WOMEN, DO YOU WANT THE REPUBLICANS TO CONTINUE SHOWING A LACK OF RESPECT TOWARDS YOU?

Representative Lisa Brown and Representative Barb Byrum  are two Democratic lawmakers in Michigan.  During a debate on the house floor they spoke against the anit-abortion bill.  Lisa Brown gave her speech against the bill and the last sentence of her speech seemed  to upset Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas (R-Midland).  He pounded the gavel and asked members of the house to be respectful.  The last sentence of her speech was  “I’m flattered you’re all so concerned about my vagina, but no means no.”  Representative Barb Byrum was trying to speak but was not allowed to.  You can see her in the video raising her hand saying she would like to say something.  The next day both of these women were NOT allowed to speak during the continuation of this debate.

Why were they not allowed to speak?  According to  Ari Adler, who is a spokesman for House Majority Leader Jase Bolger (R-Marshall), said they were both banned from speaking the following day because of their behavior and not because their choice of words.  He said, “For Brown, it was not the words she used, but the way she used them that resulted in her being gaveled down” and in Byrum’s case, Adler said, “I hate to put it this way, but she essentially had a temper tantrum on the House floor.”  

I do not agree with the decision of not letting the two women representatives speak they were not disrespectful and I think women should be aware that this happened.  I believe this was disrespectful not allowing the women to speak and says a lot about our male republican party.  Women rights seem to be going backwards with the republicans voting against or for bills that do not have the best interest of women in hand, such as the Equal Pay Bill.  Republicans, also made changes to Violence Against Women Act that would not protect all women. 

Barb  Bynum has a point when she said, “There have been physical altercations between at least two men on the House floor, and I don’t recall any of them every being banned from speaking.”  I think it is time for WOMEN TO START DEMANDING THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE AND NOT LETTING THINGS JUST SLIDE BY.  SPEAK UP, STAND YOUR GROUND, BE HEARD!



You can be read more here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/14/michigan-woman-lawmakers-silenced-_n_1598168.html. 


Timothy Brown IS THE FIRST PERSON TO BE CURED OF AIDS

Timothy Brown is the first person cured of AIDS.  In 2007 Mr. Brown was being treated for leukemia.  During his treatment he received a bone marrow stem cell transplant.  What was special about this transplant was that it came from a donor with a genetic mutation that made him immune from HIV.  The genetic mutation is known as delta 32, only occurs in an estimated 1% of Northern Europeans, and Swedes are the most likely candidates with this gene mutation.  

Although this stem cell transplant worked it is said to not be an attainable way to treat HIV patients because it is difficult to find a bone marrow donor match, and even harder to find the one person who also carries the HIV-resistant gene.  Doctors are looking towards umbilical cord transplants because a match does not need to be as close.  Dr. Lawrence Petz who is the medical director of StemCyte which is an umbilical cord bank said out of 17,000 samples of cord blood that was tested in their umbilical cord bank only 102 tested positive with the genetic HIV-resistant mutation.

I honestly hope that doctors will continue to build on these findings and continue to make strides towards curing HIV for good.  Hopefully, the medical field will invest  enormous amounts of money to make this a reality.  Once the medical field obtains this goal I hope the FDA will rush the approval of helping make the cure of HIV a reality. 

You can read more here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2156697/How-man-cured-AIDS-inspired-doctors-discover-revolutionary-new-treatment.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

HISPANICS, WHERE ARE YOU?

More than 21 million Hispanics are registered to vote but a little over 10 million are registered to vote and less actually go and vote. In the 2008 election there was a record of 10 million hispanics who turned out to vote, which was just half of the Hispanic population. According to the Pew Hispanic Center study 65% of black eligible voters voted and 66% of white eligible voters voted.

I am not sure why Hispanics are not voting. I understand the politics in politics can be discouraging and a bunch of nonsense when it should not be but in my opinion I would rather have Obama as president for another term over Mitt Romney. I know politicians make many promises and many of them are not kept. BUT I am also aware Obama has tried getting some laws passed that have been shot down such as the Buffet Rule where he wanted the rich to pay their fair share taxes and the republicans voted against it. There have been other laws shot down by the republican party and overall I do not agree with Romney’s plans for the future of America. When it comes down to it if you are able to vote you should do so for whomever you honestly believe can and has the best interest for American society as a whole. So, I say listen to what candidates have to say, ask questions, discuss, research, learn, and VOTE!

                                            Lo Anderson


Lo Anderson is a talented spoken word artist. Her presence on stage commands your attention and her flow of words are powerful and raw.  She is able to deliver her words in a way that allows you to follow her through her journey and feel her words.  I love when poets are able to make you say ‘ooo’, ‘ahh’, or any other sounds or words we use to express when we feel their words touch us. Her metaphors are intelligent, insightful and forceful.  Everytime people clap for Lo Anderson it is earned and well deserved.  Check out her video and Enjoy!