First there was Ferguson, then Michael Brown, and now it is Freddie Gray. There is a large trend of backpedaling toward the earlier days of violent racism, which is currently displayed in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Recently, the media has be showcasing fires in the streets, buildings being looted, and projectiles being thrown at police officers; this does not shed a good light on Baltimore, its citizens, and the government. The riots in Baltimore are counter-productive because they are a reaction toward the inhumanness individuals feel has been occurring toward the African American population. However, the affects of their actions are just as inhumane, if not worse. Calling the rioters names – such as ‘criminals’ or ‘thugs’ – and pleading for people to stop is not going to change the situation. Know what will? Showing a different perspective. Bringing back the humanity that people feel has been lost can change the perspective, which then can change the reactions. Many articles have been produced advocating peace in Baltimore, how people of both races are cooperating in the city despite the events, and acts of kindness that are happening in the region. In a way, this lessens the intensity of the situation by showing two different sides to the situation. There is both turmoil and tranquility. Returning the humanity back to Baltimore is the key to saving the anger-stricken city. The situation would receive a more positive support for the community if outsiders witness acts of kindness or stories of peace between the two races in the midst of the riots. The negative outlook the city is being given is only worsening the situation because it adds to the already-present negative attitude within the community. If people are joining in hate, it is perceived that the rioters are just in their actions, and will only cause more damage in order to make a bigger statement, further worsening the cycle. If people impress upon the positivity of the preachers and the volunteer peacekeepers, then the support will make it a worthy cause, furthering the efforts of a city struggling to gain peace instead of a city struggling to suppress violence. Image courtesy of http://www.observer-reporter.com/storyimage/OR/20150428/NEWS05/150429399/AR/0/AR-150429399.jpg&MaxW=700&MaxH=500&MaxH=400 Edited by Katharina Elberti, Webmaster and Editor-in-Chief 2014-2015
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On Wednesday, April 22, the lawsuit against the National Football League (NFL) from 5,000 former players was settled. This lawsuit was sparked when the NFL did not do an adequate job of warning players about the risk of concussions and how harmful they can be in the long run. The judge approved the settlement which will provide up to $5 million to players who now have severe neurological disorders and another $10 million into educating players and coaches about concussions. Many people are praising the NFL for giving back to injure players and trying to prevent future injuries, but could any of this been avoided? In the past, not much thought or research had been given to players suffering concussions while playing football. Most people were just told to shake it off and get back out on the field. It wasn't until a few years ago that people started taking concussions seriously. In 2011, there were 252 reported concussions in the NFL. That number slightly dropped in the 2013 season to 228. It was not until the 2014 season, when more regulations had been put into place by the NFL, that the number had a significant drop. This past season, there were only 123 concussions. While more regulations are being put into place now, are the NFL's efforts too late? Many people believe that if more research and regulations had been enforced sooner, the lawsuit from the former players would have not been needed. The NFL is trying to cover some tracks with this new money to injured players, but will it be enough to cover up some bad press from the past? Image Credit: http://www.ozarksfirst.com/media/lib/184/6/2/7/6279d523-ed8e-4486-80f2-42e84e7dcf05/Story.jpg Edited by Katharina Elberti, Webmaster and Editor-in-Chief 2014-2015 |
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