Because I said so

As the election date draws closer both parties should focus on issues and leave trivial lipstick on the pig non-issues behind. I am curious as to what readers and potential voters are focusing on as their must haves in a candidate. Is shared religious views, shared hobbies, and extracurricular activities enough for you to base your vote? What are we as voters deciding to base our votes on this year?

The media is having a veritable field day with gaffes and fodder but, there is little to no accountability for substance. I have visited both candidates’ websites intensively and have chosen education, health care reform, and the protection and reverence for our senior community as paramount issues that must be addressed to my satisfaction in order to receive my vote. I am concerned for those individuals that are only receiving their information form media sources and push polls.

So as a voter what issues are you using to determine which candidate receives your vote? Let me reiterate this is not a post as to why you are NOT voting for someone but a post regarding why a candidate is receiving you vote. What issues are most important to you and how does your candidate measure up. Please be truthful and factual your answers may sway someone who is still undecided in ’08.

• Labels:
• advocacy
• politics
• responsibility


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I don't get to read for fun as often as I would like but, I was able to squeeze this novel in and I strongly urge everyone to read it. As the current American population grapples with the threat of a recession; tens of thousands of people in Africa are dying daily due to HIV/AIDS and millions of children are orphaned. Taking action to aid then becomes a choice between individual comfort and the desire to better the world for all living beings.

I loved this book simply because Stephanie Nolen aimed its readership not towards those individuals that have made HIV/AIDS there sole life purpose but to those individuals that may have become complacent about the horrors and deleterious effects of HIV/AIDS. However, experts fighting in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis may find renewed strength and vigor in the very open and honest and oftentimes painful stories narrated by Nolen.


It is important to remember that “AIDS has robbed them of much more than health” it has robbed this people of a productive life; and left them with a legacy many would rather keep hidden (Nolen, 2007, p. 17). Martin Luther King Jr. said it best “in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”, after reading Nolen’s 28 stories no one in good conscious can or should remain silent.

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• Hiv/Aids


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I should have known better, working in the hospital atmosphere I see it too many times, but what did I do, I fell for the OKIE DOKE! Damn do I feel stupid. Quick run down last year around this same time my husband had to rush me to the ER in a wrapped sheet because I was in too much pain to get dressed, we get there and we are told that I’m dehydrated and that is causing my UNBEARABLE pain, they give me an IV some muscle relaxers and sent me on my merry way.

First of all I drink nothing but water (and the occasionally alcoholic beverage) to ever be dehydrated. I never thought this was my problem but hey after the muscle relaxer everything is all good (right). The problem is I KNEW something was wrong I KNEW it, I could FEEL it.

People you have to be your own advocate Doctors don’t know everything. And no, I’m not slamming doctors because even in my field if I’m not used to seeing a particular bug it may take me a couple of days, weeks to ID it. Your doctor just may not be familiar with your particular aliment or it may not be common for people in your age range, race, etc.

So I let a year go by not listening to my body, not slowing down, but taking on extra upon extra upon extra then bam the pain is back WTF. This time I did a little researching of my own it turns out I may have gall stones, I am heading to a specialist today but I think it’s going to turn out that gall stones are my problem. My mother said that both of my cousins had to have their gall bladders removed around my same age. Ok so what I want people to know is this:

1. Dr.’s may misdiagnose because you don’t fit the typical picture (which was the case with my cousins and probably will be with me)
2. Don’t be afraid to question your doctor this is your body you know it better than they do
3. Be assertive and persistent when you believe there is a problem
4. Be PATIENT and WILLING to listen
5. Don’t fall for the OKIE DOKE! Listen to yourself

For more information please visit the link attached to the title, this website has a great section in regards to African American health disparities and advocacy

• Labels:
• advocacy
• health


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