Hate, Xenophobia, Envy & Fake News is Behind Attacks Against Bad Bunny

The Pushback and Boycott Against Bad Bunny: A Reflection of Historical Prejudice, Cultural Envy, and Political Hypocrisy

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in 1994 in Puerto Rico, has emerged as one of the most influential and successful artists in contemporary music. His rise to global stardom is marked by unprecedented achievements, including becoming the first artist to win a Grammy for Album of the Year with a Spanish-language album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," in 2026. He has amassed over 100 million equivalent album sales, surpassed 100 billion streams on Spotify, and been named Spotify's most-streamed artist globally four times, with 19.8 billion streams in 2025 alone. 

His music, blending reggaeton, Latin trap, and other genres, has not only dominated charts but also elevated the Spanish language and Puerto Rican culture on the world stage. Yet, this success has been met with significant pushback and calls for boycotts, particularly surrounding his selection as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show in 2026. This backlash is not isolated; it echoes deep-seated historical prejudices against Puerto Ricans in the United States, intertwined with racism, xenophobia, cultural envy, and political hypocrisy.

The controversy intensified when the NFL announced Bad Bunny's performance in late September 2025. Conservative figures, including President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and commentators like Tomi Lahren, lambasted the choice. Trump called it "absolutely ridiculous" and a "terrible decision," while Johnson echoed similar sentiments. Right-wing organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) responded by organizing an "All-American Halftime Show" featuring Kid Rock, billed as a celebration of "American faith, family, and freedom." Social media erupted with calls to boycott the NFL's halftime, with users citing Bad Bunny's criticism of U.S. immigration policies, his "ICE out" statement at the 2026 Grammys, and false claims that he is not American or is illegal. This reaction highlights a broader pattern of exclusion, where Bad Bunny's Puerto Rican identity and advocacy for immigrants are weaponized against him.

 Historical Context: Hate Against Puerto Ricans in the United States

The animosity toward Bad Bunny cannot be understood without examining the long history of discrimination against Puerto Ricans in the U.S. Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1898 following the Spanish-American War, and its residents were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917 via the Jones Act. However, this citizenship has often been second-class, with Puerto Ricans facing systemic racism and exclusion on the mainland. Migration to the U.S. surged in the mid-20th century, driven by economic hardship on the island, leading to large communities in cities like New York and Chicago. These migrants encountered poverty, unemployment, and racial discrimination, particularly darker-skinned Puerto Ricans who were often treated as outsiders despite their citizenship.

Non-Hispanic Caucasians have historically viewed Puerto Ricans through a lens of racial inferiority. In the 1940s and 1950s, organizations like the New York State Commission Against Discrimination (SCAD) documented workplace bias, where Puerto Ricans filed complaints about unequal treatment compared to Italian Americans. Housing discrimination was rampant; Puerto Ricans paid higher rents and were rejected based on their ethnicity. This "redlining" extended to government policies, excluding Puerto Rican and Black neighborhoods from subsidies and improvements. Scholar Alejandro L. Madrid notes that this treatment stems from U.S. imperialism, which deformed Puerto Rico's economy and fostered dependency, blaming Puerto Ricans for their own poverty.

Even among some African Americans, tensions exist. While Puerto Ricans and Blacks collaborated in urban struggles, including the creation of hip-hop, disputes over cultural ownership persist. Some African American figures, like Lord Jamar and Tariq Nasheed, deny Puerto Ricans' co-creator role in hip-hop, claiming it as exclusively Black American. This overlooks historical facts: Puerto Ricans were instrumental in breakdancing (e.g., Rock Steady Crew), DJing (e.g., DJ Charlie Chase), and graffiti. KRS-One counters this, stating that Puerto Ricans, Jamaicans, and Black Americans collectively birthed hip-hop in the Bronx. Such claims reflect internalized divisions, where shared oppression is overshadowed by competition for cultural credit.  

Nevermind that Black history was preserved and promoted not by an African American, but by an Afro Latino Puerto Rican named Arturo Alfonso Schomburg born in Santurce, Puerto Rico who was a historian, writer, bibliophile and philomath.  Puerto Ricans are part of the African/Black diaspora. 

This history of hate manifests in modern xenophobia, where Puerto Ricans are still seen as "not real Americans." Bad Bunny, a U.S. citizen by birth, is falsely labeled "illegal" or "alien," echoing the colonial subjugation that treats Puerto Rico as a possession rather than an equal part of the nation.

See more on these topics here:

https://www.sacerdotus.com/2024/02/erasure-of-puerto-ricans.html

https://www.sacerdotus.com/2013/10/puerto-ricans-forgotten-citizens.html

https://www.sacerdotus.com/2023/08/puerto-ricans-co-creators-of-hip-hop.html

https://www.sacerdotus.com/2023/06/forget-puerto-ricans-pride-is-better.html

https://www.sacerdotus.com/2025/10/eric-dickersons-ignorant-rant-telling.html

https://www.sacerdotus.com/2024/06/microphone-check-mockumentary-that.html

https://www.sacerdotus.com/2025/06/the-forgotten-puerto-rican-parade.html

 Racism and Xenophobia from MAGA and Right-Wingers

The boycott against Bad Bunny is steeped in MAGA-driven racism and xenophobia. Critics spread misinformation, calling him "not American," "illegal," "gay," or "communist," despite his Puerto Rican birthright citizenship. Bad Bunny's advocacy against ICE raids and for immigrant rights, including his "ICE out" Grammy speech—"We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans"—has fueled this ire. He canceled U.S. tour dates in 2025 fearing fan deportations, yet made an exception for the Super Bowl.

MAGA figures like Kristi Noem threatened ICE presence at the show, and Lahren claimed he's "not an American artist." Social media posts from users like @Chicago1Ray and @ACTBrigitte amplify this, calling for boycotts and labeling him anti-American. This rhetoric polices "Americanness," excluding non-English speakers or those challenging policies. The alternative show with Kid Rock is coded as "All-American," implying "All white," reinforcing exclusion.

Bad Bunny's gender-nonconforming style—wearing dresses, advocating for women's rights—draws homophobic attacks, labeled "gay" derogatorily. This intersects with xenophobia, portraying him as a threat to "traditional" values.

 Parallels with Jose Feliciano

Bad Bunny's experience mirrors Jose Feliciano's 1968 World Series national anthem performance. The blind Puerto Rican singer's Latin jazz-infused rendition was booed and called "unpatriotic" and a "travesty." Amid Vietnam War tensions, it was seen as protest, damaging his career temporarily. Feliciano intended appreciation for America, but his cultural twist was rejected, highlighting intolerance for non-traditional expressions from minorities. Similarly, Bad Bunny's Spanish-language performance and activism are deemed un-American.

 Internal Hate from Hispanics: Envy and Jealousy

Surprisingly, some Hispanics criticize Bad Bunny, despite his advocacy for Latinos and immigrants. This stems from envy, as no artist from Mexico, Argentina, Central/South America, Dominican Republic, or Cuba matches his success. Bad Bunny's achievements—first Latin male Super Bowl headliner, multiple Grammys—highlight Puerto Rico's disproportionate cultural impact.

Eduardo Verastegui exemplifies this. The Mexican actor criticized Bad Bunny's Grammy win, calling his music "toxic noise" and hypocritical for promoting "savage instincts" while advocating humanity. As a devout Catholic, Verastegui's attacks lack humility, crossing into incivility. Raúl de Molina rebuked him, reminding Verastegui of his immigrant roots and urging support for a fellow Latino elevating the community. This internal trashing ignores Bad Bunny's role in representing Hispanics globally.  Kudos to long-time Spanish television personality Raul De Molina of "El Gordo y la Flaca," who spoke out in defense of Bad Bunny calling out Verastegui's narrow view and hypocrisy.  

Many prominent figures have stepped forward to defend Bad Bunny amid widespread criticism, highlighting his cultural impact, advocacy for immigrants and Puerto Rican identity, and role in fostering global respect for Puerto Ricans. Television host Raúl de Molina, on El Gordo y La Flaca, forcefully rebuked Mexican actor Eduardo Verástegui's attacks on Bad Bunny following his 2026 Grammy win and pro-immigrant speech, reminding Verástegui of his own immigrant roots from Mexico and condemning the hypocrisy of an immigrant opposing others' defense of vulnerable communities. De Molina passionately argued that Bad Bunny is simply standing up for immigrants—calling out the sadness of those who forget their origins and turn against their own—and urged greater empathy and solidarity among Latinos. 

In a similar vein, Archbishop Roberto Octavio González Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico, previously praised Bad Bunny as a modern "phenomenon" and "troubadour of our time," describing his personal life as "impeccable" up to that point and celebrating the pride he inspires among thousands of young Catholic Puerto Ricans, even as the archbishop later apologized for the phrasing amid conservative backlash to underscore the artist's widespread following and positive cultural resonance(El arzobispo de San Juan pide perdón por sus expresiones sobre Bad Bunny | Otros | elvocero.com). 

Echoing this spirit of appreciation, another Puerto Rican bishop—Ángel Luis Ríos Matos of Aguadilla—has highlighted Bad Bunny's emotional, heartfelt expressions of love for the island, noting how the artist brings dignity and worldwide recognition to Puerto Rican culture and identity through his music and public stands ((8) Video | Facebook). These voices align with Bad Bunny's own lyrics in tracks like "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawai'i," where he warns against Puerto Rico losing its essence to external exploitation and overdevelopment, much like Hawaii's experience, emphasizing the need to hold onto cultural roots, the flag, and traditions to prevent the island from becoming a diluted paradise for outsiders rather than a thriving home for its people; supporters see this as a powerful call for preservation that elevates Puerto Rican pride on the global stage.

 Attacks on His Voice and Cultural Narcissism

Critics dismiss Bad Bunny's voice as "trash," failing to appreciate reggaeton's unique intonation. This mirrors unfamiliarity with opera, which some find "annoying" due to cultural exposure gaps. Such judgments reveal racism and cultural narcissism, where non-white, non-English expressions are deemed inferior. Bad Bunny's success forces recognition of diverse aesthetics, challenging supremacy narratives.

Puerto Ricans have upheld the Latino banner, from hip-hop contributions to modern icons like Bad Bunny, where other groups lag.

 Conservative Hypocrisy and Double Standards

MAGA supporters attack Bad Bunny's "morally questionable" lyrics but endorse Kid Rock, whose songs are vulgar and controversial. Kid Rock's "Cool, Daddy Cool" references underage girls—"Young ladies, young ladies, I like ’em underage"—endorsing pedophilia. His explicit rants, like against Oprah, include slurs and misogyny. Yet, he's hailed as an "alternative" to Bad Bunny. This double standard is rooted in racism: they tolerate vulgarity from white artists but condemn it from non-white ones, hating anything not "white, boring, and bland."

The "All-American" counter-show is exclusionary code, ignoring America's diversity.

 Celebrating Bad Bunny's Achievements

No artist has achieved as much in such a short time as Bad Bunny. His albums top charts, tours gross billions, and he promotes Spanish variations globally. As Americans, we must value the First Amendment without attacking minorities exercising it. Other Hispanics should cease envy and celebrate; Bad Bunny voices their cultures too.

In conclusion, the boycott against Bad Bunny is a microcosm of enduring prejudices. It underscores the need for unity, rejecting jealousy and hypocrisy to appreciate his contributions.

 Sources

- Rutgers University: Puerto Rican New Yorkers and Anti-Discrimination.

- Bad Bunny's defense of Puerto Rico takes a prayerful turn

- Library of Congress: In Spanish Harlem.

- Stony Brook University: Puerto Rican Experience in the South Bronx.

- Hispanic Federation: Puerto Rico History 101.

- History.com: Anti-Latino Discrimination.

- ScienceDirect: Internalized Racism in Puerto Rican Diaspora.

- Foreign Affairs: Race Relations in Puerto Rico.

- Raúl de Molina responds to Eduardo Verástegui's Bad Bunny criticism: 'You’re Latino. You’re Mexican'

- USCCR: Puerto Ricans in the Continental US.

- Wikipedia: Racism in Puerto Rico.

- Albany Scholars Archive: Puerto Ricans as Contingent Citizens.

- PMC: Experiences of Ethnic Discrimination Among US Hispanics.

- Sage Knowledge: Puerto Rican Americans.

- Rise Up Newark: Puerto Ricans in the North.

- JSTOR: Puerto Rican Segregation.

- Minority Rights Group: Afro-Puerto Ricans.

- BBC: Bad Bunny at Super Bowl.

- ESPN: NFL Stands by Bad Bunny.

- ABC4 Utah: Utah Likely to Boycott.

- Reddit: Backlash to Bad Bunny.

- CBC: Opinion on Bad Bunny.

- YouTube: Backlash to Bad Bunny.

- Reddit: Boycott Super Bowl.

- The Conversation: Backlash Reveals MAGA Views.

- Facebook: Bad Bunny Boycotts America.

- MSN: Halftime Sparks Boycott.

- Instagram: TPUSA Counter-Program.

- Times of India: Prominent Reverend Boycotts.

- New York Magazine: Controversy Explained.

- The Fulcrum: Clash Deepens Divide.

- Twitter: Conservatives Boycott.

- MLB: Jose Feliciano's Anthem.

- Reddit: Feliciano's Performance.

- Facebook: 55 Years Ago.

- Cuba on Record: Interview with Feliciano.

- NPR: Different Anthem.

- YouTube: Feliciano at World Series.

- Medium: Bombs Bursting.

- WBUR: Performance Changed Life.

- Instagram: Great Moments.

- WGCU: Song of the Day.

- BBC: Political Fireworks.

- Facebook: Bad Bunny's Citizenship.

- Washington Post: Enthusiasm and Scorn.

- WEAR-TV: Leavitt on Trump.

- Reddit: Bad Bunny Sticks It.

- Waging Nonviolence: Stakes in Performance.

- Instagram: Is Bad Bunny American? 

- The Athletic: Bad Bunny Isn't Touring.

- Facebook: Bad Bunny's Stand.

- YouTube: Grammys 2026.

- Facebook: Turning Point USA.

- Reddit: NFL Boss Stands By.

- WSJ Podcasts: MAGA Fuming.

- Facebook: Celebration of American.

- Sacerdotus: Echoes of Exclusion.

- Facebook: Bad Bunny to Headline.

- Vox: Trump Racist Post.

- Congress.gov: House Record.

- Hollywood Reporter: Carpenter on Trump.

- NPR: Harris Calls Trump Fascist.

- Archives West: Seattle Women's March.

- Euronews: Trump Refuses Apology.

- Reddit: MAGA Allies Repulsed.

- Springer Link: Sexualised Citizenship.

- UNESCO: Memory Lane.

- Reddit: Latinos Worked Up.

- Facebook: Class Discussion.

- Instagram: Reaching Him.

- Instagram: Proud to Join.

- The iNews Network: Bad Bunny Controversial.

- HOLA: SNL Skit Explained.

- Instagram: Halftime Controversy.

- Facebook: Latinos Stand Up.

- TikTok: Bad Bunny's Performance.

- YouTube: Akademiks & Vlad.

- HOLA: Raúl Responds.

- Hungama Express: Verástegui Criticises.

- Instagram: Raúl Responded.

- Daily Jang: Verastegui Targets.

- YouTube: Verastegui Slams.

- Instagram: Mexican Actor.

- YouTube: Raúl Rejects.

- Threads: Verástegui Blasted.

- MundoNow: Blasts Bad Bunny.

- Yahoo: Arremete Contra.

- Billboard: Kid Rock Controversies.

- Metal Anarchy: Kid Rock Backlash.

- Instagram: Kid Rock Talks.

- Consequence: 10 Times Worst.

- Georgia Straight: Politically Incorrect.

- Variety: Sexual Slurs.

- NewsNation: Special Olympics Condemns.

- Substack: Statement from TBN.

- Facebook: Strange Times.

- Wikipedia: Grits Sandwiches.

- Wikipedia: Bad Bunny.

- Billboard: History-Making.

- UC San Diego: Global Force.

- Biography: Bad Bunny.

- Spotify Newsroom: Crown Bad Bunny.

- Chartmasters: Surpasses 100m.

- Prestige Online: Net Worth.

- Harvard Gazette: Rocketed to Stardom.

- Reuters: Rewriting Rules.

- Wikipedia: Awards Received.

- Facebook: Achievements.

- HOT 97: On Pace to Billion.

- SiriusXM: Phenomenal Year.

- Reddit: Biggest Artist.

- Billboard: Biography.

- X: Bad Bunny Hate.[post:110]

- X: Boycott.[post:148]

- X: Fraudulent Sales.[post:149]

- X: Hate Americans.[post:150]

- X: Chose Bad Bunny.[post:151]

- X: Boycott Started.[post:152]

- X: Bad Bunny Anti-ICE.[post:153]

- X: Boycotting.[post:155]

Abel Cedeno & Daniel Penny: Systematic Racism

The cases of Abel Cedeno and Daniel Penny have both sparked significant debate and controversy, particularly around issues of self-defense and systemic racism. Let's delve into the details of each case and explore the broader implications.

Abel Cedeno Case

In 2017, Abel Cedeno, a high school student in the Bronx, fatally stabbed his classmate Matthew McCree and injured another student, Ariane Laboy. Cedeno, who is openly gay, claimed that he had been bullied for years due to his sexuality and acted in self-defense. He stated that on the day of the incident, McCree and Laboy were throwing objects at him and verbally harassing him.

Despite Cedeno's claims of self-defense, the court found him guilty of manslaughter, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The case highlighted the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth in schools and the severe consequences of bullying. However, it also raised questions about the appropriate use of self-defense and the legal standards applied in such cases.

See:

Sacerdotus: Bronx Gay/Bi Student Stabs & Kills Alleged Bully at PS 67

Sacerdotus: Puerto Rican Gay Victim of Bullying is Found Guilty: Faces 50 Years

Sacerdotus: Abel Cedeno Sentenced to 14 Years

Daniel Penny Case

In contrast, the case of Daniel Penny involved a former Marine who placed Jordan Neely, a homeless man, in a chokehold on a New York City subway in May 2023. Neely, who had a history of mental illness, was reportedly acting erratically and making threatening statements to passengers. Penny intervened and restrained Neely, leading to Neely's death.

Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. However, after a lengthy trial and jury deliberations with ample evidence indicating his guilt, he was acquitted of all charges. The case drew national attention and sparked debates about self-defense, mental health, and racial dynamics, as Neely was Black and Penny was white.

See:

Sacerdotus: Daniel Penny Found Not Guilty

Sacerdotus: Daniel Penny Trial Update VI

Sacerdotus: Daniel Penny Trial Update V

Sacerdotus: Daniel Penny Trial: Update IV

Sacerdotus: Trial of Daniel Penny: Part III

Sacerdotus: Trial of Daniel Penny: Part II

Sacerdotus: Trial of Daniel Penny: Part 1

Sacerdotus: Trial Begins for Marine Daniel Penny

Sacerdotus: Marine Daniel Penny Kills Homeless Mentally ill Jordan Neely With Chokehold

Sacerdotus: Daniel Penny Arraigned & Jordan Williams' Charges Dropped

Sacerdotus: Daniel Penny, Jordan Williams & the Self-Defense Dilemma

Systemic Racism and Self-Defense

Both cases underscore the complexities of self-defense claims and the influence of systemic racism in the legal system. Research has shown that implicit racial biases can affect how jurors perceive defendants and victims, potentially leading to unjust outcomes. In self-defense cases, the race of the individuals involved can influence the perceived threat level and the justification for using force.

For instance, in the Daniel Penny case, some argued that Penny's actions were seen as more justified because Neely was a Black man with a history of mental illness and criminal activity and Penny was a Marine with no criminal record. Conversely, in the Abel Cedeno case, Cedeno's claims of self-defense were not enough to mitigate his sentence, despite his history of being bullied for his sexuality.

Why were there two distinct verdicts in these cases? This is a question we all need to examine carefully. The answer is that there are two judicial systems, one for non-Hispanic whites and one for People of Color.  Both cases involved claims of self-defense. One had a legitimate victim of bullying who was assaulted and took matters into his own hands after school officials neglected to address the situation. The other was about one who took it upon himself to play hero and choked to death a Black homeless male with mental illness simply for crying out that he was hungry.  The latter was acquitted and the former was sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter and 8 for assault. 

Many non-Hispanic whites of right-wing persuasion were quick to defend Daniel Penny and even raised over a million dollars for his defense. They defended him, rehashed Jordan Neely's criminal record, and in some instances celebrated his death as self-deserved.  However, where were they for Abel Cedeno? Where are the gofundme accounts raising millions for him, a young gay youth who was simply defending himself after years of abuse, harassment, bullying, and assault after school officials did nothing?  Could it be that maybe Cedeno was the wrong skin color?  It sure seems so.  

Conclusion

The cases of Abel Cedeno and Daniel Penny highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of self-defense and the impact of systemic racism in the legal system. Addressing these issues requires ongoing efforts to educate jurors about implicit biases and to ensure that legal standards are applied fairly and consistently. As society continues to grapple with these complex issues, it is crucial to advocate for justice and equity for all individuals, regardless of their race, sexuality, or background.

The jury system needs to be reevaluated in light of these cases. It is clear there is a systematic racial problem in the judicial system.  When one person who legitimately defended himself is sentenced to 14 years plus 8 for assault while another was the aggressor and choked to death a mentally ill Black man is acquitted, then clearly race is a fact in verdicts, not the facts and evidence.  

: [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/student-who-fatally-stabbed-classmate-nyc-high-school-sentenced-14-n1051971)

: [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gay-bronx-teen-who-stabbed-classmate-death-found-guilty-manslaughter-n1030081)

: [Harvard Law Review](https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-134/black-lives-discounted-altering-the-standard-for-voir-dire-and-the-rules-of-evidence-to-better-account-for-implicit-racial-biases-against-black-victims-in-self-defense-cases/)

: [Racism.org](https://racism.org/articles/defining-racism/stereotypes-bias-and-racism/210-bias-and-the-law/9123-addressing-implicit)

: [MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/how-new-york-republicans-helped-defend-daniel-penny-in-controversial-subway-chokehold-case/ar-AA1vY4J2)

: [Yahoo News](https://www.yahoo.com/news/happened-daniel-penny-jordan-neely-090317376.html)

: [MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/daniel-penny-breaks-silence-on-subway-chokehold-case/ar-AA1vDt4s)

: [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/daniel-penny-found-not-guilty-chokehold-death-jordan-neely-rcna180775)

Governor Hochul: Bronx Kids Do Not Know the Word 'Computer'

The recent comments made by Governor Kathy Hochul at a forum have sparked a significant conversation about the condescending attitudes of politicians, in particular, non-Hispanic whites, the digital divide, and its impact on communities, particularly in the Bronx. The governor's remarks, which suggested that black children in the Bronx may not be familiar with the term "computer," have been met with criticism from local politicians and the public.

The digital divide refers to the gap between those who have easy access to computers and the internet, and those who do not. This gap can significantly affect education, job opportunities, and economic growth. Governor Hochul's comments have brought attention to the ongoing issue of unequal access to technology, which is a critical factor in educational and professional development.

However, most of the talk was regarding her comments saying that Black children in the Bronx do not know what the word "computer" means. These comments were condescending and offensive to minorities especially the talented and intelligent young people of the Bronx. The comments reflect how out of touch the governor is and show the "White Gaze" often projected by non-Hispanic whites where they assume things of other racial groups and believe their knowledge or take is what is reality. Never mind that the Bronx High School of Science, BASE, Dodge High School, Alfred E Smith, and other schools that use science, and computers and teach app creation exist in the Bronx or that Astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson graduated from the Bronx High School of Science.  The governor is clearly aloof to the Bronx and its people and history.  

Of course, our beautiful Black children in the Bronx know what a computer is!  I would bet top dollar they know how to use it and phones better than the governor and her staff!  

In response to the backlash, Governor Hochul expressed regret for her words and clarified her commitment to expanding economic opportunities for communities of color. She emphasized the importance of providing access to technology to help children and young adults in the Bronx and other underserved areas pursue high-paying jobs in emerging industries like artificial intelligence.

Local leaders in the Bronx have responded by highlighting the intelligence, resilience, and potential of the children in their community. They have called for more support and resources to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn and grow in the digital age.

This incident underscores the need for continued efforts to bridge the digital divide and create equal opportunities for all. It is a reminder that words matter and that leaders must be careful in their communication, especially when discussing sensitive issues related to race and inequality.

Here are some Bronx kids' replies to the governor:

For more detailed coverage on this topic, you can refer to the original articles from various news outlets.

Source:

Mayor Adams gives Gov. Hochul pass on remarks about Bronx Black kids not knowing what 'computer is' (nydailynews.com)

New York governor said Black kids in the Bronx do not know the word ‘computer’ | Kathy Hochul | The Guardian

NY governor regrets saying Black kids in the Bronx don't know what a computer is | AP News

Racism in The Catholic Church

Racism in the Catholic Church is a serious and persistent problem that violates the dignity and unity of the human family. The Church has condemned racism as a sin and has supported the struggles for racial justice and equality, but it has also been complicit in perpetuating racism through its history and actions. Some examples of this are: 

- the enslavement and killing of indigenous people by Christopher Columbus with the backing of the church; 

- the issuance of papal bulls that authorized the conquest and exploitation of non-Christian lands and peoples ; 

- the opposition and threats that white Catholics in Chicago and other cities made to the archdiocese for its support of desegregation  ; 

- the lack of representation and inclusion of Black, brown, and other marginalized Catholics in the leadership and decision-making of the church ; 

- the silence and indifference that many white Catholics have shown to the ongoing issues of police brutality, mass incarceration, and economic inequality that disproportionately affect people of color ; 

- the denial and dismissal of the experiences and perspectives of Black Catholics and other Catholics of color by some white Catholics who claim to be colorblind or not racist ; 

- the failure to address the root causes of racism and injustice in society and within the church, such as white supremacy, colonialism, and privilege.      

The Church has a moral responsibility to confront its own racism and to promote a culture of encounter and solidarity among all people, following the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, who came to bring good news to the poor and oppressed.

The Catholic Church teaches that racism is a sin that violates the dignity and unity of the human family, created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed by Christ. The Church condemns all forms of racism, including racist ideas, acts of racial discrimination, and systemic racism. The Church also calls for personal and social conversion to overcome the evil of racism and to promote justice and solidarity among all people.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design." [1]

Pope Francis has denounced racism as a "virus that mutates and instead of disappearing, goes into hiding, and lurks in waiting." [2] He has also expressed solidarity with those who protest peacefully against racism and injustice. [3]

The U.S. bishops have issued several pastoral letters on racism, such as Brothers and Sisters to Us (1979), What We Have Seen and Heard (1984), and Open Wide Our Hearts (2018). These documents acknowledge the history and reality of racism in the United States, especially against African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and other ethnic minorities. They also offer pastoral guidance on how to combat racism through education, dialogue, advocacy, and action. [4]

The Church also recognizes the role of systemic racism in perpetuating racial inequalities and injustices. Systemic racism refers to the policies and practices of institutions that have the effect of favoring one racial group over another, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Examples of systemic racism include segregation laws, voter suppression, mass incarceration, educational disparities, health care gaps, and economic exploitation. [5]

The Church urges Catholics to examine their own attitudes and actions that may contribute to racism, as well as to challenge the structures and systems that foster it. The Church also invites Catholics to listen to the voices and experiences of those who suffer from racism, to learn from their wisdom and witness, and to work with them for racial healing and harmony. [6]

References:

[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1935.

[2] Pope Francis, General Audience, June 3, 2020.

[3] Pope Francis, Angelus, June 7, 2020.

[4] See https://www.usccb.org/committees/ad-hoc-committee-against-racism/pastoral-letters-and-statements

[5] See https://thejesuitpost.org/2020/07/catholic-101-should-a-catholic-be-an-antiracist/

[6] See https://www.usccb.org/resources/practical-steps-eradicating-racism

Racist Phrases You May Not Even Know Of

Many people use common words or phrases without knowing that they have racist origins or connotations. Here are some examples of such expressions and why they are offensive, along with some historical background:

- Peanut gallery: This phrase is used to describe a group of noisy or critical people, but it originally referred to the section in Vaudeville-era theaters where Black people were forced to sit. The term implies that Black people were loud, disruptive, and ignorant. The term also has roots in the minstrel shows of the 19th century, where white performers in blackface would mock Black people and throw peanuts at them.

- Spaz: This word is often used to mock someone who is clumsy, hyperactive, or nervous, but it derives from the word "spastic", which was once a medical term for people with cerebral palsy. The word is considered very insulting and ableist in many countries. The word was first used as an insult in the 1950s in Britain, where it was also a slang term for a stupid person.

- Hooligans: This word is used to describe rowdy or violent people, especially young men, but it comes from a racist cartoon in the 19th century that depicted a family of Irish immigrants in London as poor, dirty, and criminal. The cartoon was based on a real family named Hooligan, who were notorious for their crimes and fights. The word became popular in the media and was used to stereotype Irish people as savage and unruly.

- Cannibal: This word is used to describe someone who eats human flesh, but it originates from the name of a tribe in the Caribbean, the Canibales or the Caribs, who were allegedly known for practicing cannibalism. The word was used by European colonizers to justify their violence and enslavement of the indigenous people. The word also has a connection to the Spanish word for dog, can, which suggests that the colonizers saw the Caribs as less than human.

- Mumbo jumbo: This phrase is used to describe something that is confusing or meaningless, but it likely comes from the name of a West African god, Maamajomboo, who was associated with domestic violence and misogyny. The god was represented by a masked figure who would intervene in marital disputes and punish women who disobeyed their husbands. The phrase was adopted by English speakers in the 18th century to mock African religions and cultures.

- Fuzzy wuzzy: This term is used to refer to a teddy bear or someone with curly hair, but it was originally a racist slur for the people of an East African nomadic tribe, who had dark skin and curly hair. The term was also used by British colonial soldiers to mock other indigenous populations in Sudan and Papua New Guinea.  The term comes from a derogatory poem by Rudyard Kipling, who wrote: "Fuzzy-Wuzzy broke the square / He hadn't got no papers."

- Sold down the river: This idiom is used to describe someone who is betrayed or abandoned by someone else, but it comes from the practice of slave owners in the upper South selling their slaves to plantation owners in the lower South, where conditions were much harsher. The phrase implies that the slaves were disposable and worthless. The phrase also has a literal meaning, as many slaves were transported down the Mississippi River to be sold at auctions in New Orleans.

- Master bedroom: This term is used to describe the largest bedroom in a house, usually with an attached bathroom, but it evokes the history of slavery and plantation life, where the master had the most luxurious and spacious room. The term also implies a gendered and hierarchical relationship between the occupants of the house. The term was first used in a 1926 Sears catalog to advertise a new type of house design that featured a private bedroom for the parents.

- Blacklist/whitelist: These terms are used to describe lists of people or things that are excluded or included from something, such as a computer network or a social event, but they reinforce the idea that black is bad and white is good. The terms also have historical associations with discrimination and oppression of Black people. The terms date back to at least the 17th century, when they were used to refer to lists of criminals or enemies. In the 20th century, they were also used to refer to lists of people who were banned from working in Hollywood for being suspected of having communist sympathies.

- Gyp: This verb is used to describe cheating or swindling someone out of something, but it comes from the word "Gypsy", which is a derogatory name for the Romani people, an ethnic group that has faced centuries of persecution and prejudice in Europe. The word implies that the Romani people are dishonest and untrustworthy. The word was first recorded as an insult in the 19th century, when the Romani people were often accused of stealing or tricking people out of their money or belongings.

- Eskimo: This noun is used to refer to the indigenous people of northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Siberia, but it is considered offensive by many of them. The word comes from a French term that means "eaters of raw meat", which was based on a derogatory name given by another Native American tribe. The preferred terms are Inuit or Yupik, depending on the region. The word was first used by European explorers in the 16th century, who did not understand the diversity and complexity of the Arctic cultures. The word also ignores the fact that many of these people cooked their food or ate plants and berries.

- Long time no see: This phrase is used to greet someone who has not been seen for a long time, but it is based on a mocking imitation of Native American or Chinese speech patterns in English. The phrase implies that these groups have poor grammar and limited vocabulary.  The phrase was first recorded in the 19th century, when it was used as a humorous way of mimicking the broken English of Native Americans or Chinese immigrants. The phrase also reflects the colonial and racist attitudes of the English speakers who considered themselves superior to these groups.

These are just some examples of everyday expressions that have racist origins or connotations. It is important to be aware of the history and meaning behind the words we use and how they might affect others. Language is powerful and can create or reinforce stereotypes and prejudices.

Sources:

: https://bestlifeonline.com/offensive-sayings/

: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/common-words-phrases-racist-origins-connotations_l_5efcfb63c5b6ca9709188c83

: https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/everyday-speech-racist-words/

: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/24-expressions-with-racist-origins-that-you-may-want-to-stop-using/ss-BB1jfXmz

: https://www.rd.com/list/everyday-expressions-that-are-racist/

: https://www.etymonline.com/word/mumbo%20jumbo

: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46780/fuzzy-wuzzy

: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/sold-down-the-river.html

: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/the-case-for-renaming-the-master-bedroom/2020/07/14/0d7a9a2c-c3f0-11ea-b178-bb7b05b94af1_story.html

: https://www.dictionary.com/e/blacklist-vs-whitelist/

: https://www.etymonline.com/word/gyp

: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/04/24/475129558/why-you-probably-shouldnt-say-eskimo

: https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/long-time-no-see/

Victim of Assault, Gay Teacher Brandon Soriano: 'Homophobia is Real'

It is June. During this month, while the Catholic Church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Body and Blood of Christ, others celebrate the National Puerto Rican day parade and Gay Pride. It is supposed to be a time of summer fun as the days get warmer and many have months off to enjoy it. However, one young man has been forced to start this time on bad terms.

Brandon Soriano, a 25-year-old elementary school teacher was brutally assaulted after leaving Queens Pride. In New York, each borough has a set day to celebrate Gay Pride. Queens starts it off, then Brooklyn, Staten Island, The Bronx with Manhattan ending it all with the much larger Gay Pride parade. Many LGBTQ and others participate in each event in a show of pride and solidarity.

Despite many advances made on how society sees and treats the LGBTQ community in recent years, some hate still remains. Soriano was enjoying his day at Queens pride and left after it was over. He was going to pick up some food before going to his apartment when two people yelled anti-gay slurs and brutally beat him up.  He was left unconscious on the sidewalk with a busted lip and very large bruises on his head and face. 

The attack was unprovoked, according to Soriano who said it occurred at around 10 at night on 37th Avenue and 84th Street in the Jackson Heights section of Queens. Soriano is hoping the perpetrators are caught. He says that if he sees them again that he will cross the street to avoid them. The attack has left him uneasy. He says that "Homophobia is real and it's annoying." The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is current investigating the incident and is asking the public for any information that may lead to arrests.

As a Catholic, I disagree wholeheartedly with the LGBTQ lifestyle; however, this does not mean that I or any Catholic has justification to hate the LGBTQ. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). Not all neighbors will be Catholic. Jesus did not specify and left it in a general sense.
Any Catholic or anyone who claims to love God and hates gays, or assaults them physically does not love God at all.  He or she is defying God's will to love one another. We can disagree with each other, but we must never hate one another. This is just not God's way.  Moreover, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says it clearly:

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

As it says, "They must be ACCEPTED with RESPECT, COMPASSION, and SENSITIVITY.  Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."  Calling them f*gs, sodomites or any derogatory term is uncharitable and a sin against our neighbor which offends God and our neighbor. Moreover, assaulting a homosexual or anyone is never justified, unless in the case of self-defense of course (which is rare). I have many gay friends and it pains me to learn that this young man was attacked for no reason other than because he is gay. This could have been any one of my friends.  Let us pray for one another and protect one another. Let us sow the seeds of love in everyone we encounter. Despite our differences and alternate views, we are all children of God.  If you are a victim of hate, please report it to the authorities and do not keep the incident quiet. This will empower those with hateful hearts.   

If you have any information on this case, contact the NYPD: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/services/law-enforcement/hate-crimes.page    



Source:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/06/04/queens-pride-parade-hate-crime/

Dr. King: Is the Dream Forgotten?

Today we remember a great American who opened the door to many minorities in this country who were not allowed to advance in society due to race.

Martin Luther King Jr, born Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929 was a Baptist minister and social activist who had the courage to stand up to the powers that be at the time.  His father was the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist church in Atlanta.  While on a trip to Germany, his father was inspired by the Catholic Augustinian priest and father of the Protestant reformation, Martin Luther.  His inspiration brought him to change his own name to Martin Luther King Sr. as well as that of his son. This is how Martin Luther King Jr. got his name.

Dr. King was a gifted student; so gifted that he was allowed to begin college at age 15 at Morehouse College in 1944.  At first, King Jr. did not want to follow in the pattern of male relatives in his family by becoming a minister. However, the president of Morehouse College, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays who was also a theologian, changed his mind.  King Jr. was then ordained even before completing college with a sociology degree.  He would go on to earn a divinity degree from Pennsylvania Crozer Theological Seminary and a Ph.D in 1955 from Boston University.   Dr. King's great leadership would take him to become a Civil Rights leader.  

As a Civil rights leader, he led many peaceful marches and fought with words against prejudice, segregation and racism.  He was arrested 30 times for this.  Dr. King would gather thousands in marches meant to draw  the attention of other Americans and the global audience regarding segregation in America.  His most famous words are recorded in the "I have a Dream speech."  In this speech he speaks about a future with unity, equality, peace and harmony among all Americans.  Some of that dream has been realized, but we still have a long way to go.  Today many atheists and humanists claim to fight for social justice; however, they were absent during the time of Dr. King. This does not mean they did not march or assist in the awareness of the movement despite not taking leadership roles similar to that of Dr. King.

Being a strong public leader, he was not immune to controversy.  The FBI kept an eye on him not only because of his massive marches, but because of alleged ties to communist groups.  As suspicion surrounded him, so did allegations of adultery.  King was rumored to have an "addiction to women," particularly Caucasian ones.   He was also accused in a book of using his denomination's donations to pay for prostitutes and other vices.  In the 1980's, a study of his dissertation entitled, “A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman," found that Dr. King had plagiarized someone else's work.

"The readers of King's dissertation, L. Harold DeWolf and S. Paul Schilling, a professor of systematic theology who had recently arrived at Boston University, failed to notice King's problematic use of sources. After reading a draft of the dissertation, DeWolf criticized him for failing to make explicit "presuppositions and norms employed in the critical evaluation," but his comments were largely positive. He commended King for his handling of a "difficult" topic "with broad learning, impressive ability and convincing mastery of the works immediately involved." Schilling found two problems with King's citation practices while reading the draft, but dismissed these as anomalous and praised the dissertation in his Second Reader's report... 

As was true of King's other academic papers, the plagiaries in his dissertation escaped detection in his lifetime. His professors at Boston, like those at Crozer, saw King as an earnest and even gifted student who presented consistent, though evolving, theological identity in his essays, exams and classroom comments. . . .Although the extent of King's plagiaries suggest he knew that he was at least skirting academic norms, the extant documents offer no direct evidence in this matter. Thus he may have simply become convinced, on the basis of his grades at Crozer and Boston, that his papers were sufficiently competent to withstand critical scrutiny. Moreover, King's actions during his early adulthood indicate that he increasingly saw himself as a preacher appropriating theological scholarship rather than as an academic producing such scholarship." - The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. entitled "Rediscovering Precious Values, July 1951-November 1955," Clayborne Carson, Senior Editor. pp. 25-26 of Volume II

"A committee of scholars at Boston University concluded yesterday that Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. plagiarized portions of his doctoral dissertation, completed there in the 1950s.
BU provost Jon Westling accepted the panel's recommendation that a letter be attached to King's dissertation in the university library, noting that numerous passages lacked appropriate quotations and citations of sources. The letter was placed in the archives yesterday afternoon, a BU spokesman said.
Westling also accepted the committee's statement that "no thought should be given to the revocation of Dr. King's doctoral degree from Boston University" and the assertion that despite its flaws, the dissertation "makes an intelligent contribution to scholarship."
The investigatory committee, comprising three professors in the BU School of Theology and one from American University, was appointed by Westling last

November after researchers at Stanford said they had discovered numerous instances of plagiarism in King's work as a graduate student.
While there was general agreement that King acted improperly, Clayborne Carson, head of the King Papers Project at Stanford where the plagiarism initially was uncovered, noted that King made no effort to conceal what he was doing, providing grounds for a belief that King was not willfully engaged in wrongdoing.
Westling said in a prepared statement yesterday that it was "impractical to reach, on the available evidence, any conclusions about Dr. King's reasons for failing to attribute some, but not all, of his sources. The committee's findings, although important from the point of view of historical accuracy, do not affect Dr. King's greatness, not do they change the fact that Dr. King made an unequalled contribution to the cause of justice and equal rights in this nation."
John H. Cartwright, a member of the committee and Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Social Ethics at BU, said the committee had examined King's dissertation independently of the King Papers Project and "we did find serious improprieties."
The chair Cartwright occupies was created by the Boston University trustees after King's assassination. Cartwright was entering BU as a seminary student when King was finishing his doctorate.
"We had many of the same professors, we worked in the same atmosphere during our graduate studies," Cartwright said, and "under no circumstances would the atmosphere under which he did his work condone what Dr. King did. It's incredible. He was not unaware of the correct procedure. This wasn't just done out of ignorance."
The committee found that King "is responsible for knowingly misappropriating the borrowed materials that he failed to cite or to cite adequately." It found a pattern of appropriation of uncited material "that is a straightforward breach of academic norms and that constitutes plagiarism as commonly understood."
The letter to be attached to King's dissertation, Cartwright pointed out, "indicates there are serious improprieties and points readers to sources where they can find chapter and verse."
The committee found no grounds for charges raised last year that King drew his organization and chapter headings from another person's dissertation. The plagiarism, the panel said, was of passages from the works of philosophers whose concepts of God King was comparing in his work. The dissertation is titled "A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman."
The committee also found no evidence that the professors reviewing King's dissertation had a double standard for African-American students and examined their work less critically than the work of whites. "Standards were applied with equal strictness to black as well as to white students," the panel concluded. "Black as well as white students failed out of the program."
Even though faculty supervision of King's work "failed to detect the large number of uncited borrowings that breached academic norms," the committee also found, the examining professors were not negligent "according to normal standards of supervision." - Boston University investigatory committee conclusion, 1991

However, there are possible reasons why Dr. King plagiarized his work.  Due to the hostile environment against minorities participating in higher education, perhaps he felt compelled to plagiarized in order to have his work looked over and judged fairly.  There is also the possibility that maybe he was not good at structuring a paper since most of the plagiarism discovered was based on lack of citation or attribution which is a common mistake even among students today who forget to add quotations and references.  Officials decided not to revoke his degree posthumously.  Doing so would not make sense since he is deceased and it may bring charges against the college for trying to bring down an American icon.  Ironically, one of his professors at the seminary gave Dr. King a C for public speaking class!  This goes to show that academic grades do not often reflect or judge the capacities of students.  

Moreover, there was also a charge that his "I have a Dream" speech was also plagiarized as there are similar words found in the speech of pastor Archibald Carey given in 1952 at the Republican National Convention.  However, a close examination shows that both used the words of the patriotic hymn by Samuel Francis Smith entitled, "America" which was written in 1932.  

"We, Negro Americans, sing with all loyal Americans:
My country 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, Land of the Pilgrim's pride From every mountainside Let freedom ring!" - Carey, 1952

"This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, Land of the Pilgrim's pride From every mountainside Let freedom ring!
So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire!
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York!
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snow capped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi!
From every mountainside, let freedom ring! When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" - Dr. king 1963

Despite all this, his image still remains strong.  As with any human leader, personal faults and mistakes are common.  Even the great Biblical heroes made mistakes.  This did not disqualify them from the great work that God accomplished in them.  The same applies to Dr. King.  King was eventually assassinated on April 4, 1968. However his death would not bring an end to the quest for Civil rights.  Segregation is now a thing of the past. Before, there were separate water fountains, separate schools for whites and blacks.  Blacks even had to sit in the back of the bus or give up their seat to white people.  Today that is all gone. Many African Americans have risen the ladder of success and in 2008 the first African American President was elected.  Credit must also be given to Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat on a bus where Caucasians had the right to sit in the front and African Americans did not.  This was what brought Dr. King publicity when he became the spokesman for the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  He was relatively unknown prior to this role.  In 1964, he would be the youngest at the time to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35.  

In 2011, a large memorial was opened in Washington D.C in honor of Dr. King.  He will forever be remembered as a great American and the only African American to be memorialized via stone along with Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson.  Dr. King is the only American to have his birthday celebrated as a federal holiday alongside our first President, George Washington.

Though not a Catholic, Dr. King was instrumental in bringing Civil rights to African Americans and other minorities who reside in the United States of America.  He was not a perfect man, nevertheless, his personal weaknesses cannot rob him of the great work he did in the name of justice, unity, and equality for all.  Today there are still problems with race in America.  There seems to be a discrepancy with the number of minorities who graduate from school and have successful jobs when compared to the majority.  The recent killings of young African Americans by Caucasian police have reminding America of the problem of racial profiling.  Moreover, some African Americans in the entertainment business seem to propagate the view that African Americans must carry the urban-ghetto social script in order to be respected in their communities as "real Black" people.  Words such as "nigga" and the like are still being used by some younger African Americans which ignore the horrible realities attached to those words.  It seems the "Dream" has been forgotten.  I for one still have hope that we will see Dr. King's dream realized into full completion and with sincerity.

May Dr. King's dream be realized fully soon.  May we all realize that we are all God's children regardless of gender, race, or religion.








Sources:

The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. entitled "Rediscovering Precious Values, July 1951-November 1955," Clayborne Carson, Senior Editor. pp. 25-26 of Volume II Retrieved 2015-01-17

Carson, Clayborne (1993). George Bornstein and Ralph G. Williams, ed. "Editing Martin Luther King, Jr.: Political and Scholarly Issues". Palimpsest: Editorial Theory in the Humanities (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press): 305–316. Retrieved 2015-01-17

"Boston University". King Encyclopedia. Stanford University. Retrieved 2015-01-16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itQq3mzSXwg  Retrieved 2015-01-17

Hansen, D. D. (2003). The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Speech that Inspired a Nation. New York, NY: Harper Collins. p. 108. Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/11/us/boston-u-panel-finds-plagiarism-by-dr-king.html Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://www.garynorth.com/public/335.cfm Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-martin-luther-king-jr Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://web.archive.org/web/20080205092412/http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/popular_requests/faq.htm Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://news.yahoo.com/five-interesting-facts-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-112211125.html  Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/ Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://web.archive.org/web/20070810230446/http://chem-gharbison.unl.edu/mlk/thesis.html Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/mlking.asp Retrieved 2015-01-17

http://www.martinlutherking.org/chronology.html Retrieved 2015-01-19

http://www.thekingcenter.org/archive/document/mlks-transcript-crozer-theological-seminary Retrieved 2015-01-19

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer 50th

"You know Dasher and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixen,

Comet and Cupid, and Donner and Blitzen,

But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Had a very shiny nose,

And if you ever saw it,

You could even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names;

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve,

Santa came to say:

"Rudolph with your nose so bright,

Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee,

"Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer,

You’ll go down in history."

If you don't know these lyrics, then you were probably living under a rock for the past 50 years.  This song is about the famous red-nosed reindeer which many of us grew up learning about from books, TV or in classrooms.   It originated in 1939 authored by Robert L. May in a booklet. The story of Rudolph entails a young reindeer who was born "different."  He had the body of a young buck, but something on his face was quite out of the ordinary. Instead of a black nose, he had a red one which glowed.

While just a simple story, it conveys a powerful message of accepting differences. Rudolph was mocked by his peers for his unusual nose. This story highlights the prejudices that plaque humanity. We don't trust people who are different from us many times.  According to a 2005 study by Arizona State University, we all are hard-wired to exhibit prejudice. This prejudice allegedly aided our ancestors with survival as evolution took its course.

Our brains work with heuristics, or techniques we develop based on experience in order to help solve
problems or make sense of things around us. The brain gets conditioned to adopt these heuristics and many times makes poor decisions based on them. This is called Representativeness Heuristics.  We judge "like unto like" as being the logical course when in fact many times it isn't. The "Linda Story or Problem" is a famous example of this which is used in both psychology and philosophy courses to show how logical and rational thinking truly works as opposed to relying on representativeness heuristics in order to make decisions or come to conclusions.

In philosophy, it is called the Conjunction Fallacy.  "If it quacks like a duck, it is a duck" does not always follow logically.  It can be a sound effect or a speaker that is projecting the sound of a duck. Naturally, our minds will recall the representativeness heuristic of the creature we call "duck" which we associate with "quacking."  In a funny twist, some atheist posers on Twitter and on some silly blogs fall into the representativeness heuristic in attempting to link the identity of a high school teenage with me simply because of the "chi rho" symbol and other things that may be related to me or my pseudonym "Sacerdotus."  This shows that they do not think logically.

The story of Rudolph the red nose reindeer is no different.  Rudolph's parents, peers all judge him as strange because a nose is not supposed to be red. They rely on the typicality of the feature we call nose to generalize it as the norm. Anything that is atypical to that norm is considered "strange" or "abnormal."  Because of this, poor Rudolph feels left out.  He is bullied and harassed just for having this red glowing nose. How many of us are bullied and harassed for being different?  We make fun of others because of their skin color, height, weight, religion, body shape, bodily features, sexual preference etc. This is a sign that humanity is still immature and must work to get past prejudice and relying on heuristics.

Rudolph with his bright red nose has to work harder in order to "fit in." He is a "misfit" along with Hermes the elf. Santa Claus finds use for Rudolph by relying on the light to guide his sleigh during a bad winter, perhaps a polar vortex!  The story reminds us that we all are different.  We are not identical nor clones. Each one of us has different things to offer this world. No one should be made to feel inferior or "strange." Every human life has intrinsic value that no one can take away.

We must not judge anyone based on looks or what may be apparent; instead, we must look at them as God sees them (1 Samuel 16:7).

Happy anniversary to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!  Thanks for the memories and for giving us such great wisdom in the fact that there is beauty and utility in differences.  









Source:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-celebrates-50th-anniversary/

http://www.philosophical-investigations.org/The_Linda_Problem

http://psychcentral.com/encyclopedia/2009/representativeness-heuristic/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050525105357.htm

http://www.asu.edu/news/research/prejudicestudy_053105.htm

 

Marc Anthony Racism

Baseball is one of my favorite sports to play and watch.  Naturally, the All Star game is a must for me.  I was privilege to attend the one at the Old Yankee Stadium in 2008 and had fun. 

Baseball is America's pastime.  It is the game that has helped Americans direct their focus from daily stresses and national tragedies.  However, this year's All Star game was tarnished. 

Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony, a New Yorker or "NuyoRican" was invited to give his interpretation of "God Bless America."  This hymn is sung during the 7th inning stretch in many baseball stadiums.  It is a song that calls on the Creator who grants us inalienable rights and has allowed our nation to prosper to continue blessing the nation.

However, some ignorant trolls took to Twitter and began tweeting racist tweets against Marc Anthony.  Derogatory terms were directed at him as well as Mexicans.  These people gave away their ignorance not only because of the racism, but for the mere fact that they believed Marc Anthony to be of Mexican descent. 

Marc Anthony is American born of Puerto Rican descent.  Not only is he American by birth, but also for the mere fact that Puerto Ricans are already citizens because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States of America.  Whether born in the States or on the island, Puerto Ricans enjoy American citizenship and are proud of that, even though other Hispanics often mock Puerto Ricans for not having "independence."  However, this is most likely due to envy because many non-Puerto Rican Hispanics risk their lives to come to this nation yet have the nerve to mock Puerto Ricans for having citizenship. 

Moreover, the angry tweets criticized that the hymn "God Bless America" was sung by a non-America (according to them).  However, this once again shows their ignorance.  The composer of this hymn was Irving Berlin, an immigrant born in Russia of Jewish descent.  The irony right?

In closing, it is sad to learn that these things still happen in American society in the 21st century.  We need to work more to educate our young people so that they will not grow up with misconceptions and prejudices against any group.

I invite all to file a report to Twitter against these racists who use the site to abuse others.   
These are the tweets and the accounts who wrote them.  I will add more as I learn of them:

https://twitter.com/SirRock1001/statuses/357324731311067136
https://twitter.com/BlurNulled/statuses/357323727316332544
https://twitter.com/BlurNulled/statuses/357323727316332544
https://twitter.com/chancellorjones/statuses/357323837144170497



A similar outpouring of xenophobia happened when Cuban Yoenis Cespedes won the HomeRun Derby and was interviewed in English.  See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/17/yoenis-cespedes-home-run-derby_n_3612301.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

I will write on this at a later time.




Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/marc-anthony-god-bless-america_n_3618420.html    
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/opinion/2013/07/18/outrage-against-marc-anthony-shows-racism-against-latinos-alive-and-well/ 
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/07/marc-anthony-controversy-underscores-a-racist-ignorant-tide-in-america.html/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/marc-anthony-all-star-game_n_3618975.html

Martin Luther King Jr.

Today we remember a great American who opened the door to many minorities in this country who were not allowed to grow in society due to race.  Martin Luther King Jr, a Baptist minister had the courage to stand up to the powers that be at the time.

As a Civil rights leader, he led many peaceful marches and fought with words against prejudice, segregation and racism.  His most famous words are recorded in the "I have a Dream speech."



In this speech he speaks about a future with unity, equality, peace and harmony among all Americans.  Some of that dream has been realized, but we still have a long way to go.


Being a strong public leader, he was not immune to controversy.  The FBI kept an eye on him not only because of his massive marches, but because of alleged ties to communist groups.  As suspicion surrounded him, so did allegations of adultery.  King was rumored to have an "addiction to women," particularly Caucasian ones.   He was also accused in a book of using his denomination's donations to pay for prostitutes and other vices.  In the 1980s a study of his dissertation found that Dr. King had plagiarized someone else's work.



Despite all this, his image still remains strong.  King was assassinated.  However his death would not bring an end to Civil rights.  Segregation is now a thing of the past.  Before, there were separate water fountains, separate schools for whites and blacks.  Blacks even had to sit in the back of the bus or give up their seat to white people.  Today that is all gone.  Many African Americans have risen the ladder of success and in 2008 the first African American President was elected.

Last year a large memorial was opened in Washington D.C.  He will forever be remembered as a great American along with Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson.

Though not Catholic, Dr. King was instrumental in bringing Civil rights to African Americans and other minorities who reside in the United States of America.  He was not a perfect man, nevertheless, his personal weaknesses cannot rob him of the great work he did in the name of justice, unity, and equality for all.

May Dr. King's dream be realized fully soon.  May we all realize that we are all God's children regardless of gender, race, or religion.

Special thanks to Allison Morris of Online College Courses for providing this elegant Graphic