This week’s song is a hip hop response to the Arizona Immigration bill SB1070 by Chuck D (Public Enemy). You can listen to the MP3 here or you can “right-click” on the link and download the MP3 to your computer or iTunes library.

Below is a public statement from Chuck D (Public Enemy) and his wife Dr. Gaye Theresa Johnson Professor Of Black Studies and Chicano Studies UC Santa Barbara:

“Jan Brewer’s decision to sign the Arizona immigration bill into law is racist, deceitful, and reflects some of the most mean-spirited politics against immigrants that the country has ever seen. The power that this law gives to police, to detain people that they suspect to be undocumented, brings racial profiling to a new low. Brewer’s actions and those of Joe Arpaio, Russell Pearce, the Arizona State Senate are despicable, inexcusable, and endorse the all-out hate campaign that Joe Arpaio, Russell Pearce, and others have perpetrated upon immigrants for years. The people of Arizona who voted for this bill, as well as those who crafted it, demonstrate no regard for the humanity or contributions of Latino people. And for all of those who have chosen not to speak up, shame on you for silently endorsing this legislated hate.

In 1991 I wrote a song criticizing Arizona officials (including John McCain and Fife Symington) for rejecting the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The same politics I wrote about in “By the Time I Get to Arizona” are alive and well in Arizona today, but this time the target is Brown people.

These actions must stop. I am issuing a call to action, urging my fellow musicians, artists, athletes, performers, and production companies to refuse to work in Arizona until officials not only overturn this bill, but recognize the human rights of immigrants. This should include the NBA playoffs, revisiting the actions of the NFL in 1993, when they moved the Superbowl to Pasadena in protest against Arizona’s refusal to recognize Dr. King. We all need to speak up in defense of our brothers and sisters being victimized in Arizona, because things are only getting worse. What they’re doing to immigrants is appalling, but it will be even more damning if we remain silent.”

Buy music by Public Enemy on iTunes

Watch the video on YouTube

Check out more on their MySpace page.

The song of the week is brought to you by Michael Zampelli, former owner of Southern California punk rock icon, Zed Records. For almost 30 years, this mecca of punk and alternative music kept Southern California enthusiasts adequately supplied with unique, original and innovative music.

Currently, Zampelli manages a hockey fan message boards at www.letsgokings.com with thousands of subscribers. He takes photos for the LAist and the LA Derby Dolls. Each week he will contribute a song with a theme, a message and a beat. Enjoy and stay tuned.

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When Ty told me the theme, I immediately heard Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder playing in my mind. So, I decided to look up the lyrics. They are awesome (read below). I am going to use snippets of the lyrics as a springboard for table topics. Should be inspiring.

By the way, in case you’re wondering how I ever got into Stevie Wonder, he was very popular in the ’70s when I was a kid and I admired his spirit back then. I currently have an episode of Soul Train saved in my Tivo featuring young Stevie Wonder as the guest. He writes a song on the spot just for the Soul Train audience and is amazingly shy. Don Cornelius asks him, “When did you figure out you had so much talent” and Stevie bashfully replies, “I haven’t.”

I love this music and the spirit behind it.

Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder Lyrics

People keep on learnin’
Soldiers keep on warrin’
World keep on turnin’
Cause it won’t be too long

Powers keep on lyin’
While your people keep on dyin’
World keep on turnin’
Cause it won’t be too long

I’m so darn glad he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I’m so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin’
Till I reach the highest ground

Teachers keep on teachin’
Preachers keep on preachin’
World keep on turnin’
Cause it won’t be too long
Oh no

Lovers keep on lovin’
Believers keep on believin’
Sleepers just stop sleepin’
Cause it won’t be too long
Oh no

I’m so glad that he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I’m so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin’
Till I reach my highest ground…Whew!
Till I reach my highest ground
No one’s gonna bring me down
Oh no
Till I reach my highest ground
Don’t you let nobody bring you down (they’ll sho ’nuff try)
God is gonna show you higher ground
He’s the only friend you have around

Buy music by Stevie Wonder on iTunes

What you listen to makes you who you are. Create the Life You Want with a free hypnosis MP3 at icreatehabits.com

Words and environment impact your life. In this speech from the Toastmasters manual, The Entertaining Speaker, I outline a musical anthology of my life starting in childhood with weekly immersion in Soul Train, moving to age 11 and the purchase of Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder.

(All song links go to iTunes)

In 1979 it was Rapper’s Delight by Sugar Hill Gang then in the 90’s it was People’s Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythm by A Tribe Called Quest.

In between was a lot of fun in the punk rock scene. Songs mentioned and sung in this speech: California Uberalles and Police Truck by The Dead Kennedys and New Dreams by Naked Raygun. I finished up with my theme song: Galvanize by The Chemical Brothers with Q-Tip on vocals.

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If you like music that pumps you up and makes you feel strong, get the free Songs to Galvanize Your Mind PDF.
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Use your mind to Create the Life You Want with my free hypnosis audio at icreatehabits.com

I plan to sing a few lyrics through out the speech to capture a bit of the punk rock spirit and, I will (um, “rap”?) vocalize the lyrics of Galvanize by the Chemical Brothers feat. Q-Tip.

Here are the songs I plan to “sing”/rap in my speech. I’m going to put them here so I can come to this page for practice. Hope you enjoy a little walk down memory lane. I will post a video of the speech on April 10 so come back and see the finished product later.

Viva La Revolution and Joker in the Pack by The Adicts

California Uberalles by the Dead Kennedys

Police Truck by Dead Kennedys

New Dreams by Naked Raygun (Even though you can’t hear the song so great here, I love how this video captures the pure mayhem that takes place at every Naked Raygun show, large or small. Being in that “crowd” energy for so many years of my life, it is difficult to be content with long periods of sitting still.

Galvanize by Chemical Brothers (Party Ben Galvanize the Empire Remix)

From the soaring height of 3 feet 8 inches, Peggy O’Neill has traversed the front lines of personal transformation for over three decades. Coming from the field of psychotherapy, Peggy is a sought-after speaker, award-winning author and skillful life-coach. Peggy is a spirited advocate for positive living and is wholeheartedly committed to empowering others and increasing unity amidst diversity. Whether speaking to professionals, women, students or those with disabilities, Peggy shows people how to “Walk Tall” and move through life celebrating differences and sharing their innate magnificence.

You can listen to this call in it’s entirety or download it here.

For more about Peggy, visit her website: YoPeggy.com

Toastmasters has been an amazing experience for me. It’s helped me to uncover my voice and build my confidence. Now I can speak about what I want to speak about the way I want to speak about it. Today I completed my Humorously Speaking manual in Toastmasters and delivered speech #4 “Keep Them Laughing”. I need help with writing jokes but it feels good that I’m confident enough to try.

In the past, if someone laughed during my speech, I thought for sure I had done something stupid and they were laughing at me. In this speech, I decided to make fun of fear by bringing it right into the speech and joking about it. With practice I hope I truly will “keep them laughing” because I know that laughter is powerful.

I would love the opportunity to deliver this speech or one like it to groups of women and girls of all ages. If you are looking for a speaker at your next event, contact me by leaving a comment here or contact me on Facebook.

One night in roller derby practice, I had to jump over the back seat of a Chevy Corvair on roller skates. The prospect of it terrified me but the end result of taking a risk and having success was life-transforming.

In this 6 minute video taped at Agape Toastmasters, I talk about how jumping over that car seat, even though I was initially convinced I couldn’t, was proof to me that my mind doesn’t always tell the truth and maybe I shouldn’t take it so seriously. When I hear the words “I can’t” in my mind, I ignore it. If you want less fear and more joy, check it out.

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For step-by-step guidance to overcome failure mentality or fear of failure, purchase From Sabotage to Success.

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“I encourage you to dress up. You can think Halloween or you can think of those items you love but don’t feel brave enough to wear in public. On that note, you could come in your pajamas. Let us see a side of you we might not usually see, get out of your comfort zone and have fun.

P.S. I’m going to wear things that force me to face a huge fear: looking foolish or “too wild” in front of others. Think Dennis Rodman, Madonna or some crazy funk star from the 70’s.”

The result was a creative and inspiring meeting. The fear dissipated with each speech.

Linda Lloyd (far left in polka dot PJ’s), faced her fear of leaving the house without being “made up”. Margaret Futerer (devil costume) talked about her childhood fear of the Devil. Charmaine Shaw (far right) told the dramatic story of her fear-stricken life as a young child in a violent area of Jamaica. Each day on the way home, Charmaine had to pass a cemetery. She grew up hearing stories about the ghosts that resided there. She was so terrified of the cemetery that she ran past it daily without allowing her eyes to even glance in that direction. She arrived home each day winded and tired.

One day, she finally faced her fear. She looked at the cemetery and guess what she saw?

Nothing.

That’s what fear is.

Nothing.

I am a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist. My most common fears have included:
Making a fool of myself
Being “too much”
Being “too loud”
Wearing the “wrong” thing
Looking “weird”
etc.

This day was an exhilarating opportunity to face all of those fears at once.

I was big, I was bold, I was loud and I was wearing all the “wrong things.” Guess what happened?

Nothing.
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One of my favorite moments of the meeting was when I confessed my fear of being “too loud”. I decided to face the fear immediately and let out a bellow. People weren’t ready for it but once they got over the shock, they laughed. Fear can be funny. Especially when you realize that no matter how real it seems, it’s nothing.

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For step-by-step guidance to overcome fear and self-sabotage, purchase From Sabotage to Success.

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Visit Agape Toastmasters on-line.

I told the story of how I practiced with a roller derby team and became Galvanized and how I successfully slay my most powerful sabotuer: Puleza.

Puleza is a people-pleasing perfectionist with severe issues of unworthiness. If you encounter her just remember, you have more power than she does.

My book, From Sabotage to Success can help you gain and increase that power so you can use your strength for good.

If you’d like to come up with your own superhero name, check out these lists on Wikipedia :

List of Superheroines
List of Superheroes