Death by ignorance

Dec. 1 marks the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day.

It will be a time when many people — in this country and beyond — will gather for ceremonies, memorials and educational events to bring attention to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS — the final stage of HIV infection.

It’s great there is a day to shed light on the AIDS epidemic, but what about the other 364 days of the year?

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Why all the fuss?

For the past several days, the nation has heard the story of the Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry interracial couple Terence McKay, who is African-American, and Beth Humphrey, who is white. Keith Bardwell, an elected judge in the eastern part of the state, said he “recused himself from performing the ceremony” because he feared for the couple’s future children.

This was and still is a really sad incident that only seems to fuel the racism that despite what some who wear blindfolds may say, is alive and well in the world today.

But to be honest, I am somewhat surprised that people are so shocked about Bardwell’s actions.

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Paving the way

This past weekend is definitely one I won’t soon forget.

Not because I did anything illegal and/or immoral. It was about an “older soul” who taught this old soul the true meaning of “passing the torch.”

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Yeah, he said it. Now what?

It was the praise heard around the world: “… but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time!”

If you’re like most of the millions of viewers who watched the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video with the above comment, I’m sure your mouths opened about as wide as that of Beyonce — who sat watching in the audience. You also may have said what everyone was thinking.

Wow.

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Yeah ... we gotta watch ‘that one’

On Tuesday, millions of school children around the country sat at their desks and watched via Internet as their president gave a speech welcoming them back to school and offering them advice on making the most of their education.

By all accounts, this should have been a non-event. Unfortunately, an alarming number of conservative individuals and those who are just distrusting of our government threw their hands up in dismay and rallied the political correctness troops to the front line.

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MFC: Back in the saddle again

Wow ... what a summer.

Good, bad and ugly all played a part, causing me to fall down a little on my game.

However, I'm on my way back - albeit a little slow - and again will be back in the swing of things soon.

To begin ... here's a summary of the columns I did write this summer. Enjoy!

A game of cat and mouse
Let freedom ring
He shouldn't be there
When all is said and done
State of California - 1 ... State's youth - 0
And we wonder why
Long live 'The Press!'

Fork in the road

It was a really nice ceremony. My son, along with more than 600 fellow students, graduated from eighth grade earlier this afternoon.

They looked like the babes they are as parents and family members cheered and celebrated their accomplishments. Many of the boys — I’m sure with parents’ guidance — wore their Sunday best, tie and all. While many of the girls — I’m sure acting on their own — chose dresses that were a little beyond their years. Most looked bored out of their minds.

But that’s okay … they are kids. It’s normal for them to spend much of their time in another world. They are even allowed to test the waters — a little. They are pieces of clay just waiting to be molded. And it is at this time we as adults need to be there for them more than ever.

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Celebrating diversity

For about 20 years, the push to be diverse has taken a stronghold on this country.

And despite the ongoing battle to legalize same-sex marriage — the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold Prop. 8 last Tuesday — our state, especially the Bay Area, is overly liberal in its thinking. This includes how local residents often times don’t think twice when it comes to the LGBT communities.

Unfortunately, a small group of East Bay parents didn’t get their copies of the “embrace diversity” handbook.

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Our nation’s economy: The perfect scapegoat

I waited all week for the news.

And early Tuesday morning the decision was made: Miss California — Carrie Prejean — will be allowed to retain her crown and finish out her reign as our state’s Miss USA representative.

Whew.

I was poised at the end of my Lazy Boy, like so many other Americans, as the Donald gave us his organization’s verdict. Neither racy lingerie photos nor “miscommunications” between Prejean and her state pageant directors would convince pageant officials that she should be stripped of her tiara.

Despite her vocal support against gay marriage — which I could take in a whole different direction, but won’t — the young woman from San Diego will be able to spend her last six months as queen, waving, smiling and wearing her crown proudly.

Why was the media fascinated with this and so many other stories that some would say are totally ridiculous and a waste of our free TV time?

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Stand up … or just remain seated

For most of my life — and many times during the last nine months I’ve written this column — I have “preached” the idea that one person can make a difference.

No matter how big the problem, how minute the situation, if you are determined to create change, then nothing, and no one, will stop you.

Monday night, I met someone who despite the hardships she encountered, ridicule she endured and moments of insecurity she faced in her life, never gave up.

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Fighting for our future

Whitney Houston and I are in agreement: We believe the children are our future.

Yeah, it’s cliché and has been heard around the world way too many times, and I’d be pressed to find someone who doesn’t believe the same. But what are we doing to show the phrase is more than just words?

Our economy continues to struggle, our country is still at war and the state’s jobless rate is close to an all-time high. We struggle to make ends meet and struggle harder to give our children a taste of what we adults had ourselves. But with every corner we turn it seems those in the state Capitol and several in Washington are forgetting what building a better future really means.

It is important to get our country — and state — on solid ground again, but should this be done at the expense of our youth?

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Earth Day philosophy every day?

On Tuesday - Earth Day 2009 - people around the globe will come together to celebrate the great planet we live on.

On the “official” Earth Day Web site it reads, “Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment."

Hmmm … interesting. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could incorporate this “vision” into a way of life for all? Not only on Earth Day, but the other 364 days of the year, as well? And let’s expand the focus from the environment to include say … one another?

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Go team, go! Next, please …

In last week’s column, I shared with you my observations on how the enthusiasm over the election of our 44th president had dimmed and how Obama-wear no longer seemed to be the fashion du jour.

I hadn’t realized it until a reader pointed it out, but part of my frustrations in seeing less people openly supporting our president is more about the people who seem to have crawled back into the comfortable holes they call lives, only to venture out again when enough other people are making noise.

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Am I the only one?

Tucked away in the corner of the trusty backpack I carry with me every day is my black wool ski cap, which has “OBAMA” spelled out on it in rhinestones. Since the weather can be unpredictable some evenings and I hate the cold — and the wind even more — I keep it on hand with a pair of gloves and a cotton scarf.

I bought my cap in Washington, D.C., when I attended my new president’s inauguration in January. I’ve worn it with pride often and used to love the attention I got when it sat upon my head.

But over the past month or so, when it has been chilly or windy enough to wear, I’ve noticed people hardly pay it any mind anymore. And now that I think about, I no longer see much Obama-wear out and about as it was proudly worn and displayed from last October through the end of February.

Am I the only one who still wants to shout to the world that Obama is our commander-in-chief? Am I the only one who is finally happy to have a commander-in-chief who is worth being proud of? Am I the only one who cares anymore?

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Terminator 3.5: Rage against the Legislature

Editors note: Written prior to budget approval.

He said he’d do it and he meant it.

I’m not sure state lawmakers really believed that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would hand out 20,000 pink slips to state employees at various levels, but now he has. The move — which would see about half of those jobs eliminated sooner rather than later — reportedly will save the state about $750 million.

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Black History Month: Is there still a need?

Sixty-three years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery, a young black scholar decided to create a week that celebrated the accomplishments of his people — despite the persecution and struggles this group continued to go through.

For some time there has been discussion as to whether or not Black History Month should slowly fade into the sunset. Why do we need a month — the shortest of the 12, no less — to honor a race when it really should be done all year long? With the election of President Barack Obama, the debate is growing a little louder.

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Who would have thought …

It’s true … people come into your life for a reason.

It may not be clear to you immediately, but there is no such thing as happenstance when it comes to friendships and even acquaintances.

Sometimes it’s a lifelong or long-term experience. Other times it’s a flash in the pan. The relationship may be drama-filled or stress-free, constant or intermittent, full of confusion or overflowing with enlightenment. It is the latter that I experienced with a beautiful woman who I first met under mournful circumstances.

Lani Silver definitely walked to the beat of her own drum. She was so full of life, exploration, hope, passion and compassion — the kind that sometimes made people wonder what made her tick.

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Feb. 17, 2009 … are you ready?

When I am wrong about something, I’m the first one to admit it.

Back in November, I wrote a blog item that made light of the quickly approaching digital TV transition. I joked about a “DTV Transition Show,” the number of commercials and announcements informing people of the switch and the occasional tests to determine if your TV is DTV ready or not.

I spoke to soon … I’m sorry … I was wrong.

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Interested in a drunken Negro?

No soon after I say "I've seen it all" about something - in this case, someone - I am proven wrong.

The latest is the owner Lafayette French Pastry Shop - an oh-so-popular pâtisserie in New York City. Baker Ted Kefalinos has created his tribute to the Inauguration of Barack Obama: "Drunken Negro Faces." The grotesque-looking chocolate-covered cookie is not only raising eyebrows, but also turning stomachs.

I don't know if Kefalinos is racist, ignorant or just plan stupid, but I hope that more people spread the word about the hateful message he is sending to others ... ever-supporting the fact that racism, at all levels, still runs rampant in our country.

Now, I heard that the baker has apologized, but am having problems finding it. And if he did, I thank you Mr. Kefalinos, on behalf of millions of people around the country and world who don't find humor in yours. But your misled creativity hasn't stopped you in the past ... who says it won't in the future?

Check out the video ... send it to your friends ... and if you live in NYC, boycott Kefalinos' establishment. Make this baker stop making, more importantly naming, new items that represent those tiny chisels that try to chip away at the change our country has achieved.

Chance of a lifetime

The time I woke up to find a spot in my ticketed area of the Inauguration: 4:30 a.m.

The distance I walked with thousands of others — like sheep — through a crazy maze that never seemed to end: Two miles to; five miles from.

The chance to stand alongside hundreds of thousands of Americans as we watched the first African American to be sworn in as president of the United States: Priceless.

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