A new year is knocking at our door. Humans do not shed like some other animals. For example, snakes, grasshoppers, crabs, frogs and bighorn sheep all shed. It would be an exciting event if humans shed skin (in case of humans, dead cells fall off invisibly) on the New Year’s Day to purify their body and mind rather than making New Year’s resolutions.
By mid-December of 2023, I have picked up only five headlines from newspapers, which I am sure none of us want to see in 2024.
# 1. Strip club paid mayor of Illinois city for years to allow prostitution at the venue, feds say
Should any democratically elected personnel serve her or his constituency taking bribes for providing prostitutes? As such prostitution is illegal in all the states except Nevada. It’s a double crime. It is no better than third world countries where bribing is the unwritten law of the land. I am sure this is an isolated case.
I find many state officials are democratically elected. This includes starting from local council men, sheriffs, mayors to state governors. They are oath takers. Their behavior, habit, speech and action should conform to certain ethical standards so that media cannot portray them as a negative news.
# 2. Hospital workers drugged stroke patients for their ‘own amusement’
Indeed, pathetic. Though the health care system in the US is not the best in the world compared to other developed countries, professionalism is still worthy. Nurses and doctors always try to give the best of their services. The above incident may be a rare case. As a human, how could they think of doing this? Be humane.
# 3. Matthew Perry’s death ruled ‘accident from acute effects of ketamine’
Very sad story. Celebrities are always considered special to the public irrespective of age. Celebrities by default are always inspirational to certain quarters of people. They thus have more responsibility to society. Though “drugs” are a part of many celebrities’ lifestyles. Often it doesn’t surface until the end of the celebrity’s life. Michael Jackson left a questionable legacy of drug abuse, now “Friends” Mathew Perry. Related news is even more alarming: Van Nuys singer, influencer caught with 200 pounds of cocaine to plead guilty to federal charges. Certainly, it is for further money-making attempts.
Celebrities are always awarded by different organizations and by the president too. Before deciding, the candidates should be checked for their ethics and honesty.
# 4. Anti-immigrant remark such as ‘poisoning the blood’ by a front runner candidate
Am I wrong if I say the US is a country of immigrants? Maybe Europeans came first and after World Wars I and II, Europeans started coming in thousands. Later, people from all over the world started coming. Over the last a few decades, the US government started giving immigration to people from almost all over the world. Obviously, the US government can ban further immigration if she wants, but rhetoric of poisoning the blood is pathetic.
If you do a survey of the CEOs or key figures of giant US companies, you will find recent immigrants everywhere. Among those are Google, Microsoft, IBM, Adobe, Micron Technology, Waters Corporation, and many more.
# 5. Race played role in sentencing of Black child, 10, for urinating in public, lawyer says
I don’t want to comment on the race issue, but I wonder how in the world a 10-year-old kid was sentenced because of peeing on the roadside behind his mom’s car. Looks like Senatobia, Mississippi police – as well as the judge – want to make our state a perfect “Sangri-La.” Sometimes one cannot predict nature’s call. This is very much true for kids and older people. Mississippi highways do not have many rest areas or gas stations. Should roses or thorns be offered to Senatobia Police and the judge?
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. He writes occasional column in the Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
Jiben Roy, a native of Bangladesh, teaches chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences at Mississippi University for Women. His email address is [email protected].
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