AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH:DR.BENJAMIN CARSON

Dr. Ben Carson: African American Youth and the Sciences

By Kyra O. Davenport

Why are the African American youth choosing not to gravitate toward the sciences? The Journal of Negro Education, (a journal devoted to researching, analyzing, and finding solutions on issues involving black education) says, “inadequate career guidance in high school contributes to the under participation of African American students in science and mathematics. Community involvement and innovation can definitely change the future of African American youth representation in the sciences. Renowned neurosurgeon challenges the African American youth to engage in the sciences, and also challenges the leaders in the world of science.

Dr. Ben Carson believes the youth today need more challenges and motivation from their instructors. In addition, he says, “The early part of school for children (e.g. early elementary school and late middle school) math and science are basic and easy for most children, and it could be made more challenging and interesting by professionals in the sciences. However, the people in the world who can do this are choosing the high paying jobs, and they are not choosing to teach or have a teacher’s salary. For example, people who are retiring from Lockheed Martin could volunteer to teach a class once a week and the teachers should be inclined to allow this. It will simply take more creative work and creative solutions, and more educational coordinators. The children need inspiration.” The inspiration that the youth need will undoubtedly take strong role models to evoke change on the outlook our youth has on the sciences. Many of them are probably very passionate in exploring the sciences they just need someone to give them guidance and build their confidence”, says Dr. Carson.

The media is playing a detrimental role in the choices that children make in society and unquestionably shapes their career goals. As the old saying goes, “the television is raising our kids.” “The key thing or issue is that youth desperately need the right kinds of examples. Kids receive the wrong messages in the media, and these negative images become portrayed as the epitome of success. Furthermore, finding people who are successful in the science and mathematics (besides the teachers) putting them in front of the kids on a regular basis not just once a year, but on a regular basis will have a powerful influence”, says Dr. Carson.

A man of humble beginnings, According to John Hopkins Children Center Communications ,Director Kim Hoppe’s biographical synopsis, “Dr. Benjamin Carson was the first man to ever successfully separate Siamese twins joined at the back of the head in 1987and in 1997 first successful placement of an intrauterine shunt in a hydrocephalic twin in South Africa.” Today Dr. Carson is a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he has directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for over a quarter of a century.”

 African American youth should not be intimidated it is the responsibility of the parents and the community to uplift the children. We must challenge them and build their confidence; it starts with what’s inside. “I want them to recognize from my life, if you really want it put forth the effort, recognize that it is more than a wish. Believe in God, and you’re going to be successful, it’s that simple, it will however take a lot of personal responsibility”, says Dr. Carson.

AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH DR.BENJAMIN CARSON CHALLENGES THE YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY!

Dr. Ben Carson: African American Youth and the Sciences

By Kyra O. Davenport

Why are the African American youth choosing not to gravitate toward the sciences? The Journal of Negro Education, (a journal devoted to researching, analyzing, and finding solutions on issues involving black education) says, “inadequate career guidance in high school contributes to the under participation of African American students in science and mathematics. Community involvement and innovation can definitely change the future of African American youth representation in the sciences. Renowned neurosurgeon challenges the African American youth to engage in the sciences, and also challenges the leaders in the world of science.

Dr. Ben Carson believes the youth today need more challenges and motivation from their instructors. In addition, he says, “The early part of school for children (e.g. early elementary school and late middle school) math and science are basic and easy for most children, and it could be made more challenging and interesting by professionals in the sciences. However, the people in the world who can do this are choosing the high paying jobs, and they are not choosing to teach or have a teacher’s salary. For example, people who are retiring from Lockheed Martin could volunteer to teach a class once a week and the teachers should be inclined to allow this. It will simply take more creative work and creative solutions, and more educational coordinators. The children need inspiration.” The inspiration that the youth need will undoubtedly take strong role models to evoke change on the outlook our youth has on the sciences. Many of them are probably very passionate in exploring the sciences they just need someone to give them guidance and build their confidence”, says Dr. Carson.

The media is playing a detrimental role in the choices that children make in society and unquestionably shapes their career goals. As the old saying goes, “the television is raising our kids.” “The key thing or issue is that youth desperately need the right kinds of examples. Kids receive the wrong messages in the media, and these negative images become portrayed as the epitome of success. Furthermore, finding people who are successful in the science and mathematics (besides the teachers) putting them in front of the kids on a regular basis not just once a year, but on a regular basis will have a powerful influence”, says Dr. Carson.

A man of humble beginnings, According to John Hopkins Children Center Communications ,Director Kim Hoppe’s biographical synopsis, “Dr. Benjamin Carson was the first man to ever successfully separate Siamese twins joined at the back of the head in 1987and in 1997 first successful placement of an intrauterine shunt in a hydrocephalic twin in South Africa.” Today Dr. Carson is a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he has directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for over a quarter of a century.”

 African American youth should not be intimidated it is the responsibility of the parents and the community to uplift the children. We must challenge them and build their confidence; it starts with what’s inside. “I want them to recognize from my life, if you really want it put forth the effort, recognize that it is more than a wish. Believe in God, and you’re going to be successful, it’s that simple, it will however take a lot of personal responsibility”, says Dr. Carson.

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND LIBYA

Will President Barack Obama Stand by his Decision To Refrain from Sending Troops to Libya?

by Kyra O. Davenport

            Our nation is experiencing a multitude of catastrophic events. Japan has been devastated by the tsunami, Sudan is suffering genocide, and war has broken out in Libya. Most Americans are asking: what is the president going to do to aid these countries? Perhaps the number one question on Americans’ minds is whether our soldiers are going to deploy to Libya. The Washington Post headline entitled “Obama: U.S. will not send ground troops to Libya” speaks volumes to our curiosity and furthers our judgments about the President’s leadership ability, but first we must read on.

            The real question to be dissected is, Is social justice worth fighting for even when the injustice does not directly affect the United States? As a future officer it is my belief that social justice is always worth fighting for and, if ordered by my commander in chief, I would stand ready to accomplish that mission. Gaddafi’s greed has put Libya’s citizens into a state of destitution. “Gaddafi amassed vast fortunes during his 42-year rule. Much of the country’s income from oil, which soared in the 1970s, was spent on arms purchases and on sponsoring militancy and terror in the world. Once a breadbasket of the ancient world, the eastern parts of the country became impoverished under Gaddafi’s economic theories. Libya’s corruption perception index in 2010 was 2.2, which was worse than that of Egypt and Tunisia, two neighboring countries who faced uprising before Libya.”[1] Furthermore, Libya is under a state of Orwellian surveillance—the government’s watch is pervasive and ruthless. Of course this background on Libya only scratches the surface; following the recent uprising, the Gaddafi has unleashed extreme violence on his people.

            We now ask, what will President Obama choose to do or not do? As a leader, it is more directly put as what he will do or fail to not do? It is moments like these when those who believe in President Obama will stand by him and those who cringed when he was elected will anticipate his failure. Obama has made it clear that he will intervene and he will aid Libya. Obama stated, “This is not an outcome the U.S. or any of our partners sought.”[2] From Brazil he stated, “We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy.”[3] To further discuss this statement, Barack Obama believes in having a plan of action and we see this in the way he is handling the current conflict in Libya; he is not just reacting for the sake of having a reaction.

            Through my research I find that President Barack Obama desires to be slow and methodical in his approach to eliciting the military to defend and or protect. This may evoke outrage from politicians simply because it is untraditional. The actions desired are that Obama will notice conflict and automatically and vehemently activate troops to defend Libya. Recently a retired general mentioned at an Army awards ceremony I attended that, “you will always see a flock of seagulls together, but you will never see a flock of eagles. Eagles stand alone and eagles are powerful and strong. As a leader sometime you will stand alone.” President Barack Obama is certainly not afraid to do so.

---

[1] 2011 Libyan Uprising, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Libyan_uprising (last modified Mar. 28, 2011).

[2] Obama on Libya: This is Not What We Wanted, CBSNews (Mar. 19, 2011), http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/19/501364/main20045019.shtml.

[3] Quote for the Day, Daily Dish (Mar. 20, 2011), http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2011/03/quote-16.html.

La Comida Mexicana est deliciosa especially when its at ALEROS!

Written By Kyra O. Davenport
Chips, salsa and a magrita please! This would be a typical order at the mouthwatering Aleros Restaurant located at 1301 U Street N.W. suite 113 in DC(there also three other covenient locations in D.C.).The menu includes anything from fajitas, tacos, buritos, to chimichangas."When your here you feel comfortable, its for the people who want to come dine ,have some tasty drinks, and enjoy our Happy Hour, and its also a familial environment, you can bring your family and enjoy as well", says Host and Server Alejandro D Moreno. As you enter Aleros the stress of the day sunddenly melts away and your ready to eat and be merry! The ambiance and decor are decadent, while yor enjoying your sizzling fajta you can have a romantic candlelight dinner and view intriguing art that is displayed throughout the restaurant. Aleros literally has something for everybody. You can dine inside or outside its your choice, but no matter what you have to have the magarita!