Currently, there is a mass movement in response to the rampant violence that is escalating around the country. Places of worship, movies and playgrounds are examples of violated places. People are floored by the audacity of the actions of some that leave multiple innocent people (and even toddlers) injured or killed. I’m sure these irresponsible individuals who have displayed a lack of respect for human life had a reason for their actions. I’m sure the gang-bangers who shot a toddler in a playground have a justification for why they had to open fire on the rival gang in that setting and at that time. Their justification will not satisfy our standards by any means, but it led the aggressor to action. Reasons like, “he looked at me hard” and “he disrespected my set” sound ludicrous to us, but are heartfelt by aggressors.
Violence is an integral part of American culture. This land was obtained through battles fought with the indigenous people, also known as Native Americans. After the acquisition and claiming America as its own, violence has shifted to other countries under the label of war. It is not unlikely that a child in middle school could see reports of murder, rape and assaults on the news, then go to school where the culture may be one of dominance and bullying. They may be challenged by more of the same bullying on their way home, in playgrounds and on their block. We have yet to include rappers they may hear bragging of violent acts they have committed. Violent acts in sports like football and mixed martial arts (MMAs) are cheered by millions. Let’s not leave out the movies and video games that consume the time of many adolescents. A Harrison Poll reports the average teenager spends thirteen (13) hours daily playing video games. The Children Now Organization found that 89% of the video games contained violence.
The messages children receive around violence are complex. It’s negative when used in some situations, while it is often seen as necessary and justified when used by the hero of the story. While it is stated that violence is wrong and the aggressor or bully in the story is often the villain, violence is not limited to the bad guy. In the cartoon Tom and Jerry Tom, the aggressive cat, will get hit with a pan and face flattened after chasing Jerry down. There are countless stories of bullies whose sense of worth was restored after receiving some violent or humiliating act. These acts of violence are deemed acceptable because of the circumstances.
Justified or unjustified? We hear this question asked all too often when African-American men are gunned down by police. We as a society have attempted to stand in the gunman’s shoes trying to understand the rationale for the use of violence. The outcome? Brief attention by mainstream media, no resolution as to what is or is not justifiable and the drastic increase in deaths by gun violence with little to no attention placed on accessibility of guns.
As parents, we must take a stand on the issue of violence period. Our children are internalizing these messages and as a result developing a tolerance for violence that ultimately threatens their lives. We must consider a radical change of how we view and rationalize the many forms of violence and pass it on to our offspring. We must replace the violent-oriented rituals and routines our children are engaged in daily with engaging activities that teach values that promote team-building and community. Values of compassion, tolerance and love should replace the good guy who pounces on the villain while we applaud. This takes a radical change in culture that a single initiative or bill will not make a dent in. This type of change can only begin in the home. Setting regular times for family meetings where all concerns can be shared is a perfect beginning. By encouraging youth to communicate upsets in a nonjudgmental setting, differences can be aired and resolved and youth gain experience in conflict resolution, a skill that is sorely needed. Some parents have already said “enough is enough”. They are monitoring movies, video games, music and other media outlets to limit their children’s exposure to violence. Next time we’ll explore Steps to Self-Empowerment, the ultimate home-based empowerment process for these violent times. Remember, the transformation of a nation begins in the homes of its people. Comments: parentsnotebook@yahoo.com; visit The Parent’s Notebook/Facebook and nana411.wordpress.com.
The Parent's Notebook: A Different Take on Violence – Restoring Power to the Home
Sports: We Got The Gold
By Eddie Castro
The United States basketball team added the finishing touches to what was an impressive performance at the London Olympics, as they defeated second world-ranked Spain for the gold medal last Sunday morning by a score of 107-100. Throughout the entire tournament, the team played with a dominant swagger, a few which included a 156-73 victory against Nigeria, and defeating third-ranked Argentina two times in the same week. As unbeatable as they looked, Spain made them earn the gold, as the two teams battled and made it close, Team USA was up one (83-82) going into the fourth quarter. It was the second straight Olympics the U.S. have won the gold, and the 14th overall. Spain made it close, but in the end, Kevin Durant was too much for Spain dropping 30 points and 9 rebounds to assure a “W” for the red, white and blue. It was an epic and historic Olympics for the team overall, as some of the best players displayed their talents quite well in London.
Without a shout of a doubt, LeBron James silenced his critics and showed that he was indeed the best player in the world. In the two toughest games in the tournament, James came up huge against Lithuania in pool play, and against Spain in the gold medal game. His overwhelming sense of confidence caught many critics off guard, however, he did everything that needed to be done on the floor. With James winning the gold medal, he became just the 2nd player to win the NBA Finals MVP, the NBA Championship and Olympic gold all in the same year. The first person to do it was Michael Jordan back in 1992. I’d say James is living the American dream right now. There were other players showing off their talents as well. Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony had his scoring surges, including an Olympic record 37 points against Nigeria where he knocked down 13 three-pointers. Thunder forward Kevin Durant became the up-and-coming and probably the face of Team USA basketball for many years to come. Durant scored an Olympic record 156 points in 8 games, an average of 19.5 points a game. His scoring of 156 is now the most by any player in Olympic play. At a slender 6’11 and just the way he is able to move around really became a nightmare for the international players who had to guard him. At 23, it is almost pretty safe to say he’ll be back in 2016.
With the team heading back to the states to celebrate their victory, there will be changes to the coaching staff and probably the roster as well, thus giving USA basketball president Jerry Colangelo a lot of work to do and decisions to make. USA coach Mike Krzyzewski has said that he will not coach the team in 2016. The team went on to have an outstanding record of 50-1 under Krzyzewski with their only loss coming against Greece in 2006 at the FIBA (Federation International Basketball Association) World Championships. Maybe a Wine-and-Pizza get together between Krzyzewski, and Colangelo will convince coach K to return in 2016. After all, it did work before and got him to return for this year’s Olympics. As far as the players go, the roster will be a bit older. Kobe Bryant, 34, has said that he will retire from Olympic play. One of the team’s biggest concerns was their size. It almost cost them the gold. In 2016, Kevin Durant will be 27, and will probably become the leader of the team. We all assume Dwight Howard and perhaps Andrew Bynum can contribute with their size to help the team in 2016. James will be 31, but it is unknown whether he will return. So as the team celebrates their victory, they will also be looking to get bigger, faster and better as the Olympic Games shift to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.
Sports Notes: (Olympics) The athletes of the United States dominated in London winning gold (46) silver (29) and Bronze (29) medals, the most by any country. (Baseball) The Mets end a 3-game series against the Reds, and then focused their attention towards the Washington Nationals. The Yankees prepare themselves for another grueling 3-game set against the Boston Red Sox.
The United States basketball team added the finishing touches to what was an impressive performance at the London Olympics, as they defeated second world-ranked Spain for the gold medal last Sunday morning by a score of 107-100. Throughout the entire tournament, the team played with a dominant swagger, a few which included a 156-73 victory against Nigeria, and defeating third-ranked Argentina two times in the same week. As unbeatable as they looked, Spain made them earn the gold, as the two teams battled and made it close, Team USA was up one (83-82) going into the fourth quarter. It was the second straight Olympics the U.S. have won the gold, and the 14th overall. Spain made it close, but in the end, Kevin Durant was too much for Spain dropping 30 points and 9 rebounds to assure a “W” for the red, white and blue. It was an epic and historic Olympics for the team overall, as some of the best players displayed their talents quite well in London.
Without a shout of a doubt, LeBron James silenced his critics and showed that he was indeed the best player in the world. In the two toughest games in the tournament, James came up huge against Lithuania in pool play, and against Spain in the gold medal game. His overwhelming sense of confidence caught many critics off guard, however, he did everything that needed to be done on the floor. With James winning the gold medal, he became just the 2nd player to win the NBA Finals MVP, the NBA Championship and Olympic gold all in the same year. The first person to do it was Michael Jordan back in 1992. I’d say James is living the American dream right now. There were other players showing off their talents as well. Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony had his scoring surges, including an Olympic record 37 points against Nigeria where he knocked down 13 three-pointers. Thunder forward Kevin Durant became the up-and-coming and probably the face of Team USA basketball for many years to come. Durant scored an Olympic record 156 points in 8 games, an average of 19.5 points a game. His scoring of 156 is now the most by any player in Olympic play. At a slender 6’11 and just the way he is able to move around really became a nightmare for the international players who had to guard him. At 23, it is almost pretty safe to say he’ll be back in 2016.
With the team heading back to the states to celebrate their victory, there will be changes to the coaching staff and probably the roster as well, thus giving USA basketball president Jerry Colangelo a lot of work to do and decisions to make. USA coach Mike Krzyzewski has said that he will not coach the team in 2016. The team went on to have an outstanding record of 50-1 under Krzyzewski with their only loss coming against Greece in 2006 at the FIBA (Federation International Basketball Association) World Championships. Maybe a Wine-and-Pizza get together between Krzyzewski, and Colangelo will convince coach K to return in 2016. After all, it did work before and got him to return for this year’s Olympics. As far as the players go, the roster will be a bit older. Kobe Bryant, 34, has said that he will retire from Olympic play. One of the team’s biggest concerns was their size. It almost cost them the gold. In 2016, Kevin Durant will be 27, and will probably become the leader of the team. We all assume Dwight Howard and perhaps Andrew Bynum can contribute with their size to help the team in 2016. James will be 31, but it is unknown whether he will return. So as the team celebrates their victory, they will also be looking to get bigger, faster and better as the Olympic Games shift to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.
Sports Notes: (Olympics) The athletes of the United States dominated in London winning gold (46) silver (29) and Bronze (29) medals, the most by any country. (Baseball) The Mets end a 3-game series against the Reds, and then focused their attention towards the Washington Nationals. The Yankees prepare themselves for another grueling 3-game set against the Boston Red Sox.
Rodneyse Bichotte Employs ‘Scorched Earth’ Campaign in Bid to Unseat 42AD Incumbent
By Mary Alice Miller
Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs has a formidable opponent after 34 years in elected office. Rodneyse Bichotte is running an aggressive, competent campaign for the seat. Bichotte was first elected to office two years ago when, in a bold move, she knocked longtime Female District Leader Mary Hobson off the ballot. That tactic in 2010 allowed Bichotte to become the first Haitian-American woman to get elected to any position in the city of NY and the first Caribbean district leader in the 42nd Assembly. Now Bichotte is seeking to become the first Caribbean-American and Black woman to represent the 42nd Assembly District.
Though Jacobs has represented the office since 1978, for the past two decades the district has been 80-85% majority minority – first African-American and now Caribbean-American. Haitians make up the largest group among the district’s Caribbean’s, “whether they are documented, not documented, citizens, non-citizens, permanent residents, voters, non-voters,” Said Bichotte. The second largest island group are Jamaicans. Almost every election saw two or more Caribbean candidates who effectively split the majority minority vote, allowing Jacobs easy elections. This year would have been no different.
Perennial candidate Zachary Lareche was running in a three-way contest with Bichotte and Jacobs… until last week when Bichotte knocked him off the ballot. Lareche’s petitions had something no election specialist had ever seen before: Voter names and addresses pre-printed on petitions. Theoretically, all Lareche’s camp had to do was knock on the voter’s door and obtain their signature. When Bichotte saw that some of her petition signers allegedly signed Lareche’s petitions, too, she challenged them. The Bichotte campaign brought in Jeffrey Luber, a board certified forensic document examiner with the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory. Luber found numerous instances where Board of Election voter cards on file did not match signatures on Lareche’s petitions. In addition, there were different signatures for one person who was the signing witness on his petitions.
With Lareche successfully knocked off the ballot, Bichotte is waging a direct one-on-one campaign against Jacobs.
First, Bichotte eliminated approximately 90% of Jacobs’ Democratic County Committee candidates during a line-by-line petition review. County Committee members are part of a group responsible for choosing a successor in the event an elected official is unable to complete their term of office. “She did sloppy work, so we knocked off 90% of her County Committee,” said Bichotte. “She should have learned because two years ago I knocked off two of her County Committee people. She should have known you would have done that and more this year.”
When asked if the Jacobs campaign challenged Bichotte for Assembly and District Leader or any of her Judicial Delegate or County Committee people, Bichotte said, “No, because she knows I come correct. My petitions were solid.”
Next, the Bichotte campaign challenged the entirety of Assemblywoman Jacobs’ slate, including Mary Hobson, who is seeking re-election to her former Female District Leader seat, as well as Jacobs’ remaining County Committee candidates and her Delegates to the Judicial Convention.
Bichotte had difficulty finding a judge who would take her case challenging Jacobs’ petitions. “When we first started the case no judge would take it; every judge was recusing. The case almost got dropped,” said Bichotte. “We had to go to the Chief Judge because no one would take it.” Honorable Michelle Weston was assigned to hear the case.
Ultimately, seven of Jacobs’ County Committee candidates were knocked off her ballot, as well as one Judicial Delegate. All had testified that though they signed some sort of form, they did not know they were signing consent to be place on Assemblywoman Jacobs’ ballot to run for County Committee or Judicial Delegate. One person though he was signing an endorsement for Jacobs. Another person said he had given consent to be on another candidate’s slate.
Judge Weston ordered that the seven candidates for Democratic County Committee are “stricken from the ballot.” One candidate for Delegate to the Judicial Convention from the 42nd AD was also stricken. The Bichotte petition to the court to invalidate the entire designating petition was denied because although the candidates in question signed consent forms, they did not know what “consent” they were signing.
The Bichotte campaign has appealed. “I think the lower court erred,” said Bichotte attorney and election specialist Aaron Maslow. “If two or more individuals did not give permission to have their name placed on the petition, precedent dictates that the entire petition is invalid.”
Maslow acknowledged that the Appellate Court “can decide not to follow precedent, if they want to.”
The Appellate Court has an impactful decision to make. If they rule that Jacobs’ petitions stand, they will deviate from their own previous appellate precedent. In addition, future candidates who lead slates will have case law to rely upon holding them harmless from fault if they are found to have down-petition invalidations of their own County Committee candidates. If the Appellate Court rules based upon precedent, Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs and her entire slate would be knocked off the ballot and there would be no primary on September 13.
It would be an abrupt end to a long career of Jacobs. But, a ruling based upon precedent would serve to warn future candidates for elected office that invalidations down-petition could prove fatal to the top of the slate.
As of press deadline, the Appellate Court has not issued their decision. If the decision is unfavorable to Jacobs, the assemblywoman can take the case to the Court of Appeals which will hear election cases next week.
Bichotte began fundraising for this legal battle when she announced in February.
“The reason I have a lot of support is because for the very first time there is finally a viable candidate who can run against Rhoda. I am a viable candidate they feel could win,” said Bichotte. “Many of Rhoda’s longtime supporters have joined my camp. Everyone is gravitating to my campaign. I do have a significant number of retirees involved in my campaign who knock on doors, phone bank, everything. I think for a very long time campaigns in the 42nd AD did not attract young people. My campaign has attracted young people. It is young people who are running the show. We have registered young people to vote. We have given young people a reason to get involved.”
