My wife and I just returned from a 4 night stay at the Beach Club resort along the gulf shores in Alabama. As a young child I recall watching events on television occurring in Alabama during the turbulent civil rights struggles of the 1960s. Alabama during that era was not exactly a progressive state in terms of advancing the rights of African Americans. I recall the then racist governor of Alabama, George Wallace, making racist statements on television.
Even though it has been some 50 plus years since those days, I did plan a rest and relaxation trip to the Gulf Shores to try the area out. That event happened this week. We flew into Pensacola, Florida and drove to the gulf shore area via a rental car. I was amazed by the number of hotels/resorts along the highway by the gulf shores. It obviously is a place visited quiet often by many. Whether those "many" includes African Americans is something I can't address.
Our stay at the Beach Club was great. We did notice that we appeared to be the only African American couple or family at the resort during those 4 days. We were treated well at the resort, along the beach front and in the restaurants and stores we visited in the gulf coast area. Why were we the only black couple/family there? It could be a matter of the image the resort promotes or people like myself not viewing Alabama as a first choice vacation destination for African Americans. The brochure and website didn't picture any African American's vacationing at the resort. Someone visiting the website or looking at promotional material would therefore think the resort purposefully does not feature African Americans in its advertising. Only the owners and promoters of the resort can address their advertising techniques.
The resort is a location any one regardless of race, creed, or color should experience. Relaxation at its best, especially during great weather.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Friday, May 6, 2016
Fill the Vacancy Spot on the Supreme Court Or ......
On February 13, 2016 with the death of Justice Scalia, a vacancy opened up on the Supreme Court. Almost immediately, Republicans in the Senate proclaimed that President Obama should not fill the vacant seat. The reason or lack of reason was purely political. Republicans want a Republican President to fill the vacant position. No other reason.
On March 16th President Obama nominated Merrick Garland as a candidate to fill the vacant spot. Since then the process of venting the candidate by the Senate has not begun. Senators who are earning $174,000 a year, which includes taking action on nominees to the Supreme Court, have not taken the first step in the review process. Republican Senators have decided that their job description does not include taking timely action to vote on nominees for the Supreme Court.
Based on the Senatorial discretion, I had a thought. What would happen if I decided that I do not want to pay Federal taxes in any form until the next President is elected? It's the same logic as expressed by the Senators. Why should I pay taxes if Senators don't have to carry out their responsibilities which they are being paid to do?
On March 16th President Obama nominated Merrick Garland as a candidate to fill the vacant spot. Since then the process of venting the candidate by the Senate has not begun. Senators who are earning $174,000 a year, which includes taking action on nominees to the Supreme Court, have not taken the first step in the review process. Republican Senators have decided that their job description does not include taking timely action to vote on nominees for the Supreme Court.
Based on the Senatorial discretion, I had a thought. What would happen if I decided that I do not want to pay Federal taxes in any form until the next President is elected? It's the same logic as expressed by the Senators. Why should I pay taxes if Senators don't have to carry out their responsibilities which they are being paid to do?
Monday, May 2, 2016
African American Movies - Original ideas or sequels. Which do you want?
Barbershop 3 premiered last month. The third movie in the series of films. It follows sequel mania that has become popular in American films over the past 30 or so years. If a blockbuster film worked the first time, create a sequel to cash in on the first one. Making money not creating cinematic works of art is the key of the sequel. As of today Barbershop 3 has made $44 million dollars. It is said to have cost $20 million to make so it is now in the profit zone.
The movie is an economic success for the producers and artists involved. But, what has it done to promote new stories being depicted about the experiences of African Americans? Are our stories limited to only showing sequels for a few successful movies? Surely there are stories about the experiences of African Americans and our progress since the Emancipation Proclamation? Stories about individual struggles to success. Stories about families overcoming hardships to become successful.
Instead what are we given to view? Stories about slavery, sequels from previous movies, and stories about maids and butlers. Yes we see black actors and actresses in the role of the President of the United States. But, now that is nothing new right? Unfortunately we are caught in a dilemma. We want to support black made films. We want to see ourselves on the movie screen. We also have a right to demand different types of movies with new ideas and new characters and story plots.
Those successful movie makers do owe us movies with original ideas. We've supported their sequels and financed their continued financial success. Now give us some originality, creativity in ideas and excellence in the form of really original film making. Tell a story about an African American experience that hasn't been told. Give us a good dramatic story that defines the multifaceted nature of our experiences. Don't just give us Ride Along 3, and Barbershop 4. We are smarter than that and deserve much better cinematic efforts.
The movie is an economic success for the producers and artists involved. But, what has it done to promote new stories being depicted about the experiences of African Americans? Are our stories limited to only showing sequels for a few successful movies? Surely there are stories about the experiences of African Americans and our progress since the Emancipation Proclamation? Stories about individual struggles to success. Stories about families overcoming hardships to become successful.
Instead what are we given to view? Stories about slavery, sequels from previous movies, and stories about maids and butlers. Yes we see black actors and actresses in the role of the President of the United States. But, now that is nothing new right? Unfortunately we are caught in a dilemma. We want to support black made films. We want to see ourselves on the movie screen. We also have a right to demand different types of movies with new ideas and new characters and story plots.
Those successful movie makers do owe us movies with original ideas. We've supported their sequels and financed their continued financial success. Now give us some originality, creativity in ideas and excellence in the form of really original film making. Tell a story about an African American experience that hasn't been told. Give us a good dramatic story that defines the multifaceted nature of our experiences. Don't just give us Ride Along 3, and Barbershop 4. We are smarter than that and deserve much better cinematic efforts.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Political Yard Signs in the Internet Age??
In two weeks the state of Indiana will have a primary in which voters can decide who will be on the November ballot and decide a variety of other elective offices and issues. Unfortunately one thing has not changed in this internet, non paper based age. The proliferation of political yard signs posted in every vacant piece of land seems to have increased.
As the above photo shows, no I wasn't driving and taking photos at the same time, the yard signs of politicians have mysteriously sprouted up cluttering every vacant landscape with small and huge signs touting the name of the politician and the office they are seeking election to. Some signs are clustered together tightly. Some stand in solitude, a lonely testament to the American political process. A process which for several weeks allows landscapes to be littered with no apparent concern regarding how the signs spoil the natural environment.
If it was trash being thrown on the ground, well maybe some of the signs fall into that category, fines would be issued and people prosecuted. But because these trash stapled to a wooden stake signs somehow support the electoral process, they are tolerated. But how exactly do these signs help to gather votes for candidates? Well, the signs publicize the name of the candidate/litterbug seeking election. The signs also tout that you should vote yes or no for a local issue. The signs don't say why you should vote for an issue or a person so maybe the reasons are irrelevant?
The signs are kind of colorful. They sometimes elicit a response from those who see them. Some people tear the signs down because they do not like the candidate or the stand a sign may take on an issue. So in that respect the signs support exercise and a release of built up tensions. But stealing or tearing down signs also costs the candidate money. So if you tear a sign down at least mail a few dollars to the candidate to compensate them for their loss!
But back to the question. What do these signs do to enhance the chances of victory for a candidate or a cause? I think they do nothing except help us recall the name. Especially on election day. As you walk up into your polling area, signs are on each side of the sidewalk to the point where you marvel at the number of signs able to be posted in a small area.
Then what happens to all these signs after the election? Are they recycled to save 8-9 trees? If not it seems a waste of poster board. If not yard signs then what? Well, can you imagine being bombarded with unwanted political emails and political advertisements popping up in all the apps we use? That would be a positive as our smart phones would be disabled by the sheer volume of political ads and we would actually have to talk to each other more.
As you make your drive around your town, safely count the number of yard signs you see.
As the above photo shows, no I wasn't driving and taking photos at the same time, the yard signs of politicians have mysteriously sprouted up cluttering every vacant landscape with small and huge signs touting the name of the politician and the office they are seeking election to. Some signs are clustered together tightly. Some stand in solitude, a lonely testament to the American political process. A process which for several weeks allows landscapes to be littered with no apparent concern regarding how the signs spoil the natural environment.
If it was trash being thrown on the ground, well maybe some of the signs fall into that category, fines would be issued and people prosecuted. But because these trash stapled to a wooden stake signs somehow support the electoral process, they are tolerated. But how exactly do these signs help to gather votes for candidates? Well, the signs publicize the name of the candidate/litterbug seeking election. The signs also tout that you should vote yes or no for a local issue. The signs don't say why you should vote for an issue or a person so maybe the reasons are irrelevant?
The signs are kind of colorful. They sometimes elicit a response from those who see them. Some people tear the signs down because they do not like the candidate or the stand a sign may take on an issue. So in that respect the signs support exercise and a release of built up tensions. But stealing or tearing down signs also costs the candidate money. So if you tear a sign down at least mail a few dollars to the candidate to compensate them for their loss!
But back to the question. What do these signs do to enhance the chances of victory for a candidate or a cause? I think they do nothing except help us recall the name. Especially on election day. As you walk up into your polling area, signs are on each side of the sidewalk to the point where you marvel at the number of signs able to be posted in a small area.
Then what happens to all these signs after the election? Are they recycled to save 8-9 trees? If not it seems a waste of poster board. If not yard signs then what? Well, can you imagine being bombarded with unwanted political emails and political advertisements popping up in all the apps we use? That would be a positive as our smart phones would be disabled by the sheer volume of political ads and we would actually have to talk to each other more.
As you make your drive around your town, safely count the number of yard signs you see.
Saturday, April 23, 2016
The New Customer Service - Do It Your Self
I think it first began with the advent of self service gas in the 1970s. The idea then was gas would be cheaper if you pumped the gas yourself. There was a lower price for self service versus full service where someone pumped the gas for you.
Then the self service movement went into grocery stores with the self checkout lane. You scanned your groceries, bagged your groceries, paid the bill, then pushed your cart out to the car where you unloaded your bags and then pushed the cart into the cart corral. Or you left the cart in front of your car not caring to walk the 15 feet or so to the cart corral.
Now in some restaurants they have on the table a device through which you order your meal and pay your bill. They've cut human contact with a waiter or waitress to the bare minimum. That being if you encounter a problem. So your table service is as good as you give yourself.
So I ask what's next? It's got to be the hotel industry. In the near future you will have hotels where you make up your own bed or change the sheets, vacuum your own room, clean your own bathroom and take your dirty towels down to the laundry to exchange them for new clean towels. Then you can tip yourself based on how well you think you did.
What this offers is the opportunity for all of us to gain additional skills that we used to pay for others to do for us. It expands our job resume and skill bank. So, the next time you are given poor customer service, just smile, say thanks, and wave bye to the worker because in a matter of time they won't have a customer service job anyway to perform poorly at. You will have it! An additional skill to your growing arsenal of do it your self skills.
Then the self service movement went into grocery stores with the self checkout lane. You scanned your groceries, bagged your groceries, paid the bill, then pushed your cart out to the car where you unloaded your bags and then pushed the cart into the cart corral. Or you left the cart in front of your car not caring to walk the 15 feet or so to the cart corral.
Now in some restaurants they have on the table a device through which you order your meal and pay your bill. They've cut human contact with a waiter or waitress to the bare minimum. That being if you encounter a problem. So your table service is as good as you give yourself.
So I ask what's next? It's got to be the hotel industry. In the near future you will have hotels where you make up your own bed or change the sheets, vacuum your own room, clean your own bathroom and take your dirty towels down to the laundry to exchange them for new clean towels. Then you can tip yourself based on how well you think you did.
What this offers is the opportunity for all of us to gain additional skills that we used to pay for others to do for us. It expands our job resume and skill bank. So, the next time you are given poor customer service, just smile, say thanks, and wave bye to the worker because in a matter of time they won't have a customer service job anyway to perform poorly at. You will have it! An additional skill to your growing arsenal of do it your self skills.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Here we go again! "The Greatest Country In The World"
It doesn't matter what event it was. It may have been a political event. It may have been a neighborhood bake sale. It was being taped by a "news" crew. Whatever the speaker was talking about it included the infamous obligatory statement about the United States of America being the greatest country in the world. Every time I hear that statement I wonder what criterion is that statement based on?
Yes, in the United States there is opportunity to have a relatively financially secure lifestyle. Plus the opportunity to indulge in and enjoy a variety of leisurely activities. There is a general opportunity to at least pursue your life passions.
But, there are conditions in the United States that don't seem worthy of being under the umbrella covering of the "greatest country in the world". Despite the overall abundance of wealth in the United States, 16% of the population live in poverty. That means that 16% of the population doesn't eat as well as you and I. That means that some of the fun activities you and I regularly do are beyond the financial reach of those in poverty. The notion that these 16% are solely responsible for the impoverished conditions they live in has not been proven as being correct.
It is a fact that drug abuse, and the crime rate in many metropolitan areas are out of control. Does that mean that a 16% poverty level and outbreaks of crime and drugs in select communities are acceptable levels and conditions for a great country? Does a country's greatness stop if it reaches a 20% poverty level and only 10 metropolitan areas exist with crime above a certain percentage? In addition, in terms of addressing mental health issues the United States does not stand out as being the poster child country with the best programs to assist those with mental health issues. Ask the family of those who have relatives murdered by someone with a mental disorder.
So why do people continue to make the statement that the United States is the greatest country in the world? Have those people physically visited every country in the world? If so what checklist did they use to rate and rank that country?
I respect the right of people to make "the greatest country" declaration. But you and I know it's just a patriotic, ill informed, biased statement at best. Maybe it's a part of our competition gene. The need to be better than someone else. Or the "I'm Number One" syndrome. The greatest country declaration exist because we do not have the ability to think in collective terms. World goals are drowned by the oceans of selfishness that the world promotes.
In the upcoming Summer Olympic games we will likely see the usual graphics by the media that track the number of gold, silver, and bronze medals won by each country. The celebration of the individual athlete's accomplishment will be overwhelmed by narcissistic flag waving. Why are the flags thrust into the athlete's hands anyway? Why can't the athlete hold up their favorite beverage, package food item, etc. and give those items some commercial time, with appropriate financial compensation? No, instead they have to carry a flag around to promote the superiority of their land.
But on the other hand, if the athlete gets a thrill out of carrying and waving a flag around good for them. I'll just change channels, go to use the restroom or go jogging and promote my health and wellness.
Yes, in the United States there is opportunity to have a relatively financially secure lifestyle. Plus the opportunity to indulge in and enjoy a variety of leisurely activities. There is a general opportunity to at least pursue your life passions.
But, there are conditions in the United States that don't seem worthy of being under the umbrella covering of the "greatest country in the world". Despite the overall abundance of wealth in the United States, 16% of the population live in poverty. That means that 16% of the population doesn't eat as well as you and I. That means that some of the fun activities you and I regularly do are beyond the financial reach of those in poverty. The notion that these 16% are solely responsible for the impoverished conditions they live in has not been proven as being correct.
It is a fact that drug abuse, and the crime rate in many metropolitan areas are out of control. Does that mean that a 16% poverty level and outbreaks of crime and drugs in select communities are acceptable levels and conditions for a great country? Does a country's greatness stop if it reaches a 20% poverty level and only 10 metropolitan areas exist with crime above a certain percentage? In addition, in terms of addressing mental health issues the United States does not stand out as being the poster child country with the best programs to assist those with mental health issues. Ask the family of those who have relatives murdered by someone with a mental disorder.
So why do people continue to make the statement that the United States is the greatest country in the world? Have those people physically visited every country in the world? If so what checklist did they use to rate and rank that country?
I respect the right of people to make "the greatest country" declaration. But you and I know it's just a patriotic, ill informed, biased statement at best. Maybe it's a part of our competition gene. The need to be better than someone else. Or the "I'm Number One" syndrome. The greatest country declaration exist because we do not have the ability to think in collective terms. World goals are drowned by the oceans of selfishness that the world promotes.
In the upcoming Summer Olympic games we will likely see the usual graphics by the media that track the number of gold, silver, and bronze medals won by each country. The celebration of the individual athlete's accomplishment will be overwhelmed by narcissistic flag waving. Why are the flags thrust into the athlete's hands anyway? Why can't the athlete hold up their favorite beverage, package food item, etc. and give those items some commercial time, with appropriate financial compensation? No, instead they have to carry a flag around to promote the superiority of their land.
But on the other hand, if the athlete gets a thrill out of carrying and waving a flag around good for them. I'll just change channels, go to use the restroom or go jogging and promote my health and wellness.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Issues of the Day - Mine and What are Yours?
In this Presidential election year, candidates are talking about a variety of issues. In this world there are numerous issues to address. What are the most important issues? Well, it depends on whom you ask. We all have experiences, biases, likes, and dislikes that determine what we care about in this world. It would be difficult for 10 people let alone millions of voters to come up with a list of top 10 issues that were the exact same in terms of priority. Sure, you might get the same 10 issues in a different order of priority. From my personal views these would be the top issues of the day.
1. Development of a mental health policies to assist in helping people not to become a danger to themselves and others;
2. Protecting people against terrorists of all kinds;
3. Rebuilding infrastructures in communities;
4. Developing relationships with other countries;
5. Taking care of the environment;
6. Caring for the elderly;
7. Finding the cure for cancer;
8. Improving deficient educational systems;
9. Outlawing "hate" groups.
10. Finding a mechanism to truly listen to the concerns of people and responding to those concerns.
What all my issues have in common is that investing in any one of them has the benefit of helping a variety of people. Each issue does not have a selfish economic benefit for me personally. Instead resolution of any of the issues has the benefit of making conditions better in a variety of ways in this world. For example, improving educational systems will assist people to develop natural gifts or learn new skills that will make them marketable to one day obtain a job. Finding the cure for cancer will save many families from the grief of losing loved ones. Taking care of the environment is something we should be doing as this world was originally given to us by our Creator for us to maintain it. Developing relationships with other countries reduces the suspicions and fears we have of each other and helps to bring us to realize that we are all connected. Then maybe we can expand our ability to solve problems if we work together.
Many people get involved in addressing an issue based on the impact the issue had in their lives. For example, someone whose parent(s) had Alzheimer's may get involved in fundraising work to find a cure for Alzheimer's. Another person may get involved in an organization based on an illness that impacted a loved one or family member. Personal experiences often are a huge factor in what we become involved with or care about. There is nothing wrong with being influenced by a life event to "care" about an issue or a cause. We gain knowledge during the events that causes us to care.
I challenge you to think about the top 10 issues that you care about and why.
1. Development of a mental health policies to assist in helping people not to become a danger to themselves and others;
2. Protecting people against terrorists of all kinds;
3. Rebuilding infrastructures in communities;
4. Developing relationships with other countries;
5. Taking care of the environment;
6. Caring for the elderly;
7. Finding the cure for cancer;
8. Improving deficient educational systems;
9. Outlawing "hate" groups.
10. Finding a mechanism to truly listen to the concerns of people and responding to those concerns.
What all my issues have in common is that investing in any one of them has the benefit of helping a variety of people. Each issue does not have a selfish economic benefit for me personally. Instead resolution of any of the issues has the benefit of making conditions better in a variety of ways in this world. For example, improving educational systems will assist people to develop natural gifts or learn new skills that will make them marketable to one day obtain a job. Finding the cure for cancer will save many families from the grief of losing loved ones. Taking care of the environment is something we should be doing as this world was originally given to us by our Creator for us to maintain it. Developing relationships with other countries reduces the suspicions and fears we have of each other and helps to bring us to realize that we are all connected. Then maybe we can expand our ability to solve problems if we work together.
Many people get involved in addressing an issue based on the impact the issue had in their lives. For example, someone whose parent(s) had Alzheimer's may get involved in fundraising work to find a cure for Alzheimer's. Another person may get involved in an organization based on an illness that impacted a loved one or family member. Personal experiences often are a huge factor in what we become involved with or care about. There is nothing wrong with being influenced by a life event to "care" about an issue or a cause. We gain knowledge during the events that causes us to care.
I challenge you to think about the top 10 issues that you care about and why.
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