Dear Mayor De Blasio

Dear Mayor De Blasio

Two New York City cops were murdered in cold blood today.

According to the press that is being released, the police were killed in retaliation for the Eric Garner and Mike Brown cases.

I recognize that these cases are complicated and not as simple as the media claims.

I also recognize that being on the police force is not the easiest job in the world.

Mr. Mayor, we live in a large and busy city with a very diverse population.  I appreciate that you are trying to keep the peace, but the fact is that we need our police force. I also appreciate that you are one half of a bi-racial couple and because your wife is African-American, your son has challenges in life that his Caucasian peers might not have.

In short, sir, we need the police to do their jobs and you need to support them. While I am sure that there are a few bad apples in the police force (as there is in every industry), most police men and women are there because they want and need  to work.

When the mayor does not support the police department, this sends the wrong message. This message leads to the broad daylight murder of two policemen just doing their jobs.

This message might also add your name to the list of one term mayors.

Sincerely

A Concerned Citizen

 

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Feminism Unfinished Book Review

The fight for equality by American women is not a new fight. It is a battle that has been waged for generations. While the glass ceiling has slowly been cracking, it has yet to come down completely.

Feminism Unfinished: A Short Surprising History Of American Women’s movement by Dorothy Sue Cobble, Linda Gordon & Astrid Henry was published earlier this year. This anthology of essays documents the women’s movement from the 1920’s to present day. They start with first generation feminists like Alice Paul and Pauline Newman and ends with the current generation of American female leadership that includes Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and author of Lean In.

What I liked about this book was that it didn’t start at the 1960’s,which is often considered to be the start of the feminist movement. The feminist movement in America is much older. I also liked the fact that authors shed the spotlight on women of color, who are sometimes neglected because the focus is often on white middle class women.

I recommend this book.

The Holidays

It’s that time of year again. The stores are advertising massive sales, the lights are on the houses and the weather has become rather chilly.

Christmas and Kwanzaa are just around the corner. We are halfway through Chanukah.

There are some, in the name of diversity and multiculturalism who believe that instead of referring to the individual holidays, we all should use the generic Happy Holidays message.

While I understand where they are coming from, I don’t quite agree with them.

If I see someone who celebrates Christmas, I say Merry Christmas.

If I see someone who celebrates Chanukah, I say Happy Chanukah.

If I see someone who celebrates Kwanzaa, I say Happy Kwanzaa.

If I see someone who has no particular religious faith, I say Happy Holidays or Happy New Year.

I believe that to foster co-existence and respect, we have to acknowledge the fact that our neighbor may celebrate a different holiday. To lump all of the holidays together out of fear that someone may feel offended does not do justice to this very multicultural country that we call home.

That being said, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. May we all enjoy this holiday season and the joys that come with it.