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SEPTEMBER 6 - SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

VOLUME 21 NO. 36

YES OR NO?

As Congress decides whether to authorize military strikes against Syria, President Obama travels to Russia to talk global politics, economics and gay rights. COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS

President Obama headed this week to the G-20 global summit in Russia, hoping to rally international support for his bid to launch a military strike against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons in which more than 1,000 people, including children, were killed. The meeting comes after Obama canceled a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow before the summit. The cancellation followed a string of disputes, including Russia’s decision to

grant asylum to former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden and its blocking of action by the United Nations Security Council against Syria.

Allies could help

ter the British Parliament shot down Prime Minister David Cameron’s request for military action. And Obama’s call to seek approval from a divided U.S. Congress further muddles the global calculus. Obama arrived in Sweden Wednesday, a trip added after Obama scrapped the meeting with Putin. Here’s an update as of the Florida Courier’s press time Wednesday night:

Backing from global partners such as France and Germany could boost Obama’s chances of securing support from Congress for military action when lawmakers arrive back in Washington next week from First hurdle cleared summer recess. In Washington, the SenBut allies are treading cautiously, particularly af- ate Foreign Relations Com-

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/MCT

Secretary of State John Kerry testifies before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Syria in Washington, as Code Pink protests hold up hands symbolically covered in blood. mittee voted to authorize Obama to use limited force against Syria Wednesday, after adopting amendments from Sen. John McCain designed to “change the military equation on the battlefield.”

The Senate resolution would limit hostilities to 60 or 90 days, narrow the conflict to Syria’s borders and prohibit U.S. troops on Syrian soil. McCain’s amendments didn’t change that scope, but made clear that

2013 MEAC/SWAC CLASSIC

Rattlers win as a smaller ‘100’ return

the end goal should be “a negotiated settlement that ends the conflict and leads to a democratic government in Syria.” The vote was 10-7. See SYRIA, Page A2

Eight years of pain Blacks hurting disproportionately from Katrina BY BILL QUIGLEY SPECIAL TO THE TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

KIM GIBSON / FLORIDA COURIER

Florida A&M University beat Mississippi Valley State University 27-10 in the ninth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando’s Florida Citrus Bowl in front of 24,376 fans last week. FAMU’s Marching ‘100,’ now with 125 members, appeared at halftime for the first time since drum major Robert Champion’s hazing-related homicide in 2011. The ‘100’ is two-thirds smaller than the band once was.

NEW ORLEANS – Eight years after Hurricane Katrina, nearly 100,000 people never got back to New Orleans; the city remains incredibly poor; jobs and income vary dramatically by race; rents are up and public transportation is down; traditional public housing is gone; life expectancy differs dramatically by race and place; and most public education has been converted into charter schools. Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005. The storm and the impact of the government responses are etched across New Orleans. A million people were displaced. More than 1,000 died. Now, thanks to the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center (GNOCDC) and others, it is possible to illustrate the current situation in New Orleans. While some elected officials and chambers of commerce tout See PAIN, Page A2

SNAPSHOTS WORLD

Group files complaint about unprotected sex in adult video pany, San Diego Boy Productions, which the health group said is trying to evade a conTALLAHASSEE – A health dom-use law in that state by organization that fights AIDS filming in Florida. has targeted a South Floridabased company it charges with ‘Shell game’ making an adult video with“We are not going to allow out protecting the performers the (adult film) industry to play from sexually transmitted dis- a shell game in order to evade eases via the use of condoms. the laws that we now have in The AIDS Healthcare Foun- the city and county of Los Andation filed a complaint last geles and state of California,” month with the Florida De- said AIDS Healthcare Foundapartment of Health, asking for tion president Michael Weinan investigation into D&E Pro- stein. “It’s not going to work.” ductions, which is based in The foundation is known for Pembroke Park and North Mi- backing a Los Angeles County ami Beach. law mandating condom use in D&E Productions is an affili- the adult film industry, which ate of a California-based com- a federal judge recently found

A protester picketed the Exxotica Expo, the country’s largest adult entertainment trade show, when it appeared in Miami Beach in 2011.

BY MARGIE MENZEL THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

American hell for Syria | A2 Refugees put strain on Lebanon | A6 A look at origins of war brewing in Middle East | b1 FINEST | B5

Meet the cruisers

ALSO INSIDE

FLORIDA COURIER FILES

to be constitutional. The health group first filed a workplace safety complaint about San Diego Boy Productions for unsafe sex practices with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The video company responded that the activities referenced in the complaint were part of material produced in Florida, not California. That prompted the founda-

tion to file a new complaint under Florida’s sanitary-nuisance laws, saying the videos in question clearly demonstrate the unprotected exchange of bodily fluids. “Now we have a much cleaner case where this is a film that we absolutely know was made (in Florida),” Weinstein said. “So now we are asking the authorities to investigate and See VIDEO, Page A2

COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 COMMENTARY: DR. WILMER J. LEON: BLACKS MUST START PRESSURING OBAMA INTO ACTION | A5

FOCUS

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

American hell for Syria William Kristol called Barack Obama a “born-again neocon” after the president sought his advice when making the case for the overthrow of the Libyan government in 2011. Kristol certainly ought to know who his compatriots are, but the statement isn’t quite true. No one becomes president who isn’t a true believer in the American empire of money and murder. They are all neocons, despite what they may say about immigration or gay marriage or health care. The differences at the top are small. The pinnacle of power is reserved for people who are aligned with the ruling 1 percent and who will use American power to dominate the world economically and militarily.

Constant hell America has brought destruction on a mass scale to many parts of the world. In the past two decades, that hell has been almost constant. Bush the elder and Bush the younger are both responsible for at least 1 million deaths in Iraq alone. When not sending United States troops to fight on the ground, they instigated proxy wars such as between Somalia and

MARGARET KIMBERLEY BLACK AGENDA REPORT

Ethiopia. Bill Clinton bombed the former Yugoslavia, enacted deadly sanctions against the Iraqi people and backed the killers in Africa who have brought so much death to the Congo. Barack Obama is smarter than them all, and that means the world is in very grave danger from the United States. He knows that domestic opposition to aggression is lessened if there are no American soldiers in danger. In the age of drone warfare and so-called surgical strikes, he can quiet all but those absolutely committed to peace and non-intervention.

More lies The recent claim that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against civilians is just the latest in a long line of lies used as pretexts for war by American presidents. The Gulf of Tonkin, weapons of mass destruction, and “incubator babies” stories all played pivotal roles in getting an uninformed populace to say “yes”

to wholesale slaughter. President Obama went on record to say that the use of chemical weapons would draw a “red line” and trigger military action. It is very hard to believe that the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria would commit a chemical weapons attack when it is winning the war fomented by the United States, NATO, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other gulf monarchies. Assad has hung on in the face of terrible odds and would be a fool to risk war when he has the advantage before peace talks are held. The talks have been delayed for months by the United States in an effort to buy time for their “rebel” allies. Assad wanted and needed these meetings to take place and wouldn’t have done anything that would give his enemies an excuse to walk away from the table. It would also be very bad timing on the eve of the next G20 summit that will be hosted by Russia, Syria’s strongest ally.

The usual So once again, we have the United States doing its usual dirty work with the help of its handmaidens in the corporate media. Just as they did in 2002 and 2003,

PAIN

of the African-Americans in the city and 18 percent of the White population.

from A1

Early death

the positive aspects of the city post-Katrina, widespread pain and injustice remain.

Massive unemployment New Orleans has lost about 86,000 people since Katrina, according to the U. S. Census. The official population is now 369,250 residents. When Katrina hit it was 455,000. Nearly half of the AfricanAmerican men in the city are not working, according to the GNOCDC. Since 2004, the city’s job base has declined 29 percent. Fifty-three percent of African-American men in the New Orleans area are employed now. African-American households in the metro New Orleans area earned 50 percent less than White households, compared to the national percentage of 40 percent. Jobs continue to shift out from New Orleans to suburbs. In 2004, New Orleans provided 42 percent or 247,000 metro jobs. Now that number has dropped to 173,000 and the percentage has dropped to 34 percent. Low-paying tourism jobs, averaging a low $32,000 a year, continue to be the largest sector of work in New Orleans. But even this low average can be misleading as the hourly average for food preparation and serving jobs in the area is just over $10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median earnings for full-time male African-American New Orleans workers are going down and are now at $31,018; for White male workers they are going up and are now at $60,075. Whites have experienced an 8 percent increase in middle and upper income households while African-Americans have suffered a 4 percent decline. Only 5 percent of Black households were in the

SYRIA from A1 Not Obama’s line Also on Wednesday, Obama declared the world’s credibility “is on the line” when it comes to punishing Syrian President Bashar Assad for his regime’s purported use of chemical weapons. Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, Obama said the “red line” he set against a year ago against Syria’s use of chemical weapons isn’t his, but an international standard. “I didn’t set a red line; the world set a red line,” Obama said. “My credibility’s not on the line. The international community’s credibility is on the line. And America and Congress’s credibility’s on the line.” Obama staunchly defended his push for a strike, evoking the death of children from exposure to chemical weapons. “The moral thing to do is

the television networks and major newspapers repeat as gospel truth every assertion coming out of the White House. The Obama administration is taking its cues from the bad old days of George W. Bush. The White House says that United Nations inspectors in Syria are too late to investigate the chemical weapons claims and must be ignored. Without a hint of irony or mention of its previous shameful behavior, the New York Times tells its readers why this must be so. Also without shame or irony, Secretary of State John Kerry made a statement that made words like propaganda seem quaint. “Let me be clear,” he said. “The indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons is a moral obscenity.” Kerry was among the senators who voted to approve the invasion of Iraq. That invasion included the use of depleted uranium and white phosphorus against civilian populations. These weapons are still causing horrific birth defects in Iraqi children years after they were used. Kerry said that images of victims were “gut-wrenching” and that he couldn’t forget seeing a father holding his dead child. Images of Iraqi babies with two heads or no heads are also gut-wrenching, and Kerry is one of the people responsible for making that moral

Black New Orleanians have not fully recovered from Hurricane Katrina. top income class (over $102,000), while 29 percent of White households were. While the percentage of minority-owned businesses grew, these businesses continue to receive a below-average 2 percent of all receipts.

Rent rising Rents in New Orleans have risen. According to GNOCDC, 54 percent of renters in New Orleans are now paying unaffordable rent amounts, up from 43 percent before Katrina. Homelessness is down to 2,400 people per night since it soared after Katrina to nearly 11,000. But it is still higher than pre-Katrina. The last of the five big traditional public housing complexes was ordered demolished in May. About a third of the 5,000-plus displaced residents have found

not to stand by and do nothing,” Obama said. “I do have to ask people if in fact you’re outraged by the slaughter of innocent people, what are you doing about it?”

Allies uncertain German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a weekend interview with the German newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine, said the use of chemical weapons in Syria had “broken a taboo” that “cannot remain without consequence.” But Merkel ruled out German participation “without a mandate” from the U.N., NATO or the European Union. French leaders warned that failing to respond to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government would send a dangerous signal to the dictators of the world. But French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also said that his country would not launch a retaliatory strike on Syria if the United States decides not to do so. “France will not act without U.S. support,” he told his

other public housing, according to National Public Radio. Public transportation is still down from pre-Katrina levels. Pre-Katrina about 13 percent of workers used public transportation; now it’s 7.8 percent. Public education has been completely changed since Katrina, with almost 80 percent of students attending charters – far and away the highest percentage in the country, reports the Tulane Cowen Institute. The poverty rate in New Orleans is 29 percent; nearly double the national rate of 16 percent. However, GONCDC reports the majority of the poor people in the metro area now reside in the suburban parishes outside New Orleans. One-third of households in New Orleans earn less than $20,000 annually. This lowest income group makes up 44 percent

country’s Senate as France’s Parliament began to debate whether the country should take military action. “The question is, shall we take action, or resign?” Ayrault asked. “Can we allow ourselves to just condemn his actions?” The French warning came six days after the British Parliament rejected British participation in any military action.

Putin waits Just hours before the French discussion of a response began, Putin, who’s consistently rejected the notion that Assad’s government used chemical weapons, seemed to open the door for possible Russian participation in a strike, telling a television interviewer that “if it is proven the government was behind the attacks, there will be a reaction.” But he added that such proof would have to come from the United Nations inspection team that visited the site of the alleged attack, whose samples col-

Life expectancy varies as much as 25 years inside of New Orleans, according to analysis by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Life expectancy in zip code 70124 – Lakeview and Lakeshore, which is 93 percent White – is at a high of 80 years. Life expectancy in 70112 – Tulane, Gravier, Iberville, Treme, which is 87 percent Black – is at 54.5 years and has six times the poverty of 70124. Social and economic factors deeply impact health. Overall, life expectancy in New Orleans area parishes is one to six years lower than the rest of the United States. Jail incarceration rates in New Orleans are four times higher than the national average at 912 per 100,000 reports the GNOCDC. The national rate is 236 per 100,000. This rate fluctuated up and down since Katrina and is now just about where it was when Katrina hit. About 84 percent of those incarcerated in New Orleans are African-Americans. The average length of time spent waiting for trial is 69 days for African-Americans and 38 days for Whites. Crime in New Orleans and in the metro area surrounding the city is down from pre-Katrina levels but still remains significantly higher than national rates. In a bewildering development, a recent poll of Republicans in Louisiana revealed that 28 percent thought George W. Bush was more responsible for the poor response to Hurricane Katrina and 29 percent thought Barack Obama was more responsible, even though he did not take office until over three years after Katrina.

Bill Quigley teaches law at Loyola University New Orleans. Email him at quigley77@ gmail.com.

lected there and from victims in the hospital are being studied in laboratories around Europe, including one in Germany. The samples are expected to be analyzed by next week. The analysis, however, will determine only whether chemical weapons were used and, if so, which kind. Determining who was behind the attacks then would fall to the United Nations Security Council. Putin said that if such proof were provided, the Security Council would have to decide to act before any action would be legitimate. “But once we have a decision from the United Nations, we could respond by any means necessary,” he said. Putin, whose government has been – with Iran – the most aggressive defender of Assad, said he expected similar open-mindedness from U.S. officials.

U.S. response? “My question is what will be the U.S. reaction if the evidence shows that the

obscenity take place.

Supported Saddam The United States supported Saddam Hussein when he used chemical weapons to attack Iran in 1988. Apparently Kerry doesn’t find the recent government created carnage in Egypt very gutwrenching, nor the continued American-created chaos in Somalia which has killed many babies and grieving parents. Our president brags about his personal role in determining who will be on the assassination kill list. This country is in no position to take the moral high ground about Syria or any other country. Every claim for humanitarian intervention and responsibility to protect is based on lies meant to obscure America’s true and very base motivations. The world can only hope that Syria’s allies are able to make Obama and his friends think twice. There is no deterrent for a warmongering nation except the fear of defeat.

Margaret Kimberley’s column appears weekly in BlackAgendaReport.com. Contact her at Margaret.Kimberley@BlackAgendaReport.com. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

VIDEO from A1 to issue citations based on the sanitary-nuisance laws that exist in the state of Florida and at the county level.”

Testing not foolproof Rather than require condoms in its sex scenes, the adult-video industry relies on testing. But that doesn’t always work. Last year a syphilis outbreak shut down production industry-wide. And there was another shutdown last month after performer Cameron Bay said she’d tested positive for HIV; her last clean test had been on July 27. According to the Performer Availability Screening Services, which tests porn performers for sexually transmitted diseases, its panel of three doctors tested all the performers who had worked with Bay and confirmed they were not infected. “It is safe to lift the moratorium,” said the organization on its web site. “Any performer who tests clean after August 19th is safe and available to work.” A few days later Bay’s boyfriend, Joshua Rodgers, announced that he had recently been infected with HIV.

Performers concerned Weinstein said that before those announcements, adult video performers hadn’t felt they could publicly support laws requiring condom use. “I think previously that they felt that they would be punished for saying that they wanted to use condoms,” he said. “But under the circumstances now, I think many more people are stepping forward and saying that they want to be protected.”

rebels were behind the use of chemical weapons?” he asked. “Will the U.S. stop providing the rebellion with weapons in that case?” While the Obama administration has promised to provide weapons to the rebels, it’s unclear whether it’s done so. In fact, U.S.-Russian relations have been deteriorating over the last 18 months over Russian disinterest in cutting nuclear weapons, its freeze on U.S. adoptions of Russian children and its treatment of human rights activists.

Will meet with activists Obama will meet with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights (LBGT) activists while he’s in Russia, according to a White House official. The meeting is scheduled on Friday and will include representatives from groups supporting human rights, the environment, free media, LGBT rights and others, said the official, who asked not be identified

in order to discuss the president’s yet-to-be published schedule. Russia has faced international criticism since it passed a law in June banning the promotion of gay relationships to minors. The Russians have also faced international scorn for another law that bans adoptions by countries allowing same-sex marriages. Human rights groups have reported there’s been an uptick of violence against the country’s LGBT community since the laws passed. The legislation has led to calls for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Last month, Obama said he didn’t support boycotting the Sochi games because he didn’t want to penalize American athletes. But he has been sharply critical of the Russian laws.

By Gregory Korte and Aamer Madhani, USA Today; and Lesley Clark, Michael Doyle, David Lightman and Matthew Schofield of the McClatchy Foreign Staff (MCT).

WORLD

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

U.S. policy on region seems adrift to Mideast Obama’s decision on Syria met with disappointment BY PATRICK J. MCDONNELL, JEFFREY FLEISHMAN AND PAUL RICHTER TRIBUNE WASHINGTON BUREAu (MCT)

BEIRUT — President Barack Obama’s surprise decision to seek congressional approval for military strikes on Syria reinforces a growing image across much of the Middle East of a regional U.S. policy that is adrift at a time of perilous change. The Aug. 31 announcement, after a week of tough rhetoric on Syria, comes at the end of a hard summer for Obama on thorny issues stemming from the “Arab Spring” uprisings two years ago. In Egypt, the U.S. appears to have alienated not only the new military-led government, but Islamists, nationalists and liberals as well with its approach to the July 3 coup that ousted the country’s first democratically elected government.

Iran in background On Syria, Obama has been deeply reluctant to get involved militarily. But he finds himself ensnared in his own rhetoric of a year ago establishing a “red line” against the use of chemical weapons. Looming in the background is another issue that is a major concern, not only for Washington but for many of its allies — including Israel. That is Iran. George W. Bush was derided in much of the region as wrongheadedly decisive, especially in ordering the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Obama took office promising a new beginning in relations with the Islamic world. But he has been assailed as vacillating and unable to craft a coherent strategy for multiple crises.

Too big for U.S.? The new military-backed

FLO SMITH/NURPHOTO/ZUMA PRESS/MCT

A child walks between dusty tents to look for his family in the Quru Gusik refugee camp set up near the border with Syria on Aug. 24. United Nations aid agencies say the number of children fleeing Syria has reached one million. government in Egypt, a strategic ally for decades, is increasingly dismissive of U.S. interests. Money from the Persian Gulf is pouring in to replace U.S. aid and U.S. influence. And the conflict in Syria serves as the focus for deep animosities between Sunni and Shiite Muslims — which also have re-emerged with force in Iraq. The U.S. threat to launch cruise missiles against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons in Damascus suburbs on Aug. 21 could be partly aimed at re-establishing a sense of U.S. control in the region, said Moataz Salama of Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo. “But the situation in the region is too big for the U.S.” In Damascus, Syrian President Bashar Assad said Sunday during a meet-

ing with a visiting parliamentarian delegation from Iran, Syria’s close ally, that his country “is capable of facing up to any external aggression.”

Allies’ response Deputy Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad was quoted in official media accounts saying that Obama “was clearly hesitant, disappointed and confused” during his statement on Aug. 31. Key U.S. allies such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the Syrian opposition were pushing for a quick strike against Assad’s government — and already disappointed by Obama’s declaration that military action would be limited and not aimed at removing Assad from power. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had assailed the U.S. plan

Tomahawk cruise missile These missiles can be launched from U.S. Navy ships and U.S. and British submarines and can carry conventional or nuclear warheads. The U.S. has used them in every major combat operation since Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Block IV missile Range Up to 1,000 mi. (1,600 km) Speed About 550 mph (885 kph) Wingspan 8.8 ft. (2.7 m) Weight 2,900 lb. (1,300 kg); 3,500 lb. (1,600 kg) with booster

GPS satellites

From launch to impact 1 A target is selected, and the

missile is launched from a ship or submarine; missile is propelled by its engine after launch, and its wings fold out during flight

Target

version of missile uses GPS satellites and other guidance 2 Newest systems for navigation; can be redirected to new target while in flight can take image of target or other areas of interest 3 Missile during flight and “loiter” near target before striking

4 The missile can strike a fixed or moving target

as a “hit-and-run” attack, and called for a sustained bombardment to push Syria’s government “to the point of collapsing.” In Cairo on Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal urged the Arab League to back a U.S. strike against Syria. Both countries have supported an effort to arm the Syrian rebels. But neither Saudi Arabia nor Turkey, which has a large, modern military and a 500-mile border with Syria, has indicated a willingness to join a U.S. attack.

Negative feelings

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Egypt, meanwhile, was among several nations at the Arab League meeting opposed to foreign intervention in Syria’s civil war. Analysts say that while not all the region’s problems are Washington’s fault, the U.S. tends to get the blame — and its inability to establish some coherence in the region makes matters worse. “Everyone is accusing them of things that may not necessarily be real, but in any case there are negative feelings toward American policy in the region,” said Gamal Soltan, a political scientist at the American University in Cairo. “There are many examples of how their policy here is confused.” In one much-cited instance, the Obama administration seemed to agonize about whether to label as a coup the military takeover that ousted Egypt’s Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, and ultimately declined to do so.

Depicted as bin Laden Now, in a sign of growing

disdain for Obama, placards waved by pro-military demonstrators in Cairo depict Obama as wearing a beard like Osama bin Laden’s. They accuse Obama of siding with Morsi in a struggle between Islamists and secularists over Egypt’s future. The outgoing U.S. ambassador, Anne Patterson, had to defend herself against accusations by a prominent newspaper editor that she was complicit in a plot that would have seen Egypt’s south secede. Islamists are no happier, citing Washington’s decision not to cut $1.3 billion in annual military aid to protest the coup. The way forward in Syria is no clearer. Washington says it seeks to deter Damascus’ alleged use of chemical weapons and degrade its military capacity, while simultaneously backing Assad’s ouster. But U.S. policymakers are also keen to avoid the sudden collapse of the Syrian state and a takeover by radical Islamist groups who increasingly dominate the fragmented rebel forces.

Strategic goal Some of Washington’s allies, notably Saudi Arabia, appear less concerned with post-Assad chaos and more focused on overthrowing his government as soon as possible. “Any opposition to any international action (against Assad) would only encourage Damascus to move forward with committing its crimes and using all weapons of mass destruction,” al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, said during the Arab League meeting. Beyond Saudi Arabia’s pleas about the fate of the

Length 20.5 ft. (6.2 m) (with solidfuel booster used at launch)

Syrian masses is a strategic goal: weakening the regional influence of Shiite-dominated Iran. The question of Iran, a nation viewed as an existential threat by both the conservative Sunni monarchy of Saudi Arabia and by Israel, casts a shadow over the Syria debate.

Obama a ‘laughingstock’ Proponents of Western intervention in Syria have argued that a U.S. strike could act as a deterrent to Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions. But others say that attacking Syria will only embolden hard-liners in Iran who are opposed to any negotiation with the West about the nuclear issue. In Israel, many view Obama’s decision as evidence of a growing reluctance to engage decisively in the Middle East, which may provide a boost to those who are pressing for a unilateral strike against Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. Obama is “becoming a laughingstock in the eyes of friends and foes alike,” said Efraim Inbar, director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University. “What are the Saudis supposed to make of the U.S. conduct? Or the Egyptians?”

McDonnell reported from Beirut, Fleishman from Cairo and Richter from Washington. Times staff writer Edmund Sanders in Jerusalem and special correspondents Ingy Hassieb in Cairo, Nabih Bulos in Amman, Jordan, and Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran contributed to this report

EDITORIAL

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

‘Forgiveness is for the forgiver – not the forgiven’ My most valued doctoral degree is the one I hold in the ministry. My study allowed me to sort through ideas and ideals of history’s greatest thinkers of faith. My studies allow me to bring a “moral compass” to my life that I trust allows me to chart the most effective path through my daily journey. Primary among the values I cherish is the ideal of achieving a forgiving heart. The non-violent ideals of Gandhi, Bayard Rustin and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are predicated on the principle of forgiveness. Those old enough may remember the recurring admonition to “turn the other cheek” in the training of those participating in the demonstrations of the Civil Rights Movement. The foundation for our modern Civil Rights Movement is the moral authority that accrues to the individual who can harness thoughts, feelings and reactions to the end of achieving positive change.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. TRICE EDNEY WIRE

Sybrina Fulton As an observer of human behavior, I’ve always been impressed by the ease with which many AfricanAmericans undertake this most difficult task of extending forgiveness. The most recent and dramatic example of this act that can only be described with the adjective grace, are the dignified responses of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin - parents of Trayvon Martin. I’ve met Sybrina and her family, and in their eyes, I see grief, but never anger or bitterness. Readers have a working knowledge of the murder of Trayvon so I won’t re-hash the story. What has stood out dramatically is the re-

ment of forgiveness. By most accounts, there wasn’t a dry eye in the courtroom. Again, a mother chose forgiveness over hatred. ‘’I do forgive you,’’ Mrs. Donald said. ‘’From the day I found out who you all was, I asked God to take care of y’all, and He has. She was a surprising ally in not allowing punishment by the electric chair. Bueula Mae Donald As difficult as this position is for ‘’You can’t give life, so why take many to accept, it’s not as uncom- it?’’ asked Mrs. Donald. mon as some would believe. In 1981, Beulah Mae Donald’s son, Antoinette Ruff Michael, was brutally murdered Recently, I listened to the audioin Alabama on orders of the KKK. tape of Ms. Antoinette Ruff as she The perpetrators were captured used the spirit and language of forand the depth of their hateful bru- giveness to diffuse a hostage situatality and intent was exposed to tion in which she was the “guest of all who witnessed the trial. Some honor.” She was taken hostage by observers felt it was disingenuous an armed, mentally ill man who when one of the murderers asked was equipped and purposed to for forgiveness from his victim’s take multiple lives. Whether it was mother. quick or divinely inspired thinkAll who witnessed the response ing, she chose not to enflame vioof Mrs. Donald were awestruck by lent behavior by her assailant and the spiritual depth of her state- used words of conciliation to rea-

sponse of his parents to the murder and the murderer. Sybrina was adamant in her rejection of the hatred that commonly follows the murder of a loved one. She’s refused to allow hatred to claim her eternal soul and has chosen forgiveness instead.

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: SYRIA

Randall Enos, Cagle Cartoons

Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 185 Syria and MLK – I leaned toward a “limited” strike, despite the fact that this is a war between Saudi Arabia (Sunni Muslims) and Iran (Shiite Muslims). America’s interests are about protecting the oil supply and Israel; otherwise, we would “let Allah sort it out,” as Sarah Palin said. Then I reread MLK’s 1967 speech sometimes entitled “Beyond Vietnam.” I’m now in favor of Bro. Prez sitting down with Russia's Vladimir Putin – if Obama can get past his ego. Only Russia (and China) can force Syrian leader Bashar el-Assad to the table with Syrian “rebels” (including al Qaeda) and the moderate Syrian Free Army. Obama has refused Putin's overtures to negotiate by announcing that “Assad must go.” What's Assad's motivation? The UN Security Council can vote (with Russia and China's OK) to authorize military action if Assad won’t negotiate. And America could still strike. It’s good cop (Russia and China) vs. bad cop (America). One problem – A modern American prez can’t operate in D.C. or worldwide without opponents fearing political, military, and/or economic consequences, and

quick takes from #2: straight, no chaser

Charles W. Cherry II, Esq. PUBLISHER

Obama is a poor negotiator. He wants to be loved, is controlled by his Ivy League/ Wall Street handlers, sees just about everything through a data-driven political prism, won’t stand on principle, and is not ruthless enough to punish his political enemies or allow a “hatchet man” to do it for him. However, I’m glad that he has been cautious in deploying military power generally. MLK would call such restraint “maturity;” he’d exhaust all possibilities for negotiation rather than resorting to state-sponsored violence.

Contact me at ccherry2@gmail.com; holler at me at www.facebook.com/ ccherry2; follow me on Twitter @ccherry2.

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

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son with him. She was unimaginably kind and gentle with him as she forgave him.

Dr. King Dr. King said there’s strength in the moral superiority that accrues to one who forgives. I believe the strength of forgiveness is one of the strongest traits one can have — even though it doesn’t lead to the fog of forgetfulness; but it brings great relief and calm to the one doing the forgiving — even when the perpetrator has no response or when a family member offers a negative response. Forgiveness is for the forgiver — not the forgiven!

Dr. E. Faye Williams is chair of the National Congress of Black Women, www.nationalcongressbw.org. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

O’Reilly’s view: Too blind to see I was on a plane three weeks ago headed to California to visit my daughter when I first heard Bill O’Reilly’s televised rant justifying the killing of 17-year old Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. I watched as my fellow passengers, primarily White, received their daily dose of racial polarization. It was a very disturbing experience. O’Reilly’s exoneration of Zimmerman was not based on Florida law, but on the rates at which Black males commit homicide – a rate he points out is ten times that of the Latino and White populations combined. Never mind that Martin was the victim, not the perpetrator. Of course, he throws in for good measure that 73 percent of African-American babies are born out of wedlock. These circumstances, according to O’Reilly, have nothing to do with the history of slavery or decades of discrimination and poverty, but instead are the by-product of “Black culture,” a code phrase, as we all know, for Black inferiority.

Black culture O’Reilly appears to miss the fact that Black culture does not exist independently of American culture, even as the majority of Blacks are relegated to the sidelines of America’s prosperity – living in poverty! Any indictment, true or false, of Black culture is an indictment of American culture. In his rant, O’Reilly admonished Black leadership for failing to run ads telling young Black girls to avoid

DR. LEONORA FULANI GUEST COLUMNIST

becoming pregnant. Why haven’t they advocated for strict discipline in public schools – (no matter, by the way, how lousy the system is) – and insisting on mandatory student uniforms? Is he serious? Black kids and their families don’t need lectures. They know very well how the O’Reillys of the world see them. And they carry the burden, physically, psychologically and emotionally of a poverty and deprivation that they are often accused of producing but which is instead the birthright of being Black in America.

Tradition challenged The problem with traditional Black leadership isn’t their failure to engage Mr. O’Reilly’s fantasy of what he calls Black culture. No, it’s that traditional solutions – like the current organization of public education or the traditional partisan approaches to Black empowerment — do not yield development. If there’s anything about Black culture that needs to change, it’s the willingness to accept these old solutions. I have spent the last three decades, along with my colleagues at the All Stars Project, in the poor Black and Latino communities of this country. The so-called immorality of the Black com-

munity is not the issue — we are no more or less moral or immoral than any other community.

Underdevelopment At the All Stars, we engage a by-product of poverty – underdevelopment. It is hard to grow and develop when one is relegated to the sidelines of a society, denied access to the mainstream. We have also invested in introducing the poor, Black community to our White, wealthy donors to help to bridge the gap the O’Reillys of the country exploit for political gain. That can be done. That is being done. But the O’Reillys of the world are too blind to see it. What each brings to the table – the young people’s struggles and their hunger to be included and the donors’ experience and sophistication – creates a new kind of possibility for Black and White America to come together. Poor Black and Latino kids want desperately to be smart and successful. They know they’ve been earmarked to be left behind. That’s a painful, confusing and infuriating experience for both the kids and their parents! That’s the truth of Black culture. That’s the truth of American culture. That’s what we need to change.

Dr. Leonora Fulani is a psychologist, psychotherapist and political activist best known for her 1988 U.S. presidential campaign. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Obama offers prescription for change Obama’s speech was not just a wander down memory lane. He reiterated his resolve to fight the forces that have kept Black unemployment often twice that of Whites, failing schools and urged people not to make “poverty as an excuse for not raising your children.” Symbolism aside, however, there were some such as D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton who said Obama should have used the moment to talk tough to a recalcitrant Congress which has consistently blocked his measures to uplift the poor and the middle-class. Some were disappointed that he did not restate the pledge of Attorney General Eric Holder to probe how the Justice Department can impact the unfair outcome of George Zimmerman walking free after killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. And while he spoke against the legislative moves to block voting rights, he did not address voting rights for the district.

Collective struggle There were hundreds of other causes and concerns he could have addressed, but he did outline a powerful prescription for change. It goes far beyond the superman syndrome of one man.

REV. BARBARA REYNOLDS TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

a similar message:” Martin Luther King did not live and die to hear us complain,” said Clinton. “It is time to stop complaining and put our shoulders against the stubborn gates holding the American people back.” At the close of the ceremonies, the five-year-old daughter of Martin III, Yolanda, (named after Dr. King’s oldest child who died in 2007 at the age of 51) rang the bell that once hung at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, where a firebomb took the lives of four little girls less than a month after the March. Her grandfather ended his 1963 speech with a prophetic vision that one day instead of violence, freedom would ring across the nation. If freedom continues to ring and reign, if this generation follows the president’s prescription for change, one day even a woman who looks something like Dr. King’s adult granddaughter will be standing at that sacred spot as president addressing the nation.

It called for collective struggle of committed activism. “The good news is, just as was true in 1963, we now have a choice. We can continue down our current path, in which the gears of this great democracy grind to a halt and our children accept a life of lower expectations; where politics is a zero-sum game where a few do very well while struggling families of every race fight over a shrinking economic pie – that’s one path. Or we can have the courage to change.” President Obama reminded the crowd that change rarely comes from Washington but from the bottom up. In other words, he threw the gauntlet down, not just to Congress, or racist extremists, or budget cutters, but to those still waiting for their turn, their change. The anDr. Barbara Reynolds is swer is not one Superman, a lecturer at universities but super-people fired up and seminaries, an author with the courage to change. of six books, and a book coach. Click on this story Stop complaining at www.flcourier.com to President Clinton uttered write your own response.

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

EDITORIAL

Blacks must start pressuring Obama into action “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is DR. WILMER no time to engage in the luxury of J. LEON III cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM the time to make real the promises of democracy.” - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, to make the masses comfortable Jr. Aug. 28, 1963 with the obvious aesthetic. This is not a post-racial AmerDuring the 50th anniversary ica when the unemployment rate of the March on Washington for in the African-American commuJobs and Freedom there was a lot nity is more than double the naof discussion about the “then” vs. tional average and the wealth ac“now.’’ Has the “Dream” been real- cumulation of the average Euroized? Are we in a post-racial Amer- pean American family is 20 times ica? How did the 50th anniversary that of the average African-AmerMarch compare to the first? ican family. The answer to the first question is an emphatic “NO”. As I have Same issues written and lectured on a number How did the 50th anniversary of occasions, to refer to Dr. King’s March compare to the first? Commessage as a dream misses the parisons are natural due to the point of the speech. fact that the two marches were Over the years Dr. King’s revo- convened to address many of the lutionary message has been hi- same issues. The fact that 50 years jacked, compromised and relegat- later, speakers still addressed ised to being that of just a dreamer, sues such as unemployment, jobs, not the lucid and radical ideas of civil liberties, education, health a man seeking solutions to how a care, support for social programs people can overcome oppression and protection against police and racism. To cast King in the brutality made for easy yet unlight of a dreamer allows people fortunate comparisons. It is unto be convinced that substantive derstandable that people will try change resulting from clear vi- to make qualitative and quantitasion and direct action is not nec- tive assessments between similar essary. events. Are we in a post-racial AmerWhile there might be some obica? No, and that’s a ridiculous vious and natural similarities bequestion. I have written to this tween the two marches they are point as well. America cannot be also quite different. Their politiclose to being post racial when a cal contexts are very different. candidate for president has to run Leading up to the 1963 March, a deracialized campaign in order civil rights organizations such

The current tracking of Congress’ popularity shows that only 15 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing. Now, House Speaker John Boehner struck another tone deaf moment at a political fundraiser in Idaho when he warned that when Congress returns in September, he will lead Republicans in holding up the government’s business to pick a fight with President Obama over the nation’s debt ceiling. What Mr. Boehner risks is more discussion of downgrading the credit worthiness of the United States, and adding too much uncertainty to a world economy that is already nervous. And, what he is proposing is to waste the time of Congress debating the honor of the United States, rather than addressing restoring the almost 330,000 local educators lost to our children’s public schools because

WILLIAM SPRIGGS TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

of this economic downturn.

End sequestration

more important to restore their Head Start program slots. Mr. Boehner has made it clear. If there is a wasteful debate on raising the debt ceiling, it will be the Republicans in the House of Representatives who will be initiating it and dragging it on. Obviously, he will not rest until his actions lead to crippling the American economy for a chance to blame President Obama for a failing economy. He is instead making it clear to the 77 percent of Americans who disapprove of the job he and Congress are doing, that it is time for his leadership to end, and to send him home in 2014.

In fact, given the effect that sequestration is having on Americans, in light of the data coming in, Congress should be passing legislation to end sequestration now. For the thousands of Americans struggling looking for work it is more important to restore their unemployment benefits. For the thousands of children being shut Blame Boehner out of Head Start programs to Mr. Boehner’s actions remind build their foundation for learn- us today, that there are those who ing and America’s prosperity it is oppose full employment, or at

ACCORD to mark Civil Rights Act anniversary in July 2014 The Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc. (ACCORD) mission is, remembering, recognizing, and honoring all those who risked their lives to attain civil rights for all and celebrate St. Augustine’s pivotal role in the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. We have sponsored and participated in many activities to enlighten the public on one of the greatest events that took place in American History: The American Civil Rights Movement. Our greatest project to date has been the establishment of an ACCORD Freedom Trail in the Nation’s Oldest City, sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Corporation. We have thirty one historic markers in and around the city and county of St. Augustine/St. Johns County to mark significant events that took place during the 1963 - `64 Movement. Of the 31 markers, the one located at 76 Washington Street was sponsored by a private citizen and ACCORD member Beth Levenbach, of Lansdowne, Pa. We have added another feature to the trail: an audio portion one can use their cell phone to dial into the system and hear actual voices of some of the heroes and sheroes of that time. One in particular is Dr. Robert B. Hayling, leader of the St. Augustine Movement. ACCORD will be commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 2014 by hosting our eighth annual ACCORD Freedom Trail Luncheon on the campus of Flagler College, the site where significant civil rights history was made. Former Florida State Senator Dr. Anthony ‘Tony’ Hill will be our em-

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: IRS AND GAYS

as CORE, SNCC, SCLC and the NAACP were engaged in non-violent direct action. There was a three-pronged strategy to bring pressure upon the executive branch and other branches of government to recognize and protect the civil rights of Negros of the day. This pressure was being applied in the streets (sit-ins, boycotts, and marches), the courts (Brown v. Board of Education, etc.) and the legislature (civil rights laws, voting, and public accommodations). It was the struggle of a people to be included into the social, economic and legal mainstream nal Black Caucus to propose and of America. fight for targeted legislation that addresses the interests of the AfriReluctant support can-American community. Due to the constant pressure that the Civil Rights Movement brought to bear upon the govern- Focus shifts As a result of orchestrated efforts ment, which culminated with, the 63’ March, President Kennedy re- by of some in the extremist wing luctantly came to support what of the Republican Party and the would become the 1964 Civil complacency of the Black electorate after the election of President Rights Act. After Kennedy’s assassination, Obama, many of the civil rights President Johnson would support gained from the movement and and sign the 1964 Civil Rights Act, culminating in the 1963 March (afalong with the 1965 Voting Rights firmative action, voting rights, and protections against police brutalAct, and the Fair Housing Act. It is important to understand ity) have been eviscerated. The what both Kennedy and John- focus of the struggle has shifted son said and did to bring about away from inclusion into mainsubstantive change in American stream America to futile efforts to society. Today, due to compla- hang onto the gains that were hard cency and the fallacy that those fought and won in the 1960’s. The 2013 March on Washington who dare criticize the president should turn in their “Black Card”, was a wonderful commemoration there has been virtually no pres- and tribute to the past, but it failed sure on the current administra- to articulate a legislative agenda tion to work with the Congressio- and plan to pressure the Obama

The time is now to stop Boehner

GWENDOLYN DUNCAN GUEST COLUMNIST

cee once again. Dr. Hill is the sponsor of the Dr. Robert B. Hayling Award of Valor, given annually to an activist of the St. Augustine Movement who displayed outstanding courage during that turbulent time. Keynote speaker will be Dr. David R. Colburn, professor and chairman emeritus of the history department of the University of Florida. The guest speaker will be an activist of the St. Augustine movement, to be announced later. We would like to encourage visitors to St. Augustine to stop by the Wells Fargo Bank, located at 33 King Street, downtown St. Augustine, and see the mural recently unveiled that depicts some of the civil rights history of the city. It is accessible 24/7. Fifty years later the struggle continues. We need to work together to ensure that it won’t take another 50 years to bring about justice, equality, and racial reconciliation in this, the United States of America.

Gwendolyn Duncan is president emeritus of the Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc., a non-profit group of volunteers envisioned in December 2002, organized in February 2003, and incorporated in 2004 out of St. Augustine. Contact Elizabeth Duncan for more information at (904) 347-1382, (386) 283 4055 or go to www.accordfreedomtrail.org. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com

least do not see it as a real policy goal. He wants Americans to believe he is pre-occupied with debt and government spending; not believable concerns given his deafening silence when George W. Bush’s tax cuts for the rich and reckless wars drove up government spending and reversed government surpluses into soaring government debt. No, there will be no one else to blame except Mr. Boehner if the fragile economy continues to stall with inadequate job growth and stagnant wages. He is not leading a charge with an infrastructure program to rebuild America’s falling roads or bridges and get Americans back to work. He is not leading a charge to get the money to our local school systems lost because of local revenue declines caused by continued high unemployment and low family incomes, so we can hire back the teachers needed for our children’s classrooms. He is not leading a charge to get the wages

NATE BEELER, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

administration and Congress to address disparities in mass incarceration, home foreclosure, unemployment or education. During his speech President Obama applauded the struggles and successes of the past and with soaring rhetoric talked about the promise of tomorrow. He did not propose any substantive legislative initiatives to address the suffering of today and ask those in attendance to go back to their homes and hamlets and work with him to defeat legislative gridlock. He offered the “tranquilizing drug of gradualism”.

Dr. Wilmer Leon is the producer/ host of the Sirius/XM Satellite radio channel 110 call-in talk radio program, “Inside the Issues with Wilmer Leon. More information: www. wilmerleon.com. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response. for the jobs the economy is creating up to something decent; raising the minimum wage so Americans can help support their families. Those are the programs the American people expect Congress to be working on. As in 1963, there is a real urgency of now. We must act quickly to get the millions of Americans back to work, and the income of those working up so they can ride the waves of the economy. With no time to waste, Mr. Boehner is scoring a zero. The same score his side needs to get in votes in 2014.

William Spriggs serves as Chief Economist to the AFLCIO and is a professor and former chair of the Department of Economics at Howard University. Click on this story at www. flcourier.com to write your own response.

Coalition announces new agenda for jobs and freedom On Aug. 24, tens of thousands of citizens from around the country converged at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and to dedicate themselves to a continuation of the fight for jobs, voting rights and a host of other challenges that are having a disproportionate impact on African-Americans and other communities of color. Just as 50 years ago, the National Urban League was on the front lines. I had the honor of addressing the multitude from the same location that Dr. King and Whitney Young did during the 1963 March. Approximately 5000 Urban Leaguers and friends marched with us to the Lincoln Memorial in a pre-march rally. We came in full force.

Unfinished work Our participation was shaped by our determination that the 50-year anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, as well as of Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, would be both a commemoration and a continuation of the unfinished work of building our more perfect union. To that end, we convened a Redeem the Dream summit on Friday, bringing together civil rights legends and new generation leaders for spirited discussions of the work

MARC H. MORIAL TRICE EDNEY WIRE

that lies ahead as we confront both the progression and regression of equal opportunity in 21st century America. We, along with a coalition of civil rights, social justice, business and community leaders - the African American Leaders Convening (AALC), also introduced our 21st Century Agenda for Jobs and Freedom joined.

Domestic goals While the agenda was developed during meetings in Washington in December 2012 and January 2013 with the help of the dozens of leaders that compose the AALC, the effort was led by the presidents of the National Urban League, the National Action Network, NAACP and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. This growing coalition has produced a domestic policy agenda that lays out five urgent domestic goals for the nation: • Achieve Economic Parity for African-Americans • Promote Equity in Educational Opportunity • Protect and Defend Voting Rights • Promote a Healthier Na-

tion by Eliminating Healthcare Disparities • Achieve Comprehensive Criminal Justice System Reform The civil rights and legislative successes that followed the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom laid the foundation for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and decades of progress. But, recently we have witnessed concerted efforts aimed at turning back the hands of progress in numerous areas from voting and civil rights to workers rights and criminal justice. In addition, high unemployment and other economic, social and legal disparities that continue to plague African-Americans and low income and working class Americans underscore the urgency of our demand. We cannot wave the flag of victory when so much work remains to be done. We will be calling on elected officials and candidates to commit their support for the agenda and to work for its implementation. To read the full text of our 21st Century Agenda for Jobs and Freedom visit http:// iamempowered.com/21stcentury-agenda-for-jobsand-freedom.

Marc Morial is president/ CEO of the National Urban League. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

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WORLD

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Poll: U.S. stay out of Syria A new poll shows opposition to U.S. missile strikes against the Syrian government for its alleged use of chemical weapons on its people. Support

Oppose

• U.S. missile strikes against Syrian government All adults

36% 59 Democrats

42 54 Republicans

43 55 Independents

30 66 • If U.S. and its allies, such as U.K. and France, launch missiles against Syria

46 51 • If U.S. and its allies supply weapons to Syrian rebels

27 70 OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/MCT

These demonstrators rally on the north side of the White House on Aug. 29 to protest U.S. military action against Syria.

Groups gearing up to campaign on behalf of strike against Syria BY MICHAEL DOYLE MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON — A graphic half-page ad published Tuesday by a California-based advocacy group foreshadows an escalating lobbying campaign in support of a U.S. military at-

tack on Syria. More will come like rolling thunder, this week and next, as Congress considers President Barack Obama’s proposed authorization for the use of military force. With a flurry of phone calls, public rallies, social media updates and ads in mainstream media, organizations both large and small

will be urging martial U.S. intervention. The Syrian Institute for Progress is a small group, though this week it got loud.

Young victims shown Established last year in Southern California, the

organization funded the ad in Tuesday’s Washington Post that declared “America’s credibility and national interests are at stake” in the coming military authorization vote. The ad, which ran on the third page of the paper’s first section, included a photograph of more than a dozen children who were said to be victims of a

chemical weapons attack. “It’s a way to generate more interest, mainly targeted at the members of Congress, members of the administration and think tanks,” Saed Mujthed, president of the Syrian Institute for Progress, said of the ad in an interview Tuesday, adding that “when you are spending your dollars, you need to spend them in the most efficient way possible.”

Previous PR moves Past Middle East wars have seen their own pub-

lic relations mobilization, some of which have become controversial after the shooting starts. Prior to the 1991 Persian Gulf War, for instance, the giant public relations firm Hill & Knowlton, with funding from the Kuwaiti government, helped craft the story line presented by a group called Citizens for a Free Kuwait. The lead-up to the Iraq War that began in 2003 later prompted Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., to specifically ask the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General to investigate the work done by a company called the Rendon Group. The investigators later concluded there was no evidence the company had been hired to convince the U.S. public that Iraq was an imminent threat. Leaders and spokesmen for the various SyrianAmerican organizations supporting Obama’s call for military action say they are just getting the facts on the table for those who will make the final decision. In particular, organizations hope to mobilize some of the estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Syrian-Americans to contact key and undecided lawmakers. “I believe they need to hear from the Syrian-American community, because we are the most knowledgeable about what’s going on,” Mujthed said. Similar messages are being geared up by other organizations. “We’re planning things,” Syrian Support Group spokesman Dan Layman said in interview Tuesday. We’re trying to figure out how to move forward.”

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Legislator leading way on new mentoring program See page B2

September 6 - September 12, 2013

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Federal cuts means seniors going hungry See page B3

SHARING BLACK LIFE, STATEWIDE www.flcourier.com

SECTION

TOJ

Syria in conflict Austin Tice/MCT

A three-starred revolutionary flag flies atop a government building moments after its capture by rebel forces in Al Tal, Syria, in July. What began in March 2011 as peaceful demonstrations for greater political, religious and economic freedoms from the Syrian government, has turned into armed conflict. By David Enders McClatchy Newspapers

he rebellion against the Syrian government that began in March 2011 is now a civil war pitting the Syrian government, its military and pro-government militias against rebels who are dedicated to the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar Assad. Q: What is the conflict about? A: The conflict began as peaceful demonstrations demanding greater political, religious and economic freedoms from Syria’s autocratic government. But once the government responded violently toward demonstrators, many demonstrators began demanding the end of Assad’s presidency. As they began to take up arms, the conflict began to stress the tension caused by the country’s complicated sectarian and ethnic balance, long held in check by the government’s dictatorial rule. Q: Who’s fighting and why? A: Bashar Assad and his inner circle, as well as much of the political and military elite in the country, are Alawites. Alawites make up about 10 percent of the country’s population and practice a form of Islam that is related to Shiite Islam. Syria’s population is about 65 percent Sunni Muslim Arab, and many of the rebels accuse the minority-led government of long-standing religious and ecoBashar nomic discrimAssad ination against Sunnis, especially Sunnis from the Syrian countryside, where the armed rebellion first gathered strength and which rebels continue to use as a safe area and staging ground. The grievances date back to the reign of Hafez Assad, Bashar Assad’s father, who held power from 1970 until his death in 2000, when Bashar Assad took over. Though the initial demonstrations against the government involved opposition from all of Syria’s sects and ethnic groups, including Alawites, the armed rebels virtually are all Sunni Muslim Arabs. Alawites historically have been discriminated against by Sunnis, dating back to the centuries Syria spent under the rule of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The term “Free Syrian Army” often is used to denote the rebels, even though they lack a centralized command structure and are, in practice, made up of hundreds of groups that often are very localized and vary in size and organizational capacity. The country’s Kurdish minority, which predominates the northeastern Syrian province of Hasaka, largely has stayed neu-

A look at the origins of the civil war brewing in the Middle Eastern country and its effects on Americans

David Enders/MCT

Kurdish protesters in Qamishli, Syria, demonstrate for the end of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime in August. They carry flags of the Syrian revolutionaries and Kurdish independence, as well as posters of Kurdish activists killed or imprisoned by the government.

tral, hoping to gain greater rights from the loosening of the central government’s control. The country’s Christian minority also has tried to avoid being caught up in the fighting, fearing retribution if the government falls, especially at the hands of radical Sunnis, as happened in Iraq following the end of Saddam Hussein’s government. This fear also has pushed some Christian communities to support Assad’s government. Q: How is this related to the “Arab Spring”? A: Many Syrians were inspired by the demands for reform in other countries, and as they made the decision to take up arms, they were extremely hopeful that the United States and other countries would back them militarily as they did the rebels fighting the government of former Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi. Q: How has the international community reacted? A: The international community largely has failed to take a firm stance on what is happening in Syria, other than Russia and Iran. Both countries are providing support for Assad’s government, which has maintained strong military and economic ties to both for decades. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey are helping the rebels by providing money and light

Austin Tice/MCT

Free Syrian Army revolutionary forces take position on the roof of a building adjacent to a major Syrian Army fortification in Kafer Zaita, Syria, in June.

weapons. But, so far, the rebels lack the heavy weaponry necessary to fully dislodge the government, as well as the anti-aircraft weapons to fully erode the government’s advantage of having an air force. The result has been a widening of brutal fighting in which civilians have paid the largest price — more than 250,000 Syrians have fled to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, where they are receiving varying degrees of assistance from those

countries and the United Nations. Those numbers are likely to grow as the conflict continues and spreads. Saudi, Turkish and Qatari support largely has been directed to rebel militias that espouse religious political beliefs, leading to a deepening of the sectarian nature of the conflict and marginalization of rebels who are calling for a civil democratic state to replace Assad’s dictatorship. Q: Why is what happens in

Syria important to Americans? A: The Syrian government has long had a tense relationship with the United States because of its support for Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party and militia that fought a war with Israel in 2006. The government also has historically supported a number of other militant groups in the region, many of whom are dedicated to fighting Israel and espouse militant religious beliefs. Many militant groups that once maintained ties to the government have now turned against it, and the fight against Assad is already drawing Islamic fighters in increasing numbers from other Arab countries and even from Europe, much the way the war in Afghanistan did in the 1980s. If the international community, including the United States, has interest in preventing Syria from becoming a failed state where groups that seek to promote violence proliferate, analysts say it should be engaging the opposition in meaningful ways to prevent this. Critics say the failure to engage what is happening in Syria in any meaningful way only confirms what Syrians and most people in the Middle East already believe — that the U.S. government’s only interests in the region are oil and the stability of Israel. If the long-term stability of Israel is indeed in the interest of the U.S., meaningful engagement with the opposition could help stem the potential for blow black against that country and the United States itself. Though the Assad government officially maintained a state of war with Israel, the likelihood of open hostilities with Israel under Assad was limited. Any government that succeeds his would likely take a hard-line stance toward peace with Israel and could become a haven for groups intending to attack it, as well as groups interested in attacking U.S. interests in the region or abroad. The continued flow of refugees to Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan also has begun to have political ramifications in those countries and could be destabilizing to Iraq and Lebanon in particular, as they continue to manage fragile power-sharing arrangements. The conflict already can be seen to be crossing borders —Iraq has become a major shipment point for weapons both to the government and to the rebels. Sunni Iraqis, already feeling disenfranchised with the Shiite-led government in Iraq, have re-activated some of the same networks that once sent fighters and weapons from Syria to Iraq.

David Enders is a McClatchy special correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @davidjenders.

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

TOJ

A FLORIDA COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT KID CUDI

Kid Cudi, Big Sean and Logic are scheduled to perform Oct. 8 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami.

Ready to roll Tampa Bay area children receive new bicycles through Metropolitan Ministries’ ‘First Hug’ program, which supports homeless families in Hillsborough County. Employees from WellCare’s Compliance department assembled and donated 14 bicycles as part of a team-building event on Aug. 1.

Mentoring project to focus on high-risk minority youth Kickoff event and training Sept. 6-7 in Orlando SPECIAL TO THE COURIER

PHOTO COURTESY OF REP. DWAYNE TAYLOR

State Rep. Dwayne Taylor of Daytona Beach speaks with young men during the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Men of Tomorrow program held in March. Taylor recently fought for a mentoring program that pairs Black university scholars with high-risk Black students in the fourth and fifth grades. ment approach, where these young men identify with others who look like them, sound like them and have experiences like them and move forward,” continued Nelson. “We are giving these

young men a role model, literally and figuratively – someone who has walked their walk, someone who has done it and is better equipped to show other young men how to do it.”

Orlando: Federation of Families of Central Florida will host its first Black Tie gala on Oct. 10 at the Rosen Centre, 9840 International Drive. The organization serves youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges and their families. More information on tickets and sponsorships: Visit www.FFCFLINC.org, email jsheffield.ffcfl@gmail.com or call 407-334-8049. Jacksonville: Comedian and actor Eddie Griffin will be at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 27. Tampa: The Isley Brothers with Kem and Nephew Tommy are coming to the University of South Florida Sun Dome on Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. Orlando: J Cole’s What Dreams May Come Tour T:8” Rock Live stops at Hard

Orlando on Sept. 12. He also will be at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville on Sept. 14. Jacksonville: Chris Tucker will be at the Florida Theatre Jacksonville on Sept. 27. Tampa: The Hillsborough Community College Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education will present a free event Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Open Café, 3332 N. 34th St. Speaker: Dr. Jeff Johnson, author of “Creating A Better Me. More information: www.tampatraining.com. St. Petersburg: Stephen “Ragga’’ Marley will perform Oct. 17 at Jannus Live. St. Petersburg: Tickets are on sale for a concert at the Mahaffey Theater with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. The show has been changed to Sunday, Sept. 27. Daytona Beach: Michael Winslow is scheduled Sept. 6 and 7 at Bonkerz Comedy Club.

Orlando: Soulbird will present a SongVersation with India.Arie on Oct. 11 at the House of Blues Orlando and Oct. 17 at the Florida Theatre Jacksonville. Tampa: The second annual UNCF Walk for Education is Sept. 7 at Al Lopez Park. Register online at www.uncf. org/tampabaywalk. St. Petersburg: First Fridays are held in downtown St. Petersburg at 250 Central Ave. between Second and Third Avenues from 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. More information: 727-393-3597. Daytona Beach: A Southern Soul Blues Concert featuring Mel Waiters, Sir Charles Jones and Bigg Robb is scheduled Oct. 5 at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center. Clearwater: John Legend and Tamar Braxton are scheduled at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Nov. 4.

State Rep. Dwayne Taylor (D-Daytona Beach) sits at the helm of a funding effort proposed and passed during the 2013 legislative session on a mentoring program for high-risk minority youth. The “High-Risk Delinquent and Dependent Youth Educational Research Project” will benefit families, community partners and specifically the youth involved in the program. “The goal of this project is to assist our young boys in improving school grades, improving behavior and preventing that first time at delinquency involvement,” Taylor explained. “Prevention, mentoring and guidance are the key components here.” A kickoff event featuring training for the university and college mentors will be held Sept. 6-8 at the Doubletree Hilton in Orlando. University representatives, members from the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, mentors, mentees and other stakeholders will attend the event to discuss the importance, impact and vision of the program, which will begin this fall.

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR

UF, HBCUs participating The project brings together five of Florida’s higher learning institutions, including four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Participating are the University of Florida, Edward Waters College, BethuneCookman University, Florida A&M University and Florida Memorial University. Educational attainment, delinquency and fiscal responsibility relative to high-risk minority male youth will be the focus of this project through research and targeted mentoring services to 150 students across the state. The minority, male, youth participants were chosen based on metrics including poverty, school grades, test scores and home and school location. The students will be paired with current minority, university scholars having similar childhoods in highrisk environments.

Benefits of program Taylor became involved in the project after speaking with Randy Nelson, Ph.D, founder of 21st Century Research and Evaluations, Inc. Nelson addressed the Florida Legislative Black Caucus about the need for the project. “These fourth-, fifthgraders can’t say ‘I’m in a bad school, my teacher doesn’t care,’” explained Nelson. “His mentor can say, ‘I’ve experienced that too and I made it.’” “We will be able to take what we are learning particularly from our engage-

From left: Leanna Archer, Beverly Johnson, Roland Parrish, Gladys Knight, Dr. Steve Perry, Kenny Williams, and Charles Orgbon III.

We applaud the few that inspire the many. For this year’s 365Black® Award recipients, each day is exceptional. They stand for greatness and bow with selessness. Through their dedication and service, they inspire a world of change. We’re proud to honor them all for staying Deeply Rooted in the Community,® 365 days a year. To learn more about this year’s honorees, go to 365Black.com.

STOJ

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

HEALTH

a nationwide campaign to raise awareness and money as well as develop solutions to the hunger problem.

Barely making it Feeding South Florida, which partners with 350 nonprofit food banks, pantries and other agencies to distribute food, has seen a 39 percent increase in requests for help in the past two years. Sari Vatske, vice president of programs and initiatives, believes that jump is fueled, in part, by a surge in seniors, though she doesn’t keep such numbers. The organization is looking into a mobile pantry that will deliver food to the apartment towers in Miami Beach because many older adults are homebound. “They’re falling through the cracks,” Vatske said. “They don’t qualify for benefits and they’re barely making it on Social Security.”

Limited options

EMILY MICHOT/MIAMI HERALD/MCT

The Food of Life Outreach Ministries hands out food to the needy in Homestead Here, Bienvenida Hernandez, left, waits in a line outside of the food bank on Aug. 14 with her 73-year-old mother, Orba Hernandez.

Federal cuts means many seniors are going hungry Meals provided at centers no longer available because of sequestration BY ANA VECIANA-SUAREZ THE MIAMI HERALD/MCT

MIAMI — When the bus that ferried him to a congregant lunch center for seniors lost its funding — a result of the automatic federal budget cuts known as sequestration — Wencelao Gonzalez of Miami lost something, too: almost 10 pounds in less than two months. “If I’m left alone, I have to remember to prepare something,” said the 78-year-old retired bakery plant worker. “I probably don’t eat so good.” Gonzalez, who is diabetic and has Parkinson’s disease, now eats lunch at the federal hot meals program at the Olga Martinez Center in West Kendall, only when he can find a ride. The bus that carried him and about 25 other older adults to the center, one of 15 run by the Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Center, is not likely to be reinstated any time soon.

‘The hidden hungry’ Stories like this one, senior advocates say, are all too common. At a time when the stock market has reached record highs and

housing has rebounded, research shows that there are still plenty of people, many of them older adults, who are struggling. Some are going hungry. “The idea of senior hunger surprises people, but it’s very much a reality,” said Peggy Ingraham, executive vice president of the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger in Alexandria, Va. “We call them the hidden hungry.” Unlike other groups, she added, “once they draw down their resources, they usually don’t have a way to get out.”

More than doubled New reports show that more older adults than previously thought are living in poverty and going hungry. Recent sequester cutbacks — a total of $85 billion that went into effect March 1 when Congress and the White House failed to reach a compromise on the budget — have exacerbated the problem by hacking away at senior nutrition programs. “We’re not keeping pace with the demographics or the need,” said Max Rothman, CEO at the Alliance for Aging, which covers Miami-Dade and Monroe counties in Florida. “I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s no precedent for this, even during the cuts in the Rea-

gan years.” The number of food-insecure seniors above the age of 60 more than doubled to 4.8 million between 2001 and 2011, according to Spotlight on Senior Hunger 2011, released in May by the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH) and Feeding America. Florida ranks ninth in the percentage of food-insecure seniors, with 16.64 percent of seniors not sure where their next meal is coming from, said Ingraham, citing another report called the Senior Hunger Report Card.

Minorities greatly impacted When her organization uses a broader index to include seniors marginally at risk of hunger, the number of food-insecure older adults jumps to 8.3 million. “There’s no reason to expect the trend to change,” Ingraham said. The rate of senior hunger increased over the past decade mostly because of the Great Recession. The growth was most pronounced among those 60 to 69, according to the Spotlight report. Experts speculate that more seniors are retiring with a smaller nest egg and, if working, they experience longer periods of unemployment. The Spotlight study also found

that seniors are most likely to be food insecure if they live in a southern state or with a grandchild. African-American and Hispanic seniors are also almost twice as likely to go hungry, but food-insecure older adults live everywhere — in North Miami Beach and Florida City, in highrises and in single-family houses, among the still-working and the just retired. That’s because food insecurity is not always a matter of money.

‘A pride issue’ “We are dealing with both an isolation issue and a pride issue,” said Margie Lee, field coordinator for the local AARP office. Studies by advocacy groups have shown that as many as half of food-insecure seniors have the money to purchase food but don’t have the resources to access or prepare food because of disabilities, chronic ailments or lack of transportation. Wencelao Gonzalez is one such example. In addition, older Americans are less inclined to sign up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, even as enrollment in SNAP has soared. Less than 40 percent of eligible seniors participate in the food stamp program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the program. AARP’s own study found that, among Americans 50 years and older, food insecurity had soared by 79 percent to almost 9 million people between 2001 and 2009. This prompted the advocacy group to launch Drive to End Hunger in February 2011,

Want to live to 100 years or more? Living to 120 has more appeal to Blacks, Hispanics, youth, study shows BY JEFF KUNERTH ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

ORLANDO — Otis Cliatt is 73 and hopes to make it to 100. Ginger Hallowell is 81 and thinks 90 will be long enough on this earth. “I’ve done what I need to and I’ve had a long and productive life,” said Hallowell, a former model and Weeki Wachee mermaid. Neither has any desire to live to 120. Both belong to the majority of Americans who, given the chance, would rather not live to the endline of human existence, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. Fifty-six percent said if they had a choice to undergo a medical treatment that would allow them to live to 120, they would decline. More than half said extending longevity to such a degree would be bad for society. “We saw a number of people mention over-population as a concern,” said Cary Funk, the study’s senior researcher.

‘Radical life extension’ Proponents of “radical life extension” — the science, technology and theory of living to the extreme limits of human life — bold-

ly predict that by the year 2050, the average American will live 120 years. So far, the oldest verifiable person was Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122. But extreme longevity would affect everything from the environment to the workforce to the economy. It would redefine the meaning of young, middle age and old. Retirement at 65 would become obsolete. “It has far-reaching implications for how we live,” Funk said. Nonetheless, the idea of stretching the limits of a lifetime has some appeal — particularly among the young, Blacks and Hispanics. All three groups had 40 percent or more who said they would like to live to be 120.

More positive view Kayla Arocho, a 20-year-old Hispanic student, said she would like to live to be 135: “How the world is now, everybody thinks it’s so bad. So I’d like to see how much the world would change.” Blacks and Hispanics are most likely to hope they reach 100, and have a more positive view of the future, the study found. Cindy Epiphane, a 36-year-old Black woman, said a longer life would give her a better chance of obtaining her dreams of an MBA and law degree. She’d like to make it at least to 100, but is concerned about the possibility of outliving her money. “If I could afford it and not re-

At the Florida City pantry run by the Food of Life Outreach Ministries, one of Feeding South Florida’s partners, Pastor Wayne Oxford helps between 3,000 and 4,000 people a month, about 40 percent of them seniors. “Seniors,” Oxford said, “have it particularly bad because they have limited options. Many of them don’t drive or they’re incapacitated. They have to depend on someone.” Mary Liggins, 76, of Homestead, is one of Oxford’s steady customers. Every Wednesday, she drives her motorized scooter six long blocks from her Section 8 subsidized apartment to pick up her free bag of groceries. A mother of nine who worked in South Miami-Dade farms all her life, she depleted her savings when her husband got cancer. By the time he died in 1996, she was struggling and now survives on $800 in Social Security and $88 in food stamps a month. Five years ago, she resigned herself to a wheelchair because of arthritis and a bad back. Each month, after she pays bills that include co-pays for eight prescriptions, there isn’t much left. “I pay all my bills, but sometimes I have to rob Peter to pay Paul. I talk to the supervisor for my electric and ask to pay a little more the next month. I do the same with the telephone.”

One hot meal At the Olga Martinez Center, coordinator Esperanza Rodriguez saw an initial drop of almost 50 percent in the money to fund meals. In January, the center was serving 100 hot lunches. By late spring it was down to 59 meals. Now it’s back up to 80 meals. “For so many, this is the one hot meal they get that day,” Rodriguez said. “But it’s really beyond the food and getting fed. There’s a social aspect to coming here, too, and it’s very important to prevent social isolation among our elderly population.” of being here in the first place, said Orlando Catholic Diocese Bishop John Noonan. More decades added to an empty, sad or disappointing life is no reward. “Life is something to value and celebrate, but it is to be used for a higher purpose in the context of our journey toward life after death,” said Noonan, 62.

Still dancing at 90

JACOB LANGSTON/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

Otis Cliatt, 73, throws horseshoes at the Beardall Senior Center in Orlando on Aug. 25. ly on anybody else, yeah, I’d like to do that,” said Epiphane, who works at a college recruitment kiosk in a mall. And that’s where the futuristic idea of near-immortality meets the practicality of a longer life. Instead of retiring in your 60s, extended longevity might mean working until you are 80 or 90.

Jobs and religion “It’s easy to say I want to live forever, but we better think of all the ramifications,” said Rabbi Rick Sherwin, 62, head of Congregation Beth Am in Longwood. “If I don’t retire until I’m 90, what about all those graduates of the rabbinical seminaries? They don’t get jobs because I’m holding onto my job forever.” Those least enamored with extending life another couple of decades are the old and the evangelical. Only 31 percent of those 65 and older, and 28 percent of White evangelicals, would like to live to 120.

Northland Church Pastor Joel Hunter belongs to both groups. For many Christians, death isn’t something to delay, deny and postpone. It’s when everlasting life begins, he said. “With Christians, we think Heaven sounds pretty good to us. It has to be worth avoiding Heaven,” said Hunter, 65. “I think I am at my prime in terms of wisdom and the best use of my time and leadership. But I have no desire to live beyond the age when I can contribute to somebody’s life.”

What’s the purpose? Paul Cyr, at 84, also has no desire to live to 120. “The amount of money it takes to survive, I don’t have the facilities to support myself,” said Cyr, who was pitching horseshoes at Orlando’s Beardall Senior Center on Monday with his two buddies. “If they don’t have horseshoes in Heaven, I’m not going.” Life shouldn’t be measured in years, but in fulfilling the purpose

Significantly extending the lifespan of humans could challenge our fundamental understanding of what it means to be human, religious leaders told Pew researchers. “Our mortality defines us. It influences virtually all of our decisions,” said David Masci, a senior Pew researcher who dealt with the religious implications of radical life extension. Masci said leaders from all different faiths questioned whether extreme longevity would upend the concept of marriage for life, the definition of family and the relationships between generations. Pope Benedict XVI addressed those concerns in 2010 when he preached on the prospect of adding decades to the human lifespan. “Humanity would become extraordinarily old, there would be no more room for youth,” he said. “Capacity for innovation would die, and endless life would be no paradise, if anything a condemnation.” Nearly 70 percent of adults in the Pew study said they would like to live somewhere between 79 and 100 years old. That includes Beardall Senior Center manager Cheryl Rainsberger, who is 53. “I think 90,” she said. “I still see 90-year-olds dancing.”

TOj B4

HOME SAFETY

Stoj

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Tips to keep your children safe from a hidden danger

MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE FOR YOUR FAMILY F

From family Features

illed with mesmerizing trinkets and gadgets — your home is a new and exciting world for your small child to explore. But this new world can introduce serious and sometimes surprising safety issues that many parents do not realize are risks.

Hidden concerns in common household devices As your children happily toddle around your home, they may come in contact with unknown safety issues scattered throughout. One issue you may not have considered is coin lithium batteries, about the size of a nickel, which can be found around most homes in everyday items like remote controls, keyless entry devices for your car, sound-enabled books and a variety of health and fitness devices. Because many of these devices are not regulated as children’s toys, the battery compartments often are very easy to open. Children are naturally drawn to these devices, as many include buttons that are fun to play with and push. The danger of these batteries is very real. If a coin-sized lithium battery is swallowed by a small child, it can get caught in the esophagus. The battery can react with saliva and cause a chemical reaction that can lead to severe injuries in as little as two hours. Unfortunately, many parents do not know about the issue. In fact, a recent survey showed 62 percent of parents reported being unaware of the risk associated with coin lithium batteries.

Spread the word In an effort to help keep children safe, Energizer and the National Safety Council are working together to educate parents and caregivers on the steps they can take to help prevent these injuries. “We know parents and caregivers are constantly thinking about their children’s safety, but we want to bring awareness to an issue still unknown to many families,” said Amy Heinzen, Program Manager of Grants and Strategic Initiatives for the National Safety Council. “Coin lithium battery safety needs to be top of mind and we hope parents will take the time to learn about the issue with these four simple steps to help children be safe.”

The 4 S’s of coin lithium battery safety

Devices Powered by Coin Lithium Batteries From toys to health and fitness gadgets, coin lithium batteries are used in a variety of different devices found

throughout the home. Use this list to become aware of common items that require these batteries so you keep such devices away from small children. • Blood glucose meters • Heart rate monitors • Pedometers • Sports watches

• Electronic remote controls • Calculators • Digital thermometers • Flameless candles • Scales • Garage door openers • Keyless car entry devices • Electronic books • Electronic games

Make your home safer and spread awareness with four simple steps to store, select, secure and share information about this hidden safety concern. Store. Awareness of the issue is a good start, but making sure you have a game plan is even better. If you currently have coin lithium batteries in your home, store them where little hands can’t get them and little eyes can’t see them. It’s also important to not let children use devices powered by these batteries as toys. In fact, 45 percent of parents admit to letting their kids play with their keys, remotes and similar devices, which could very likely include a coin lithium battery. Select. When you are in need of coin lithium batteries, it is important to do your research in advance, and select battery packaging that meets the strict guidelines set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for child resistance. Energizer was the first to introduce 20 millimeter coin lithium battery packaging that meets these criteria, restricting a child’s ability to get in the package, while still allowing adults to easily open it with scissors. Secure. If the battery compartment door opens in the hands of a child, it becomes a potential hazard. It is essential to secure the battery doors of all devices powered by coin lithium batteries, including the keyless entry devices found on most car keys. You can also look for devices that feature a screwed back for additional security. Share. Finally, you are encouraged to share this information, whether online with your friends, at playgroups or daycare, so every family can take the same steps to protect their children. “From flashlights to smoke alarm batteries to coin lithium battery packaging, we are always looking for ways our products can help keep families safe,” said Brad Harrison, Vice President of Marketing for Energizer North America. “It is our hope that by bringing awareness to this issue and being the first battery company to offer packaging that meets federal safety standards, more children can be safe.”

In case of emergency If it is suspected a child has swallowed a coin lithium battery, it is important to go to the emergency department immediately. For more information on child safety and coin lithium battery safety, visit nsc.org, www.energizer.com, www.TheBatteryControlled.com and www.poison.org/battery.

SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet some of

FLORIDA'S

finest

submitted for your approval

Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest? E-mail your high-resolution (200 dpi) digital photo in casual wear or bathing suit taken in front of a plain background with few distractions, to news@flcourier. com with a short biography of yourself and your contact information. (No nude/ glamour/ fashion photography, please!) In order to be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age. Acceptance of the photographs submitted is in the sole and absolute discretion of Florida Courier editors. We reserve the right to retain your photograph even if it is not published. If you are selected, you will be contacted by e-mail and further instructions will be given.

Florida Courier photojournalists were onboard Royal Caribbean ships with thousands of Tom Joyner Morning Show fans on the Fantastic Voyage 2011 and 2012. We’re featuring some of the “Finest” cruisers. TONY LEAVELL/FLORIDA COURIER and DELROY COLE/FLORIDA COURIER

A pretty serious crop of fall films Mandela movie with Elba coming out in November

EURWEB.COM

BY BETSY SHARKEY LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT

Lost at sea, lost in space, lost children, lost freedom, lost homeland, lost money, lost identity, lost jobs, lost hope, lost faith, lost lives: This fall, this is film. This is serious. I can’t wait. September always brings a change in the temperature of what we see on screen. The Oscar contenders start showing up, the significant films with more to consider than, say, “The Wolverine” or “World War Z.” As much popcorn fun as “Wolverine,” “War” and the like might be, they don’t ask much of us. Not so the fall. But 2013 is coursing with a fierceness that we haven’t seen in a while. It ripples through U.S. and international films alike. Even the titles suggest a certain weight: “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners,” “Mandela,” “All Is Lost,” “Gravity,” “Devil’s Knot,” “Night Moves” and “Dangerous Acts,” to name a few in the queue. The shake-up begins this week when the Toronto International Film Festival opens with the world premiere of “The Fifth Estate.” Director Bill Condon’s dramatic thriller is about that modern-day barbarian at the gate, WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange. Roughly 400 barbarians are right behind him in the festival’s jampacked lineup. Most seem intent on crashing through the conventional over the next 10 days.

Secrets and more secrets The topics may be dark but the entertainment factor will not dim in the slightest. If anything, films that engage mind, heart and emotions tend to be the most satisfying, the most memorable. It is fitting that we start the season with the story of a divisive antihero who some applaud, others despise. No matter which side of the line you stand on, Assange is someone who has made all of us think — think. Thinking deeper, longer, harder and especially, rethinking, seems

Rhimes reacts to comments about adultery on ‘Scandal’

Idris Elba will star in “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.’’ to be what filmmakers have in mind at the moment. “The Fifth Estate” features Benedict Cumberbatch as the social network renegade who reframed the idea, the implications and the debate over exposing secrets. State secrets. Corporate secrets. Personal secrets. Damaging secrets. Later in the year, Leonardo DiCaprio will surface as a keeper of secrets in “The Wolf of Wall Street,” playing a high-rolling stockbroker deep in duplicity. Director Martin Scorsese and DiCaprio usually make menace magnificently together.

Economy and survival For the other 99 percent, the Occupy Wall Street collective tries its hand at a documentary that lands in theaters later this week: “99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film.” They make the economic downturn personal. There is a rich stream of films examining other, even starker existential crises. “Gravity” stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as engineer and astronaut untethered, their space ship a billion tiny pieces, their life support slipping away. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, who wrote the script with son Jonas, the exploration is not space but life and why we cling to it so fiercely. What is it like to face the possibility of death that way? “All Is Lost,” writer-director J.C. Chandor’s latest, with Robert Redford at sea — against the elements, against the odds — wonders too. For the film-

maker, the sea is a long way from his previous “Margin Call,” but the stakes are higher. It is a solo voyage for the actor in so many ways, the film’s fate hanging on his performance. Tom Hanks as “Captain Phillips” has the survival of his men as his trial. His cargo ship in the clutches of Somali pirates, the spine tingling is in the hands of director Paul Greengrass, who brought such exquisite tension to two “Bourne” outings over the years. The question for Hanks is whether the film will help him out of troubled career waters of late. The story, though, is as much about racial and economic divides as the efforts of one man.

my eye on at the festival. “Parkland,” with Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Giamatti and Zac Efron, will take us inside Parkland Memorial Hospital and the chaos on the day President Kennedy was assassinated. “Dallas Buyers Club” unfolds two decades later in 1986, when AIDS was still a death sentence. Matthew McConaughey’s performance is likely to bring an Oscar nomination, and it may be the one that brings him a win. It’s not so much the weight the actor lost to play a homophobic man fighting the disease but the weight of the subject matter for McConaughey, who is settling so comfortably into his prime.

Elba portrays Mandela

Satire and comedy

The racial divide will be dissected in many ways all season long. “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” with Idris Elba as the great South African leader, and “12 Years a Slave,” with Chiwetel Ejiofor — remember that name — as a free man whose color costs him everything but his spirit, both premiere at Toronto. A different kind of freedom is at stake in “Omar,” the latest from Hany Abu-Assad. The director’s treatise on suicide bombers, “Paradise Now,” was nominated for a foreign language Oscar in 2006. This dark story of lovers separated by the West Bank and the price of their relationship comes to Toronto with a jury prize from Cannes. Dallas is the epicenter for two provocative dramas that I’ll have

Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “August: Osage County,” comes to the big screen with its devilishly divided house and biting satire in incredibly good hands. Directed by John Wells, its cast is a sprawling ensemble of Alisters including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Ewan McGregor, Dermot Mulroney and the very busy Mr. Cumberbatch. Even the pure comedies have an edge this fall. Jason Bateman does double duty as star and director of a spelling bee gone south in “Bad Words.” Jennifer Aniston and Isla Fisher are ex-cons who team up for “Life of Crime.” Jay Baruchel will get into “The Art of the Steal.” And Jesse Eisenberg is dealing with the ultimate identity thief in “The Double.” It’s loosely based on a Dostoyevsky novella...

ABC executive producer David Zabel stated that he hoped viewers could accept characters engaging in an extramarital affair from his show “Betrayal’’ as they have with Shonda Rhimes’ show “Scandal.’’ “It’s a challenge. They’ve overcome it on ‘Scandal.’ They’ve overcome it very well, I understand,” Zabel told BuzzSugar. Interestingly in an interview with TVLine, Rhimes responded to Zabel’s statement and said that “Scandal” in no way condones adultery. “I don’t feel like we’re making adultery acceptable. We weren’t setting out to make adultery OK. To me it’s not about adultery or not adultery. We’re telling the story of these two characters who very specifically have this kind of relationship [...] we tell all sides,” Rhimes said. “So while there are times when you’re like, ‘Fitz and Liv are wonderful and I want them to be together,’ there are also times you think, ‘Fitz is scum and he shouldn’t be cheating on his wife.’ And there are times you think, ‘Olivia should go off and find herself somebody who’s single,’ ” she continued.

What to expect next She feels that the debate surrounding the morality of Fitz and Olivia’s choices is what fuels the show. “I like the fact that everybody feels this big debate. That’s fantastic, because that’s the point. We’re not giving a judgment on it one way or the other.” The 43-year-old producer closed by letting viewers know that they’re in for quite a ride, as season three promises many twists.

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FROM Family Features

Returning to a school or work routine is bittersweet. Schedules and agendas don’t have to be boring, though, when your lunch routine is anything but. Run-of-the-mill PB&J and turkey and cheese standbys are making way for a new hero: gourmet sandwich creations that inspire envy. Craveable ingredients, like savory green olives, peppery salami and smoky roasted tomatoes can be lunch staples with these delicious recipes. Skip those weekday blues and mix up your lunch with a layer of excitement. BLT Boats Serves 6 1/2 cup Hidden Valley® Smoked Bacon Ranch Sandwich Spread & Dip, divided 2 cups chopped lettuce, 1/2inch pieces 1 cup seeded and chopped tomato 1 cup chopped, sliced turkey (about 6 ounces) 6 hot dog buns Crumbled crisp-cooked bacon, optional In medium mixing bowl, gently stir together sandwich spread, chopped lettuce, tomato and turkey. Fill hot dog buns with mixture. If desired, garnish with bacon.

FOOD

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SEPTEMBER 6 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Makes Great Meal Any Way You Stack It Weekday lunch breakers rejoice — the sandwich is making a comeback. Kickstart your lunch routine with these easy tips and craveable recipes that are sure to inspire lunch envy: Prep the week: Create a shopping list based on your week’s menu, and prep your ingredients in advance so creating a delicious sandwich is easy. Have a little fun and experiment. Bet you didn’t know that if you put two pieces of bread in the same slot of the toaster, the outside of the bread gets crispy and the inside stays soft and pillowy. Spread the kove: Spice things up with a Smoked Bacon Ranch or Spicy Chipotle Pepper Hidden Valley Sandwich Spread & Dip — it’s a simple addition and guaranteed to be tasty. For more recipes, visit www.hiddenvalley.com/ sandwiches. Nibble ready: Stock your fridge with quick, grab-and-go snacks and sides. Fresh vegetables are a tasty treat when dipped in Country Herb Ranch or Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Hidden Valley Sandwich Spread & Dip. Made with white beans and cream cheese, each tablespoon has one-third the calories of mayonnaise. Cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower or bell pepper strips also make great dippers. Leftover magic: Repurpose boring leftovers into delicious sandwiches to take on-the-go for school and office lunches. Simply add spread and bread. Yesterday’s roast chicken is today’s tasty Chicken Bacon Club.

BLT Boats Veggie Lovers Sandwich with Roasted Garlic Serves 2 1 sourdough sandwich roll, toasted 2 tablespoons Hidden Valley Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Sandwich Spread & Dip 8 slices of mixed grilled vegetables, such as eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, red onions and mushrooms Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish, optional Spread both sides of sandwich roll with garlic sandwich spread. Top with layers of grilled vegetables and a sprinkle of cheese, if desired. Fusion Reuben Sandwich Serves 2 2 slices rye bread 2 tablespoons Hidden Valley Spicy Chipotle Pepper Sandwich Spread & Dip

2 slices (2 ounces) corned beef or pastrami 1/4 cup drained sauerkraut 2 slices Swiss cheese Spread one side of each slice of bread with sandwich spread. Top with meat, sauerkraut and cheese. Close sandwich and grill until cheese is melted. Chicken Bacon Club Sandwiches Serves 5 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken 1/2 cup Hidden Valley Smoked Bacon Ranch Sandwich Spread & Dip 10 slices buttermilk sandwich bread, toasted 5 leaves lettuce 1 large tomato, sliced 1 large avocado, sliced Stir chicken and sandwich spread together. Spread 1/2 cup chicken salad on 5 slices of toast. Top with lettuce, tomato, avocado

THE WORST DAY AT WORK BEATS THE BEST DAY IN FORECLOSURE. SEEKING A SOLUTION FOR THOSE SEEKING JOBS

With job loss responsible for up to half of all mortgage delinquencies, getting people back on their feet became our focus. But the economy and the job market have changed. People desperately looking for work need help. Which is where Fifth Third Bank and NextJob, a nationwide reemployment solutions company, came in. Last year we initiated a pilot program that provides mortgage customers up to 39 weeks of job training – including live coaching, job search training and software – fully paid for by Fifth Third Bank. Participating Fifth Third

customers at risk of defaulting on their mortgages had experienced, on average, 22 months of unemployment. After six months of reemployment assistance, nearly 40% of participants had secured meaningful employment. BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL

Our commitment to reemployment continues to grow with the signing of a multiyear contract with NextJob, which allows us to move the program out of the pilot phase and incorporate it into the way we do business. Curious behavior for a bank? Maybe. But we’re proud to be the first financial institution to offer such assistance and hope we won’t be the last.

Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender .

and remaining toast to create sandwiches. Louisiana-style Muffaletta Sandwiches Serves 10 1 16-ounce loaf sweet Italian or French bread, cut in half lengthwise 1/2 cup Hidden Valley OvenRoasted Garlic Parmesan Sandwich Spread & Dip 3/4 pound assorted Italian deli meats, such as ham, salami and mortadella 1/4 pound sliced provolone cheese 1/2 cup sliced green olives Lettuce, if desired Open loaf of bread and spread sandwich spread on both sides of cut surfaces. Top one side with layers of meat, cheese, olives and lettuce and then close with other side. Slice into 2-inch wide seg ments for serving.