A Different Debate
AIDS, Katrina, jobs and education—all important issues that don’t receive enough attention during presidential debates. The first leg of the “All-American Presidential Forums on PBS” (http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/special/forums/) was remarkably different in that it focused primarily on these topics. It was also remarkably different in that the questions came from journalists of color: DeWayne Wickham, a columnist for USA Today; Michel Martin, host of “Tell Me More” on NPR; and Ruben Navarette Jr., a columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Hailed as the first major debate with a diverse panel in prime time, it was long overdue. Sitting in Cramton Auditorium at Howard University on Thursday, June 28, I felt proud that it was happening at my graduate alma mater where I also teach journalism, but I was also a little annoyed that it has taken this long.
Why are we still celebrating “firsts” in 2007?
The insightful questions posed by the stellar panel and their credentials proved once again that we should be a mainstay in debates, Sunday morning roundtables and anything else that “matters.” Kudos to PBS host and moderator Tavis Smiley for making it happen—and for helping to bring four students from Tennessee to join political movers and shakers in the front rows.
Some complain that the war in Iraq got short shrift during the debate. The war was primarily mentioned in the context of draining funds that could go toward AIDS, Katrina, jobs and education. While the war is important and needs to end, it’s become one of those evergreen topics that’s always on the table, but never has a real resolution. It was refreshing to hear it discussed through different frames—frames that really too often get short shrift.
From our standpoint at Heart & Soul, the quote of the day came when Hillary Clinton said, “If HIV/AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25 and 34, there would be an outraged outcry in this country.”
It’s been 25 years since the first AIDS case was officially documented. During that time, HIV/AIDS drew a bigger spotlight when it was thought of as a problem plaguing gay, white men. Now that black women are at the center of the epidemic, there’s silence. We need to pump up the volume and make it clear that this shouldn’t happen no matter who is affected.
Let the politicians who represent you—and especially those who want to—hear your voices loud and clear. Tell them to fight harder against HIV/AIDS, to push for economic equality, to quit leaving our schools behind, to end the war—in Iraq and on drugs in our communities. (Check out our three-part series on addiction, which begins in the August/September issue.)
Catch what the Republicans have to say at Tavis Smiley’s next stop at Morgan State University on September 27, 2007, which happens to be my birthday. Help me celebrate by becoming more active and informed. And please, exercise your right to vote in each and every election. Too many of our ancestors died so that we could have power at the ballot box. Let’s not waste a drop of the blood they shed.
From my heart to yours,
Yanick Rice Lamb
Editorial Director
yricelamb@heartandsoul.com
Hailed as the first major debate with a diverse panel in prime time, it was long overdue. Sitting in Cramton Auditorium at Howard University on Thursday, June 28, I felt proud that it was happening at my graduate alma mater where I also teach journalism, but I was also a little annoyed that it has taken this long.
Why are we still celebrating “firsts” in 2007?
The insightful questions posed by the stellar panel and their credentials proved once again that we should be a mainstay in debates, Sunday morning roundtables and anything else that “matters.” Kudos to PBS host and moderator Tavis Smiley for making it happen—and for helping to bring four students from Tennessee to join political movers and shakers in the front rows.
Some complain that the war in Iraq got short shrift during the debate. The war was primarily mentioned in the context of draining funds that could go toward AIDS, Katrina, jobs and education. While the war is important and needs to end, it’s become one of those evergreen topics that’s always on the table, but never has a real resolution. It was refreshing to hear it discussed through different frames—frames that really too often get short shrift.
From our standpoint at Heart & Soul, the quote of the day came when Hillary Clinton said, “If HIV/AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25 and 34, there would be an outraged outcry in this country.”
It’s been 25 years since the first AIDS case was officially documented. During that time, HIV/AIDS drew a bigger spotlight when it was thought of as a problem plaguing gay, white men. Now that black women are at the center of the epidemic, there’s silence. We need to pump up the volume and make it clear that this shouldn’t happen no matter who is affected.
Let the politicians who represent you—and especially those who want to—hear your voices loud and clear. Tell them to fight harder against HIV/AIDS, to push for economic equality, to quit leaving our schools behind, to end the war—in Iraq and on drugs in our communities. (Check out our three-part series on addiction, which begins in the August/September issue.)
Catch what the Republicans have to say at Tavis Smiley’s next stop at Morgan State University on September 27, 2007, which happens to be my birthday. Help me celebrate by becoming more active and informed. And please, exercise your right to vote in each and every election. Too many of our ancestors died so that we could have power at the ballot box. Let’s not waste a drop of the blood they shed.
From my heart to yours,
Yanick Rice Lamb
Editorial Director
yricelamb@heartandsoul.com
posted by heart&soulmate @ 8:51 AM
1 Comments:
At 5:12 PM,
M.C.T. said…
Kudos for encouraging us to participate in all sides of the debate... partisanship doesn't really seem to be getting us anywhere, does it? Thanks, Yanick, for your work and commentary on these issues.
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