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Most literate city in the U.S.?

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:30:00 GMT

Any thoughts on the article below? How can we make our communities better?

D.C. is ranked the most literate city in the U.S.

By Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY

Washington, D.C. tops the list of most literate cities in the country.

CAPTION

By Joshua Roberts, Bloomberg

For the second consecutive year, Washington, D.C. , is ranked as the most literate city in the country, according to an annual statistical survey to be released today.

Here is the top 10 for 2011, as ranked by Central Connecticut State University President Jack Miller, based on data that includes number of bookstores, library resources, newspaper circulation and Internet resources:

1. Washington, D.C. (same as in 2010)

2. Seattle (same as in 2010)

3. Minneapolis (same as in 2010)

4. Atlanta (same as in 2010)

5. Boston (up from No. 12 in 2010)

6. Pittsburgh (down from No. 5 in 2010)

7. Cincinnati (up from No. 11 in 2010)

8. St. Louis (up from No 9.5 in 2010)

9. San Francisco (down from No. 6 in 2010)

10. Denver (down from No. 8 in 2010)

Miller says he discovered that "wealthier cites are no more likely to rank highly in literacy than poorer cities."

For example, he notes that Cleveland is ranking second lowest for median family income data, but based on higher rankings for its library system and newspaper and magazine circulations, it's ranked 13th most literate in the survey.

"On the other hand," he says, "Anchorage, Alaska, is ranked 5th in median family income and only 61st in literacy."

He adds that the findings "suggest that, contrary to what many people think, a city's quality of literacy has to do with many decisions that go beyond just how wealthy and highly educated is the population."

Details are posted at ccsu.edu/AMLC2011

http://books.usatoday.com/bookbuzz/post/2012-01-25/washington-dc-is-ranked-the-most-literate-city-in-the-usa/612047/1

5 Secrets of a Working Student Mom

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:56:00 GMT

I came across this article today and thought I'd share. Here we go...

5 secrets of a working student mom

By
Marissa Yaremich
January 17, 2012

The laundry keeps mounting and the floor feels a bit sticky, but that’s OK with Merrilee Sweeney, a small business owner and college student who is also a single parent of four.

“When I first enrolled in school, I was freaking out trying to figure out how to get everything done,” says Sweeney, who is working toward her Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Management at the University of Phoenix Ontario Learning Center. “But I’ve learned to sit back, take a breather and prioritize what I really need to do to do it all.”

Sweeney readily admits she’s no superhero. Rather, she says she limits the academic and professional chaos by, ironically, allowing some chaos in her housekeeping. Here is how she manages to balance the many aspects of her life and still get in a little time for herself.

1. Create the space you need to get schoolwork done.
Sweeney calls it her “three-stage alert.” For three days each week, Sweeney’s children, who are ages 10 through 17, know mom must get schoolwork done to graduate with good grades. They understand not to interrupt her if her bedroom door is closed and locked — she’s bunkered down in her special office chair meeting school deadlines. “My kids know if the door is open it’s OK to bug me; if the door is closed, but not locked then I’m getting there and I might be able to be interrupted. But if it’s locked: Don’t come in,” she says. House fires and emergencies are exceptions, she says.

2. Prioritize work and school over housework.
As an interior designer, Sweeney respects the home. But successfully juggling her professional, personal and school lives means she sometimes has to ignore trash, laundry and dishes so she can get bills paid, clients helped and homework submitted on time.

3. Get help where you can.
Let laundry teeter or dust settle, says Sweeney, but disseminate some regular age-appropriate chores (i.e., bathroom cleaning) to your kids and don’t helicopter over them while they do it.

4. Pull all nighters when necessary.
If Sweeney spends a night in the emergency room with a sick child or a work relationship monopolized her entire day then she deliberately pulls an all-nighter to ensure she gets her schoolwork completed on time. “I never use my kids or work as an excuse not to meet a school deadline.” Instead, Sweeney chooses to keep herself going with caffeine and promises herself a good night’s sleep the following evening.

5. Use your time thoughtfully.
Sweeney never wastes the precious 20-30 minutes she waits at a dentist’s office, school or the car repair shop. When else can she wind down? Sweeney takes advantage of these invaluable, fleeting moments by reading for leisure, something she otherwise may not get to do. “Steal pockets of time for yourself,” says Sweeney, who also works as a certified life coach. “If we don’t … then we just become victims of every day’s circumstances.”

http://www.phoenix.edu/forward/student-life/2012/01/5-secrets-of-a-working-student-mom.html

Life as we know it

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Wed, 18 May 2011 23:08:00 GMT

Just a few months ago, I was quite impressed with the ‘governator’ of Cali, his globe trotting and how he seemed to adore his wife. How long did that last? To find out that he had been living a lie for over a decade was a shocker?

I bet you've heard about Mr. Strauss - Kahn's (IMF boss) alleged sexual misconduct. Now, if these allegations are true, then I don't know what Mr. IMF was thinking. To have accomplished this much in your life? Why mess it up over a few minutes of guilty pleasure? Well, maybe he's been framed... who knows?

You know, I can't help but to wonder if fairy tales really do exist. I know, the British Royal Wedding looked like one, but who knows what lies ahead?

One minute, things seem to be perfect... and poof, it blows up in your face. I know that once there's life there's hope and that it's good to keep hope alive... yadi, yada, yada. But don't you have one of those moments when you just wonder about the what ifs?

Get Up And Go

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 22:30:00 GMT

Happy New Year to you my friends. I bet you've made several resolutions for 2011. Well, as I reflect on 2010, I can't help but to be proud of my achievements.

However, I'm not losing sight of all the other great goals that I could not accomplish.

Whether it was because I was procrastinating, being lazy, mismanaging my time or just could not quite get it done, the bottom line is that I couldn't quite finish checking off my goals list.

I must say that I did pretty good though. 'Cos I'm here and I'm still standing.

So, here is to another year... Let's get moving. Let's identify our goals, develop a strategy, timeline and hit the road!

Cholesterol Awareness Month – Know Your Profile

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

Did you know that September was cholesterol awareness month?

Do you know your cholesterol profile?

How about your cardiac risk?

Well, I’ve decided to embark on a 30-day journey to improve my cholesterol ratio naturally. First, I thought I’d exercise every day. Well, ask me how that is going. I need to get back on my feet. Second, I thought I’d eat right. For a start, I had one of the Kashi whole grain cereals for breakfast yesterday. For the rest of the day, I ate some fruits, veggies and fish. Don’t think for a minute that my carbs didn’t sneak in there. Of course, I had some rice. Oh, and I’ve been eating oranges ‘cos I remember hearing Dr. Oz talk about the benefits of oranges in relation to one’s cholesterol numbers. I better start cranking up my research 'cos if Dr. Oz tells a lie, I'll find myself in the ditch.

Anyways, this morning, I had a serving of oatmeal. I was thinking that maybe if I ate oatmeal for the next 22 days, I’d post better numbers at my physical. That reminds me, I need to make an appointment with the Doc's office for this October (which is health literacy month).

My friends, please join me in telling our friends and family about the importance of a good cholesterol profile. For your perusal, find some interesting cholesterol-related links below:

Be cholesterol savvy

Tools to lower your cholesterol

Alternative therapies for cholesterol control

Know your cholesterol ratio

The New Normal

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:30:00 GMT

What comes to mind when you hear the term 'new normal'? Do you think about the digital age, social media, the acronyms in text messages, the Wii, PSP, etc.? If you do, then we are not far apart in thought. However, my 'new normal' revolves around the financial uncertainty within the average household. Unemployment numbers are disappointing, families continue losing their homes, people cannot afford to pay for healthcare... the list goes on and on. The American dream that we pictured, seems to be slipping through our fingers.

Last night, as I looked at my budget and huge stack of bills, I wished for a jackpot. It hit me... my biggest fear is the possibility that I may be unable to cater for my family someday. As I reflect on my 'new normal', I pray for sustainability within my household. I don't know about you, but the current U.S. economy scares me. However, I refuse to believe that my new normal is here to stay. Just as we conquered the great depression, we will make it out of this slump. Perhaps a positive outlook coupled with strategic planning may help.

A Novice’s World Cup Experience.

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:00:00 GMT

Thanks to South Africa for hosting a great tournament! I am a sports fan who doesn't go over the top when my team loses. However, in the most recent World Cup days, I have learned of traits that I did not know I possessed - (Heartbreak mixed with anger, sadness, disappointment, disgust, pride, joy, patriotism and love).

I have been following the 2010 World Cup keenly. Thus, I was pretty ecstatic when the Ghana Black Stars made it to the round of 16. However, there was a downside to my enthusiasm. A part of me desperately wanted Ghana to advance to the Quarters, but then another part of me was so proud of Team USA's soccer strides and wished that our team would advance further. Therefore, when my Meineke person asked me which team I would support during the Ghana - USA game, I answered truthfully. I really wanted Ghana to win, but I didn't mind Team USA advancing because making it to the round of 16 was a great achievement in itself.

Well, that was what I thought then... I had no idea the sense of pride I will feel when I saw the Ghana Boys play. I thought about the exposure, economic benefit and positive impact that the boys were having on the Nation. I thought about the joy that their team spirit was delivering into all households in Ghana. Would you know it, the majority and minority of the Ghanaian parliament were united because of soccer. It was interesting to see the members of the opposition (NPP) cheering when the TV camera focused on President Mills at the Ghana - USA game. The pre- elimination of Ghana stages had every Ghanaian household, hamlet and town glued to a television set. As I sat in my living room watching the Black Stars play, I could visualize how some of our village heroes would be adjusting their TV antennas in order to get a better picture of the match. My heart swelled with pride for the Red, Gold and Green. The Black Stars had their shining moment.

Then, came the Quarters with Uruguay and Suarez' hand of God. I thought to myself, what a blasphemy... I don't even understand soccer that much... Yet, I thought that the 120th minute move by Ghana was a clear goal! How dare these Uruguayans? But then, I guess, that was Uruguay’s moment of glee... to showcase their country to the world.

In my books, when Uruguay qualified for the Semis, South America became the enemy. I had been supporting Argentina from the beginning of the tourney, but I wanted them to go home because of what Uruguay had done to the Black Stars. And then came Paraguay, the country that sounded like Uruguay (in my ears)... I wanted them to go home too. It didn't matter to me that I was calling for an all European Final. All I cared about was the fact that South America need not make it to the Final. When Germany beat Uruguay (during the Semis), my emotions were at its peak.

But you know what, I'm no longer mad at Uruguay. They played good and they played smart. These Uruguay players brought happiness to their fellow citizens while making some good money for their country.

Was this World Cup the time for Africa to shine? Yes, indeed. Despite our early eliminations, I believe that the stars of Africa showed bright. We felt the pressure, but we stood up to the test. Out of 32 countries, one of Africa’s own ranked as the 7^th best team at the World Cup.

Now, we live to see who will take that coveted trophy home. A part of me wants to give Spain a chance... just to prove that Germany was that good. But then, another part of me feels for my Dutch neighbor. She will probably be in the best mood for the next four years if Netherlands wins this world cup. I don't know what's going to happen between Uruguay and Germany when they play for third and fourth place. However, I no longer have any hard feelings against Uruguay.

It's been a great tournament. Without doubt, this Cup has had its share of upsets. England must have been thrilled when Germany lost to Spain. France and Italy will probably take a while to recover from their losses. While all of Europe will be ready to display its talent in four years, Asia is probably planning its strategy for Brazil 2014. I'm pretty sure Australia will stage a comeback at the next cup. However, don’t discount Africa, who is licking its wounds and wondering what lies in store for the future. While North America continues to search for ways to make its teams more competitive in the sport of soccer, I bet you South America will be more than ready for the world in four years. My friends, this was the time for Africa! South Africa has put up a great show. Before we know it, 2014 will be here. Be ready for an exciting competition in Brazil! Until then, let's stay tuned for the Finals!

Are you what you eat?

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:09:00 GMT

When my friend Liz commented on the effect of food on one's weight, I thought to myself that she really had no clue... I wondered, how about all the big boned people who were predisposed to being overweight? Newsflash: although I'm still overweight, I've seen some improvement in my waist size since I started monitoring my food intake. See, in January my cousin introduced me to the 411fitt website. On the 411 website, I am able to track my calorie intake while entering my physical activity for the day. Guess what. I have lost 4 inches on my waist and I didn't even have to try hard. I just had to increase my physical activity and watch the amount of calories I ate daily. For physical activity, I didn't have to use any fancy equipment. I mostly walked or danced. I used the Leslie Sansone walk at home DVDs, walked the neighborhood or danced to some Zumba or good old hip-hop. See, I did not have to spend a fortune on food, equipment or the like. So for all of you out there, trying to lose a few, check out www.411fit.com

Let's get healthy people!!!

Dancing with Moi

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:35:00 GMT

As I watched Nicole and Derek dance the Viennese waltz on dancing with the stars tonight, I couldn’t help but to compare those exquisite moves with my zumba steps. In an attempt to improve my cholesterol numbers, I started dancing to 50-minute zumba (cardio) two weeks ago. Prior to my zumba experience, I thought I was a pretty good dancer. In my mind, I was one of those folks who could shake it up on the dance floor. However, Salsa has taught me different. I can’t seem to move my waist, feet and hands the way I’m supposed to. Maybe I’m just not that coordinated. My waist moving attempts are pathetic. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to learn these dance moves. Well, maybe I’ll get better with practice.

Sunday Worship - Looking back at Dr. King’s dream

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

This past Sunday, I visited a racially diverse Church in the Upstate of South Carolina. The praise and worship was phenomenal. As we joined hands to sing I am free, I couldn’t help but to notice the tears that were streaming down the faces of members of the congregation. In my experience, Sundays tend to be quite segregated in the South. In most of our Churches, people of different races don’t worship together. Thus, it was a blessing to see the members of Restoration Restoration during Dream weekend was fulfilling.

Organizations helping Haiti

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Our prayers go to the natives and residents of Haiti. What a heart-wrenching situation! I found this list of organizations helping Haiti on http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34835478/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/ Please see the organizations below:

· Action Against Hunger, 877-777-1420

· Agape Flights, 941-584-8078

· American Red Cross, 800-733-2767

· American Refugee Committee, 800-875-7060

· American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, 212-687-6200

· American Jewish World Service, 212-792-2900

· AmeriCares, 800-486-4357

· Beyond Borders, 866-424-8403

· B'nai B'rith International, 202-857-6600

· CARE, 800-521-2273

· CarmaFoundation

· Catholic Relief Services, 800-736-3467

· Childcare Worldwide, 800-553-2328

· Church World Services, 800-297-1516

· Clinton Foundation, 501-748-0471
Text "HAITI" to 20222 to donate $10 to Haiti relief

· Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

· Concern Worldwide, 212-557-8000

· Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998

· Cross International, 800-391-8545

· CRUDEM Foundation, 413-642-0450

· CRWRC, 800-55-CRWRC

· Direct Relief International, 805-964-4767

· Doctors Without Borders, 888-392-0392

· Episcopal Relief and Development, 800-334-7626

· Feed My Starving Children, 763-504-2919

· Food for the Poor, 800-427-9104

· Friends of WFP, 866-929-1694

· Friends of the Orphans, 312-386-7499

· Habitat for Humanity, 1-800-422-4828

· Haiti Children, 877-424-8454

· Haiti Foundation Against Poverty

· Haiti Marycare, 203-675-4770

· Haitian Health Foundation, 860-886-4357

· Healing Hands for Haiti, 651-769-5846

· Hope for Haiti, 239-434-7183

· International Child Care, 800-722-4453

· International Medical Corps, 800-481-4462

· International Rescue Committee, 877-733-8433

· International Relief Teams, 619-284-7979

· Islamic Relief USA, 888-479-4968

· Lions Club International Foundation, 630-203-3836

· Lutheran World Relief, 800-597-5972

· Medical Benevolence Foundation, 800-547-7627

· Medical Teams International, 800-959-4325

· Meds and Food for Kids, 314-420-1634

· Mennonite Central Committee, 888-563-4676

· Mercy Corps, 888-256-1900

· Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, 800-306-9950

· New Life for Haiti, 815-436-7633

· Operation Blessing, 800-730-2537

· Operation USA, 800-678-7255

· Oxfam, 800-776-9326

· Partners in Health, 617-432-5298

· RHEMA International, 248-652-9894

· Rural Haiti Project, 347-405-5552

· The Salvation Army, 800-725-2769

· Samaritan's Purse, 828-262-1980

· Save the Children, 800-728-3843

· ShelterBox

· UN Central Emergency Response Fund

· UNICEF, 800-367-5437

· United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583

· World Concern, 800-755-5022

· World Hope International, 888-466-4673

· World Relief, 800-535-5433

· World Vision, 888-511-6548

· Yele Haiti, 212-352-0552
Wyclef Jean's grassroots org
Text Yele to 501501 to donate $5 via cellphone

What about Harry Reid

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:22:00 GMT

Mr. Reid’s choice of words regarding POTUS’ accent (dialect) and complexion were in poor taste. However, truth be told, how many of us have commented on POTUS’ African American traits? Is POTUS your average African American? I was just wondering.

Our Legacy

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Happy New Year to you my friends. Thank you for the personal get-well messages during my bout with the flu. As I considered my New Year’s resolutions, I couldn’t help but to wonder about my legacy. Am I doing anything that will have a positive impact on my family, friends’ community or country’s life? Last year, my friend Maame shared a testimony with me after attending her mother-in-law’s life celebration. Maame was impressed and touched by the good deeds and commitment espoused by her dearly departed. Shortly after Maame shared her story, I read about the gruesome killing of Major Mefful, a UN staff, Light House Chapel Pastor and Learned Fellow in Afghanistan. From the tributes read, I gathered that Major Mefful’s stalwart commitment and service to his Church and the UN was commendable. On TV, I listened to the heroic deeds of our war heroes. And who could have missed Michael Jackson’s passing last year? The list goes on…

Well, my friends, it’s about time that I resolve to give more of myself to my loved ones. I may not be able to have as huge of an impact as our celebrities, but I should be able to shine in my corner. Therefore, please join with me, in my quest to be a better person. Happy New Year to us all.

Racism – Don’t shake it off

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:01:00 GMT

It’s been a month since my last post. I trust that you’ve been keeping well. I know that Christmas is near and that I should be spreading cheer but I can’t seem to shake off the effect of the racist remarks that I have heard in recent days. This morning as my little one clung to me, I couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of not being able to protect him from the racial uncertainties that I have begun to fear. Growing up in a predominantly Black Nation, I did not experience the woes of racial discrimination during my formative years. However, in these past months, I continue to marvel at the extent of hatred, based on the color of one’s skin. It breaks my heart, when people that I know continue to utter unwarranted racially biased statements. I want my child to grow up knowing the fear of the Lord and to love his neighbor. Fortunately, he attends a great school, where discrimination has not been a factor. Nevertheless, I am so afraid of the unknown.

As I write, I have tears streaming down my face. Thanks to the social media, I have been reading the venom that some of our ‘colleagues’ have been spewing about people of color. I know that life is not a fairy tale, but I am repulsed that individuals who proclaim to be God-fearing and people-loving are constantly uttering derogatory statements about people of my race. I am sorry, but I cannot shake the disgust at the pit of my stomach. My friends don’t be fooled into thinking that racism and discrimination is from the non-enlightened. No, the culprit could easily be your college friend, that pious person in your Church group, your friendly muffin-baking neighbor... The list goes on.

In the land of the brave and the free, I wish for great opportunities for my child. I know there are several successful Blacks in the U.S., but I cannot help but to wonder what these individuals discuss at their kitchen tables. As I sit behind my computer this morning, I must say that I am disillusioned by the tide of racism that I am experiencing. Although I am grateful to my diverse portfolio of friends who stand by my family through sickness, health, recitals, sports festivities, good times and bad times, I remain afraid of the hatred that is being spewed by ‘the others’ on a daily basis. Despite the atrocities and venom of racism, I hope I am able to train my child in the best way possible… So help me God.

Living a full life - In memory of Eugene

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:56:00 GMT

Today would have been my friend Eugene’s birthday. Happy birthday Goza. Eugene lost his battle to cancer six months ago. He left behind a beautiful wife and three adorable children. Who would have thought that such a vibrant life would be cut so short? We never know what is in store for our future. Eugene, you are gone, but you would not be forgotten. The Goza man remains in our memories and our hearts. We will not forget your jokes and your laughter. You did not just pass through my friend, you had a positive impact on several lives. Whenever, we remember you, we talk about what a fun person you were. Good memories Goza man, good memories. The way you led your life, was obvious in the tributes that you received.

Therefore my friends, let’s not forget to make that phone call that we have been procrastinating about. Go ahead enroll in that dancing class. Go and see that football game. Play with your children. Let your friends and families know how much you love and appreciate them. Forgive your enemies (I know, that is a hard one). Don’t sweat the small stuff! Kick back and enjoy life. Now, if you are like me, who believes in heaven and hell, you had better make peace with your God. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Tie the ‘nuts and bolts’. Live your life to the fullest.

Do you question going green?

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:18:00 GMT

Often times I have wondered about the validity of climate change. Thus, I am open to reading materials that advocate for or dispute climate change. My most recent ‘green read’ was Al Gore’s book, ‘Our Choice’ (in favor of climate change). Mr. Gore’s book illustrates where our energy comes from, where it goes, what is happening to our living systems, how we use energy and the obstacles that we need to overcome. I was thrilled about the contents of Mr. Gore’s book and thought I would share it with some friends. However, my friends were not so impressed with Mr. Gore’s assertions. They are of the view that global warming is not real, and that Mr. Gore cooked up the theory of global warming. This was not the first time that I was hearing about the fallacy of global warming.

In the past, I have heard stories that indicate that warmer winters would give farmers a longer harvest season, and might end the droughts in the Sahara Dessert Lou Dobb’s 4:22 p.m. Twitter update stated that: “Spain, with a jobless rate of almost 18%, calculates that 2.2 jobs are destroyed for every so-called "green job" created by govt. mandate” (Dobbs, 2009). Well, considering that I am no scientific expert, I do not dispute the anti-green stand. However, just in case global warming is indeed true, I am willing to try living a greener lifestyle.

References

RT @Loudobbsnews Spain , with a jobless rate of almost 18%,calculates that 2.2 jobs are

destroyed for every so-called "green job" created by govt. mandate.

Stossel, J. (2007). The global warming myth. Retrieved November 09, 2009 from

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3061015&page=1

Thank you to our Vets

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:11:00 GMT

For the bravery that our veterans show, we are forever grateful. Today, we speak about the heroic deeds of our Veterans. We thank our Veterans and their families for their selfless services. However, I wonder how many times we think about the well-being of our Veterans or Veteran families during the year. Until tragedy hits close to home, we are often in oblivion about the war and suffering that goes on around us. Not only are our Veterans sacrificing their lives for us, but also their families embark on their arduous journey with them. Therefore, to our Vets I say: For the selfless service of an honorable profession, we are eternally grateful to you and your families.

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How guilty is Keith Bardwell, the Louisiana Justice of Peace?

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:28:00 GMT

Justice Quits after Interracial Flap is the title of a November 4, 2009 article, written by Melinda Deslatte of the Associated Press. From the responses and reactions to the article, it seems that several people do not agree with Mr. Bardwell’s position on interracial marriage. It’s unfortunate that Mr. Bardwell refused to marry an interracial couple, based on his belief system rather than his professional ethic. Although, Mr. Bardwell is entitled to his beliefs about interracial marriages and offspring thereafter, he should have done his job by marrying the couple. In my experience, just like inter-religious, inter-cultural or any marriage between two individuals from different backgrounds, interracial marriages have a 50/50 chance of success. Let’s face it, no marriage is bulletproof.

It is unfortunate that we focus on the disparities between Blacks and Whites or Hispanics and Whites when discussing interracial marriages. I believe that the problem is far bigger than a marriage between two different races. Rather, it is about the cultural differences between the two parties. For example, within the African culture, some Nigerians will ‘turn over in the grave’ if their child were to marry a Ghanaian. A couple of years ago, I remember the angry reaction from my Bangladeshi cohort when I tried to ‘hook’ him up with an Indian colleague. And when my Hindu friend got engaged to her Christian boyfriend, all hell broke lose in both families. I remember the Caucasian woman who cut ties with her friend because her daughter supposedly had a crush on her friend's black son. In some households, there is uproar when one decides to marry from a different tribe. Some Yorubas have a problem with Ibos, Some Ewes have a problem with Ashantis… and the list goes on.

Despite the cons of interracial, cultural, tribal or religious unions, we must note that, several of these unions and offspring are thriving. Although, I have heard some mixed-race individuals complain about their sense of ‘non-belonging’, there are several mixed individuals, who do not encounter identity problems. In fact, some of the mixed-race individuals that I know have thrived in certain environments just because they are mixed.

We must note that, although there is an increase in interracial marriage trends, there are several people out there, who do not support mixed Unions. In Mr. Bardwell’s case, he mixed his personal values with his business' ethics when he shouldn’t have. But, who knows what Mr. Bardwell has seen in his lifetime?

A solution to healthcare reform in the United States

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:58:00 GMT

Have any of you stayed overnight at a hospital recently? I was shocked at the bill that I received from ‘my’ hospital and its affiliate doctors after my most recent stay. A night at the hospital will pay your five-day ‘best rate’ stay at the Waldorf Astoria! To think that sometimes you end up sharing your hospital room with a total stranger who gets on your nerves. And, woe to you if you dare upgrade to a private room. To me, the health insurance business is one moneymaking venture. When we pay health insurance costs, we do so with the intent to mitigate our future healthcare costs. Why then do we end up having to pay so much in healthcare costs? I only began to understand this healthcare pain when I needed healthcare services that extended beyond my yearly physical. I don’t know about you, but I think we desperately need an overhaul of our healthcare delivery system.

Without healthcare delivery and insurance reform, attempts at healthcare reform will probably not amount to much. The currently proposed “America’s affordable health choices act of 2009” bill seeks to expand healthcare coverage to approximately 40 million Americans and to reduce growth in healthcare spending. This sounds like a great idea. But, wait a minute, what kind of services will be covered? Although I have insurance, I am paying through my teeth for health services. Are we trying to extend these additional costs to approximately 40 million Americans? Some may argue that the uninsured cannot afford the rising cost of healthcare, thus a bill that seeks to extend coverage and reduce costs will be beneficial to us all.

However, the insured cannot also afford the rising cost of healthcare. Therefore, to me, the problem lies with the cost of healthcare and not just the availability. Why am I being charged over $1500 a night to stay in an uncomfortable hospital bed? Well, call me selfish, but the current version of the healthcare reform bill is not going to solve my cost problem.

See, my question is, if we don’t fix our health insurance, pharmaceutical and hospital costs, can we really provide all Americans with quality healthcare? Even when one has private health insurance, healthcare does not come cheap. Not only do you have to meet your deductible and co-pays for most insurance plans, but also, you have to pay the co-pay amounts for your prescription drugs. How then can we make healthcare affordable for all?

In recent weeks, I have heard several comparisons of the U.S. healthcare system to that of Canada, England, France and several other countries. Maybe we could all get ‘free’ healthcare and ‘free’ medication. Well, do you know that some of the citizens of these countries are disenchanted with the type of health services provided? Do you know how long it takes to obtain a CT scan or MRI in these countries? According to Parker (2004), the median wait time for a CT scan in Canada is 5.5 weeks. Depending on your ailment, you may not have that much time to live. In 2004, Parker indicated that the wait time for a referral by a GP for a consultation with a specialist was running about 8.3 weeks. I know that Parker's information is from 2004 and may be dated. However, a Canadian friend of mine told me recently that, he had to wait 10 weeks for his specialist consultation. Another (Canadian) colleague had to wait 4 months in order to obtain an MRI. Some of my British and French friends have been complaining about the doctor bribery trends. Are you familiar with the instances where patients bribe doctors in order to jump the healthcare queue? Like the American healthcare system, the healthcare systems in several countries are not perfect either.

Solution

We need to make a bi-partisan effort to find a solution to our healthcare woes. This is what I was thinking… Just like we have our public and private schools, is it possible to have government-run and private-run hospitals? If we went to the government hospitals, we would get our meds and care for ‘free’ or pay a subsidized amount. However, if we went to the private hospitals, we would have to pay for our care through our insurance or from out of pocket. Maintaining the private hospitals ensures that we don't put the insurance companies and private enterprises out of business. This is because there are several households, who are employed by our private enterprises and we wouldn't want an increase in unemployment. After all, during times, when we may not be able to afford a long wait at our government-run hospitals, we could obtain services from our private hospitals (if we can afford to). I know someone is ranting, raving and wondering about the financial responsibilities tied to the government-run hospitals. Well, unfortunately, we the taxpayers will have to support such an endeavor. Considering that we are paying to sustain our public school systems, we should be able to find a way to pay for healthcare. Remember, we are not obliged to choose a government-run hospital over a private hospital. We are always welcome to choose private care if we can afford the costs. As you know, I'm just sharing my thoughts here and there. Thus, I will appreciate your feedback, thoughts and alternate solutions to our healthcare predicament.

Please note that the above suggested solution is the writer's opinion.

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Is true equality a farce?

Akosua Boafo Appiah — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:35:00 GMT

The last time I checked the Black’s Law dictionary, equality was described as “the quality or state of being equal” (Garner, 2004, p. 576). Equality before the law on the other hand, means “the status or condition of being treated fairly according to regularly established norms of justice” p. 577. Well, I think that these definitions are more of textbook definitions than that of human nature. Can we really attain true equality? Would a hate crime bill deter us from hating each other?

Our culture, belief system, religion, socio economic status and upbringing has an impact on the way we treat others. We all seem to have these stereotypes in our head. I mean, don’t we all pretend to be accommodating of each other at one point in time. But, what do we really think of each other when we are sitting at our kitchen tables. What do we talk about when we are in the confines of our homes? What are our innermost thoughts? How many times have we pulled the race card when nobody is watching? Every now and then, we slip and utter a word or two that may land us in trouble. But, until we ‘get caught’ we are the epitome of Equality.

Not to mention names, but isn’t it always embarrassing to find out that a public figure we all admire, has some derogatory or demeaning things to say about us? Isn’t it sad that my Caucasian friend cannot speak her mind about that incident with the little black girl for fear of being labeled racist. How many times do we pull the race or gender card in our own favor? Mind you, I am not talking about the obvious racists and bigamists. Those folks belong to a different league altogether. I’m more concerned about the supposedly nice ones. Me and you. Yes, that’s right. Those of us, who seem to love all human kind. We have a bigger role to play in the effort to attain equality. We are so set in our ways and have already made up our minds about the next individual who comes along. It is harder for us to adjust our ‘vision’ because we desperately want to believe that we are propagators of equality. The sad part is that our children may just learn their human relations ethic from us. Well, it’s about time that we start accepting that we are just not able to like everyone or treat everyone equally. However, we should learn to respect our fellow humans. The best we can do is to keep on trying to promote equality in our lives. But, as to when the citizens of this world will be Utopian enough to be equal, I have no idea.

Reference

Garner, B. (2004). Black’s Law Dictionary. Thomson West (8^th ed) St. Paul, MN.