by Katie Schaarschmidt
The steady beat of the horses’ hooves is the rhythm of reminiscence. The easy pace reveals things before never seen on a street I thought I knew. I consider a horse drawn carriage ride to be one of the most relaxing outdoor activities and very conducive to thought and good conversation. In my own home town, I am graced by hidden wonders always overlooked in my busy everyday life. When I travel to other destinations, a buggy ride is, in my opinion, the best way to take in the sights.
Something has been sapped from our lives by convenience and speed. I’m sure you’ve heard this statistic before; we now absorb over 3,000 messages per day through television, radio, billboards, cell phones and other technologies that make our world faster and more compact. If you’ve read letters or literature from the eighteenth century, you may wonder how those individuals were able to put such simple thoughts into such beautiful language! I believe it is because they had time to think. Time using simple transportation... walking.... riding in a carriage...sitting by a fire each night, rather than a television.
If you have the opportunity this Christmas to take advantage of a carriage ride, bring along friends and family members for warm holiday conversation. Cuddle up in a blanket and see your own streets as never before. Reconnect with your partner on a cold winter eve. Take the time to think, talk and enjoy the steady beat of devoted hooves.
Note:
Most have heard horror stories of abused carriage horses. As a horse enthusiast and former carriage company owner, I wouldn’t want to endorse support of these enterprises, so I offer these warning signs. If a carriage horse is well fed, you will not see his ribs. A few ripples is acceptable, just as some people have faster metabolisms than others, but I prefer to see no ribs. If the horse is content with his work, his ears will point forward at least half of the time. If his ears prick back and forth, he is probably just listening to his driver and passengers. I talked to my horses all the time. Most driving horses know voice commands and will need to prick their ears towards the driver often. What you do not want to see are both ears pinned back a good portion of the time. This most likely means that the horse is not happy with his working conditions or is possibly in pain. Obviously do not ask a limping horse to pull you in a carriage.
If worked and cared for properly, most driving horses enjoy their work. Before and after your ride, the horse may like a pat on the neck or pet of the nose, but ask your driver first!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
“The White House v. Fox News”
by Katie Schaarschmidt
"It’s not so much a conflict with Fox News," White House Senior Advisor Rahm Emanuel told John King. "I suppose the way to look at it and the way … the president looks at it, we look at it is: It’s not a news organization so much as it has a perspective.”
Well, havn't we all! I have yet to find a news organization that does NOT host a perspective. Every news room has a producer and every producer has a perspective. Try as he may, his perspective will most likely seep through the air waves somehow, even if only by choice of exclusion and inclusion. But thats the beauty of America isn’t it? All media; newspapers, internet and television offer a unique style and perspective. The true weakness of American media is the consumer who simply regurgitates the perspective they are fed most often, rather than thinking through the issues themselves.
They can be found on both sides of the spectrum, the conservative who believes whatever the preacher suggests and the liberal who often accepts the opinion of what feels best and allows most. But experience has taught me that neither people nor feelings can be trusted and coming to honest conclusions is never easy. Truth must be sought out. It does not come “ready made” on any news media, as so many things in our current culture are.
If everything you consume is ready made and from the same source, (fast food, convenience food) you will most likely experience an early demise. Just as, if you consume whatever news source is most popular in your current circle of influence in order to engage in conversation effortlessly each day, you’re missing out.
But if you take some extra time to take control of your own nutrition, you’re better off in the long run. Similarly, if you take the time to glean from several sources and beyond that, mix in some good old fashioned reasoning, you’ll be surprised what benefits you will encounter!
Emanuel added, “And more importantly, is not have the CNNs and the others in the world basically be led in following Fox, as if what they’re trying to do is a legitimate news organization.”
In my opinion, the CNNs, BCCs and Fox News Stations should keep their freedom of speech. But Americans must take control of their own media consumption before it gains control of them.
"It’s not so much a conflict with Fox News," White House Senior Advisor Rahm Emanuel told John King. "I suppose the way to look at it and the way … the president looks at it, we look at it is: It’s not a news organization so much as it has a perspective.”
Well, havn't we all! I have yet to find a news organization that does NOT host a perspective. Every news room has a producer and every producer has a perspective. Try as he may, his perspective will most likely seep through the air waves somehow, even if only by choice of exclusion and inclusion. But thats the beauty of America isn’t it? All media; newspapers, internet and television offer a unique style and perspective. The true weakness of American media is the consumer who simply regurgitates the perspective they are fed most often, rather than thinking through the issues themselves.
They can be found on both sides of the spectrum, the conservative who believes whatever the preacher suggests and the liberal who often accepts the opinion of what feels best and allows most. But experience has taught me that neither people nor feelings can be trusted and coming to honest conclusions is never easy. Truth must be sought out. It does not come “ready made” on any news media, as so many things in our current culture are.
If everything you consume is ready made and from the same source, (fast food, convenience food) you will most likely experience an early demise. Just as, if you consume whatever news source is most popular in your current circle of influence in order to engage in conversation effortlessly each day, you’re missing out.
But if you take some extra time to take control of your own nutrition, you’re better off in the long run. Similarly, if you take the time to glean from several sources and beyond that, mix in some good old fashioned reasoning, you’ll be surprised what benefits you will encounter!
Emanuel added, “And more importantly, is not have the CNNs and the others in the world basically be led in following Fox, as if what they’re trying to do is a legitimate news organization.”
In my opinion, the CNNs, BCCs and Fox News Stations should keep their freedom of speech. But Americans must take control of their own media consumption before it gains control of them.
“Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License”
by Katie Schaarschmidt
Keith Bardwell, a white justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish in southeastern Louisiana, refused to issue a marriage license to interracial couple Beth Humphrey, 30 and Terence McKay, 32, both of Hammond, LA. In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Bardwell said, "I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way."
He told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith, "I've had countless numbers of people that was born in that situation, and that they claim that the blacks or the whites didn't accept the children. And I didn't want to put the children in that position. There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."
Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.
Humphrey was shocked at the denial and McKay Commented, "He's not going to marry us because you’re black, and I'm white. ... It's 2009."
Humphrey and McKay were wed by another justice of the peace in the same parish on October 9. According to Humphrey, they have obtained a lawyer and are considering further legal action.
"We would like him to resign," Beth McKay said. "He doesn't believe he's being racist, but it is racist."
"The law says that I cannot deny mixed race marriages," Bardwell said. "And that means prevent them from getting married. And I did not prevent them getting married." He said his wife referred the couple to another justice of the peace.
Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them. During his 30 year career, Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four different couples, all within the past 2 1/2 years.
Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal commented Friday, "This is a clear violation of constitutional rights and federal and state law. ... disciplinary action should be taken immediately -- including the revoking of his license."
Bardwell’s response was that he doesn’t have a license. "I'm an elected official," he said. "So he quite didn't know what he was talking about by losing my license."
On October 18, the National Urban League of Greater New Orleans released this statement on Justice's Refusal to Marry Interracial Couple.
"In light of the erroneous statement by the Louisiana Justice Keith Bardwell, who seems to be unaware of the U.S. Constitution, we are asking the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division to conduct an immediate investigation into the civil rights violation by Justice Keith Bardwell's refusal to marry an interracial couple. This is a huge step backward in social justice and must not be tolerated."
Other organizations calling for Bardwell’s resignation are the American Civil Liberties Union in Louisiana, the Center for Constitutional Rights and Justice and the Hammond chapter of the NAACP.
Opinion “ Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License”
by Katie Schaarschmidt
If Bardwell’s conclusion is correct and “most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society” would it be the appropriate course of action to try to prevent the possibility of the offspring of “such relationships?”
According to an article by Kelly N. Burrello of Diversity Training Group, “ugly slurs like ‘Oreo,’ ‘half-breed,’ and ‘mutt’ are often used. Many biracial children are pressured by their peers to choose one race and stay with it. They might be encouraged to ‘hang black,’ ‘go white,’ ‘kick it Latino,’ or ‘roll Asian.’ In extreme cases, there are reports of mixed race children being slung into lockers, or beaten up in school bathrooms or parking lots because they do not conform to a single racial identity. The homes of interracial families have reportedly been targets of hate crimes by members of their communities who do not accept mixed race households.”
One could argue that perhaps the issue lies not in the racial genealogy of the child, but in these sects of society who choose not to accept these children. Surely the outcome of the previous presidential election gives some insight to the general public’s opinion of mixed race children. Since Americans have elected Barack Obama, a person of mixed race, as President, how can Bardwell justify his claim that mixed race children are generally not accepted by either culture? Lets take a vote!
As of the 2000 census, Tangipahoa Parish is 70 percent white and 30 percent black. Less than one percent are of mixed race. Thirty years ago, only one in every 100 children born in the United States was of mixed race. Today that number is one in 19. In states like California and Washington it's closer to one in 10 (Newsweek, May 8, 2000). My advice to the newly weds is to move on to a more culturally diverse area of the country.
In 1997 Interface, a magazine which targets interracial couples conducted a poll, "Best & Worst Cities To Live," with its readers and found the top ten cities for interracial couples (ranked in order of preference):
1. Montclair, NJ
2. San Jose, CA
3. Denver, CO
4. San Diego, CA
5. Washington, DC
6. Seattle, WA
7. Minneapolis, MN
8. Madison, MN
9. Oakland, CA
10. Columbus, OH
Keith Bardwell, a white justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish in southeastern Louisiana, refused to issue a marriage license to interracial couple Beth Humphrey, 30 and Terence McKay, 32, both of Hammond, LA. In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Bardwell said, "I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way."
He told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith, "I've had countless numbers of people that was born in that situation, and that they claim that the blacks or the whites didn't accept the children. And I didn't want to put the children in that position. There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."
Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.
Humphrey was shocked at the denial and McKay Commented, "He's not going to marry us because you’re black, and I'm white. ... It's 2009."
Humphrey and McKay were wed by another justice of the peace in the same parish on October 9. According to Humphrey, they have obtained a lawyer and are considering further legal action.
"We would like him to resign," Beth McKay said. "He doesn't believe he's being racist, but it is racist."
"The law says that I cannot deny mixed race marriages," Bardwell said. "And that means prevent them from getting married. And I did not prevent them getting married." He said his wife referred the couple to another justice of the peace.
Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them. During his 30 year career, Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four different couples, all within the past 2 1/2 years.
Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal commented Friday, "This is a clear violation of constitutional rights and federal and state law. ... disciplinary action should be taken immediately -- including the revoking of his license."
Bardwell’s response was that he doesn’t have a license. "I'm an elected official," he said. "So he quite didn't know what he was talking about by losing my license."
On October 18, the National Urban League of Greater New Orleans released this statement on Justice's Refusal to Marry Interracial Couple.
"In light of the erroneous statement by the Louisiana Justice Keith Bardwell, who seems to be unaware of the U.S. Constitution, we are asking the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division to conduct an immediate investigation into the civil rights violation by Justice Keith Bardwell's refusal to marry an interracial couple. This is a huge step backward in social justice and must not be tolerated."
Other organizations calling for Bardwell’s resignation are the American Civil Liberties Union in Louisiana, the Center for Constitutional Rights and Justice and the Hammond chapter of the NAACP.
Opinion “ Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License”
by Katie Schaarschmidt
If Bardwell’s conclusion is correct and “most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society” would it be the appropriate course of action to try to prevent the possibility of the offspring of “such relationships?”
According to an article by Kelly N. Burrello of Diversity Training Group, “ugly slurs like ‘Oreo,’ ‘half-breed,’ and ‘mutt’ are often used. Many biracial children are pressured by their peers to choose one race and stay with it. They might be encouraged to ‘hang black,’ ‘go white,’ ‘kick it Latino,’ or ‘roll Asian.’ In extreme cases, there are reports of mixed race children being slung into lockers, or beaten up in school bathrooms or parking lots because they do not conform to a single racial identity. The homes of interracial families have reportedly been targets of hate crimes by members of their communities who do not accept mixed race households.”
One could argue that perhaps the issue lies not in the racial genealogy of the child, but in these sects of society who choose not to accept these children. Surely the outcome of the previous presidential election gives some insight to the general public’s opinion of mixed race children. Since Americans have elected Barack Obama, a person of mixed race, as President, how can Bardwell justify his claim that mixed race children are generally not accepted by either culture? Lets take a vote!
As of the 2000 census, Tangipahoa Parish is 70 percent white and 30 percent black. Less than one percent are of mixed race. Thirty years ago, only one in every 100 children born in the United States was of mixed race. Today that number is one in 19. In states like California and Washington it's closer to one in 10 (Newsweek, May 8, 2000). My advice to the newly weds is to move on to a more culturally diverse area of the country.
In 1997 Interface, a magazine which targets interracial couples conducted a poll, "Best & Worst Cities To Live," with its readers and found the top ten cities for interracial couples (ranked in order of preference):
1. Montclair, NJ
2. San Jose, CA
3. Denver, CO
4. San Diego, CA
5. Washington, DC
6. Seattle, WA
7. Minneapolis, MN
8. Madison, MN
9. Oakland, CA
10. Columbus, OH
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)