Ken Starr - Karma Is A Bitch!

The saying, "what goes around, comes around" is not often proven with an identifiable public incident. However, Ken Starr's recent firing then demotion at Baylor University show that karma is alive and well.  It is quite ironic that his aggressive, witch hunt in the Clinton/Lewinsky sexual relations scandal brought accolades on his efficient handling of the case. However, "Mr. Morality's" inattentiveness to the recent Baylor University sexual relations accusations has lead to questions on his inefficient attention in addressing the matter. It is hard to forget Starr's overzealous, nasty, hateful, tactics in dealing with President Clinton while engaging in his "Christian" duties to leave no stones unturned. Starr was eager to end one man's career, and now his career is called into question. Karma is certainly a bitch!

Exorbitant Commencement Key-Note Speaker Fees

While many colleges and universities are constantly complaining about decrease government funding that they claim is responsible for cut backs in classes and student services, they always seem to find the exorbitant fees that so many high maintenance "celebrities" have come to expect to speak at commencements. But, those who do not take cash will not speak out of the goodness of their heart since some will expect an honorary degree while others will require a private jet and exclusive accommodations for themselves and their entourage. Of course, this may turn out to be even more expensive than commanding a one-time fee. Florida A & M has been cash-strapped for a number of years with threats of closure, but somehow found $23,000 for their commencement speaker. Katie Couric's $110,000 fee caused an outburst at the University of Oklahoma since many thought this private contribution could have been better spent for scholarships. Harvard and Princeton universities can more than afford to pay the excessive fees to these high-end speaker; however, they do not engage in this waste of money. Ironically, after the commencement fanfare, the one hour or less speeches may soon be forgotten when reality sets in for graduates who are burdened with financial aid debt or those who experience difficulties finding a job. Sign this petition below on change.org to stop this practice that is getting out of control as competition for these high-income speakers increases each year. 
change.org

What Category Are They?

Today, President Obama signed a Bill to remove the words 'Negro', 'Oriental', 'Indian', and 'Spanish Speaking' from Federal law. Instead of continuing to use such insulting terms, more appropriate words such as African American, Asian American, Native American, and Hispanic will be recorded. Apparently, millions of legal residents from Black majority countries such as in the Caribbean or the African continent, who do not identify with the African American designated category, were not considered. Consideration also seems lacking for the millions of legal residents from Asia who do not identify with the Asian American category. So, while the move is long-awaited and welcomed by many, it does not address the needs of so many immigrant residents who contribute to building the economy of the United States. What category are they?

60 Minutes - Old Age or Illness........ or Curse?

Morley Safer recently passed away. His death adds to the 60 Minutes' deaths of on-air personalities who people were accustomed to seeing for so many years on their television screens on Sundays at 7:00 PM. From Ed Bradley to Andy Rooney to Mike Wallace to Bob Simon to Morley Safer. The retirements of both Rooney and Safer were aired on episodes a couple days before the public learned that both men unexpectedly passed away. Could their cases be coincidences or CBSs perfect timing in expectation of the impending deaths or examples of the notions supported by sociologists on the elderly's mind power over the body in postponing death until a major event occurs. Whatever the case, hopefully the string of deaths will not be a common occurrence that will incite the "c" word.

Apologizing - A Taboo Action in the United States

The action of apologizing does not appear to be a custom that is readily practiced in the United States nowadays. Expressions of concern with an apology for wrong actions toward others seem to be a cultural taboo since it is implanted in the minds of many that they could not possible make a mistake even if it is quite evident they are wrong. Some seem to be of the impression that any expression of concern may generate a sense of guilt or weakness or admission. In such an egotistical society, it is simply not a way of life to convey any remorse to another for wrong deeds. A case in point occurred when a City of Miami police officer's alleged speeding vehicle accidentally ran over a 6 year old boy while he was riding his bicycle in front of his home. The police officer mentions he did not see the boy who darted with his bicycle into the street. However, the troubling fact about this incident is that while the young boy was confined to a hospital bed as he recuperated from a broken leg, hip, and internal injuries, his mother mentioned that no one from the City of Miami Police Department made any effort to acknowledge or express any sympathy or concern for the recovery of this young child whose body lied beneath the police vehicle. We now live in an uncaring society where it is no longer the practice to follow the golden rule, "do unto others as you would like them to do unto you".
Miami Officer Runs Over 6 Years Old Boy

North Carolina's Bathroom Restrictions - An Opposite Effect

The nonsensical law in North Carolina that prohibit Transgender students from using the bathrooms of the sex that they now identify with is somewhat a blessing in disguise. The politicians who approved this law have brought an important subject, the plight of transgenders, to the forefront since their difficulties were previously never considered a 'hot' topic for public discussion. Now, thanks to North Carolina's politicians' backward thinking, the issues of Transgenders have been brought to the forefront for all to consider the difficulties that they have been experiencing for years. So, thumbs up to North Carolina politicians for making a law that is out-of-touch with the discrimination laws that are in place to prevent social injustices. Their ignorant bathroom law decision has made so many people more knowledgeable and receptive to need for Transgender rights in the United States.

"A Change Gonna Come" - Oh No It Won't In My Life Time!

As the years progress the racial division in the United States seems to be getting worse rather than better. The Air bnb situation provides another example of how people's biases will cause them to avoid having to deal with people of color. It goes both ways too since a Black Twitter contributor to #AirbnbWhileBlack indicated that some White renters were alarmed to learn that she was the owner of the residence they rented through the website. Coming from a country with a predominantly Black population where one does not have to worry about his/her color to engage in life's simple activities, it is disheartening to observe how Blacks in the United States have continued to battle racist mentality from the slavery era until today, so many centuries later. Some assume that the appearance of those requesting to rent may be a factor for denial. However, there are too many Blacks who are experiencing denials when they post their pictures on Air B&B or if they have African sounding names. Furthermore, the following research shows.

Hidden Brain dug into a Harvard Business School study that found that on Airbnb, "African-American sounding names were roughly 16 percent less likely to be accepted than their white-sounding counterparts."

[Researcher Michael] Luca thinks this racial discrepancy is driven largely by unconscious bias—the hidden associations we have that affect our behavior without us realizing it. The way AirBnb's platform is designed, names and photos are the first thing people see, and therefore one of the first things they consider, either consciously or unconsciously, when choosing a place to stay.

Sam Cooke was optimistic that "A Change Gonna Come". But, as centuries pass, the struggle will continue for Blacks in the United States.

#AirbnbWhileBlack

What's In the Name "Hitler"

Every semester, it is important to learn at least 50 names of students entering my classrooms. Somehow, there is no difficulty remembering all these names within a week. Recently, however, a student with the first "Hitler" entered the classroom. The first impression was - what parent with good intentions for their child would give them the first name, "Hitler". Was that parent not aware of the actions of Adolph Hitler in Europe during the 1940s.  Could this be a question of illiteracy on the part of parents from a country with great poverty for centuries. Of course, a name should not define a person, so the naming others "Hitler" should bear no conceivable connection to a man who was responsible for the murder of millions of Jewish people. However, just thinking about the name without even mentioning the name brought a chilly feeling. And so, the decision was made to call the student by his last name which the student greatly appreciated more than calling him by the first name,  "Hitler".

West Point Female Cadets - A Case of Bad Influences

There has been a lot of talk about the Black female cadets at West Point who were shown in a photo raising their fists. These young ladies explained reasons for their show of unity in the midst of the negative comments, an internal investigation, and insinuations that their graduation from this prestigious military college could be affected.The problem is that these young women were wearing their uniform when the photo was taken, and this leaves a bad impression in the minds of even those who are still rooting for them to have an opportunity to graduate. The issue that comes to mind in this case is how people may be caught up in actions that they may not have considered until they they became part of a group. In such groups, there are generally leaders and followers. Certainly, there must be a leader or leaders in that group who convinced the others of how "cool" it would be to take a photo with their fist raised. Some followers quite possibly may have been well aware that a group of Black male or female raising their fist is an indication of solidarity with Black groups that have been despised throughout the years in the United States. Some may not be familiar with the decade old radical group, the Black Panthers, but all should have be quite familiar with White negative reactions to Beyonce's recent Black solidarity performance at the SuperBowl. Nevertheless, so it is in life, followers have to bear the fall out of participating in group situations gone bad since they were not strong enough to oppose the leader or leaders. In this case of the female cadets, they must now all bear the burden equally and hopefully learn from this situation to be independent thinkers since following others could ultimately affect their destiny.