Racial Gap In Homeownership Widens In U.S. Slump

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/24/139877687/racial-gap-in-homeownership-widens-in-u-s-slump

This story illustrates how inequalities persist in our society, especially for those who have traditionally been at the bottom.

Third Gay Utahn Attacked in Two Weeks

Early Thursday morning, Cameron Nelson became the third gay Utahn in less than two weeks to report being attacked because of their sexual identity.

Nelson was on the job at an American Fork hair salon when he said two or three people began beating him up and yelling anti-gay slurs at him.

The 32-year-old was taking out the garbage at the salon near Center Street and 100 North at 12:45 a.m. when the assault began. Nelson said he is gay and that he believes that was why the attackers, whom he did not know, targeted him.

Sgt. Gregg Ludlow of the American Fork Police Department called the remarks made toward Nelson "disgusting" and said the actions of Nelson’s attackers were "quite repugnant."

Nelson was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries and a broken nose, Ludlow said.

Police in Salt Lake City are still investigating attacks on two other gay men.

The two were attacked in separate incidents on Aug. 26. Dane Hall, 20, was assaulted by four men as he left a club. The suspects repeatedly punched Hall and stomped the side of his head. His cheekbone was shattered and he lost six teeth.

In the other assault, a group of men broke into a gay man’s apartment near 33 W. 200 South and beat up his boyfriend.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52546372-78/gay-nelson-lake-salt.html.csp

In this story an LGBT activist claims that the recent attacks stem from a lack of concern among state officials (in fact, one of the reasons Utah does not have hate crimes is because hate crimes include people with different sexual orientations).

Do you agree with the activist's claims? Do you think Utah should legislate hate crimes?

East High Basketball Coach Accused Of Racism

1.0000/5 rating Print Article

Reported by: Roxeanne Vainuku

Wednesday, September 07 2011

(KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY - Gianni Ellefsen loved coaching basketball at East High, but what he didn't like was what he heard from the school's head coach, Skip Lowe.

Ellefsen says Lowe made several comments saying there were fewer problems at the school when "we were whiter," he told 2News.

"It was said you can't rely too much on this kid, he could get killed in a gang fight," Ellefsen said Lowe has proclaimed in the past.

Yet Lowe denies the racist claims.

"I've never once said things were worse. I said they were different and that I stand by 100 percent," Lowe said in an interview.

East High Principal Paul Sagers says the differences are a fact: more transportation issues for kids, grade issues, etc.

Sagers says Ellefsen's complaints were investigated and reported to the school district and that the complaints had nothing to do with Ellefsen getting dismissed.

Ellefsen is now looking for another coaching job. Lowe will hold on to his.

To hear more, watch the attached video.

(Copyright 2011 Four Points Media)

I personally find the actions of this coach to be completely unacceptable. I saw multiple news programs broadcast this story and the whole time I was completely taken back by the attitude of the coach. He should not be making any comments that relate to the color of his players' skin. When the coach admitted that he has stated that things used to be different, I cannot help but wonder if the difference is the increased number of minority athletes who are now on his team. If I were a player on this team I would be offended by this comment. I also do not agree with the comments that the school principal has said either. He mentions that transportation and grades have become an issue for players on the team. I get the idea that these issues are mainly coming from the non- white players. The coach and principal need to take the time to consider that maybe these issues are being caused by the poor economic situation, not the race of the players. I also wonder why the assistant coach was magically released from his coaching duties after going public with the inappropriate behavior of the coach, even though they say it was for other reasons.

Do you believe that the school boards actions of allowing the coach to continue to coach are acceptable?

Also, do you think that the coach even recognizes the inappropriateness of his words?

-Kimberly Johnson

Special Needs Employee

http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/video/stops-grocery-clerk-abuse-10695340

Here's a video I feel really strongly about. It makes me cry every time! Maybe it's just because I'm majoring in Special Ed, but I feel like the injustice towards these individuals is so wrong. And it's not like they can't tell that you're putting them down! I think this video might have 1 or 2 cuss words but nothing too obscene. Just thought I'd let you know. Anyways, what do you all think about this? Are there certain people in this video that you would stand up to, and others that you wouldn't? Is it fair that people with special needs get mainstream jobs? I think you know how I feel about it, but I want your opinion(:

Katt Williams doesn't apologizes for rant directed at Mexicans

It turns out that Katt Williams didn't offer the apology that was released. In fact, notice how he says that he can't apologize for anything he says during his comedy routine.



Are we making too big a deal of this, or do you think he should apologize?

Man attacked outside of Salt Lake City gay club

A 20-year-old Salt Lake City resident was attacked and hospitalized last Friday night as he left a downtown club. Dane Hall, an openly gay man, was in the hospital for four days, lost 6 teeth and his jawbone was broken in three places as a result of the attack.

Hall said he left Club Sound, which is gay-themed on Friday nights, and crossed the street to the corner of 600 W. and 200 S. in Salt Lake City, when four men approached him and began yelling gay slurs. He was then punched in the back of the head and knocked to the ground. One of the assailants grabbed his shirt and began punching him in the face, he said. After Hall fell to the ground again, the attacker grabbed him, placed his open mouth over the street curb and stomped on the back of head, knocking out six teeth in a move commonly referred to as ‘curb checking,’ which can result in death in many cases. Two other assailants kicked him repeatedly in the stomach, Hall said. The attackers called him a ‘fag’ and took his identification and $40, he said.

“I could have died. And a piece of bone from my jaw was jammed in my brain, to make things worse,” Hall said in email correspondence because his jaw is still wired shut after the attack. “If anyone has any information leading to the arrest I am offering a $10,000 reward.”

The hospital bills will total more than $30,000 and unless the assailants are found, Hall could be stuck with the bill, he said. Although he filed a police report, there have been no leads on the case and no suspects have been named, he said.

Salt Lake City Police said the case is active and being looked into.

The attack comes just months after another similar attack in April outside of the club of a 20-year-old gay man. Jordan Corona, 21, left Club Sound on a Friday evening in April and was attacked from behind by several assailants, he said. He was treated for concussion as a result of the attack, he said.

“The doctors say I was lucky no bones are broken. But my collar bone is really bruised, probably from being kicked on the ground, and my wrist is sprained and my face is just really messed up,” Corona said.

No arrests were made and no one was charged as a result of the attack. Corona’s cell phone was stolen and phone calls were made, but the information did not help police, Corona said.

Anyone with information about the assailants or any possible leads are being asked to call the Salt Lake Police Department at 801-799-3000.

Calls to the ownership of the club were not returned. More information will be posted on QSaltLake.com as it becomes available.

http://qsaltlake.com/2011/08/31/man-attacked-outside-of-salt-lake-city-gay-club/

A gay man in the Mormon bishopric? Big deal

If you’re LDS, it’s important to consider this now that a gay man is serving in a San Francisco ward bishopric. Mitch Mayne identified himself as being gay but he’s still in the bishopric.

The issue is being debated throughout the Mormon Internet community, with comments ranging from just how gay Mayne is, whether or not he’s a practicing gay, how long it’s been since his last gayness…

People are morons. Why should any of that matter? Apparently it does, though. When I opined on one website that being gay doesn’t preclude any kind of spirituality, it made someone mad.

Him: "Would you want your bishop to be gay?"

Me: "How do you know yours isn’t?"

For the record, I wouldn’t care whether my bishop was gay. What I’d care about is whether he gave me good advice, kept me on some kind of speaking terms with God, and generally cared about me. It would also help if he kept any fashion tips to himself.

Ironically, the greatest condemnation lodged against Mayne seems to come from other gays and lesbians. He’s roundly condemned by them for being a Mormon. It’s like they didn’t learn a single thing from the horrible way we’ve treated them.

A gay man in a Mormon bishopric. Big deal. We could all be so much more if we just shut up about each other.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/52494665-80/gay-bishop-bishopric-mormon.html.csp?page=1

Katt Williams apologizes for rant directed at Mexicans

(CNN) -- Comedian Katt Williams has apologized for a rant he directed at Mexicans during a show in Phoenix over the weekend.

"My remarks were not meant to be offensive," Williams said. "I want to apologize if my comedy act was taken out of context."

"I sincerely appreciate my fans within the Mexican community and would never intentionally go out of my way to offend them," he added.

The rant, more than seven minutes long, was delivered during a performance Saturday and has drawn criticism from several corners.

At the show, Williams singled out a man seated near the stage and asked him if he was Mexican.

"It appears to me y'all like it over here a lot," Williams then said.

He then launched into his tirade.

"Do you remember when white people used to say 'Go back to Africa,' and we'd have to tell them we don't want to? So if you love Mexico, (expletive), get the (expletive) over there!" Williams said to the man.

As the rant turned into a back-and-forth profanity-laced argument with the man, Williams exclaimed, "We were slaves (expletive). You just work like that as landscapers."

Several times during outburst, Williams sang parts of the national anthem.

Williams began his career as a stand-up comic. His 2006 HBO special "Katt Williams: Pimp Chronicles Pt.1" raised his profile. His often raunchy style has drawn comparisons to comedy legend Richard Pryor.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/09/01/katt.williams.rant/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Structural Adjustment Programs

Because Nigeria was suffering and not able to support the members living in their countries, the World Bank and IMF stepped in and tried to help pay off some of their debts with Structural Adjustment Programs or SAPs. Although this seemed like they were going to help aid the country, they ultimately just ended up hurting the country. The SAPs dictated how the money they gave the country would be used. The SAPs made a law that only a certain amount of the money they gave them could be put towards education. Because of this discrimination against the countries education, Nigeria spent 33% less money on each student. When the education rate declines, the economy then suffers in the long run. The SAPs caused the country to suffer greatly and although there was short-term success, in the long run the country ended up being worse off.

Ni Hao

When I was about seven, I asked my mom if I could go to Chinese school. She basically brushed it off and as a result the only Chinese words I know are "ni hao." My mother is a 1.5-generation-immigrant, which I actually did not really realize she was in fact an immigrant until our discussion in class a few weeks ago. She moved here from Taiwan when she was two. She speaks perfect English, and English is actually the only language she knows. I was curious about why my mom did not know Chinese despite Chinese being technically her first language, so I asked my grandparents about their immigration and learning English. They basically said that they did not consciously choose to not teach their children Chinese, but it just happened naturally because they worked with, went to Church with, and lived near mostly white people. My grandparents could read and write English before they came here, but my mother and my uncle did not know any English at all. My grandparents said that after my uncle started school, it took him one month to learn English. My uncle beginning school was also a bit of an impetus for them to speak English in the home. Within three or four months they spoke about half Chinese and half English. After about two years, they spoke mostly English, and within four years, they spoke all English.
This is a rare case with immigration, to assimilate so easily and quickly. Their age of arrival was pretty young, their time in the US now is long, and they are better educated than most. They said their first priority was "being able to communicate" so their switch to English just happened unconsciously. But I honestly kind of wish they had tried to preserve the language.

Any thoughts on language or assimilation?

Redefining Race

The following video gives an example of what race and ethnicity is becoming in the United States. The line between races is thinning and the United States is, and is becoming more, a melting pot of ethnicities. These students tell their backgrounds and races, which they say doesn't completely define them, because they are also Americans. Their heritage consists of two parts that they may wish to be seen all as one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA7La5JgOUk

What is it that actually defines us as Americans? What are the benefits to having a melting pot of races, ethnicity, and culture in the United States?

4-year-old Deported to Guatemala

I found this article on NYTimes.com and thought it brought up several interesting issues. I was quite surprised that this little girl's reentry back into the United States, where she is a legal citizen, became such a big problem.  I can't help but think that the resources that were used to handle the situation of this little girl could have been used elsewhere.  Is a 4-year-old really that much of a threat to national security?  And how did she get deported if she is a U.S. citizen?

There are also other issues at play here, besides the mistake of sending her to Guatemala unnecessarily.  If her parents are known to be illegal immigrants, why were they not deported to Guatemala?  How was the little girl identified as an "illegal?"  These questions point to the larger problems surrounding familial citizenship rights.  This little girl was separated from her parents for a relatively short amount of time, and the issue has, for now, been resolved.  But what happens to children whose parents are deported permanently?  Do they have the right to remain in the United States?  Do parents who are deported lose the right to care for their U.S. citizen children?  What are your thoughts?