Recently, some members of South Florida's Caribbean media launched an effort to organize themselves and form a Media Association. This is a bold and commendable effort, considering that there are several obstacles that first must be overcome for any such association to be meaningful to its members and the community and to be successful as an organization. A couple years ago this attempt did not go beyond a few meetings and eventually that group disbanded without achieving any meaningful goal.

Parents always want the best for their children, regardless of their background, regardless of their position on the economic, social or class totem pole.  Their dream is that their child will become someone prominent who has excelled in their particular career field.  The hope that surrounds the birth of a child is universal, as proud parents imaginations run wild with aspirations of greatness.

In earlier years, just about every parent dreamed of their child becoming a doctor, lawyer, accountant, banker, engineer or a politician - well let's rethink that last one as well as the lawyer - but on the serious note, these professions represented respect, class, power and paid well enough to secure one’s future and propel one from the bottom of the economic ladder.

There are so many stories of persons who were pushed into a particular profession by a parent, some trying to live vicariously through their child, or simply just wanting the child to be "someone" or as a ticket out of poverty and in some instances, as a pension plan for the parent.  In most cases, these persons are never happy with their profession and either go through life miserable or rebelled against the parent by changing course and pursuing a profession perceived by the parent to be of less prestige.  Often times this change in profession creates a rift between child and parent - the child by now is an adult trying to define his/her own life - but the controlling parent cannot face that reality. 

As the Presidential elections gather steam and the race for the White House intensifies, Americans are being excited by the various promises made by the candidates. As difficult as it is to learn their real positions on topics such as immigration, welfare reform, taxes and the war in Iraq, it appears that the current field of candidates has managed to create some interest and as a result has motivated voters to turn out in record numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire.

It is encouraging that Caribbean-Americans are as enthralled and are paying close attention to the process. Many are now learning how the process works, the difference between a caucus and a primary; how party delegates are chosen for the national convention and more than ever, the importance of voting in this selective process.