Can The Feds Go After Zimmerman For Killing Trayvon Martin?

As more and conflicting information comes out on the Trayvon Martin killing by self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, history tells us that the probability of a satisfactory decision by a local jury of his peers lessens - regardless of Zimmerman's ultimate culpability in the death of this young man. When Zimmerman strapped on the weapon and ignored the 911 operator, he went down a road of no return as the aggressor, however victim Martin defended himself. The State of Florida should convict him, all things being equal. Of course, we know that equality is a curious thing.

In this light , I went looking for the US Attorney's position, when and if the state of Florida unconvincingly delivers justice, leaving the people to act up and out (into the streets). As it turns out, there is only one avenue whereby Zimmerman finds himself in Federal crosshairs - that of committing a hate crime. And the evidence that convicts him will likely be the 911 recording.

The statute that applies is 18 U.S.C. 249, Hate Crime Acts, enacted in 2009. That statute provides:

a) In General.— (1) Offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin.— Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person—

(A) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and
(B) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if—
(i) death results from the offense; or
(ii) the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

What the Feds will try to show is that Zimmerman killed Trayvon, due to his race. It is important that the two did not know each other, and Zimmerman identified Trayvon by race, and included negative language eluding to his race, 'these guys always get away', and including a potential racial slur.

Certainly, the Feds would rather not intervene, but their response is dependent on the local system generating some credibility, and so far this has not happened. The white Sheriff, who stepped down, admitted that the crime scene investigation was not thorough, and his office has a reputation of bias and laziness. It certainly hurts credibility, all the way around, that George Zimmerman is not on 'ice', rather than walking freely and uncharged nearly a month after the killing.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Can The Feds Go After Zimmerman For Killing Trayvon Martin?, Federal Government, Sanford,FL, Rodney King, Hate Crime, Acting White

Zimmerman Fails Test Of Self-Defense In Trayvon Martin Killing

George Zimmerman claims that young Trayvon Martin attacked him, thereby justifying his use of deadly force, in killing him. As proof, the Sanford Police point out the grass stains on Zimmerman's back, as though he was on the ground. They point out Zimmerman's injuries, including a broken nose and other bruising, as evidence of defense. Zimmerman may have been attacked, but the real question is if that attack was provoked by his own actions of threat and deadly force (pursuit and possession of a deadly weapon)?

In rebuttal to the Sanford Police, it seems that when one person pursues another while possessing a deadly weapon, the pursuer becomes an antagonist of deadly potential, by absolute definition, and nothing short of breaking off the pursuit can reset the roles. If I attack a bear and that bear subsequently chases me down and claws me, is the bear now the aggressor? No. The aggressive response of the bear is in defense of its life, and justifiable.

Similarly, the probable aggressive response of Trayvon Martin to George Zimmerman's pursuit of him, including Zimmerman's possession of a deadly weapon, does not prohibit young Martin from aggressive defense of his life. In fact, Martin's response is predictably that of someone in fear of their life.

Zimmerman created and controlled all facets of the situation by which he took the life of another person. The only question is how much of his preparation, and actions leading up to the killing, were pre-meditated.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Zimmerman Fails Test Of Self-Defense In Trayvon Martin Killing, Trayvon Martin, Sanford, FL, Neighborhood Watch, 776.012, Acting White

Florida Stand Your Ground Law Will Not Protect Zimmerman, Lawmakers Say

The Florida lawmakers of the "Stand Your Ground" law that Sanford, FL police authorities are using to avoid arresting George Zimmerman, admitted killer of young Trayvon Martin, are quoted as saying, "This law is for innocent, law-abiding citizens who are under attack by a perpetrator. Anyone who is out pursuing and confronting people is not protected by this statute. I think they (the Sanford Police) need to go back and read the statute".

"I don't see why he hasn't been arrested," said Sean Caranna, executive director of Florida Carry, a gun rights group. Caranna also said, "Being the neighborhood watch guy doesn't give you carte blanche to stop and question every guy you see walking down the street".

"You cannot provoke the confrontation. You cannot be the instigator and then claim 'stand your ground,' said Scott Sundby, professor at University of Miami law School.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Florida Stand Your Ground Law Will Not Protect Zimmerman, Lawmakers Say, Trayvon Martin, Sanford, FL, Neighborhood Watch, 776.012, Acting White

Trayvon Martin Killing: America's Nightmare

After eighteen days, some answers are finally beginning to come out (here) about this tragic killing in Sanford, FL, just beyond Orlando. The fact that the unarmed young man, Trayvon Martin, was black and his pursuer/killer, a 9mm-armed, white, neighborhood watch captain, yet charged, only makes the whole damn thing all the more vexing. It is clear that the police have their own agenda, which may center on explaining why this neighborhood vigilante was allowed to have a gun and walk the streets, in the first place.

The Sanford Police released the 911 recording today, made through the assailant's cell phone, beginning with seventeen year-old Trayvon 'looking suspicious' walking down the street with skittles (candy) and a soft-drink, and ending with him seemingly begging his eventual killer to stop. Even though the 28 year-old shooter, George Zimmerman, was instructed by the 911 operator to stop following the boy, Zimmerman ignored this and ultimately shot and killed the youngster, to the claim of self-defense.

The recording is already painting a picture that should push calls for second-degree, possibly first-degree murder. The police delay in arresting Zimmerman, while infuriating, will surely invite state and federal authorities into the investigative/prosecution mix, which will be good. Small southern towns are not known for their even-handed investigations and prosecutions.

I ache for Trayvon's parents, as I am continually forced to remain vigilant, with my own son, to all the challenges ready to snatch away the future of young boys/men still buying candy and dreaming about their futures.

Stay Tuned.

Update 3/20: "The U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI have opened an investigation into the "facts and circumstances" surrounding the killing of Trayvon Martin."

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Trayvon Martin Killing: America's Nightmare, Sanford, FL, Trayvon Martin, Neighborhood Watch, Vigilante, Acting White

Black Students Face More Discipline In Schools, But Why?

The NYTimes is reporting on disparities in discipline levels (here) in US Education, across race, from soon to be available data (here).

On the surface, this article sounds a familiar alarm on unfair treatment of young people of color, but the presentation leaves me to wonder what the authors are really saying, versus what the data is actually saying, or not.

The title and language speak of results, whereby black and Latino kids receive more and harsher discipline than white and Asian kids, presumably. What is not presented is data on whether black and/or Latino infractions are also more serious, or not. The reader is left to assume that the black kids are punished differently for the same level and type of offense, but with no real way of knowing. Data on punishment following perceptions, rather than measured seriousness of offense, could be significantly misleading.

Two years ago, my son was assaulted by another black student at his high school, and the assailant was permanently expelled under a zero-tolerance school policy. The guardian of the boy thought the punishment was harsh, without consideration that zero-tolerance for breaking the law means ZERO! Because of my own experience, including the involvement of the local police in investigating and charging the young assailant, I am not so quick to assume that we are talking apples-to-apples in behavior data leading to disparities in discipline.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Black Students Face More Discipline In Schools, But Why?, Youth Violence, Crime And Punishment, Double Standard, School Racism, Acting White

Racsim: Alive And Well In America's Churches

A surprising number of southern whites recently polled in Alabama and Mississippi continue to believe that interracial marriage should be illegal (here). These strong feelings come to the surface at church, as one of the last strongholds of segregation.

Only 2.5% of US churches are integrated, defined as at least two different groups where each comprise more than 20% of the congregation. Another 2.5% of US churches are transisitoning from one group to another. So, depending on who you believe, 90-95% of all US churches are still segregated by race.

The more salient issue is not that people are racist (they are), but how more or less tolerant they are in "God's House". It also seems that blacks are no more tolerant than whites of worshiping together, or of issues of interracial marriage practiced alongside Christianity.

I think this one needs a series, stay tuned.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Racsim: Alive And Well In America's Churches, Interracial Marriage, Miscegenation, Loving v. Virginia, Race Mixing, Acting White

Judge Rules That NYFD Discriminated Against Blacks And Latinos: $128 Million

It certainly takes some brains, not just brawn, to effectively fight fires, but it doesn't take a degree in rocket science. However, even with decade after decade of initiatives to allow minorities the opportunity to join the ranks, the NYFD has remained 97% white. Yes, you heard me correctly, 97%. How is that?

Well, Judge Nicholas Garufis says he knows. Whites have kept their lock on firefighting jobs in the Big Apple by rigging the test. And even after the city was told their testing was unfair, they kept on testing and hiring the same as they have been for decades, with the same results. It seems the test administrators continually revised the test to ask questions in context where being white, growing up white, have friends and family that were white, was a distinct advantage in answering correctly, having nothing to do with firefighting.

Here is one definition of the cultural bias Judge Garufis is citing, "cultural bias in testing refers to a situation in which a given test is inappropriate for a certain audience as it does not test the test-taker's actual knowledge of a taught subject or includes details tied to a culture that the test-taker is unfamiliar with."

Addendum: If you divide the payout into the number of abused, it comes to $58,181 per person, offset by certain individual earnings that may have occurred.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Judge Rules That NYFD Discriminated Against Blacks And Latinos: $128 Million, Biased Testing, Garufis, Vulcan Society, Racism, Acting White

Democrats Square Off Against Obama On Indefinite Detention

Today, two Democrats, Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Congressman Adam Smith, (D-Wash.) presented a bill that will repeal indefinite detention of US citizens, on US soil. This effort is squarely at odds with Obama, regardless of the spin/rhetoric put into the air. (here)

Last year, on December 24 to be exact, President Obama signed NDAA 2012, which notably included, at the White House's insistence (threat of veto), indefinite detention of US citizens. Now, there is a Democratic plan afoot to repeal the inclusion, thereby acknowledging that no president, even a cool one, or branch of government is above the US Constitution dictate, protecting due process and the right to speedy trial.

The White House will try to keep this low-key through the election - but many Democrats should worry about looking un-American in their home states, while supporting the President's ill-advised and un-constitutional power grab.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Democrats Square Off Against Obama On Indefinite Detention, NDAA, Mark Udall, Adam Smith, Section 1021, Acting White

Anti-White Racism, Hating on Whitey And The Myth Of Black Racism

Yesterday, on the heels of the Gainesville and Santaluces white girl rants (here), and Jeremy Lin'sanity', I asked myself why people care so much about what silly teenage white girls think about blacks. With little effort, I found numerous black rants about whites, including this recent tweet by a standout Maryland high school football star, Stefon Diggs (headed to U. of Marlyland), who could not help but tweet "Everybody need to get off Jermey Lin egg roll and dumplings he's good though". (here) That was pretty stupid and racist, but I doubt the boy will lose his scholarship. If he was white, however - not so fast.

So, the question of the day is why blacks can say just about anything about whites (or Asians), while even the nuttiest, immature, whites are held to a rather impossible (it seems) standard? Now, I'm not saying that whites be allowed to spout racism, but rather that non-whites neither benefit from, or deserve a free-pass to spew anti-anybody venom. I do not subscribe to the general principle that whites have somehow forfeited the protection of not being guilty of racism by mere ethnic association. Everyone should worry that what comes out of their mouths will be judged by the same standard - racist is racist, stupid is stupid.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Anti-White Racism, Hating on Whitey And The Myth Of Black Racism, Jeremy Lin, Stefon Diggs, Gainesville, Santaluces, Acting White

Obama Politics: Banks Get To Steal Homes for $2,000

If it looks and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck. Even if it is black.

The Obama Administration just pushed through a $26 billion settlement with the banking industry for 'improprieties', calling it a win for the victims of the Wall-street engineered, mortgage-backed securities, scam! Ha! How is getting your home stolen away by the bank, for a measly $2K, a win? That's something like a penny returned for every dollar stolen! The reality - it's an election year and Mr. Obama needs to manufacture some smoke to blow up Democratic voting butts, and this is it. Get ready to hear about this alleged win, over and over through November, until you puke.

A statistical sample audit of foreclosures in California showed that 85% were illegal, meaning the banks broke that law in 85 out of every 100 cases (here). AND NOT ONE BANKER HAS GONE TO JAIL! Has anyone seen Mr. Eric Holder, the Attorney General?

Considering that black people, voting for Mr. Obama in mass (past, present, and future), are at the front of the long line of hues getting ripped-off by the banks, Obama and Holder need to return their cards, and go sit in the box with Ward Connerly. After all, a duck is a duck, regardless of the color of the feathers.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Obama Politics: Banks Get To Steal Homes For $2,000, Foreclosure, Fraud, Settlement, Banks, Acting White

Cobb GA Mother Arrested For Tattooing 10 Year-Old Son

From the video above, it is clear that Chuntera Napier, the arrested, while well-meaning, is also very ignorant. At minimum, the recipient of such needs to be eighteen to legally bear the risk of contracting any number of potentially fatal diseases, like hepatitis, from getting a tattoo. The misdemeanor charged Ms. Napier clearly misunderstands, like many folks, that all rights, including those of parenting and religion, derive from the constitution, not the bible, the Koran, the Book of Mormon, or the back of a cereal box. This is a good example of where children, and their desire to make adulthood decision, need protection. I hope the example of Ms. Napier's prosecution sends a strong signal that tattoos are for adults, period.

UPDATE: Police are looking for the alleged tattoo artist, but Ms. Napier is not cooperating, so far. The artist could face criminal charges, and so could Ms. Napier, for obstruction.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Cobb GA Mother Arrested For Tattooing 10 Year-Old Son, Chuntera Napier, Child Ink, Parental Rights, Funds Abuse, Acting White

Ward Connerly Facing Misdeed Allegations By Former Staffer

I continue to believe that Affirmative Action needs a revision, to focus on the greater inclusive group of economically-disadvantage Americans, rather than race, gender, or otherwise. This would exclude well-off minorities, while including those whites held-down by their meager economic background. Anti-Affirmative Action crusader Ward Connerly was never about this kind of fairness, but rather lining his own pockets, and it seems that it is all catching up to him (here), via a credible insider.

Stay Tuned.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Ward Connerly Facing Misdeed Allegations By Former Staffer, Prop 209, Anti-Affirmative Action, UC Regent, Funds Abuse, Acting White

Why Obama Needs To Indefinitely Detain YOU!

The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) et al Movement is leaderless, fragmented, and muddled in what it seemingly wants from those of various authority. However, what is not muddled is discontent with direct and indirect elites, and steadily reaching significant numbers that are willing to put their displeasure on the line – against batons, rubber-bullets, tear gas, pepper-spray, and arrest.

To date, the Occupy Movement, which has been labeled domestic terrorism by some, has mustered only short bursts of hundreds to thousands of protesters. But what would happen if rotations of hundreds OF thousands of people descended upon Washington or NYC, for weeks at a time, and continually harped on governmental failures? Mr. Obama’s conundrum gains some clarity. Clearing out these disrupters under the Jeffersonian constitution could prove difficult, if not impossible. The fundamental right to freedom of speech and assembly, AND due process, requires that whoever collects and detains these people also have ready and reasonable ‘processes’ for fair judicial rendering. Frankly, the country has no administration in place for such a constitutional exercise, either as a one-time event, and certainly not as continuous public theater, fueled by problems that are not going away anytime soon.

Hence, the president needs the unassailable latitude to label any citizen a terrorista, command the military, forcibly extract said disgruntled accused, and warehouse them in some rural barb-wired tent-city, INDEFINITELY or, until Prez figures out how to release them, ready to behave themselves. This is why the current administration needs NDAA 1031 on the legal books, constitutionally poisonous as it is. Detaining US citizens has little or nothing to do with protecting us from bona-fide terrorist, but rather removing the constitutional barriers to controlling free movement, assembly, and speech/protest – otherwise showing people who the ‘eff’ is boss. Call it a preparatory-step toward Martial Law (here).

O-man's Harvard Law Review plaque is looking like a Crackerjack prize right about now, and the late Steve Jobs may have been more right about a one-term Obama than his Siri could have ever thought differently. Or maybe Americans ARE as ignorant as the White House believes.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Why Obama Needs To Indefinitely Detain YOU!, NDAA 1031, Indefinite Detention, Occupy Wall Street, McCain/Levin, Acting White

Christopher Hitchens: 1949 - 2011

NYTimes obituary.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Christopher Hitchens: 1949 - 2011, Writer/Journalist, Secularist, Cancer, Polemic, Acting White

Diversity Pro and Con: A Nigerian Case Study

After recently attending the award-winning Nigerian musical FELA!, about a musician’s travails in that challenged African nation, I was out in Berkeley with friends enjoying a great Nigerian band (BaBa Ken/Katoja). The venue included many ex-patriot African patrons. While enjoying the music, my party ran smack dab into the issue of recklessly importing people who grow up in a very different and, in the case of Nigeria, dangerous place. Shit happens, and it did.

At one point in the evening, my girlfriend whipped out her recently acquired iPhone 4s, to take a picture of me. Immediately afterwards, we were faced with a very angry Nigerian fellow who thought she was taking pictures of him to somehow facilitate his untimely demise. Perhaps he left Lagos under a cloud - I do not know. The country is certainly a very dangerous place where a small amount of tribal difference, hostility, or money, can get someone killed.

Anyway, despite our attempts, the Nigerian fellow could not comprehend that his identity did not reside on the phone, and that we did not work for the government. At one point he grabbed the phone, to get a closer look, and then refused to return it. In all his yelling, he asked me if I wanted to fight. I said no, but also that he was not leaving with that phone. His final word was that he was keeping the phone and dared that I should call the police. It was as though he thought the police would either support his obstinacy, or (more likely) that calling the authorities was silly.

I approached the club owner, explained the events and asked him to call Berkeley PD. Before making the call, the owner wanted to talk to the guy and ‘straighten out this misunderstanding’. That conversation ended with the owner fending off the beginnings of a battery by the Nigerian. I then became adamant about calling the police, even if I had to make the call myself.

The Berkeley PD quickly arrived and patiently threatened the man into returning the phone. On their way to this result, they explained all the rights and responsibilities that governed his free attendance at the night club, including possible photos, and admonished that those ideas he brought from Nigeria carried no weight in the U.S. Although he eventually relented, he clearly was not convinced by anyone that Berkeley was not Lagos, Nigeria and that his understanding was inadequate, nor was his behavior in need of adapting.

I went home that night with a profound feeling that this man should not be here, and there are probably many others like him. It is too damn easy to get into this country! Thank goodness he did not have a weapon. While his influential experiences may be little fault of his own, there is no reasonable excuse for his theft or refusal to accept and follow the laws of his adopted land. And whether his ancestors were brought here in chains or he came willingly, the requirement is the same – know the law, follow the law, or suffer the consequences.

At one point early in the dispute, the Nigerian’s female companion attempted to guide him, but his words and body-language, and her immediate retreat, quickly established that he would not hesitate to ‘knock the you-know-what out of her’. His words to her “you, shut up!” were sautéed in a violent tone and look, and the instant fear in her eyes told a deeper and chilling story, by itself.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Diversity Pro and Con: A Nigerian Case Study, Nigeria, Immigration, FELA, Berkeley Police, Acting White

Penn State Coach McQueary As Coward, Like Father Like Son

It is no surprise that Penn State Assistant Coach Mike McQueary is now double-talking that he contacted the police regarding his witnessing of the Sandusky rape of a 10-year old boy on campus in 2002. Only thing is that neither Penn State Police, or the campus police, have a record of McQueary saying peep to them, unequivocally. As well, McQueary's grand jury testimony makes no mention of contacting any authorities other than Head Coach Paterno, Athletic Director Curley, and University VP Schultz. Oh yeah, McQueary did first contact his own father (John J. McQueary), presumably the cowardly example-setter who reared his son onto the ill-fated, protect-your-own-ass, path upon which he nows finds himself.

I'm fortunate. My old man would have only had one question, if I had been in McQueary's shoes - can he touch the blunt object I used to smash Sandusky's degenerate scull? Any other question or response would have been unacceptable! Momma McQueary must feel pretty good right about now.

With nearly a decade of silence behind them, I pity the chip-off-the-old-bastard McQueary that he and his old man had no heart to help that poor boy or the other boys they should have imagined, from the clutches of a monster. However, it is the faded hope that had to be in the boy's eyes that night, as McQueary arrived and departed the rape scene never to be heard from, that breaks this father's/son's heart.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Penn State Coach McQueary As Coward, Like Father Like Son, Joe Paterno, John McQueary, Tim Curly, Gary Schultz, Acting White

Penn State Coach Sandusky Suspected Of Preying Upon Poor Black Boys

The case against Sandusky bears an uncanny resemblance to the one against former Boston Red Sox Club House Manager, Donald Fitzpatrick, who was convicted of sexually abusing poor black boys in Winter Haven FL, off-season training home of the baseball team (here). What people are not yet saying about Sandusky is the question, in addition, of if the eight victims were predominantly, if not all, poor and black - and there are at least ten more similar at-risk victims in the queue, if you believe Pennsylvania's Governor.

Why is this question/answer not in the MSM (main stream media), but rather I had to dig to find it? (here) and other out of the way places?

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Penn State Coach Sandusky Suspected Of Preying Upon Poor Black Boys, Joe Paterno, Sexual Predator, Tim Curly, Gary Schultz, Acting White

Occupy Oakland Will Win The Blame Game But Lose The War

In light of their sheer numbers and the recent pass given to the Wall Street mortgage-backed securities scammers like Goldman Sachs (by Obama), the Occupiers and their supporters will undoubtedly win the blame game now going on across the country – that is, if they can stay focused through the holiday buying season – which ain't so easy.

However, I happen to think there is easily enough blame to go around on all sides. Conservatives/rich people say the poor folks don’t work hard enough or smart enough, and they are right. The first thing poor folks do with a dollar is spend it like they know where to immediately get five more. For my adult years I have been watching more and more poor folks buy Mercedes-Benz's, BMW's, big trucks, campers, boats, and the like when they should have been putting it to better use, like educating their kids how not to be knuckleheads and looking for a second job to backstop the first.

Rich folks, for their part, turned their attention from manufacturing useful stuff to export, to figuring out to better fleece dumb poor folks by selling them imported crap they do not need, on credit they should not have. The government and politicians have continually lowered the bar on what it allows rich folks to get away with, in pursuit of gullible pocketbooks. To be serious, the rich folks, who should know better, have pooped in their own back yard and the smell has come back on them. The US has the most over-housed, accessorized, fancy-car driving, recreational-vehicle owning, poorly-educated, ill-mannered population on the planet – courtesy of the trend-setting, conspicuous consumption of the rich.

While the Occupiers may win the argument, the war is already over. The rich do not have enough ill-gotten money stashed away, even if they gave it up, to make up for all the super-sized wants and demanded entitlements of poor folks and their unabashed, non-apologizing ignorance of what drives economic and social advancement.

Lastly, who the hell is running Oakland now that Dellums is officially in the pasture? Thank goodness the city does not own any tanks!

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Occupy Oakland Will Win The Blame Game But Lose The War, Jean Quan, Occupy Wall Street, Rich vs. Poor, Acting Black, Acting White

Is Diversity Bake Sale Racism?

Just yesterday, the UC Berkeley College Republicans (UCBCR), with the support of fellow Republicans from nearby schools, and Prop. 209-advocate and former UC Regent Ward Connerly, conducted a satirical “increase diversity bake sale”, whereby white men were charged $2 for a cup cake, while Asian men paid $1.50, Latino men $1, and black men $.75. Women paid $.25 less than the comparable male price. Three-hundred cupcakes were sold (out). (here) The UCBCR was attempting to draw attention to SB 185, which they feel might water-down the earlier Prop 209, banning affirmative action in college admissions.

A friend who works near the campus responded, ‘that’s so racist’, wherein I said, ‘it’s not racist, just really stupid’. In fact, these bake-sale events are not new to campus Republicans, and seem a vital part of learning the art of not-persuading-anybody-about-anything, as practiced by the group’s leaders/mentors. I have yet to see mocking-your-adversary as an effective tool of argument/persuasion, but the Republicans keep sticking to it, all the way to DC.

The counter-response/protest, by the UC Student Association, was a ‘die-in’, where a bunch of non-sympathizing students wore black clothes and played-dead near the bake sale. This seems a little stupid, as well. Why not counter with a ‘Walgreens’ sale, wherein white males pay $.75, Asians $1, Latinos $1.50, and Blacks $2, for a tube of toothpaste, depending on their suburban/urban store location. Now debate them apples, kiddies!

UC Berkeley?, the number one public institution of higher learning in the US? Makes one wonder about admissions across-the-board, don’t it?

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Is Diversity Bake Sale Racism?, UC Berkeley Republicans, Ward Connerly, Prop 209, SB 185, Acting White

Seeing Patients:Unconscious Bias In Heath Care

There are few people I looked up to more, during my time at Harvard and living in Boston, than HMS Professor Augustus "Gus" White, MD, PhD. "Gus" holds many 'first' distinctions, including his tenure as the first black chief surgeon (orthopaedic) at a Harvard teaching hospital (Beth Israel).

When Gus speaks, smart people listen. He has written a book (pictured) on racial bias in medicine. The book is part autobiography, but in typical fashion it is also a challenge for change. He writes how minorities, particularly blacks, receive different treatment than whites, from pain medications to operations like lung cancer, hip replacements, angioplasty, and also recommended preventive treatments, including flu vaccines and colonoscopies. While never one to shy from controversy, Gus reveals how even the best-intentioned physicians in our society continue a bias that has them fail their oath to do no harm.

James C. Collier

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Technorati Tags: Seeing Patients:Unconscious Bias In Heath Care, Augustus White, Harvard, Racial Bias, Acting Black, Acting White