Libyan warfare affects Houstonians

Libyan warfare affects Houstonians

By: Sara Carr

As bombs ignite the horizon of Libyia, a Libyan native looses sleep over his home town. The tragedy disrupts his piece of mind as he watches the daily in hopes Ghadafi will be over powered.
Jaballa Hasan a Libyan native and speech communication professor at Texas Southern University, spoke about his experience.
“Those who support Gadahfi are bribed to or have to,” said Hasan. “It’s just oppression, you are not allowed to speak your mind, you’re not allowed to talk about anything but Gadahafi, and it’s tough to live in this regime.”
Hasan has experienced Gadahfis iron hand, when he was arrested and thrown into prison in 1996 for the academic teachings aside from the academic “Green Book”. For five days he endured psychological torment and torture.
He was eventually smuggled to Egypt and then to America.
After 42 years in power Gadahfis history of atrocities to Libyans and oppression are endless.
“He (Gadhafi) shot down a plan over Scotland, a French airline over Shad desert and in 1999 he ordered 1200 prisoners to be killed in cold blood, 1200 men died in three hours,” said Hasan.
As controversy continues to surrounds Operation Odyssey Dawn, the international military operation has supporters in Libya.
“I believe this is an moral obligation to stand beside the oppressed, I thinks its about time, they have to stop this guy,” said Hasan. “Gadhafi has crossed the lines, President Obama said five times, Gadhafi must go. Libyans are cheering, 'God Bless America'.”
Currently Libyans are waiting for Gadhafi to relinquish his power and step down. The gun shots and bombs still keep Hasan awake at night; there will be no peace of mind until power is handed over.

The Whole World Was Watching

"The whole world was watching" during the civil rights movement. The Menil museum located in Houston’s fourth ward district displays photographs that were captured during the era of the movement.

Texas Southern University students visited the museum for the first time and were reminded of the impact of the Civil Rights movement. The room was in silence as a lesson of their history was displayed in the room.

“These photographs show the importance of these photographs for racial politics is very much informed with what you’re reading about in Civil Rights,” says White.

Michelle White, the museum curator handpicked each photo that displays the true emotion of the movement. Thirty-six black and white photos fill the exhibit telling the powerful story of hope and the violence that African Americans endured.
“We don’t do labels, we don’t believe in telling you how you should see the art,” said White.

The Menil Collections of civil rights photographs is more “grittier” than other museums, these photos focus on the emotion of the moment and no words are needed to explain the black and white photos.

“A show like this it makes it a little more complicated; I wanted images that could communicate to the viewer without words,” said White.

The focus for the TSU students was to see the impact of the Civil Rights movement and the association that this museum has with their university.

“This has everything to do with TSU history and what they did we look through the collection and what we found is a black separatist lecture in 1970,” said White. “We took footage from TSU and place it on the surveillance TV during the exhibit” said White.
The students from the university were surprised that TSU has such an impact across Houston from first sit in at a local diner to the recognitions of the Civil Rights movement.
The Menil Collection museum will be displaying, The Whole World Was Watching collection until September 25.

The Sound of Trumpets brings Hope to Cleveland Texas.

The Sound of Trumpets brings Hope to Cleveland Texas.
Written by: Sara Phipps Carr

As the trumpets of hope echoed through the small community near Samuel Wiley Park, pastors of surrounding churches gathered to pray over the heavy hearts that fill the stricken town of Cleveland Texas.

Last month, the small town was thrown into a media frenzy when 19 men and juveniles were arrested and charged for the alleged rape of an 11 year old girl. An affidavit states the incident took place over a three month period ending Thanksgiving weekend.

“God is never wrong,” said Pastor Archie Phillips “what happens in our communities in our nation, in our states, it lets us know that God is not pleased with what is going on.”

The community gathered at Samuel Wiley Park for a “Community Spiritual Awakening, Blow the Trumpet in Zion” on Thursday March 31st 2011.

The members of the Community Rescue Committee wanted the public to gather in prayer and to join forces to change their community.

“We are trying to bring people from the community and talk to them about our kids,” said Mayor ProTim Barbara McIntyre “we are trying to find solutions, they don’t know what to do in a case like this, but there is such a disconnect and trying to reconnect we have to start with those in need.”

Since the alleged rape, the media has reported those involved have been victimized or labeled incorrectly with little truth exposed.

“It’s out of our hands now, all we can do is pray that the judicial system will sort of the truth,” said Pastor Travis Hullett “all I can do is pray for the city of Cleveland and help those with the healing process.”

As the pastors preached in the outdoor auditorium, under this roof, there were no signs of a racial divide. Instead a community joined in prayer to reignite hope in their beloved city of Cleveland.