Racist or Just Plain Wrong?

This past Monday, January 16th American honored Martin Luther King and remembered the true greatness of his dream. Today that dream is not a dream, but a reality. Or is it?

Last year, ESPN held a panel to discuss the black athlete. The Panel included athletes

and coaches. As I was watching a taping of the show on youtube, a topic was brought up that really made me think.

Michael Vick played for the Atlanta Falcons but was suspended when he pled guilty for partaking in dog fighting. Along with being suspended he was sentenced to serve 23 months in prison. He now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. There is still controversy of his sentence and if it was because of the color of his skin.

Ben Roethlisberger is a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2009, a civil suit was filed for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room in 2008. Roethlisberger was not sentenced any jail time. In 2010, Roethlisberger was again accused of sexually assaulting a 20 year old women. Though he was not sentenced to jail, he was suspended in 2010.

Would there have been a difference if Micheal Vick was white? Would there have been a different outcome if Ben Roethlisberger was Black?

The topic and question of the show was is race a factor?

Before this accusations and suspensions, Roethlisberger was not a popular teammate. "Najeh Davenport also discussed a time when Joey Porter called out Roethlisberger in a team meeting for being the last one in to practice and the first one to leave. Porter also accused Roethlisberger of not being dedicated to the team and criticized him for not fraternizing with his teammates." An interesting survey was realized last year by ESPN that notes that 30 percent of African-Americans admire Roethlisberger and 22 percent of whites admire the quarter back.

ESPN wrote an article that most likely everyone would like to know, what if Vick was white? Race is something that is very important to Vick. Another question was asked in the article. It is interesting because this topic of African Americans and single parent households became a topic of discussion in the ESPN show. The question: "If Vick grew up with the paternal support that white kids are more likely to have would he have been involved in dogfighting?" It becomes a valid question because,72 percent percent of black children are born to unwed mothers compared with 29 percent of white children. Vick's father was noted as not have such a supportive father. His father was an strong cocaine user and was frequently drunk around young Vick.

So this becomes a question of was it really a race issue or was it his upbringing?

Should Childhood Obesity be an issue?

Obesity in America is an issue that is sometimes neglected. There needs to be somewhere that can stop the risk of obesity from growing. After reading "Too Fat to Fight,"it is evident that children have to be taught to eat right and make exercise a regular activity. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17% of children and adolescents aged 2-19 are obese. This is becoming a problem not only because of the risk of disease and death, but because, according to "Too Fat to Fight,"nine million of teenagers 17-24 year-olds are too fat to fight in the military. Which is 27 percent of all young adults.

The issue becomes crucial when adolescents are too overweight to defend their country. Childhood Obesity should be an issue discussed by running presidential candidates.

Former running mate, Sarah Palin disagreed with Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign stating that,

"Instead of a government thinking that they need to take over and make decisions for us according to some politician or politician's wife's priorities, just leave us alone, get off our back, and allow us as individuals to exercise our own God-given rights to make our own decisions and then our country gets back on the right track."

Former Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, gave a speech in 2004 about his reactions to the Conference on Child's Obesity in Texas. Throughout his speech, Perry calls obesity an "epidemic." He says that this "epidemic can be prevented with physical activity and dietary changes." He also states that he "want[s] Texans of all ages to form the fitness habits that will allow them to live longer, healthier lives while saving taxpayers billions of dollars in healthcare costs associated with obesity."

When Barack Obama was running for President, he discussed Childhood Obesity with nurses at the Ohio State Medical Center.

I found it difficult to find the Republican nominees opinions' on childhood obesity. While it is early in the election, I think it should be an issue if childhood obesity leads to American's not being allowed to fight in the army.

President Obama raises the issue of childhood obesity with a campaign endorsed by his wife, Michelle Obama. The campaign is called, "Let's Move." Michelle Obama is also featured in "Disney Channel's Magic of Healthy Living." Children are more likely to listen and realize the message of the program because it is being said by their favorite Disney Channel Stars and Michelle Obama.

Michelle Obama hold meetings and discusses obesity and fighting in the army. The First Lady visited the Army's largest training post at Fort Jackson. The training facility is making changes that include more rigorous workouts and better food choices. "Kids are spending too much time in front of TV and computer screens, not getting enough exercise and drinking too many sugary soft drinks", Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said. He said that makes their bones too fragile for military lifestyles.

Starting with child and helping them understand the risks with obesity can help them grow to be strong and healthy to one day fight for our country.