Do you think hospitals should deny children transplants because their disabled?

No matter what an issue is, it is the hospital right to protect the rights of their patients and make sure all is taken care of. They are not there to judge, cast judgment, exile or make others feel out of place. Nor are they their to turn children away based on assumption. Everyone should be welcomed and given a fair chance no matter what the circumstances are in life.  If you agree this statement s, you might agree with the facts I am going to present.

A New York women who son was seriously ill was denied a heart transplant by New York – Presbyterian Hospital because he is mentally disabled. Yes that is correct, the child was denied the surgery he desperately needed because he was born with rate genetic defect. The little boy was bored with Coffin-Sires syndrome. The syndrome is said to cause children to grow up with intellectual and development disabilities, which weakens the immune system. It is because this reason they chose not to operate on the infant. Going with this information, I would probably agree with the hospital but the parents did not agree.

The hospital put the little boy on the list for the surgery and then took him off because of his disability. The parents did not agree with this decision; especially when she was told spend time with him before he dies. As any parent would feel she felt like they just gave up on her and her child who has been fighting since he was born. Why put him on the list in the first place if you knew his condition, what made them all of a sudden want to change their mind about him on the list because they know for sure it wasn’t the disability. The parents refused to give up and sough consultation in Boston.

When another doctor by the name of Dr. Gijs Santen, from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, stepped up he stated that children with Coffin-Siris do not have compromised immune systems. And he quoted “It is difficult to use infection risk as a reason not to perform a heart transplant. Well anyone would say that well things happen but when another doctor, Dr. Grange Coffin confirmed what Dr.Santen previously stated the family knew that NY Presbyterian hospital were wrong for denying the child. With all this information the hospital refuse to look into the child’s case again and did not change their mind. 

Luckily, another hospital approved the transplant. On May 18, the child was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was prepared for surgery. But do to the changes in his medication he status changed and he no longer needed the surgery. Which was blessing to the family, without the hospitals help.

Do you think hospitals should deny children transplants because their disabled?

Should Poverty Be Mentioned In The Media ?

More than 15 % of our Americans live in poverty today but you never hear coverage on the news about it, and its because a lot of people do not want show any interest in. Poverty and people work hard is not the mainstream news it is not something to make headline because it is not important enough. The news does not see people struggling day to day to make ends meet an issue but if someone killed numerous people because of poverty than it tends to make headlines. Poverty is just not important to the media outlets unless they can bring attention.

For example many of innocent struggling people gathered outside Wendy’s to protest for higher pay regarding fast food restaurants but no one bothered to capture that. These people stood outside all day in hopes of someone just listening and no cared to give him or her any attention. They were ignored and their pay rages have not changed but they have no choice but to return to work because the need to survive. They need the money to take care of their children even if it’s a lousy $7.25 an hour.  This was an issue affecting all our people who deal with minimum wage, citizens all across the world.

Now we think about the government shutdown between President Barack Obama and the GOP and it was the news coverage for weeks. It dominated headlines and news announcement because people could not believe the government would get shut down. Because everyone was talking about it, it was a thriving topic and it made headlines but because no one was talking about poverty it was not worthy of being mentioned. I am not saying that the government shutdown was not a big event because it most definitely is but is people not struggling and not being able to make ends meet on $7.25 an issue as well.

No one can say $7.25 can give a living because they’re many government assistance programs. These programs are being cut in front of us everyday. The House of Representatives passed a bill to cut 40 billion dollars from the SNAP program also known as food stamps. They are even making higher worker requirements and eliminating waivers. This will make the poorer people poorer because The House of Representatives need to dwindle the nations money. It is even sadder that this was not submitted into media coverage and many people are unaware that this will be going on. Poverty takes only 1% of the media in today’s society and it is not fair.

It is said that media do not cover poverty because people are uncomfortable. They do not want to be more depressed or accept their hardships. They want to ignore all the issues at hand. But is that true or do the government just want to sugar coat what’s going on. The people need to be aware what is going on and even if it make them uncomfortable they have to accept it for what it is. Ignoring it will not make it better so I disagree with that comment, I believe the government don’t want to admit the people need more help.

Do you believe the topic of poverty should be discussed more in the media?

Minimum Wage Should Be Increased !

We all know that living in America can be pricey? Especially living in New York City if you know the meaning of expensive.  Sometimes it is impossible to make ends meet with the little salary we make. A lot of people often question how they are able to survive and maintain a living? Working day-by-day and from paycheck to paycheck just to meet the minimum requirements to survive. 

People need to work a lot of hours and dedicate their lives to their jobs just to make ends meet because the pay grade is horrible. In today’s day and age the minimum salary to pay workers is $7.25. $7.25 is not enough to take care of yourself much less a family, people need more money to survive and this is why minimum wage must be increased. People need to be able to feel comfortable with their pay and I mean I know not everyone is going to be satisfied but they need decent accommodation. People are struggling every day just to make ends meet all because what they make is never enough.

There is a petition to increase the pay grade to $9.00. $9.00 is not a lot but it is better than what the people are accustomed to. Light, gas, rent, water, and etc. cannot be taken care of minimum wage and especially if it’s a single parent family. The $9.00 will be a big step up from what people are receiving today, the cost of living in increasing rapidly and the wages is not moving. That is not fair to anyone who is trying to survive; it’s like a system that makes it impossible to succeed or to grow.

If the minimum wage was a little higher I believe there would be less crime amongst people. People steal to provide for themselves or to be equal to others. A lot of people are on assistance programs by governments because they cannot afford to live independently. A lot of kids are stealing to survive because they do not see the point of working the little pay. Times are hard and its proof, you see a lot of innocent kids struggling to help their parents. Parents are working longer hours just to have a decent pay to survive. Increasing minimum wage, would be a blessing to many across the world, the people need help.  

I am not saying that increasing the pay will be the ultimate come up. But it wills we a blessing and that $1.75 increase in pay will make a difference in your life. Everyone will be able to manage a little bit more and be able to provide more for him or her.

Do you believe minimum wage should be increased?

Doctors Should Never Violate Paitent Rights For Their Own Entertainment Purposes

If we could go anywhere in the world and feel safe to express our concerns it should be the hospital. When we are sick or wounded the hospital is our safe haven to get the proper help we need not to be ridiculed and embarrassed. Never in million years would we believe that a hospital, well a staff member would violate our rights in anyway but it happened to innocent women in Chicago who sough for help. She entrusted a doctor and he violated her rights and that is an issue that is not acceptable. 

Elena Chemyakova is an inspiring actress who one night did not know her limit and got drunk. She got too drunk and had to be taken to the emergency room seeking medical attention. Sick and not knowing what to do she called a mutual friend whom was also at the hospital whom is a doctor doing a fellowship for the School of Medicine. The doctor whose name is Vinava Puppala took pictures of the women while she was drunk and posted it to social sites. A doctor who took an oath to privacy for its patients, deliberately took pictures of the women and posted it on instagram and Facebook with hash tags. 

The victim who has no family in Chicago because all of her family is in Russia trusted in the mutual friend for help. They became friends of Facebook through other friends and even though they never met face to face often spoke of Facebook. She trusted the doctor and felt comfortable to ask for his assistance because she was never in the situation. She never expected for him to take it too far exposing her online. Many people she did not know saw her in that fragile condition.

The doctor continuously made fun of her, while taking pictures of her with an IV in her arm passed out and uploaded them to the Internet. The security guard even asked him to stop and delete the pictures but he did not do such thing. He continued to show the pictures to friends after at a local rooftop across the street while the patient was recovering at the hospital. He felt the need to continuously embarrass her and degrade her character for his need of entertainment, she was suffering from alcohol poisoning and he is enjoying her turmoil. The victim was not even aware of the pictures until friends began to contact her about the picture.

Even after the incident the doctor had the pictures on his phone even after the security officer asked him to take them down and delete them. People online were referring to her as “Hospital Girl “.  It is not okay what this doctor did and he needs to pay. She is currently suing the hospital for 1.5 million dollars letting the message aware it is not acceptable to post pictures of patients for their entertainment. It could have been anything no one has the right to do such thing to anybody. It is time for someone to step up, because it could have been anyone.

Do you believe that the doctor should be penalized or do you feel the girl is overreacting?

Hip Hop Music Lack of Respect To Women Today

We have a problem in a hip-hop, in society, in our time. That problem is the way we view women as a culture especially in hip hop culture; the way we refer to women who are mothers, sisters, daughters, and nieces is too sexual. The industry, especially the hip-hop industry looks at women as sexual objects and not for what they stand for. Women who create and take of life, who are strong and independent and hard working are seen as negative factors such as bad b***** or freaks and etc. many degrading name that we as individuals would not like anyone to call our female relatives.

Many of the artists who consistently continue this degrading behavior are the ones we listen to every day such as Rick Ross, Cheef Keef, Meek Mill, the list can on. The lyrics they articulate to their fans are nothing pleasant, constantly calling women out their name and talking about what they would do them. It’s sad and it’s bringing down our females today, especially the younger one who believe because their favorite artist said it may be okay. This becomes a social issue because what are we teaching our children, brothers, sisters, and future generation. If you listen to most of the music that is out today you hear not only the artists labeled but others call women nothing but hoes or b******. The didn’t say one positive thing about women unless its their mother but other females it is always sexual.

The messages these songs say, just bring down women in society. It makes females feel less adequate and that it is okay for males to anything they want to them. Kids follow everything they see on television or in the media, it is a proven fact. If they see this being permitted on television than they will feel its okay to say it to their peers. The networks have no filters on some of the music they put out, yes they put clean version but if you stay up late enough you can still experience the explicit content on channels such as BET. It is a walking contradiction; networks like BET play explicit content in videos at night but prayer services in the morning. A walking contradiction these are the things that kids follow and watch and we support these facts whether are not.

In todays generation the teenagers are more sexually active at a younger age. The music they hear and the lyrics boost their courage to go and try these things. Kids want to experience the finer things these rappers talk about they want to live their lives. Their music honestly gives them their drive and motivates them daily. Hip Hop artists, some not all are negatively portraying women and teaching our younger generation that it is okay. It plays a big role in the influence upon children and I believe it needs to be a little more filter. I am not saying that they should not talk about anything but I am saying that they should have some discretion. For example Rick Ross has a song when he jokes about a women being drugged and raped and these are what children are singing.

Even though I do blame a lot of the music that is out there for the negative views on women I also blame women. Women are agreeing to be in music videos and allowing they to be groupies and making these artists feel like they’re higher than God just for some money. Society is becoming terrifyingly dismissive of sexual violence against women. Women today need to stand up and demand respect and be better women who know what they want and fight for what they believe. The point in which I am trying to make is that a society we have an issue here, and that is issue is our younger generation. The influences that are there age need to be a little more selective with words and actions toward women in society. It is degrading and morally wrong to treat women the way Hip Hop artists do today.

Do you believe that Hip Hop artists should be more selective and mindful of the words they choose to put in their songs?

Morals OR Money ?

A Brooklyn has started an online petition demanding that Jay Z dump Barneys Hip Hop mogul; Jay Z is under heavy microscope by his fans and activists.  Jay Z recently signed a contract with Barneys New York for his new cologne that has came out on the market. Barneys New York a popular store for high retail designer items is under heavy waters with shoppers and many ethnic groups. The store has been labeled to be racist by many of its customers. They have been said to racially profile many of their shoppers because of their skin color and looks. The store has been to say to humiliate and racially profile people whom they believe were not capable of shopping in their store. 

About three different people have come forward with claims that they were too racially profiled in Barneys. A young African woman was the first to come out because she was racially profiled and treated horribly for buying a $2,500 bag from the store. The store did not believe she could afford such a bag legally and began to treat her unfairly Another male victim came for and said he too was racially profiled because he bought a $400 belt from the store. Another man went into the store was told he would need to show his paystubs and identification before he entered the store. Barneys are being selective and discriminating many of their shoppers because of their colors and what they tend to look like on the outside.

Many would question, “What this has to do with Jay Z?” Well Jay Z is a well-known activist when it comes to social issues. The hip hop mogul has never stirred away from racial and any social issues he felt were be derogatory towards African Americans or any other ethnic group for that matter. His voice has been heard all over whether it was the Travyvon Martin case in which he marched with the family in NYC. The boycott against Cristal Champagne who made racist comments amount hip-hop. The issue with Don Imus who called the basketball players nappy headed hoes. Or even gay marriage where he believed in equality to matter whomever we so choose. Jay Z voice has always been heard, so why is it now that money is included is the rapper choosing not to speak out.

Jay Z chose not to speak out for the first weeks, and recently made a statement that he was waiting on the facts. A lot of people questioned this because we all have known the rapper to be very demanding and in charge. The facts and proof are they’re for these cases and he did not step up at first but for Travyvon Martin, the rapper stepped up because of his beliefs.  Even the Cristal Champagne comments, the rapper chose to stop supporting his products in his clubs or his life.  Now the people want him to be just as upset on the racially profiling for a brand he is supporting. If he can step up and fight for issues not regarding him but blacks why can he not step up now? The people have been ridiculing him for weeks and it seems it finally has wore him down.

Jay Z officially met with the advisory board for Barney’s New York. The team went over tactics with the Hip Hop to form a plan for and to deal with the whole profiling issue. He is heavily aboard with creating new guidelines for the way the retailer interacts with the New York Police Department. They have realized, those guidelines needs must be balanced with ensuring that the rights of individuals are respected at all times.  The department store officers will have to provide reason and description of individuals they wish to place under surveillance.

Do you think Jay Z went to Barney’s because of the pressure his fans put on him based upon the situation, or because he felt Barney’s was wrong?

Is the Zero Tolerance Policy Too Tough On Students ?

It seems like educators and the government is beginning to rethink the zero tolerance policy for school children. Everyone has heard of the zero tolerance policy, which is  “a policy of punishing any infraction of a rule, regardless of accidental mistakes, ignorance, or extenuating circumstances”. The zero tolerance policy first came into play only to stop the trafficking of drugs, which were high on school campuses, but as time changes and incidents such as the Columbine school shooting it went to protect the school from any form of threat. But as time has pass, not only parents and educators think the zero tolerance policy is going to far but the Obama administration as well.

In states like Florida, known to be the 6^th largest district in the nation the administrators feels that the tough policies in schools are the reason that arrest records, low academic achievement and the high dropout rates are so high. These factors seeming to be the reason why minority students are not succeeding because of minor offenses is making permanent decision in their lives. In counties such as the Broward County it was noted that more students were arrested on school campuses than in any other state district for petty crimes such as possession of marijuana and spraying graffiti on school property.

We all believe these students need to be punished for their crimes, but we have not done anything to help these kids. The numbers are increasing, in the last two years the suspensions, expulsion and arrest for minor crimes have sky rocketed and more police have been appointed to schools. This doesn’t seem like we have tried to make matters better, it seem like the school district just prepared for more crime than change. But change does not seem to far, the Broward have joined up with other districts such as Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago and Denver to find a different solution and pull away from this tough approach on students.

Instead of pushing children out of schools when they break laws, the gathering school districts want to keep these children in school. Pushing them out is encouraging them to lead a life in the streets and as educators it should be the opposite. Schools should offer counseling, assistance, and programs to change them for the better. Give them an alternative lifestyle with programs supported by the state officials and police. Somebody needs to step up and show these kids love, and guidance. In only 2011, more than 1,000 kids were arrested in the Broward County, it opened up the eyes of officials who reached out the justice department and civil rights groups to de emphasize punishment and overhaul the disciplinary policies.

It is becoming a national trend for these students to fall behind because of minor incidents. These minor incidents prevent them from getting a job, joining the military or getting financial aid. It is a sad thing happening here, and that is why the Obama administration decided to step up with the Department of Justice and the Department of Education and encourage schools to think twice before arresting and pushing children out of schools. It is a political movement people want to see change, they want to see minorities grow and nothing holds them back and if that means spending extra time, than so be it.

Do you believe the zero tolerance policy was too hard on students?