Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 6-28-19

Editorials/Columns
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World Hate
There is no surprise in learning that hate speech, attacks on different ethnic groups: xenophobia, radicalism, and hate crimes are on
the rise in America. Blacks, Hispanics, Africans, Muslims, Jews, gays, and lesbians are experienc- ing an increase as victims here in the United States and abroad. The impact of unconscious bias or im- plicit bias on minorities and religious groups is difficult to measure.
Even though the “European Union’s Carter of Fundamental Rights prohibits discrimination, protects human dignity, freedom of thought, con- science, and religion...” hate crimes are on the rise in Europe. The emergence of violent extremist groups and the rising number of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants fuel the rise in hate crimes.
Because the majority of immigrants come from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pak- istan, and Gambia, ethnic hate crimes have risen sharply. A rise in anti-Semitism is taking place in Germany, LGBT people are under attack in the United Kingdom, and homophobic and transpho- bic hate crimes are surging all over the world.
Switzerland has experienced a record number of reported discrimination incidents for people of color, ethnicity and religion, a rise of 50 percent. Hate crimes in Italy have quadrupled between 2017 and 2018.
A survey in Poland found hate crimes are most often experienced by people from Sub-Saharan Africa (43 %), Ukrainians (18%) and Muslims (8%).
Based upon research conducted by Harvard University, (2002-2015), the highest incidents of racial bias took place in the Czech Republic, Esto- nia, Lithuania, Malta, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Portugal.
One can only conclude that hate is universal and spreads like a virus.
Therefore, all people of color are in danger on planet earth until the year 2042, when minorities in the United States and the world are slated to be- come the majority.
Three Cs Of Effective Leadership
exercise you can learn to be an ef- fective leader.
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Selphenia’s no-nonsense business strategies take individu- als and organizations from scratch, or anywhere in between, to Success. Selphenia is available to speak at churches, schools, uni- versities, business organizations, retreats and conferences.
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Can’t Let The Rays Get Away
I guess you can consider this the beginning of the end. Unless someone can figure out how to build a new home for the Tampa Bay Rays on the east side of the bridge, eight years from now when their current lease ex- pires at Tropicana Field, it's being predicted that the beloved baseball franchise could choose
to call another town home.
This is the inescapable reality that came to light last week when the Rays ownership an- nounced a crazy plan that in- volves the team splitting its home games between St. Peters- burg and Montreal, Canada. It is an idea so ridiculous that you have to believe it was spawned out of complete desperation after years of failed attempts to construct a modernized playing
facility.
To say that this would be a
bad look for the entire Bay Area would be an understatement. And the blame for this embar- rassing debacle could be as- signed to a number of factors including pursuing a baseball team in the first place.
When Vince Naimoli and his investment group first began vying for an expansion franchise 30 years ago, the game of base- ball was already declining in popularity. But instead of put- ting their effort and money be- hind a growing league like the NBA, who had a strong desire to place a franchise in Tampa, Naimoli and company stayed de- termined to bring baseball to west central Florida until they eventually got what they wanted.
Their belief was that, since there was a large number of as- sumed baseball fans from north- eastern states who relocated to the Bay Area, it wouldn't be a problem attracting a crowd. It was a gamble that, over the last two decades, has yet to pan out.
The second mistake the in- vestment group made was plac- ing the franchise in St. Petersburg. As beautiful of a city as St. Pete is aesthetically, the fact that it's located in Pinellas County, a place with enough aging retirees that it could prob- ably be classified as the world's largest open-air hospice, makes it less than an ideal spot for any business that depends on an en- ergetic population, with dispos- able income, who would be able to attend a multitude of games on a regular basis.
Add to this equation the quirky behavior pattern of peo- ple in the Bay Area who just aren't accustomed to traveling west across the Howard Franklin, Courtney Campbell Causeway or the Gandy (bridges that connect Hillsborough County to Pinellas) for their en- tertainment and it's easy to see why the Rays’ experiment was destined to fail from the very be- ginning.
But even with all of these things working against the or- ganization, there is still a way to keep the team locally if politi- cians on both sides of the water can overcome their inept way of doing business.
As good as they may be at fixing potholes, authorizing
building permits and building schools, they appear woefully clueless at assessing the value a professional sports franchise has in a community.
There is a reason why cities line up to kiss the rings of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Much like an impressive skyline, having a pro sports team is a symbol of status. It lets the world know that your city is a thriving metropolis ready for the big leagues.
And, conversely, like a rich man having his yacht repos- sessed, losing a franchise sends out the message that a city may not be as financially stable as it puts on. What the City Council members and the County Com- missioners leading the way have to realize is that the Bay Area has not progressed in spite of having professional sports franchises. But, to the contrary, it has been able to lift its profile because of the visibility, exposure and the priceless amount of marketing these teams have been able to generate every time the letters "TB" flash across a television screen.
While a baseball franchise may not have been the best choice to get behind, now that they are here, and are having success, it doesn't seem to make much sense to let such a valuable com- modity get away.
Hopefully the people elected to do what's best for their cities will find a solution that will make everyone happy for years to come.
If they don't, not only do we lose a team we've grown to love but, some of our pride may also be lost during the process as well.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bulletin Publishing Company. You can contact Mr. Barr at: cbarronice@gmail.com.
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C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
“The depth of your mythol- ogy is the extent of your ef-
fectiveness.”
2. Communicates with a level of Excellency by having clear direc- tions. Effective leaders take time to open lines of communication. They listen and encourage dia- logue with an exchange of ideas. Objectives and strategies are dis- cussed routinely with feedback provided on progress.
3. Consistently exercises sound decision-making. Effective leaders make sound judgments based on ethical principles and their inher- ent values. They recognize that lives will be shifted, shaped and shaken by their actions. Good morals and good values lead to good decisions even in difficult sit- uations.
Anyone that has the fortitude, determination and will power can become an effective leader. It will not happen overnight, but with consistent training, education and
Empowered Greetings.
The last couple of weeks we have focused on developing the leader in you. Leadership is more than being called a leader.
Leaders must be effective to achieve successful results. The most effective leaders have three things in common.
1. A compelling vision that is precise. Effective leaders develop a vision that clarifies where their organization will be in the future. The vision is powerful and focused enough to define the quality and the benefits of achieving the vi- sion. This will motivate others to get behind the vision with full force to make it come to pass.
–John Maxwell
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