Young Voices
Exchanging ideas from the show and blogging about topics in the news from a range of perspectives.
February 1, 2008
Kwame Kilpatrick: Stop Messing Up
by Sean Nixon
“In today's politics having an affair is seen as the usual ”
Kwame Kilpatrick, mayor of Detroit was the center of attention Wednesday evening, apologizing for his role in a sex scandal with a former senior member of his staff.
In an emotional and heartfelt plea to the citizens of Detroit, Mayor Kilpatrick and his wife Carlita made a public statement together via a video message aired on local television and radio.
His former chief of staff resigned after allegations surfaced that she and the mayor had been involved in an affair and lied about it under oath during an investigation. In an effort to put the past behind him and rebuild his trust with the city, Mayor Kilpatrick now returns to work hopefully to continue the work he began when he took office back in 2001.
I was upset when I heard the news about Mayor Kilpatrick. I think that for him to have successfully navigated and succeeded in becoming a mayor at such a young age gives young people hope to the idea that maybe they too can do something extraordinary with their lives. That type of dream becomes tarnished when incidents like these occur.
To be fair, this isn't the first time a public official has been involved in an outside affair; officials have been doing these types of things for a while. It's just a shame that in today's politics having an affair is seen as “the usual”.
Aside from the emotional and marital damage suffered by the parties involved, the City of Detroit suffered financially. With all of the economic downers Detroit has felt, they had to contend with an investigation that cost the city $9M—that could have been used to fix schools, train workforces, develop infrastructure, or develop new initiatives for the future. Instead, the city swallowed nine million dollars worth of problems they could have done without.
I'm not looking to condemn anyone for having lapses of judgment, but we can't just keep allowing our leaders to mess up and then turn a blind eye to it, once things hit the fan. My advice is to think before you act.
Should citizens of Detroit forgive the mayor, or is there a need to have a change in leadership?
February 7, 2008
McCain Leads, Romney Leaves
by Sean Nixon
John McCain celebrates his victory as Republican frontrunner for the 2008 presidency.
On the Republican side, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee were embattled in a childlike argument. Neither candidate wanted the other in the race because they felt the other candidate's presidential run was hurting the other. The arguing went nowhere with Super Tuesday closing in fast.
Huckabee stood up to his critics and lambasted the media in a speech, by telling his supporters, don't let the media tell you who's still in this race. It's still up to the people.
Huckabee surprised a lot of people on Tuesday by securing a number of Southern states and proving that he's still a contender in the race. McCain however won votes in a lot of the winner-take-all states, where those victories boosted his delegate count.
The problem now is that Huckabee needs to try and catch up to the number of delegates McCain has. McCain holds roughly 700 delegates, with Huckabee at 195. With Mitt Romney dropping out of the race, the question now will be who receives the near 300 delegates Romney received. If Huckabee cannot secure enough delegates, John McCain will become the 2008 Republican Presidential nominee.
With Romney bowing out, questions are still left unanswered. If Huckabee secures enough delegates for the nomination, would conservatives trust the leadership of a Mike Huckabee presidency? Secondly, if John McCain is elected, will he follow the principles that party members feel are truly conservative?
Many conservatives feel they're between a rock and a hard place with McCain and the presumptive winner of the Democratic Party for this year's election. The question now is whether McCain is able to reconcile with voters that have often viewed him as a maverick.
Lastly, Republicans don't really see McCain as the true “face” of the Republican Party. He has a lot of work to do if he's going to not only win the party's nomination, but their hearts and minds as well.
February 11, 2008
Facing Reality
by Rose Capozzi
Rush Limbaugh
After the Super Tuesday returns and Mitt Romney's exit from the race, John McCain has emerged as the Republican nominee. Still, some Republicans are in denial over sending the maverick to face off with either Obama or Clinton.
Prominent right-wingers like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh have failed to endorse McCain, the only viable campaigner left. And yet, Ann Coulter went as far as to say that should would campaign for Hillary Clinton over John McCain. And Rush Limbaugh has accused McCain of stabbing "his own party in the back" by running a successful campaign.
While Coulter and Limbaugh are busy making a living by causing uproar within the Republican party over John McCain, they fail to recognize his long record of supporting important Republican issues, such as a strong national defense, a smaller government, and fiscal responsibility. These are not issues Huckabee excels in, let alone Clinton or Obama.
As I've stated before, McCain is the best candidate in the Republican primary, even if he is not perfect. Fortunately, it seems clear that the American people are not looking for a party pawn. I suspect that Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, and other hard liners are digging their own graves by ignoring our party's need to change its approach if we want a serious chance of remaining in the White House.
The people (well, at least those who have voted thus far) have spoken. John McCain is our man. Either get on board or dive off.
February 14, 2008
Who is the Real Queen of Soul?
by Jeremy Freed
It depends who you ask, apparently. According to Beyonce, who introduced the big-haired powerhouse at Sunday night's Grammy Awards, it's Tina Turner.
"There is one legend who has the essence of all of those things: the glamor, the soul, the passion, the strength, the talent," said the Destiny's Child diva, as she introduced Turner's performance. "Ladies and gentlemen. Stand on your feet and give it up for the queen."
Aretha Franklin, who has heretofore laid claim to the title, is not taking this lightly, issuing a fiery rebuttal through her publicist shortly thereafter. "I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce," she said, "However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."
While the words “of soul” did not appear in Beyonce's script, it was still too close for Franklin's comfort, apparently. This distinction does not appear to have been lost on Knowles' father and manager, however, who issued his own snappy statement today.
“Beyonce referred to Tina as a ‘queen'. Not queen of gospel, queen of soul, queen of blues, Queen of England,” said Mathew Knowles, who didn't specify what his daughter meant Turner was the queen of.
Tina Turner may have ruled the Thunderdome, but it seems that for the moment, at least, Aretha Franklin remains the Queen of Soul.
February 9, 2008
Is Torture an American Value?
by Jeremy Freed
Waterboarding simulation at an anti-torture protest.
How about “enhanced interrogation techniques”? In this week's hearings over the legality of waterboarding, neither the attorney general, nor the CIA director, nor the vice president appeared to see a problem with the practice of pouring water over someone's head to make them feel like they're drowning.
After Tuesday's admission that Al Qaeda detainees had been waterboarded to obtain information about terrorist plots, the only thing that seems to trouble these policymakers about torture is the word itself. Attorney General Mukasey is refusing to investigate the incidents, believing that they were lawful at the time. While CIA chief Michael Hayden believes the practice may not be legal now, he declined to speculate on whether it would be used again in the future. Dick Cheney, never shying away from a chance to appall the voting public, remarked, “It's a good thing we had them in custody, and it's a good thing we found out what they knew."
Contrary to President Bush's 2005 statement that “We do not torture,” it seems that in fact we have, we do, and might continue to in the future.
February 13, 2008
An American Tragedy
by Sean Nixon
“The story of Carmelo Rodriguez must not be forgotten.”
Recently I came across a story that made me very upset and uncomfortable. I felt like our government didn't take a stand for a man who offered his life in service for us here at home.
WHO IS HE? He was 29-year-old Carmelo Rodriguez. He was a sergeant platoon leader for the Marines serving in Iraq. He had a loving family, a passion for life, and wanted to serve his country. He did so with honor and valor.
WHY HIS STORY IMPORTANT: Military physicians' misdiagnosed Rodriguez's skin cancer, claiming it was in fact a wart. This story is important because countless other men and women may have already suffered this type of tragedy at the hands of a government that absolves itself of any wrongdoing. I wouldn't want someone I loved to have to go through something like this.
WHAT LED TO THIS SITUATION OCCURRING: The first physician wrote off the cancerous growth on Rodriguez's body as though it was no big deal. Subsequently, years and years passed by with no medical attention whatsoever taking place.
Despite the oversight and possible negligence the Rodriguez family feels the military demonstrated they are unable to sue the government because of a pre-existing law. The full video of Carmelo Rodriguez's story can be found online for viewing.
The Feres Doctrine is a law passed by the Supreme Court that says that no United States military officer has the right to sue or take any legal action against their government. Imagine the neglect and suffering of those who are subject to this law.
WHAT CAN WE DO? Spread the word. Call Congress. Make this an issue in your conversations and share the video with friends. This policy is egregious in the way it's carried out. The story of Carmelo Rodriguez must not be easily forgotten or ever repeated.
February 26, 2008
Faith and Politics 08
by Sean Nixon
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama's church has come under fire by the IRS.
Have faith and politics grown too close?
Well that seems to be the question the IRS is asking. Recently Trinity United Church of Christ, the church of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama received word that the Internal Revenue Service would be looking into their involvement to see if it was “too” political.
Under the law, a tax exempt institution like a church must stay out of the fray when it comes to the direct or indirect involvement of a candidate's election.
The IRS, in a copy of the letter sent to the church stated, “reasonable belief exists that the United Church of Christ has engaged in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status."
A segment of Obama's speech made during an address at one of the United Church of Christ events was on two of the election's biggest issues: health care and the war in Iraq.
Despite the inquiry Obama's church is receiving, Trinity UCC hasn't been the only entity to come under fire for this. The same thing happened when a minister supported Republican candidate Mike Huckabee for his presidential bid.
It seems, in this day and age, everything political involves some realm of religion. It definitely seems that nowadays people in the religious realm are becoming overtly political. The only question that remains is how do institutions of faith and their leaders strike a balance?
Readers must conclude if this is a case of the IRS being too trigger-happy with a policy position, or did Obama's speech overstep its boundaries? You decide.
February 18, 2008
The Other Bush Doctrine
by Rose Capozzi
President Bush may not be popular at home, but he is in Africa. The president visited the continent this week and was warmly received by people holding signs saying, "Thank you for helping fight malaria and HIV" as well as, "We cherish democracy. Karibu (welcome) to President and Mrs. Bush," according to an article in Reuters.
Unlike his predecessors, such as former president and current campaigning spouse Bill Clinton, President Bush has made a concerted effort to reach out to the African continent. An article in the Christian Science Monitor reported that Bush's doctrine of "Compassionate Conservatism" is expressed most eloquently by his policy approach to Africa. This policy can easily be divided into three distinct improvements. First, President Bush established Millennium Challenge grants to reward well-governed democracies. Bush has asked Congress to provide $5 billion more for this program in order to promote political stability and peace.
Second, Bush has requested Congress to double the initial funding for AIDS relief (known as PEPFAR) over the next five years. Throwing money at a problem doesn't always fix it, but in Africa, PEPFAR has already provided 1.4 million people with treatment for HIV/AIDS. With the additional funding, the president hopes to increase that number to 2.5 million. Funding will also be used to prevent an estimated 12 million people from being infected.
Third, this administration has increased efforts to get rid of malaria in Africa. Again, the president has asked Congress for more funding in order to distribute 6 million insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent childhood infection.
While more work must be done to bring stability, justice, and peace to the war-torn continent, President Bush has redefined American policy toward Africa. Even if you don't like him for other reasons, there are good reasons to like the work he has done for the people of Africa.
February 28, 2008
GOP: How Far Can We Go?
by Sean Nixon
Republicans research how to oppose Obama and Clinton without negative perceptions of race and sex.
There have been some critical missteps in how candidates have battled one another on the political playing field this election. Tensions have flared, innuendos have been used, words parsed, and feelings hurt.
The GOP is hoping the same thing doesn't happen in making sure that race and gender aren't factors in this year's election.
In an article featured online, Republicans are researching how to find the critical balance necessary to attack their possible African American or female opponent in the general election.
After snubbing Univision, and dodging presidential forums, criticisms have been levied against the Republican Party. Thinking back on George Allen's bad remark, it might be a good idea for Republicans to attend sensitivity training.
On the surface it appears that the Republican Party is just trying to do the right thing without being scrutinized too heavily. Others sense that this is just another ploy in an attempt to begin Karl Rovian-like tactics in a replay of previous elections.
If you're looking at the issue from the Republican perspective, supporters might ask, "What's wrong with us doing this? We are well within our rights to go out and ask how we go about strategically engaging our opponents?"
On the other side, people might ask why not simply address the issues?
In short, is this a noble move on behalf of the Republican Party with the intent of playing fair or just a strategy move engineered to circumvent the system? You decide.
February 26, 2008
Lindsay and Marilyn
by Jeremy Freed
Lohan doing her thing
Nowhere is a good scandal more at home than the blogosphere, and the latest one to set it all abuzz is New York Magazine's spring fashion issue, specifically its very revealing photo spread of Lindsay Lohan. In it, the very publicly troubled actress recreates the famous “Last Sitting” of Marilyn Monroe, a photo session completed just weeks before her untimely death from a drug overdose.
A New York Times editorial got things going last week with its declaration that the pictures were nothing less than death porn. Said somewhat catty columnist Ginia Bellafante, “the pictures ask viewers to engage in a kind of mock necrophilia,” before noting that the 21-year-old Lohan looks “even older than Monroe, who was 36 in the originals, and hardened by her excesses.”
Celeb juice queen Perez Hilton was one of the first on the scene, posting the images on his Website, and concluding that, “Lohan is addicted to fame! Poor thing. She should get treatment for that, too!” Most of the 2,000 comments on the post echo Hilton's feelings, although few bother to be as tactful or constructive in their criticism.
Other blogs offer much of the same view of the shoot, dismissing it as a publicity stunt for Lohan. Kevin Roderick's ever level-headed LA Observed, however, seemed to cut to the quick of the matter. “New York magazine got itself a sure seller this week,” began his post. The Huffington Post's Chris Kensler, too, recognized the issue for what it was, and went further, noting the mag's men's fashion content (it was a special double issue, after all) was decidedly half-baked.
For this blogger, it seems hard to find fault with printing pictures of a beautiful, troubled actress impersonating another beautiful, troubled actress. Perhaps it's ethically sketchy for us to enjoy them, but that doesn't seem to be stopping anyone. And at the end of the day, as long as people are buying magazines, all is good in the world of print journalism.
February 11, 2008
Winehouse is Back... Mostly
by Jeremy Freed
It was hardly shocking to see Amy Winehouse take home five of the six Grammy Awards for which she'd been nominated. What was a surprise, however, was how well she performed.
Much has been said of Winehouse over the past year, which saw the release of her breakthrough bestseller "Back to Black," and her very public downslide into substance abuse, personal catastrophe, and, finally, rehab. As she toured, playing to sold-out crowds around the world, her performances seemed to become worse with every show. She would stumble and slur, forgetting the words to her songs, once rushing off stage in the middle of a set. The great voice, which had carried her so far, seemed to be disappearing under the weight of her demons.
More recently, in the wake of the tragic death of Heath Ledger from a prescription drug overdose, talk of Winehouse has become more somber than ever, as she appears to move closer and closer herself to a similar fate.
It was a relief then, last night, to see Winehouse in fine form once again, performing two songs via satellite for the awards ceremony. After the performance was posted on YouTube, fans rushed to comment on her apparent transformation back to her old self. “Finally performing again like she used to,” says one, “Hopefully her wins will help her realize she is truly great.” “Get well! You Rock!” says another.
While she continues to struggle through treatment for addiction, Winehouse's future on the pop charts is far from certain. This morning her album is again at #1 on Amazon.com, her fans remain behind her, and, it seems, last night's triumph is a step in the right direction.
February 4, 2008
Obama's Super Bowl Push
by Jeremy Freed
“It was a shrewd move by the Obama team so close to Super Tuesday, and one which seems to be paying off.”
In the final moments of Friday's program, Tavis asked Hillary Clinton who she liked for the Super Bowl. The New York senator, who has been known to summer on Martha's Vineyard, was quick to reply that for Super Bowl Sunday, as for the following Super Tuesday, “I want the New York team to win both.”
While the Giants beat the odds in their surprise win over the Patriots, politically speaking the day belonged to Barack Obama, who was the only candidate to buy airtime during the most watched program of the year. Amid an excellent offering of big budget ads, even by Super Bowl standards, including appearances by Will Ferrell, Justin Timberlake, and Bill Frist and James Carville, whose heartwarming reconciliation over a bottle of cola should be an example to us all, the Chicagoan's splurge on advertising was a surprise.
At a cost of $250 thousand dollars, and airing in only 22 states, the ad was a relative bargain for the time slot, compared with the estimated 3 million it would have costs to show it nationally. Even so, it was a shrewd move by the Obama team so close to Super Tuesday, and one which seems to be paying off.
In the ad, over some very indie rock-sounding guitar riffs, Obama's message was stripped down and concise, as only a spot with such a hefty price tag could be. Promising to end the war in Iraq, repair the environment, and change the world, it was a message that encapsulated his platform of hope, change, and idealism for one of the biggest audiences yet.
These are lofty promises, and whether Obama would make good on them in the White House is not yet under much scrutiny. Today's news, however, suggest his strategy is working. He has closed the gap between himself and Clinton, and secured several prominent endorsements, among them the grassroots voters' group MoveOn.org, and a number of Kennedys.
One New York team may have come out on top yesterday, but the success of the other, in that other race tomorrow, seems far from predictable.
February 19, 2008
Tom Cruise and Hillary Clinton... More in Common than We Thought?
by Jeremy Freed
While I've already posted about Tom Cruise's now-infamous Scientology rant, I really couldn't let this new viral video slide. It's a mashup of Cruise's weird speech alongside Hillary Clinton's ‘emotional moment' in New Hampshire. It's not meant to be a shot at Hillary, at least I don't interpret it that way. You could just as easily make a video like this about any candidate (See?).
What appeals to me most about this is how much it reveals about the theatrics of politics, and how easily impassioned speech, taken out of context, can become totally hilarious. But I suppose you could watch it and see for yourself.
February 29, 2008
Prince Harry on the Front Lines
by Rose Capozzi
Yesterday, the press reported that Prince Harry, a member of the British Royal Family, was secretly deployed to Afghanistan and has seen combat. In fact, he spent 10 weeks there, fighting the Taliban on the front lines. Some reports even indicate that he has fired at the Taliban and has provided air support to U.K. troops. But we aren't supposed to know any of this.
The Ministry of Defense had hoped to keep Prince Harry's deployment a secret in order to protect him, and his fellow troops, from being an even more enticing target. However, the Drudge Report, an American Website, leaked the story yesterday. Today, reports have stated that Harry will be pulled out of Afghanistan, amidst rumors of him becoming a terror target at home.
This all started in mid February of 2007 with news that Harry, who enlisted into the British army, would be deployed to Iraq. But the Ministry changed their minds after receiving specific threats from insurgents. Still, in May of 2007, while forming a battlegroup for Afghanistan, Prince Harry found his way into a squadron and was trained. Then, in December, a decision was made by the Ministry of Defense to send the Prince to serve in a two-month tour, after coming to an agreement with the UK media that they would not discuss Harry's deployment.
Prince Harry's days in the military seem to be over. But life certainly will not go back to normal for the young man. A frequent club enthusiast, he will be forced to put his social life on hold in order to prevent public venues from being targeted by terrorists.
The real question in all of this is whether Prince Harry should have been deployed in the first place. I can see the benefit—someone in a position to change policy toward Iraq and Afghanistan has actually seen the conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. But at the same time, he put himself and others at risk of serious harm, not just from the Taliban and terrorist forces at home and abroad, but also by being a constant distraction for the other soldiers, who had to add "keep the prince alive" to their already brimming to-do list.
What are your thoughts? Should Prince Harry have served time on the front lines?
February 22, 2008
A Well-Earned Privilege
by Rose Capozzi
Last week I was fortunate enough to celebrate Black History Month by listening to the president of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Dr. Elise Scott. Dr. Scott reminded me, along with a crowded room of others, that African Americans had to fight to gain the right to vote. During this presidential election year, her words made me appreciate how far our society has come to ensure that every citizen, regardless of race, has the right to cast their vote for our next leader.
Many of us look back thinking that this struggle was simply a part of history. However, it really wasn't that long ago. People who are still alive today were turned away from the polls because of the color of their skin. Dr. Scott, who couldn't be older than 50, could recall the days when her father, a minister in Louisiana, spent a decade trying to get the right to vote. The registrar refused to register black residents, forcing them to go to extraordinary lengths to prove that they were worthy of casting a ballot (like requiring two white registered voters to vouch for any black resident wanting to vote, knowing that no white person would do so. Or using literacy tests, which disproportionately discriminated against the black populace. Or even closing the doors of the registration office every time a black person turned up at the front door).
Eventually, Dr. Scott's father was given the right to vote, but not before going through several law suits, being harassed by the KKK with burning crosses, and even being shot at while driving his family home from church (no one was killed, but her father was injured).
This Black History Month, and this election year, it is important to remember those who sacrificed so much so that everyone, regardless of race, can have the opportunity to vote on Election Day. This story is just one of thousands of others that remind me that voting and participating in our political system should not be taken lightly.
February 19, 2008
Steve Schapiro's American Iconography
by Jeremy Freed
Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, and entourage, New York City.
Tonight's guest, Steve Schapiro, is himself an American hero. Rather than changing events in this country, though, his role was to document them. He was there photographing the determined faces of protesters in Selma, and the quixotic looks of Andy Warhol and his subjects. He snapped pictures on the sets of some of the most important films of the ‘70s, photographed ordinary Americans in their living rooms, and junkies shooting up on the street. In his new book, Schapiro's Heroes, the veteran photographer has assembled a collection of images of some of the most influential Americans of the last century, from some of the most important years of their lives.
Muhammad Ali flexes, shirtless next to a Monopoly game; Barbara Streisand smiles coyly from her bath, her iconic face reflected in a vanity; Martin Luther King, Jr. looks towards the camera, all quiet intensity, as an American flag billows behind him. These images, and the others that accompany them, of Americans both famous and unknown, are indelible records of a century of great change, in which America came of age, for good or ill.
Soft-spoken and circumspect, as though he is well aware of the challenge of giving the same impact to his words as his photos, Schapiro speaks of the amazing things he has seen in his life with startling candidness. While his photos represent an enormous sampling of American culture, his personal observations from half a century of being in the right place at the right time are certainly equally worth hearing.
February 6, 2008
Youth of the Nation
by Rose Capozzi
It comes up more often than it should when I talk politics with an older crowd, "So what if you care, your generation doesn't vote anyway." College age students have a bad reputation when it comes to political follow-through, for caring more about Grey's Anatomy and the latest outrageous video on YouTube than for what happens in the world, Washington, DC, and beyond.
This election could change everything - because people my age want change. From Barack Obama to Mike Huckabee, the youth vote is playing an undeniably important role this primary season. On Super Tuesday alone, some reports suggested that the youth voter turnout tripled and quadrupled in a few states.
The great mobilization of the youth is most dramatic on the Democratic side, where the close race between Clinton and Obama has driven people to the polls en masse. The crowd under 30 is backing Obama, who appears to have a 16-point lead in the youth demographic nationally. This favoritism, according to the Los Angeles Times, has resulted in wins for Obama, who took Iowa by a slim majority almost entirely because voters under 25 backed him. TIME magazine reports that Obama's 3-1 slam dunk in South Carolina was in part due to the the youth vote neutralizing Clinton's over-65 supporters. They also claim that Obama stayed competitive in New Hampshire and Nevada because young voters showed up at the polls in support of him.
Unlike previous efforts to get the youth involved in politics, such as P. Diddy's Vote or Die campaign, young people are making it a priority to get involved in politics this time around. There is so much at stake - Iraq, Afghanistan, security, the economy, immigration reform, social security reform, and health care reform. What happens (or doesn't happen) will impact our generation, and our children's generation. Whether Republican or Democrat, it is widely recognized that we expect something outside of the ordinary and are willing to show up at the polls to make it happen.
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