09-23-05 website only - The Metro Herald

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT September 23, 2005 TH ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES THE THEATRICAL RELEASE OF PROUD TH Entertainment will present the eagerly anticipated theatrical release of “Proud” beginning Friday, September 23, 2005. “Proud,” based on the book “Proudly We Served,” tells the story of the brave men of the WWII destroyer escort, USS Mason, the only crew of African- American sailors to take a warship into combat during WWII. Tommy Hilfiger financed the production of the film through his newly formed company, TH Entertainment. Distributed by Castle Hill Productions, “Proud” premiered in Washington, DC at The National Archives on September 21st as a part of the Congressional Black Caucus annual conference. The film will then be released in fifteen theaters in the Washington, DC area and have a platformed release throughout the country. The cast of “Proud” stars screen legend Ossie Davis in one of his last roles and also features Stephen Rea, Darnell Williams, Denise Nicholas, Vernel Bagneris and stars Albert Jones, Erik LaRay Harvey and Jeffrey Nash. The film also features special appearances by Kidada Jones, Keisha Whittaker, Rashad Houghton and Nobel Prize winner, John Hume. “I am a part of American history,” says Ossie Davis in the role of WWII veteran Lorenzo Dufau, whose life is the basis of the movie. “This is my land. I defended it . . . and I want that acknowledged.” Ossie Davis stars as the veteran who passes the story of “Proud” to his grandson and his friends. The men of “Proud” not only battled war, but racism at home. When they reached their first port in Northern Ireland, the Irish welcomed them with respect, friendship and made them feel like “Americans” for the very first time in their lives. The film focuses on the real life story of veterans Lorenzo Dufau and James Graham. Mr. Dufau is from New Orleans, with family still there, which makes his statement resonate even louder in light of the tragedy that community is suffering. Veteran James Graham, founder of the USS Mason Association, who appears in the film explained, “For all these years I’ve watched all the classic World War II films and I never saw any African-Americans. But we were there—in the millions—we were there. Proud tells the whole story.” Mary Pat Kelly, author of the book “Proudly We Served,” wrote and directed the film. Ally Hilfiger is the producer and Sheila Cox served as coproducer. For further information and details visit www.proudthemovie.com. Simón Díaz AVenezuelan icon, 76-year-old composer, singer and musician Simón Díaz will appear at the George Washington Lisner Autidorium SIMÓN DÍAZ AT LISNER AUDITORIUM on Friday, September 30, 2005 at 8:00PM. Díaz is one of the most important figures of Latin American folk music. Revered upholder of the campesina traditions of the Venezuelan countryside, his work has inspired artists as diverse as Caetano Veloso, Mercedes Sosa, Placido Domingo and the Gypsy Kings, who transformed his folk tune “Caballo Viejo” into the hit “Bamboleo.” His ensemble features musicians on the four-stringed cuatro, arpa (Venezuelan harp), llanera, mandolina, double bass and maracas. “Simón Díaz has direct contact with what is pure. His songs are full of light.”—Caetano Veloso Tickets are $35, $30, $25. GW Students: $15. 20% off best seats when purchased as part of the “True Rhythms” series. Tickets can be purchased at the Lisner Box Office, TicketMaster Outlets, or PhoneCharge (202) 397-SEAT or (301) 808-6900. Subscribe to The Metro Herald! PROSE, POETRY, PERCUSSION & SONG The Alexandria Black History Museum, Young Audience of Virginia, BB & T Bank cordially invite you to a program of Prose, Poetry, Percussion & Song on Sunday, September 25 at 4:00PM. The rhythmic beauty of language comes alive through this family oriented performance by percussionist Tom Teasley and actor Charles Williams. During this unique program everyone learns that language is not just a way to relate facts, but that by using the natural rhythm of words it can also create an emotional response in the listener. Music and poetry from many different cultures are used, including “Funga Alafia”, traditional West African; “The Creation” by James Weldon Johnson: “Africa” and “Peace and Dancer”, by Langston Hughes; “Hine Ma Tov” traditional Israeli; “Eastern Worship Song” by Ruth Baja Williams; “Since I Laid My Burden Down” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot, traditional spirituals; and A Child Is Born by Ludwik Askenazy translated by Ruth Baja Williams. This program is partially underwritten by Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbols, Vic Firth Sticks and the Levin School of Music. The event is free but reservations are requested, due to limited seating, but not required to attend the event. For more information and reservations: 703-838-4356. THE METRO HERALD 19
OP-ED Carlos Ed Bacon, the dean of American city planners, wrote in 1967 in The Design of Cities, “The building of cities is one of man’s greatest achievements. The form of his city always has been and always will be a pitiless indicator of the state of his civilization.” When House Speaker Dennis Hastert said: “It makes no sense to rebuild a city that’s seven feet under sea level...it looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed,” he unwittingly set himself up for criticism because many recall the federal housing programs of the sixties when urban renewal was a euphemism for “Negro removal.” Notwithstanding, what he said made good common sense. The first question to be asked in rebuilding New Orleans and other cities along the Gulf Coast is what do the people want Many of the people that have been relocated may not want to return. If they DONATE CASH • Operation Blessing, 800.436.6348; www.ob.org • America’s Second Harvest, 800.344.8070; www.secondharvest.org DONATE CASH AND/OR VOLUNTEER • Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171; www.adventist. communityservices.org • American Red Cross, 800.HELP NOW (435-7669); www.redcross.org • Catholic Charities, USA, 703-549-1390; www.catholiccharities.org • Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554; www.cdresponse.org • Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818; www.crwrc.org • Church World Service, 800-297-1516; www.churchworldservice.org • Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998; www.convoyofhope.org • Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, 301-230-7200; www.ShalomDC.org • Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522; www.elca.org/disaster • Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210; www.mds.mennonite.net • Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886; www. nazarenedisasterresponse.org • Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283; www.pcusa.org/pda • Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769); www.salvationarmyusa.org • Southern Baptist Convention— Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, ext. 6440; www.sbc.net • United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583; www.umcor. org PART II HURRICANE KATRINA UPDATE Cardozo Campbell Special to The Metro Herald can build a better life in a place other than CHAOS New Orleans, IN they THE deserve the option to exercise such a choice with CRESCENT CITY: federal assistance. President Bush has made a commitment to rebuild New Orleans. Senator Landrieu, Mayor Nagin and many of the local clergy and civic leaders have expressed a commitment to rebuild. While the citizens warrant the opportunity to shape their destiny, the reality is that those with the economic leverage will have the greatest cA sbstantial federal commitment is critical to the process going forward, especially to insure equity for those displaced. New Orleans had a population of about 460,000 before Katrina with a 2.5 percent decline between 1990 and 2000.I would seriously urge that the city of New Orleans be reconstituted, in part as a sustainable community. It must be recognized that the costs of structures that can withstand category five hurricanes and be protected by levees will most likely put housing choices out of reach of the residents prior to Katrina. It would be worth considering the building of a ring of say, 18 sustainable, village scale [population 18,000 to 27,000], satellite communities throughout the Gulf region. In order for housing to be affordable and at the same time capable of withstanding environmental adversity, it will have to be subsidized in some form or another. The co-location of housing with jobs, transportation, health and education, religious and cultural services is the ideal solution. It must be left to a commission of inquiry to assess when and where the ball was dropped. It is also appropriate for the conduct and reporting of the press to be assessed. There seemed to be an obsession with the negative and a lack of balance in the stories being told. I heard a woman on National Public Radio talk about gangs taking charge inside of the Convention Center, breaking into a Rite-Aid and taking food and drink for children and the elderly. She said: “They got organized, identified themselves with the same color of jackets, and protected the elderly and children. I will never think of gang members the way I did before.” On September 6, 2005, Captain Rich Callas, Commanding Officer, berthed the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) in New Orleans following Katrina. The Iwo Jima is the only full service airport in the area and has conducted flight operations fifteen hours each day. Captain Callas wrote, “All day long we have been accommodating local policeman, fireman, state troopers, National Guard, 82nd Airborne division personnel with hot showers and hot food. I met an ambulance team from Minnesota who just drove straight to New Orleans when they heard of the tragedy and have been supporting hospitals free of charge for the last week. Contrary to the press, and the FEMA people I met had been on station since last Sunday (before the hurricane hit), never left the area, and have been in the field ever since. The command duty officer was told that one state trooper had driven 80 miles to get to the ship.” Captain Callas also described a case where the life of an elderly man was saved after surgery was performed on him following a stab would to the chest, and added, “I toured the hospital ward; all our charges were elderly and disadvantaged individuals. It is inspiring to meet and talk to such a huge number September 23, 2005 of individuals who are doing the Lord’s work to recover the city. They have had little sleep, little food, no showers, working 16-18 hours a day, and in some cases no pay, and they are thanking ME for a hot meal. Only in America.” We would do well to remember, “Those who ignore the mistakes of the past are bound to repeat them.” The ability for this great nation to successfully manage a crisis has been seriously called into question. The failures associated with Katrina must be brought to light. Success can be enhanced by not repeating the mistakes of the past. The following recommendations are for consideration: 1) That the U.S. Congress hold hearings on the Gulf Coast region to investigate what went wrong in command and control of the response to Katrina and determine what changes are warranted in communications, organization and authority between the federal, state and local layers of government. 2) That America’s infrastructure be examined and a priority list of “must repair” projects developed where people are in harms way or otherwise vulnerable to catastrophic consequences. 3) That Congress review the laws which prevent the sovereign from being prosecuted for criminal negligence and to structure a legal system akin to the Uniform Code of Military Justice for civilian executives and managers within federal agencies. 4) That organizational constructs be assessed to determine the best type of agency to manage emergency rapid response and logistics support. 5) That Congress considers chartering a Gulf Area Reconstruction and Development Corporation (GARDC). This private corporation would have unique powers to manage the multi- billion dollar rebuilding program and draw on the capital markets for equity to leverage up against debt insured by the federal government. The Governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, would appoint a board of directors, entirely from the local impact area or region, to oversee GARDC. The GARDC could draw on the experience of former California Governor Pete Wilson who used incentives to reward or penalize contractors responding to the California earthquake in 1994. In addition, a regional organization could probably be more effective in leveraging on contributions used for equity against long-term debt. 6) That the President, based on recommendations by the area Governors and Mayors appoint a commission composed of Gulf Coast regional and national civil engineers, urban planners, architects, landscape architects, transportation planners, geologists, economists, developers, realtors, builders, and economic development professionals to recommend strategies for design, and rebuilding of the impacted cities. 7) That the culture of government with its tolerance of complacency, deception, and ineptitude be changed. It is imperative that trained and experienced professionals who are not afraid to take risks be in charge of crisis management. Complacency and a preoccupation with maintaining the status quo is at the very core of America’s vulnerability to terrorism and natural disasters. We do not even use a common phonetic alphabet. Many of the people who are sworn or wear arms are visibly overweight. Simple devices such as smoke hoods ought to be as standard as smoke detectors. Widespread training in CPR (cardio-pulmonary-resuscitation) ought to be encouraged in preparation of a chem-biohazard attack. To be continued • • • Carlos C. Campbell is former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, U.S. Department of Commerce (1981–1984). 20 THE METRO HERALD
Page 1 and 2: CLEANUP CONTINUES . . . WHAT’S NE
Page 3 and 4: September 23, 2005 THE METRO HERALD
Page 5 and 6: AROUND THE REGION/AROUND THE NATION
Page 7 and 8: September 23, 2005 THE METRO HERALD
Page 9 and 10: CAPITAL COMMENTS/INSIGHTS & VIEWPOI
Page 11 and 12: HEALTH & WELLNESS September 23, 200
Page 13 and 14: September 23, 2005 14 THE METRO HER
Page 15 and 16: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT September 23,
Page 17: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT September 23,
Page 21 and 22: CLASSIFIED ADS/BIDS & PROPOSALS Sep
Page 23: September 23, 2005 24 THE METRO HER

09-23-05 website only - The Metro Herald

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?