SOTU Thoughts

Last night’s State of the Union indicated one thing: America still has her hands full.

Before last night’s address, I admit that cynicism and pessimistic sentiments started to creep in. Over this past year, President Obama and his administration have had to make some pretty unpopular and bold actions. Some moves have been received with pretty moderate support while others have been unwelcoming, especially from the Party of No. Some of the administration’s important first steps have alienated independent voters and frustrated a lot of the democrats along the way.

His speech served to reinforce the very idea that we know is true: this is America’s defining moment. Although in the past she has deprived the black race of some of the most basic and essential liberties, the acronym USA embodies a substantial buoyancy of hope and justice and freedom and democracy and independence.

President Obama’s tone in his first State of the Union compared to that of the 43rd President’s was noticeably different. Whereas former President Bush’s main priority was the War on Terror, there was a symbol of new wars headed our way: War of Fixing the Economy, War on Getting Americans Back to Work, War on Health Care, War on K-12 and Higher Education, and War on Putting American’s Needs in Front of Partisan Bickering. He shifted the nation’s top priorities. This is most needed.

Middle class Americans have it hard. It is a daily fight to prevent home foreclosures, work to make ends meet, taking out a student loan to gain access to a quality and affordable education, working to combat racial disparities, unfair gender or sexual discrimination – while those on the other side of the aisle live with insensible tax breaks and record bonuses.

Americans were often reminded last year that we needed to tighten our belts and that those on the Hill would be more committed than ever to ensure that our economy rebounds, people get back to work, and that reaching across the divided party line would become normal practices – all for the common purpose of creating a more perfect Union. But is it so? Our belts cannot get any tighter!

President Obama reminded me tonight that he gets it. He understands the hard times that everyday people are facing. He is in touch with those who wake up each day on a daily grind to find employment, and those who have to choose between feeding their children or provide adequate health care coverage.

When times get hard, people bail. What we cannot afford is the government turning its back on the people who need the resources the most. President Obama explained that it is not about winning another election, but it is about getting the people’s work done.

We elected them. We decide if they stay or go.

Busy week

Wow. This week has been extremely busy. Each time I turned the netbook or laptop on to begin a blog entry, within a minute, I hit the start and shut down button!

Even though I have a huge to-do list, or what I refer to as my "get-er-done list", life has a way of placing me in uncomfortable situations that ultimately prevents me from reaching the finish line. Through the madness and chaos of the daily routines, anything that appears out of the nowhere becomes a distraction.

Have you ever had a structure or specific way to achieve a goal, but either through unforeseen circumstances or procrastination, you did not accomplish what you set out to finish?

Well, as I pause for a brief moment to mobile blog while working out on the elliptical, I am most grateful for those distractions that catch me off guard. Without those interruptions, whether small or large, I would be less motivated to find the strength to survive these storms.

#imjustsaying

MLK Day Rundown

"The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends at the elbow of justice." -Dr. King

Today the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, or National Day of Service, was filled with excitement and remembrance of a legend!

Starting at 11, on the windy streets of Downtown Fort Worth, I watched the annual MLK parade. People from all walks of life and races were in attendance. People sung hymns as they walk or rode. Organizations, young and old, fraternities and sororities, high school and college marching bands, community leaders, state representatives and the like – all joined in the festivities. This was sure the scene in most large cities across the nation, as we all paused to honor Dr. King on this federal holiday.

Afterwards, I attended a Battle of the Band. The presentations and crowd was absolutely phenomenal. You could feel the excitement from the students as they danced and played their instruments. Those in attendance were equally elated to be graced by the young students showing off their talents for Dr. King.

Later in the night, St John had a Dr. King celebration. The children did a great job reciting speeches, reading poems, performing through praise dances and singing solos.

Ending the day, I watched “Obama’s America: 2010 and Beyond” on MSNBC with Chris Matthews and Tom Joyner. They were live on the campus of Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. The two-hour feature was packed with interesting views of the state of Black America and how President Obama has helped shape the future of how people perceive racism in America. I will definitely blog about this later in the week.

In all, I really did have a great time celebrating the Dr. King’s Holiday. Here are a few pictures:

No public option – No reform

Last summer I worked vigorously with countless of other Obama supporters to help him win the presidency. One of his major campaign promises was to revamp the failing health care system.
If you believe that the current health care system is not supporting all Americans, then I dare you to get on board and rally behind the public option. America needs this – not a “trigger system” that reports indicate that Obama is leaning towards to appease the republicans and blue dog democrats. Fiscal conservatives argue that a public option is too expensive, it’s too massive, and he’s pushing forth a socialist agenda. Give me a break. What is too expensive is voting to fund a war that we should have never entered. Health care is increasing, insurance companies are failing to provide services to those who have preexisting conditions, and millions of Americans are without coverage.

Many of my friends who are either finishing or finished college are participating in unpaid internships without healthcare. There are equal or greater people employed at companies who do not offer health insurance. Most companies have inserted clauses that drop coverage after one reaches a certain age (ie. I was dropped from my parent’s insurance once I reached 23). Thankfully my employer provides reasonably affordable insurance. However, without this public option, I fear that what I’m paying now will double or triple. This is the perfect opportunity to revamp the system and hold insurance company’s accountable to providing ethical coverage.

We elected President Obama to overturn the politics of the past. He cannot afford to break away or concede to those who are unwilling to offer up solutions or compromises. He cannot give in to the insurance lobbyists who are injecting fear and blatant lies into the health care reform discussions nor can he turn back on his campaign promises. This is important. The public option is absolutely necessary and will be a great way of regulating the current prices of insurance.

No public option – No reform.

Blacks Graduating College

Black students that have enrolled in higher education is creeping up to meeting all-time high numbers; however, the Department of Education shows that only 43% of black students who begins college graduate - compared to the 63% of white students.

In 2006, NCAA released figures of the schools with the highest black graduates in the nation:

Harvard University - 95%
Amherst College - 94%
Princeton University - 94%
Wellesley College - 94%
Williams College - 94%
Brown University - 92%
Yale University - 92%
Washington University - 91%
Stanford University - 90%

... the next question is - exactly how many black students are enrolled at the aforementioned schools? Also, it would be interesting to know the schools that had the lowest percentages...

Lunch discussion.

Jay Z demands a lot from the University of Arizona

If you want Jay Z to perform, be ready to dish out some good dough. He earned $750,000 to perform at the University of Arizona, recently. Here is what his staff requested that the university provide him (besides the $750,000)

-1 late model black Mayback 57 or 62 with tinted windows ($400,000 luxury vehicle)
-2 six packs of Sapporo beer in bottles
-1 750 milliliter bottles of Belvedere Vodka
-2 750 milliliter bottle of Patron Silver Tequila
-2 Bottles 2004 Sassicaia - Red, Italian Wine from Bolgheri Region
-2 Bottles Armand de Brignac Champagne aka "Ace of Spades" and ice buckets
-2 quarts each of orance and cranberry juice
-1 hot tea service
-8 glasses, wine glasses
-12 glass, champagne glasses
-1 martini shaker
-12 glass, shot glasses
-1 pack marlboro lights hard pack (box)
-1 package of lighters

-2 cases (48) of small bottles of Fiji water (24-cold/24-room temp)
-6 cans "Coca-Cola"
-6 cans Red Bull
-6 bottles of vitamin water in assorted flavors

Dressing Room:-hold 8 people
private acccess to a minimum of 1 shower, toilet, washing facilities, with hot and cold running water
-desired temperature is 72F
-Table and floor lamps rather than overhead lights
-1 large couch
-1 love seat
-2 matching end tables
-2 lamps
-6' banquet tables with tablecloths for catering
-4 standard folding chairs
-1 full length mirror
-1 rolling wardrobe rack
-1 humidifier
-1 microwave

Notre Dame Controversy

President Dr. Obama, as he addressed the 2009 class of the University of Notre Dame, was interrupted 4 times by pro-life hecklers. President Obama accepted an honorary law degree and delivered the graduating commencement speech.

"These honorary degrees are hard to come by... so far, I'm only 1 of 2 as President," Obama said joking about not receiving an honorary degree from Arizona State University earlier this month. Instead, campus officials decided to have a scholarship named after him.

It amazes me that some felt that the President of the nation should have never been invited to the campus. His appearance was clouded by pro-life critics - who intentionally were arrested to make a point.

It is extremely disappointing to know that these students who worked hard for many years studying, only to have the biggest day of the end of their undergraduate days interrupted by people who wanted to inject politics into such a momentous occasion. While I agree that people who have strong beliefs should protest, but these protesters went too far.

I absolutely enjoyed watching Father Jenkins (my hero) handle the scene. He said that the community, public officials and students should use the opportunity of the POTUS coming to campus to "engage in responsible and reasonable dialogue". After all, this is what higher learning is all about. Some may side with pro-choice; others with pro-life - this is what makes us a melting pot of ideas.

President Obama said in his speech, "We are not going to shy away from things that are uncomfortable sometimes."

Whether you agree or disagree with abortions and embryonic stem cell research, one thing that we can take away from this is what Father Jenkins said in his introduction of the President: President Obama is not someone who stops talking to those who differs with him.

what a life

Ahhh. Thank God for the weekend. Situations have been mounting, and I finally have time to take a break, relax and sort through some ambiguous opportunities. Life is so strange... seems like one day everything is all mapped out and the next, it'll leave you wondering if you need a backup plan to make it through. Honestly, these past few months have been extremely chaotic. Juggling work, school and friendships can be a tad bit demanding. So yeah - this weekend is well deserved!

So what's new with me? Currently, I'm trying to get some articles published on students matriculating through college with chronic illnesses; the challenges and struggles of the next generation. Researching the similarities and contrasting principles of this decade to previous ones is quite interesting, to say the least.

So relationships - ah, I didn't even know that word still existed. I'm slowly becoming a pessimist when it comes to finding a "ying to my yang". If I start elaborating on this, I'm afraid that I'll sound like an angry old man. So I'ma leave this one alone! :-) Nonetheless, I'm slowly starting to come around to this city. I'm having a sort of difficult time establishing solid friendships. This can be a task in itself.

Well, I am off to listen to some good ole Patti Labelle and catch up on my girl O.

*knockout*