The Best Comment is the One Not Spoken

We have recently heard a number of controversial comments from those associated with the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns. During this crucial election period, President Bill Clinton, Samantha Power, Geraldine Ferraro and Pastor Wright were thrust into the media spotlight due to controversial comments. These comments have involved issues of race, the state of our country and the character of the democratic candidates for president. However, should we really keep their comments in mind when it comes time to place our votes? Should we place any value to their comments at all?

Earlier, controversy came as Bill Clinton drew similarities between the Obama campaign and that of Rev. Jesse Jackson by noting that Rev. Jackson had won South Carolina in 1984 and 1988. Since that time, President Clinton has said that the media has attempted to spin the comments to insinuate that they were racial in nature. Whether regarding race or not, his comments were unnecessary and a poor strategic move. He could have referenced to any number of candidates who had won the Democratic South Carolina Primary.

Onetime Democratic Vice Presidential candidate and former member of the United States House of Representatives Geraldine Ferraro resigned as a member of Hillary Clinton’s campaign comitte on March 12 after a comment about Barack Obama. "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position,”said Ferraro. Needless to say these comments have caused an uproar and Senator Clinton immediately denounced her statements.

Obama’s former Pastor Jeremiah Wright has drawn strong controversy over his comments about the United States among other comments.” God Bless America.” No no no, God Damn America, that’s in the bible for killling innocent people,” although it is important to note this is from a sermon he gave in 2003.

Samantha Power, a foreign policy aide on the Illinois Senator's White House campaign, called Hillary Clinton a monster in the European paper The Scotsman. “She is a monster, too -- that is off the record -- she is stooping to anything,". Mrs. Powers resigned since the statement became public.

In each of these instances, the comments caused more trouble for the person the commenter was trying to support rather than the opposing candidate. Should we give these comments credence? Do the comments of those associated with a political figure necessarily reflect the beliefs of said figure?

The focus should be on the issues and actions of the candidates and not those associated with their campaign or personal lives. Too many people look toward those associated with the candidates as indicators of the candidate’s stances and values. If we apply the same rationale to our own lives, how many of us would be able to acquire positions of power or prestige? How many of us have spouses, cousins or friends with viewpoints and ideals with which we do not agree? How many of us have associates who make poor choices in their lives or make absurd statements? These people do not define us or shape our values although they are a part of our lives. It is our hope that the focus returns to the economy, the war in Iraq, and the state of our country and not the misguided proclamations of others. Moreover, those associated with the candidates for the office of the president should think twice before they make any comments, especially if it could affect the outcome of this historic election.

Since When Did We Become Beer Experts

Welcome to Beer Week. Not since the wing bowl did so many eager men rush to center city Philadelphia. The event scheduled to take place March 7, 2008 to March 16, 2008 includes discount prices for premium malt beverages, exotic beer flavors and vendors presenting beer related entertainment. There was even a 47-page spread in the Daily News dedicated to the event. It is Beer Week in Philadelphia.

Looking at the fact that a portion of the liquor tax goes to public schools and the surge of visitors rushing to enjoy the festivities would actually help the economy, there is more than enough reason for us to sit back grab a brew and enjoy the week. A question that comes to mind however is when did Philadelphia become a cornerstone of the Beer industry? When did we become beer experts?

Researching about beer in our city, I found so many men who consider themselves beer experts. From the types of beer, beer flavors, locations where beers are brewed, down to the ingredients included in the beer, it is easy to find someone knowledgeable about beer in Philadelphia. Although there are thousands of men knowledgeable on the subject, I would not expect our city to be the beer Mecca. I mean when I think of our city I think of water ice, cheese steaks, soft pretzels and having to purchase liquor from the state store instead of everywhere else.

However, I was surprised at how unique our city is when it comes to beer. The first American lager is said to have been brewed here in 1840. By the late 1870’s Philadelphia held over 69 breweries and even a neighborhood called Brewerytown. Due to prohibition these breweries had to shut down, and by 1987 the last city brewery, Schmidt's, closed for good.
However time has past and there are at least 20 breweries in the Philadelphia area, including Yards, Flying Fish, Stoudts, Sly Fox and Victory. Some of the rarest beers in the world can be found here in this city. We have hundreds of taverns and bars serving a variety of different beers, many of these locations even brew Belgian beers. Beer from locations such as Belgium, Russia, and Germany all are shipped here. According to the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp.the beer industry employs 16,000 workers in Philadelphia, producing about $422 million in wages and $122 million in taxes. It is fitting then that Philadelphia hold Beer Week. So with only a few days left for the festivities, how are you going to celebrate Beer Week?

THE BRIGHTER THE STUDENT THE GREATER THE PUBLIC OUTCRY

Last Monday three students from Masterman High School required medical attention after an attack by an 18-year-old Benjamin Franklin High School student and two 13-year-olds from Waring School. The 18-year-old student was allegedly involved in an attack a month earlier on a charter-school student. The irony of the incident involving the Masterman students is that the Masterman students were filming an anti-violence video when the attack happened.

The severity of the students’ injuries should not be overlooked. But we know that everyday in all parts of the region and the country, hundreds of kids have to deal with bullying. Shouldn’t emphasis be placed on programs to stop bullying and provide after school activities for Philadelphia School District Students? In talking to a Masterman Alumni, I was surprised to find that neighboring bullies have attacked Masterman students for decades.

As a former student of the Philadelphia School System, I can recall numerous instances where quieter and smaller students were chased from their schools to public transportation. With no school officials in sight or police officers nearby these bullies felt free to harass local students. Thankfully, these persecuted students did not decide to go home and purchase a weapon for the purpose of hurting their classmates. We have seen this happen with the Virginia Tech and the Columbine High School massacres.

The reason why the Masterman incident has garnered so much media attention is that the victims in this case are considered to be among Philadelphia’s educational elite. Masterman, ranked one of the best schools in the tri-county area, made the top hundred listing of best schools by U.S. News and World Report. Thus, hundreds of Philadelphia citizens have expressed their concern and shock. We share their concern, but there are other students in schools throughout the area who are fearful of leaving the schoolyard everyday. The public outcry in this instance should focus on children throughout the area and should urge the community to volunteer or develop programs that ensure student safety.

After this week’s newspaper article hits the recycling bin, the Masterman students’ wounds have healed and the perpetrators in this case given their punishments, will anyone think twice about students who have to run home everyday, or would they have to be a member of the educational elite in order to get public attention?

MAKING HISTORY GENDER & RACE NO LONGER AN ISSUE?

We are at an unprecedented time in our nation’s history. The two potential democratic candidates for president are both minorities. There has been some debate among people of all races as to whether or not having a black presidential candidate squashes the racial debate. Additionally some have inquired as to whether or not having a female president will mean that woman’s rights activist can put down their picket signs. Many people feel that Democratic Candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are proof that America has come a long way in terms of gender and race relations. Some have even minimized the severity of racism and sexism in this country.

Is Barack Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s nomination a sign of progress? Although a sign of forward thinking and a desire for change on the part of a nation has motivated people to the polls one cannot take this to mean that gender and racial disparity is non-existent. If one looks at the recent statistics in the Philadelphia Inquirer on racial disparity in our area, one can see that we have not come as far as we would like to think.

The comments by Governor Rendell about the likelihood of Barack Obama winning the Pennsylvania Primary help to reveal the mind-frame of many white conservatives in our state. "You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in last Tuesday's paper.

The wage gap among men and women in this country shows that there is still a need for more dialogue. There is still a large disparity between male and female salaries and opportunities. According to the Boston Globe, a female high school graduate will make about $700,000 less in her lifetime than her male counterpart. A college graduate will make $1.2 million less than her male counterpart will.
While we could possibly elect the country’s first female president, men and women are still not equal in the boardroom.

When one looks at the statistics on poverty and education among minorities in this country, it is easy to see that systematic racism still exists. Although the nomination of a black presidential candidate would be an outstanding moment in black history, we should not take this to mean that there still isn’t a need for change. Nor does the nomination of a female candidate suggest that progress isn’t needed in terms of women’s rights.
I am curious to see how the nomination of either candidate will affect the inequalities in our nation. However, as it stands now, we have a long way to go.