Friday, April 13, 2007

Morning Edition - 4/13/07

Fashion Backward
Cafepress.com and several other websites are advertising and selling Nappy Headed Ho t-shirts. So, what’s really going on? We shouldn’t say Nappy Headed Ho, but we should wear a t-shirt that advertises the slur? It appears the height of hypocrisy to allege to be offended by the slur, and now parade around wearing it emblazoned on your chest. Do you really think that White America will boldly buy the t-shirt and wear it in public? Not likely, since the resulting reaction may leave them on fire – rather than fired. So, are we to believe that minorities will now appropriate Nappy Headed Ho in the same way that some have made “Nigga” a term of endearment? As minorities we need to stop alleging outrage at a statement, only to turn around and jokingly use it ourselves – especially on each other.

A Little Off the Top
Researchers have found that cells found in the foreskin of uncircumcised men increase their chances of contracting HIV. A University of California, Los Angeles study only addressed heterosexual sex and did not address same sex partners. Now, 2,500 uncircumcised Ugandan men will be circumcised for the equivalent of $17. The objective is to reduce HIV/AIDS in the African country. The African study also warned that the circumcision should be accompanied by condom use, abstinence and delayed start to sexual activity to truly make a difference in reducing HIV/AIDS infection rates.

Mi Puerto Rico!
The Newark Museum in Newark, New Jersey is featuring the Mi Puerto Rico! exhibit, highlighting three amazing Puerto Rican artist. The 40 pieces are on loan from the Museo de Arte en Ponce, Puerto Rico through Sunday, April 15. Jose Campeche, Francisco Oller and Miguel Pou created these masterpieces between 1780 and 1952. My boy Carlos and I will be hitting the museum on Sunday for the last day of the showing. A special presentation is planned before the works of art are packed up and returned to the island.

On Blast
Some doctors feel circumcision is unnecessary and merely a cosmetic procedure widely practiced in the U.S., while many feel that circumcision helps men maintain better hygiene. Now, science is finding that circumcision may have a medical benefit.
Do you believe that circumcision for males is genital mutilation or do you feel it is necessary and serves a purpose?

Keep passin’ the open windows…

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dont nobody want no anteatter

Anonymous said...

who wants to be sucking all on a uncut one

Tales from a Juggernaut said...

Well, I'm all about reducing harm when possible, so I think it's a good thing. Necessary is a whole 'nother story-- there's a whole bunch of things that'd be good for us to do or not to do, and that doesn't make them necessary. As far as I can tell, circumcision doesn't reduce the risk by such a great percent, does it? I haven't really checked out what this is all about besides a few headlines.

And about the Napped Headed Ho shirts...honestly, I think it's just gonna have to be what it is. There are bound to be people offended, but of course there are gonna be those people who appropriate it too, so as far as I'm concerned, barring [much stronger/charismatic] leadership in the black community, there is really not gonna be any sort of concerted effort on how to deal with these types of issues.

Leniere said...

I learned about the study in Uganda last month in D.C. - at an HIV Vaccine Education training of all places. I think more information needs to be collected to determine if circumcision is the solution. It is my understanding that the data they have is preliminary and not enough to draw definitive conclusions. If it were determined that the extra skin is a co-factor for infection, then the snip snip may be a step people should be allowed to consider.

God chulo...."mutilation" is such a strong word. Hearing it associated with the penis makes me cross my legs and place my hands in my lap. Maybe we could say "give your dick a boo boo"....

That Dude Right There said...

If circumcision was the best measure for preventing the invasion of HIV, I would be all for it. But as we all know, abstinence is the best method. And since we aren't trying to hear that, then condoms are the next choice.

As for having a whether or not it is necessary, I don't see a true purpose no matter what any study says. Studies aren't always reliable.

And as far as cleanliness, everyone needs to keep it clean, cut or uncut!