Medical Tourism

With the economy in such a devastating crisis it's no wonder Americans are looking overseas to get much needed emergency medical procedures done. The high cost of medical treatment in the US is causing people to have to make life threatening choices. Patients have to choose between their health and their financial survival. In a recent report done by CNN showed that some overseas countries charge only ten percent of the total cost of some medical procedures done here in the states. Now why is it that our country is capitalizing on our lives? Doctors, pharmaceutical and insurance companies are making a living off of our lives. It's amazing how foreign doctors and hospital are all about saving lives at a reasonable rate. A country with so many opportunities and scientific methods, we shouldn't be capitalizing on the lives of our American people. High demand of overseas treatment has produce the hottest trend of a new business called "Medical tourism planning". One of the most poplar companies is based in California, named "Planet Hospital", they specialize in planning and facilitating the trip to overseas hospitals. They book patients' travel and arranges phone interviews with potential surgeons. Patients are greeted by a company representative at the airport in the country where they've chosen to be treated; a 24-hour personal "patient concierge" is also provided, a level of service that's standard among top medical travel planning companies.
What will it take for the US to provide quality services at a cheaper rate?, Can we start being more concerned about our people's health first and worry about cost later? I say if the politicians and government officials stop getting all these bonuses and raises we could have some extra money to provide for American health care.

I Have A Story To Tell

I HAVE A STORY TO TELL

I have a story to tell
A story of pain, hurt, and prayer
I want to tell you, but will you understand
What I've gone through has made me a man
This story I want to tell
Is so devastating and true
I've only shared it with a few
I have a story to tell
I've tried to tell it, but the time hasn't been right
Maybe I will today or tomorrow
Or it might be better late in the night
All I know is that I have a story to tell
Some may say I'm crazy and some may not
But it's something that's killing me within
I just want to scream until no end
All I know is that I have a story to tell
I need to rid myself of this pain
Because it's driving me insane
I fear many men because of it
When one comes near it's like a fire has been lit
I've cried many nights of anger
This story within is causing danger
A story untold that needs to unfold
A story that's harsh and mostly cold
Beware of stories like this
Because it could very well be missed
Hold your young close to you
Before they become one of the few
This untold story of hurt and pain
Is like a man chasing cocaine
It will consume your life
It can hurt and kill your wife
For an untold story such as this
Will continue to linger in the mist
It whispers softly in your ears
It also has hurt some of your peers
Until I decide to tell this story
Hold your young close
And treasure their innocent glory
For I'm not ready to tell this untold story
I have a story to tell, but wait
It will hurt a few and it will destroy some
Because I didn't understand when it made him cum
This is part of my untold story
I should stop right here
Because this story may not be clear
Give me a little more time
Until I know that I am fine
This story will help and heal a few
For the perpetrator, he may not have a clue
But for now, beware and look out
For I'm going to tell this story with a lot of shouts
Until I tell this story I'll sit in this chair
And continue to hope God hears my prayers
Until we meet again
Remember that I have a story to tell

Ton-zae Simmons

FREE FROM BONDAGE

STAINED WITH TEARS AND BRUISED BY YOUR HANDS SORES AND ASH ARE SOME OF MY EMOTIONAL MEMORIES THE ACHES AND PAIN THAT ENDURE MY BODY ARE FROM THE YEARS I'VE WORKED AND SLAVED FOR YOU FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN I'VE GROOMED YOUR GROUNDS WITHOUT A THANK YOU OR WITHOUT PRAISE MY WIFE COOKED YOUR MEALS, BATH YOUR CHILDREN AND EVEN CLEANED YOUR HOUSE YOU MADE MY DAUGHTER YOUR WHORE AND MY SON, YOUR WIFE'S BLACK STALLION WITHOUT A THANK YOU OR WITHOUT PRAISE YOU REJECTED OUR FREEDOM OUR SELF WORTH YOU SCARED ME DEEPLY ABUSED BY YOUR HANDS I TRIED TO DENY WHAT HAS HAPPENED BUT AS I LOOK AROUND THERE IS NO VIEW OF AFRICAN LAND YOU ROBBED US OF OUR HERITAGE ALL THIS WITHOUT A THANK YOU OR WITHOUT PRAISE BECAUSE OF YOU I FEAR ANY BOAT RIDE AND WHEN I SEE YOUR KIND, I RUN AND HIDE YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME ANYMORE FOR I'M FIGHTING BACK FOR FREEDOM FOR THE FUTURE AND FOR MY DIGNITY YOU HAVE BEATEN US FOR THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE SOLD US FOR YOUR LAST DIME THIS IS OUR TIME TO STAND TALL AND STRONG AND YES WE ARE DOING IT WITHOUT A THANK YOU OR WITHOUT PRAISE WE ARE TAKING BACK WHO WE ARE BLACK, BEAUTIFUL, AND STRONG WE ARE NOW BEING THE KINGS AND QUEENS THAT WE ARE BUYING LAND, BUILDING HOUSES, OWNING CORPORATIONS WE ARE DOING THESE THINGS WITHOUT A THANK YOU OR WITHOUT PRAISE AS I LOOK AROUND YOU ARE NOW WORKING FOR US CLEANING FOR US, DRIVING FOR US, WORSHIPPING US WE ARE ACCEPTING THESE GIFTS FROM YOU AND WE ARE DOING IT WITHOUT A THANK YOU OR WITHOUT PRAISE FREE OF BONDAGE, NO MORE REPRESSION NO MORE DEPRESSION NO MORE WHIPS OR CHAINS ALL THIS WITHOUT A THANK YOU OR WITHOUT PRAISE


BY TON-ZAE SIMMONS

In My Eyes

In My Eyes

In my eyes I see countless tears
In my eyes I see endless fears
I see these things because these things
are seeds that have grown within me.

From all the pain, hurt, rejections
I come to know fear as if it were my
brother blinding me with tears.
Why is it that my brother continues
to bully me and blind me with this
Frustration?

Brother, brother stop hurting me
Stop the torment you’re causing me
I can’t see because you are blinding me
blinding me yes; blinding me.

If you love me so you’ll stop hurting me.
The fear will then disappear and the tears
will vanish leaving evidence of my acid burning
rivers of tears.

Stained for what seems to be eternity.
But I see these dried rivers as battle scars
of living a life full of hurt, pain, and rejection.
Brother aka Fear, I thank you for making me
strong and the stains on my face which
I call Frustration River are a reminder
Of the pain you caused.

In my eyes I now see strength
In my eyes I now see endurance
Yes; in my eyes I see a strong man.

Ton-zae

Nigger! Nigga! My Nig!...What?

AS I was going through my files I came across an old blog from a previous site I blogged on and I wanted to recap on it so here is a re post of an old one..............

Nigger! Nigga! My Nig!....What?
Nov 25, 2006
When I think about the way we value ourselves as a people it saddens me the way we treat one another. We find it to be OK to call ourselves as well as each other "Nigga" or "My Nig". If we find it OK to result to such name calling in our music, movies, and in the streets; what makes us think that the white man doesn't see any wrong in it? Now, don't get me wrong I'm not condoning what Michael (Kramer) said because it was wrong and out of place.
We as a people have to take some responsibility in how we allow the world to perceive us and treat us. We accept "Nigga" as a descriptive word to describe our character. For me I don't and will not accept being called "Nigga" by my own race or anyone else for that matter. Can we blame Kramer for using the term "Nigger"? Yes! We can because he does not know the emotionally scarring that word has on our history and No! Because we allow it from our own people and that makes the outsiders believe we have come to a point in life where that word does not affect us anymore.
I believe that the current generation that we are in needs to have an open discussion with the elders of past generations to get a better understanding of the word. In order for today's generation to understand and stop using the N word then and only then will we stop the madness.
Come on my brothers and sisters lets stop disrespecting one another and treat each other as the kings and queens that we are!!!
Knowledge is power and currently we are powerless for not understanding that "Nigga, My Nig, and Nigger" is not respect.
Get knowledgeable!!!!

Ton-zae

RIP Shelton Jackson (1978-2009)

He may not be a famous poet/author, that's OK. What he was is a man with a gift to heal people by using a pen. Shelton Jackson, a phenomenal poet and author gave of himself with words of encouragement and realness. He has touched the lives of so many people. Although his life was short lived his legacy will continue on. Shelton has left us with his words, his memories, and his passion. That in itself is the true meaning of his living was not in vain. His life was an open book to teach us all how to love ourselves and others as well as teaching us to beat adversities Life adversities made him strong and prepared him for paradise.

Shelton Jackson...the man, the poet, the author, an inspiration.

RIP

1LUV,

Ton-zae