Views from Point Breeze

There is a sad phenomenon occurring in Philadelphia now.  I will call it suicide by cop.  Last week, there were four police shootings.  Three of those shootings were fatal.  In a city in which over 1200 shootings occurred last year, this blip is nothing new.  It just reflects the desperation that some individuals in our society feel now.  It is a rare situation in which an individual will have the police outnumbered.  I remember that we had a spate of police officer killings about two years ago so I don't blame the police for the need to protect themselves.  I am just wondering what is causing this recent trend. In some recent discussions that I have had, it was iterated that some individuals just do not want to go back to jail.  Many individuals who have encountered the judicial system in some way cannot get a fair chance to get a job.  There is research being done in advance of proposed legislation by State Representa...

I couldn't make the Homegoing service for Master Naqyil Booker yesterday.  He was the Son of my former student, Yolanda Floyd Booker.  He was diagnosed with cancer six years ago.  He passed away from this earthly existence last week.  Shawn and I got a chance to visit with Yolanda on Tuesday evening.  Whe was in great spirit and was prepared for her sons transition.  He was 16 years old.  The cancer had debilitated his body to the point where his vision was failing and he could not walk.  His father had been caring for him up until the time of his demise. I met Yolanda back in 1985.  I was a young guidance counselor at Mercy Vocational High School and she became one of my favorite students.  She attended my wedding after I had consulted with her about the engagement ring I selected.  She has been a great friend ever since.  She has been married 15 years and is a great role model for people who have experienced the pain of lo...

I attended a rally this morning by Dr. Hite, Mayor Nutter and select members of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  State Senator Anthony Williams spoke and did not have much to offer except the statement that adults are to blame for the mess that has become the PSD budget.  State Senator Vincent Hughes, the Chairman of the State Appropriation Committee, was more informative with numbers and if it was up to him, we wouldn't have a budget issue.  $100 million could be diverted from the Liquor Control Board if privatization doesn't take place.  There is another $700 million that could be divided statewide but Philadelphia will not get the lion's share of this funding.  I didn't stay for the presentation by State Senator James Roebuck, Chair of the Education Committee, but I cannot imagine that what he said would have solved anything. I was impressed walking up to the school by the volume and harmony of the music being ...

The sports world is abuzz today because Jason Collins announced that he was gay.  It was reported that he was the first openly gay current player to come out.  I would have to disagree with that statement.  First of all, Jason Collins is an unsigned free agent.  Currently, he is on no one's roster.  He received a slew of congratulatory calls from the President and others.  Kobe Bryant, who was fined for making homophobic statements, tweeted.  Chris Broussard, of ESPN, condemned him to hell for immoral behavior.  I definitely disagree with his statements but I reiterate, Jason Collins is not signed to any team and is therefore openly gay, but not currently an NBA player. I remember when John Ameche announced that he was gay.  He was living in London at the time and it was a safe decision.  Recently, Will Sheridan, who played for Villanova, came out as gay.  He had a real informative interview on ESPN and I applaud him for his...

I am in a quandary on this blog.  I understand the influence of religion on some people's lives.  As a Christian, I try everyday to live up to the ideals of a God fearing person.  I am not perfect and it is a struggle to always keep the Gospel in the forefront of my life.  I definitely focus on the improvement that living a principled life can bring.  My difficulty is understanding the need for Islamic militants to take out frustration and anger on Americans. We got hit hard on 9-11.  Almost 3000 people lost their lives and many more had their lives disrupted because of this tragedy.  It was discovered that Osama Bin Laden had organized this act of terror to punish the United States for crimes against Islam.  The Saudis, Yemenis and other bombers all held a strict allegiance to Islam.  I am wondering where in the Quran it calls for murdering innocent civilians?  The World Trade Center was the site of two attacks by terrorists.  N...

I watched with horror at the injured victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.  Before the pictures could be cropped, a man in a wheelchair had both of his feet blown off.  All one could see were his bones protruding below his knees.  What a terrible way to end what was one of the most historic days in Boston history.  Patriot's Day (or Patriots' Day) commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, which were fought near Boston in 1775. Patriot's Day is annually held on the third Monday of April.  It is a state holiday in Massachusetts and there are many festive events to celebrate our independence from British rule. The Red Sox game begins at 11:00 AM.  Restaurants probably have drink and food specials.  One of the greatest draws of all is the Boston Marathon though.  The following facts explain the impact of the Marathon: The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by several cities in Greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts ....

Some people, including myself, longed for the warmer weather of spring.  Even though it was not a particularly snowy winter, it was cold for long periods of time.  I couldn't wait to dust off my clubs and begin some spring cleaning projects.  Apparently, teenagers in Philadelphia had other ideas.  According to published reports, approximately 200 teenagers joined in a brawl in Center City yesterday.  This flash mob was spurred on by a fight between two teen aged girls.  On the corner of 16th & Manton Street yesterday, a street fight turned into a brawl that led to ten police cars and undercover officers showing up.  In Kensington, a young lady was shot and killed during a brawl there.  What in the name of Seasonal Affective Disorder is going on here? We have had horrific instances of flash mobs in Philadelphia before.   In 2010, the New York Times reported on the following episode: In a Feb. 16 melee, 150 tee...