The Democratic Showdown

After the Mississippi primary unfolded on Tuesday, Senator Barack Obama increased his lead over Senator Hilary Clinton in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination in delegate counts by 131 delegates. This win follows his win in the Wyoming Caucuses from last Saturday, giving Senator Obama his second win in a row. Therefore, Obama currently leads Clinton 1,611 to 1,480 in the total delegate count, and the race remains tight between the two candidates, with the next primary a long 38 days away in Pennsylvania.

There are several issues that have come about lately regarding these two campaigns, one of them being a topic I wish to address. This issue involves the inevitable remarks on gender and race that we all knew would appear in this campaign at some point. On Wednesday, Geraldine Ferraro, the Finance committee member of the Clinton campaign, and former Congresswoman, stepped down from the Clinton campaign due to the remarks she made about Senator Barack Obama and criticisms she has received over it. Here is the full letter that was written from Ferraro to Clinton:

Dear Hillary –

I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign.

The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you.

I won't let that happen.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to make this a better world for my children and grandchildren.

You have my deep admiration and respect.

Gerry

According to the Andersen Cooper 360 blog, Ferraro, in an interview with the Daily Breeze of Torrance, California, was trying to defend her earlier remarks from critics. “Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says, ‘Let’s address reality and the problems we’re facing in this world,’ you’re accused of being racist, so you have to shut up,” she said. “Racism works in two different directions. I really think they’re attacking me because I’m white. How’s that?” Inevitably we all saw this coming. Remarks and attacks on gender and race in the Presidential campaign that involves a woman and a black man. In Ferraro’s case, I think it is very offensive for her to negate Obama’s success by saying it is simply due to the fact that he is black. Her initial comments included the fact that “Obama is doing well because of his message and a good campaign. But she clearly stated that he’s successful “in large measure” because he’s black.” In the past, we have seen Black nominees run for office and not be successful. This time, Obama is clearly successful thus far. So is it really because he is black? No. It might give him votes (as shown in the recent Mississippi primary where blacks voted for Obama 91 percent to 9 percent) but it is clearly not the ultimate deciding measure of his success. Obama made it this far because of his message, his stances, and his ability to be a leader. We can prove this through the previous wins he has incurred in states that have a white majority population – North Dakota, Washington, Utah, Iowa, Connecticut, and Vermont. Lastly, I respect Senator Hillary Clinton for taking the initiative to respond to Ferraro’s remarks by addressing to the public that her campaign does not endorse or back up Ferraro’s beliefs.

We the people of the United States of America should not be so focused on the issue of gender and race, but of the human being that is running for office. Whether you vote Democrat or Republican in this race, ask yourself these questions about the candidates. Are they capable of leading our country emotionally and physically through the strenuous times that we have endured as a whole over recent years? Will they help us as citizens maintain the liberty and courage we need in this country? If you can answer yes to these questions, then make yourself blind to their gender and their race. Make yourself see what the actual issue of importance is here.

Kiva.org - $25 business opportunity

In spirit of the new Oprah reality television show that I posted about earlier today, I decided to add a post about an organization that was brought to my attention because of Oprah in November 2007. The organization, called Kiva, was started in October of 2005 by Matt and Jessica Flannery, and is based in San Francisco, California. Kiva is a nonprofit organization that allows people to lend money via the internet to small businesses in developing countries. The word “Kiva” is a Swahili word that means “unity,” which the founders decided to name their organization after they spent time in East Africa.

How it works (according to the http://www.kiva.org website):

"Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. By choosing a loan on Kiva, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the entrepreneur you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.

Kiva partners with existing microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them."

Below is a diagram from the website that illustrates the flow of operations within the system:

For a recent idea of how well Kiva.org is thriving with participation I found a statistic to show that people are listening and getting involved. According to Wikipedia, “As of February 3, 2008, Kiva has $21,432,835 in loans from 242,166 lenders. A total of 32,457 loans have been funded. The average loan size is $564.19.”

For more information on this organization, visit their website: http://www.kiva.org

Also check out one of the co-founder's blogs: http://socialedge.org/blogs/kiva-chronicles

If you have the ability to buy 6 drinks from Starbucks, you have the ability to give someone economic independence. Think about it.

Oprah's Big Give

As I sat down to watch Sunday night TV this past weekend I noticed a new show featuring one of the most recognizable names in show business - Oprah Winfrey. It was the second episode of the show called "Oprah's Big Give," combining Oprah's heart-warming philanthropic ideals with reality television. Here is a summary of what the show entails, taken from the ABC website:

"In eight one-hour episodes, a diverse, determined and competitive group of ten people are given the challenge of a lifetime — to change the lives of complete strangers in the most creative and dramatic ways. In this intense competition, the contestants criss-cross the country, scrambling to find ways to impact the fates and fortunes of unsuspecting people who are in for the surprise of their lives. Lives will be changed in the blink of an eye as contestants race against time to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences and also give away hundreds of thousands of dollars. Who will be the lucky few to get a "Big Give"… and who will get all that cash? The series premiere, "Episode 101," kicks off in Los Angeles, where Oprah hands ten contestants sealed envelopes with only a picture and the name of a complete stranger. Under intense pressure, they must give big to change this person's life in just five days. The contestants must use their creativity and resources to generate the most powerful and sensational ways to make a real difference, and with the clock ticking, the competition, drama and emotion mount and the contestants' stamina, creativity and drive are tested. This first dramatic challenge will send one person packing. Throughout the episodes, Oprah makes multiple special appearances and turns up in various locations to surprise the contestants with dramatic new twists and turns. "The show is fun, entertaining and powerful television with a real heart," said Winfrey. "America will just love the heart of this show." As the competition tightens, big Hollywood stars join "Oprah's Big Give," raising the stakes and turning up the heat. Celebrity guests include Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta and Jada Pinkett-Smith, tennis legend Andre Agassi, skateboarding idol Tony Hawk, racing star Danica Patrick, plus more. At the end of each hour, the contestants must face a panel of three expert judges who will judge them on their leadership, accomplishments, creativity and presentation. They include world-renowned "Naked" chef and philanthropist Jamie Oliver, NFL star, nine-time Pro Bowler and Boys & Girls Club Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, and wife of Chris Rock and charity founder Malaak Compton-Rock. In the end, there is only one rule in "Oprah's Big Give": YOU EITHER GIVE BIG OR YOU GO HOME. In every episode, the contestants must each find innovative and ingenious ways to impact the lives of strangers, or they risk elimination at the hands of the judging panel. As the episodes continue, the "gives" get even bigger, the guest stars get brighter and tensions mount, all culminating in the exciting series finale where The Biggest Giver will become the biggest winner. What the contestants don't know — and only viewers do — is that Oprah Winfrey will surprise The Biggest Giver with a whopping $1 million prize."

As I watched the hour-long episode of “Oprah’s Big Give” on Sunday night, I had mixed emotions about the new show, luckily more positive than negative. First, I must admit, I do enjoy watching people make a difference in others' lives on reality television rather than the majority of these new "brainless" reality television shows. Second, as we all know, Oprah always has good intentions, as I am a huge fan of her work. However, although I am a fan of Oprah and her new show, I am somewhat skeptical of turning charity work into a race for big bucks.

While some of the contestants do seem to be deeply touched by their philanthropic work, whom I respect, others almost blatantly showed us their concern for the monetary reward at the end of the contest. I am almost certain the goal of this show is to inspire people to take action, which I am hoping it will do in significant amounts. But I do not want this show to give individuals' the wrong impression of taking action in peoples' lives. In reality, the majority of the time when you want to make a difference, there is sometimes more hard work involved and not as much recognition as portrayed on television. At the end of the day, there is usually no monetary reward but perhaps just a smile on another person's face.

My message to you is to watch the show, whether you dislike it or not, and take ideas from it. See what action you can take and remember the real meaning for doing what you do. I am extremely interested into see how this show unravels and the feedback it will receive from its viewers. Give it a whirl, and see what you think. The show airs on Sunday nights on ABC from 9:00-10:00pm Eastern time.

LIVESTRONG - Not Just a Fad

LIVESTRONG. The overwhelming visual support for the cancer fighting organization created by Lance Armstrong in 1997 has seemed to fade away as any trend or fad does in American Pop culture. When the organization was first started, the yellow wristbands spread like wildfire across our society, from ordinary individuals on the streets, to politicians, to rock stars and athletes who were seen wearing them. Over time, this has inevitably faded and it is now difficult to find people who continue to sport these arm bands with the same pride they did when they were deemed "fashionable." The organization was not trying to start a fashion trend, they were trying to create a mindset among individuals to push themselves to live their best lives now and fight hard against any devastating diseases that attempts to derail them. The foundation states that "At the Lance Armstrong Foundation, we unite people to fight cancer believing that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything." So make your own fashion statement. Start wearing your wristbands and t-shirts again and wear them proud. The message still stands as it did when Lance Armstrong first spoke it to the world. LIVESTRONG each and every day.

The video above includes the song "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow" by the band Wideawake. Go to iTunes to download the song and the the proceeds will go toward the LIVESTRONG foundation.

In Memory of Nadine Westphal

Everyday Heroes

Today is my Grandmother's Birthday and she is turning 83 years old. I know most of you are probably wondering why I may be posting about this - so here it goes. From the first moment I can remember, my Grandma has continuously been an inspiration to me. She fights, she honors, she gives, she devotes, she cares, and she loves. She has worked, raised three children, gone to school, been a devoted wife and mother, and somehow still found time to always be passionate about things she believed in. She doesn't just fight for her...she fights for EVERYONE. If there is such a thing as angels living among us, my Grandma is one of them. I can't even begin to tell you how many times she has written or made phone calls to Senators and Governors over numerous issues that were of concern to her or others around her. One issue in particular was about the preservation of Native American land near her house. She went to the local Indian reservation to speak with the people often and devoted her time for their cause. She knew that they were human beings just like anyone else and deserved a chance. My Grandma has also written countless newspaper articles in order to spread the word, whether it is to honor fallen soldiers, or discuss a corrupt system which she thinks should be changed. She was once President of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization and has been an active member for several years, helping support the veterans of our country and their families. So on this Birthday, my Grandmother deserves to be honored.

However, today, February 28, 2008, isn't any regular Birthday for her. This time she is faced with something she hasn't experienced since the first time she laid eyes on my Grandfather. She will celebrate her Birthday without the companionship of her dear Husband, and my Grandfather, George W. Brown. My Grandfather was a World War II veteran who was in the Battle of Normandy and Battle of the Bulge - just to name a few. He was even part of a special mission of four men during the War and was the only one to survive the mission. He was also wounded during the War, yet he still managed to help our country maintain its freedom and come home safe. My Grandfather was an unbreakable human being. He returned from the war at a young age and decided to become a Police Officer, which he did for the remainder of his life. He was a man of few words but he was a man of such great character. I think I learned even more about how wonderful of a man he was after his passing then he ever mentioned to me. He was humble but I do know one thing - he was proud of his job, proud of being a soldier, and he loved his country. My Grandmother and him were married following the War and they stood husband and wife for 62 years. Although my Grandfather did struggle with alcohol for several years, my Grandmother's ability to see through his wounded soul from the war kept her strong and by his side through it all. At 6'5", my Grandfather bore resemblance to the strength of an Ox. He was strong, tall, and nothing could stop him. Unfortunately, these unbreakable images I had of him growing up quickly crumbled as I watched him fade away over the past few months. The most painful part about this is knowing that if issues were handled differently in the hospital and in the nursing home, I am certain he would have lived to tell my Grandmother how wonderful of a woman she was on her Birthday today.

My Grandfather was a VETERAN of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. He served his country through times of need in one of the Great Wars and continued on serving by protecting its streets. What did he get in return when he needed help the most? He didn't get the health care he deserved and he paid for it through his suffering. The full detailed account of the horrific events that happened to my Grandfather (while in the hospital and nursing home), will be posted at a later time once they become available from my Grandmother. I can assure you of this though. Within a matter of a couple months, he went from being able to sit, eat full meals, joke, laugh, and talk in November, to merely lay in bed with his eyes full of hopelessness, as he struggled to swallow even a tablespoon of water I fed to him just last month.

I know that in the cycle of life, if the person is elderly it often seems to lessen the importance of issues like this because of the expectation that they are naturally going to pass away. This expectation of the elderly might prove true but it shouldn't make issues like this any less significant. He lived through pain for this country - physically and emotionally - and yet he still died in pain. If health care was more affordable, and if my Grandfather as a Veteran of the USA had received the care he was promised for being in the military, the course of events would have occurred differently, and maybe he wouldn't have had to suffer the way he did. For my Grandmother and Grandfather's sake, please pay attention to issues of health care and its vital importance to human beings. I am well aware that there are politics behind every matter, so do your research. Not only was my Grandfather suffering, but it made my Grandmother emotionally and physically drained as well, as she continued to fight for my Grandfather until his death. And if you have a loved one who is a veteran, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do your research and check for certainty of the health care service they should receive for being a soldier for our country. Because with my Grandfather, all that was promised wasn't given to him, and the little that was offered to him, was either unaffordable or unmanageable for my Grandmother.

One last note. It is extremely simple for each and every one of us to wake up in the morning and quickly jump into our day without much thought. We transition throughout the day in a routinely fashion and before we know it, we are resting in bed again recapping the day's events with our eyelids half open. Tomorrow morning, and the next morning, until it becomes a habit, wake up and before you do anything else, simply THINK. Think of the little steps you can take to tell someone you love them or think of the actions you can pursue to benefit someone going through a struggle. Call someone you love. Write a letter to a soldier. Thank a friend for their guidance.

I thank my fallen soldier, my Grandfather, for the wonderful love, strength, and courage he gave me and this country. I also thank my Grandmother for remaining strong throughout any obstacle she's ever faced and still being a person of such high respect and admiration. Happy Birthday Grandma - you are one person who can truly make the world smile.

Stem Cell Research - Argued by Many, Known by Few

The Issue. Stem Cell Research, just like abortion, is a very controversial subject in the political arena. This is an argument that is continually argued by many people but known by few. People are quick to reach a conclusive decision on stem cell research and take a stance on the issue without knowing the scientific significance beforehand. Before I continue I want you to know that I realize this blog post might offend someone and in a way I am thankful. Because if people agreed on everything, there would be no world in which we can learn from and offer new insight. So feel free to respond and give me any rebuttals to my opinions and/or comments.

The Science. In recent years, scientists have discovered that stem cells taken from human embryos have the ability to regenerate tissue and morph into different types of cells within the human body. This type of research can be used to create therapies that can repair traumatic injuries or reverse the symptoms of debilitating diseases including Parkinson's disease, Diabetes, Muscular dystrophy, and Alzheimer's. For more scientific background, please visit this website (http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics1.asp), because I am not a scientist and I do not want to relay improper scientific evidence to you.

The Stance of the Government. In 2001, President Bush was the first President who allowed federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, but he limited his support to only the cell lines that already existed in order to not encourage destruction of embryos. The current process has much limitation as there is rigorous oversight involved and great skepticism due to the belief that this research is "killing a life to save a life." There has been legislation brought about in congress in attempts to expand funding for stem cell research, supported by members of congress that include the upcoming Presidential candidates, but both legislations that were brought up were twice vetoed by President Bush. This brings up another side to the argument. President Bush has vetoed these legislations on the belief that he thinks we should look for alternative methods in which we can obtain these stem cells -- from adult tissue. Now in my opinion, I think this is a reasonable argument because of the hope for the preservation of possible human life. But scientifically, through articles I have read, these adult stem cells are generally limited in the types of cells they can be differentiated into. As opposed to adult stem cells, the embryonic cells are considered 'pluripotent' and can become all cell types within the body. So the debate continues.

My argument. When looking at the current Iraq War or any war the U.S. has been involved in during the past, we notice that our country is readily willing to expend thousands of soldiers' lives to fight in wars for the common good. In the natural course of things, this proves to be understandable, as any powerful and established country should be willing to defend its own. However, these are soldiers who have established lives, families, friends, and naturally, a place within society. We use these fine young men and women at the expense of the rest of us in order for our country to have freedom. This scenario plays out as the sacrifice of a few thousand for the benefit of several million. And coming from a family who has had several generations of soldiers fighting in wars for this country, it is difficult to see what war does to them. Therefore, in comparing our methodology of war with stem cell research, our government should start re-thinking its approach toward this research and focusing more on the vital importance of the issue. I don’t want to undermine the beauty and irreplaceable value of human life by asking for the purposeful destruction of human embryos, but I am asking for the expansion of and re-allocation of funds on the use of the embryos that are inevitably doomed to be "medical waste" regardless. If we use our soldiers' lives to benefit the rest of us - real living individuals - then why can't we see that using these embryos isn't a crime and it will help us protect our living, just as the soldiers have been doing. When your son or daughter wakes up one morning in such agony from their chronic disease a few years down the road, I want you to think of the possibilities that you prohibited, and the opportunities you stripped from them. If only you did not take a stand against supporting the expansion of this scientific phenomenon, they could have had a decent life without enduring such varying degrees of pain.

The Future of Stem Cell Research. Luckily for scientific purposes, and the benefit of humanity, whoever wins the upcoming Presidential race will open up more opportunities for stem cells than the current President. The three leading candidates, Democratic Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and Republican Senator John McCain, have all taken a stance in which they support the expansion of federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research (according to the CNN election center). This will extend research beyond the limits that President Bush has set, so we as human begins can start protecting our living and fighting for our freedom from disease and debilitation.