The American dream is built on hard work...or is it?

Before you listen to this story, I want to take a couple of minutes and think about how you got to where you are today. Think about the resources you've received, whether it be in the form of financial, emotional, spiritual, or any other kind of support. Think about the little things along the way that encouraged you to go to college. Now compare your story with the two families in this podcast.


Notice that both families are successful, but the path they took was very different. How can we help people in our communities to become successful?

U.S. Poverty Rate Highest Since 1993

Flight on 9/11 anniversary ends in handcuffs for housewife

Flight on 9/11 anniversary ends in handcuffs for housewife

Arab-Jewish blogger and two other passengers strip-searched after suspicious behavior. Is this government actions against these citizens justified?

Immigration and the GOP Debates

Talk of immigration has already started to heat up in the GOP debates. Here are what the candidates are saying about immigration:





It will be interesting to see how the immigration debate changes once the GOP decides on their presidential candidate. Just watch, they are going to soften their tune in the general election because they know they can't win without the "Latino vote." Interestingly, Perry has has the softest stance and even offered in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants in Texas.

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