Family suicide in the wake of recession - society to blame?

I do believe that people are responsible for their actions. However, if family after family are in self-annihilation, it is the duty of friends, loved ones and society to step in and help.


We have been taught from family, from our friends, from the media...to surround ourselves with material wealth. Consumerism is what defines our status, prestige and some would even say-livelihood. These are wrong thoughts and when people cannot separate their pride from morality, then life becomes meaningless.


1.) http://forums.bossip.com/showthread.php?p=23496

2.) ( Sept. 2008) http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20080918/1056290.html



To some extent, these deaths are the fault of society. It is society that has taught people to think in such materialistic ways, and their should be some law or at the least consideration from government ( or corporations) to check up on the well-being of families and individuals.

I was reading the news the other day about how a 90 year old man froze to death because he couldn't pay for the heat in his house. Con Edison shut off the heat and he literally froze to death. He lived alone.

Everyone is suffering in one way or another at this time...we should be bolstering people's spirits and their healths to get things rolling quickly again, instead of thinking about our pockets and keeping heat from a 90 year old man.


I ask you this...
Who or What is at fault for the deaths?

( Ex: Society, the Economy, their own pride...?)

Obama's Interview on Al- Arabiya TV

Obama showed his determination to the world as he got down to business ( after business). After his inaugural ball and parties, he stepped in and played a transition to peace within the Middle East. His interview with Melhem portrays the concerns that exist in America and that communication between the Middle East and America need to be ignited. I respect the objective route he’s taking and I love that he’s telling the world that America’s listening.

If you seek Amy...

Oops she did it again! That line may be getting old, but Britney strikes a new controversy! Her new song is playing on the radio and it’s caused quite a debate. I’ll let you all be the judge of just how good her song is. Is it obscene? Should it be taken off the air waves?


“ All the boys and all of the girls are begging to…iF yoU SEE-K aMy”






The lyrics don’t make sense, but she’s actually being a little creative with this song. Apparently sex is the underlying message of this song. “ If you seek Amy” is supposed to be the “F* word and ME”. So if a child were singing this song, she’d be repeating the lyrics over and over again. Appropriate?



People are saying that it’s too vulgar and sexed up; but to her defense, since her career’s started, Britney’s always been an icon for sex/y. Her image was always about sexuality. She was 15 in her first music video and she was dressed as a Lolita school girl.



I’ll let you be the judge of this new song.

Trash Talking

“ Tell the Truth, Tell the Truth, Tell the Truth”
- Elizabeth Gilbert


Okay, I admit it, I’ve done it before- whispered, talked and even laughed. I feel wicked, but at least I know I wasn’t the only one. I mean…we’ve all done it before, whether to their faces or behind their backs. Even when we read Perez Hilton and cringe our noses at different girls and at what they’re wearing – we’re all part of Trash talking. You all can relate.


Although, I must admit…I never thought of myself to be cool, especially not in Highschool ( Debate Team, Math League…yeah definitely not cool), then why do we all participate in trash talking-? The freaks, geeks and cool kids - they all do it. Perhaps, it’s mainstream media’s fault and it has affected our morality. ( Once again, blame the media.) Or maybe, we hear it from people around us- perhaps from our mothers (or fathers) who gossip and we’ve picked up on it?

Trash Talking- I don’t know if Wikipedia actually has it but in my dictionary it means to call a girl a bad name and for no apparent reason. People can bash at a girl for different reasons: jealousy, clothes, wrong hairdo, wrong jeans, wrong personality…etc.





Perez Hilton is the worst of the worst in bashing. He can call a girl by so many names and get away with it. His blog, www.perezhilton.com, became such a big hit with all his celebrity gossip which isn’t even considered real news. In fact, Perez has become so big with the celebrities- they want to become his friend so he wouldn’t bash them on his website. What a way to make friends!


I’m not on the know with all the celebrity news, but I can tell you this….we all have to stop bashing other women for our own entertainment because it later then translates to real life. We’ll be seeing all generations “ trash talking/ bashing” and it’ll never cease.






Even if I see someone pouring in her blouse- or wearing the tiniest short shorts which would be considered so inappropriate, I would just smile and nod. That’s what any respectable young woman would do. No need to comment, or make them upset…it’s not like I would be actually saving any one from embarrassment. Bashing is for people who don’t have anything else to do with their lives, so I’d rather just go on blogging about other things than trash.



Pictures from the website of Tee Jay Pietrosanti.

MLK- survival of the dream?

As an aspiring human rights leader, I have to write something about Martin Luther King Jr. After all today is his day. Many say that MLK’s dream has finally been recognized, and Barack Obama has made King’s dream a reality. Without MLK, would there be the Barack Obama we see in the White House today?



To me, MLK is the icon of peace, justice and ambition. He saw something that many could not even imagine. MLK delivered his “ I have a dream” speech with great passion and integrity. His words were honest; it traveled miles and transcended time. People from all different walks of life could relate to his dream, for they too had a dream.





I am glad to see that people are accepting to change. However, I cannot say that MLK’s dream has been fully recognized. Martin Luther King Jr., in his letter from A Birmingham City Jail wrote, “ Justice too long delayed, is justice denied”. Even today there are so many injustices that exist, yet no one does anything about it. People have become so apathetic to the prejudice and oppression that prevail in our world.







With the coverage of the news at our fingertips, we reluctantly turn the page of the latest headline in the New York Times. When we turn on the television , we change the channel to watch music videos on MTV than to take the time to watch the news on CNN ( or FOX for all you Republicans).



For four years, every Friday afternoon, I was part of Boston University’s Dean of Students, Kenneth Elmore’s Coffee and Conversation at the Howard Thurman Center. I became more intrigued with MLK especially when I learned that King was a student at BU and how Thurman had a great impact on King’s life.



Dean Elmore quoted MLK often and one Friday he left us with this quote. ( Every Friday, we would bring a controversial topic to the table- Elections, Affirmative Action, Abortion, Animal Rights… ) As we were talking about how apathetic our generation has become, he reminded us of MLK ‘s words, “ We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.“





Perhaps, I’m wrong. Perhaps our generation is not so apathetic- we now see the first black man as president of the United States and a lot of it is owed to the youth.
President Obama’s campaign was directly targeted at us- the youth. Our generation has also been named, Generation S- S for service.



I know MLK would have loved to see more service for humanity so let’s keep going...

Does your attitude dictate your success?

Does your attitude dictate your success? Does a good disposition dictate your paycheck?


I’ve always been told that one’s happiness depends upon one’s disposition, but what about people who become victims of their circumstances? Or is there such a thing?


Aside from my belief in karma, I also think luck plays a role in one’s life. Your actions predict your future, but there are also times when the end doesn’t really justify the means. Some people are born into resources much more accessible to them than others, and others do not have that advantage. Does luck play a role in that situation? I suppose.


I’ve always been taught to believe that if you want it, it will come. But how long do you have to wait until it comes?


With what I'm currently going through, I like to believe that we’re just paying our dues until we reach our calling. Confidence is key and always believe in yourself. Lack of confidence means lack of knowledge so we must educate ourselves with books and good thoughts.


I’ve been reading lots of biographies and I was stunned to see how some of the biggest celebrities and entrepreneurs made it BIG. Jim Carey, for example- the amazing comedian and actor went to 1,000 auditions before he got his first gig on TV in Living Color. One thousand auditions? Carey’s one of the funniest guys in the world- (my father would say Eddie Murphy is the funniest guy in the world) and I question why it took him so long to get just one gig. But he did it.




Michael Jordan who is considered to be the best basketball player (esp. in my brother’s eyes), didn’t make it to his High-school basketball team.





Steve Jobs, my love, the Thomas Edison of this era, the CEO of Apple dropped out of college, and spent 9 years creating the first Macintosh computer in his basement. (He certainly paid his dues.) After Mac was created, Jobs just keeps getting bigger- so innovative- with iPods, iPhones, iKayes… and etc. Now Jobs is also a leading share holder for Pixar Animations. (I can go on forever about Jobs; he is my ultimate McDreamy and he’s Buddhist so my parents would totally approve.) At the end…I’ve learned that what separates normal people from big timers is perseverance. It’s about baby steps and how progression turns into greater things.





Work hard. Make lots of friends, read lots and write lots of e-mails. I don’t think any one understands just how reading a good email in the morning gets me going all day. Reading a nice email and driving while simultaneously singing in my car- just get me. :)



In the words of Biggie Smalls, “ Damn right I love the life I live, ‘cuz I went from negative to positive...” People always appreciate a good story and it’s even much better if it goes from negative to positive.



Karma or Luck? Karma Karma Karma. On that note, do good deeds too!

Peace in the Middle East

I thought that the beginning of 2009 would be the first step to change- new president, new way of thinking, new world. I guess I was mistaken. As we are starting a new year, we still see the same blood shed that we have seen in countless battles and wars preceded throughout history. Will war destroy mankind? Possibly. Should we give up on peace? NEVER.


I am stunned to see photos of children ravaged by war. This current war between Gaza and Israel creates a terrible situation for the next generation of children and so forth. They grow up seeing cries and blood; the cycle of hatred never ceases. Aside from the never-ending conflict between Israelis and Palestinians are the health factors that surround the people within the region.


In an epidemiology class I took at BU, a woman by the name of Alice Rothchild came to speak at one of our lectures. Rothchild is Jewish - half Israeli and half American. She’s done studies on the Gaza strip concerning people’s mental health state (mainly in children), and her studies have shown that a significant percentage of children suffer from antisocial behavior- aggression and fear (more so in boys than girls). Their emotional problems are carried on with them throughout their lives. (And the cycle continues…) Rothchild encourages justice for Palestinians and a better understanding between the 2 cultures.







The one thing that we all share (with people an ocean away from us) is our humanity thus it is every person’s duty to speak out against any atrocity that takes place- domestically or internationally. Diplomacy should always be the answer. One life lost is a lifetime of love, smiles, memories and happiness lost.

My Mission...

I use my journalistic skills as a tool to write and broadcast about what I love- society, culture and human activity.

I’ve always considered myself a sociologist and a journalist. I’ve intertwined my love for sociology and my passion for journalism, and I have brought you this- the blog of a frustrated journalist. I will be questioning different social relationships and write about my beliefs on why or how people act the way they do in many different situations.

Please feel free to disagree and comment as I am always learning from someone else’s perspective.

I hope this blog gets you to think and question society and norms. If my writing does neither those- then I have mainly created this blog for your viewing pleasure.

Best of luck and Happy New Year!

Love,
Kaye