Forgive, Forget, and Follow: The Chris Brown and Rihanna Story

I know that all of us are much too familiar with the age old adage, “forgive and forget.” If someone wrongs you, you must not only forgive that person, but also forget whatever infraction or inappropriate behavior he or she exhibited. We must move on, and not hold onto that bitterness, but let it go. It’s at that time, when we let it go, and move forward, where true healing and peace can show itself.

I agree with all of these things, and have experienced the beauty of true forgiveness at work. However, I was reading a few blogs recently about Chris Brown and Rihanna that seemed to have missed this “forgive and forget” lesson in Sunday School. First, one blog exaggerated the idea that Chris Brown had purchased a home, a “near-punching distance” to be exact, away from Rih-Rih (my personal nickname for her), And what is that distance you might ask? A whopping 8 miles! I don’t know about Hollywood, as I have to love it from a distance, but eight miles away from someone else is nothing to write a blog about, as if they were close enough to borrow sugar, eggs, or even an iPad to read this blog trash.

As I read further, bloggers were shaming Rih-Rih for following Chris Brown on Twitter, as if they had signed a friend contract like that on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. If we have been taught to forgive and forget, why are Rihanna and Chris Brown exempt from this level of humanness? How long should she hold onto the hurt, bitterness, and embarrassment of February 8, 2009? I’m not saying that they have to purchase BFF Pandora bracelets, but whatever they choose to do, it’s not for the world to scrutinize. I truly believe that forgiveness is not for the other person, and since that is the reality that I ascribe to, let Rih-Rih (and Chris Brown really) heal. Healing means different things to different people, so respect that process. Meanwhile, in the words of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, who also lives eight miles from Rih-Rih, “mind ya business, that’s all, just mind ya business!”

The Good Die Mostly Over Braids

Today, I lost my virginity. It was my first tailgating experience…ever! I have to say, it was all that I ever dreamed it would be. I tweeted and facebooked all throughout the game, ate, drank, wobbled, laughed, screamed, until I stumbled upon something so horrible, so deplorable, that I had to dedicate a tweet to it. And it read “Cornrows with heart beads on the end…on a grown man. I’m outdone.” Minutes later, I find out that it was actually Khujo from GOODIE MOB, but you know what, it doesn’t matter.

I am of the firm belief that besides dreadlocks, grown men, should not have braids. You are stretching it to get a pass from me after you turn 22. For me, it screams that you have yet to get your grown man on. When I think of grown man, I’m thinking of a man that is about his business that really values his appearance and any impression he is making on others. He is ready to let go of the juvenile experience of sitting between some woman’s legs to get his hair braided and his scalp greased. And then to have beads on the end, I just can't. Do you need some aluminum foil too?

I recognize that braids are simply a hair fashion, but at the end of the day, I just don’t like it! Leave the braids to the teenagers. Go get you a low cut dark caesar!