Why just one month?

Morgan Freeman, the oscar-winning actor recently made public his feelings on the concept of Black History month on primetime Tv's '60 Minutes'. Freeman told Mike Wallace, "I don't want a Black History Month. Black history is American history!" and stirred a controversy with his words.

In case you live in a jar and are not aware, February is Black History month, and as long as I can remember knowing this fact, I've had a nagging question:

Why does one group of Americans get a month dedicated to their history?

I'm assuming that Black History month is an American concept, so I am writing this piece based on that assumption, and please, if I am wrong in my assumption do correct me.

It makes sense to assume that African Americans and their history are just as much a part of basic American history as any other group. Their journey to America helped shape today's America as much as the Native Americans, English, Irish, Italians and Germans among others.

Take for instance the American Civil War. Could anyone fully understand this huge turning point in American history if they left out African American history? Why is African American history considered and treated as different from general American history? If African-American history is something that ought to have a month and category all by itself, then why not Native American history month? Or Irish American history month? Or Chinese American history month? Each of these groups I've mentioned have made contributions to the make-up of today's America, and their history is America's history, to separate them into sub-categories is an injustice to them, as well as history itself.

From AOL Blackvoices http://blackvoices.aol.com/black_news/black_history_month/articlecanvas?id=20060202185809990001)

Some Minds Think Alike (Who are these people 2)

I was surfing the internet today, and came across an interesting headline on AOL Entertainment News that read: "Paris Hilton makes Redford Crazy!" Out of curiousity, which is what leads me to trouble a lot of times, I clicked on the link and got directed to the article. (http://www.cinematical.com/2006/02/13/paris-hilton-makes-redford-crazy)

It made me laugh, because Robert Redford, the creator of the Sundance Film Festival, only attended the festival for a little while, because he couldn't handle the presence of starlets at the prestigious event. Paris Hilton in particular. In the article he states, "She [Paris Hilton] doesn't have anything to do with anything. I think the festival is close to being out of control."

Well Robert, unfortunately, the Sundance Film Festival isn't the only thing out of control in that respect. Even Madame Tussauds' in London is out of control. The famous London wax museum has jumped on the band-wagon and created a creepy waxy replica of the already plastic-like Hilton, immortalizing her... fakeness???

What, or more importantly, who will they think of next?

I'm single... BUT

Valentine's Day has come and gone, and it felt just like any other day to me. I wasn't depressed, I wasn't bitter, and I didn't feel inclined to send anti-valentine's day cards to all my fellow single friends. Nor did I feel inclined to send valentine's day greetings to people who aren't single.

I have spent many-a-valentine's days single, and each year it becomes clearer and clearer to me that if the only day a year my boyfriend/husband is going to be romantic, thoughtful and a showerhead raining down love and appreciation upon me is the same day that the entire population is getting the same thing... then... well... I don't want any part of it.

As the title of this blog states: I am single... BUT I don't think my indifference toward Valentine's day will diminish when stupid Cupid decides to shoot an arrow at my tushy.

I confirmed that on Monday night, when I had to stop at Walmart for something, and saw the hordes of people. I saw men and women, young and old pushing and shoving through the greeting card aisles, grabbing generic heart-shaped chocolate boxes and the pre-arranged refrigerated cliche red roses, and amusement park quality plush stuffed animals and rushing to stand in line at 9:30 PM on the eve of St. Valentine's day... at Walmart.

The first thought that popped into my head when I saw this display, was: "You're pathetic." You see, on one hand, I can see how it's sweet that men and women go out and buy cards, chocolate, flowers and stuffed animals for their significant others, but it's the lack of creativity that adds the blah factor to valentine's day. You're not only "showing your love" because a calendar tells you to, but you're also buying cliche, manufactured gifts. It's like Christmas and the ugly pair of holiday socks or Santa tie that is sure to make its way under every other person's Christmas tree each year.

I realize that there are a lot of creative people out there taking time to make valentine's day a little less artificial for their valentines. They are probably those who are romantics year-round, and that's wonderful. As for the Walmart shoppers on Monday night, I can only pray and hope that I will not end up with, or being someone who does last-minute valentine's day shopping at Walmart... or anywhere for that matter.