Looking Beyond Poverty in Africa
Another recent article of mine, about western media’s portrayal of Africa and how it has inaccurately and unfairly reduced the region to the single dimension of poverty.
A case for mandatory HPV vaccines
Something I wrote a while back about how Rick Perry’s mandating HPV vaccinations for young girls was clearly, and rightly, in the interest of public health.
London burning
While my regular news source, the NYT, has had London’s riots nowhere to be found on the front page, my Facebook news feed has been erupting as English friends (and surprisingly, only English friends) comment, call out, and check in with each other during these turbulent times.
Over the course of the riots and especially this past evening, I’ve tried to read up as much as I can about what’s going on, and I’ve gone from being a little shocked about what’s happening to being pretty shaken up.
I know being an ocean away and trying to piece together what’s happening with The Guardian, Twitter, and BBC is only a half-picture, at best, but here’s my take on things:
While Duggan being shot triggered the protest and eventually this entire uprising, it’s evident that what’s happening isn’t really (or entirely) about it.
I think what’s gotten to me the most is just the fact that people in London (and it seems, now, other cities in England) aren’t just dissatisfied but also so angry and desperate (and to some extent feel like they have no other option, I guess) that they’ve taken to burning buildings and looting stores. I mean, it’s the loudest way possible to say “LISTEN TO ME, THIS ISN’T OKAY.” I’m sure there might be some real issues with the police (I don’t know much on that end), but it looks to me like the police are just an unfortunate ‘other’ to fight against - the ideal representation of the system that’s failing people so miserably.
To me, at first, the obvious problem seemed to be the economy - unemployment, the recession. But maybe it’s more. I mean, it’s not just the system (the police, in this case) that’s been other-ized, it’s also members of the same community: the youth on the street are burning down their own communities’ shops and buildings. More than a cry against the system, it seems like a cry against society, and the place these people have in it.
Whatever the underlying triggers, the fact is that it is upsetting to see London burning, and to see that it’s reached the point that people are so desperate and dissatisfied that they’re looting stores and so angry that they’re burning buildings.
Too many so-called leaders of the Nation fail to see the forest because of the trees. Too many of them fail to recognize the vital necessity of planning for definite objectives. True leadership calls for the setting forth of the objectives and the rallying of public opinion in support of these objectives.
Do not confuse objectives with methods. When the Nation becomes substantially united in favor of planning the broad objectives of civilization, then true leadership must unite thought behind definite methods.
The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. The millions who are in want will not stand by silently forever while the things to satisfy their needs are within easy reach.
We need enthusiasm, imagination and the ability to face facts, even unpleasant ones, bravely. We need to correct, by drastic means if necessary, the faults in our economic system from which we now suffer. We need the courage of the young. Yours is not the task of making your way in the world, but the task of remaking the world which you will find before you. May every one of us be granted the courage, the faith and the vision to give the best that is in us to that remaking!
With the recent recommendation of the Department of Health & Human services that all insurers cover birth control without co-pays, a little bit of debate and a little bit of outrage were expected - the standard moral and religious opposition.
What was not expected was the extreme response of Rep. Steve King (R - Iowa). For those who missed it:
KING: We have people that are single, we have people that are past reproductive age, we have priests that are celibate. All of them, paying insurance premiums that cover contraceptives so that somebody else doesn’t have to pay the full fare of that? And they’ve called it preventative medicine. Preventative medicine. Well if you applied that preventative medicine universally what you end up with is you’ve prevented a generation. Preventing babies from being born is not medicine. That’s not— that’s not constructive to our culture and our civilization. If we let our birth rate get down below replacement rate we’re a dying civilization. (click for source)
There’s a lot to be said for making a point, any point, with exaggeration. But this is just silly. In implying the link between free birth control and dying civilizations, King’s ignoring the basic point of birth control - keeping people who don’t want babies from having them. Aren’t the more pertinent issues things like how free birth control could probably help prevent more teenage pregnancy and the like?
While I definitely have issues with all the moral objections to birth control - they at least have some value-based reasons. This tirade, however, seems to be just silly.
Look’s like the GOP’s for 4 more years for Obama. Win.
There’s an interesting article in the new HuffPost Women section today - one about 20 something college grads, women, who’re trying to pay of their debt by doing sex work - the article focuses on a website about sugar daddies and interviews several men and women on the website.
The article seems to wander, a bit, through several angles and questions. The most important, as the title suggests: is a diploma worth this? As a recent college grad, I get the fear of looming mountains of debt that are often unavoidable - and the article suggests that the many women have found websites like Seeking Arrangement as the only answer to these mountains of debt.
Of course, though, it isn’t that simple. Are these websites the only answer for the people who use them? If yes, then I suppose the next question is whether there is anything wrong with what the websites are being used for. But really, I think what is most disturbing about this expose is not that college students are turning to sex work to pay off debt but rather that these college students have or need to turn to sex work - that there is no alternative for them.
While the question is about sex work, for me, it also is about our higher education system. What does it say about the cost of a college degree that people feel the need to turn to sex work in order to pay off their debt? And what does it say about the investment that people are making in their educations if they cannot get any other jobs after graduation?
Perhaps this is just indicative of a slow economy and another side-effect of the recession. But really, should that make a difference?
I look at photos of places I want to go to when work gets too much :)
A shoe made of chocolate, what could be better?
