Media portrayal of African-Americans

Are African American women portrayed negatively in the media? is the question addressed by Olivia . I would agree wholeheartedly with her assessment.

I believe that the negative portrayal of African Americans is also what foments the contrary and inflamatory language that is directed at our President...even as he is recognized by the Nobel Committee for being the breath of fresh air that has been so desperately needed in US relations.

Only when we realize that we are all One on this earth will we be able to fix the problems that we face.

Thank goodness we have a real person as President!

Another long title and I'm just going to have to live with it. Obama is nothing if not a REAL person. He's not someone who had the perfect family background that so many of the elitist who have come from the "best families" have had. That's why I'm glad he talked to my child at school in the Tuesday address.

How many children in this country come from families where their parents are not living together? MANY! Isn't it helpful to them to hear that the President of the United States had that happen to him and that he survived and is now the President?

When there is concern over President Obama's handling of the economy or the health care insurance reform issues what do I remember? That Obama's mama wasn't wealthy...that he relied on his grandparents for much of his rearing, that he saw what the healthcare system, specifically the insurance system of this country, does to our sickest and weakest by seeing his mother dying of cancer and worrying how she would pay for her care.

This man who is our President has experienced the REAL America. The America that we face. I'm glad he shared his life with my child and inspired him to become President.


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Goodbye Teddy

I have had mixed feelings about Ted Kennedy for a long while. During my childhood the Chappaquiddick affair occurred and my father constantly brought it up. I know that the Kennedy men were all "rounders" and played hard.
But I also know that Teddy was a true advocate for many causes that I support. This advocacy has kept regular folk, like me, in the viewfinder, when the camera's lens is so often turned toward the wealthy, popular, superior in health.
So I salute Ted Kennedy for his advocacy and his stalwart support of his ideals. I salute him for supporting those who have not had a voice.

Support Reform of the Health Insurance Industry

No matter what Fox has to say about this, I'm sure that everyone has had their own experiences with the health care system. President Obama's own story, with his mother's worry over health care bills as she was dying, is just one of thousand and thousands of stories. I'm just glad that someone in power has had the experience and is talking about it.

I've got some opinions about health care in America that I want to share. We have the best system in the world--that's why everyone comes here from all corners of the globe for care, especially for rare or difficult disorders.

Unfortunately the health care system has been taken over by the health insurance industry. I believe that the health insurance companies are making a fortune on the misfortunes of others. I am so tired of denials of coverage and huge premiums to pay for care.

I believe that the health insurance industry is the most to blame for the spiraling health care costs in this country.

My grandfather was the President of the AMA during the Nixon administration. He met the President and travelled to Russia and China. Both my parents were physicians.

I remember my father talking about how the practice of medicine was changing. In a way, he was trying to encourage me to become a physician so that I could take care of myself and my family as the changes took place. But I didn't heed his warnings.

My father was the epitome of the loved and loving doctor that everyone dreams of having today. People called him at all hours of the day and night. He spoke to them on the phone directly, eased their concerns and called in prescriptions. He went to the hospital to meet them in the emergency room if they needed to be admitted to the hospital. Can you imagine that kind of care today?

I haven't spoken to a physician on the phone to get a prescription after hours or on weekends in years . I always have to talk to a nurse. There is no doctor that I know at the emergency department if I'm to be admitted to the hospital. Even getting follow-up appointments at doctor's offices can be a trial. So my feelings about physicians and their salaries have changed a good deal. However, I don't believe that they are the true cause of the problem.

Nor is the fact that "unnecessary" tests are run on patients. I have been appalled that more tests aren't run to find out what is really going on with patients. But physicians are not allowed to do their work and choose the tests that they need to find out what is happening. Insurance companies make those decisions for them through intimidation.

So I favor any program that regulates the health insurance industry. It is LONG overdue.

Cheney's Overreaching

Another description of Cheney's overreaching during the last administration was posted on NPR twitter today. Cheney told the CIA not to communicate sensitive information to Congress. Again laws were broken.

I've seen Fox News interview Cheney for over an hour--happily I could turn off the volume and watch another TV that had Andy Griffith reruns playing. Yes, that was better than listening to our former Vice President.

There were so many laws broken by the Bush administration. Will justice be done?

Michael Jackson's Memorial

I know a lot of CNN viewers were upset on Twitter about how much time has been spent on Michael Jackson's death and speculation of what caused his death. I would like to thank CNN for showing the memorial, especially for what was the most important part of the memorial.

Moms out there...you know what I'm talking about. Anyone who has ever experienced loss knows the courage shown by Paris Jackson. At age 11 she spoke at her father's memorial. At age 38 and 40 I was unable to speak at my parents' memorials. But she got up in front of the world to tell everyone that she loved her father and would miss him. That precious babe spoke her true feelings of loss....

So please, all who have been going on and on in a macabre way about Michael Jackson. Remember, WE did not know him. His children knew him and loved him. Please pray for them and keep them in mind as they grieve.

CHANGE THE CHANNEL--DON"T WATCH FOX NEWS

I used the words "intensely dislike" because I don't want to use other words that come to mind when Fox News is in view. And it is unfortunately in view at many public places. I have been plagued with it at the gym where it is the only news station on the televisions and at restaurants that are "kid-friendly."

But Fox News is not "kid-friendly." So I'm constantly trying to keep my little boy from looking at the pictures of the mass murderer or rapist that is repeatedly shown on the screen, or the bloodiest, most sensational photos of victims that the news editorial staff can find.

The commentary, when the volume is turned up so that it is intrusive to any conversation, is extremely negative toward President Obama. Why? Fox delighted in noting some newsman's comment that the media and Obama should "get a room." It seems that Fox forgets the past 8 years with Bush. Can we only hope that the corruption of the Bush administration will sour some of the "happy" viewers of Fox so that there can be peace? I do everything I can to get away from it but unfortunately I seem to live in a small minded enough community that it is still on. During the Bush years I was afraid to ask for it to be turned off, but now I feel I can actually ask for a different channel. You can too----ask the resturants and gyms to PLEASE CHANGE THE CHANNEL FROM FOX.