An African American Voter’s Guide to Understanding Direct Democracy

Posted on March 27, 2012 by admin

How much do you really know about direct democracy? Most Americans demand for it without really understanding what it entails, its advantages and disadvantages, and how it works. If you want to completely comprehend this type of democracy, simply go over the following questions and answers.

What is Direct Democracy?

Direct democracy is a form of government in which the public decide which proposals should be accepted and what should become law. It is the exact opposite of representative democracy, which is when the people choose government officials to represent them an make the right choices for them.

How Can the Public Participate in Making Decisions?

In order for you to contribute to the lawmaking process, you will need to use one of these methods:

  • Referendum – This method is used when a proposal has been approved by the local or state’s government but isn’t popular with the public. With the help of a petition, the public will discover the popular vote and then submit it to their representatives.
  • Initiative – This method entails having a petition signed by a specific number of registered users to overturn a vote on certain proposals.
  • Recall – Through recall, voters can make the officials they elected to represent them leave their posts before their term comes to an end.

Why Should We Try for this Form of Democracy?

There are many advantages that tempt people to demand for direct democracy. First off, it allows individuals to vote on every issue, therefore enabling them to choose what should be legalized and what shouldn’t.

This form of democracy also ensures that the public will be more content with their government and less doubtful of its decisions. Finally, power will be in citizens’ hands rather than politicians, therefore corruption and other similar issues will be reduced on the long run.

Why Isn’t Direct Democracy Practiced Yet?

In spite of its advantages, this form of democracy has numerous challenges which prevent it from being practiced across the U.S. First off, with the power in people’s hands, mob rule and oppressed minorities can become an issue.

This is because the public aren’t equipped with the wisdom and knowledge required to make good decisions for the whole nation rather than just a single county or state. The same reason can also be used to justify the delays people may cause by proposing and rejecting silly proposals.

Is There a Way to Avoid the Pitfalls of Direct Democracy?

Yes. People can easily practice direct democracy without worrying about its problems. However, in order for that to happen, they need to do a few things. First off, the public should learn more about their country’s condition.

This means that they need to become more involved to find out what the Unite States needs rather than their own desires. The public should also work more closely with their representatives to learn how they make unbiased decisions. However, realistically speaking, this will take a considerable amount of time and a lot of effort on the citizens’ behalf.

So, if you’re interested in having direct democracy in the U.S., start working on yourself and others before the system.

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Letters from you

Posted on February 24, 2012 by admin

Hang in there

I really like your publication. I’ve forwarded it to friends who aren’t even African (some are married to Africans) and they love it. Looking forward to future issues. And your photos/graphics have improved greatly.
All the best,
Roey

 

Victims to Victors

You are really trying with this magazine. I really enjoy it. In particular, I was really touched by the victims to Victors story. It is unfortunate that in Africa, women still do not have any recourse when it comes to crimes against our bodies. Kudos to the writer for having the courage to tell her story and the determination to turn triumph into tragedy.
Amaka N.

 

Sex sells, but is the price too high?

Well, I have been following the progress of your magazine. It is growing indeed, but please don’t try too hard to be like other mainstream magazines, yes sex sells but as Africans should we be advocating it as a way to be successful?
Name withheld

 

Ladies, keep it real!

I came across this newsletter with my sister who had printed it out. It was interesting, even though it is directed at women. As a man I have to say I agree totally with Nwabu. I am tired of hearing girls complain about how there are no good men, when brothers like me who are hardworking regular Joes can’t get any action. I wish our African sisters would stop chasing after fool’s gold with their BMWs and Benz and take notice an up and coming Toyota corolla brother like me.
Deji

 

Not in a rush!

In my opinion, no woman who’s got enough God given pride in her should grovel to find a man for the sake of marriage just because she’s 29+. Where are the guarantees? A lot of women panic at that age, and rush into marriage with whichever male that happens to be available at the time, only to quickly rush out a few years later due to non-compromisable issues. Marriage is non-mandatory. It should be a thing of trust, friendship, companionship, and most importantly, love; rather than something to be rushed into for the sake of not being labeled an “old maid”. I’m not saying it’s okay for a woman to be too picky with men. However, there are some reasonable standards set by some females as a result of what they are capable of putting up with, and those should not be lowered for the mere sake of marriage. A woman’s got to take some pride in who she is and what she’s accomplished in life, and I believe that when the time is right, the right man will roll in. He may not be perfect, but he’ll definitely have been worth the wait.
Tochi O

 

Kudos

I applaud the effort that went into making this e-zine. It’s fresh and new, a healthy combination I must say! Keep up the good work!:)
Ann

 

And now a word from a brother

I am not a she or her but I find your magazine very interesting. Thanks a lot for the effort and time toward such a good outcome.
Henry

 

And now a word from another brother

Dear Editor, I have been studying your editorial statement with deep interest. This is an evolving project. I am looking forward to see “Nouveau Africana” departments focusing on love, fashion, romance, women achievers; a meeting point for African women
Benjamin

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Southeast San Diego Honors MLK With An ‘All Men March’

Posted on January 14, 2012 by admin

SAN DIEGO — On Monday, and this weekend, we honor the memory of Martin Luther King.

Tomorrow a group in southeast San Diego called 100 Strong will mark the occasion by hosting a march along Skyline Drive called the All Men March. 100 Strong president Mario D. Lewis says the march is part of a series of actions aimed at preventing violence and supporting families in the African American community.

He talked with KPBS Morning Edition host Tom Fudge, and spoke of a street corner in the neighborhood that was so well-known for violence and drug dealing it came to be called the “four corners of death.”

Lewis: A young man named Courtney Graham was murdered at the John Adams apartments and we wanted to do a call to action rally cry. And we then went up to the four corners of death and we had a rally to honor everybody who had lost their lives in this community, and we renamed it the four corners of life.

After that, we started reclaiming the community efforts and knocked on doors once a month, and we’ve knocked on 3,200 doors to date.

Fudge: Tell me what you’re going to be doing tomorrow.

Lewis: We are actually doing an All Men March. As we were knocking on the doors we noticed we didn’t see men participating in anything in the community. So one of our good young members of 100 Strong thought of having an all-men march to bring men together in unity, and find out what we can do to make things better for us.

The march is basically to hold men accountable for their actions. To help them build family relationships, for them to become the natural-born leaders they are in their communities and as mentors, also.

Fudge: Why do you think black men suffer from the kind of despair to not be involved in their communities and, in some cases, not be involved with their families?

Lewis: I don’t think it’s necessarily all black men. I know that with our young men here we don’t have… When I grew up we respected elders and we respected family. We basically learned from our fathers. Unfortunately this community, along with other communities across the nation, was hit with crack cocaine in the late ‘80s, and that caused deep divides among families.

So now you’ve got a situation where… and I’m going to be real honest here… you’ve got a lot of men who don’t have proper guidance. And the only way we can reach those young me is to become the natural leaders that we say we are, and to become mentors to these young men, and to these young ladies also.

Fudge: Is there anything that gives you the impression that your message is getting through to people?

Lewis: Yes, pretty much so! They had a gang war here not too long ago. And the efforts we put in at reclaiming the community, and also the peace coalitions standing on the corners, and the high police presence… I think because of those combined efforts, we haven’t had a shooting since September.

Fudge: And how do you think this all relates to the message of Martin Luther King?

Lewis: I think it all comes together. For one thing, Martin Luther King’s dream is still alive, and we’re still trying to fulfill the dream. We’re still far from the dream, but I think if we work hard as men and women in this community that dream is obtainable.

We actually changed the date of this march a couple of times because we wanted to bring it around this time. You know, we’re going to be having some signs up that say, I Am a Man. Those signs represented a couple of marches that Martin Luther King did. They were actually labor marches. But ‘I Am a Man’ is very significant for what we’re trying to get with our message. And to end the march at the only park in San Diego with his namesake, I think is very significant with what we’re trying to do.

Note: The All Men March ends at Dr. Martin Luther King Park, on Skyline Drive. It begins Saturday morning at 8:30 at Morse High School.

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STDs & Black Men

Posted on December 28, 2011 by admin

What to Do if you Have an STD

If you have found you have symptoms relating to a specific STD, you may be in a bit of a panic, which is understandable, but panicking is simply not something that you want to do. First of all, there are several STD’s that share symptoms with other conditions, for instance a fever does not necessarily point to your having Chlamydia. In addition to that there are a few skin conditions and allergic reactions that can take on an appearance similar to herpes. As we said, don’t panic. Now that this is out of the way, what should you do?

Check with a Physician

Even though you have verified your symptoms online, it would still be a good idea to make sure you check with a good physician. This might sound a bit silly, especially if you KNOW you have the condition, and it might even be a little embarrassing. Then again it could also be scary for you to actually receive confirmation. By checking with a physician however you can confirm your condition, and even get help if required.

If you Have It

In the event you actually do have an STD, you will need to do a few things. First of all, try to find the source. If the individual that gave it to you does not know they suffer from it, they could have a rather serious problem. In addition to that if you have been sexually active recently, it would be a good idea for you to make sure you speak with your partners and warn them that the might be facing a sexually transmitted disease.

Seek Treatment

Not all STD’s are life threatening or terminal, and with that being the case, you can seek treatment for your condition. In many cases the STD can be cleared up entirely which will permit you to live your life in a normal fashion.

In conclusion we would again state that an STD is simply not the end of the world. It might seem like it, but most can be treated, and even the more severe STD’s can be coexisted with. The important thing to remember if you are afflicted by an STD is that information is key! Learn all you can about your condition and make sure you maintain a healthy lifestyle. It might sound a bit difficult at first, but it can be done, and you can push for the life you’ve been dreaming of ever since you first noticed your symptoms. Yes, life will be a little different form this point onward, but sometimes you simply have to slip into a new ‘normal’, and sometimes it is not all that bad.

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Rent Plasma and Video Walls for Trade Fairs

Posted on December 21, 2011 by admin

If you are in the advertising business, then you know how much of an impact a single plasma video wall can have in a trade fair. By dint of size, clarity and color reproduction, they are able to attract more people to a stall than shouting at them would ever do! You don’t even have to buy them even if you need them for a single event. Renting plasma video walls can prove cost effective all without losing the impact they are famous for.

What are they used for?

Large plasma video walls serve to present multimedia content like still images and high quality videos for either advertising or general purposes. These have proven themselves invaluable for large businesses that need powerful advertising campaigns to influence their industry.

Many prefer to use them in large gatherings such as trade fairs, business conferences, training etc. The popular types of video walls are the DLP, OLED and AMLCD. The main benefit of this technology is that high quality and large images can be reconstructed on their huge screens due to its thinness.

The more popular plasma video walls tend to be those that are 42-61 inches in size especially during trade shows. Another reason for their preference is that despite their huge girth, they can be mounted on walls or even placed on a surface (like a table top or countertop) without fear of it breaking it.

Plasma video walls on the other hand are much larger and are usually placed independently in a trade show. These also come in a variety of sizes ranging from 2 x 2 feet to 4 x 4 feet. However, you have the option of customizing them according to your trade show’s requirements.

How do they work?

Video wall technology consists of a large number of plasma screens placed side by side to form a single, large display. Each screen will hold a single part of a whole image, the rest of which are distributed by all the other screens attached to it in a cohesive manner. The overall effect is a seamless and large image or video projection.

Why you should rent plasma video walls?

The following are some reasons why renting a plasma video wall is perfect for your business:

  1. Plasma video walls are usually very expensive items to purchase. Renting one for a trade show is a better idea since it won’t cost you as much as buying one would. The second choice is preferable especially if you need a plasma display for a few times a year only.
  2. Every time you rent a plasma display, you will be privy to new models emerging in the market.
  3. Renting one as opposed to purchasing a plasma video wall is preferable since the shipping and transportation of the unit will be handled by the rental company. They are skilled enough to handle this delicate piece of equipment without damaging it.
  4. You might not need an overly large display for your trade fair every year. You will waste your money if you buy one that proves useless later then. Renting a plasma video wall is preferable since you can actually pick the dimensions you would like.

A plasma video wall is just one of a long range of presentation solutions you can use to give your booth that extra spark. There are a large number of such solutions available online that you can utilize according to your requirements.

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