And the Beat goes on:
The Culture War of Marriage Equality
Since last weeks POTUS "evolution revolution" rolled across all media worldwide and then some, there's been so many analyzes from every possible angle. Not to mention all the blow back concerning if any of this was really new to our knowledge. Was President Obama just "fence sitting" until he could maximize the right moment? Could all of this been an orchestrated political move to motivate his bases of young folk and them gays? Is he putting his Presidency at risk with telling the American people the truth about what he thinks about an issue? OMG!! Will the Black church crowd sit on their hands and not turn out to the polls? Yesterday's Arkansas Democrat newspapers Editorial section had its take on the announcement from various viewpoints as well. They took a "so Obama's for marriage equality, blah, blah, blah.." position citing that this revelation falls into his liberal framework. The writers also quipped that many Arkies were not having none of it anyways since the state had already passed legislation dealing with the matter years ago. Its no secret that this state will not end up in the Obama state tally. Pundits and politicos alike have "smoked and mirror" the situation that citizens are not fond of his economic policies and such instead of the distinct fact that race has been an overriding factor if not the only factor. Meanwhile as Arkansans scoff at the idea of any type of marriage equality, this state leads the nation with a 57% rating compared to 48% nationally. Therefore can this state with the second highest bastion of D-I-V-O-R-C-E-S, and Northwest Arkansas having the highest number of divorces per thousand couples in the USA boast about setting an example for marriage. Believe it or not some marriage counselors have reported that the "gruelling impact and demands of working 60 hour weeks to keep jobs or build careers" as the culprit in fueling these marriage breakdowns. Wow! If so then that's surely a model of nuptial devotion from those "one man and one women" couples who want to express who should and shouldn't be able to marry. Since it appears that most of them are not staying together anyway. Furthermore, let's not forget all those "shacked up" and excuse me, "living in sin" that last time I checked, who keep talking about who and what makes up a union. So these folks want to take the leader of the free world to task for doing what true leaders do? Being President of all the people means making the hard decisions when its not popular or politically expedient. Living at 1600 Penn Avenue is not for the person who can't stand the heat when the kitchen gets too hot. I applaud Mr. Obama for affirming to me that he is a man of principle and integrity. His thoughtful insight and recognition that our nation can not chide other countries for human right abuses and shortcomings if we continue to wrangle with truly being the "home of the brave and land of the free." Mr.Obama has proven to me time and time again through his governmental pursuits of establishing a national AIDS strategy using all phases of the government, ending the Don't Ask, Don't Tell initiative, proclamations and appointments, plus his dealing with a rough and tumble economy that will need at least four more years of attention to correct much of wreckage that occurred prior him taking office. With the clear understanding of his viewpoint, actually nothing really changes as he stated that the matter lies in the hands of the states. And if you've been paying attention, the state tally is not favoring marriage equality by any means. So, Bravo Obama for letting me know that you've got my back and here's a shout out to you that I've got yours too! Now lets move on to whip Romney in the fall and get some more work done on fixing this nation. Its all about FORWARD from this point and into the future.
CONDOM NATION Unrolled into Little Rock
In a strange and interesting way, the Condom Nation tour blew through Little Rock last Saturday (5/11/12) and I'm proud to say that COP 24/7 was the only local entity that showed up to say "howdy." Also organizers wanted to know if I was the point person to set up the testing station. My reply, "NO." Do you know where they are and why they are not here? Again my reply, "No." As I was in the heat of posting last Friday, a "urgent" e-mail came through concerning the tour with a "all hands on deck" plea for locals to engage the tour as a possible testing opportunity and community outreach effort. In true "24/7" breaking news fashion, I quickly added the message to my posting and attempted to follow up with any local sources on the matter. Since this was Friday night, 7:30 pm with people caught up finding that last minute Mother's Day gift, I got "crickets." I had got an earlier e-mail from Mr. James Vellequette, who by coincidence was on site at the tour and I had chance to meet and greet. He stated that his contact had been Ms. P. Minor who arranged for the parking lot site, which he was "just fine" with and wasn't totally bothered by what I termed a "hiccup" in the planning process but in actuality was yet another total local "ball dropping " incident. Despite a slight rain, the 18 wheeler, accompanying van blaring uptempo music and an enthusiastic staff of four set up shop in the South University Parking lot to distribute condoms to those whom passed through. Thanks to Mr. Jones for offering to chronicle my "show up" with additional pictures ( I shot the one posted ) and big props to the entire team for coming to Little Rock to offer free condoms. I found Vellequette of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to be quite engaging and will add him to my Rolodex of savvy contacts and allies.
Alright now that they have departed for their next stop, I can't help but ponder why this excellent opportunity funded by someone else's dime, didn't get the support and enthusiasm it warranted. I had heard bits and pieces from various sources, but there should or could have been a concentrated effort to connect the dots and demonstrate that this community wants and needs these types of collaborations. I realize that schedules are busy with this and that. However, what this signals again and may be indicative of the overall situation, is a lackluster and perhaps a "whatever" attitude that has caused much concerning HIV and AIDS to continued to be stalled or stymied. Hey here's a novel idea, wouldn't it have been great to promote a piece of that $150,000 HIV/AIDS "Know Now" campaign with a 18 wheeler as the back drop and the site set up as a testing event? Mmmmm!? Or how about this one...if a coordinated community wide agency "photo op" or maybe a YouTube video style "message" could have been done and posted to that widely talked about Facebook page that has been kicked around for some time.
In lieu of that idea and even more interesting is the fact that there's a pivot to bring more expert capacity building folks to town in an attempt to educate us locals on stuff like "coalition development and social marketing." This forum promotes scaling up every one's learning curve and encourages total empowerment across the board, yet why do we continue to seek the knowledge of folks who don't live here nor do they know what's going on here to tell us what we should do about living here. Could we simply not know by now? In my opinion much of this "fancy learning" has become a much a do about nothing. Especially if what's learned or retained never goes into action to achieve any measurable outcomes. Its good and well that such courses are made available, I'll be among the first to register but why waste the time and dollars disseminating good technical information when the knowledge of a 18 wheeler truck and crew rolled into the city was fumbled, as they were looking for our local "coalition" who could have used the event as a "social marketing" bonanza. Need I say more....
Convenience Stores Drives Neighborhood Decline
City of Little Rock Director Ken Richardson ( Ward 2) believes that those dastardly "convenience stores" are the scourge of inner city neighborhoods especially in the emerging 12th Street Corridor. In Sunday's Arkansas Gazette he waxes on that the access to alcohol via such stores fuel crime and facilitate the decline of the infrastructure. He goes on to purport that a proliferation of these businesses play a part in the creation of "crime bubbles" and centers his premise on the LRPD's Community Abatement Program which list businesses with a large number of criminal activity complaints. In his assessment these neighborhoods are "fragile" to which I would agree but I don't believe that convenience stores that sell package goods really drive individuals toward criminal behavior or firmly set a norm for an unhealthy neighborhood. He along with Rev. Benny Johnson head of the city's Stop the Violence campaign said they are "calling on City Hall to do something" in regards to zoning issues and revitalization plans. Although I would believe that perhaps some who have substance abuse problems could be impacted by the access to adult beverages however I would challenge the "personal responsibility" of not only those adults but of those living within these neighborhoods. I drive to my childhood neighborhood where I'm amazed at the boarded houses still unattended to by the city, abandoned lots, lack of continuous sidewalks and unkempt lawns of those living in the area. Did the location of such stores do any of this. I think not. I lived in the South End prior to "white flight" when the area was literally pristine and eerily quiet. There were no houses with garbage on their porches, no folks sitting at kitchen tables in their yards, no unfunctioning cars sitting idle or domiciles unattended. It just wasn't done and those living in the area took pride in the neighborhood unlike many mindsets currently.
Richardson touted a U.S. Department of Justice report that alcohol abuse was a factor in 40 percent of the violent crimes committed in the U.S. Plus he said that incident reports from the police department tell of a lot of crime and criminal activity in certain parts of our community happened or emanated from those stores." If I were to believe his position, I am suppose to believe that the person who broke into my house got juiced from the CS spot and decided to ramshackle my abode? Even more illuminating is the fact that police didn't respond to my break in and stated that a report could be made at the station. So did my break in fall into any reporting of my areas crime stats? Probably not. Of course there is crime and issues of criminal activity, but this element has been present for the past three decades or so and these stores have existed throughout that time. There was a area package store in my neighborhood as I grew up and I don't recall it being the source of the crime that was taking place nor setting individual in motion for there behavior. I agree that revitalization is important and the city has a responsibility to push forward needs within the community while spurring economic development. Case in point, neighbors rallied to defeat a Kum and Go outlet in the Fair Park area. That same outlet found favor at the corner or Baseline and Chico with a bright and welcoming store that as far as I'm concern a significant bright spot in the neighborhood. I've changed my quick pick shopping habit to buy products basically from this new store. Management seems always on property and the staff offers cheerful greetings and "thank you's" that you couldn't get anywhere else in the area. Even though this store opened just a few months ago, there was and still some crime in the area despite their presence. Ultimately, the city has problems with crime and that's a given. However I don't want the element of personal responsibility to be overlooked in this social equation. No matter what stores are in the area, if individuals are not willing to pick up trash in their front yards, serve on neighborhood watch patrols or participate in their neighborhood associations then we need to seek reasons why they are not engaged and if this could be apart of solution mix.
The Culture War of Marriage Equality
CONDOM NATION Unrolled into Little Rock
Alright now that they have departed for their next stop, I can't help but ponder why this excellent opportunity funded by someone else's dime, didn't get the support and enthusiasm it warranted. I had heard bits and pieces from various sources, but there should or could have been a concentrated effort to connect the dots and demonstrate that this community wants and needs these types of collaborations. I realize that schedules are busy with this and that. However, what this signals again and may be indicative of the overall situation, is a lackluster and perhaps a "whatever" attitude that has caused much concerning HIV and AIDS to continued to be stalled or stymied. Hey here's a novel idea, wouldn't it have been great to promote a piece of that $150,000 HIV/AIDS "Know Now" campaign with a 18 wheeler as the back drop and the site set up as a testing event? Mmmmm!? Or how about this one...if a coordinated community wide agency "photo op" or maybe a YouTube video style "message" could have been done and posted to that widely talked about Facebook page that has been kicked around for some time.
In lieu of that idea and even more interesting is the fact that there's a pivot to bring more expert capacity building folks to town in an attempt to educate us locals on stuff like "coalition development and social marketing." This forum promotes scaling up every one's learning curve and encourages total empowerment across the board, yet why do we continue to seek the knowledge of folks who don't live here nor do they know what's going on here to tell us what we should do about living here. Could we simply not know by now? In my opinion much of this "fancy learning" has become a much a do about nothing. Especially if what's learned or retained never goes into action to achieve any measurable outcomes. Its good and well that such courses are made available, I'll be among the first to register but why waste the time and dollars disseminating good technical information when the knowledge of a 18 wheeler truck and crew rolled into the city was fumbled, as they were looking for our local "coalition" who could have used the event as a "social marketing" bonanza. Need I say more....
Convenience Stores Drives Neighborhood Decline
City of Little Rock Director Ken Richardson ( Ward 2) believes that those dastardly "convenience stores" are the scourge of inner city neighborhoods especially in the emerging 12th Street Corridor. In Sunday's Arkansas Gazette he waxes on that the access to alcohol via such stores fuel crime and facilitate the decline of the infrastructure. He goes on to purport that a proliferation of these businesses play a part in the creation of "crime bubbles" and centers his premise on the LRPD's Community Abatement Program which list businesses with a large number of criminal activity complaints. In his assessment these neighborhoods are "fragile" to which I would agree but I don't believe that convenience stores that sell package goods really drive individuals toward criminal behavior or firmly set a norm for an unhealthy neighborhood. He along with Rev. Benny Johnson head of the city's Stop the Violence campaign said they are "calling on City Hall to do something" in regards to zoning issues and revitalization plans. Although I would believe that perhaps some who have substance abuse problems could be impacted by the access to adult beverages however I would challenge the "personal responsibility" of not only those adults but of those living within these neighborhoods. I drive to my childhood neighborhood where I'm amazed at the boarded houses still unattended to by the city, abandoned lots, lack of continuous sidewalks and unkempt lawns of those living in the area. Did the location of such stores do any of this. I think not. I lived in the South End prior to "white flight" when the area was literally pristine and eerily quiet. There were no houses with garbage on their porches, no folks sitting at kitchen tables in their yards, no unfunctioning cars sitting idle or domiciles unattended. It just wasn't done and those living in the area took pride in the neighborhood unlike many mindsets currently.
Richardson touted a U.S. Department of Justice report that alcohol abuse was a factor in 40 percent of the violent crimes committed in the U.S. Plus he said that incident reports from the police department tell of a lot of crime and criminal activity in certain parts of our community happened or emanated from those stores." If I were to believe his position, I am suppose to believe that the person who broke into my house got juiced from the CS spot and decided to ramshackle my abode? Even more illuminating is the fact that police didn't respond to my break in and stated that a report could be made at the station. So did my break in fall into any reporting of my areas crime stats? Probably not. Of course there is crime and issues of criminal activity, but this element has been present for the past three decades or so and these stores have existed throughout that time. There was a area package store in my neighborhood as I grew up and I don't recall it being the source of the crime that was taking place nor setting individual in motion for there behavior. I agree that revitalization is important and the city has a responsibility to push forward needs within the community while spurring economic development. Case in point, neighbors rallied to defeat a Kum and Go outlet in the Fair Park area. That same outlet found favor at the corner or Baseline and Chico with a bright and welcoming store that as far as I'm concern a significant bright spot in the neighborhood. I've changed my quick pick shopping habit to buy products basically from this new store. Management seems always on property and the staff offers cheerful greetings and "thank you's" that you couldn't get anywhere else in the area. Even though this store opened just a few months ago, there was and still some crime in the area despite their presence. Ultimately, the city has problems with crime and that's a given. However I don't want the element of personal responsibility to be overlooked in this social equation. No matter what stores are in the area, if individuals are not willing to pick up trash in their front yards, serve on neighborhood watch patrols or participate in their neighborhood associations then we need to seek reasons why they are not engaged and if this could be apart of solution mix.
3 comments:
But you are not surprised about the Condom Nation visit, are you? From my experience in Little Rock, more often than not, no information ever gets sent out in time for anyone to do anything. I received first word of this visit the 5th and a plea for help on the 11th. Neither of these came in time to be of any use. For events, info needs to be in peoples hands no later than 2 weeks before the event, end of story. People have jobs they can't just leave whenever they feel it is necessary. People have families, kids, pets, sick friends, etc. This nation wide tour didn't just spring up, someone had to have known about it months, possibly a year in advance. If we had known, people could have cleared their schedules, but we didn't know, so no one showed up. This same thing always happens, more than anything else, Little Rock needs to realize this and get these e-mails out much sooner. If you have an event and just start sending info out 2 weeks before the event, you might as well not even have the event, end of story.
But you are not surprised about the Condom Nation visit, are you? From my experience in Little Rock, more often than not, no information ever gets sent out in time for anyone to do anything. I received first word of this visit the 5th and a plea for help on the 11th. Neither of these came in time to be of any use. For events, info needs to be in peoples hands no later than 2 weeks before the event, end of story. People have jobs they can't just leave whenever they feel it is necessary. People have families, kids, pets, sick friends, etc. This nation wide tour didn't just spring up, someone had to have known about it months, possibly a year in advance. If we had known, people could have cleared their schedules, but we didn't know, so no one showed up. This same thing always happens, more than anything else, Little Rock needs to realize this and get these e-mails out much sooner. If you have an event and just start sending info out 2 weeks before the event, you might as well not even have the event, end of story.
But you are not surprised about the Condom Nation visit, are you? From my experience in Little Rock, more often than not, no information ever gets sent out in time for anyone to do anything. I received first word of this visit the 5th and a plea for help on the 11th. Neither of these came in time to be of any use. For events, info needs to be in peoples hands no later than 2 weeks before the event, end of story. People have jobs they can't just leave whenever they feel it is necessary. People have families, kids, pets, sick friends, etc. This nation wide tour didn't just spring up, someone had to have known about it months, possibly a year in advance. If we had known, people could have cleared their schedules, but we didn't know, so no one showed up. This same thing always happens, more than anything else, Little Rock needs to realize this and get these e-mails out much sooner. If you have an event and just start sending info out 2 weeks before the event, you might as well not even have the event, end of story.
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