Time Runs Out For 24

I'm not an avid TV watcher, so when I find a show that actually catches my attention, that show usually holds it. For the past nine years, that show was 24. And we said goodbye to it tonight.

I don't know if it was the brilliant writing or the clever choice of characters used to carry the plot. The combination of the two were critical to this show's success and huge fan following.

Chloe was by far one of my favorite.





It took some getting used to her little personality disorder, but she developed into a wonderful character. I will definitely miss her quirky inability to manage a smile beyond a reluctant scowl.

Then there was president Taylor.



Her grace and integrity were endearing and even at the end where she strayed for a few episodes, she redeemed herself; that was truly a relief to me. Next to President Palmer of earlier seasons, she was my favorite.

And who can forget Dana Walsh? She was quite the surprise. There is always a mole in CTU , but this is one I didn't see coming. True to 24 tradition, we discovered what was going on without any previous hint that this was coming.



Then again, the plots within the plot kept the action fresh and moving each and every episode. There was never a dull moment. Ironically, this could have become a monotonous and predictable aspect to 24, leaving the audience to expect a twist around every corner, but even that didn't happen.

And I know I'm not alone when I say that I hated seeing that clock tick right before a commercial break because I knew that time was literally running out. So when those final few seconds passed before the end of an episode, I was left with my jaw on the floor or my hands holding my head as I yelled, "Oh My God!!!"

But it was this last episode where time was so precious. I knew that I had only 2 hours left before that final countdown ticked away for the last time.

And 24 would not be what it was without Jack Bauer. Precious Jack who couldn't avoid trouble if he died trying, was the perfect lead character.



Yes, he was always in a bind, going rogue, being tortured, running from the law, taking matters into his own hands, and not once did I grow tired of that. Not once did I ever think he was wrong, everything he did somehow seemed justified, regardless of how horrific.




I doubt that 24 would be the success it was if Keifer Sutherland didn't give his all to every mission, and it is him I will miss the most.

Texas adopts new Teaching Curriculum

There's been much controversy over Texas adopting a new social studies and history curriculum that dulls down the teaching of religious freedoms. The Texas State Board of Education will require students to learn that separation between church and state is not in the constitution, and are modernizing historical periods from B.C.E and C.E. They also agreed to replace Thomas Jefferson as an influential political philosopher in a world history class.

The board also strengthened requirements on teaching the Judeo-Christian influences on the nation's Founding Fathers and be required that the U.S. government be referred to as a "constitutional republic" rather than democratic. These guidelines will teach 4.8 million students for the next ten years. Along with those changes, they will also be used by textbook publishers who develop materials for other states as well.

This so-called education regiment is a scheme to teach children about the boards beliefs rather than educating them on actual history and enhancing the mind to prepare them for the real world. Teaching kids that the Separation between church and state is not in the constitution is hindering to their learning abilities by not teaching them history. The basis for separation between church and state is that the government may not impose religion on Americans.


When parents send their kids to school, they expect them to learn and grow, not to do just the opposite. People put a lot of faith in politicians and to people with authority because we believe most often that they want to do what's right.

The Texas Board of Education needs to think of the Texas students' future instead of their own. People and events in history made our country the way it is today and when young children aren't learning the history of their country then that also skews the ideology of the student. If one is not educated about history, then history will repeat itself.

Going green? Signs of Jealousy in your relationship

The Green Eyed Monster is one of the most uninvited guests into a relationship. Jealousy rears its ugly head hiding the insecurity and low self-esteem that we truly suffer from. While many believe they can find valid reasons for doubting their significant other's fidelity, ultimately, jealousy is good at telling you that your worries of cheating are bound to come true.

Forewarned is forearmed so take these steps to heart and keep the green eyed monster at bay.

Take a step back - Jealousy ramps negativity and anger up quickly. By the time we're at this point, we are already beyond sound thinking and judgment. Take a breather when you feel your body tense up, your lungs breathing heavy and your heart pounding at the thoughts of your lover laughing, touching and taking phone numbers from someone else.

Talk with a friend - Having a friend to talk to can give you and outside view. A good friend will have no issues telling you that you are way off if jealousy is making you see things. Also talking out your feelings will help deflate some of the energy revving them up and beyond control.

Express your feelings - Tell your partner how you feel. If you have fears that they'll leave you, cheat on you, find someone else, they need to know that these doubts and insecurities are running you. Expressing your feelings to your partner will also help break down those walls that keep you and jealousy up talking all day and all night.

Look at your own past- Most people who suffer from jealousy now have been dealing with it their entire life. Maybe it was your parents' divorce, maybe it's a sense of abandonment or maybe your previous girlfriend or boyfriend ran around on you. Whatever it is, look at your past for the roots of your inner aching.

Set boundaries - Usually the feelings that your partner is flirting or you beloved is laughing too hard at someone's jokes is because there are no boundaries. You and your partner should have clear understandings about eating and drinking with others, physical contact and what activities with other people are and are not acceptable.

End the end, jealousy can always find a crack in the relationship where it can set root. But like any weed, it can be pulled for better and healthier growth.

Mom has 5-year-old arrested

This video was recently posted on CNN showing a 5-year-old boy being arrested by his mom to teach him a lesson. The boy apparently kept trying to set fires in the house. The mom tried to discipline the child by telling him no, and taking away his toys, but nothing worked. She got her friend involved who was a police officer to try and teach him a lesson by handcuffing him and even putting him in the back seat of the patrol car.

I don't agree at all with what this mother was trying to do to teach her son a lesson. There are other ways to discipline your child and to teach them right from wrong. Just because things might get rough doesn't mean you have to take drastic measures with a 5-year-old child. Children will want to test their limits, and parents should stay consistent with their discipline because that will just encourage more misbehavior.

Other ways to discipline your children would be to really know your child, teach them right from wrong and to listen to them as well. Give them love and affection. All children are different and have different temperaments. Not all types of discipline will work for all children, but having your young child handcuffed is not the answer, and may create more problems in the future. How a parent behaves when they're disciplining their child will determine how your child will behave or misbehave in the future.

As for the mom who had her son arrested in the video, I don't think she quite understood the effects this could have on her son in the future. If she's willing to take drastic measures such as this who says she won't take even more drastic measures if it happens again.

D. Wade V.S. The X-Mrs. Wade

By now everyone has heard that actress Gabrielle Union and NBA star Dwayne Wade are being sued by Siovaughn Wade, Wade's estranged wife. The suit claims the two allegedly engaged in "sexual foreplay" in front of the Wade's children.

Additional details not withstanding, does this open up a new legal and relationship Pandora's box? Can people now find ways to get back at their spouses and partners for cheating, broken hearts and other relationship issues through the legal system? While people having been using their kids in divorces as tools of attack for decades, this suite opens up a direct assault from an angry partner in a lovelife gone bad.

Currently, Mrs. Wade has gotten herself on the wrong side of the court with her failure to attend a hearing. However, she may have started an avalanche of new ways to stop throwing plates at your ex and start throwing the book of the law instead.

Running on Empty

Every college student knows the pressures and demands of finals week. Many will get very little sleep and for some, it will be a routine to only run on four to six hours of sleep. Not only are college students managing the demands of school, but many maintain a job and an internship. A good night's sleep with eight to ten hours is a rare occurrence for the busy lifestyle of a college student.

Studies find that 20 percent of college students suffer from sleep disorders. The concerns for lack of sleep is its short and long term effects on the body. Sleep deprivation can have serious effects on your health in the form of physical and mental impairments. Little rest impairs our ability to think, handle stress, maintain a healthy immune system and moderate our emotions. These things not only effect our body, but our ability to excel and do well in school.

The brain's ability to problem solve is greatly impaired. Decision-making abilities are compromised, and not enough rest can also cause people to have hallucinations. Other common effects of sleep deprivation include depression, heart disease, irritability, slower reaction times, slurred speech and tremors.

The causes for college sleep deprivation may be from unusual schedules, social activities and work. Excessive partying, worrying, or cramming for exams are other examples for the cause of sleep deprivation.
So I know you're wondering what are the solutions to sleep deprivation. There's a lot you can do to get a better nights sleep. First of all get more sleep and get better sleep. Things you can do to get a good night's sleep are drink tea, no caffeine past three, read a book, meditate, work out a couple hours before bed, but not right before bed. Get to know your body and how much sleep you need to feel refreshed and energized in the morning.

When school, work and other demands are having an effect on your sleep, remember that getting a good night's rest is very important to the mental and physical well being of your health. There are many things that college students can do to get well rested before that final exam. Don't overwork yourself and treat yourself to a night of relaxation.

Cops: To Serve and Protect ... Themselves?

I wrote a blog a little while ago, well over a year ago, about the deaths of two young men: Andrew Cazares, 23,and Fausto Manzera, 21, photos below.





They died on Friday, April 10, 2009 because a Chicago police detective was driving drunk. I'll say it again. A Chicago police detective was driving drunk, his name, Joseph Frugoli. His blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit, yet he was behind the wheel of his Lexus SUV. Cazares, above, had pulled his Dodge Intrepid over to the side of the southbound Dan Ryan to wait for help for a possible flat tire.

Tammy's story: A woman's struggle and a son's resentment

This video shows how a lower class family struggles day-to-day to survive while their mom walks ten miles to her job everyday in rain or snow. Our society that we live in today builds a dynamic of social norms that we have to abide by whether it be having designer clothes or driving an expensive car.

Matt, the eldest son of Tammy in the video wants to fit in at school, but is embarrassed by where he lives and what his family looks like. He explains in the video how he wants to fix things up, but would rather stay inside and watch TV.

I understand that it may be hard for Matt to fit in when he doesn't have much, but there comes a time when you have to accept where you come from. He disrespects his mother in the video by saying that he doesn't like the way she looks and that he's embarrassed by her image.

No one gets to decide who their parents are, or what class they are raised in, but one should make the best out of a bad situation. Society puts pressures among teens to fit in, and many will do whatever it takes to fit in. This is a sad situation, because when someone doesn't accept where they came from, then they'll never be satisfied.

Matt says in the video how he won't talk to his brother in school because of what he wears. If he wants his family to fit in like he does, maybe he should get a job and get them those things.

Instead of helping out his mom when she struggles daily to feed her children, Matt is only concerned with what his friends think. I hear the phrase teens will be teens, but isn't that just giving them an excuse to act a certain way and escape from their own reality?

Living in a Reality World

Reality TV is taking over the TV industry. Everywhere you turn people and celebrities are getting their own reality show. Programs such as the Bad Girls Club, The Hills, Keeping up With The Kardashians, Jersey Shore and many others maintain ongoing stereotypes about gender, culture and race and glamorize the life that they live. Young children watch these shows and look up to these people as role models.

Keeping up with the Kardashians has been on the air since October of 2007. On the season finale when Kourtney gave birth to her baby boy, it drew in 4.8 million viewers, the biggest in E history. Shouldn't more people be tuning into important world and local issues going on instead of watching Kourtney Kardashian giving birth?

These reality stars show the latest trends and are becoming reality icons. Imitation of these reality stars becomes a major issue, because when they are constantly in the media more and more people want to see more of them and become like them. Take Kim Kardashian for example, it seems as if being in front of the media is her only business venture. Without her reality fame, I don't think anyone would know who she was.

With a mass amount of reality TV, how does this affect young children? According to recent television statistics children spend on average 28 hours per week watching TV. Adolescence is a crucial time in a child's life where he takes in a great amount of knowledge and learns how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A child should be active and taking part in activities to feed and enhance the mind with beneficial knowledge, not reality TV. Children watch these shows believing that this is what family life really is. So they imitate the actions portrayed on these shows without questioning if it's wrong.

In one of the episodes Kourtney's fiance Scott got extremely drunk on the night of Kim's birthday, and got violent towards a waiter at a restaurant. The episode completely embarrassed the family. Every family has their problems and when these episodes air showing the Kardashian family having issues, people think that this family is just fame hungry and want media attention to gain popularity. There's a time when someone's private life should be kept private.

I don't understand how an entire family would show their private lives to millions of viewers and be the target for hate and criticism. It seems that much of reality TV is based upon power, money and fame. When it comes to the "hit" reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians, they are just among the many others who want to exploit their family to gain money and fame.

Reality TV distorts reality with unreality and many people enjoy watching someone's misfortunes. I don't agree with a family having a reality show displaying personal and private issues that should stay within a family.

Beauty

Clearly it’s not okay to age in society and that doesn’t fit in with the social norms of today’s society. With anti-aging serums, botox, make-up, anti wrinkle cream, retouching, and all the products sold on the mass market to promote staying young, and pretty, we can never be the perfect image or body that society creates.

The depiction between being accepted and looking pretty in society run close together because often enough you can’t have both. We have to stay young in society, because that is everything the popular culture promotes and sells.

Society and popular culture create this dynamic of staying pretty in the way in which woman are seen and promoted in the media world. The negative aspects of how women are displayed in ads, commercials, and movies displays a stereotype that society then takes in and creates in their own mind with what is the ideal woman, and how can I be that ideal woman.

Not being over weight, having white teeth, nice healthy hair, big breasts, dressing sexy with little or no clothing, and appealing to look at are just a few things that woman have to do to be accepted or feel pretty in society.


And as women age this cycle becomes even more impossible. Everywhere you look you see marketed ads saying what you’re supposed to do to improve your physical features to become more appealing and accepted. Buy more and do more to attain this lifestyle of being pretty and young. This impossible image that society creates dominates the lives of many women so that they feel wanted, and accepted in the world.

Social class

Social class in America is everything. Everyone is constantly trying to get higher up in the status ladder. Some people are born into wealthy families, middle class families and into poor families. It seems that the lower your social status is, the harder it is to attain a higher career path.

The U.S. Census Bureau counted that in 2009 there were 37.3 million poor people living in America. With the poor economy, there is an increase in less fortunate families living in America. The divide between the middle class and poor is closer than it has been since the Great Depression.

Tammy tells her story about how she struggles each day to put food on her table for her and her two children, and what she does to make her life a little easier. Tammy is a single woman living in Ohio, and walks 10 miles to work in rain or snow. With the little money she makes from her job at Burger King, she hope to save up money and buy a car.

Many people in America struggle day-to-day like Tammy. It’s important for her story to be heard, and for people to come together from all different social statuses.

But We Never DID Anything - The Dangers of Emotional Affairs

We often define an affair as sexual relations with someone outside of the relationship. We look for rendezvous in hotels, lipstick on collars and misspoken names during peaks of intimacy. However, while physical affairs are certainly detrimental to relationships, emotional affairs are just as destructive.

Emotional affairs are connections with others outside of the relationship that should only be with our spouse or partner. Emotional affairs are intimate conversations, anticipations, levels of trust and expectations of satisfaction that should only be with and for our special someones. True, it is not sex, but too many moments of bearing your soul with that cute coworker or too many heart-to-heart conversations about your hopes and dreams can lead to feelings shifting from your current partner. Emotional affairs start harmless by "just talking" and often find their roots in difficult moments in your present relationship. Soon enough however, just talking can lead to lunches, drinks, dinners and possibly even physical contact.

Be careful in your emotional connections. When you feel that your partner is distant, talk about how connected you both still are. Resume talking like you once did when the courtship phase was in effect and save those special anticipations, levels of trust and expectations of satisfaction for the one you're with.

Tea Party Protesters

Around 2,000 people attended this year's tax day Tea Party rally at the Daley Center in Chicago to protest "big government" and to support lower taxes. Not only were their rallies in Illinois, but they were nationwide in every major city across the U.S.

These rallies were not only a success the cities themselves, but they sparked a voice that went across to politicians and to Congress. Joe Walsh a candidate for Congress spoke at the rally in Chicago, reminding the Tea Party activists to be like President Reagans attitude for Tea Party Protesters "Lets be happy Warriors."

People need to voice their opinion, and send a message to Congress about what we think they're doing wrong that is having a negative effect on our lives. It's "We the people not we the politicians."

For many people, we have to deal with the strains of the economy, whether it be the issue with cap and trade, healthcare, fewer jobs, foreclosure, immigration reform and many other issues.

How can we be happy protesters when our lives our stricken by the poor economy and by the poor choices made by Congress and state government? Our voices and our opinions need to be said, and what better day than to make a stand on tax day.

Hate Groups on the Rise

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center Web site there are 932 known hate groups in the United States, with 28 of those being in Illinois. The state with the most hate groups is Texas, having 66.

We live in a day and age where technology is easily accessed, and so are hate websites. There are more religious hate websites than there are religious websites. This disturbs me not only because of who is getting on the hate websites, but a majority of young children have access to computers, and who says what may happen when they may come across these websites? We need to be aware of the fact that there are not only numerous hate groups out there, but there are a number of hate websites as well. Below is the number of hate groups in each state.

With hate websites and hate groups on the rise, what does this say about the future of our country? According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website, hate groups have increased by 50 percent since the year 2000.

The three main reasons that the percentages of hate groups have increased so much is because of the downturn of the economy, the election of the first African American president, Barack Obama, along with immigration issues that the United States has faced over the last five to ten years. This is an extreme problem to our country and to the issues our country must face in the future.

Fighting Temptations

There’s an old saying that the best way to fight a temptation is to give in to it! While obviously a humorous take on dealing with the moral struggles, there is a serious weight to these love life dangers. We all know what being tempted can lead to. Anyone remember a certain apple in a garden?

Temptations come in all shapes and sizes and could be former addictions (drinking, pornography), former lovers (ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends), bad habits or even potential new lovers (that cute, flirty girl at the coffee shop.) Whatever the struggle, there are several steps to dealing with temptations and how to fight them.


Identify the temptation(s) – Knowing where your weak spots are will help you protect them. Know if you’re longing for attention or if you’re in need of physical satisfaction. Being aware of your weak points will let you know if you should avoid that shoulder-to-cry-on cutie or miss hands-on-your-sore-shoulders.

Avoid them if possible – Temptations can always put a little doubt into your relationship focus but they can only do so much if you steer clear of them. If it’s someone other than your sweetheart who makes you feel the warm and fuzzies, stay away from them. If it’s someone other than your spouse who flirts with you and interests you, stay clear of this person as they can work those weak spots.

Strengthen your relationship – Weak spots and temptations can lead to love life damage if the relationship is weak itself. Do your best to strengthen your relationship emotionally and physically through communication, quality time together and a healthy sexual connection. As long as both of you are invested sincerely and strongly in your life together, temptations can try but they’ll fail.

Death Threats Over Health Care - Old Habits New Motive?

I'm not going to delve into the legal details of this situation since it is under FBI investigation - thankfully. I'm merely going to ask a question - the first question that popped into my mind when I learned of this. It is that serious? Is this worth the lives of innocents?

We know that Gregory Lee Guisti was arrested Wednesday in San Francisco for his brazen and unveiled death threats to House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. The ridiculous phone calls were motivated by her support of the health care bill, and in one instance, Guisti stated Pelosi's home address and cautioned that if she wanted to see it again, she would not support the bill.

Coupled with that were the death threats made by Charles Alan Wilson to Democratic Senator Patty Murray, also fueled by his anger towards her support of the fiercely-debated health care bill. According to seattlepi.com, court documents reveal that Wilson made it clear in one of his expletive-laden phone calls, "I want to ... kill you." In another, he charges, "I hope somebody puts a ... bullet between your ... eyes."

Is it that serious? Is this what we've come to? This is not the wild, wild west people. We can't go around threatening to kill people simply because we don't like decisions that are being made. Well, at least that's what I thought. And please, do tell, what is it about the health bill that's warranting the death of government officials who support it? I want to know.

Funny. If Bush's policies on the "War on Terror," and his search for "weapons of mass destruction" were enough to incite some mad man into degenerating into death threats against government officials who supported them, you know what we'd call him, right. A TERRORIST! Plain and simple.

Well, when the speaker of the house receives blatant death threats because of her support of a bill; when a senator is violently threatened because of her stand on a bill proposed by the President of the United States of America, guess what people? Those are acts of domestic terrorism and those people should be prosecuted as such.

It's okay to disagree; it's fine to get upset; it's acceptable to have an opinion completely different from that of the Commander in Chief - that's why this land is called the United States of America. But it is NOT okay to handle it this way. I thought we were past the days of ignorant bigotry that dictated that any person or persons standing in the way of what WE feel is American democracy could be disposed of in the name of "love of country." I thought so ... but I guess old habits die hard.

Restoring trust in a broken relationship

Maybe it's mistrust from lies. Maybe it's hurt from deception. Maybe it's hiding money, too many nights out at the club or something as bad as cheating. Whatever the reason, once trust is lost in a relationship, restoring it is extremely difficult. When hearts hurt and relationships are broken, how can we go back to allowing ourselves to be vulnerable?

Own your feelings - You're going to be hurt. You're going to be angry. There will be disappointment and doubt. While most people may run from these emotions, you cannot bottle them up. Realizing that there are valid negative feelings will help begin the healing process within one another. Otherwise, you'll be play acting and rebuilding on a false foundation.

Both of you must be sincere - The one who screwed up must be genuinely sorry and the one who accepts the apology must genuinely accept it. Too often people accept "I'm sorry" only to secretly wait to get back at the offender with their own lying or affair. Being sincere means letting go of the past and establishing a sense of vulnerability again that the relationship will need.

Forgiveness is key - Forgiving the person who screwed up as well as they forgiving themselves is a neccessity. Holding onto resentment and harboring thoughts of revenge will deteriorate your relationship before it truly gets started. Whether it be through counseling, prayer, talking it out with friends or all of the above, forgiving one another and yourselves is a great step towards healing a broken relationship.

Old habits cannot be repeated - Nothing damages an already wounded relationship like wounding it all over again. Lying, stealing, hiding or cheating will open up wounds barely closing on the surface, much less deeper still. When trust has been broken, whatever acts that broke it cannot be repeated at all. New habits need to form which promote the relationship, not damage it.

A new relationship has to start - Many times, a wounded relationship cannot be restarted. A new one must take its place. Take the time to explore one another, date one another and discover yourselves as you move into a fresh start, leaving behind some of the pain and difficulty that lurked in the past. Don't turn a blind eye to what happen but realize that you may have been two people who need a new beginning with each other.

No boardroom, No bedroom? Keeping Sex Alive After the Layoff

Unemployment is a blow to the finances, but it's also a shot to self-esteem and romance as well. Losing one's job can also cause a loss of sex drive that can damage a strained relationship even more.

Understand sexual desires can be threatened - The suddenly unemployed can feel a loss of sexual prowess. The other partner can also feel a shift in romantic feelings as they can become secretly resentful. Understanding that sexual desires can be threatened and tested can help prepare you both. Renew the passion for each both physically and emotionally. Keep words of both encouragement and lust coming.

Communicate about your sex life - Talk, talk and talk. The more communication, the more you'll both stay on each other's mind and in each other's mental bedroom.

Explore new sexiness - Job loss often means time gained. Use it for self-discovery and sexual discovery. Use this time for exercise and health while gaining new levels of energy and sexuality. Consider new fantasies or old fantasies never fulfilled. Think about role playing or wearing sexy clothing (or no clothing) when the working spouse comes through the door!

Keep having sex - Often when unemployed, one's focus can completely turn to job-hunting. While that is a good thing, focusing on getting work is only healthy if its balanced out with the good things in life: like sex. Don't forget the nurture the relationship, including the sexual part of it. Date like the old days or date low-key because of money. Flirt, touch and keep up the physical parts of your relationship.

Renew You: Recycling Together

Relationships mean a lot of things done together. We live together. We grow together. We love together. As we, as a planet, are ever trying to move more towards a greener society, being in a relationship can also mean we recycle together. Reusing, renewing and recycling as a couple not only works on those bonds between us but helps us do our part for the environment. When we're recycling, we should review if we're really getting all the items that could be reused.

Consider recycling the following items when going green: * Used spaghetti sauce bottles * Plastic enclosures for pop cans * Cardboard bottoms for pop cans * Plastic containers for deli bought cookies and muffins * Used shampoo bottles * Used coffee cans * Aluminum foil rolls * Used spray bottles * Empty beer bottles * Used wine coolers * Empty cleaning containers (plastics, metal and glass)

Recycling is a constant effort that not only strengthens our environment but, when done as a couple, can strengthen our relationship. Give each other that gold star when one of you makes that extra effort to recycle. Flirt and be sexy as you gather up your bins of cans and plastic! Work together as you two both strive to help make the world a better place for your children and yourselves.

Zeta Tau Alpha Won Fair And Square

I am SO disappointed in the reaction that has erupted since the ladies of Zeta Tau Alpha: Epsilon chapter won the Sprite Step-Off Challenge - the largest national step competition in the history. This competition is a big deal!! Step competitions like this are usually battled out by the black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities that many have grown to love. Well, this time around, a white sorority from the University of Arkansas stomped their competition on the way to victory, and some people aren't happy. Check these girls out!!




They won fair and square! But I'm hearing rebuttals like, "Those steps weren't original," "They don't know the history of steppin'", and the best one yet, "Black organizations were formed because the white ones wanted to keep us out, and now they want to take this from us too!" Good heavens!


On one hand we want the world to accept and embrace our culture, and on the other we want to isolate those who are different from us. I watched that step show three times and NEVER got bored with the Zeta's routine! If a black sorority came out and executed that EXACT routine and won, there wouldn't be a problem. The fact that these girls are white should not negate the amazing work they put out there. If you have a problem with it, then step up your own game for next time.


This is so hypocritical!The largest stepping competition in the nation's history gave this sorority a chance to embrace a culture that is traditionally black; the art is sweeping the nation; a white sorority claimed first prize for the girls, and instead of celebrating diversity; instead of being proud that something dominated by blacks has now spread to other ethnicities; instead of being happy that we have led the way; instead of welcoming these girls, we rather get racial.


This is sad. Can you imagine if a black skier were to win gold in a Winter Olympic event and whites raised a ruckus about it because he was black? I could hear it now: "His color shouldn't matter;" "He won fair and square;" "They're just mad because we took their sport and did it better than them;" "Just because he's black doesn't mean he can't ski..." Man, blacks would be pissed! Jesse Jackson would come out in full swing demanding an apology. There would be hell to pay because the statements were RACIST.

We have a similar situation here. So WHAT if the winners were white? SO WHAT? Those girls were the underdogs and still came out to prove that they could do this. If anything we should be celebrating that! After all, we know what it's like to be that underdog and to want to be accepted. You can't have it both ways guys. Racist statements are racist statements ... period.

Finally, if this was such an issue, why were they allowed to compete? That was okay until they won. Well, in the words of the MC at the end of Zeta Tau Alpha's step routine, "Steppin' is for everybody. If you can step ... you can step."

Looks like Zeta Tau Alpha can step. Get over it!