UC Berkeley Bake Sale Animated by NMA…is this more offensive than the bake sale?

The UC Berkeley Bake Sale has garnered national attention. It was sponsored by the Young Republicans and designed to show that minorities and women are given unfair advantages. The price list reflected the disparity by charging Caucasians more for an item and offering that same item to a minority at a lower price. Well, this animation takes that premise to another level. tell me what you think.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/uc-berkeley-bake-sale-animation_n_987888.html?ir=Black%20Voices

Oregon couple relied on faith and son died…should they be jailed?

Dale and Shannon Hickman’s son David was premature baby that was born at home. He developed breathing problems due to his immature lungs. Instead of calling 911 the Hickmans relied totally on prayer. Hickman anointed his son and the next day his son died. The Hickmans are members of a church called Followers of Christ, a faith healing church that believes fate is solely in the hands of God. They were convicted Thursday of second-degree manslaughter in the 2009 death of their son. Doctors testified that the child had a 99% chance of recovery had he been brought to the hosptial for treatment. My question is are the parents guilty of a crime or were they exercising their right to practice their religion freely? They sincerely believed in the power of prayer so is it fair to put them in jail? Tell me what you think.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/oregon-couple-convicted-in-sons-faith-healing-death.html

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson tackles Chris Christie’s “Big Problem”

The Republicans have been fawning all over NJ Gov. Chris Christie, but Chrisitie has a problem that is visible to all of us, and that is his weight. Washington Post columnist has written a piece on this weighty issue today. Read the link and tell me what you think.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/chris-christies-big-problem/2011/09/29/gIQAAL7J8K_story.html

Pat Buchanan says blacks not brainwashed they just love the “Liberal Plantation”

Good ole MSNBC Pat Buchanan said that he does not share Herman Cain’s viewpoint that blacks have been “brainwashed”. He just thinks that blacks bought into Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society to their detriment and now they are simply content to be on the “liberal plantation”. Which is worse brainwashed or living on a plantation? Both characterizations are insulting, but is there any truth in either one of them? Tell me what you think.

What is Michelle Obama doing in a Target?

Today the first lady shopped at the Target in Alexandria, Virginia. CBS News said that she spent 30 minutes in the store and no one recognized her but the cashier, but how did the Associated Press get this photo? An AP photographer just happened to be there? “It is not uncommon for the first lady to slip out to run an errand, eat at a local restaurant or otherwise enjoy the city outside the White House gates,” said Kristina Schake, communications director for the first lady. It’s unclear how the photo came about; her office said the photographer, Charles Dharapak, “caught her” at the store.* Really.
*LA Times

Was Sports Legend Walter Payton a Drug Addict?

I grew up in Chicago and Walter Payton was one of the greatest players that the Chicago Bears ever had. He was nicknamed “Sweetness” and if you ever saw him play you know the name was well-deserved. He struggled with the losing Bears for years and finally in 1986 the Bears won the Super Bowl. Payton died in 1999 from liver disease, but he still has a special place in the heart of the fans. Jeff Pearlman has written a book about the legend, Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton. In this book Pearlman details Payton’s alleged drug use as well as his alleged infidelities. So why now? Money is the motivation, but it is so unfair to hear these stories and the subject is dead an can not defend himself against them. The president has invited the 1986 Super Bowl team to the White house because they never got that visit and this will be a tribute to the greatness of Walter Payton. Everything in the book might be true, but it is sad that his family has to deal with this because somebody has decided to make a buck off the back of their father. Payton carried the Bears for years and now his family is saddled with carrying the burden of a tarnished legacy. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Walter-Payton-Chicago-Bears-biography-claims-drug-abuse-adultery-suicidal-thoughts-092811?GT1=39002

Should Public Schools observe Rosh Hashanah?

The following statement was taken from the Café Mom website: “This is the note that is attached to my son’s homework schedule for the week. Starting Wednesday and lasting through the end of the week, he will not be assigned homework due to Rosh Hashanah. Now, this might be OK if we went to a private or religious school. But we’re in a public school. And yes, I understand the significant of Rosh Hashanah for those who celebrate the Jewish faith. But I do not think this is appropriate. I highly doubt we’re going to get “no homework due to Good Friday” papers in their weekly packets. Anyone else have this sort of thing happen in their school? Thoughts about this? Should the school be catering to one religion like this?” My kids are home today in observance of the holiday. So tell me what you think.

Herman Cain says blacks have been “brainwashed”, is he right?

Herman Cain appeared on the CNN Situation Room yesterday and he said that blacks have been “brainwashed”. He went on to say that blacks will not even consider a conservative point of view. So is it brainwashing or is it party allegiance? In light of the fact that there is a 16% unemployment rate in the black community is this the election year that circumstance might trump party loyalty? Tell me what you think.

What’s Up with JC Penney’s…is this ad sexist?

A few weeks ago JC Penney’s took heat for a tee shirt for girls that some including me deemed to be sexist. Now their latest ad for men’s wear seems to be going down a similar path. Is it sexist? Tell me what you think.

Seven NY students arrested in SAT cheating scandal

The SAT is an important test for high school juniors and seniors. colleges use it as part of their admission criteria. Seven students who attend Great Neck North High School allegedly paid Sam Eshaghoff between $1500-$2500 to take the test for them. “Eshaghoff and the six students were arrested Tuesday morning by investigators for the Nassau County District Attorney. Eshaghoff is charged with scheming to defraud, falsifying business records and criminal impersonation; the six students, whose names are being withheld because of their ages, face misdemeanor charges and were arraigned in a closed courtroom. They left without comment and with coats draped over their heads, according to the Associated Press.” Eshaghoff did very well so well the teachers were suspicious because the students GPA’s were so low it was hard to conceive they had actually done that well on the test. This school is located in a well off school district so maybe these students had $1500-$2500 laying around to pay the test taker or if they didn’t where did they get the money From? Work? Parents, and if the parents knew should they be arrested them too? Last question is this academic pressure that drives a student to this or is this just cheating? Tell me what you think.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/a-new-york-teen-is-arrested-for-taking-the-sats-for-six-students.html?track=icymi