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Monday, 19 May 2008 |
The debate started as a casual observation. The dreadlocked young lady commented that she was disgusted at the manner in which some members of the dancehall fraternity appeared to have no respect for women. She continued to say that the lyrics to many of their songs were very abusive, violent and quite explicit, as many bragged about their sexual prowess, some even threatening physical damage to various body parts through intercourse.
"What kind of men are these?" She queried, "at least they should have respect for their mothers. What makes it worse is that these songs are played on the radio at any hours of the day." The quiet gentleman who was listening attentively chimed in with a response so basic. "Den if you don't want to hear it, change the station or turn off de radio." She fired back a response, on target as if she knew his was coming. "What about when a mini-bus pulls up with the songs blaring and I have my children in the car? I can't turn that off or change that station. |
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Balancing living standards |
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Sunday, 11 May 2008 |
The Florida Legislature was very proud at the end of its session last
week for approving the state’s 2008/2009 expenditure of $66.2 billion,
without having to resort to raising taxes. At face value, that could be
regarded as commendable. However, in order to balance the budget the
state made drastic cuts of over $4 billion. Looking at these cuts it is
apparent that many valuable social services have been eliminated so
that the Legislators can be proud of not raising taxes.
The budget cuts 695 jobs, eliminates pay raises for all but state
troopers, forces layoffs of teachers, nursing home and child welfare
workers and affects hundreds of private businesses that perform work
for the state.
But its is South Florida public schools that are among the biggest
losers, losing $120 million out of $332 million across the state. As a
result of the cuts, summer-school and after-school programs and the
services reading coaches have been reduced. Meanwhile, there has been a
six percent raise in state-owned college tuition fees. Moreover, as a
late minute surprise the much anticipated one week tax-holiday that was
originally approved for back to school shopping was chopped because the
legislatures claimed that April’s sales tax revenue came in much lower
than was anticipated.
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Sunday, 11 May 2008 |
According to a new nationwide survey commissioned by LEADS at Spelman
College, African-American female Democrats across the country say
leadership abilities, not race or gender, is the primary motivator for
their selection of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as the Democratic
presidential nominee.
The first survey conducted to explore the political interests and
mindsets of minority female Democrats reveals that few African-American
female Democrats admit race (3.9 percent) or gender (5.6 percent) are
the primary motivators for selecting the next presidential candidate.
Nine out of 10, say they will choose the Democratic nominee based on
leadership abilities.
“Contrary to sensational headlines, this survey shows that
African-American women are looking beyond the surface of race and
gender,” said Jane E. Smith, Ed. D., executive director of LEADS at
Spelman College, a leadership development center for women.
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The media’s awesome influence |
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Sunday, 04 May 2008 |
It wasn’t too long ago US mainstream electronic media was three major
television networks, NBC, CBS and ABC and later, Fox News. Then, the
public depended heavily on newspapers and radio stations to get details
of major news events. There weren’t the continuous, repetitive, never
ending televised newscasts that exist today.
Repetitive newscasts started with the advent of major cable television
stations like CNN, followed by MSNBC and Fox Cable News. The explosion
of cable news channels that broadcast round-the-clock news, and views
on the news, has changed the media, particularly television, from the
primary role of informing to influencing. Nowhere is this more evident
than in the current presidential election campaign.
When the media was limited to a few television and radio stations,
voters were largely influenced by political ads through the media, and
media interviews by influential broadcasters. It was the responsibility
of the politician to influence his constituency. Not so today.
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America’s working class is bitter!! |
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Sunday, 20 April 2008 |
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Are
American political leaders and the politicians aspiring for national leadership
really aware or concerned about the economic plight that faces Americans,
especially Americans in the middle and lower classes? If they are, then how can so much time be
spent over the recent days talking about Barack Obama’s comment that some
working class Americans are bitter about their economic circumstances and cling
to guns and religion as a result? Instead of Obama’s comments sparking a well
needed debate on the dreadful state of our economy, and initiating proposals to
improve it, attacks have been made against Obama that his comments were elitist
and divisive.
The fact is
that working class Americans, including African and Caribbean Americans, are
angry, fed-up and bitter at the economic downslide taking place in America. Each
time they pull up at a gas pump and see that the price of a gallon of gas is higher
than the last time they visited they get bitter and angry. Each time they go the grocery store and find
that they cannot buy the quantity of food that they usually buy to feed their
family, because the price of food keeps rising, they are bitter and angry.
What’s worse they get more angry and bitter, when they realize that those they
elect to represent their interests seem to be doing little to alleviate their
economic burdens. Tax rebates of $600 will hardly make America’s
working class less bitter.
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