Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, has been reported to have made racist comments during a phone call with his girlfriend. This phone call was private, but released to the public.  Sterling has since given sole control and rights of the team to his ex-wife Shelly. Shelly is reportedly selling the Clippers to  a Microsoft billionaire for over two billion dollars.
Everyone has had a racist thought at some point in time, and most of us have probably expressed it.  Fewer people have expressed such things publicly; we choose to express these things privately because that's where we feel most comfortable.  We also feel  free to express our random thoughts to our loved ones, because we trust them. Donald Sterling did the exact same thing.  He was banned from the league for life and given a hefty fine because his loved one had betrayed that trust.  His girlfriend is he one at fault here.  In the phone recording she released to the press, it sounds as if she is deliberately leading him on, goading him to say racist things.  Also, it is against the law to record a conversation without giving due notice that the conversation is being recorded.  It is highly likely that she gave him no such notice, because he would have undoubtedly have planned his words much more carefully if he had known he was recorded.
The punishment which Mr. Sterling was given was also a bit harsh. Make that much more than a bit. Banned for life? For one racist comment? The punishment was given by a newly instated commissioner, eager to find a scapegoat and lay down the law, in order to prove himself more than capable.  Sterling just happened to be that scapegoat.
While racist statements are rude and offensive, sometimes they can't be helped. Donald Sterling should not have said the things he said.  However, he is also a victim of guile and deceit in the form of his mistress, and a victim of an over eager justice seeker, in the form of the new commissioner.

America Honors Veterans over Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day is meant to give Americans, a time to remember the veterans and, fallen soldiers of our many wars. In honor to keep this day Obama directed all government offices in the United States to fly their flags at half-staff on Monday. In New York the U.S Marine Corps' chaplain, speak on Sunday to a congregation that has tied gold ribbons on the church's fence in honor of fallen soldiers since the Iraq War commenced, that landed the sacrifice of veterans around the universe and what they have done that allowed us to be here today. President Barack Obama gained a surprise visit to Afghanistan for Memorial Day speak with troops and visit soldiers being treated at a foundation hospital. Memorial Day,was a time to remind ourselves of the meaning of sacrifice and to put personal struggles and difficulties in perspective.Across the country, citizens made ceremonies flag planting at cemeteries, parades and even barbecue-an American pastime Officer Brian McNeal said “this weekend should be enjoyed.”

Memorial Day is a day to remember the sacrifice they made so everyday citizens don't have to worry about the evils of the world.

Thousands memorial of ribbons is tied to the storied church’s fence. On that point also gold ribbons for service members killed in Afghanistan, green ribbons representing prayers for peace and blue ribbons for the people of Afghanistan. Three hundred Junior ROTC students from Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville marched in the city's parade.  In Massachusetts, Boston Marathon survivor Jeff Bauman and his rescuer, Carlos Arredondo, helped plant tens of thousands of flags Saturday at a memorial to honor soldiers.  

By: Aminata Koroma

“Bring Back Our Girls”

In Northern Nigeria college girls were taking on April 15 by a Muslim guy called Bako Haram. These girls were ages 15 to 18 christians and muslims. “About 50 girls escaped the kidnappers and 276 were still missing,” said a police officer. The Nigerian government have done nothing so far to  recuse these girls. One of the parents said they have given up on the Nigerian government and officials. The parents carried weapons like bows and arrows to persuade the kidnappers but end up returning home. The families of the lost girls are asking the United States and United Nations for help to help get their daughter back. While there is a major international search going on for missing people their is no meaningful search for even the greater number of missing schoolgirls.

The secretary of states, John Kerry who is visiting Nigeria stated that the United States needs to nudge Nigerian authorities to do more to find  the girls. The Nigerian authorities started a campaign website  on the White House website, on Change.org and on Facebook to demand: “Bring Back Our Girls.” All this may or may not help, but it’s worth trying for.  The militants in Nigeria destroyed  school last year alone. If the girls aren't rescued, “no parent will allow their female child to go to school,” Hadiza Bala Osman, a protests in Nigeria warned in a telephone interview. Northern Nigeria is a deeply conservative area.  The Nigerian military has shown a little interest in rescuing the girls.  These girls have been enslaved for their brain and to become “wives” of militants. On monday the agency of Nigeria received  a message from one of the kidnappers Mr. Shekau admitting of kidnapping the girls.  They deserve a serious international effort to rescue them.

By: Aminata Koroma

What's a good blog?

It is very hard writing a blog post; especially coming up with ideas that are entertaining and interesting enough to keep the reader reading. I know for in fact, personally, that it is always hard writing because I just have no clue what to write and I don’t know what people would like to read. I searched the internet and read many articles about what to do and what to write and build my knowledge on how to write blogs. 

The whole purpose of writing blogs is to connect with your audience and making them feel like they are actually with you and hearing what you have to say. After reading many articles the first thing I saw that they all said is “the key to a successful blog is what you have to say and how you say it.” Readers will come back if they like the subject and the writing style and make sure that the blog tone is appropriate to the subject.  The blog needs to feel honest. It needs to “feel” real. So, I’m guessing that if you don’t like sports than you probably shouldn’t write about sports. If you are still having a difficult time writing than imagine yourself writing to a friend or a family member about an experience or something that’s going on in the world. The less it feels like an essay and more like somebody’s personal note than readers will feel more attracted to it. It also is important to look at what other people’s blogs look like to get a feel of what you would want and what makes those blogs stand out. Although be careful of making your blog look to much like theirs.

An attracting feature that readers enjoy most are the blogs that are updated frequently.  It takes hard work to keep up with a blog and especially with the ideas and what to write. It is helpful to keep the blog in the back of your mind and a notebook, because you never know when a great idea might come along. There are other important aspects of your life you could write about such as: friends, family, job, school, relationships, and pets. Even though these topics might sound boring they are relatable to people and many can sympathize or empathize with what you are going through. Having a co-blogger can take some of the pressure off, especially when there is a regular set-up. If the updating is on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis then try to be consistent about adding posts. Setting up dates about when to catch up will help the readers and bring them back. An example, I found was that a post could be updated every Sunday night, but it’s whenever you’d like. 

Another important aspect of blogging is commenting. Providing a comment link for the readers and allowing them to post something is great and it’s even better if you write back in the comment bar. It is a good way to develop a relationship with your audience. After much research about blogs do’s and don’ts, I know that I could never be a blogger. It takes to much writing and thinking and my life is pretty damn boring! In all sincerity though just open your mind and write somebody out there is thinking the same way you are.

Thanks to: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/writing-a-good-blog.html

BY Yancy Garcia