It’s Time
Posted by Michelle Moquin on August 11th, 2013
Good morning!
Race and Beyond: It’s Time to Go ‘All In’
Jonadad Luque reads to his daughter, Jarlin, 5, in their home in Nashville, Tennessee.
By Sam Fulwood III | July 30, 2013
Last week my Progress 2050 colleagues and I high-fived, hugged, and cheered among ourselves upon the release of our new book, All-In Nation. We were justifiably proud because the book, a joint project between the Center for American Progress and PolicyLink, represents tangible evidence of a hopeful vision of our nation—a nation that values the contributions of a diverse group of people who share common ideals.
A book is the greater sum of its component stories, characters, and plotlines. Like life itself, a book is the imperfect product of collaboration and compromise. Nobody writes or publishes a book under their singular power or in isolation from the team of contributors, and the stories contained in a book live on, well after the writers, photographers, editors, and others who gave it life have faded from memory.
Similarly, think of our country as a book, one that is being written by everyone who lives in this country. Each of us goes about life in unique ways, but being American connects us in ways that we often ignore and take for granted. Most of us are immigrants to this land, either by choice or by force, with a common desire to make a better future for our children and ourselves. We are all individuals, yet the pages and chapters of our shared experiences as Americans bind us to one another.
Still, not every American’s story is hopeful. Vast inequalities threaten to rip asunder the fabric of our national identity. As PolicyLink Founder and CEO Angela Glover Blackwell and CAP President Neera Tanden write in the preface to All-In Nation:
Yet too many people of color are being left out and left behind. Longstanding inequities have resulted in significant gaps in education, employment, health, and wealth among the fastest-growing population groups—the very communities the nation depends on to provide the workforce, innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders of tomorrow. For instance, from 2007 to 2010 black family wealth fell 31 percent, while Hispanic family wealth fell 44 percent. By contrast, white families only lost 11 percent of their wealth over this period. These disproportionate drops exacerbated pre-existing disparities. Whereas before the recession, nonwhite families were a quarter as wealthy as white families, by 2010 they were only one-sixth as wealthy. Closing these gaps, improving the life chances for all to reach their full potential, is good for both those lagging behind and for the entire nation.
At some point in the next generation, maybe even sooner, demographic forces already let loose in our country will literally transform the face of our nation, as our population becomes a richer and thicker mélange of races, ethnicities, and identities. By 2043 the United States will no longer have a single racial majority among its varied peoples, according to the Census Bureau. Nothing can forestall this inevitable and irreversible course.
Less clear, however, are the critical choices that we must make as we confront this oncoming trend. The options are stark. We can blithely ignore the reality, pretending nothing has changed, and allow our ignorance to guide how Americans will live, work, and struggle against themselves, trying vainly and at great expense to preserve a way of living that no longer coexists with modern-day realities. Or we can embrace change and make the emerging interplay of people and perspectives a welcomed advantage. Indeed, that’s the story of an America that created itself and refreshed its vitality with immigrants and a melting-pot culture. That history presents itself once again and is the idea behind All-In Nation.
Demographic change is not by definition a negative experience. It won’t be, if we choose not to make it so. In one of the book’s essays, Lawrence Summers makes clear that our polarized politics undermine a shared commitment to allow every future American the opportunity to succeed. He writes:
Inequality has widened and the middle class has withered, parents’ earnings and educational attainment increasingly dictate their children’s life prospects, placing children from less privileged backgrounds at an enormous disadvantage.
But such a dire national fate is a choice—one that is not preordained and does not have to continue. We have the opportunity to write the coming chapters of the American story with a hopeful and promising plot. As our nation becomes increasingly multicultural, our emerging heroes must be a reflection of the characters who want to change the nation for the better, not return us to a past that actually never existed.
The case at the heart of All-In Nation is that the United States becomes stronger socially and economically when we put all of our people’s interests at the forefront of our national agenda. Diversity is an asset, and the changing demography of our nation is an opportunity to make our union stronger. This is an optimistic vision of our nation—a storyline that must prevail and include all of our peoples.
Sam Fulwood III is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and Director of the CAP Leadership Institute. His work with the Center’s Progress 2050 project examines the impact of policies on the nation when there will be no clear racial or ethnic majority by the year 2050.
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Blog me.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
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michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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August 11th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
I said Obama’s the best we got. Doesn’t mean he’s perfect
LeTAO I figured you would have understood the 900 reference.
He’s disappointed more Beings than just me.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
I understand your reference to the “900,” but that is another set of circumstances entirely.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Digestive Enzymes May Be Your Answer to Heartburn, Gluten Intolerance, Flatulence—and Even Arthritis
Your gut will thank you!
If you watch the TV ads, you might think that a good probiotic is the answer for all your digestive problems. Don’t believe it.
While it is true that probiotic supplements can help relieve gas and diarrhea—and boost your immunity—when your intestinal bacteria are out of whack, that’s not always the issue.
Perhaps your gut has plenty of “friendly” bacteria, but you are still plagued by gut-related problems such as flatulence, heartburn, lactose intolerance, diarrhea or abdominal pain. What then?
It is time to think about taking digestive enzymes.* These supplements not only help relieve the digestive problems described above, they can also have powerful healing effects for other ailments, such as arthritis and sinusitis, that have nothing to do with the digestive system.
When to consider taking a digestive enzyme—most are available at drugstores or health-food stores…
TIME FOR DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
Flatulence. Most people have heard of the over-the-counter flatulence preventive known as Beano, but they do not necessarily know how it works.
This product is actually a digestive enzyme called alpha-galactosidase. Taken just before consuming gassy foods, such as cabbage, beans, cauliflower and broccoli, it breaks down some of the complex carbohydrates into easily digestible sugars, thus preventing intestinal gas.
Heartburn.
I have seen some great responses in patients with frequent heartburn who take digestive enzymes along with—or instead of—over-the-counter remedies such as Tums with calcium, which tightens the valve between the stomach and esophagus.
It is not clear how these enzymes help. It is possible that they deactivate some of the body’s pepsin, a stomach enzyme that plays a crucial role in digestion but that surges upward from the stomach in some patients, damaging tissue in the esophagus. This is what causes the “burn” in heartburn.
What to try:
A blend that includes different enzymes, such as lipase, protease and amylase. Some good products include AbsorbAid powder, Botanic Choice Digestive Enzyme Complex and Twinlab Super Enzyme Caps.
How to use it:
Take the supplement with or just after meals.
Dairy Sensitivity. It’s estimated that up to 50 million Americans have symptoms of lactose intolerance, a sensitivity to dairy foods that can cause bloating, gas, cramps and other digestive problems.
Humans are born with high levels of lactase, the enzyme that is required to digest a sugar (lactose) in dairy foods. But the levels drop in the first years after birth, so by adulthood, many people don’t have enough lactase to comfortably digest dairy.
What to try:
Supplemental lactase will replace the enzyme that’s missing from the intestine. People who take lactase supplements can usually enjoy dairy foods without discomfort.
How to take it:
Chew or swallow a tablet just before eating dairy…for milk and other liquidlike dairy, you can use lactase drops if you prefer. Yet another option: Lactaid Milk, which comes with added lactase.
Gluten Intolerance.
If you are one of the millions of Americans who is sensitive to gluten, a protein that is contained in wheat, barley and rye, you already know that a simple slice of bread or a bowl of wheat cereal can lead to hours of digestive problems, such as diarrhea, stomach cramps and flatulence.
Important:
Many people who think that they’re gluten-intolerant actually have fructose malabsorption, which occurs when the small intestine can’t absorb fructose, a plant sugar.
Get checked by a doctor before assuming that gluten is the problem. Fructose malabsorption is typically diagnosed with a hydrogen breath test—after ingesting a fructose solution, the amount of hydrogen in your breath is measured. An increase in hydrogen means that the fructose has not been properly digested.
What to try:
If you are sensitive to gluten, you can try taking a supplement such as GlutenEase, which contains a blend of protease enzymes. You might be able to eat small amounts of wheat and other gluten-containing foods without discomfort.
How to use it: Take one capsule with meals. Double the dose if one capsule isn’t effective.
If your gluten sensitivity is caused by celiac disease: Don’t depend on any supplement. Patients with celiac disease must avoid even trace amounts of gluten, and supplements are unlikely to help.
RELIEF FOR OTHER PROBLEMS
Arthritis. A study published in Clinical Rheumatology found that a European product known as Phlogenzym, a blend of the enzymes bromelain and trypsin and rutosid (a flavonoid), was as effective at treating osteoarthritis of the knee as a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drug. Researchers believe that this particular mix of enzymes may help with all forms of osteoarthritis.
What to try:
Consider buying Phlogenzym online from a European pharmacy. Take two capsules three times daily, on an empty stomach.
Phlogenzym’s major ingredients—bromelain, trypsin and rutosid—also can be found in US health-food stores. Follow dosage instructions on the product .
Caution:
If you take these enzymes for arthritis relief, be sure to do so only under the supervision of a physician. In some individuals, the protein-digesting components can damage the lining of the stomach.
Sinusitis.
Bacterial sinusitis usually responds to antibiotics, but some people can have chronic sinusitis that lasts 12 weeks or more—even when they are taking medication.
What to try:
Bromelain or other protease enzymes (with protease or trypsin on the label). They are not a replacement for antibiotics if you have a stubborn bacterial infection, but they can help to reduce inflammation and discomfort while the infection is active and even while you are taking an antibiotic.
How to take it:
Follow the directions on the product label. The dosing directions will depend on the specific enzymes, concentrations, etc.
WHAT ARE DIGESTIVE ENZYMES?
Digestive enzymes are present in saliva, the stomach and the small intestine. Their job is to break down the food you eat into smaller components.
After about age 50, the pancreas produces only about half the amount of digestive enzymes that it did when you were younger. Some individuals find that they have less gas, bloating or fullness when they take an enzyme supplement during or after meals.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU EAT—IT’S HOW YOU EAT
If your gut acts up during or after a meal, you may want to change how you eat before trying a digestive enzyme.
What to do…
Eat slowly and chew your food well. This gives the enzymes in your saliva a better chance to start breaking down your food before it reaches your stomach.
Enjoy your food and relax. People who are stressed have an increase in dopamine and adrenaline, hormones that inhibit normal digestion.
Be aware of any tension you feel in your body…relax your shoulders and jaw…and breathe slowly (your abdomen should expand and your chest should not rise when you breathe in).
Take a walk after eating.
It increases metabolism and helps you digest more efficiently. It also stimulates motility, the intestinal movements that move food (and wastes) through your system. Walk for at least five minutes—a leisurely pace is fine to promote digestion.
*Digestive enzymes are generally safe, but check first with your doctor if you have a chronic condition or regularly take any medication or supplement.
Source: Leo Galland, MD, director of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine in New York City. He has held faculty positions at The Rockefeller University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Stony Brook University.
He is the developer of the Web site PillAdvised.com, which discusses how to avoid dangerous interactions when combining medications with supplements. He is the author of The Heartburn and Indigestion Solution (Renaissance Workshops).
August 11th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
The coming demographic change will be resisted at every opportunity by the white man.
August 11th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
fuck you niggers, camel niggers, wet backs and the rest of you mud people.
KEEP AMERICA WHITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 11th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
We are losing our Chamorro heritage. More Guam residents speak English only at home, and that’s in large part because fewer Chamorro households are speaking the island’s indigenous language, another set of recently released details from the 2010 Census shows.
Wake up people.
August 11th, 2013 at 9:31 pm
Ym,
I miss you baby. I can take care of that hunger for you. Call me.
Love you.
August 11th, 2013 at 9:33 pm
Why is there so much hatred in this world?
August 12th, 2013 at 8:29 am
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
LeTA0
48 Fans
1 second ago (11:29 AM)
This comment is pending approval and won’t be displayed until it is approved.
How vague is this? “This comment has been removed due to violations of our [Guidelines]” How about we agree to get the “moderators” to tell us just WHAT part of their “guidelines” was violated. Right now it’s like being in the old Russia.
We are told someone did something wrong, OOOOOOOu, but what that is we will never know. I have had more than a few comments “moderated” out. I wouldn’t mind having my name used and the reason the comment was “moderated.”
However, if the “moderators” don’t feel they could use the name. At least they can cite the reason, i.e. what guideline was violated. If the purpose of the guidelines is to generate civil discourse on this blog, then publishing what was violated can only help in that area.
August 12th, 2013 at 8:29 am
“They mentioned the president’s name, I don’t know, 100 times. It was sickening,” Beam said. “It was feeling like some kind of Klan rally you’d see on TV.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/us/article/Missouri-Fair-clown-draws-criticism-for-Obama-mask-4724598.php
August 12th, 2013 at 8:31 am
white female judge renames black baby
http://scaredmonkeys.com/2013/08/11/tennessee-judge-lu-ann-ballew-orders-babys-name-be-changed-from-messiah-to-martin-deshawn-mccullough/
August 12th, 2013 at 9:11 am
If my race don’t get it before the demographics do change, I fear we will be in for a difficult transition.
August 12th, 2013 at 9:12 am
chasoak
I also have had some posts not posted. But being ultra liberal I doubt its because they want to stop my post . It’s just that the moderators are posters also and get overwhelmed when there are hundreds of posts.
Reply Fave
LeTa0
This is undoubtedly the most ridiculous excuse for denying a person the opportunity for expression on a blog that I have ever heard. If you are not a “moderator” when the next one quits, you will get the job.
August 12th, 2013 at 9:15 am
Anon#10:
Shamefully many whites believe disrespecting the black guy in the White House preserves in some way the idea they are better because they are white.
August 12th, 2013 at 10:25 am
Where’s Your Wow? Four Ways to Stand Out from the Pack
Some people have a natural ability to “wow”—an effortless charisma and skill in relationships that draw others toward them. But most of us need to learn a few tricks to get the most out of whatever it is that makes us special.
This can make a business seem more appealing to customers and an employee less expendable to his/her boss, a crucial consideration in today’s slow economy. Four ways to wow…
Write a book.
Modern publish-on-demand and self-publishing services mean that you can have a book in print, either by finding a small publisher interested in your idea or by financing a book yourself, typically for well under $1,000. (The “Resources” section of my Web site, RickFrishman.com, includes links for information.)
Examples:
An insurance salesman could write a book called How to Buy a Life Insurance Policy. A real estate agent could write a book called Choosing the Right Home in a Buyer’s Market.
Give copies of your book to your customers. If you can’t write, try to find a ghostwriter willing to work for a modest fee…or simply “talk” the book onto a recording device, then transcribe it. No matter how many copies you sell, having a book in print makes you look like an expert in your field.
Feed stories to the local press. Contact reporters at small newspapers in your region, and offer news related to your area of expertise. It must be truly newsworthy, not just self-interested attempts to obtain free publicity.
Example:
An exterminator might direct reporters to recent evidence that a new type of termite is now in the region…or provide advice on how to rid your home of an insect that is unusually prevalent in the area.
Once you have been in the local papers a few times, local radio and television reporters might start calling as well.
Always overdeliver.
Meeting expectations and making good on promises is not enough to wow. You must deliver more than people expect every time. Think of something you easily could add that your customer or employer will value. Include this bonus at the end of the transaction, if possible, so that the other party walks away with it on his/her mind.
Examples:
A restaurant adds a free small dessert to dinner orders. A jeweler provides free replacement watch batteries to anyone who buys a watch.
Give for the sake of giving…and for your own good as well. Show that you are a charitable, caring individual, and you will be rewarded. People want to do business with—and be friends with—good people.
Examples:
Help coworkers with their responsiblities whenever you can. Donate your time to charitable causes. Volunteer to be the employee who represents your company at charity events.
Source: Rick Frishman, publisher at Morgan James Publishing and founder of Planned Television Arts, a book publicity company based in New York City.
He is coauthor, with Robyn Freedman-Spizman, of Where’s Your Wow: 16 Ways to Make Your Competitors Wish They Were You! (McGraw-Hill). RickFrishman.com
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