Cultural Studies of United States of America

2008-03-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

Fox News or Fox fellows ??!

There is a saying in Iran, when a fox was asked for a witness not being responsible for a wrong action, he replied "My tail witnessed". Now this is a similar for Fox News when it claims Iran's parliamentary election was not democratic. If it was not , whose election is democratic?
The elections in US are totally in vain; as everyone knows Zionists and their fellow in Bush's regime and among Republicans and Democrats do not allow people's real candidates prevail. American presidential elections is not democratic for its indirect election of president, people like to elect their president by their own vote not by their representatives. This is enjoyable for a citizen to see his/her choice has been elected or vice versa, but when a person looks she/he has not any impression or very little does not feel responsibility to bias government. The American politicians' tendency toward elites seems somehow abuse of citizens' rights. The people in America choose members of Electoral College to elect president for people. This is not democratic and none of republic governments throughout world do such a way. This is surprising for us , Iranians, to see how American people allow their rights to be abused so overtly and just watch it ??!
Now Fox News, that is really a true name for an American governmental journal?!?, claims about trustiness of elections in Iran. All of us know eagle as American sign of power, eagle's fame is because of its keenness on subjects but I don’t know how Americans undergo such stupid politicians and administrators. The US government spokesman claims Iranians do not know how to elect. It seems that Bush's regime likes to learn true election!!! Please don’t take pity on us, Mr. Bush!
During thirty years after Iran's revolution in 1979, people took part in thirty elections, what does it mean? Everybody casted his ballot. If people in Iran lived in America would not participate in election in which they had no right to choose their own choice. This is not democratic. The US goes toward dictatorship and people just think that they are free, tis true that they have election but they are entangled by media of elites. The people just see elites because it is propagated by meida ,films,news and other sources of information. The American political and social system goes toward a caste system not a free one.
Finally we, the people of Iran , recommend American politicians not to be as Iranian proverb when it says " blind for myself but discreet for others".

2007-06-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

The Satanic Verses and fool Knights of UK

Close to 18 years passes from the time Salman Rushdie wrote a book entitled "Satanic Verses". A very foolish novel on holy prophet of Islam that angered Muslims throughout the world and Imam Khomeini, the great leader of Iran sentenced Rushdie to death. At that time many European countries as well as US condemned this edict and proclaimed it against the freedom of speech. After the edict, Rushdie started his hidden life and according to news he continually changed his position not to be killed by terrorists.
Some days before Elizabeth the second, queen of England, on her birthday gave Rushdie the title of the knight of British Empire. It is said that Toni Blair who is close to be set aside from Prime Minister of England introduced him to queen for this title. The British monarchy gave this title one of its envoy, Shapour Reporter, after he succeeded to finish his mission for toppling Mosaddegh's government in August 19, 1953. Here are some points:
1- Why Toni Blair introduced Rushdie at this time? The reaction of Muslim throughout world was harsh, as in Pakistan Protesters burned the effigies of queen and Rushdie. Ijaz al Hagh, minister of religion in Pakistan, said that it would not be so strange if some Muslims tie suicide bombs to explode in London. Toni Blair recently after assertion of defeat of alliance forces in Iraq has been under attack by his opponents in UK government. He accepted to resign up to present July. Now he deplores Rushdie and offers him to queen. Maybe any harsh reaction by Muslims can help Tony Blair and George Bush to justify themselves to attack on Iraq.
2- Salman Rushdie "The apostate" repented for his silly action, although the edict on him was re-justified by Ayatollah Khameneii. Rushdie by his action showed that he insists on his action and passing the time has not changed his idea in spite of his repentance.
3- To represent Muslims as undemocratic and forcible nation to westerners at the time all world believe in Bush and Blair as liars can be a conspiracy and plot for future. It may be followed by some terrorist actions in Europe especially in England as some journalists believe.
The offer of the sign of Knight, by itself, is a kind of formalizing Rushdie's action to people of the world that tries to show the importance of his action against undemocratic Muslims. It shows that this is a Muslim man who criticizes Islam and prophet not a Christian or Jew. A multi dimensional attack on Islam.
The attack of Rushdie on Islam and prophet is not on logic but some superficial issue that he, as one who has been once a Muslim, did not comprehend, some issue such as why prophet married several times and with whom and why. He looked on the issue as illiterate and common people look and made a novel based on his mentally diseased thought about the relation between prophet and one of his enemies, Hind. Generally UK and US by their support on such actions can not justify them, as some authorities and institutions such as Common House of England did not accept to support Rushdie and announced his intention as a blasphemous action. Salman Rushdie should know that as puppet they will play with him until they need him and then throw him away.
There was on the news that Toni Blair expects to be named as peace envoy in Middle East, I don’t know how a man who works against Muslims can be peace messenger in a region most of people are Muslims, is he an insane ?

2007-06-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

US soldiers commit suicide more than other Americans( BBC news agency)

A new study in US indicated that soldiers suicide twice more than others. Scholars studied data related to 320,890 men served in US army during 1917-1994. Apparently white, educated and elders were more at risk or those who suffered physical or sentimental disabilities. They believe the consequences justify the necessity of psychological care for those soldiers served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The consequences of the research published in a magazine “epidemiology and Social Sanitation” included men who served US during WWII, Vietnam war , Korean War and Persian gulf War. It was said that the suicide rate among those who served in army doubled than those had not served at all. The veterans used arms to suicide doubled than others. It also showed that veterans with added weight committed less than others. Although the research did not included the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan but researchers said that the results may point to them, too.
Analysis
Maybe this is not the first time we hear such news or results. I, myself, some years ago heard and read in news papers that those American pilots of Jet fighters who bombarded Hiroshima and Nagasaki, somehow, drove mad. Attending war with no being wounded or injured affect every one that has seen the violent scenes of those who have been killed or with some of member cut off. American soldiers who returned home from Vietnam War not welcome so good. Many of these soldiers later attended some terrorist operations like Timothy Mc Veigh, Terry Nichols who attended Persian Gulf War in 1992. Mc Veigh and Nichols cooperated in bombing Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City where 168 were killed. They did because of Dravidians in Waco, Texas who were captured and killed by FBI attack on 1992. Mc Veigh was said to use Methamphetamine that according to physicians affects on brain in way person suffers hallucination and paranoia.
Fighting needs motive. Although American soldiers are being encouraged before going war but lack of conscious about the final target leads them to nihilism and nonsense. A veteran after years will think on the target he has gone war and if he could not find a good answer for his question would see his life in vain. Once a psychologist talked about old men when they reached seventy. He said “they look on their life a careful look to see if they had been successful or not, they look on their career, their children, their ambitions, if they have been successful through heir their life , it would be effective to continue their life and it may affect on the longitude of their life.” A soldier should feel that he has been effective and useful for his country. If he does, he would be proud of himself.
The sense of being useful is one of humanitarian beliefs. As a person thinks on his harm for society, so he can not respect himself and the one who does no respect himself, can not respect others.
As another important factor, what makes difference between US soldiers and Iranian soldiers, as Baseej or in army, is that Iranians mixed religion and patriotism and made a strong mixture by which they got more power. Patriotism by itself can not make sense of sainthood. An American soldier is on the edge of suspicion, On the one hand he is said to be right to attack on enemy as dangerous terrorist but on the other hand, he witnesses how many innocent people are killed. The conscious awakes him but the function says something else. So what is the best way to avoid commander’s order?
Today if it is said US soldiers tolerate burdens of the Iraq war more than others, it would not be so bluff. He should carry the burdens of defeat in American society, the psychological and physical damages he would bring with himself to his family. The researchers suggest that military official should be aware of the results of war on US soldiers to avoid what happened to previous veterans, but Iranians say “There is no solution for what you, yourselves, have done”.

2007-06-12T03:54:00.000-07:00

″300 Spartans": A war for all seasons

Using movie for some decades is considered as a way for American public diplomacy's experts to confront their enemies that in real war with them they had not any success such as Vietnamese and Russian, although with them US never had any real war. This is a best way for American to promote their political ideas through cultural products as it will take fewer prices than wars.
The history of US in twenty century is full of reasons for persuasion of people inside and outside of America that, at the top of them, we can see the most influential mottos as "Promotion of Democracy". The United States as country which, historically, wanted to be at the top needed to show itself authentic as well as reliable so by a very carefully public diplomacy not only for its people but for all people throughout world tended to seek its political and economical interests and security through impact on conscious and knowledge of people in foreign countries as well as American citizens and corporations.
At the present time in which to convince people is very hard for politicians and every event is considered by people through scientific eyes, so playing with scientific rules and events can be very efficient to make Americans' face legitimate to the world. As Habermas in "Legitimation Crisis", believes that "politics no longer can presuppose the bases of decision-making but it might define that for itself. Politicians have to be able to legitimize itself, according to chances for compromises, and seeks for consequences."[1]
The movies are used in best way by Americans to draw and shock the eyes (Hypnotism) and brainwash people by American ideology. Many movies during cold war were produced to show Americans' success in all aspects such as politics, sport etc. The series such as The Rockies ( I , II,III,IV), The First Blood ( Rambo), Star Wars ( I,II,III,IV ) and recently 300 Spartans in which it is tried to show the superiority of western culture against Eastern barbarism.
The use of cultural products as movies are considered as soft power to ruin the character of enemy psychologically as it is a logical way to legitimize their future actions. The movie "300" by Hollywood is now considered as one of political products in sensitive situation between US and Iran as is deemed to be conflict between East and West. The plot of story is based on partially truth as well as a hallucination of an ill-minded writer. The Spartan kings, Leonidas, although all in ancient Greece as well as Representatives are not consent to send troops to fight Persians' king, Xerxes, to show their bravery and respect to Sparta. Leonidas remembers spectators G.W. Bush isolated by Americans as well as Congress refusing to fund troops in Iraq.
The movie like all American one promotes savagery from the first parts. As one sees title he can be sure he will see bloodshed. Moving toward Sparta, Persian messengers seem to attack there by their arms hanging their backs. The Persians depicted not to respect women as messenger wants Leonidas' wife not to interfere in conversation. Showing Persians very horrifying and with no mercy by a firing city and a boy dying on Leonidas' hands, Greeks are depicted holy as Zeus, the Greeks' greatest god, sank the Persians' fleets. Leonidas encourages his troops to resist against tyranny as if Bush standing in front of American soldiers encourages them to save Iraqi people from Saddam's tyranny.

One of interesting scene of the film is the similarity between what Bush and Neo-cons believe on Iran's struggle to have access Nuclear arms and showing a monster and some explosions as if director wants to depict and personify this threat to Americans because as we know personification is one American ideology and they like to image everything even spiritual and to embody them so it is very useful way to scare American masses as a powerful instrument as Noam Chomsky believes in Deterring Democracy. According to American idea Satan lives among people and it can be personify like human. Showing magicians and nomadic people stress on Asian and eastern superstitious beliefs. In general it has focused on superiority of western ideology and democracy over easterners.In general, these cultural products can help political leaders to show legitimacy and correctness of their claims to American easy- believers. America for its policy that include intervention in countries with rogue state need to shape public opinion not only in US but whole world by mass media.
[1] -هابرماس .يورگن. بحران مشروعيت تئوري دولت سرمايه داري مدرن . ترجمه جهانگير معيني . تهران . گام نو. ص 262

2007-06-12T03:50:00.000-07:00

What does Future say for US in terms of population?
By: Seyyed Hasan Salehzadeh

By looking on Bureau of American Census site, one may ask himself what does future say for US in terms of population. Is US a country that is going to be a fractious nation as some like J. Reider believe?[1] What do really people do in country which is going to have four hundred million people in not more than thirty years in future? A country with one-third of population includes minorities who have higher fertility rate than whites in spite of their low income. Are White Nationalists rights when they fear of future? Or is W.A.S.P. right to do and to have racist tendencies toward racial groups? How do minority groups endure social inequalities and its consequences? Is America going toward splitting up or fraction?
By looking on socioeconomic and political condition of minorities easily one can predict if such a condition had occurred in other countries certainly they would have split up. But why it has not happened in US yet? Maybe the answer is because they are immigrants so they do not suppose any right to claim against European white Anglo Saxons. If it is hypothetically true, up to what time it will continue? If in future the population of whites and non-whites would get equal, does the white supremacy in different dimensions of government would have legitimacy? Would Hispanics and African-Americans justify government majority of officials are whites? The answer is certainly "not". The power is something that undoubtedly each minority group would seek for among majority.
Many political and social scholars and thinkers predict some crises in American societies. Samuel Huntington, Professor of Harvard University who has written some books on politics such as "Clash of Civilizations" and "Who Are We?" in the latter has explained about the challenges of identity in American societies at present and future. He believes the rise of sub- national identities are equal to deconstruction of United States. He gives some clues of 1960s when some movements began declining of the values of American identities that their main core of them was liberal democracy that tended to unite Americans of different ethnicities and races. They defined America as a conglomerate of races, ethnicities and sub national cultures while some concepts as melting pot and tomato soup were rejected of Americans and instead the concepts such as mosaic and salad bowl were offered. As Huntington indicates the rise of different identities puts national identity at risk and deconstructs national unity.[2]
What will happen if the population of minorities increases so rapidly? According to accounts by American Bureau of Census the growth of population among minorities shows most percentage. The Hispanics with %3 and African- Americans with %2.2 have higher fertility rate than whites (1997). So the population of both Hispanics and African-Americans will grow in one and twice more than others. According to statistics on immigrants come legally and illegally from southern borders, especially from Mexico, the US government and Republicans seek for restriction, so the FR (fertility rate) will increase more than past because majority of immigrants are in fertility ages. By looking at maps of minorities it can be understood that most of Hispanics live in western and southern halves of the country as well as in some parts of northeastern and southeastern (Florida).The African-Americans generally live in eastern coasts of US in some states from Massachusetts to Texas as in west they live regularly in California, Arizona and Nevada. Asians and Pacific Islanders generally live in western half (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington and Oregon) as some portions live in northeastern and southeastern. Indian and Alaska natives mostly in west and southwestern states as New Mexico, Arizona, and California as in northern half in scattered way in different states from Dakota to Washington. As mentioned three main groups as Hispanics, African-Americans and Asians live in most populated in northern and southwestern parts of America. As majority of immigrants choose regions to live that residents are similar in race and language to live with no problem, so western parts of US are supposed to have most populated of Hispanics in forthcoming years. Some issues as job, language and security probably will put whites Hispanics against each other. Now in some parts in west, Hispanics request for their children to be taught Spanish as they are learning English. It should be considered as one of sparkles of separation. Maybe they are right to wish their children learn their mother tongue in schools as one formal language but here we discuss on national identity and unity not rights even though they are related directly together.
Whites are concern about what was discussed on population. During recent decades some groups claim not to be racist but favor the separation of races, even seek for removing and dismissing them from country increased. They are called White Nationalist. Their leaders sometimes by racial approach or ethnically confront minority groups. Some groups as W.A.S.P just support white protestant Anglo-Saxons and even oppose Jews, although they (Jews) are most influential in economy and politics. Some groups by religious approach confront other religions' followers such Muslims, Arabs and Jews. An African-American scholar, Carol Swain, who has written a book "New White Nationalism; a Challenge to Integration" gives some information about these groups and warns about their actions and targets as well. She is of minority group discusses against Affirmative Action as a factor that worsens the relation between whites and minorities and makes motives to real separation.[3] By some field researches she has explained the motivation and intention of anti- minorities' activists like interview with some activists such as Lisa Turner and Jared Taylor or some sites founded by these groups to issue and develop their thoughts like American Renaissance [4] that now is active and Jared Taylor manages this site in which every day you see news from north America and northern Europe on colored skins. The news is abridged and viewers are asked to put their comments .The viewers usually are from anti-minorities groups who write their comments against colored people.
As number of colored people increases the number of terrorist and racist groups increase in parallel. Some of them ask for separation of US as one them announced that tends to separate some states from northwestern like Washington, Oregon and Idaho to build a territory without any colored people in it. Some of nationalist groups have done military actions for some times. Although they were suppressed by states or federal policemen but the existence of such sentiments and tendencies in a country that seeks for harmony to unite all racial and ethnic groups is decisive and vital.
In general either such mutual sentiments or feelings are resisted against or not, the growth of disparities and oppositions in US is decisive. The leaders and officials in states and federal should find stronger norms to keep and continue national unity, as the present norms (American values such as flag, liberalism…) are not so reliable and as Huntington indicates they are important when US involves in such a crisis as 9/11[5], unless on other occasions the crisis will show itself again.

[1] -Rieder, Jonathan, 2003, The Fractious Nation?
[2] - Huntington, Samuel, WHO ARE WE?, p. 141
[3] - Swain, Carol, 2003, New White Nationalism; a Challenge to Integration, p. 58
[4] - www.amren.com
[5] - WHO ARE WE?, p. 8

2007-05-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Cost of Freedom of Speech

On Thursday, April 12, a gang of Somali thugs on a downtown Oslo street attacked Kadra, a Somali woman who now lives in Norway, and beat her senseless, breaking several of her ribs. They were enraged at her for her recent statement that the Qur’an’s views of women needed reevaluation. They also might have been angry because of her role in revealing the widespread support among imams in Norway for female genital mutilation; Kadra exposed their support for this horrific procedure using a hidden camera in a 2000 documentary for Norwegian television.
As they beat her, Kadra’s attackers shouted Allahu Akbar—Allah is great—and recited verses from the Qur’an. “I was terrified,” she said. “While I lay on the pavement they kicked me and screamed that I had trampled on the Koran.”
In this report writer gives a background report on what Muslems have done during recent fifty years on those who have been victimized of freedom of speech not only in western but even in Islamic societies. The persons such as Ahmad Kasravi(1947),Haji Ali Razmara, Faraj Foda(1992), Naguib Mahfouz(1994) after being accused blasphemy or treacherous were murdered by radical Muslims. The author warns about this event in west and calls it a great challenge for western societies.

The democracy and democratic values has been a great issue westerners debated on during recent decades. Many have criticized Islam for being so stiff and non-reflexive in its rules or criticized Muslims to act in some cases so radical and violated human rights, but when they are asked about democracy and liberalism can not reply correctly. They, themselves, believe that the mere liberalism does not match with democracy and say in some occasions we must limit human freedom. There is a famous saying among Persians and maybe Muslims that means the one who does not appreciate himself he would not do it for others. The domain of religion is one of those in which not any irrelevant idea should be allowed to enter and act what it likes. I don’t want to compensate the radical actions of those who have not known Islam and from that only they have learnt the punishment.
After September 11, according to what Zionists predicted in their scenario attacks on Muslims in west increased. The growth of Islam has been one of concerns among western leaders during recent two decades. Although Zionists in US continuously tried to show their oppressedness by different ways through media but they witnessed the increasing popularity of Islam. By WTC scenario they could reveal some Islamic radical groups and introduced them to people of whole world as they represent all Muslims. They figured out Islam in such a way they wanted to be, as a savages' religion and a close threat to western civilized world.
In western look on world everything is able to be criticized even Jesus. According their material look on world everything can be visible and accessible, so it differs from eastern look upon which some creatures like Devil can only live spiritually not bodily or Prophets and saints are far from being discussed or assimilated. According to western opinion it is not strange or blasphemous that a person like George W. Bush introduces himself as Jesus who has come to save humanity.So criticism on issues and cases that are deemed materialistically is as easy as westerners think.
The author has combined all of these events together with one look and by special intention with no attention to the reasons of events. Different looks on the issue is the result of different concept and beliefs that led to conflict.
The freedom in every society and upon every belief is appreciated as a value of humanity but as in some cases even western philosophers believe that freedom lead to anarchy, religion is one that domain. Of course it should be noted that religion itself and its ability to attract as well as those who try to introduce religion to people as preachers are all important factors that Christianity has not benefited any of them. The history of Christianity shows many distortions of what Moses and Christ told and preached really, so it is obvious that many of contemporary followers do not appreciate it and allocate it to a certain time and place.
In general, it is on Muslims to seek for ways to show Islam and its entity more clear than before and to prevent those who want to show a savage face of Islam.

2007-05-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Quebec Right on Muslims

Recently news on a Muslims woman who applied for a Job as a prison guard in Quebec caused some controversial debates on liberal values in western world. The Quebec government asked woman either remove her Hijab or she could not take the job and be trained for that, but she refused to remove her veil.
Some Canadians and Americans argue that liberal values do not allow one to treat freely. Muslim advocacy groups have been crying racism. "It is an ultimatum, remove the hijab or you're out of here, "said the head of the Muslim Council of Britain."That's not a security issue; this is much more a bigoted issue." A department spokesman said "As a security measure, the hijab can not be accepted as an element of the uniform to execute the functions of a correctional officer."
The Muslim Council called for compromise but the government refused. All across the western world, Muslims are struggling to fit in, to balance the norms of liberal democracies with the requirements of their faith.
What is important is that how western countries can call themselves liberal and democratic but do not allow Muslim citizens to treat as they want. They claim that all people are free for doing their religious rituals but see hijab as a politic sign. Muslims are trying to fit themselves in most aspects of western life for example education, politics, economy and culture but are not allowed to have the only right that a Muslim should have, the right to cover itself that is a religious rather than being political.
It seems that western countries fear of future as demographical reports show the increase of minority population such as Muslims in these societies so they predict if they remain passive and neutral to these changes, integration would face danger. In contrast to what they think I believe if they would come along with this fact that how it is important for a Muslim to do her religious practice they could also benefit this bigotry. According to Islamic beliefs, protection of land in which one lives is considered as worship so Muslims can help national integration in every western country, but what governments expect Muslims is just to assimilate not to accommodate.
In fact I think it is a common issue because in Iran some minority groups, as Christians and Jews and Zarahtoshtians, lives who like to live as they want but there are limitations for them from Islamic rules that force them to obey, what should they do? Maybe some one thinks that they are less in number than Muslims in western countries and they should assimilate Muslims in Iran but what is the difference. We believe that minority groups should act like Muslims and in western countries people believe Muslims should assimilate others. If they force Muslims to be like others we also force minorities to treat like Muslim.
What is the solution for this condition? Can we call it democracy, in societies, Iran and west? It seems that both sides only bear the name of democracy as all can see all over the world. Democracy is only an excuse for governments for not being blamed for autocracy. This is added by the claim of liberalism that westerners pretend to have in their societies and I think they are more under pressure for such an issue.

2007-04-21T03:21:00.000-07:00

The price of Democracy and Democratization
These days we repeatedly are represented different signs of American democracy not only in Iraq but inside the US .According to (Amren.com) today US is engaged to Iraqi refugees who flee from violence in Iraq, those who were promised to be given a good and calm life after toppling Saddam. They lack, not only, security but their homes have been lost. This is while Bush and his team promised to build infrastructures and much more facilities than Baath regime's era. Iraqi refugees today wandering between Arab countries and many of them in Syria and even some tend to go US if government allows them and this issue cause concerns among some Americans remembering Vietnam refugees during 1970s.
Another document for American liberty and democracy is their right to bear arm on which many years pro as well as anti-gun control have debated in vain, as when an accident occurs such the one happened in Virginia Tech on Monday last week some actions are held to keep public calm and under control, like any other places in world, and then as all forget officials also leave this important issue alone as nothing has happened. As it happened yesterday when two students, Eric Harris and Yan Klebold in the nearly same age with Cho Seung-Hui, the South Korean- 23 years old- boy who shot 33 students and teachers, shot and killed some students and teachers in Columbine High school in 1999. It seems that no body can afford Anti-gun controls and they are more powerful to be defeated. A very hot issue after some month turns to a null memory and experience as manufacturers and politicians can not leave their interests by claiming and reasoning some sophisticated ideas by NRA's president, Charlton Heston.
Now Americans lost their lives for benefit of a minority group of politicians and manufacturers who seek for supporter and interests. The right to bear arm is a clause in second amendment of the Constitution but not many Americans support that as right and see it a way to increase violence.The best way that appears rational to avoid this violence is public and all over opposition to this amendment because it belongs to period that federal government could not guarantee public security against Indians and other rebellions and American society as a democratic and liberal one might no longer need to keep itself from natural dangers.

2007-04-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

The North Carolina Senate apologizes for Slavery and Jim Crow Law

Through a symbolic action, North Carolina Senate apologized for the legislature's role in promoting slavery and Jim Crow laws that denied basic human rights to the states black citizens. Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, a Democrat and the bill’s primary sponsor said: “This is a way to reflect upon this and express our understanding and our regret for official actions of our state”.
Jim Crow laws, I need to say that, was some rules against blacks through which they were deprived of many of their civil rights, so for this reason they started their resistance. This is an action that can have different meanings. It may be a true apology to those whose ancestors suffered under slavery era in North Carolina, as it seems, because there is no force on them for such an action, but what it is not to be ignored is that maybe a political reason lies behind this action, according to Democrats' triumph in November 2006 election of Congress. Although this is a state senate who apologies for past, but it may be done by them to represent their sympathy and take African-American's attention for 2008 presidential election. Actually I don not know about the political tendency of senators in North Carolina but it seems that they may be Democrats.
In 1990s the Democratic government of Bill Clinton tried to remove the signs of racial tendencies by promoting multiculturalism through a vast program in schools and even universities. They began shifting the contents of schools and universities books by replacing some cultural studies of minorities and ethnic groups and even studies of others regions in world like Middle East. One of important goals of this program was decreasing racial crises and making America, really, a liberal society, but most important one was deemed as attracting the minorities and ethnic groups' vote for presidential election, as S. Huntington claims in Who Are We?
It was reported by Associated Press retold by American Renaissance (a White Nationalists' site), to which many users of site put their comments on this issue, but many of them, as directors of site like, looked on issue as racial not politically. From now on we can wait and see how Democrats play such an action to win the 2008 election. In politics Democrats are busy, as recently Nancy Pelosi, the majority leader of the Congress tripped to Syria to negotiate with Syrian leaders to find way to reduce tensions between America and Syria. Today I read on morning news that Pelosi and Democrats seek to find a way to open negotiation's doors with Iran. All of these actions are conducted to represent a peace-loving face.

2007-04-08T05:11:00.000-07:00

Muslim Woman Sues Detroit Judge for Asking Her To Remove Her Veil

A 42 years old Muslim woman who is living in Hamtramck near Detroit was asked by Judge, Paul Paruk, to remove her veil in court to prove her suit on burglary of her rental car.
As above picture shows Ginnah Muhammad, she is not recognizable indeed. I do not like to defend the judge but I like to say that why so veiled in such situation that Muslims are under cultural attacks for their rites. In a country and society that, continuously, Nudism is represented as a part of culture, I think it is not necessary for a Muslim woman to cover herself as heavily as she does in Arab countries. In my opinion the cultural gap between western societies and Muslim world is so deep by itself that these issues make it worse.
Western countries call Muslims "terrorists" and Muslims, in turn, call them shameless for the issue of sexualism in every aspect of life and activities as written magazines, internet, economic, politics and etc. What does this mean? Does not it mean that a big gap is between them? So how a Muslim can live in a western society? Can he live in such a manner that he used to in his country? Certainly not, not completely. If we believe that they should keep our Islamic rule in our country, so we also should keep some of their rule to the extent that our religious identity allows us.
I do not see any necessary a Muslim woman cover her face as she does in Arab, as I believe there is difference between Hijab in a western society and Hijab in an Islamic society. I believe a Muslim woman in a western society is not looked at as she is in Islamic. In west a Muslim woman with an ordinary Hijab looks different in terms of her appearance than others, where she is looked at as a religious and fundamentalist or like Christian nun, not as an mere sexual target as males have any target to look at, but in Muslim societies as all women are in the same form, if we ignore some so-called Islamic societies, women need to veil themselves as here difference between appearences seem very low, so a bit difference may cause a motive to look more.
Finally, some radical acts and behaviors seem to be not only a message to Islam but may, for some, disgust of it and motivate some purposeful aggressors to Islam to find a motif to damage its face.

2007-03-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

Disney creates first Black animated Princess
This time Amren.Com has entitled news about an animation film by the name "The Frog Princess" in which for the first time a black princess has been created by studio. It is hand-drawn animation and according to analysts Disney Company tends to retest this type of work for producing animation like classic works to launch the original Disney studios.
As mentioned before, it is for the first time this company uses a black main character in its work. In their comments, some of the readers of this news have implemented some arguments about Disney, as if he was himself a racist, and have states that "he would roll over in his grave if he saw what has happened to his creation". I don’t know how Disney was during his life, but I don’t believe that an artist that his or her goal is to make people happy can discriminate between them, unless he or she works politically. If it was so, he would not be an artist, we should call him a hired not an artist. Some argue that "Blacks should create a black land like Disneyland and the manager of Disneyland should know that he has destroyed American culture and its moral tradition." One should say to this guy that which moral tradition you're talking about? Were they your fathers moralistic who were burning the blacks because they were black? Some have offered some Arabic and Asian name for this princess to show their discontent a black character having an American name.
To confront this type of comments and ideas about such a foolish issue, I believe that some African-Americans are right if they think that they should have nationalistic view about themselves, although some Whites have very moderate and logical idea.

2007-03-04T07:58:00.000-08:00

A New Twist to an Intriguing Family History

Barack Obama is a Democratic nominee for 2008 presidential election. He is known as one may be supported not only by African- Americans but even whites. On March 2, 2007, there was news in Baltimore Sun about a research on Obama's ancestors. Here is the news "Many people know that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s father was from Kenya and his mother from Kansas. But an intriguing sliver of his family history has received almost no attention until now: It appears that forebears of his white mother owned slaves, according to genealogical research and census records."
A researcher, William Addams Reitwiesner, has worked on this issue whether is true. He has concluded that both great, great, great, great grandfather and grand mother of Obama have owned slaves. Now this is a question that if Obama with this background can be successful in election. The researcher also claims that Obama's root I not from Africa, because he is grown in east Asia and Hawaii and then has educated in Colombia and Harvard universities, and now by this background, how he would be able to attract blacks and repair the past, because as one of observers of this news has given the comment "Obama himself owes reparation" because his ancestors were slave owners.
Analysis
The first thing that may come to mind is that destruction of personality in US while an election will be conducted is not newly issue, particularly if nominee is black. Many of those who have written comment on this news either are pro-republicans or racist, because they have used very abusive words not only against Obama but also H. Clinton, as another Democrats' nominee, and called her "a woman who could care less about American citizens in her egotistic dreams of being the first female president."
In our country also there was such debate about many our politicians. The fact that in such a competition no one thinks about how much this man is powerful in terms of politics, economics and other issues thereon a beurocratman should be very skillful and practical.
I think there will be no remedy for this topic, unless the views on changes and every one looks on that as service not monopoly.

2007-02-26T04:17:00.000-08:00

Mexicans smuggle Chinese aliens

In Washington Times, Feb 23, 2007 there was news about how illegal immigration recently increased. The officers of CBS, Custom and Border Protection, have reported of some Chinese arrested at Calexico, California, while they were helped by Mexican to pass the border. To continue the reporter has mentioned about the increasingly rate of illegal immigration by statistics in percents. According to authorities in Calexico, as port of entry, the CBS officers apprehended more than 1700 aliens in this city, 15 percent over the same period last year.
Analysis
The American Renaissance, as site seeks to have a special and biased view on colored people's issues in US, has cited the news and has asked for comments. Among these comments, some have argued radically on illegal immigration. One of them believes that all immigrants should be executed beside the roads where they are arrested, another one has resembled Mexicans as traitors and gives and an example in Casablanca, captain Renoir, who was bribed by people desired to go to America. But one of them has predicted that Mexicans should be stopped before they start to smuggle Muslim terrorists to America, as another comment rejects this idea and believes that terrorist do not need to be smuggled. One of comments also states that government and Bush personally is liar because some days ago, Michael Chertoff, had said that number of illegal immigrants had gone down.
Although, illegal immigration is one of the main challenges not only in US but also in Iran as well, but it is seemed to be a kind turmoil against Mexicans by some groups. About why Mexicans help aliens to enter, may economic problems be the main reason. According to Department of Labor the rate of unemployment in California is 4.8. Mexicans who helped aliens to enter use their cars to hid immigrants and by their valid card passed the borders. According to reports many Mexicans commit in narcotic smuggling that is again caused by economic problems.
In Iran smuggling of immigrants and narcotics is directly related to poverty and economic problems. By looking on regions therein smuggling happen more than others, you can see the undeveloped regions are on the top. Sistan and Baluchistan, Khorasan and Kerman are the most region smugglers are active. There is similarity between south western states of US and eastern provinces in Iran, in both regions deserts are the main factor to help smugglers as well as loose barriers, although in US some hundreds immigrants die while passing through barriers and deserts, as reported.
It seemed that both governments, Iran and US, should find the way to improve the economical and cultural position in their borders which are in crisis. The interesting issue is that in both countries some groups with different ethnic identities live that may intensify the problems.

2007-02-14T04:43:00.000-08:00

Another Document for American Democracy !?!
On 14 Feb., 2007, there was a news on yahoo by (AP) about suspicious death of an African–American in 1946.Maceo Snipes, 37 years old, is said by his relatives was shot in the back by four white men a day after he voted in 1946 and two days later died. The cause of his death was announced "gunshot wound by homicide". Today there is no evidence of a criminal investigation and no one was arrested but two groups of civil right tried to solve this unsolved investigation. Snips was shot on July 18, 1946, a day after he voted in the Georgia Democratic Primary. He died on July 20. Fearful relatives buried him at night in an unmarked grave before some family members fled the county, relocating as far north as Ohio. Survivors say they still don't know the location of Snipes' grave. Felix Snipes, dead man's cousin says "It wrecked our family for a long time. The older generation still doesn't want to talk about it." This event followed by a lynching two black couple prompted President Truman to dispatch FBI to investigate but this issue remained unsolved.
One of interesting debates about dead man is that he was a veteran. As one of researchers says, he was killed in the country he fought for that.
Analysis
As one of researchers says, I think that what is important today is to know the truth and the cause of this event, because all of the suspects of this event may be dead. What is interesting is that this events happened at the time of African-Americans' early struggles for their civil rights, in a decade that some important leaders of blacks' movement such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were assassinated as president Kennedy. This event and many likes happened that white society in south showed that was not content about what was happening in favor of African-Americans. Even today there is such struggle when Snipes' relatives claim that they want to make it clear that their cousin was killed innocently.

2007-02-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Service in US Military with different goals

News and Census
Critics say the U.S. military has too many African-Americans as compared to the population and not enough Hispanics or Asian-Americans.
More recruits are drawn from the middle class and fewer are coming from poorer and wealthier families. The office is studying why young black men and women are not signing up. Other trends are that the number of recruits from wealthier families is increasing, and the number of recruits from suburban areas has increased. This also tracks that young men and women from the middle class are serving in the military.Young men and women from urban areas are not volunteering. In fact, urban areas provide far fewer recruits as a percentage of the total population than small towns and rural areas.

Fifteen Filipinos were among 147 foreign-born U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq who were granted U.S. citizenship on July 25 in a mass ceremony in Baghdad’s Camp Victory.
Analysis
Whatever they are or whoever does not matter, they all service in US military. The only place no one cares about their race. They fight and kill for America. If they cry in America for their rights who listens but in Iraq they are granted citizenship in honor of their bravery, as some Filipinos and Mexicans were granted in Baghdad. For them even army held a ceremony in which they should swear for their citizenship.
Today soldiers with different nationalities and ethnic characteristics serve in US military. According to census African Americans are more in army relative to their populations in Am

2007-02-07T00:10:00.000-08:00

Latinos, Immigration and Election

Today Latinos immigration turns to an ambivalence in American society. The Latinos' important issues, in which immigration as one of main dimensions, were discussed in symposium hold on 7 June, 2006 in Washington D.C. in which attended U.S senators, political consultants and leaders of Latino organizations.
One of issues discussed in this group was about Latinos' role in congress. There was no senator before 2004 from Latinos but in 2004 three senators were elected for Florida, New Jersey and Colorado. They made efforts to defend immigrant Latinos' rights in congress, so immigration was another issue to discuss in this symposium. Latino senators stated that Latino community should register more than past for voting to have more power in American society.
Illegal immigration from Mexico and its restrictions or not to restrict is being discussed by many groups in America. Some Latinos living in America oppose to enter new or illegal immigrants because they believe they would cause lowering wages by masters for many Mexicans come for job. On the other hand, Hispanic senators seek for solution to reduce mortality rate of immigrants in US- Mexico borders while passing through deserts and ask government to solve this problem. The US government is confused that what do really Latinos want?
The congress passed an immigration reform bill to restrict immigration, enforcement of domestic work law and provide a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants. The 80% Republican senators opposed the bill so it did not provide pathway to citizenship and led to Latinos' protest. For this reason Latino senators who are active in this way seek to encourage Latinos to participate more in voting to get more power in congress.
The Latinos announc

2007-02-06T23:49:00.001-08:00

AIDS among African Americans
According to reports of research and health care institutes African- Americans have the most infected by AIDS and STD diseases among American ethnic and racial groups. Based on this report in 2004 census on infected people, 50% of them were black, 30 % White and 18 % Spanish. Others such as Asian and Indians each were almost 1%. Among African-Americans, men more than women have been infected, albeit African women include most among women of other races. Having unsafe sex, heterosexual or homosexual, as first and second factors and drug injection as third, are important within men, but for women sex and again drug injection, as first and second factors in order are reported. Taking no antiretroviral drugs, not knowledge about sex partners, poverty, less access to health care and prevention trains against AIDS are reported as main factors to develop more among blacks. To prevent this increasing rate some institutes have implemented since 1980s, so they caused to decrease the rate, some centers as CDC by funding for research and cultural programs tried to ban its excessive extension among African-Americans and other ethnic groups.
Analysis
What is not surprising about this report is its assertion about public poverty among African Americans. Economic poverty entails cultural poverty which is rooted in their calamitous past. If there were no Luther King, Malcolm X, and others to lead movements such Civil%2

2007-02-06T23:17:00.000-08:00

Has Bush’s Mission been accomplished?

To choose as sixth snapshot for Mc Alister’s, I think George Bush’s picture in National Cathedral taken on 14 September, 2001 would be suitable if used. A gentle figure as Jesus in background addresses to audience. Interesting to see is that how photographer has waited for such a figure to snap a figure of Bush like Christ at behind with stretched hand and leaning body. This is a very common picture you can find in Google Image. The high and huge shot of Jesus may have efficacy on spectator of Jesus support and bias, particularly if he is a fundamentalist Christian.
Religion as the main factor in Neocons’ political ideology, you can not doubt. Americans are known religious people as themselves call their country “Jesusland”, even beyond “Garden of God”[1], that is historical case. As history of America tells the primary groups arrived in today’s U.S were Protestants escaping persecution and prosecution of European states. In new land they found themselves as Israeli slaves rid of Pharaoh’s oppression and named America the “promised land” and themselves as pilgrims coming to wilderness to settle and to tame its settlers, the Indians, so the war with European Empires as France, Britain, Spain and nation like Indians would be a new millennial mission to build new Jerusalem.[2]
Bush, by photographer, reminds Jesus to spectator, Jesus in%

2006-12-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

A Review on John Ford's

“Drums along the Mohawk”

General Characteristics

Genre: Adventure, Western, historical
Director: John Ford
Novel by: Walter D. Edmonds
Screen writer: Sonya Levien, Lamar Trotti
Music: Alfred Newman
Main actors: Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda, Edna May Oliver, Eddie Collins,
John Carradine, Dorris Bowdon, Jessie Ralph, Arthur Shields,
Robert Lowery, Roger Imhof, Francis Ford, Ward Bond, Kay
Linaker, Russell Simpson, Spencer Charters
Country: U.S.A
Year of Production :1939

Plot (Summary)

Historical background

As settlers, Indians came to new Continent some centuries before Christopher Columbus was born. According to some documents and ideas that seem correct, Indians came from eastern Asia and as Columbus arrived at new world, they were at paramount of their civilization. While Spanish fleet reached central and northern coasts of new world, British reached to eastern coast of today’s U.S. and began search of gold. But at first decade of their arriving, the life was so hard there and if there were no Indian, all white immigrants had starved. By planting maize they had learnt Indians, they could survive. After arriving black slaves from Africa, white settlers cultivated lands and planted tobacco as they developed their lands into the south and west by fighting Indians. As they grew more tobacco, their benefits and exports increased as well, so they were being encouraged to remove Indians from their lands. Indians did not cede their lands to whites easily, thus, sometimes bloody skirmishes happened. These tensions continued till end of westward movement. This movie, “Drums along the Mohawk” tells a part of that, war between settlers and six Nation of the Iroquois allied with the British, as it also tells the story of American Revolution.

Story
The place is upstate New York, where Gil and Lana are, just married, couple who want to live in Mohawk valley to seek their destiny. In Gil’s homestead, Lana screams at viewing an old Indian man and says to Gil that does not like to live there. Settlers welcome them .As frontiers working in the woods, a redcoat man with patch eye, a British colonel, steals a look at them. Then, by his order, some of his Indian companions attack on settlers and burn out Gil’s home and farm. The settlers, as going back and shooting Indians, defend themselves. Gil and Lana, with their homestead burned and destroyed, are taken by a widow, Mrs. McKennar in her house as hired-hands. A patriot parson invokes settlers to take the arm and fight Indians. Gil joins the militia to fight Indians. Whites win the battle but with many wounded and injured as well as their leader, General Nicolas Herkimer, who dies. Lana finds Gil wounded as he is telling the event of battle. Lana bears a child and all celebrate. As Gil working in the farm, Indians attack Mrs. Mc kennar’s house and burn it as she does not accept to go out of her house, even two Indians take her bed and drag it out. Praying in the church, Reverend Rosenkrantz, village parson, calls people to defend and fight Indians, as so-called Devils.
All are ready, men behind the fort wall and women in the church to defend themselves. The redcoats, British soldiers, help Indians fighting settlers. Mrs. kennar is killed and one of settlers is taken by Indians as a hostage. Going out of fort to call for help, Gil is followed by three Indians. The rest of Indians, finally, go through the fort. Fighting continues inside the fort between Indians and settlers, even women. The helping troops come on the scene and battle comes to an end. As troops’ leader seeks for colonel, redcoat man with patch eye, who lives among settlers, shows himself as colonel for fun.
The leader of the troops introduces new nation’s flag, with thirteen strips as well as stars, while old Indian man salutes it.

Analysis

The film is produced in 1939,when world war II started in Europe, when Americans passed through hard times of depression, when Americans gradually forgot their patriotic sense of eighteen and nineteen centuries and went into capitalism modern sense of individualism.
John Ford wants to narrate the sense patriotism through a narrowed focus on small part of American Revolution against British Kingdom. According its level, film could show appropriately the hard times of American revolutionary war as well as the problems of settlers as frontiers. Ford shows through how hard events Americans could build their nation, but this is an American point of view and it is unilateral as well. It seems they have forgotten that they occupied Indians’ land, so it’s Indians’ right to defend themselves against aggressors. If Ford wanted to have fair look at the case, he should portray some scenes among Indians and inquired why they were so aggressive toward settlers, although he shows that redcoats had provoked Indians.
Gil and Lana represent young nation to seek stability in new world. Lana, like most of women among frontier families, according to history book such as the American promise, does not like to live such horrible place at first, because she has not seen yet such an incident, as she is from urban society, but in last scene you see her as a soldier, even kills an Indian came into church.
The final scene includes some meanings; first, as messenger says General Washington has won the war against British and invocates settlers to consider the new flag. Second, as old Indian salutes the flag, we can find that Indians in eastern and north eastern coasts of U.S have lost their lands and defeated. From now on, Indians look and live as marginalized groups, of course in eastern coast. Third, as new government is established by General Washington, as president and his successors, they triggered for the westward movement.
Although, I’m not expert in technical aspects of cinematography, but I should assert technical privileges given to this film, in terms of color and special effects that I think, according to that time, are masterpiece. Use of color and light as well as sound effect according to plot is excellent. Using Technicolor in this film is new for movies in 1939.In this year some blockbusters were produced such as “Gone with the wind”. There is no any flash back just old Mrs. Mc Kennar remembers her husband when he went to fight “those men”, British or Indians she does not mention.
Henry Fonda presents his role very good, as young man who is earnest and energetic about his aim that is to live and cultivate in frontier lands. His figure matches his role. Claudette Colbert, as Lana, plays good as a frontier woman who is very sentimental at first but events make her resistant.

Individualism in the Wilderness

As a sign of individualism, this era of American history is the rush time of individuals to live in frontier lands. The seventeenth and eighteenth century in Europe is the start of ideas about human's right that, finally, led to main revolutions in America and France. The idea of liberalism came in parallel with individualism. The idea that caused later, many debates about individuals and states' rights and freedom among American revolutionary leaders.
Many Europeans fled from persecution of religious officials and feudalism came in America for better and convenient life, without knowledge about what happening there between pioneers and Indians. Thus, the conflict was inevitable with natives who were removed from their ancestral lands. Many emigrants experiencing individualism by bearing hard condition, they could construct a very and the only liberal society in world.
Individualism as an experience learnt them that they could not be triumphant without being together, so they gathered under one flag, flag of the United States.

Conclusion

Technically, the film is well-made and one of excellent movies that I have ever watched from past, although I think we, student of American studies, only can watch these type of movies ,with this kind of quality and censorship, in this unique Institute.
Historically, it is about the formation of American united nation, a nation which started individually and, even though, it led to unity but Individualism continued through nineteenth and twentieth century toward Modernism and kept its impacts by some social outcomes such as nuclear families, as some anthropologists like Susan Rogers believe. (Ulin, Understanding Culture, chapter nine)
According to Americans' view of Indians, the movie had been successful to transmit the sense of fear and hate to Indians as well as British, as main enemies of American progress.

2006-12-19T06:09:00.001-08:00

Irish-American tendency toward Democrats

Irish Americans have shown themselves as pro-Democrats through 150 years living, formally as an American ethnic group, in U.S. You can find it out by focusing on results of Americans' presidential elections along one and half century ago.
In retrospect to twentieth century,the trend had been more shining ,for they even developed their political participation to high status such as presidential candidacy in 1920s and 1960s.Two politicians with Irish ancestry imposed themselves as democratic candidates and participated in elections of 1928 and 1961.In 1928 the Irish Al Smith was defeated by Herbert Hoover, but the latter, John F. Kennedy, could defeat his rival, Richard M. Nixon, in 1960 and exposed himself as the first Irish catholic president. He could take the views by his reformist plans and ideas. The views which doubted his deserve for presidency for his being youth, naïve and Catholic.
Voting for presidents, they have attempted to send a Democratic president to White House rather than a Republican. Since 1830s to 1960s, Irish Catholics voted for democrats up to 80-95%. As getting more far than 1960s, approaching now, this trend gets more moderate. Based on census in 2004, in presidential election held this year Irish Catholics kept the middle and ran for 50-50 %.
Among Irish Catholic politicians, also, there are more toward Democrats, even though some are of republican leaders. Some American presidents have claimed to have Irish ancestry such as Ronald Reagan (president of U.S from 1980-88).Nowadays, the pro-life silent majority in Democratic Party are Irish Catholics. According to recent census,"8 out of 28 American presidents have had Irish ancestry."

Why?
Maybe it can be considered that Liberalism and Democrats' supports on emigrants and ethnic groups' rights have been the main influencing factors on Irish Catholics trend in not so far era. The factors which most ethic groups in America have same focus on them.
A

2006-12-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

The South Asian American Vote 2004

This is a report on south Asian Americans vote in 2004 presidential election. The objective of this research is to show how south Asians in America voted, in what condition and with what perspective. The report was accomplished by two institutions, The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) and National Election Pool (NEP).The comparisons variables and results were as follow:
1- Profile of respondents (Asian Indian52%, Bangladeshi 18%, Pakistani 15%, Indo-Caribbean 14%, others south Asian 1%)
2- ¾ south Asian Americans were registered in Democratic Party. 16% Independents,9% Republicans.
3- Economy and job had more impact on south Asians’ vote than war, civil right and health care.
4- Civil liberties were most important in civil rights and Immigrants rights.
5- All Asians ethnic groups have common political interests.
6- Many south Asian Americans turned to their ethnic media, more than 38%.
7- Over 20% of Asian needed language assistance to exercise the right to vote.
8- The barriers to Asians’ voting were: wrong directing, hostility, rude or poorly trained poll workers, and identification.

The results of both institutions were different in percentage of first-time voters and candidate to whom they voted.
The research was conducted simultaneously in 20 cities in 8 states, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Analysis

According to results, first important point concerned to politics is Asians’ bias of Democratic Party. Maybe it refers to Democrats’ liberal policy on immigration. Another reason may be Bush’s Administration during his first term, in fields of interior (no support to low level class) and foreign policy (war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, considering both Asian Muslim countries).To add this argument it must be said that Democrats are more influencing through low-level class of American society, and we can account immigrants among this class.
In another case, economy and job was most important for Asians because some matters like American patriotism and Ideology do not mean for Asians ,as they mean for Americans themselves, so for them economy is more important to live than ideology.
About aforementioned civil liberties that are more important among immigrants’ rights, it is obvious that what is important for immigrants or Diasporas is freedom in doing rituals as well as sense of membership and freedom in choice of business and job.
Using the media represents identity and membership in every society, so south Asian American showed their glory of nationality and national identity through reading their own media. The media is formed by literature, language, economy, politics and all of communal characteristics that are specified to special community.
In terms of barriers, there are many obstacles for Diasporas in alien societies. It depends on people’s view, politically; ideologically that Diasporas are treated respectively or vice versa.

Conclusion

Apart from being original or aboriginal, voting in every society is sign of democracy. In every society those objectives that encourage people to participate in political activities are very important. People come to ballot box with different vista, some for economic purpose, as others for ideological views. Today’s democratic or alleged liberal democratic era is known by democratic right of voting given to minority groups, although practically they are denigrated.

2006-12-01T01:01:00.000-08:00

Science & Media in Construction and Classification of Races

Seyyed Hasan Salehzadeh
Institute for North American Studies
University of Tehran

The role of science to make people believe events and phenomena is distinct to all. Today you can not force people to believe what you want they believe in without scientific affirmation. This is a routine and common way in universities and scientific societies because these scientific centers established on rationality and logic rather than mere assumption. But sometimes these centers can be origins to develop distrustful and manipulated ideas based on very dangerous targeted assumptions that some have called them "Pseudoscience". Another view can emphasize on positive impacts of science on people. Many scholars could change people's negative view on something or someone to positive.
In twenty century, Medias are very important phenomena with efficient and undeniable impacts on people. As time goes on, they become more benefit than past. In early years of twenty century, by emerging cinema on the scene, it became a very important branch of Media to transmit meaning indirectly throughout the world. No one can deny the impacts of movies produced to show blacks' hard and complicated condition in American society through history. Movies such as "A raisin in the sun", "Uncle Tom's cabin" could affect on Americans to make great and positive impacts. The novel "Uncle Tom's cabin" written by Harriet Beacherstow functioned as a great factor to make Americans to think about slavery at the time near to civil war. Contrary to that, there were also movies through them some directors tried to use cinema to show Indians as savage creatures and persuade people, even within America about American violent action toward Indians. These were also impacts. As an example, we, as students in Institute for North American studies, were shown a movie by this title "Drums along the Mohawk" which showed this subject unilaterally.
Racism is one of the issues some scientists intended to prove that scientifically and academic, but some stepped in wrong ways which was called "Scientific Racism". Scientific Racism is defined as propaganda or publications which support racism. For Example, Arthur Gobineau offered An Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races (1853-1855) that is a milestone for scientific racism and White supremacy. He wrote a formulation for Biological Racism in contrast to Henry de Boulainvillie's theory of Races. Gobineau divides human to three species based on climate conditions and geographical situation and no color was considered so important. His ideas were upon some biology scientists' theories and ideas such as Alexander Von Homboldt. Homboldt had classified the species. He was a Prussian naturalist and famous as "second discoverer of Cuba". He had some trip to American countries such as Brazil. Gobineau dedicated his essay to King George V of Hanover (1851-66), because he had promised king " he presents to his majesty the fruits of his speculations and studies into the hidden causes of the "revolutions, bloody wars, and lawlessness" that had been going on in Europe through many years". He says " the young ,vigorous, virile, noble races have won over the older races , when these has lost the qualities that had made them winners in the first place". He also says that history has proved and explained that inequality of races is a sign that people's destinies are related together. Then, he gives an example of Great Britain, when it was captured by the people who were King George's ancestors.
Thus, it is easy to say that this essay is not so based on authentic scientific reason, just on some historical cases that are very obvious. In addition, this essay, like many anthropological researches which conducted by those who were funded to do research for colonial purposes, has been conducted to please the king not for humanity. The biological and natural theories are not regarded and considered authentic today, and some tend to view through ontological look, as " Linda Martin Alcoff" in " Philosophies of Races and Ethnicity"(2002:17) says " The fact that races has lost its scientific credibility does not entail, then, that it has lost its ontological status, since on this usage ontology does not imply a reference in a transcendental reality ". She defines "Race is a particular, historically and culturally located form of human categorization involving visual determinants marked on the body through the interplay of perceptual practices and bodily appearance". In ontology, argument is about existence of race.
Michel Foucault's "biopower" was anther scientific theory by which he refers to the numerous and diverse techniques for making others subjugated and to control the population, of course by the use of statistics and probabilities. He believed that biopower allows the control of entire population ( later it was called bio politics).Foucault used this term, first time , in his book The Will of Knowledge and in his second book The History of Sexuality in terms of relation between male/ female and even in economic and politic issues such as modern Nation state , Capitalism.
By biopower, Foucault does not mean the traditional meaning of power that was based on threat of death but he means protection of life and production of other technologies of power, such as notion of sexuality.
As Foucault says sexuality can be used as a strong means of power. For example,, sexual relation between male and female among human being usually determines the issue of power in a family. Many men for their sexual inability do not possess regular power over their families. In contrast, many women may use the relation as means to decrease men's power and to take over them.
Sexuality as a tactic to corrupt enemies always has been implied in different historical periods. For example, Islamic government in Andalusia (today's Spain) was not defeated until it was corrupted by wine and whores, then as a weak government was conquered by Castilians.
According to Foucault's, "Regulation of health, heredity, family, blood and well-being would be the exact examples of biopowers".All these concepts can classify people into different classes. The wealth is the most common that increases human's power over others not possess it. Some social theorists such as "Jean Jacques Roseau" and even Aristotle in ancient Greece believed on the role of wealth in social power and they believed a kind of Aristocracy. Family as another example of power is based on ancestors. Sometimes social status of a family is a reason for them to have power over others or to be superior to others. Blood is a one those factors that royal, elite and feudal families emphasized on it from far past. They did not admit relation with other low level families because of their blood and noble ancestors. Heredity among royal and elite families was based on power. For example in medieval centuries and in Feudalism, there was a tradition that feudalists granted all their feuds to their grand son before their death to keep the family power and to transmit to the next generations. The rest of the sons became chevalier and served their elder brother as their master. Usually elite and rich families who live wealthier can be healthier as well, because they have access to all health facilities such as doctors, clinics, medical cares and etc.
Foucault believed that power is positive, contrast to some who seem it negative, and limitative and similar to censorship. Foucault argues about the value of state power. When the state is established to protect of life of population, anything can be justified. Groups that are identified as the threat to the existence of the life of the nation or of humanity can be removed. He says " If genocide is indeed the dream of modern power, this is not because of the recent return ti the ancient right to kill; it is because power is situated and exercised at the level of life, the species, the race, and large- scale phenomena of the population." (History of sexuality, vol I)
In terms of media, as I said before, Media as the most developed means of communication has a great impact on classification and construction of people and ethnoracial groups. Media, today, is in the hand of wealth and power. People who possess these elements, use media to increase them, so in classification and construction of the society, they are ranked over than others who possess nothing.
Census and researches show that today, in spite of increasing attendance of African-Americans in TV, Movies and Ads, they are not yet represented appropriately. This shows that there are yet those who believe to white supremacy and do not admit the equality of human. In a book by Robert M. Entman and Andrew Rojecki, The Black Image in the White Mind (University of Chicago Press. 2000; paper edition with updated preface, November 2001), the writers have explained the cases in medias in which African-Americans characters shown using vulgar profanity (89%), or being physically violent (56%), being restrained (55%), or in TV ads now show many Blacks and eschew stereotypes. However, hidden patterns of differentiation and distance emerge on close analysis. Not surprisingly, for instance, Blacks do not touch Whites in the ads, but (unlike Whites) they rarely even touch each other, conveying a subtle message of Black skin as taboo. A hierarchy of racial preference is embedded within the casting of commercials.
In sum, either scientifically or in Media , both we see those who have power and wealth live better and are seemed superior to others ,so here maybe this proverb seems right that " Might is right". Do you believe so?

Reference
1- Philosophies of Race and Ethnicity, Peter Osborn & Stella Sandford
2- Internet

2006-11-29T13:17:00.000-08:00

Anti-Asian Racism & Violence: past, present and futur

Ever since the first Asians arrived in America, there has been anti-Asian racism. This includes prejudice and acts of discrimination. For more than 200 years, Asian Americans have been denied equal rights, subjected to harassment and hostility had their rights revoked and imprisoned for no justifiable reason, physically attacked, and murdered.
From Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 till now there are many cases symbolizing discrimination and racism behaviors against Asian-Americans. These behaviors have sought to deny Asian-Americans' right of land ownership, citizenship and other rights in state and federal level. In some important times these treatment became harsher such as unjustified imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II, just because of their ethnic ancestry.
Asian-Americans have been, also, scapegoat during problems occurred in American society, political or economical during recent decades. One of these cases is the murder of Vincent chin in 1982, one who was beaten to his death by two white men because they blamed him and other Japanese automakers for current recession, although Vincent was a Chinese. In trial court both White men were just punished for $ 3,700 with no confinement. After developed protests by different groups and organizations another court was sentenced one of men to 25 years in prison but the latter was acquitted of his crime, because he just had held the Vincent for other man to beat him better, but in surprise of all both men in a new retrial were acquitted. The men just were fined to pay $ 1.5 million to Vincent's widow but a very little of that money was paid. Finally Mrs. Chin, distraught of all these incidents came back to China.
Another example of these cases is Dr. Wen Ho Lee ,a Chinese-American working as researcher scientist at the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory on military missile system. He was charged with 59 counts of mishandling classified information and arrested.He was maltreated by criminal Justice system and even imprisoned in solitary confinement aswell as wearing leg shackles and chains for nine months.The court struggled to charge him with handling information by building a case but failed and he was acquitted of his charges.They only apologized him very briefly.
According to what Asians have seen and known about Americans' treatment toward them, they have come to ideas that if they live in America for some hundreds more, Americans will never admit them as real Americans.
What we can anticipate about this relation is that we can foresee more tensions between Asians and Americans in terms of economic, because as you know Chinese products are going to cover all over the world, it, inevitably will cause many economic problems in all countries, especially in industrial countries, such as unemployment, so Asians must be ready for more tensions as what happened in the past.

2006-11-25T21:13:00.000-08:00

The Impact of Racial and Ethnic Diversity on Educational Outcomes:
Cambridge, MA School District
January, 2002

As a survey in a high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it tends to identify the impact of diversity among higher education students (senior) in terms of Education outcomes.
As directors have stated, finally, they wanted to know whether students in this high school, from different races and ethnic groups, are treated good. About how they (students) treat or work with other ethnic groups after graduate.
Cambridge is a city with 100,000 populations and a single high school, so it is inevitable that students from different racial and ethnic groups attend in it.
This study administered in this high school among all students, when all were at school. The research was a part of a series by The Civil Right Project across the country. Every student was delivered a Questionnaire with some question about Diversity.
The research had been done among students in last school year. The survey included 70 distinct items, which were created to test several distinct dimensions of experiences and attitudes.
Finally, the researchers concluded that the research had positive news, but it showed that racial equity has not been fully achieved and there are still, in spite of desegregation policy in this city, certain kinds of unequal treatment within the school that could be improved with appropriate school leadership and staff training. They also have acknowledged leadership’s attempts to provide educational opportunities for students. Moreover, they appreciated their (leadership and staff) cooperation in doing research.
Some important points come in the mind, when you are looking at tables of the results. In most of the cases answers were very close together, for example in table about this question: “How comfortable are you working with students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds on group projects in your classes?” , the responds were as follow: ((Af-Am 90%-- Asian 94%-- Latinos 92%-- Whites 99%-- other 96%-- Multiracial 95%))
Or to this question: “To what extent do you believe that these discussions have changed your understanding of different points of view?”(Discussion about racial issues in social studies and history class): these are the answers: ((Af-Am 38%--Asian 43%--Latinos32%--Whites 40%--other 38%--Multiracial 50%)).
About first question, there is tendency among all groups especially Whites to work with other groups, but in second question you see the highest rate is fifty percent and the rest are less than that. Maybe it shows that they are not agree with the issues had discussed in classes. There is an exception about Asian in table 6 about their “prepare to work in a job setting where people are of a different racial or ethnic background”, in which they are 100 percent agree with it.
In sum, as researchers have argued, it is true that all the races have come close to a mutual agreement, but it requires more time for them to come toward a complete mutual comprehension, as we can see in cases like counselors in high school who should advise and encourage students, we can see Whites and Asian are more content than others. Again, as researchers have recommended, maybe high school’s staff need more training. I think there is no need, necessarily, to train them just if they can refer to their conscience.

2006-11-21T02:05:00.001-08:00

War on Terror: Cultural Misunderstanding or Intentional Neglect
Seyyed Hassan Salehzadeh
MA student in Institute for North American & European studies
University of Tehran
**************************************************

The misunderstanding is reason for many historical events, especially when they were cultural. Sometimes, men in an alien environment do something that is a sign of their unfamiliarity to the specific culture, so the people in the other side can endure, neglect the action and inform them with their action.
The cultural misunderstanding or cultural contrast, sometimes cause profound and main splits between nations that sometimes lead to long wars. Formally, the process of these contrasts is firstly to accuse each other to Barbarism and then a sudden incident leads to a bloody war.
Can we name "war on terror" a sort of cultural misunderstanding? Can anyone claim, today, with such a great progresses in science and media, there are nations who are unfamiliar with general characteristics of different cultures? In the era that every day, many pictures and news of different cultural, political and economical events are being sent round the world in shortest time as far as possible, can we believe there is lack of information about other cultures?
The "Hijab" or veil is one of the traits in Muslim communities. According to Islamic trainings, women's hair can be seen by those males who have close relation with her like father, brother, husband, maternal uncle and paternal uncle and not by anyone else, and Muslim women should cover themselves against others. The Hijab for a Muslim woman is like haven to prevent others not to attract on her beauties and cause trouble for her in society. Hijab insures social security for woman to some extent. One of the reasons for lack of social security for women in non-Muslim societies is lack of attention to moral issues and lack of appropriate clothing as well as behavior. Hijab gives a respectful personality to woman so she can be respected only as a means of sexuality. Just look at the churches, when people there gaze at Marry's pieta with such a respect. If you compare Muslim and non-Muslim societies in the term of census of rape, you can find out the role of Hijab in society.
Now, using Hijab to show Islamic societies non-democratic and Muslim women under pressure is not an issue to be considered as a sign for lack of cultural knowledge but it should be considered as a political conspiracy. A factor that is respected to be a symbol of hostility between Muslims and West, and they (western countries) announce against it. They look at it as a devil, like Americans' view of blacks because of their complexion in 17th century, certainly on purpose, because they all know that their idea is not correct, so what is the reason? Why in France, Muslim girls can not attend in schools and universities veiled? Why today, western countries look at Hijab as an unknown and devil factor? Certainly it is not a misunderstanding but it's on purpose.
Another Muslims' religious trait is to believe in "Jihad", that is fighting with those who invade on Muslims and they should defend themselves against invaders or fighting with pagans to direct them to the right way. War for just occupation and to plunder other societies has been forbidden according to Islamic beliefs. Now this has led to another mistaken or intentional misunderstanding between Islam and west. The West introduces Islam as an aggressive religion. Maybe the recent Pop's manifestations about Islam are the most obvious one. Do we consider the matter a misunderstanding?
The so-called "war on terror" started for identification and destruction of 9/11 terrorists, but its deviated way has been known to all. The congress election on November 7, 2006 proved that. But what was Iraqis' and Afghanis' fault to be punished so severely? Upto what time it will continue? And what will be its results? Do American leaders believe that Muslims will forget these humiliations, opperessions and ravages (Iraq's petrol)? When the West will end this "Judgment about Muslims with closed eyes"? Isn't it the time for "Dialogue among Civilizations"(Dr. Khatami's Doctrine)? Imam Ali (P.B.U.H) one of Muslims' leaders in (750 A.D) has said:" Neglect will lead to regret".
To neglect human rights can not be lasting, as in colonial era southern states of America could not continue slavery till they desired. But what is important is the impressions of this neglect that might be harmful. Accusations, humiliations of Muslims' identity and religion are not acceptable to alert Americans' watchful conscience. The wrong actions of every group can be looked at due to their religions because they may misinterpret their religious beliefs; like Al Qaeda, that use violence and terror to confront their enemies. If western countries have no respect to Hijab, it should not cause to abuse Muslims, because they are aware of its behind.
The "war on terror" is in itself the goal of all countries and civilizations. But what is terror? And who is terrorist? Muslims, nowadays, are victims of terrorism; they have been killed by superpowers' puppets because they have acted against the superpowers' interests. Today no one pays attention to governmental terrorism existing around world and all consider it as defending the interests, why? Is it not terrorism? All governments dodge from it. There is also saying among Iranians that says:" you can awaken one who sleeps, but you can not awaken the one who pretends to sleep".
For The White House leaders, this is another savage war for peace, war against Barbarism. They postulate Middle East people as Indians required to be civilized. But by which civilization? How using pressure, violence, horror, terror, threat and killing will lead to civilization? Whom they are going to civilize? Those who belong to the oldest human civilization? Those who from their region civilization started and then developed to other parts of the world? Maybe they have forgotten where the basic sciences were formed and western countries from what points continued them.
The White House leaders have not yet suppressed, want to democratize mid- east people. Can democracy in United States please Americans, so they think to present it to other countries? Americans' dissent of federal government and its functions in recent decades has implicated the entity of American democracy. So what is the worth of this democracy? The democracy that wants to enter the countries by force. Isn't it an abuse to say to someone " you don’t know how to live, let's live like us".
For George W. Bush, Iraqi people are the Seminoles and he ,also is Andrew Jackson who wants to suppress them and learn the others how to live in American way, while he and other American foreign policy leaders have not yet compromised on what should do at first , to liberalize Iraqi people and then democratize or vice versa.
By the way, late or soon, the "war on terror" will end but Americans will ask themselves: "Indeed, what was the consequence of this war? What we have obtained against our dead? Was this war glorious?" and will be answered "nothing, nothing, nothing".
Indeed, how terrorism will be disappeared? Will it end by demonization of nations and attack on them? Will it finish by humiliation, abuse and horror? What about by end of oppression and beginning of respect among nations? Yes, the only way to end terrorism is mutual respect. If you force a child to do something or oppress him, he, at last will be aggressed and reacts against you, though you are older than him, but if you respect him, he also will lean and will respect you.
Now, the White House leaders have one way to go, that is going out of Iraq and let Iraqis to decide about their countries .Iraqis can administer a kind of democracy according to their culture and tradition. The democracy will last long, when people, themselves, establish it and accept it, not by force.

2006-11-03T01:42:00.000-08:00

Surgeon General's report on Women and Smoking African-American Women and Smoking

What you are studying right now,is the results of an overall research on smoking and its effect on American women from different races and ages , from girlhood to adolescents.
What is attractive in this research is the condition of black women who are under focus. It has been carried out during 20th century, ranged from 1920s to the late1990s.Blak women smoking prevalence was intermediate in comparison with Indian and Alaska Native women who were in highest among others.Smoking of the black women increased from 1965 through 1985 that it may be a sign of civil rights on blacks or increasing their social status because smoking is a funny act. White women were heavy smokers ( 14 percent) than black women who were ( 4.5 percent) or Hispanic women ( 2.1 percent) . I think black women , in this case, were more affected by surgeon's warning against smoking or they may be more family-lovers than others.
The survey (1978-80),also, showed the three most popular brands for black women were Kool (24 percent) Salem (19 percent) and Winston (10 percent). This may refers to their sensitivity on the special properties of nicotine because some of them produce more dependency. It may be because of the blacks women's deep inhaling. The blacks , usually, are more powerful in physical acts than other groups.
Among girls, also , whites were more attracted to smoking .One of the factors was considered by researchers was the effect of sibling in which black girls showed themselves as less affected by their sibling or other family members in smoking than whites,Hispanic or Indians . It may show the blacks' more self-relience than others.
Smoking prevalence during pregnancy, also,differs among different races and ethnic groups. More quitting smoking occurred among black pregnant women (from 17.2 percent in 1989 to 9.6 percent in 1998) than whites, but , unfortunately, trlapsing among black women was also more than whites after childbirth. They quitted smoking because of its harmful to embryo and fetus. It may refer to their strong motherhood feeling but relapsing may be for influence of nicotine or their lack of knowledge about effect of smoking on born child like during pregnancy.
About some diseases are cause by smoking , there is no differencebetween races and ethnic groups, but according to hospital-based study, the probability for lung cancer were higher among black women.
In general, the African-American women are interested in quitting smoking more than others by 79 percent but they are behind of black men in this case.
I think it should not be considered any rogue against blacks in this research because it is a medicalresearch and it ay not have relation with political issues or white supremacy.If you compare this report with my p[revious report about effects of Alcoholism on blacks , you will see no difference and they may be not considered as a hypocrisy and unusual.

2006-10-18T23:53:00.000-07:00

Study shows link between African –American Ethnicity, Alcoholism and Immune Disorder
According to a medical site, long term alcohol dependence is known to compromise the immune system.Many alcoholics have more health problems than most people in general,but African – American alcoholics seem to be at greater risk for number of infectious diseases.A study carried out and published in April 2000 that issued Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research has proved an association between African –American ethnicity, long term dependence,and immune-disease risk.
A professor of Psychiatry at San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California,by the name ,Michael Irwin,who is lead author of the study said: “ We know from epidemiological data that African – American alcoholics are at greater risk for certain infectious diseases such as tuberculosis , hepatitis C and HIV.”He added that African-American alcoholics also had increased mortality rates.
According to this study done among veterans with alcoholic liver disease,Afro-Americans were 2.4 times more likely to have hepatitis C.
This study examined the effects of chronic alcoholism on three aspect of immune system: 1- To measure the activity level of “Natural killer cells”which are the cells that kill the infected cells . 2-To test the response level of killer cells by artificial stimulation.
3-To look at the production of two types of hormone-like proteins called cytokine that regulate the intensity and duration of immune responses.
According to study IL-6 ,that is an inflammatory cytokine that turns on the immune system , in African-American alcoholists are lower than others,so it was the result of declining of their natural killer cells; but in opposite their IL-10 ,that is an inhibitory cytokine which turns off the immune system, were higher and this is the reason of risk.
“ There are increasing suggestions that many biological functions differ among ethnic groups , by gender,by age, and so on.Depending on your demographical background, your baseline biological constitutions could respond to something that’s toxic to the immune system—like alcohol – in different ways.”said Dr. Schleifer,chair of the Department of Psychiatry at University of New Jersey.He adds “…Ultimatly,what we want to be able to do is not simply make general conclusion , but be able to identify particular individuals at greatest risk so that we can intervene.”
What has made me mindfull right now is that if poor African –Americans knew about the fates would expect them in this world ( Slavery,Discrimination,Humiliation and now this …)they would petition to God not to bear them to this damn world !! what do you think ?!

2006-10-11T04:33:00.000-07:00

A report about cholesterol control among American ethnic groups

According to researchers about controlling "bad" LDL cholesterol among ethnic groups , non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics who qualify for cholesterol-lowering drug treatment are controlled less than others. This is reported by American Heart Association's scientific sessions.
The researchers examined the cholesterol levels of 6,704 of the 6,814 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) funded by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. This study seeks to discover if any differences exist between ethnic groups in the development of heart disease.
According to the results these striking differeneces were found :
1- Hispanics 36 percent less than other non-Hispanics were controlled cholesterol.
2- Chinese Americans and non-Hispanic Whites were not seen so different in this control.
3- Compared with non-Hispanic Whites , Chinese Americans were 21 percent less qualified for Drug Therapy.
4- 22 percent of all participatshad cholesterol level s for which doctors recommend medication.
5- Men were 28 percent more than women qualified for drug therapy,but 22 percent received treatment.
6- Among those who met the recommendation for drug therapy , men were 30 percent less than women to have their cholesterol under control.
Among all ethnic groups studied ,only one in five Americans who qualify to take drugs to lower their high cholesterol levels have their LDL cholesterol under control.
Mesa researchers enrolled study participants in 2001 and 2002 in six metropolitan areas such as : Baltimor , Chicago,los Angeles, Minneapolis-st.paul, New York city and Winston-Salem,N.C. The was done among diverse ethnic groups.
David C. Goff, M..D., Ph.D. , the professor of public heaith science and internal medicin in Winston-Salem N.C. says " This study is the first large-scale, comparative evaluation of cholesterol treatment and control in four major U.S. ethnic groups,"
He at first explains about standard rate of cholesterol in blood and the age of participants (45 to 84) who had no symptoms of cardiovascular disease. By complete health survey,physical exam and laboratory tests,he and his colleagues found some participants needed treatment guidelines that were commonly known as ATPIII ( The Adult Treatment Panel of the National Heart , Lung, and Blood).
ATPIII recommends treatment based on a person's blood level of LDL cholesterol, for some less than 100 milligrams per deciliter,for others 130 or for still others 160 mg/dl .
Mr. Goff emphasizes on people 's important role in controlling their blood cholesterol to prevent risks,but new findings by NHANES IV among blacks ,Whites,and Mexican Americans show lower rates of control among blacks and Mexican American than Whites.

2006-10-04T00:12:00.000-07:00

Seeking a Share of Power in Charles County
Washington post

As number of blacks increase in some counties,they want to participate more in their counties’ affairs.For example, in Charles county population has grown 25 percent from 2000 to 2003. Now there ,the African American have formed 30 percent of the county’s population , according to census.
In comparison to past, the blacks in this county are not bonded to a certain neighborhood. Edith Patterson who has come here 31 years ago satisfies this fact. However , in political issue, this county has never had a black county commissioner or state legislator, so the county’s black leaders intend to clear the barriers.According to demographers and census , the face of Charles county has started to change.Many new families who have come here are professional. More than half of black households have incomes above $50000. Seventy percent of them are married couples with children. The demographers say that blacks came here to avoid poverty. Most of them want bigger houses, better neighborhood,good schools like any middle class people.Also the African American seek for higher political position not only in county and state but also in government.For example,a democrat delegate, Van T. Mitchell resigned to become deputy secretary of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. A controversy on replacing him happened among commissioners.The blacks accused the white member of county’s commission to bias a white for election but Patterson, herself as candidate for the position, called this claim absurd, because in some communities like school board and party control committee have some black members.
Yet,the Ku Klux Klan rally among themselves to plan agaist blacks to make barriers for them not to get more power.
It remindes old black figures the time when they were being blocked from some public places or picking up by school bus and …
One of them says: “ Things haven’t changed that much here.I see them ( The KKK members ) kind of going backwards.”

2006-10-01T01:42:00.000-07:00

start with name of allah .The course american ethnicity deals with analyzing the life of ethnic groups in united stated of America .These groups including Mexican ,Asian,african american and indians.I hope to be successful in this term with this course.