or not, honey.

You bring out the Uled-Nayl in me.
The stand-back-white-bitch in me.
The switchblade in the boot in me.
The Acapulco cliff diver in me.
The Flecha Roja mountain disaster in me.
The dengue fever in me.
The ¡Alarma! murderess in me.
I could kill in the name of you and think
it worth it. Brandish a fork and terrorize rivals,
female and male, who loiter and look at you,
languid in your light. Oh,

I am evil. I am the filth goddess Tlazoltéotl.
I am the swallower of sins.
The lust goddesss without guilt.
The delicious debauchery. You bring out
the primordial exquisiteness in me.
The nasty obsession in me.
The corporal and venial sin in me.
the original transgression in me.

Red ocher. Yellow ocher. Indigo. Cochineal.
Piñón. Copal. Sweetgrass. Myrrh.
All you saints, blessed and terrible,
Virgen de Guadalupe, diosa Coatlicue,
I invoke you.

Quiero ser tuya. Only yours. Only you.
Quiero amarte. Atarte. Amarrarte.
Love the way a Mexican woman loves. Let
me show you. Love the only way I know how.

An Espresso With Seven Splendas Please…

A Sip of Espresso is where you come to enjoy a different beverage every month and see what we talk about when our minds are supposed to be resting. What do writers normally talk about? I can’t speak for everyone, so this is what we contribute our Seven cents to (used to be two cents…I blame inflation).

The books we are currently reading:

Ymelda Ramirez

I am reading The Force of Favor by Dr. Dave Martin. My goal this year is to be a better everything. From being a better friend to a pet parent. My list of titles go on and on. I’m not one for self help books, but this is an exception. Dr. Martin teaches you how to increase the favor in your life. Think of it as an investment account. The return is spiritual & relational healing.

K.S. Pratt

This month I’m reading The Cupid Effect by Dorothy Koomson. The main character Cheri is a warm loving woman, who plays accidental therapist and modern day cupid to friends and strangers alike. Everyone tends to bear their souls to Cheri, in exchange, she provides them with infinite wisdom helping them repair their relationships or capture the person of their dreams. The problem is, she has the ability to affect everyone’s love life but her own.

Tiffany

This month I will be Spotlighting the talented Cindy C. Bennett and will therefore be focusing my efforts on reading her works. She caught my attention and captured my heart with Heart On A Chain. It is an emotional read told from a 17-year-olds point of view that explores the affects of abuse, human nature and the idea that love conquers all in this absolutely heart wrenching yet heart warming tale. If you pick up this book be prepared to shed tears, smile and fall in love. It is suspenseful, captivating, romantic and not a novel you’ll regret reading. To see this review and others of Bennett’s novel throughout the month be sure to check out my blog TiffanyLovesBooks

The blogs we recommend check out:

For social commentary and various political views: Polite On Society

For Dominican recipes and cooking tips: Dominican Cooking

For book reviews to find your next YA read: CuddleBuggery

For some laughs check out this amazing writer’s blog: Dianne Gray

Competitions you might want to look into:

www.thefirstline.com

From the website: The purpose of The First Line is to jump start the imagination–to help writers break through the block that is the blank page. Each issue contains short stories that stem from a common first line; it also provides a forum for discussing favorite first lines in literature. The First Line is an exercise in creativity for writers and a chance for readers to see how many different directions we can take when we start from the same place.

They give you the first line for a short story and pay you $30 if your story is selected for publication. The next deadline is May 1, 2013 and the line is: I started collecting secrets when I was just six years old. Check out the site for more information and how you can submit your story. Good Luck!

www.sps.com

Blue mountain arts is running their 22nd biannual poetry card contest with a deadline of June 30th 2013, check the poetry link on the home page for the specifics on this contest. Also, they are always looking for submissions for their greeting cards follow this link for their writing guidelines: http://www.sps.com/help/writers_guidelines.html

What do you think?:

Unless you’ve been walking with your nose stuck in a never ending book, you’ve probably witness the down fall of one of my favorite book stores BORDERS and the emerging awesomeness of the Kindle (I still prefer page turning books). What do you prefer a good old fashion book OR the convenience of an e-reader & why? If you chose an e-reader, which is the best one out there? Email us your answer: 7themag@gmail.com

Forums:

www.writersbeat.com

www.thenextbigwriter.com

www.goodreads.com

What do you think?

We, at SEVEN see the beauty and possibilities of the written word. In this category we encourage you to contribute. To pick up a pen and write your heart out because we all know that the greats started somewhere. We are aware that everyone writes (technically speaking), but here we encourage the use of heart, soul and inspiration to show that anyone is capable of being a writer. Anyone Can Write is a page dedicated to you, the readers. To your words and ideas.

Does unconditional love forgive when we have been betrayed?

“Yes, because we’ve all screwed someone over at one time or another.”

—Jarrad from Miami, FL

Unconditional love can forgive depending on how severe the betrayal or situation is!!! Because, if you love that person your gonna find a way to forgive or excuse and try to forget what happened. Even though there might be times and situations that arise that will bring you back to that betrayal moment where you be like damn, is he doing this or is this going on? And you question the situation at the moment and hope and pray that isn’t what is happening to where you are being betrayed again and wont be at ease until you know what’s really going on and know the situation is clear. Then you remember why you forgave them from the start and it’s all because of that 4 letter word LOVE!!!

—Jessica A. from Long Island, NY

“Yes, eventually because unconditional love is agape love, but it doesn’t take from our humanity. You would have to be super human to immediately forgive without conditions .There are different levels of love, with agape love being the highest form of love, and that type of love can only be achieved by being like Christ. The question is who among us would do that?”

— Rebecca from Dallas, TX

I believe in unconditional love their always has to be forgiveness but I guess it depends on level of betrayal. If theirs an ultimate betrayal you can forgive and love the person but decide you cannot be with the person. I guess it more so varies from situation to situation, but to me forgiveness is freedom, so I believe fully in forgiving, forgetting however is another matter completely.

—Leiryn from Bronx, NY

I say yes because if you really do love someone you can forgive them. It will take time and effort on both sides to repair that trust but it’s not impossible.

—Danielle from Hammocks, FL

It depends on the person. You have to be able to work and repair the damage of the betrayal as a couple. You have to see why did it happen. Was it negligence, selfishness or was the skin just too weak. Personally, I couldn’t do it. I might say I forgive, but I won’t forget. Which is not forgiveness.

—Jeannette from Miami, FL

Honestly in the beginning I would forgive, but it will always be in the back of my mind and it will cause conflicts in the long run. You will end up playing games until one or the other gets tired and throws in the towel…So to answer your question depending on the person I would say it wouldn’t work as far as I know.

—Mike A. from Babbling Brooke, NY

Would you like your picture submitted next month? Just answer our question and submit a PG photo with your answer. Email us at 7themag[at]gmail[dot]com or use the form. Your answers will be published, along with the rest of our amazing issue, March 7, 2013. Remember to tell your friends to check out your new CELEBRITY status! Here’s the question:

Next Issues Prompt: Do you believe in LUCK or FATE and can either be manipulated?

Contributions: For next months issue we are accepting contributions for the Short Shorts category. Be sure tie it in to the theme of Fate and/or Luck and keep the word count between 300-1500 words.

See

or send contributions directly to 7themag[at]gmail[dot]com.

Seven Quotes:

“Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. “–Oscar Wilde

“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.” -– Nicholas Sparks

“The half-life of love is forever.” -–Junot Diaz

“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” —Ingrid Bergman

“Pure love and suspicion cannot dwell together: at the door where the latter enters, the former makes it’s exit.” —Alexandre Dumas

“I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.” —Pablo Neruda

“Forgiveness and love are companions on the same journey, but the battle between love and pride are eternal.”– K.S. Pratt

Words from the Editor in Chief:

I learned this month, that even though procrastination has always been my friend, I have placed it in the wrong category in my life. I used it to keep me from getting where I need to be, when in reality I was just afraid. I was afraid of not being good enough and not letting it out to hang, so to speak. I was told by a wonderful man that if you hesitate you die. I have taken that to heart. Isn’t it true that if you don’t nurture a dream, eventually it ceases to exist? Stop procrastinating and just do it already. I did. As I said before…This is Seven. Thanks for reading. =)

How Much Is Your Love Worth?

The campaign for change has to start somewhere. Genesis is our somewhere. Every month we will be making you aware of worthy causes and pointing you in the right direction to help make a difference.

On average, more than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in this country every day.[1]

“Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors through the use of power and control tactics used by one person over another in an intimate relationship. Partners may be dating, married or not married; separated; heterosexual, gay, lesbian, living together or not living together. Such abusive behaviors can include pushing, shoving, slapping, throwing objects; choking, isolating you from your loved ones; being called names and threatening to hurt you. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, crossing all boundaries of culture, age, race, sex, education, and socioeconomic status. No one deserves to be abused, no matter what the circumstances.” [2]

I believe there are many common misconceptions about domestic abuse. The most popular are that people tend to think that only women are on the receiving end of abuse or that abuse is only a physical thing. Well neither of these ideas are correct. With this article I hope to educate, motivate and encourage people to make an effort to end domestic abuse.

Society, since the beginning of time, has always made men to be the dominants; the rulers of the universe. To this day they are even worth more than a woman (they make more in the workforce). Yet times have been changing in this past century and with the strives for equality and women empowerment many things have changed. This day in age, women and men are on the most even playing field ever. Women are out there along with men fighting wars, they are CEO’s and are even in their own right rulers of the universe. While some things seem to improve, it seems that some things just don’t change. Women are still constantly on the receiving end of abusive attacks but that’s not all times have changed, is it? Nowadays, men are also known to be victims of abuse.

When abuse is usually depicted on film and in literature they tend to tackle the most violent of abuses: physical and sexual abuse. Yes these tend to be the most violent ones that leave physical and psychological scars. However, all forms of abuse leave scars. They change you. So if you are not being raped, molested or beaten how do you know it is abuse? Is there any surefire way to know if you are in an abusive relationship?

1. If no doesn’t mean no. No matter who it is or what the situation may be- no

always

means NO.

2. Do you guys hit each other? If you do it playfully- stop. One day it’ll get out of hand and it’ll no longer be funny to you. And if it is already violent in any way then yes that is coined as domestic violence and is in term not a healthy relationship.

3. Verbal abuse and mental abuse can pretty much go hand in hand. They are pretty similar to physical abuse except that the abuser does not use their fists. Are you being screamed at? Belittled? Made to feel worthless? Losing sight of yourself? Is your self-confidence hanging in the balance or already a long forgotten memory? This form of abuse is the hardest to pinpoint because it is the one that only leaves emotional scars and no one will know unless you say something.

4. Is there a sense of extreme control in the relationship? What I mean by that is that either you or your partner always have a need to be in control and exert such control in nearly every aspect of your partners life. Where they go, who they go out with, who they talk to…?

“Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors through the use of power and control tactics used by one person over another in an intimate relationship.”[3]

5. Does your partner try to keep you isolated from your family and friends? This is one that comes to be a pretty big deal and surefire way to know. For whatever the reason, if you want your friends and family around and your partner attempts to keep you apart no matter what the excuse- you should be worried. Isolation is a pretty big way to keep the abused from leaving. Afterall, who will you run to?

Everyone is entitled to a healthy relationship. Everyone deserves to be loved. But how much of yourself are you willing to throw away for “love”? Love is an emotion that is meant to give more than it takes. In a healthy relationship, when love takes, it’s only what you are willing to give. If you find yourself in a situation where this is not the case, your better off moving on. After all, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Cliché I know. But it’s true. The type of “love” you are being shown is no love at all. It is a leech. It will take from you til you think that you can’t give anymore. Then it will continue to take from you until there is nothing left to take.

These type of people are abusers and I like to put these abusers into two categories. There are those that see how great you are and are scared of you leaving so they abuse and brain wash you in the attempt of ensuring you stay. The other group has had life throw them enough curve balls and they don’t know how to deal with it and tend to lash out. The second doesn’t sound so bad right? It might make you a little more sympathetic to the abuser, but abuse is abuse no matter what the cause is. No matter how much you love them and hope that they will change, wishful thinking isn’t enough to turn the tables.

Nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.[4]

Are you within that number? In knowing that someone you love is being abused what can you do to help? In truth, there isn’t much you can do. This person is in the relationship and it is their choice to put up with it. Nothing you do will make them leave. If you are too aggressive the abused will most likely push you away. Not that this is an official decree, but in my opinion, the best you can do is to offer them moral support. In the I-want-you-to-know-that-no-matter-what-you-can-count-on-me way. No matter what’s going on with your life or what decisions you make, I’ll always be here for you. Make sure you follow through with it. Be there for them. You need to become the epitome of love: Understanding, acceptance, caring, patient, honest and non judgemental. People in abusive relationships often believe that even with the abuse that what they have going on is love. I believe it helps that if in your own way you remind them of that what love really is (in a very platonic way of course). We all need support. Show them a way out. Give them that option.

You are being abused. Now what?

As judgmental as people may be, leaving isn’t necessarily the easiest or safest thing to do- without a plan. “Women who leave their abuser are at higher risk (75% greater risk) of being killed than those who stay.”[5] What does this mean for the abused? If you are in a physically abusive relationship, death is just a hit too hard in the next beating. There is always the risk of death. But that doesn’t make it ok and my advice will always be the same: get out. There are organizations all around the world that provide help to families being affected by domestic abuse. One website that provides the invaluable resource of listing such agencies all around the world is HotPeachPages. Seek help. Call a hotline. Even if it’s just to hear what they suggest. Lean on your friends and loved ones and don’t lose hope.

To find out more check out this links:
Domestic Violence 101
Safe Horizon

And if you are in a charitable mood or looking for a tax write off, donate money to these centers that help families affected by abuse get back on their feet:
Laurel House
Safe Horizon
Break The Cycle

Today In Literature

Scribe Is An Adjective is our acknowledgement that for some writing is not a pastime- it is who we are. We will be highlighting authors (past and present) who make a difference in literature. Writers who inspire, challenge and captivate us with their words.

Is everyone aware of the new craze that has been sweeping over literature? Dystopian novels are set in post apocalyptic worlds that attempt to answer the what ifs. Tahereh Mafi is a 24 year old female that took a swing at it with her debut novel Shatter Me and left me impressed with her poetic prose, unique premise, strong characters and an absolutely heartwarming romance. Shatter Me is the first of a trilogy and below are two excerpts of her novel that I particularly enjoyed.

“I’m wearing dead cotton on my limbs and a blush of roses on my face.

His eyes scan the silhouette of my structure and the slow motion makes my heart race. I catch the rose petals as they fall from my checks, as they float around the frame of my body, as they cover me in something that feels like the absence of courage.

Stop looking at me, is what I want to say.

Stop touching me with your eyes and keep your hands to your sides and please and please and please-

“What’s your name?” The tilt of his head cracks gravity in half.

I’m suspended in the moment. I blink and bottle my breaths.

He shifts and my eyes shatter into thousands of pieces that ricochet around the room, capturing a million snapshots, a million moments in time. Flickering images faded with age, frozen thoughts hovering precariously in dead space, a whirlwind of memories that slice through my soul. ~~He reminds me of someone I used to know~~.”

“I sit by the window and watch the rain and the leaves and the snow collide. They take turns dancing in the wind, performing choreographed routines for unsuspecting masses. The soldiers stomp stomp stomp through the rain, crushing leaves and fallen snow under their feet. Their hands are wrapped in gloves wrapped around guns that could put a bullet through a million possibilities. They don’t bother to be bothered by the beauty that falls from the sky. They don’t understand the freedom of feeling the universe on their skin. They don’t care.

I wish I could stuff my mouth full of raindrops and fill my pockets full of snow. I wish I could trace the veins in a fallen leaf and feel the wind pinch my nose.”

I found Mafi’s writing style to be poetic and beautiful. Don’t you agree? I was in awe and captivated with her use of words. It’s not every day one opens a novel and finds such beauty in the language. The words she uses to paint imagery are unlike anything I have ever encountered. She has a beautiful way of expressing herself and it is one of my biggest attractions to this novel. Overall, it’s a great read. It is fast paced, romantic, exciting and always unpredictable. This is a book I truly recommend. You can check out the synopsis and other’s opinions of this novel here on Goodreads.