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Editorials/Columns
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The NINJA Is Still Kicking
n case you were wonder-
ing if contracting H.I.V. was still a possibility in 2015, considering all of the infor- mation and methods of de- tection available, actor Charlie Sheen has just an- nounced that he is indeed in- fected with the virus that causes AIDS after keeping it a heavily guarded secret for 4 years. And, in the language of the streets, "ISH just got real."
Sheen, an A-list Holly- wood insider known for his infamous womanizing and the former star of the televi- sion show “Two and A Half Men,” stands as the latest example of how this persistent virus could care less about an individual's economic, social, political or racial status. If a person ever slips up and begins to believe that it could never happen to them, this is a reminder that it most certainly can.
While current treatments make the chances of surviv- ing an unexpected encounter with the virus a lot better than before, having the H.I.V. crossbar check
marked on your medical records is still a major game changer. That is mainly be- cause, unless a person de- cides to go the creep route and spread his or her misery with others, he or she has to inform any potential love in- terests of his or her sta- tus.....The ultimate deal breaker that has been known to destroy many budding ro- mances.
The scariest thing, to me, about Sheen's case is that he is a multi-millionaire, het- erosexual, playboy who en- joys the company of beautiful women. You have to assume that he wasn't tricking with your average street-walking crack head. So that means, somewhere, there's a fairly attractive and well-kept woman still mingling in up- scale circles who may or may not know that she's harbor- ing a killer in her blood- stream.
Not too long ago, I remem- ber reading an article that linked the current rise in the spread of S.T.D.s across the board with the gaining popu- larity of social media.
According to researchers, now that people have access to casually hooking-up with individuals from all over the country through websites like Plenty of Fish, Tinder, Tagged and a host of other companies that cater to those who seek casual sexual expe- riences, viruses connected to infections like Gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and a host of other diseases are, allegedly, spreading more rapidly.
I don't know about anyone else but it seems, at least to me, that all of this makes navigating the singles scene a lot more daunting and adds an extremely high level of value to the practice of monogamy.
There was a time when being a man, who made a habit of gun slinging his weapon from bedpost to bed- post, was considered cool. But now that a fire is raging, seemingly out of control, and there is no way of knowing whose bedroom is in flames, this may be the best time for all of those potential Doc Holidays to keep their guns positioned inside of the one holster that they can trust. Get tested.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. Anyone wishing to contact Clarence Barr can email him at: reality- onice@yahoo.com.
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C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
Dr. W. W. Andrews: Farewell To A Community Friend
he world is on fire. But in the midst of the confusion and
flame, let us pause ever so sincerely to remember a man who was himself symbolic of all of the good and respectable things that make us human and humane. We refer to Dr. W. W. Andrews . . . Dr. Andrews to most . . . just plane Doc to an adoring few. For many of us he was larger than life, not be- cause he was flashy or eloquent, but because regardless of his medical degrees and awards that could well have stretched a country mile, Dr. W. W. Andrews was probably one of the humblest of men humanity ever made.
Now, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t get angry. A book could be written about good ol’ Doc Andrews’ slip of patience when his patients seemed to forget they were not the only ones who needed his help, that day. But his jokes were un- forgettable; his wise, quick smile was legend. And for many, his bedside manner was the next best thing to the presence of Jehovah himself. Are we saying Dr. Andrews thought him- self a god? No, not at all.
But because of his honesty, accessibility, and kindness in the most painful of moments, Dr. Andrews – who reminded some of ol’ Doc Adams of Gunsmoke fame - was the sun that could always be counted on to rise in the morning. But now, the sun has set. The doctor’s office is closed.
It is said that mankind is made in the image of God. Such may be so. But we know one thing: If God is a doctor, the late Dr. W. W. Andrews was without doubt, made in his image.
An Analysis
Stop Standing On The Sidelines
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
ell, it has finally hap-
pened. Some mem- bers of the Hillsborough County School Board have shown their hand and it’s any-
thing but pretty. Traditionally, the School
Board Vice Chairperson has automatically rotated into the Chairmanship without much fanfare.
In the past, voting for the new chair was done in private. But, on Tuesday, two things took place.
The first was to move the public speaking portion of the meeting before the vote was taken.
And, the second was the passing over of Doretha Edgecomb, the lone Black member of the Board.
They voted 4-3 for April Griffin as Chairperson and Cindy Stuart as the Vice Chairperson.
The four-pact --- Susan Valdes, April Griffin, Cindy Stuart and Sally Harris --- flexed its muscles, and the four-pack was born.
However, this should come
as no surprise for residents of Hillsborough County. Valdes, Griffin, and Stuart have been a threesome for a while. They just didn’t have the fourth person on their side.
In comes newly elected Sally Harris with the vote needed to dominate the Board and nullify its other members.
In a not so subtle manner, they showed their power by ousting MaryEllen Elia as Superintendent. And, the res- idents had to foot the bill to get rid of her.
Let’s not forget about the ESE teacher who made racist remarks about Black students. The four-pack went against Superintendent Jeff Eakins and overturned his suspension.
Now, they have shown their hand again and denied Mrs. Edgecomb her unspo- ken rightful place as Chairper- son.
Some African Americans who attended the meeting were beside themselves with anger. There was talk of a law- suit. Some called it racism.
Maybe it’s not racism, but it sure does dress in its cloth- ing. After all, why would they
choose this time to change the way things are done?
Why wasn’t the change made when Susan Valdes was to become Chairperson? Or, why not announce this year that the change would take place next year?
Some have criticized Mrs. Edgecomb about not being an advocate for the African American community. How- ever, we must remember that she can’t jump tall buildings in a single bound or don a cape and fly through the air.
When the dust settles, she only has one vote. But, what she has done in the commu- nity behind the scenes advo- cating for Black students is the best kept secret in town.
It’s too late to change what transpired on Tuesday. But, if you don’t want history to re- peat itself, then an all-out campaign to break up the four- pack must be waged.
The only way to make this happen is to show up and show out at the polls.
Carol Kurdell, Doretha Edgecomb, Susan Valdes and Cindy Stuart are up for re-election.
Folks, like every politician that disrespects US as a race, it is time to ‘Stop Standing On The Sidelines’ and go VOTE them out.
Car And Pay Day Loans: Both The Same For Black People
rom all appearances, the United States Consumer Fi- nancial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is under attack and the adage “If you don’t know your history, you’re
doomed to repeat it” may be about to come true on two fronts.
The first, HR1737, is an attack on regulatory instructions issued by the CFPB in 2013 that were designed to stop a long- standing practice of charging Black customers more for car loans than white customers with similar credit histories.
The second front is the “payday loan” industry, which is spending millions of dollars in lobbying funds to guarantee the continuation of the practice of charging the poor and eld- erly consumers outlandish interest rates for payday loans that exceed 100 percent.
Indeed, President Barack Obama, the CFPB, NAACP, Na- tional Urban League, and National Council of La Raza have all opposed the elimination of the car loan regulatory in- structions. Many of us remember the lawsuits filed in the 1990s that showed borrowers of color were more likely to be charged higher interest rates (“make ups”) than white bor- rowers.
Removing the regulations would, therefore, allow banks and car dealerships to once more charge higher interest rates to Blacks and Hispanic, then split the profit between them.
What we want to know is why are 13 members of the Con- gressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus supporting HR1737 and in essence reopening doors to racial discrimination in lending in the car industry?
Could it be we have had the fox watching the henhouse? Perhaps, they each need a history lesson.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5-A
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