21 THINGS AFRICAN AMERICANS NEED TO DO...

• 1. Register to vote, or shut up!
• 2. Take all that money out of those stocking caps, in cans, mattresses, and floorboards and invest money in something. For starters, invest in the food you eat and clothes you wear.
• 3. Learn another language. Ebonics does not count.
• 4. Stop using the "N" word in the year 2006, especially since Merriam-Webster has announced it isn't changing the definition.
• 5. Buy something each week from a black
• 6. Stop blaming white folks for 98% of your problems, while giving them 100% of your money.
• 7. Subscribe to Ebony, JET, Black Enterprise, Essence. Then subscribe to one of the three weeklies: Time, Newsweek, or US News and World Report.After we read about what's going on in our world, how about knowing what's going on in theirs? It is, after all, your world.
• 8. Stop walking past each other and not speaking.
• 9. Be on time for something, anything!
• 10. Get an annual check up; herbs do not cure everything!
• 11. In all thy ways acknowledge Him (GOD) and He shall direct thy path." prioritize this as #1.
• 12. Stop being jealous of one another, learn to look past the material things and see the person for who they are.
• 13. Get involved in at least one charitable or voluntary community service.
• 14. Say a prayer for someone besides yourself.
• 15. Hug your child/spouse/parent today.
• 16. LOVE ONE ANOTHER! Learn to Let Go and Let God.
• 17. Stop talking about it, and be about it.
• 18. Let GOD order your steps instead of the world.
• 19. P.U.S.H.!! Pray Until Something Happens!
• 20. In all that you do, get understanding, (turn off the TV, and open a book).

Don't just read this, DO IT and encourage others to take nothing for granted.....
Tell people what they mean to you - TODAY!!!!!!

A LOT HAS HAPPENED NATIONALLY!
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What Are Human Rights?

As this is the first of many editorials we will be presenting concerning various human rights issues, it is perhaps a good idea to begin with a simple question: what do we mean when we say "Human Rights"? And are human rights the same as the other "rights" we so often hear about each day: civil rights, women's rights, worker's rights, etc...?

Taking a deeper look brings about questions as to exactly what these rights are, who is entitled to them, and how to determine these things.

The US Declaration of Independence states these rights as "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". While that explained the what in an eloquent fashion, it was less noble when it came to the who: only white males with a certain amount of land holding could vote, and African-Americans were considered only 3/5's a person. Therefore, as defined by this document, only those white, male, educated (few outside of monied white males were) and well-off financially were allowed "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in the eyes of the government and the law.

In the 200-plus years since that momentous writing, those who are the beneficiaries of those sacred rights has improved appreciably. Women, African-Americans and other ethnicities of color, different religious believers-indeed, anyone who is a citizen and registers is now able to vote and are viewed as legally and personally entitled to Thomas Jefferson's rights.

That brings us to the final question: how do we determine the questions of what and whom? It is here that we can answer that, as well as our first and most important concern: what do we mean by "Human Rights"? Does Jefferson's eloquent definition cover it, once and for all?

As a basic ideal, expressed in a general fashion, it is certainly worthy, for any and all nations and peoples of the world. As an applied and definite concept, however, it has proven to be arbitrary and exclusionary throughout our history-and "our" here refers not just to America, but to all peoples the world over.
While we have made significant strides towards it's ideal, here and around the world, a quick look at the headlines and articles in any daily newspaper will show that we have more work to do, so that one day all may equally enjoy these rights, regardless of differences; whether thses differences be religious, ethnic, economic or any other. That is why we define them as "human" rights.

Regardless of how we divide these up into specific areas, no matter how we choose which right we feel is more important than others, no matter what labels we put on them, no matter what contributions we make toward the cause-in the end, it all falls into one big, inclusive, definitive right: Human.

Here then is to working towards that day when every person-regardless of age, gender. sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, economic standing or place of origin-can truly be said to be entitled to and fully possessing of their "Human Rights".

NEW YORK STATE HUMAN RIGHTS LAW"No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state, or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, creed or religion, be subjected to any discrimination in their civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state, or any agency or subdivision of the state." (N.Y.S. Constitution, Article I, Section II, as adapted by Constitutional Convention of 1938, and approved by vote of the people, November 8, 1938.)

Despite the fact that African-American make up nearly 17% of the combined Nassau and Suffolk population, blood donations from African-Americans total less that 7% of all donations to the New York Blood Center, said Dr. Robert Jones, President of the New York Blood Center. In an effort to help increase donations from African-Americans and other (minority) populations, New York Blood center is reaching out to people of all races! "Give Blood and Save A Neighbor".

Similarly, Hispanic-Americans make up nearly 16% of the population in Nassau and Suffolk, yet they account for less than 7% of donations. Asian-Americans make up over 7% of the Nassau / Suffolk population, yet account for only 8% of blood donations.

The rich diversity of our population reflects the patient base in area hospitals, explained Dr. Jones. Yet these patients some times have rare and unique markers on antigens inherited from their race and ethnicity. These patients often require a life-saving transfusion from someone of the same background; however, often finding an exact match for a minority patient is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

New York Blood Center (NYBC), via the support of five regional operations including Long Island Blood Services based in Melville,  aims to collect nearly 2,000 pints of blood each day for 200 hospitals in New York and New Jersey -including over 50 on Long Island alone. ''New York Blood Center currently has approximately 275,000 donors, but blood demand is increasing and the blood center often falls short of its "collection goals", explained Dr. Jones. This gap, or shortage, is particularly acute for minority patients, so we hope donors heed this call to action. Anyone interested in making a blood donation appointment or scheduling a blood drive at their church, community group or office, should call us at 1-800-933-BLOOD.

Donating blood takes less than an hour, Dr. Jones concluded, Yet this is an opportunity to perform the ultimate human act-helping save the lives of other people.