Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I wish this was my deck (minus the snow and cold)
Speaking of beautiful animals, check out the livestream of the Decorah Eagles below - the first of three eaglets hatched earlier today - two more to go
Live video from your iPhone using Ustream
The Raptor Resource Project documents the beauty of raptors' behavior in their natural environment via live webcam, educating the public about these lovely creatures in the process.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
There's a new "Worst Person in the World" - guess where from?
Casey Anthony has lost her well-deserved title to fellow Central Floridian George Zimmerman. Unless you live under a rock, you know him as the Hispanic/white (i.e., not black) Neighborhood Watch captain who followed, shot and killed 17-year-old unarmed (and black) Trayvon Martin last month without arrest or charge in Sanford, Florida, claiming self-defense. Not gonna tell this whole story here as it is easily found everywhere; will just share a few initial thoughts.
There was a groundswell of support for Trayvon and his family, and disdain for the choices made by the Sanford police department, here in Central Florida as soon as this happened. In conventional and social media as well as face-to-face conversation, people expressed shock and dismay at the lack of not only an arrest, but seemingly any investigation at all. Residents of Sanford, as well as other local black and civil rights activists, put pressure on the Sanford police department for an explanation, and some national organizations such as the NAACP added their voices, which eventually resulted in the Sanford police releasing 911 calls related to the incident to the media on March 18th.
It was after this release of the calls that the national attention truly exploded. The Sanford police chief stated at the time, "I would hope that [the release of the calls would] make a difference, to try to stop or slow down … the high state of emotions." Wrong. (He has stepped down "temporarily" since then.)
All of these emotions and public outrage over this boy's murder are right and just, IMHO. This type of behavior can't be tolerated and has to be addressed at a national level - I have no problem with this discourse at all. What I do take issue with is some of our visitors to Central Florida this past week and their possible motivations, specifically Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton.
Both of these men have accomplished much in the realm of advancement of civil rights during difficult times, and deserve recognition for this. Yet both also have a history (especially Sharpton in the Tawana Brawley case) of grandstanding and opportunism when possibilities for media exposure present themselves. This has happened here, and I, for one, don't appreciate it.
The local residents and activists that pushed these issues forward and insisted this case be covered and discussed are the ones who should be leading the dialogue, rallies, etc. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Sharpton have swooped into Central Florida and tried to usurp and direct the efforts of these people seeking justice for an innocent boy walking home from 7-Eleven in order to claim the media attention the local citizens' efforts have generated. I wish Mr. Jackson, Mr. Sharpton and their associates would leave and let those locals who did the heavy lifting here continue on. They got the message out just fine without the help of these "leaders."
Sharpton's example is especially egregious in light of the fact that, while he does not self-identify as a journalist (nor should he), he hosts a show on MSNBC while also appearing at rallies here in the role of activist. CNN's Howard Kurtz led a discussion of this (via Mediaite)
This really bothers me.
In any movement, profession or what have you, we must all be able to recognize when we might not be the best person for the job anymore and allow someone younger or otherwise possibly more able or effective to take over. I believe this should happen here. These gentlemen are conflating the issues with their grandiosity, which is distracting from the true issues that need to be dissected. They both should step out of it, but I know that isn't going to happen.
Their presence and fueling of fires, I believe, led to The New Black Panther Party (all eight of them) injecting themselves into the mix by offering a bounty for the capture of George Zimmerman, which contributes nothing positive. What the hell would they do with him if he was brought to them? They sound like and seem to be recognized by activists and other concerned citizens as the black equivalent of the Westboro Baptist Church. Hopefully they and their bounty will fade away and cooler heads will prevail.
Justice for Trayvon.
There was a groundswell of support for Trayvon and his family, and disdain for the choices made by the Sanford police department, here in Central Florida as soon as this happened. In conventional and social media as well as face-to-face conversation, people expressed shock and dismay at the lack of not only an arrest, but seemingly any investigation at all. Residents of Sanford, as well as other local black and civil rights activists, put pressure on the Sanford police department for an explanation, and some national organizations such as the NAACP added their voices, which eventually resulted in the Sanford police releasing 911 calls related to the incident to the media on March 18th.
It was after this release of the calls that the national attention truly exploded. The Sanford police chief stated at the time, "I would hope that [the release of the calls would] make a difference, to try to stop or slow down … the high state of emotions." Wrong. (He has stepped down "temporarily" since then.)
All of these emotions and public outrage over this boy's murder are right and just, IMHO. This type of behavior can't be tolerated and has to be addressed at a national level - I have no problem with this discourse at all. What I do take issue with is some of our visitors to Central Florida this past week and their possible motivations, specifically Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton.
Both of these men have accomplished much in the realm of advancement of civil rights during difficult times, and deserve recognition for this. Yet both also have a history (especially Sharpton in the Tawana Brawley case) of grandstanding and opportunism when possibilities for media exposure present themselves. This has happened here, and I, for one, don't appreciate it.
The local residents and activists that pushed these issues forward and insisted this case be covered and discussed are the ones who should be leading the dialogue, rallies, etc. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Sharpton have swooped into Central Florida and tried to usurp and direct the efforts of these people seeking justice for an innocent boy walking home from 7-Eleven in order to claim the media attention the local citizens' efforts have generated. I wish Mr. Jackson, Mr. Sharpton and their associates would leave and let those locals who did the heavy lifting here continue on. They got the message out just fine without the help of these "leaders."
Sharpton's example is especially egregious in light of the fact that, while he does not self-identify as a journalist (nor should he), he hosts a show on MSNBC while also appearing at rallies here in the role of activist. CNN's Howard Kurtz led a discussion of this (via Mediaite)
This really bothers me.
In any movement, profession or what have you, we must all be able to recognize when we might not be the best person for the job anymore and allow someone younger or otherwise possibly more able or effective to take over. I believe this should happen here. These gentlemen are conflating the issues with their grandiosity, which is distracting from the true issues that need to be dissected. They both should step out of it, but I know that isn't going to happen.
Their presence and fueling of fires, I believe, led to The New Black Panther Party (all eight of them) injecting themselves into the mix by offering a bounty for the capture of George Zimmerman, which contributes nothing positive. What the hell would they do with him if he was brought to them? They sound like and seem to be recognized by activists and other concerned citizens as the black equivalent of the Westboro Baptist Church. Hopefully they and their bounty will fade away and cooler heads will prevail.
Justice for Trayvon.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)