Welcome

Oji African American Diaspora Blog

"Be Aware of The Evils of The Devil - But Learn & Follow The Commandments of Almighty God"

African American Diaspora

World African Diasporas

Pew Research Cites 47.9 Million African Americans in the United States African American Diaspora in 2022 Including 5.1 Million Foreign-Born Black Americans (Pew Research Center)

African Diasporas are World-Wide Communities Inhabited by Descendants of Africans In Which, Over 200-Million People of African Descent Live Outside of Africa (University of Pittsburg)

American Thinking

American Democracy

Threats to Democratic Government in The U.S.

Americans' Negative View of United States Politics

December 15, is known as Bill of Rights Day, as the day commemorates ratification of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and 2024 celebrates the 230th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. December 15, 1791, the first amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified. These ten amendments protect the most fundamental rights of all Americans. President F.D. Roosevelt in 1941, issued a proclamation dedicating December 15th as Bill of Rights Day, in honor of the document’s 150th anniversary. In his address to the nation, President Roosevelt stated, “No date in the long history of freedom means more to liberty-loving men (people) in all liberty-loving countries than the 15th day of December 1791.” (FedBizAccess) - The Bill of Rights, comprises the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, and safeguards the individual rights of Americans and places constraints on the authority of both federal and state governments. The Bill of Rights are bound by legal powers, and any act of the U.S. Congress that is in violation of them could be annulled by the U.S. Supreme Court. The 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights: First Amendment: Freedom of religion, press, assembly, and petition; Second Amendment: The right of citizens to keep and bear arms; Third Amendment: Rights regarding the housing of soldiers; Fourth Amendment: Bars the Government from unreasonable search and seizure; Fifth Amendment: Entitlement to a fair legal process, the privilege against self-indictment, and protection from being tried for the same offense more than once; Sixth Amendment: Entitlements of the accused, such as the right to a prompt and public trial; Seventh Amendment: The right to a trial by jury; Eighth Amendment: Protection against excessive fines, bail, and punishment; Ninth Amendment: Other unspecified rights of people, Tenth Amendment: Powers reserved to the states and to the people. Initially, the U.S. Constitution went into effect in June 1788 without any bill of rights. Even before a full year had passed, James Madison, accompanied by many Government leaders proposed 12-amendments to guarantee the human rights of citizens, but only 10 of the 12 amendments were accepted by the states. (Calendarr)

to

Russia's War in Ukraine

France Equips & Trains New Ukrainian Brigade

The Syrian War Has Continued Since 2011

As Ukraine approaches crucial moments in its defense against Russian forces, a new brigade, destinated "Anne of Kyiv" brigade, and equipped and trained by France prepares to enter the battlefield. The Brigade has just completed over two months of rigorous training with French military forces in eastern and southern France. Training of Ukrainians operated under the French Army's "Champagne" task force (NewsWeek) The French military dedicated about 1,500 soldiers to the 'Champagne' task force to teach Ukrainians how to fight effectively together and how to use and maintain their France-supplied weaponry. The French said Ukraine's new brigade's arsenal will include 18 AMX 10 light tanks, 18 truck-mounted Caesar artillery pieces, 128 armored troop carriers, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems, plus other weaponry and equipment. The training of new Ukrainian troops comes at a critical juncture in the nearly three-year war which has shown no signs of Russians slowing down. According to U.S., South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments, Russian forces have been bolstered, by up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers who have been deployed to Russia's Kursk border region to help beat back Ukrainian troops fighting there. Russia's military trained North Korean soldiers in artillery, drone skills and basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, according to U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel. (EuroNews) French authorities have confirmed that the "Anne of Kyiv" brigade will eventually include 4,500 Ukrainian troops and specialists, such as engineers and artillery teams. Ukraine's new brigade's deployment arrives as Russian forces make significant moves to consolidate their hold in the eastern Donbas region. In preparation for conditions they are likely to encounter back home, Ukrainian soldiers trained by France have been practicing complex battlefield maneuvers under simulated war conditions, including exercises involving trench defense tactics and storming procedures, with surveillance drones and live ammunition creating a realistic environment at the French military training camps. French military officials overseeing the program, also said that many of the Ukrainian troops had had only basic training before arriving in France in September 2024,, highlighting the mission's significance in enhancing Ukraine's defensive strategies and technological know-how​. This new Brigade's force could provide Kyiv with a formidable new unit to counter Russian advances in eastern Ukraine. According to Ukrainian President Zelensky, support from France and other allies is critical to sustaining morale and enabling Ukraine to keep its momentum in a protracted conflict. (Newsweek)

The Syrian Civil War (Britannica), began on March 15, 2011, with an uprising against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (Wikipedia). The war began with pro-democracy demonstrations in Daraa, Syria (Wikipedia), demanding the Ba'ath Party (Britannica) government to resign and to stop President Assad's authoritarian rule. These demonstrations resulted from rising discontent among Syrian citizens regarding what Syria had become under Assad's regime. By 2012, an array of poorly organized opposition groups had formed rebel brigades, that seized key cities in the north, including parts of of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. As the government lost territory in 2013, Lebanon’s Hezbollah (Congressional Research Service), openly deployed its fighters and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (Wikipedia) dispatched military advisors to prop up the Assad government. In 2014, saw creation of ISIS, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (NY Times) which claimed a third of Syrian territory, with Raqqa as its capital. The Syrian conflict was basically, a different war, and it prompted direct United States military intervention. In 2015 and 2016, there were growing Russian military, sophisticated weaponry and air defense systems intervention, against moderate Syrian rebel factions. The roles of Hezbollah and Iran deepened too. Between 2016-2018, the Assad Regime had retaken major cities; knitted together patches of the countryside to cement the restoration of government power; Assad had also recaptured strategic suburbs surrounding Damascus, and it then turned its sights south to Daraa, the birthplace of the uprising. Syria’s civil war had a rippling impact throughout the Middle East, reverberating deep into Europe. It also sparked the largest humanitarian crisis since the end of World War II. Millions of refugees poured into Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt as well as several European countries. More than half of Syria’s population were displaced and dependent on humanitarian aid for daily subsistence. Destruction of homes, schools, businesses, hospitals, roads and infrastructure was estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The multiple layers of Syria’s war reflects broader trends in the Middle East and, potentially future conflicts. Especially, the indiscriminate bombing of civilians and the repeated use of chemical weapons. One chemical weapon attack by the Syrian government, in August 2013, killed more than 1,000 civilians, and Syria's use of various chemical weapons, from sarin toxic nerve agent to chlorine. The emerging technologies, including drones, encryption and social media, and electronic warfare across virtual and real battle spaces. Then the massive civilian displacement and humanitarian need that has overwhelmed the international assistance infrastructure and imperiled neighboring countries that tried to host refugees was also caused by the Syrian civil war. (United States Institute Of Peace)

Elderly Citizens in U.S.

U.S. Gun Violence

According to recent assessments, although the United States military remains one of the most powerful militaries globally, concerns still exist regarding its ability to fully carry out its duties due to certain issues: an aging equipment fleet, potential size limitations, and concerns about readiness levels, meaning it might struggle to effectively handle multiple major conflicts simultaneously. However, experts still consider the U.S. military capable of defending America, its people country and fulfilling most commitments to all allies. America is a global power with global interests, and its military is tasked with defending the United States from attack and protecting its national interests on a global scale. The United States therefore does not have the luxury of focusing only on one geographic area or narrow challenge(s) to its interests. Its economy depends on global trade; it has obligations with many allies; and it must account for several major competitors that routinely, consistently, and aggressively challenge U.S. interests or seek to displace its influence in key regions. It follows that the U.S. military should be accurately sized for the task and possess the necessary tools, skills, and readiness for activities. Beyond that, the U.S. military must be capable of protecting the freedom to use the global technology: the sea, air, space, and cyberspace domains on which American prosperity and political influence depend. However, as noted in all preceding editions of the Index of U.S. Military Strength, the United States does not have the necessary force to address more than one major regional contingency, and is not ready to carry out its duties effectively. The U.S. finds itself increasingly challenged both by major competitors such as China and Russia and by the destabilizing effects of terrorist and insurgent elements operating in regions that are of substantial interest to the U.S. Military power consists of many things and is the result of how all of its constituent pieces are brought together to create an effective warfighting force, but it begins with the people and equipment used to conduct war: the weapons, tanks, ships, airplanes, and supporting tools that make it possible for a force to impose its will on another or to prevent such an outcome from happening, which is the point of deterrence. A key element in the military’s capacity to conduct operations: how many of the right tools, people, tanks, planes, or ships it has. Success in war is partly a function of matching the tools of warfare to a specific task and employing those tools effectively in battle. Have the wrong tools, objective, competence, or context, and you lose (Heritage).

On September 17, 2024, the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics at American University released results of a poll that focused on the views of Americans ages 18-34, about how young Americans view, and make sense of democracy in the United States. Foremost, the data shows: Young Americans are worried about democracy and are not optimistic or hopeful when they think about the future of the United States. However, they are optimistic and hopeful when they think about their own futures. The Poll also shows that young Americans give the government poor grades (out of a 4.0 scale) when it comes to: 1) Providing an opportunity for an affordable, quality college education to those who want it (1.72 of 4.0); 2) Having an economy where people can work and afford to take care of their basic needs (1.62 of 4.0); 3) Having an effective government that represents the interests of all Americans (1.61 f 4.0), and 5) Having capable and trustworthy political leaders (1.47 of 4.0). Lastly, the Poll indicates, young Americans think that political leaders do not pay enough attention to the priorities of average people, that they are too focused on winning reelection, and that they are unethical. Young people also indicated a desire for more compromise and a willingness to work in good faith to find solutions (CLOSE UP). Another national poll of America’s 18- to 29-year-old by Harvard’s Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government, finds that nearly two-thirds (64%) of young Americans have more fear than hope about the future of democracy in America. "Young Americans are deeply concerned and fearful about America’s future," said IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe: "There’s a healthy debate raging on the reasons why: politicians, media, big money, political correctness, and structural barriers like racism and access to education are all contributing factors in the eyes of parents (28 and 43). Yet, there is no debate that young people are working hard to bridge these divides, finding pragmatic solutions and instilling hope for a stronger democracy." (Harvard Kennedy Institute of Politics).

The March 21, 2024, Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service Battleground Civility Poll highlights that an alarming number of Americans across party lines share a deepening fear that America's very system of government is under threat, but for very different reasons. The poll, conducted by Republican pollsters from Tarrance Group and Democrat pollsters from Lake Research Partners, placed an emphasis on voter attitudes toward threats to democracy. 81% of respondents stated that they believe democracy in America is currently being threatened, 72% agreeing with that statement strongly. When asked specifically about people, organizations, or groups that present a threat to democracy, several figures stood out with respondents saying they are an extremely or very serious threat to democracy. Those figures include Donald Trump (51%, extremely serious), MAGA Republicans (49%, extremely serious), major news organizations (47%, extremely serious), and social media (43%, extremely serious) (Georgetown University). The University of California said on February 19, 2014, that the fundamental problems are four interconnected issues combining to threaten a breakdown of effective democratic government in the United States, and its . deterioration would be very serious. 1) In a democracy, one can propose, discuss virtually any idea, as debating may reveal which idea is the best solution. 2) In a democracy, citizens and their ideas get heard, but without democracy, people are more likely to feel unheard and frustrated and resort to violence. 3) Compromise is essential to a democracy, as it enables us to avoid tyranny. 4) In modern democracies, all citizens can vote, therefore, government is motivated to invest in all citizens, who then receive the opportunity to become productive. (University of California)

North Korea Joins Russia In War on Ukraine

According to the Gun Violence Archive, as of Sept. 5, 2024, at least 11,598 people have died from gun violence in the United States, a total that includes 802 teens and 173 children. There have also been more than 385 mass shootings as of September 2024, resulting in 385 deaths and 1679 injuries. The grim tally of gun violence deaths includes 1,003 people killed in police officer-involved shootings, and 55 police officers have been fatally shot in the line of duty in 2024 (ABC News). The use of gun violence while taking the lives of Americans, it also poses a serious threat to the democracy of Americans with the use of guns to intimidate and threaten voters, elected officials, and peaceful demonstrators. In recent years, America has witnessed several high-profile political shootings that underscore this disturbing trend. On January 8, 2011, Jared Lee Loughner, 22, opened fire at a Arizona meet-and-greet held by U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (Wikipedia), killing six people dead, injuring eighteen, including Giffords, who was left with a severe brain injury. On June 14, 2017, James Hodgkinson, 66, shot 60 rounds at the politicians practicing at a baseball field in Virginia, wounding House GOP Whip Steve Scalise (CBS News),of Louisiana and four others. American's notion of their having a unique political system has now been overshadowed by a different notion, an epidemic of gun violence and extremist gun culture unrivaled in other countries. For years, there has been a proliferation of incidents involving people using guns to harass and intimidate Americans involved in our political process, including elected officials, school board members, voters, and election workers. It’s not uncommon to read stories about people staking out or patrolling near voting polls on Election Day, armed to the teeth and dressed for war (GIFFORDS). Whether in a grocery store, a place of worship, a shopping mall, a community celebration, at work or in school, Americans are at risk for becoming a victim of senseless gun violence. Has America's form of democracy allowed the few to run amuck when it comes to the rights of an individual to own any kind of gun vs. the many’s right to live without fear of mass murder? Other Democratic Countries do not allow the majority of their citizenry to be put in danger because of unregulated and unenforced access to military-style guns that can be retrofitted to become automatic weapons capable of firing multiple rounds of bullets so powerful that they render their victims unrecognizable. So many communities are making national news because someone decided to go on a shooting rampage with a high-powered, assault-style gun. Why should that be occurring in the United States of America? Is it because of a misinterpretation and misapplication of the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution? America is the World's most powerful democracy, then why is it too important to syop jun violence (Missouri Independent).

African Americans Future in U.S. Politics

People who live at the bottom of the (American) social order, especially at the bottom of one of its hierarchies, are frequently condemned to a life of crippling disadvantage. The black poor, find themselves in conditions of greater deprivation now than at any time in the recent past. Racial inequality remains a brute fact of life in this country. The interracial political unity that is supposed to herald a truly post-racial society also does not exist. Blacks and whites remain bitterly divided in their political beliefs. This political division has led to desperation and anger in many black communities. The existence of such mutually reinforcing power hierarchies calls the social order itself into question as a matter of justice. African American (Black) political movements need to disrupt these hierarchies to overcome injustice. In the United States, a healthy Black political (movement) is indispensable to that task. Black politics, African Americans’ ability to mobilize, influence policy, demand accountability from government officials, participate in American political discourse, and ultimately offer a democratic alternative to the status quo, have at times formed the leading edge of American democratic and progressive movements. Black visions were some of the more robust, egalitarian, and expansive American democratic visions, however, this status has been lost. The decline of progressive black politics is apparent. A February 2024 Gallup Poll, (AZIOS), showed that the Democratic Party' longtime advantage with Black, Latino and Asian American voters has shrunk to its lowest point since 1960, states Financial Times chief data reporter John Burn-Murdoch. Today, there is a disconnect between black organizing and other mobilizations on behalf of labor, suffrage, and radical economic reform. Even worse, the black civil society that in the past supported flourishing black activism is today weaker than it was for most of the twentieth century. Without a mobilized black politics, American democracy is even more vulnerable to internal attacks by those who have been openly suspicious of mass democratic movements for decades. Rebuilding black progressive movements requires recovering the spirit and politics of the militant Martin Luther King Jr. of 1967–68. This King was anti-war, anti-imperialist, and a severe critic of the savage denigration of poor people inherent in the logics of unregulated capitalism. We need to reconstruct Black politics, and we need not, or should not copy the movements of earlier generations but should follow their lead by building movements based on our own realities (Boston Review)

African American News

African News

• A Nation Built With Its People All

• Equal, That They Are Endowed, By Their

• Creator, With Certain Unalienable Rights

United States Holiday

U.S. Climate Change

The United States is experiencing many effects of climate change, including Warming temperatures where the average temperatures in the contiguous 48 U.S. states have risen since 1901, with an increased rate of warming since the late 1970s. The most warming has occurred in states in the North, West, and Alaska. Nine of the top 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1998. The climate of the United States is shifting in ways that are widespread and varied between regions. From 2010 to 2019, the United States experienced its hottest decade on record. Extreme weather events, invasive animal, plant and organ species, floods and droughts are increasing. Climate change's impacts on tropical cyclones intensifying rainfall and wind speed, and s raising sea levels which also affect regions of the country (Wikipedia). In the United States during 2023, rising temperatures significantly increased the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths, as more than 2,235 people died from the effects of excessive heat in summer 2023, with about 48% of the heat-related deaths occurred in Arizona, California, Nevada, or Texas. These heat related incidences particularly impacted vulnerable populations including the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing health conditions. The major effects included heatstroke, dehydration, worsened respiratory issues, and increased strain on the cardiovascular system. Although 2023's heatwave led to 2,325 heat-related deaths, however more than 21,518 people have died from heat since 1999, states the Journal of American Medical Association. Heat waves are reaching record highs, worsened by climate change. The occurrence of more severe and prolonged high temperature heat waves, is becoming more frequent. During the 2020s, the average heat wave has been 2.5°F above the local threshold. The CDC reports that 60-million U.S. metro area residents face over 76 days of temperatures over 90 degrees annually, primarily in the Sun Belt states of: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, & Utah. The rising heat factors: temperature, energy costs, and the age and income of residents, are the main three factors contributing to increased vulnerability to extreme weather. Any of these factors by itself can put an individual at risk, but the places most at risk are those where two or all three factors occur simultaneously. Around 23- million Americans, including younger and older residents, especially in lower-income households and communities of color, are experiencing the most direct impacts of extreme weather (Making Action Possible)

U.S. National Security

Domestic Terrorist Groups & Terrorism Threats to U.S. Security

The United States faces very real, very grave national security threats, in which, extremism and international terrorism flourish in many areas of the world. Extremism and international terrorism threatening our warfighters, our allies, our homeland, and regional conflicts can have serious effects on U.S. national interests. Hostile foreign governments and terrorists trade in, or seek to acquire, weapons of mass destruction and/or the materials to produce them (National Security Agency). The United States faces persistent threats from domestic violent extremism (DVE) and international terrorism. Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the United States. Both domestic violent extremists (DVEs) and those associated with foreign terrorist organizations continue to attempt to motivate supporters to conduct attacks in the U.S., including through violent extremist messaging and online calls for violence. In the months of 2024, factors that could mobilize individuals to commit violence include their perceptions of the general election cycle and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues. Likely targets of potential violence include U.S. critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement (Homeland Security). A growing number of former and current military members are engaging in extremist offenses. According to current statistics, individuals with military backgrounds represent 11.5% of the total known extremists who have committed violent and nonviolent crimes in the United States, and an average of seven people with U.S. military backgrounds have committed each year extremist crimes between 1990 and 2010. That rate has risen to an average of 29 people each year over the past decade. NIJ studies have also shown that individuals with military experience may be susceptible to recruitment by domestic violent extremist groups due to their unique skills, which an extremist group may perceive as contributing to the success of a terrorist attack (National Institute of Justice). Domestic terrorism is on the rise with several attacks have been widely reported in the last few years. Domestic terrorism is generally defined by law as involving criminal acts dangerous to human life on U.S. soil that appear intended to coerce a civilian population or influence or affect the conduct of government. All but eight states across the U.S. experienced at least one incident of domestic terrorism. According to Homeland Security, there were 231 domestic terrorism incidents between 2010 and 2021. Of these, about 35% were classified as racially, or ethnically-motivated, and these attacks were also the most lethal. The FBI is responsible for leading domestic terrorism-related investigations and intelligence efforts involving terrorist activities or plots. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tracks terrorism-related incidents, and is responsible for gathering and sharing intelligence on emerging terrorist threats (Government Accountability Office).

The U.S. Census Bureau projected the United States human population to be 335,893,238, on January 1, 2024 - The U.S. is comprised of a mosaic of cultural diversity, with 40% of its people identifying as racial or ethnic minorities: White, 60.1%; Hispanic, 18.5%; Black, 12.2%; Asian, 5.6%; Multiple Races, 2.8%; American Indian/Alaska Native, 0.7%; Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders: 0.2% - Visualizing the U.S. Population by Race

U.S. Environmental Health

Environmental health, refers to aspects of human health's quality of life, determined by the physical, biological, social, chemical and psychosocial factors in the environment. Environmental health includes: Clean air, stable climate, adequate water, sanitation, safe use of chemicals, protection from radiation, healthy and safe workplaces, safe agricultural practices, healthy environments in cities, and a preserved nature. (World Health Organization). The United States experiences many deaths each year due to a polluted environmental, when in 2017, the U.S. had 196,930 deaths, the seventh highest number of pollution-related deaths in the world. 55% of those deaths were due to indoor and outdoor air pollution. In 2023, more than 119-million residents lived with air pollution that could harm their health and shorten lives. People of color are disproportionately affected, as are residents of Western cities. according to report from the American Lung Association (CNN). The “State of the Air” 2024 report finds that despite decades of progress cleaning up air pollution, 131.2 million people still live in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. This is 11.7 million more people breathing unhealthy air compared to 2023’s report. The rise in number of individuals whose health is at risk is the result of a combination of factors: Extreme heat, drought and wildfires are contributing to a steady increase in deadly rise in the number of individuals whose health is at risk is the result of a combination of factors. Extreme heat, drought and wildfires are contributing to a steady increase in deadly particle pollution, a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, especially in the western U.S. Particle pollution include sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate, soot, metals, and dust particles. The combination of policy-driven reductions in emissions on the one hand and climate change-fueled increases in pollution on the other hand have resulted in an ongoing and marked disparity between air quality in eastern and western states, especially for the daily measure of fine particle pollution. In this year’s report, only 4 large counties in three states east of the Mississippi River, earned failing grades for daily spikes in fine particle pollution, compared to 108 counties in 16 western states. The 2024 Report finds that again this year: "The burden of living with unhealthy air is not shared equally. Although people of color make up only 41.6% of the overall population of the U.S., they are however, 52% of the people living in the counties with the worst air quality. In the United States, people of color, across income levels and regions of the U.S., breathe more particulate air pollution and are disproportionately exposed to air pollution, and the health impacts of this exposure are growing (Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health).

World Conflicts

Palestine: Uncertainty For Gaza & West Bank

Following a deadly, coordinated surprise assault by Hamas (Wikipedia), on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched an unprecedented air campaign on the Gaza Strip, with Israeli ground troops entering the northern area of the coastal enclave three weeks later. Since then, Israeli forces have expanded their operation into central and southern Gaza, with fighting ongoing and expected to last for several more months. Meanwhile, tensions in the West Bank, already alarmingly high before October 7, have escalated even further in recent months, as clashes between Palestinian armed groups and the IDF have intensified and Israeli settlers have ramped up their violence. Violence is expected to continue across the Palestinian territories, including after the current high-intensity fighting ends in Gaza. The current conflict marks the deadliest phase of violence for Palestinians since the establishment of Israel in 1948. The Gaza’s Health Ministry has indicated a death toll of more than 43,300 people as of November 2024, and many more bodies are believed to remain under the rubble of bombarded buildings. Israel’s aerial campaign has involved over 3,045 airstrike events in 85 locations from October to the end of December 2023. Despite Gaza’s small size, this represents the highest number of airstrike events recorded within any three-month period by a single actor for any country or territory in the Middle East since 2017. While the intensity of airstrikes has decreased in the north during the last weeks of December, the IDF has strengthened its operational control of the area, and Israel has continued heavy bombardments of central and southern Gaza. The increase in violence in Palestine was not contained to the Gaza Strip in 2023, it was also notable in the West Bank, which experienced a steady rise in Israeli settler violence, stepped-up IDF security operations, and the re-emergence of Palestinian armed groups’ activities, making 2023 the deadliest year in the West Bank in two decades. Israel is facing increasing pressure to end its high-intensity military campaign. Given its relatively small population, it will be difficult for Israel to remain in a state of emergency and endure the economic and social consequences while simultaneously dealing with Hamas in the south and the Lebanese Hezbollah in the north (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data). One year into the Gaza war, the humanitarian crisis has reached a catastrophic level, with unprecedented casualties, widespread destruction, severe food insecurity, mass displacement and a scarcity of safe spaces, coupled with Israeli restrictions on aid delivery, have further compounded the crisis. The war has also had a severe impact on critical sectors such as education, healthcare, social services, the economy and the environment (ESCWA).

International Conflicts That Create Atrocities & Human Suffering

U.S. Active Military

Issues of Concern To People In The United States

U.S. Bill of Rights Day

December 15, 2024

African American Dispersion

Dispersion of African People

The median age of the United States population is 38.9 years, meaning, the age at which half of the population is older and half is younger. According to the U.S. Census 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the U.S. median age had increased to 38.9 years between 2021 and 2022. "As America’s median age creeps closer to 40, one can see how the aging of baby boomers, and now their children (echo boomers) are impacting the median age. The eldest of the echo boomers have started to reach or exceed the nation’s median age of 38.9,” said Census demographer Kristie Wilder. The 2020 Census recorded United States population age 65 and over had grown nearly five times faster than the total population over the 100 years from 1920 to 2020. The older population reached 55.8 million of the population of the United States in 2020 (2020 Census). Political issues which arise in an aging society include 1) a voting majority for the interests of the elderly, 2) a voting majority of females, 3) domination of the decision making power in corporate and similar ruling bodies, 4) unemployment or a long wait for promotion for younger people, and 5) Gerontocracy of Political Leaders. At 81, Joe Biden was the first octogenarian to occupy the Oval Office., and at 78, Donald Trump is the oldest person To Be elected U.S. President. The Presidency is one of the few jobs in the world where 60 is considered youthful. Extreme age is not limited to the executive branch. Mitch McConnell is 82. Nancy Pelosi is 84. Chuck Grassley is 90. At least 20 members of Congress are over 80. The average ages in the U.S. House is 58, and the Senate is 64. As the median age in the U.S. is 39, the U.S. Congress does not represent the electorate. Is the United States a gerontocracy? One in 5 American citizens are ineligible to vote in elections due to age-based discrimination. Youth are excluded categorically from formal participation in our nation’s political process. At the other end of the age spectrum, there is no age limit on voting. Thus, politicians cater to the legislative priorities of seniors and disregard the interests of the youth who are ineligible to vote (College of Coastal Georgia)

International Holiday

World Conflicts

Millennials Worried About & Not Hopeful For U.S. Democracy

America is A Global Power & Its Military Must Defend Its Interests

Millennials in U.S.

131.2 Million People Live in Cities With Unhealthy Particle Pollution

Christmas (Wikipedia), observed primarily each year on December 25, is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Historically, Christmas is a feast central to the liturgical year (Church Year) in Christianity, and it follows the season of Advent (the Birth and second coming of Christ). Christmas Day is celebrated religiously by a majority o Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians (Wikipedia). In the fourth century, Christian church officials wanted to institute a holiday that represented the birth of Jesus. However, the Bible never actually mentions the day that Jesus was born. Pope Julius I (Wikipedia), decided that the official birthday of Jesus Christ would the 25th of December, as it was believed that this date would better absorb and adapt existing traditions associated with pagan festivals at this time. The holiday spread to Egypt during 432, and England at the end of the 6th century. Anywhere that Christianity touched, Christmas was soon to follow (Wilstar). Then in the early 17th-century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell (History), and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, and vowed to rid England of decadence. As part of their effort, Christmas was cancelled. In 1660, by popular demand, Charles II of England (Wikipedia), was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of Christmas. The English separatists, pilgrims, who came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, from 1659 to 1681, Christmas was not a holiday in early America, and actually the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston. Anyone celebrating Christmas was fined five shillings. In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870, after the American Revolution (History). After the War, Representative Burton C. Cook (Wikipedia), of Illinois introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress, which passed in both houses of Congress. President Ulysses S. Grant (White House), signed it on June 28, 1870. Although it might have stood to reason that such a bill might provoke debate about hot-button issues like the separation of church and state, there was no notable debate on the bill in committee. Although some have theorized that the law was meant to unite North and South states during the Reconstruction Era (Britannica), from 1865-1877. Christmas changed during that period, with Christmas customs encouraging a sense of community and unity at a time when urbanization, industrialization and the memory of the recent Civil War had made many people feel more unsettled than ever (Time Magazine).

History of The United States

History (Wikipedia)-Map Library of Congress

Photo: Janice S. Ellis - Ph.D., Author of "Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness"

United States of America: The Constitution

Racial & Ethnic Population of United States

Merry Christmas

December 25, 2024

Quote: Janice S. Ellis - Ph.D., Author of "Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness"

Gerontocracy Effect on Democracy in The United States

Gun Violence In America Endangers Lives & Democracy

On October 23, 2024, United States officials confirmed that North Korea had sent troops to Russia to aid the country in its ongoing war against Ukraine. Then on November 18, 2024, Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters it is likely that roughly 11,000 North Korean troops have entered Russia's Kursk region. The Kursk region, located along Russia's border with Ukraine, was the site of Kyiv's surprise incursion in August 2024 (Newsweek). On November 20, 2024, Reuters reported that around 10,900 North Korean troops have been deployed to the Kursk region as part of Russia's airborne unit and marines, with some already participating in battles in the Russian war against Ukraine. a South Korean lawmaker said. North Korea has also shipped additional arms for the war in Ukraine, including self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launchers, South Korean parliament intelligence committee member Lee Seong-kweun told reporters, citing the National Intelligence Service. (Reuters) After the United States and Ukraine revealed that North Korean troops has already engaged in combat with Ukrainian soldiers, their role in the fight is being re-evaluated. Even the number of North Korean troops being deployed - originally put at around 11,000 by the Pentagon has been debated. According to Bloomberg, unnamed sources believe North Korea may actually deploy to aid Russia in Ukraine as many as 100,000 troops. North Korea may have one of the world’s largest militaries, with 1.28 million active soldiers, but - unlike Russia’s military, the North Korean People's Army (KPA) has no recent experience of combat operations. However, Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence services have said that many of the troops deployed to Russia are some of North Korea’s best, drawn from the 11th Corps, known as the Storm Corps, a unit trained in infiltration, infrastructure sabotage and assassinations. These North Korean soldiers are "trained to withstand a high degree of physical pain and psychological torture"... "What they lack in combat they make up for with what they can tolerate physically and mentally," says Michael Madden, a North Korea expert from the Stimson Center in Washington. Further more adds Mark Cancian, from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies: "The Russians appear to be giving them additional training, likely on the special circumstances of the war in Ukraine." And as the war in Ukraine creeps towards its third year, these North Korean troops may be among "the best capable" among the troops available to Russia, says Chun In-bum, a retired South Korean army lieutenant-general. According to Nato and military officials in the West, Russia has been recruiting at least 20,000 new soldiers a month to help bolster its war effort, with more than 1,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded daily (BBC).

Climate Change's Warming Temperatures Rising in U,S.

U.S. Drug Issue

U.S. States Legalization of Marijuana: Good or Bad

Cannabis (Wikipedia), Marijuana, is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, both as medical and recreational purposes. Approximately 45% of American adults report using marijuana in their lifetime, but. its use is particularly widespread among adolescents and young adults use of Cannabis (CBD). In 1973 Oregon became the first state to decriminalize cannabis, and in 2012 Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize its recreational use. As of November 2023, twenty-four states, four territories, and the District of Columbia had legalized recreational use of cannabis. But, under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (FindLaw), cannabis, legal term Marijuana, is considered to have "no accepted medical use" and a high potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence (Wikipedia). Frequent or heavy cannabis use has been linked to problems in cognitive functions: learning, memory, attention, processing speed, perceptual motor function, and language. The use of cannabis during pregnancy may have harmful effects on a baby’s health after birth. Research has linked cannabis use with lower birth weight, preterm birth, hospitalization and child's death within one year of birth. Some research shows an association between long-term cannabis use and an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and arrythmias. Cannabis can cause Gastrointestinal problems, such as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome resulting in nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after long-term, heavy cannabis use. Other gastrointestinal issues include acid reflux, pancreatitis, and peptic ulcer disease (National Institute on Drug Abuse). There are also seven ways Cannabis (CBD) has been proven to benefit human health. 1) A 2017 JCI Insight study, found that Cannabis (CBD) lowered the blood pressure, and reduced their resting blood pressure; 2) According to a Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research study, Cannabis (CBD) can help reduce inflammation and the neuropathic pain it causes; 3) A 2018 study found that Cannabis (CBD) reduced the lack of impulse control that often cause people to relapse; 4) A preclinical study found that Cannabis (CBD) could be effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder; 5) A recent study found that Cannabis (CBD) can effectively prevent and treat irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and that cannabis’s anti-inflammatory properties are key to reducing and preventing symptoms; 6) A recent study after researching Cannabis' (CBD) to treat epilepsy and other seizure syndromes found it can have positive effects in reducing symptoms and seizure frequency, and 7) That not only has Cannabis (CBD) been used to help alleviate the effects of chemotherapy, but studies have also found it has numerous anti-cancer effects that can help prevent a variety of cancers, treat tumors, and benefit the immune system (Johnson & Wales University).

Russia's War in Ukraine

Africa's Democracy Inhibited by Coups & Conflicts

Democracy in Africa is a complex and evolving topic. Although there have been significant strides towards democratic governments, challenges remain. Some African countries: Ghana, South Africa, and Botswana, have made some progress in establishing stable democratic systems, with regular, free, fair elections. Despite progress, many African countries still face significant challenges, especially in issues such as coups, civil conflicts, and unconstitutional changes in government. The latest edition of Freedom in the World has found that electoral irregularities, coups, and civil conflict has weighed heavily on Africa. The new report, Freedom in the World 2024: The Mounting Damage of Flawed Elections and Armed Conflict, found that global freedom declined for the 18th consecutive year in 2023, as political rights and civil liberties deteriorated in 52 countries, representing a fifth of the world’s population. The declines eclipsed improvements observed in 21 other countries. Elections in Madagascar, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe were marred by political violence, distrust, administrative irregularities, while conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo led to devastating human rights abuses. Military juntas ousted civilian governments in Niger and Gabon, continuing a wave of coups on the continent. Against this backdrop, successful elections in Liberia and a number of court rulings that protected LGBT+ people’s rights stood out as bright spots (Freedom House). General elections can offer Africans the opportunity to strengthen their governance frameworks. However, as coups in Niger and Gabon in 2023 have shown, without a governing process characterized by fidelity and adherence to the rule of law, elections are not likely to function effectively as instruments for institutionalizing and consolidating democracy. While elections are an important mechanism for deepening and institutionalizing democracy, they can only do so where countries have a competent and balanced governing process (Brookings Institution)

"Ensuring America’s democracy prevails must be done in every unit of this government. The threats that ultimately destroy a nation begin with a single step or action from within, often unnoticed until the destructive forces have gained momentum and established a foothold. Ukraine’s desperate fight to avoid authoritarian rule is a stark reminder of how important our democracy is, how much we need to protect it and continue working to make it better."

Americans’ outlook on national politics is summarized as "dismal," according to a new Pew Research Center report released, September 19, 2024. "Americans have long been critical of politicians and skeptical of the federal government." Authors of the the report wrote: "But today, Americans’ views of politics and elected officials are unrelentingly negative, with little hope of improvement on the horizon. A majority of the polled say the political process is dominated by special interests, flooded with campaign cash and mired in partisan warfare.” Just 14% of American adults believe that most elected officials care about the thoughts of people like them, the report wrote. And only 15% of Americans believe all or most currently serving elected officials ran for office even in part out of a desire to serve the public, while a majority of Americans say they think most were motivated by the desire to "make a lot of money." And just 26% of Americans polled see the quality of candidates for political office over the past several years as good. Just 27% of Americans describe the country’s political system as working even somewhat well today, with only 37% expressing even a little confidence in this political system’s future (CNN). Pew Research Center study of the state of the nation’s politics finds no single focal point for the public’s dissatisfaction, however, there is widespread criticism of all three branches of government, both political parties, as well as political leaders and candidates for office. Just 16% of the public say they trust the federal government always or most of the time. While trust has hovered near historic lows for the better part of the last 20 years, today it stands among the lowest levels dating back nearly seven decades. And more Americans have an unfavorable than favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, the first time that has occurred in polling going back to the late 1980s. 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics (Pew Research Center)