Obama and Brown are distant cousins, Boston researchers say - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe
Obama and Brown are distant cousins, Boston researchers say - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe
Ever since the man decided he was going to be president of this country, newspapers have been publishing these (in my opinion) wacky genealogical connections between his family and former presidents. For example, this morning's article from the Boston Globe stated that Obama, has links to seven presidents, including that _____, George W. Bush. I mean really, it's that important to show America that yes, we have a Black president but the truth is, he's more related to us than you think!
I can take these reports so many ways, but I think there are some racial undertones to the continuing research into Mr. Obama's family history by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. I haven't heard them linking Dubya to anyone else in history. No one's doing Ronald Reagan's genealogy to verify his family blood lines. Could it be that everyone else (meaning "Whites") are taken at face value while people of color need to be researched to find out their *gasp* fascinating linkage to white America?
We have always been related to each other, no matter how much we are disliked, feared or misunderstood. "People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn should be required read for all.
This country NEVER ceases to amaze me.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Help That Haiti Needs...
Blog from the NY Times 1/14/2010:
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/
My response:
The help that Haiti needs isn't the kind that bashes the populace for the decisions of their government. Reading some of these comments remind me of situations where people often blame the victim because they have no one else to blame. Not everyone in Haiti was destined for poverty. My response is heartfelt because I still have family there who has struggled everyday in every which way creatively to survive on that island. My parents who luckily left before Baby Doc came to power found their way to NYC just like any other immigrant and managed to attend & graduate college, buy homes and raise a family. What they remember about Haiti is not always mentioned in news reports about the poverty of Haiti. They remember a land that was properous, a booming tourist island, every child attended school paid for by the government and relative calm. No some did not have running water or modern latrines, but they were proud people. My grandparents owned tobacco fields for decades before they were burned for deforestation.
The media oftens fails to describe the other part of the island where Europeans (and some Americans including foreign diplomats) summer during holidays. Some people are not so fortunate to have this including those that live there. "Experts" love to discuss how the Haitian government is mismanaged and corrupt, as if we have a clean history with the island!
Today Haiti is a severely indebted country whose debt to export ratio is nearly 300 percent, far above what is considered sustainable even by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Both institutions are dominated by the U.S. In 1980 Haiti's debt was $302 million. Since then it has more than tripled to $1.1 billion, approximately 40 percent of the nation's gross national product. Last year Haiti paid more in debt service than it did on medical services for the people. Haitian officials say nearly 80 percent of the current debt was accumulated by the regimes of Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier, Doc and Baby Doc.
It is now well known that the primary source of Haiti's chronic impoverishment is the reparations it was forced to pay to the former plantation owners who left following the 1804 revolution. Some of the white descendants of the former plantation owners, who now live in New Orleans, still have the indemnity coupons issued by France. So in fact, at least part of the reparations paid by Haiti went toward the development of the United States.
These indemnity payments caused continual financial emergencies and political upheavals. In a 51-year period, Haiti had 16 different presidents - new presidents often coming to power at the head of a rebel army.Nevertheless, Haiti always made the indemnity payments - and, following those, the bank loan payments - on time. The 1915 intervention by the Marines on behalf of U.S. financial interests changed all of that, however.
By the time Duvalier grabbed the presidency of the world's first Black republic established by formerly enslaved peoples, Haiti had experienced more than 150 years of chronic impoverishment and discriminatory lending policies by the world's leading financial institutions and powers. The economic forecast for Haiti has not improved, even with the democratic election of Jean Bertrand Aristide, since he has been consistently demonized in the U.S. and world press.
But enough of the history lesson. I agree with #25-CDOYLE...
1. Offer Haiti grants NOT Loans.
2. Eliminate the debate. How much longer should France benefit from the money this poor country sends.
3. Lift the trade embargo. Haiti must be able to sell their items in a free market system once they have provided for themselves.
4. Foreign companies must pay taxes to the country. It happens in America...a business must invest in the community it works in. Why not the same policies for Haiti?
5. Have a leader that has real power to provide a FUNCTION government. Haiti does not need another figure head.
6. Solar power IS the way to go, stop the deforestation.
We need to allow the country to rebuild itself with international assistance in order to see the true beauty Haiti once had.
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/
My response:
The help that Haiti needs isn't the kind that bashes the populace for the decisions of their government. Reading some of these comments remind me of situations where people often blame the victim because they have no one else to blame. Not everyone in Haiti was destined for poverty. My response is heartfelt because I still have family there who has struggled everyday in every which way creatively to survive on that island. My parents who luckily left before Baby Doc came to power found their way to NYC just like any other immigrant and managed to attend & graduate college, buy homes and raise a family. What they remember about Haiti is not always mentioned in news reports about the poverty of Haiti. They remember a land that was properous, a booming tourist island, every child attended school paid for by the government and relative calm. No some did not have running water or modern latrines, but they were proud people. My grandparents owned tobacco fields for decades before they were burned for deforestation.
The media oftens fails to describe the other part of the island where Europeans (and some Americans including foreign diplomats) summer during holidays. Some people are not so fortunate to have this including those that live there. "Experts" love to discuss how the Haitian government is mismanaged and corrupt, as if we have a clean history with the island!
Today Haiti is a severely indebted country whose debt to export ratio is nearly 300 percent, far above what is considered sustainable even by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Both institutions are dominated by the U.S. In 1980 Haiti's debt was $302 million. Since then it has more than tripled to $1.1 billion, approximately 40 percent of the nation's gross national product. Last year Haiti paid more in debt service than it did on medical services for the people. Haitian officials say nearly 80 percent of the current debt was accumulated by the regimes of Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier, Doc and Baby Doc.
It is now well known that the primary source of Haiti's chronic impoverishment is the reparations it was forced to pay to the former plantation owners who left following the 1804 revolution. Some of the white descendants of the former plantation owners, who now live in New Orleans, still have the indemnity coupons issued by France. So in fact, at least part of the reparations paid by Haiti went toward the development of the United States.
These indemnity payments caused continual financial emergencies and political upheavals. In a 51-year period, Haiti had 16 different presidents - new presidents often coming to power at the head of a rebel army.Nevertheless, Haiti always made the indemnity payments - and, following those, the bank loan payments - on time. The 1915 intervention by the Marines on behalf of U.S. financial interests changed all of that, however.
By the time Duvalier grabbed the presidency of the world's first Black republic established by formerly enslaved peoples, Haiti had experienced more than 150 years of chronic impoverishment and discriminatory lending policies by the world's leading financial institutions and powers. The economic forecast for Haiti has not improved, even with the democratic election of Jean Bertrand Aristide, since he has been consistently demonized in the U.S. and world press.
But enough of the history lesson. I agree with #25-CDOYLE...
1. Offer Haiti grants NOT Loans.
2. Eliminate the debate. How much longer should France benefit from the money this poor country sends.
3. Lift the trade embargo. Haiti must be able to sell their items in a free market system once they have provided for themselves.
4. Foreign companies must pay taxes to the country. It happens in America...a business must invest in the community it works in. Why not the same policies for Haiti?
5. Have a leader that has real power to provide a FUNCTION government. Haiti does not need another figure head.
6. Solar power IS the way to go, stop the deforestation.
We need to allow the country to rebuild itself with international assistance in order to see the true beauty Haiti once had.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Earthquake in Ayiti 1/12/2010
In retrospect, the complaining I've been doing about what I supposedly don't have or didn't do is nothing compared to what 80% of the people in Haiti are dealing with. I feel ashamed that I have not consistently remained grateful and upbeat about my environment.
Poverty in the Haiti is no comparison to what we consider poverty in America. People fail to realize that as bad as we want to portray our government, the sitting president and the political games as money hungry, narcissistic, liars (which they can be), we still have it pretty good here.
And when all this humanitarian effort has gone weeks after the initial outpouring of generosity from the international community, Haiti will still be the poorest nation, the size of Maryland with roughly 10 million people in the Western Hemisphere.
And we will all go back to our lives, working, paying bills, and complaining.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
A quote...
"To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively concious is to be in a rage almost all of the time."-James A. Baldwin
I cannot begin to express how this quote makes me feel.
I cannot begin to express how this quote makes me feel.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Some articles on parenthood annoy me!
After reading this morning's editorial in the NYT on yelling (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22yell.html) I wanted to get into a shouting match with the author!
The gist of the article is in essence that yelling is bad for your children. It demeans, they often block out the "noise" and it erodes their self confidence and ego. Ok, we all heard about how spanking is an absolute no-no in parenting even though most adults I've spoken to, including those writers and researchers admit to being spanked as a child. Did they come out to be mass murderers, violent wife beaters, and other derelicts?
Now I'm being told I can't raise my voice a few octaves to make a point? Anyone who has been around children past the cute, toddler and I only babysit phase understand that certain behaviors elicit a yell every now and then. It wakes them up out of their cocoon of "Oh, I can probably get away with this for long time." Once a child gets in the pre-teen and teen years, they exhibit behaviors that most of the time, you are not happy with. They are not really trying to please you at this point, they're too busy trying to be themselves! So, if my child decides he's not going to brush his teeth in the morning and I find out right when I'm running out the door, what am I to do?
a. In my nice, telephone, at work voice say, "Would you please return to the bathroom and take care of your oral hygiene? (At this point, I will have less than 10 minutes to get to the train station)
b. Pretend I didn't notice and let him offend commuters, teachers and classmates with his breathe?
c. "GET IN THE BATHROOM AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEETH, NOW!"
Needless to say, I've done c. He's 12 for crying out loud, the soothing voice doesn't work when it's repeated behavior. Time out won't work on this one and did I really destroy his self esteem?
__________________________________________
My opinion is that the "perfect" parent who does everything on even keel and is never ruffled does more damage than good. What would you think if your mom or dad were always stoic beings? Do they have any emotions? And what about those feelings? Parents who keep all those feelings of resentment, anger, frustration have other unhealthy outlets. Smoking pot, using prescription drugs. (You don't know how many of those cute soccer moms are sneaking out smoking or are on anti-depressant medication.) And really, is it healthy to keep all this frustration internalized. Many moms experience ulcers just from stressors at home (kids, husband) and the job (deadlines, bosses).
So what's the solution? I'm not really sure but I do know all this advice makes me want to scream!
The gist of the article is in essence that yelling is bad for your children. It demeans, they often block out the "noise" and it erodes their self confidence and ego. Ok, we all heard about how spanking is an absolute no-no in parenting even though most adults I've spoken to, including those writers and researchers admit to being spanked as a child. Did they come out to be mass murderers, violent wife beaters, and other derelicts?
Now I'm being told I can't raise my voice a few octaves to make a point? Anyone who has been around children past the cute, toddler and I only babysit phase understand that certain behaviors elicit a yell every now and then. It wakes them up out of their cocoon of "Oh, I can probably get away with this for long time." Once a child gets in the pre-teen and teen years, they exhibit behaviors that most of the time, you are not happy with. They are not really trying to please you at this point, they're too busy trying to be themselves! So, if my child decides he's not going to brush his teeth in the morning and I find out right when I'm running out the door, what am I to do?
a. In my nice, telephone, at work voice say, "Would you please return to the bathroom and take care of your oral hygiene? (At this point, I will have less than 10 minutes to get to the train station)
b. Pretend I didn't notice and let him offend commuters, teachers and classmates with his breathe?
c. "GET IN THE BATHROOM AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEETH, NOW!"
Needless to say, I've done c. He's 12 for crying out loud, the soothing voice doesn't work when it's repeated behavior. Time out won't work on this one and did I really destroy his self esteem?
__________________________________________
My opinion is that the "perfect" parent who does everything on even keel and is never ruffled does more damage than good. What would you think if your mom or dad were always stoic beings? Do they have any emotions? And what about those feelings? Parents who keep all those feelings of resentment, anger, frustration have other unhealthy outlets. Smoking pot, using prescription drugs. (You don't know how many of those cute soccer moms are sneaking out smoking or are on anti-depressant medication.) And really, is it healthy to keep all this frustration internalized. Many moms experience ulcers just from stressors at home (kids, husband) and the job (deadlines, bosses).
So what's the solution? I'm not really sure but I do know all this advice makes me want to scream!
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Silent Illness
I'm finding that many of my friends who are now approaching 30 or already there seem tired and for the most part, depressed.
All of a sudden, a drop in phone calls, weeks go by without a Facebook update and soon you're found wondering, "hey, what happened to so and so?" Depression is what happened.
Most people my age can really identify with depression but refuse or are unable to acknowledge that their experiencing it. Here's a short list taken from WebMD :
Just do a quick survey with your friends. I guarantee that most will have exhibited one or many more of these symptoms. I had someone the other say, "I'm tired. It's been a difficult decade." DECADE?
Economy, family life, work, school all contribute to the stresses of your daily life but if it continues and you find yourself unhappy DAILY, something's wrong. And it's really not our fault. We're surrounded by overachievers, advertisements like, "The world runs on Dunkin", excessive gym rats, and did I mention the overachievers?
People have forgotten what's it's like to do absolutely nothing sometimes. Friends and families working 2, even 3 jobs , 2 or more school aged children EACH with a schedule to follow, full time employees going to graduate school full time, how can one compete with that? It's like you're a utter failure if you're not juggling 3 or 4 plates at a time. And nobody sleeps anymore...not with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. You're constantly turned on and plugged in with your Android phone, "crack"berry, and iPhone (of which I'm guilty of too).
Sleep is a powerful tool to combat depression. It's been said that the lack of sleep is linked to depression because of an hormonal imbalance. Look it up! So don't feel guilty if you don't want to go out tonight, put the kids to bed early, turn of the tv, phone, computer, berry, iPod and spend 8 hours (or more) getting the sleep you deserve. You'll be happier and your body will thank you for it.
All of a sudden, a drop in phone calls, weeks go by without a Facebook update and soon you're found wondering, "hey, what happened to so and so?" Depression is what happened.
Most people my age can really identify with depression but refuse or are unable to acknowledge that their experiencing it. Here's a short list taken from WebMD :
Depression symptoms:
- difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- fatigue and decreased energy
- feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
- insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
irritability, restlessness - loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex (oh no!)
- overeating or appetite loss
- persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
- persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
Just do a quick survey with your friends. I guarantee that most will have exhibited one or many more of these symptoms. I had someone the other say, "I'm tired. It's been a difficult decade." DECADE?
Economy, family life, work, school all contribute to the stresses of your daily life but if it continues and you find yourself unhappy DAILY, something's wrong. And it's really not our fault. We're surrounded by overachievers, advertisements like, "The world runs on Dunkin", excessive gym rats, and did I mention the overachievers?
People have forgotten what's it's like to do absolutely nothing sometimes. Friends and families working 2, even 3 jobs , 2 or more school aged children EACH with a schedule to follow, full time employees going to graduate school full time, how can one compete with that? It's like you're a utter failure if you're not juggling 3 or 4 plates at a time. And nobody sleeps anymore...not with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. You're constantly turned on and plugged in with your Android phone, "crack"berry, and iPhone (of which I'm guilty of too).
Sleep is a powerful tool to combat depression. It's been said that the lack of sleep is linked to depression because of an hormonal imbalance. Look it up! So don't feel guilty if you don't want to go out tonight, put the kids to bed early, turn of the tv, phone, computer, berry, iPod and spend 8 hours (or more) getting the sleep you deserve. You'll be happier and your body will thank you for it.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Respect, death, and the new generation
I have always considered myself and I've been told by others that I am friendly, approachable and genuinely nice. I believe it, usually. But there are things are slowly chipping away at my demeanor for example, respect (or the lack of).
1. K. West is just a reminder of how people really are around you. His behavior and his actions thereafter remind me of people who do things to hurt your feelings and then apologize when you you express your disapproval. This is not sincere! How different was Mr. West's behavior to Jesse Jackson stated unknowingly into a live mic that Obama was a "uncle Tom" and later apologizes because people reacted. Or what about the recent congressman who called Obama a liar during session? Maybe the several countries who after benefitting from slavery for hundreds of year later issue an apology because...oh yea! It was wrong to to subject an entire generation and progenies later to their willful, abusive treatments. People have forgotten how to behave in public and really at home. We have become a society that enjoys taunting, bullying and teasing other people for kicks and then give a lame apology to excuse our behavior.
2. Death---so many people have died this year including celebs; Kennedy, Jackson, Swayze, Fawcett, etc. Here's my issue: The rush to "get over it". It may not be verbalized but the media has an insane affect on how you deal with your emotions. Psychologically, we are unable to properly grieve.
Day 1. A.M headline "XXX dies today at XX"
Day 1 P.M news about all the accomplishments, failures of said person who passed.
Day 2 A.M headline "Funeral service for XXX to be held on XX"
Day 3-5 (headline may move to page 2-3)
Day 6+ other newsworthy items
So basically, we're given like 5 days to grieve someone we barely know and even our own friends and family. Just look at your bereavement policy of your employer.
3. The new generation-Our kids are walking robots!
My 12 year old had to learn the "Our Lord's Prayer" in Latin at his school and I asked if he knew the prayer in English he said, "No." I asked my mom if she knew the prayer and she said, "Of course, I learned that prayer in elementary school so I know it by heart!" She asks him, "Do you want to learn it?" He says, "no, I'll just get it from the internet." What?
Kids just don't get the value of having someone older around them. There was a time when the youth would ask their grandparents about their lives, their triumphs and struggles. These days, we look to technology for all information. I'm ashamed to say this, but he doesn't even know our mother language. And believe me we've tried to teach it.
Oral traditions are lost...what a travesty.
1. K. West is just a reminder of how people really are around you. His behavior and his actions thereafter remind me of people who do things to hurt your feelings and then apologize when you you express your disapproval. This is not sincere! How different was Mr. West's behavior to Jesse Jackson stated unknowingly into a live mic that Obama was a "uncle Tom" and later apologizes because people reacted. Or what about the recent congressman who called Obama a liar during session? Maybe the several countries who after benefitting from slavery for hundreds of year later issue an apology because...oh yea! It was wrong to to subject an entire generation and progenies later to their willful, abusive treatments. People have forgotten how to behave in public and really at home. We have become a society that enjoys taunting, bullying and teasing other people for kicks and then give a lame apology to excuse our behavior.
2. Death---so many people have died this year including celebs; Kennedy, Jackson, Swayze, Fawcett, etc. Here's my issue: The rush to "get over it". It may not be verbalized but the media has an insane affect on how you deal with your emotions. Psychologically, we are unable to properly grieve.
Day 1. A.M headline "XXX dies today at XX"
Day 1 P.M news about all the accomplishments, failures of said person who passed.
Day 2 A.M headline "Funeral service for XXX to be held on XX"
Day 3-5 (headline may move to page 2-3)
Day 6+ other newsworthy items
So basically, we're given like 5 days to grieve someone we barely know and even our own friends and family. Just look at your bereavement policy of your employer.
3. The new generation-Our kids are walking robots!
My 12 year old had to learn the "Our Lord's Prayer" in Latin at his school and I asked if he knew the prayer in English he said, "No." I asked my mom if she knew the prayer and she said, "Of course, I learned that prayer in elementary school so I know it by heart!" She asks him, "Do you want to learn it?" He says, "no, I'll just get it from the internet." What?
Kids just don't get the value of having someone older around them. There was a time when the youth would ask their grandparents about their lives, their triumphs and struggles. These days, we look to technology for all information. I'm ashamed to say this, but he doesn't even know our mother language. And believe me we've tried to teach it.
Oral traditions are lost...what a travesty.
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