Stopping the media from debasing its authority. I think it can be done.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (l.) with Chris Rock during the filming of 'African American Lives'


Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. (click title to entry - thank you) has sent a bouquet of flowers and a note to the woman whose 911 call led to his arrest earlier this month.

Wendy Murphy, lawyer and spokeswoman for Lucia Whalen, said yesterday that Gates had sent her client a bouquet of flowers as an “expression of gratitude.’’ Murphy said she believed it was a bouquet of tulips. The flowers came with a note from Gates, the contents of which Murphy would not disclose....

The lawyers are all assembled. It seems like the worst nightmare for these folks. At least Dr. Gates is attempting to 'make peace' and 'propagate dialogue.' I congratulate him and his dignity of carrying out these tasks without press conferences which force all parties into their own camps.

Disarming a volatile social 'dynamic' takes a willingness by all parties and skill by the media covering it. That skill remains under developed in our USA media.

Sergeant James Crowley departed from not exploiting the 'dynamics' surrounding the arrest of Dr. Gates by holding a press conference. The White Guy actually had a 'No-No Moment' by departing from 'willingness' into 'self protection' and an agenda demanded from peers for an apology. In other words, he embarassed himself by 'creating higher stakes' for everyone else.

By stating no one apologized allowed others to understand that he was allowed to maintain 'his stance' while everyone else did the same thing. That CREATED victimization of everyone including the citizens of the nation that was actually seeking a dialogue to RESOLVE such dynamics in communities across the USA.

I rather not get into further victimization of Sergeant Crowley, but, let's get this right. Here was an officer that is supposed to be a lecturer on how to avoid racial profiling 'creating' a platform that would victimize everyone else. He 'created' a platform for police officers. A self-righteous platform that was supposed to 'cause' a particular 'stand' on the issue. It is self protectionism and disabled the openness between parties. There is no 'stand' to take within a process that is to produce a dialogue between persons and authorities. There is no 'platform,' there is simply the FACTS and a WILLINGNESS to openly examine all the 'understandings' of what occurred with HOPES of revealing a TRUTH that resolves tensions and prejudices.

What occurred with Dr. Gates should not have. It was a misunderstanding that escalated when it should have de-escalated with learning 'the truth' of the circumstances. There is something wrong here. If 'platforms' are going to take the place of facts and examination of those facts we will get nowhere. I am a little surprised Sgt. Crowley doesn't seem to know that. I believe the 'rush' to 'create' a platform for police officers regarding racial profiling speaks loudly to a paranoya within the 'police culture' that drives them into self-protection.

Then the press disembarked from the purpose of the meeting President Obama ALLOWED and NURTURED to exploit it for defamation (which is somewhat racial, by the way) with potential to capture 'a public enthusiasm' to defame as well. There was also an element of 'judgement' by the 'names and types' of beer being served as 'favorites' of the participants.

At some level the beer breweries were probably pullling for their brands. Sorry, but, this is nothing but commercial exploitation of an opportunity to improve issues surrounding racial profiling. IT IS NOT ALLOWED.

Now, I don't know what it takes to have the USA media actually demand a return of dignity to their craft, but, it is becoming an embarrassment to realize such a 'precious' moment in raising relations within communities with their law enforcement agencies turned into a nasty nest for victimizing in hopes of politicking and potential commerical exploitation that would no doubt errupt into beer brawls in taverns with all elements sequestered further into their corners.

I have a tough time believing the media wasn't a willing participant in this witch hunt, but, the purpose here is for reflection of what occurred and why 'the moment' was lost at all.

Isn't it enough to realize racism is still alive in the USA? Isn't it enough to realize we are presented with a President not only allowing transparency, but, demanding it? Isn't enough to stop the hate at every available opportunity? Or is the fact that is most relevent here the one that dictates irresponsiblity and authority defamation to 'juice' the headlines and sell more papers.

What I am concerned about through this experience with the USA media is the realization we do not know boundaries anymore of the appropriate nature of the media as opposed to the commercial exploitation of the news. You'll excuse me, but, I thought commercial exploitation is supposed to occur in the ADVERTISING and not reporting of the facts or editorial content.

The 'dynamics' of seeking a resolve to social 'dysfunction' within the USA society needs to be appreciated by the media IF they are to be participants. Sincerely. Like. What the heck does the media think they are doing anymore? Competing with commentators that lie for political gain at a corrupt media service? Wow. Not good. Not good at all.

The House is doing the 'tough' work. There is every indication they can get a bill when they return.

There is an interesting 'disconnect' I believe most Americans can identify with in regard to 'quality of care' and 'access to care. This was a Gallup Poll from May of 2008.

Most people believe (the blue column) the USA has high quality health care. But, they also state their personal experience (the tan column) is not what they believe. In other words, there is a disconnect between a person's personnel experience with health care and what they generally believe.

That is a 'phenomena' attributed to the 'aloneness' one feels when experiencing poor quality access to care or poor care at all. It is a reality that needs to be explored. The movie "Sicko" began to bring a consenus of understanding that people were actually receiving poor care on a larger scale then they believed.

For the most part, Americans believe the poor care they receive is isolated. That is not the case. We are 'told' that we have the best health care in the world. We 'believe' that. Perhaps we HAVE TO believe that to seek care and not regress from hope. The REALITY is that while we are told we are receiving good care, we are not.

The question arises as to how an American defines good and poor quality care. Do we define good quality by 'pain relief' or 'relief from worry' or 'grateful access?' Or do we define quality health care by ease of access that prevents disease, worry and pain?

The current trends in the USA in regard to a spiraling poorer and poorer quality of care are due to 'cost' and 'access.' As health care becomes more expensive, fewer Americans can afford it. The percentages of 'copays' might remain the same from year to year in any policy, but, the escalating cost drives up the actual out of pocket costs to consumers and health care becomes unaffordable.

There has to be a National Health Care Reform Bill that brings costs under control while returning function to all Americans. In other words, with new parameters on how health care costs are allowed to impact on Americans across the spectrum of income, the access will generate a far healthier nation with access to preventative care. That access stems the higher costs of chronic and potentially fatal disease.

Everyone knows that preventive care and early detection saves lives. It is vital to the USA that a new health care system will result in actually lower costs across the board of health care to the average American. With prevention of disease, costs will decrease. More Americans will have quality of life returned to them and the nation will have a healthier work force. That is a fact. Early detection saves lives and lowers the cost of health care. Stemming chronic illness through early intervention will definitively return function to lives and our economy.

The goal of any USA health care system has to be to empower its citizens to better quality of life. With better quality of life comes a better economy by people that are not sedentary, but, 'involved' in life's enjoyment. A person that is active is happier and healthier. Changing our nation's 'lifestyle' from one of 'screens and dreams' to an active and involved citizen will perk our economy and diminish our nation's costs.

There is so much more to achieving high quality health care that brings a new reality to Americans than just access. Understanding what to 'expect' from our health care system and knowing that a poor experience is the reality of many and not just one will bring a higher esteem to the demand for 'good health' and 'quality food and water' empowered by our legislative experience.

We have to do this if we want to turn the corner on 'quality of life' for our country. There is no doubt we need to change the health care system and access.


This was a survey in August 2008 by the Better Business Bureau and Gallup.

Try saying to oneself, "We do not have good quality healthcare in the USA and I have experienced that." Then realize that experience is in the majority when poor quality healthcare also includes more than medical errors and poor technique, but, also access and low costs. Americans have gotten used to being 'burdened' rather than relieved of burdens and that needs to change.

Please support the new National Health Care Reform Bills being drafted by the House and Senate and be sure Representatives and Senators understand that reality and support.

Thank you.