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GLBT Iraqis: 'It's Worse Than Saddam'
By Jennifer Millman
February 01, 2007
Turner's Latest Ad Campaign Triggers Mass Hysteria
Turner Broadcasting's latest advertising campaign for its popular TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" crossed the line. What happened? "Moonites" on battery-operated lightboards were mistaken for bombs in Boston yesterday, where police closed down bridges, blocked boat traffic, sent Boston University students home, alerted the Pentagon and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a terrorist threat that wasn't. Turner CEO and Chairman Phil Kent apologized twice for the unnecessary chaos, but recently elected Mayor Thomas Menino isn't satisfied, nor is the Boston Police Commissioner, who calls the campaign "unconscionable." Criminal charges and civil lawsuits could be filed. What will this do to Turner's reputation, and which advertising agency is to blame? Read more.
GLBT Iraqis: 'It's Worse Than Saddam'
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's execution may have liberated some Iraqi citizens, but for GLBTs, the situation has gotten worse. A bimonthly Human Rights Report of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq documents the systemic execution of GLBT Iraqis by the Shiite government--it's "sexual cleansing." GLBT Iraqis and rapists are subject to the same penalties, ranging from 40 lashes to death, and 26 members of the Iraqi LGBT group have been murdered in the last three years. Why? One political faction teaches, "Good Muslims hunt and kill homosexuals." Why is the United Nations deciding to address this issue now? Read more.
'Making a Deal' on the Holocaust?
A federal judge will delay his ruling on the last of the large U.S. cases brought by Holocaust survivors to recover money from companies that helped the Nazis. Italian insurance company Assicurazioni Generali already has paid $135 million in settlements since the lawsuit was brought to court in 1997. Tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors may be eligible for damages, and if Judge George Daniels rules in favor of the 1,000-plus current plaintiffs, it would close the door to others entitled to the same benefits, reports The Associated Press. Is it fair to deny these Holocaust survivors redress while waiting for others to follow suit? What are the parameters of Generali's deal, and if Daniels doesn't "OK" it, will these survivors be left out to dry?
What Do Black Youth Think?
Black youth perceive discrimination to be alive and well this country, yet they believe they have the power to remedy it, finds a new University of Chicago study of 1,600 black, Latino and white participants from Midwestern cities. What else did they find? Black youth like rap music, but most of them think the videos are too violent and degrading to black women. According to The Associated Press, the majority of black and Latino youth feel neglected by their government but believe they can make a difference by exercising their voting rights and buying from companies. Want more survey highlights?
Black Immigrants 'Don't Deserve' Affirmative Action?
Do black immigrants merit affirmative action? A Harvard law professor's "no" propelled her into the national spotlight three years ago and prompted national debate on the topic. According to a new study, black immigrants are disproportionately represented in top-tier schools, particularly in the 10 most selective private universities. And there are significant differences between them and their nonimmigrant counterparts. Now a new debate has emerged--and it's not about affirmative action. Read more.
'No More Segregation' for People With Disabilities
Inadequate accessibility often relegates people with disabilities to segregated environments, thus further impairing their ability to integrate within the larger society. A new concept--universal design--developed by architect Ron Mace, founder of North Carolina State University's Center for Design, revolves around seven principles to ensure people with disabilities have the same opportunity to socialize with their neighbors and choose their own living arrangements.
This is about equity. So why are people still confusing it with access? Read more.
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