Nelson Mandela's Legacy

Today (December 5, 2013) one of history's greatest activists, Nelson Mandela, passed away at the age of 95. Mandela spent 27 years in prison as a leader of the anti-apartheid movement. After his time spent as a political prisoner, Mandela went on to become South Africa's first black president in 1994. Nelson Mandela leaves behind an outstanding legacy and gives hope to nations that countine to suffer from extreme inequality as South Africa did under the apartheid. More can be read on Madela's death and legacy at:http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/05/17500450-nelson-mandela-dead-at-95

Martin Luther King Jr. Against Injustices Everywhere

Naturally, Martin Luther King Jr. was one of my "Top 10 Difference Makers." This is one of his inspirational quotes stating his belief and passion for achieving equality:

 “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” 

This quote can still be applied to today's world. Complete equality can not be achieved until injustices everywhere are reduced and eventually eliminated. We still haven't eliminated inequality in the USA and many other countries are behind in the movement for equality.

Boycott

 I know that a single person's boycott of an organization will not do much to that particular company. However, some well-known companies are discriminating against people of different sizes, religions, and sexual orientations. This provoked my decision to boycott certain organizations such as:

 Hobby Lobby: Not that I use craft material often, but I boycott this store for its stance on gay rights and not catering to other faiths. The Chistian-based store has made ant-gay comments as well as anti-semantic actions (refused to store Jewish craft objects). Also, the company has attempted to deny it's employees health care plans that are mandated under the new Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

 Chick-Fil-A: The CEO of this restaurant has made anti-gay comments when asked if he supported same-sex marriage. He could have just said "no." This actually increased business when opponents of gay rights declared a "national Chick-Fil-A day." The restaurant became a symbol for the conservitive view on marriage. Also, like Hobby Lobby, Chick-Fil-A denied workers "Obamacare" health coverage. 

Abercrombie & Fitch: This clothing brand is popular among teens and young adults. I used to wear their clothes however, they lost my support when their CEO discriminated against "plus" sized consumers. When asked why the company doesn't carry clothing that fits bigger individuals, the CEO said that his clothes were for the "All American" athletic customer and not for plus sized people. An article on his statement can be read at: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blogs/daily-dose/2013/05/13/weekly-challenge-say-abercrombie-fitch-weight-discrimination/QVKHrCvz9tCRSRCXpL0tcP/blog.html

 

In my opinion, even religious-based companies or CEOs should keep views private and not let opinions dictate the way the company is ran. Also, I think that companies should not discriminate on any bases (religion, size, gender, sexual orientation). 

Israle's Education Blockade

 Extremist groups in the Middle-East gain members and supporters by brainwashing citizens. This tactic is easy when it comes to uneducated citizens. Education is essential to the advancement of human rights. However, Israel is making it harder for Palestinian children to gain an education, due to the Gaza Strip blockade.

 The economic crisis in the Gaza Strip has made it a struggle to build and fund schools, because of the embargo posed by Israel. According to the UN, about 39,000 Palestinian child refugees will be unable to gain education at schools stationed by the UNRWA. This is due to population growth as well as the blockade that is hurting the nation economically. This blockade was set to hinder the terrist group, Hamas, from building weapons. However, it has affected the lives of everyone in the Gaza Strip.

 You can read more about this issue at: http://m.irinnews.org/report/89739/opt-thousands-missing-out-on-education-in-gaza#.UoV88nm9LCQ and become involved in ending the education barrier by simply singing a form at Amnesty International: http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/help-palestinians-in-gaza-access-edu

Malala Yousafzai Speaks To the UN Youth Assembly

 In an earlier post, I described Malal Yousafzai, a 16 year old Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban as a punishment for seeking an education. This past summer, the activist spoke to the United Nations Youth Assembly to encourage all children and women to fight for equal opportunity and treatment.
 Yousafzai described that she is only one of millions of people injured be terrorist groups. She also stated that her ambitions have not been altered and that the Taliban has failed to keep her and her friends silent.
  The speech was inspirational to me. As an American-born man, I cannot imagine what it is like to be a woman in a country with  extremists who are against the advancement of women's education and equality. I hope that her story, as well as the success of Fawzia Koofi, (Afghan politician and woman's rights activist) can inspire even more people, including those outside the mid-east, to become involved in advancements towards equality. Malala Yousafzai's speech is posted below, taken from the United Nation's YouTube account.

Human Rights Organizations

Here is a list of non-govornmental organizations promoting human equality. Some are for specific ethnicities, but all share the goal of quality. I am only familiar with Amnesty International and NAACP, but more info abut each organizations, as well as governmental organizations, can be found at humanrights.com.


Amnesty International: www.amnesty.org 

Human Rights Action Center: www.humanrightsactioncenter.org

Human Rights Watch: www.hrw.org

Human Rights Without Frontiers: www.hrwf.net 

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP):. www.naacp.org

Simon Wiesenthal Center: www.wiesenthal.com

Activism and Music

 Being a fan of music, I always learn a lot about my favorite bands. Many groups I listen to participate in activism. For instance, Linkin Park has a mission to give water and power to people who have none; and Rise Against and Anti-Flag (as well as many other punk groups) are concerned with human equality. I love these bands' music and their activism goals. Music fans, do you also become engaged in your favorite artists' causes? Please comment and give your input.

Todd Akin: Going too Far

 How far is too far when it comes to expressing political and religious beliefs? Before the 2012 elections, Missouri Republican Representative Todd Akin may have gone too far expressing his stance against abortion. The following quote made by Akin is scientifically false and offensive to many people, women and men. The statement was made in augment against abortion even in cases of rape.

  “It seems to be, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, it’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down.”

 Akin's statement was regarded as inexcusable even by Alin's party.However, the Republican Party allowed him to continue his race for Missouri Senate. Although, even in the Republican state of Missouri, Todd Akin's statement contributed to the victory of Democrat Claire Mckaskill. More on the reaction of Akin's infamous statement can be read in the August, 2012 New York Times article: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/us/politics/rep-todd-akin-legitimate-rape-statement-and-reaction.html?_r=0

  

Macklemore takes a Stance

 The genre of Hip-Hop has been known for it's valgarity and often using anti-gay lyrics. Even some of the most respected rap artists have used such lyrics. For example, Tupac Shakur and Eminem. Part of the reason why these artists used anti-gay language is because it was considered normal in the hip-hop culture. Eminem has since apologized for using such lyrics in his early career. 

 A new rap artist, Macklemore, along with his producer Ryan Lewis, have made a stance against homophobia and general inequity. Because of the rap duo's growing popularity, they have brought their message to a mainstream audience. Macklemore a and Ryan Lewis's single "Same Love" has made their stance clear and caused many fans to support equal treatment of all, reguardlsss of sexual orientation. However, is a single group's messeage strong enough to change the view of the mainstream hip-hop culture? I think more artists need to write about similar issues as "Same Love" discusses, not fearing the negative attention by those who disagree. This link leads to the official music video for "Same Love." http://youtu.be/hlVBg7_08n0

Gender Wage Inequality in America

 In the USA, the wage gap between men and women has been an ongoing issue. 50 years ago, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay act that sought to end gender discrimination within the work place. However, wage gaps were still present. 

 President Obama signed an extension of Kennedy's act called the Paycheck Fairness Act and declared one of his primary objectives would be to close these wage gaps. But still, men are payed more than women. It is estimated that women earn 77 cents compared to a dollar earned by a man. An NPR article deeply explores this issue: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125998232

Jackie Robison's Mission Complete

 I am a huge fan of baseball but before my time, the sport was regarded as "a white man's game." African Americans were forced into their own Negro Leaque and were not accepted into the MLB. This discrimination was ended when first basemen Jackie Robison was made part of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He faced trials but was known as a great player, winning the rookie of the year in 1947 and National League MVP in 1949. Robison paved the way for non-white professional baseball players.

 Jackie Robison's mission of allowing everyone the chance to play in the MLB was completed. Today, many of the greatest names in baseball are minorities or from other countries; from the Cardinals' Carlos Beltron to the Yankees' legendary closing pitcher Mariano Rivera. Discrimination in the sport of baseball has been banished thanks to number 42, the great Jackie Robison.

Stuck on Lay-Off

 The recent government shutdown has finally ended, or at least funded. However, during the shutdown, many government workers were laid off for the duration of the shutdown. In addition, they were not given the chance to seek employment in other work places. This violated the workers rights to earn an income and support their families. Understandably, this issue and other issues surrounding the government shutdown has outraged many American citizens. Fortunately for the laid off workers, the income lost was paid when the decision to end the shutdown was made. However, how and why could anyone deny a person the opportunity to be employed during a lay-off?

DOMA Ruled Unconstitutional, Finally

 Today, 14 states in the USA allow same-sex marriage. However, same-sex married couples were denied the rights and benefits granted to straight married couples due to the Deffence of Marrige Act or DOMA. This law was made in 1996 to protect "the institution of traditional marriage." Now that same-sex marriage is legal in some states, the law negatively affected people who were married in an "untraditional" way. This year, on June 26, DOMA was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Finally, same-sex couples have access to the federal benefits of straight couples. Another step has been made towards equlaity. The following link leads to an article on Huffington Post that explains DOMA and the battle to repeal it. The article was posted in May of 2012, over a year before it was repealed. http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1559031

The article states argrruments both for and against the repeal of DOMA.

Taught Equal Treatment of All

 I am from a small town in Missouri that had little diversity. Thus, many people where not exposed to different cultures and types is people. So, racism and homophobia were common. However, my parents taught me to treat everyone (regardless of race, sex, or sexual orientation) equally. Being taught this from a young age made me passionate about human rights and equality. 

 Exposure to different people also contributed to my interest in this issue. My uncle, as well as a former classmate of mine, wittinessed  discrimination because they were gay. This made me want to help reduce and stand against homophobia. 

Fighting for Education- Malala Yousafzai

 Last week I was introduced to the incredible bravery of a teenage woman from Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai. The 16 year old girl was determined to gain an education, inspired by her father who is a teacher and woman's rights supporter. However, the Taliban's presence was felt when Yousafzai was shot by members of the infamous group because she was being educated. Unfortunately, this often occurs when young women seek education in nations where the Taliban holds power. Yousafzai  survived the attack and dedicated herself to becoming a spokesperson for children across the world attempting to gain an education. Her bravery made her a candidate for the nobel peace price, making the young woman's story gain even more international attention. More about Malala and her father's inspiration can be read at this NPR article:http://www.npr.org/2013/10/15/234730460/malala-yousafzai-a-normal-yet-powerful-girl  The video below is an interview Malala did with Jon Stwart on "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central.

Striving for Equality

 One of my "top 10" figures mentioned in my "Top 10 Difference Makers" post is Susan B. Anthony. She was pivotal in the Wonan's suffrage movement during the mid and late 1800's. Here is one of
Anthony's many inspirational quotes stating her goal of complete equality: 

"There will never be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and select lawmakers."

Image credit: 

http://www.vintageviews.org/vv-tl/Photos/pix/susan_b.JPG

Made in America

 An unfortunate truth about many industries is that their products are made in sweat shops by people making little to no money. This is done to reduce labor costs. So, many consumers try to avoid buying products made in China or other countries who use sweat shops and child labor. However, just because the label says "made in America" doesn't mean the company avoided using sweat shops.  A New York Times article explains that many American idustries use immigrant workers who are paid far below the nation's minimum wage. The article is listed here: http://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/18/world/made-usa-hard-labor-pacific-island-special-report-saipan-sweatshops-are-no.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

 The activist rock band Rise Against mentions the mistreatment of immigrant workers in their single "The Prayer of The Refugee." The video makes their statement clear: http://youtu.be/9-SQGOYOjxs

 So, if you are attempting to avoid purchasing products made by workers in sweat shops, take a deep look into the company's track record and research other countries who stick to labor laws.

Propaganda Law in Russia

 In America, the people have a right to demonstrate peaceful protests in exercise of freedom of speech. Examples include Occupy Wall Street and many gay-rights protests. Russia, however, criminalizes such activities. The most recent example is the anti-gay law proposed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin. This law gives law enforcement permission to arrest gay-rights activists or anyone who is spreading the "gay agenda." This law was passed because Russia lacks separation of church and state, making religious obligations and government collide. The law is affecting many Russian citizens, both straight and gay. More can be learned about the "Gay Propaganda Law" at Amnesty International.   The law also provoked the International Olympic Committee to look into the human rights situation in Russia. (The 2014 Winter Olympic Games takes place in Moscow). However, the committee decided to overlook the issue, stating, "We are not a human rights organization." An article explaining the IOC's stance can be found at this link:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/26/ioc-sochi-olympics-russia-anti-gay-law_n_3994761.html.

Courage of an Athlete

The four mainstream American professional sports are: baseball, basketball, football, and Hockey. Due to the masculine nature of these sports, particularly football, controversy is generated when an openly gay athlete comes into the spotlight. The argument against gay football players is that it may cause conflicts in team chemistry. However, such claims is not stopping former Middle Tennessee State kicker, Alan Gendreau, from planning on becoming an NFL player. The openly gay athlete leads the Sun Belt Conference in scoring and is attempting to gain a spot on a team in the most popular spots organization in America, the NFL. More information about Alan Gendreau can be found in the New York Times article at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/sports/ncaafootball/nfl-hopeful-announces-he-is-gay.html?_r=0 

Nobody is Born Racist

 I usually ignore most Facebook posts that are shared to convey an opinion. In my experience, those posts almost always display content that aimlessly attacks America's president. However, I recently found a photo that had text that said "Nobody is born racist." This is true, so many behaviors are learned by children who observe their enviornmemt. A non-racist parent or role model will teach the child how to treat everyone equally. The photo is posted below:

Top 10 Difference Makers

 I made a top 10 list of inspirational figures who took (or are taking) a stand for human equality. My list features famous historical figures as well as people and groups who are currently promoting equality.

1. Martin Luther King Jr.

2. Rosa Parks

3. Abraham Lincoln

4. Eleanor Roosevelt

5. Susan B. Anthony

6. Nelson Mandela

7. Fawzia Koofi

8. Alan Gendreau

9. Tim McIlrath (Rise Against)

10. Anti- Flag

A Dream for the Future

 One of my inspirations relating to human equality is the great Martin Luther King Jr. His speech, I Have a Dream, called  for change in how people of all ethnicities were treated and for everyone to be respected as human beings. Among the many great sections of the speech is the following:

 "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

 A lot of progress has been made. However, racism remains present in 21st Century America. It will take time, but I believe future generations will be increasingly accepting of different cultures and ethnicities.

Punk Rock for Equality

  I am a musician and a big fan of punk rock. Many of my favorite bands support various causes and charities. Supporting the fight to end discrimination and bullying of the homosexual community is the band Rise Against. Their single, "Make It Stop (September's Children)" gives voice to the teens who committed suicide during September 2010. The song is featured on their latest studio album, Endgame. 

  Rise Against decided to partner with the It Gets Better Project to reach teens who may be battling discrimination or bullying. The band also reaches people who may be the bullies, putting the message out into the mainstream rock scene. The lead singer for Rise Against, Tim Mcllrath stated that reaching possible bullies was one of the main goals of "Make It Stop." Here's a link to the official music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP4clbHc4Xg I have been a long time fan of Rise Against but the message and sound of this song is among their best in my mind.

Fwazi Koofi 2014!

  My last post briefly discussed the challenges women are facing in the nation of Afghanistan. I also mentioned that women were given more rights after the liberation of the Taliban. Among these new rights is the right to run for political office. The brave woman Fawzi Koofi was elected to serve as vice president of the National Assembly and speaker of the Parliament and plans to run for presider of Afghanistan in 2014.

  Fwazi was born in Badakhshan, Afghanistan during a time when women had very few rights. In fact, it was seen as an embarrassment to have a female child. Because of her father's desire to have a son, Fwazi Koofi was left for dead as an infant. However, her family spared her life and gave her an education. She would become a dominate figure in women's rights activism.

  When Koofi was elected to the National Assembly in 2005, she committed her career to improving the quality of life and education of women as well as reducing the violence against women and children. This included opening non-formal schools, improving access to good schools, and fighting for laws to allow women to be given equal trials when it comes to cases of violence.

  Due to her political position, Fwazi Koofi has faced numerous death threats from extremist groups and traditional muslims who oppose women's rights. The threats, of course, escalated when she announced her presidential candidacy for 2014, making her the first women candidate for the office of president. he is already the first female Speaker, if nominated for president, she well make human rights history!

  Fwazi Koffi is also an author. She explains her personal life and polotical journey in the novels Letters to My Daughters and The Favored Daughter: One Woman's Fight to Lead Afghanistan Into The Future. She discusses her works and life in an interview on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." The interview can be found using this link: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-13-2013/fawzia-koofi The second part: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-13-2013/exclusive---fawzia-koofi-extended-interview-pt--2

Global Discrimination

                                   
                                                           
                                      The issue is global:
  Inequality is a topic many people tend to overlook, or not think about daily. However, millions of people throughout the world face unequal treatment, even citizens of the "land of the free," the United States of America. Activist groups like Amnesty International as well as may bands and musicians are working to raise awareness of the issues of inequality and global discrimination.
                                           
                                    Progress and problems in the Middle East:
  Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan are notorious for inequality, especially for the unequal treatment of women. Recently, progress has been made in the nation of Afghanistan due to its new government led by President Hamid Karzai. Women were given more freedoms such as the right to work and pursue an education following the liberation of the Taliban and other extremist groups
 These liberations have not been fully enforced, however. Today, only 30% of women can gain an education;  only 13% are literate; about 80% are forced into arranged marriages; and 1 and 3 women have been abused physically, mentally, or sexually. (http://newint.org/features/2008/11/01/afghanistan-facts/) The number of working women in Afghanistan has increased but more needs to be done to improve social equality and quality of life.

                                      Discrimination in the USA:
    Although the United States gives its citizens  freedoms not given in many nations (speech, religion, etc), many people face inequality and discrimination based on  factors such as gender and sexuality, among others.
  Wages are not equal for men and women. Although women have access to mostly the same jobs as men, women on average earn 80% of what men earn working a full time job. (http://www.stanford.edu/group/scspi/cgi-bin/facts.php) Also, women have only recently been given opportunities to serve in the military doing similar work as men, however given a lower salary.
   In addition to wage inequality, people who are in homosexual relationships are  being discriminated against. This situation has improved in the past few years with states allowing same-sex marriage. However, today only 15 states have legalized marriage between same- sex couples, whereas, countries such as Canada, France, and England allow same- sex marriage in every province.

                                      Amnesty International:
    Amnesty International is an organization attempting to promote human rights in every nation. The website: http://www.amnestyusa.org lists articles on topics concerning equality and gives interested viewers the chance to donate to the cause. The Amnesty International theme song, "Toast to Freedom" was covered by the punk- rock group, Anti-Flag, who stand for the same values and participate in human rights activism.. The video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ3VqR8xC34