Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 4-18-17

Editorials/Columns
FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN
(USPS 202-140)
2207 21st Avenue, Tampa Florida 33605 • (813) 248-1921 Published Every Tuesday and Friday By
FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHING Co., Member of National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)
S. KAY ANDREWS, PUBLISHER
C. BLYTHE ANDREWS III, PRESIDENT/CONTROLLER ALLISON WELLS-CLEBERT, CFO
GWEN HAYES, EDITOR
IRIS HOLTON, CITY EDITOR
BETTY DAWKINS, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR HAROLD ADAMS, CIRCULATION MANAGER TOYNETTA COBB, PRODUCTION MANAGER LAVORA EDWARDS, CLASSIFIED MANAGER
Subscriptions-$44.00-6 Months Both Editions: $87.00-Per Year Both Editions.
Opinions expressed on editorial pages of this newspaper by Columnists or Guest Writers, do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of The Florida Sentinel Bulletin or the Publisher.
Some Guys Have All The Luck
ight now, it has to feel
good to be Dr. David Dao. Even though the visual of him being beaten and dragged off a United Airlines flight by airport security and Chicago police officers has been looped over a hundred times on news broadcasts across the world, he's still a winner in my book.
This is mainly because, in the aftermath of one of the biggest public relations deba- cles in the history of public transportation, Dr. Dao stands to make out like a fat cat. Why wouldn't he when the brutal ordeal he endured could potentially lead to him being the recipient of a judg- ment in a lawsuit that could reach well into the 8-figure category?
Yes, the image of him screaming in a high-pitched tone while being pummeled
out of his seat isn't the kind of sight he would want immor- talized as his defining mo- ment. But, something tells me, the idea that he'll soon be able to purchase his own private aircraft, as a result of this em- barrassing incident, will go a long way towards soothing his bruised ego.
The beauty of the spectacle we all witnessed is that the 68- year-old doctor probably won't have to wait very long for his pay day. This is due to the fact that United Airlines, along with Chicago O'Hare In- ternational Airport and the Chicago Police Department, will want to get beyond this fi- asco as quickly as possible.
That translates to each of these entities offering Dr. Dao a generous offer to settle as soon as they can. The ges- ture, if accepted by Dr. Dao, would allow them to focus all
of their attention on repairing their severely damaged repu- tations.
When it's all said and done, the bottom line is that, Dr. Dao couldn't have fallen into a better case scenario. He was hurt just enough to warrant being compensated substan- tially. But he had the good for- tune of not suffering the kind of serious injury that could prevent him from enjoying any future damages awarded. I think in some circles they call that hitting the "Slip and fall" lotto.
To be honest, when I think about the entire situation and the potential outcome, the only thing I hate is the fact that it wasn't my ass being vi- olently kicked off the plane. And, I'm sure, if everyone reading this keeps it real, they'll admit to wishing that they were also just as lucky.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can write to Mr. Barr at: Clarence Barr 43110-018, Oakdale F. C. I., P. O. BOX 5000, Oakdale, LA 71463.
POSTMASTER: Send Address Change To: Florida Sentinel Bulletin,
P.O. Box 3363 Tampa, FL 33601 Periodical Postage Paid At Tampa, FL
R
C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
Peace 101
ccording to Albert Einstein, directly after World War
III, “World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” Two days after the most peaceful day in Christianity (Easter), we remind our readers of Einstein’s compelling prophecy as we wade into a possibility that could mean the end of humanity as humanity, as we know it.
Why? What is it? In this up-front, online world of knowl- edge-quickness beyond human imagination, why is it that one of the truest, kindest words in humanity we seem unable to comprehend? And that word is “Peace.”
Neither a black word nor white word neither created for Jews, Gentiles, or any so-called group on the face of this earth, peace has many synonyms. It means harmony, tran- quility, serenity, placidity, love, kindness, warlessness, pa- tience, non-belligerence, friendship, respect, and honor.
Yet, the misguided word “principle” seems too often to get in the way of common sense. In a word, we are tired of having to write about deaths caused by stupidity, arrogance, or thoughtlessness. We are tired of writing about young men and women just days out of diapers being arrested for mur- dering one another for pennies and lies.
And now we have a president who does not lead, but fol- lows the social media dictum of strike first and think later. Almost a century ago, such knee-jerk thinking caused writer Norman Angell to conclude, “Indeed, every nation sincerely desires peace, but seemingly, too many nations pursue a course which if persisted in, must make peace impossible.”
So, we ask this question: Why is peace so difficult to un- derstand, pursue and keep? Why is forgiveness never the an- swer?
We have a suggestion. The next time they drop bombs in Syria, instead, drop bags of food and medicine. Instead of fighters, send U. N. Peacekeepers. In other words, fill the bat- tlefields with civility rather than cruelty.
In other words, GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!
A
TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5
One Moment In Time
Empowered Greetings.
All it takes is one moment in time to redefine your entire future. What will you do with the moments time gives you? Each moment you’re awake is a precious gift called time.
You cannot choose your moments because time can’t be put on pause, rewind and played at liberty. However, you can choose how you use the moments of time you are given. Will you use your time being held hostage by your current situation?
Making excuses as to why you haven’t take charge of your life to move it in a better. You couldn’t choose to be born into a particular family lineage, a family of wealth, good looks, educated or one that appears to be happy and have it all to- gether. You can choose to cre- ate a family with the dynamics you desire. You can choose
your level of income, education, the neighborhood you want to live in and so much more. It all starts with making one decision at one moment in time.
In one moment in time the information you feed your mind can cause your life to shift toward upward mobility. The quality of your output can be in direct relation to the quality of your input. I know what you’re reading in this moment and I thank you for taking time to read this column.
Question is what else are you reading? Is it something that’s going to cause you to think consciously on a higher level? Will it get your critical thinking skills and creative juices flowing? Your ideas, in- novations and inventions can be stimulated by moments spent reading magazines, books and literature the inspire you.
They give you a better and bigger picture of what’s possi- ble. They take you away from your now and into your future. The moment you begin to con- centrate on the great things you see ahead of you, that’s the mo- ment when things can begin to change for you.
Wherever your focus goes, is the area in which your life grows. Use your moments to create momentum. Maintain the momentum to design a life filled with what you desire.
The right conversation at one moment in time can be the conversation that changes you for a lifetime. Let’s talk. I would love to empower you to make the most of your moments.
Selphenia would love to speak, train, facilitate or emcee your next event. Reach out and invite her. Your connection is just one call away.
To contact Selphenia Nichols-Simmons, Email: selphenia@successcoachto women.com.
Follow her on twitter @queenofsuccess1; Face- book: Selphenia Nichols Success Coach To Women Instagram: Selphenia; or Call (813) 603-0088.
The ‘Tax Cut Stimulates Economy’ Lie
nce upon a time, a study completed by the Congres-
sional Research Service (CRS) revealed in September 2012 that cutting taxes for the richest Americans did NOT spur economic or job growth. Was that a fairy tale?
If so, the study, nicknamed “Think Progress,” found that tax cuts for the wealthy only spurred income equality. Yet, for the past 65 years, Republicans had hyped that “Tax cuts means jobs” mantra, causing too many Americans to believe the “Mother Goose” rhyme that equaled exactly the opposite.
Why? What? You said you never heard of the study? Well, good readers, perhaps the reason you never heard about it was because the study (from the Brothers Grimm?) was qui- etly withdrawn when Senate Conservatives started complain- ing about the “non-artissaness” of the study.
So, when the Republican Congress reconvened in Janu- ary, they awarded American millionaires with a 27.4 billion
O
dollar tax cut each year for the next 10 years.
Trump and Republican cronies knowingly (“unmasked?”) sold the false “tax cuts mean
economic growth” hoo-ha to hungry voters during the 2016 election campaigns, and famished voters ate it up, hook, line, and ballot.
In essence, Republicans ignored the real report and forged ahead with their “Modern Con- servative Economic” Alice-in-Wonderland hogwash. Senate Republicans meanwhile, success- fully pressured the Congressional Research Service (over stiff objection) to withdraw the report almost as soon as the report was released, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other GOP senators criticized the report regarding the use of terminology and disagree- ment over the methodology used by the CRS.
To their credit, however, Senate Democrats republished the study. So, the next time a Con- servative candidate tries to sell you the virtue of tax cuts for the rich, answer them with one word: “BALONEY!”