Ahmed Mohamed

Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year old in Texas, made headlines when he brought a homemade clock to school as an engineering project. However, his celebrity was not a result of his technological innovation, but rather from the response of the school officials, who thought the project looked suspicious. In what has been labeled as a blatant exemplification of the growing Islamophobia in America, the Texas school responded by suspending, handcuffing, and interrogating the student for bringing in, what they thought was, a bomb.

Within 24 hours of the detainment, Mohamed’s story was dominating the web with the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed leading the way. His story caught the attention of Facebook, Twitter, and Google; these major innovative IT companies were reaching out to Ahmed with words of support and praise. By the time President Obama extended an invitation to the White House, the charges had been dropped and Ahmed had switched school districts.

With the help of national outcry and trending hashtags and photos, Ahmed went from “I felt like a terrorist” to “It feels outstanding to have their [Obama, Clinton, Zuckerberg] support.” The 14-year old inventor attended the Google Science Fair last week on a personal invitation from the CEO, Larry Page, according to Daily Mail.

Tweets from the President? Invitations from major IT heads? Nationwide social media campaigns in your name? What a great end to the story! What a feel-good tale about a boy who felt the sharp hands of prejudice only to then reap the fruits of reparations! What a tale of reconciliation and rectified wrongs! Right?

The issue with this framing of the story is that it neglects the systemic issues that the original story, that Mohamed was suspended, arrested, and interrogated without cause, highlighted. Sure, we can celebrate the stream of support coming in for Ahmed, but let’s not forget that the issues of Islamophobia and the misuse of police authority are still affecting millions of Americans every day.

Islamophobia spiked in America in response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Since then, there have been fluctuations of Islamophobia in our nation, according to a Pew study. Today, in 2015, we would like to think that the majority of Americans now understand that the 9/11 attacks were conducted by radical Muslims who make up a very small portion of the religious group and the majority of Muslims pose no threat to America. However, here we are, in 2015, with a 14-year old boy in handcuffs and a presidential candidate, Ben Carson, insisting that a Muslim could not effectively act as our president on Meet the Press. Shockingly, a Pew Research Study revealed that about 45% of Americans would be unlikely to vote for a candidate if he/she were Muslim. We’ve come a long way from 2001 but we have much further to go and it will take more than a #IStandWithAhmed to change that.

Meanwhile, the use and abuse of police authority in this case is one that is all too familiar with our society. It seems like every day new videos and reports of police brutality are surfacing, making it harder and harder for the public to trust that there are still honorable, good cops out there. But we know that there are. The sad fact of it is, the process of the law did not occur in the case of Ahmed; he was arrested prematurely, denied access to his parents, and questioned without an attorney. According to CNN, juveniles in Texas may have a parent, guardian, or attorney present during interrogation; however, Mohamed was repeatedly denied this request. This case, therefore, was about more than racism and religious intolerance; this was a case of denying civil liberties.

In this case, the stripping of civil liberties did not result in lost life or sacrificed freedoms; but when policemen are denying personal liberties without consequence and school officials acting on their racial intolerance, we will see cases with less optimistic endings. I’m elated to see the support flooding Ahmed and his family, but a tweet from Obama does not correct this violation, especially when it is one of millions.

Donald Trump: "This could get very messy"

In his latest platform-ridden Twitter rant, GOP candidate and headline monopolizer Donald Trump spoke about the global economy and the United States’ market ties with China saying what Democrats across the country said when he announced his candidacy, “This could get very messy.” This is just Trumps’ most recent sound bite among a summer of newsworthy quotes and platform declarations. It seems that at the beginning of the 2016 presidential election, Trump is the trending topic, for better or worse.

Trump is no novice to presidential campaigning, as he has been threatening—with varied degrees of gravity—to run since the late 80’s, according to Times News. However, when he announced his most recent and most legitimate campaign in June, he was met with equal but opposite reactions throughout the country. While he is leading in the GOP candidates, virtually all the poll data show that he is rallying his support from the center-right ideological spectrum and isn’t satisfying the demands of far right conservatives or any democrats.

Trump announced his campaign from his Trump Tower in New York City, but the event was better documented for his derogatory comments about Mexicans and his tacky ascension from the escalator.  In his truest form, Trump has decorated his entire campaign with disparaging remarks and sweeping generalizations that alienate massive amounts of voters and highlight his inaptitude as a commander in chief. Trump has guiltlessly attacked his GOP competitors with “unconventional” tactics such as revealing phone numbers of his rivals on live TV or criticizing previous candidate John McCain for his prisoner of war status in Vietnam. “Unconventional” has apparently become synonymous with “unprofessional” and “disrespectful.”

Even Fox News host Megyn Kelly put Trump under fire, when she brought up his past history of sexual harassment, misogynistic remarks, and overall bigotry. This particular interview resulted in Trump’s infamous comments about Kelly’s “hormonal” behavior and how she had “blood coming out of her eyes” and “blood coming out of her wherever,” proving once again that Trump knows just about as much about the female body as he does about the duties of the president or how to behave in public.

While those who are fed up with the economic climate in our country might be tempted to point out the financial forte of Donald Trump, my immediate retort lies in his corporate track record. Although the greedy guru will remind us that he himself has never declared bankruptcy, the lovely people of Atlantic City won’t let us forget his financial failures at the Trump Taj Mahal or the Trump Plaza Hotel, both of which left the city hurting in their time of need, according to Vanity Fair. So, yes, Trump’s personal wealth has always been safe, but if he treats our country the way he treated his numerous failing corporate endeavors, will our economy really be any better off?

Writing a piece about the pitfalls of Mr. Trump’s campaign or his complete incompetence as a potential president is like sitting in a self-driving car; it pretty much does the work for you. Come November 2016, America will be looking for a strong candidate that can make the last few leaps out of the recession, place a firm foot against foreign threats against our country, and work diplomatically to improve economic relationships with our neighboring nations. America is yearning for an agent for change in educational policy, race relations, and the divisions of wealth. Without any diplomatic experience or knowledge in the policies needed for these changes, Trump is not our man.

Lyme Disease is Political...so start advocating

Lyme Disease is a tick born disease found in all 50 states and every continent except Antarticia. While there is general agreement on the optimal treatment for early Lyme disease, there is considerable controversy over the existence,prevalence, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of "chronic" Lyme disease. Most medical authorities including the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Academy of Neurology, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) advise against long-term antibiotic treatment for chronic Lyme disease. However, in 2006, Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Attorney General, opened an antitrust investigation against the IDSA, accusing the IDSA Lyme disease panel of undisclosed conflicts of interest and of unduly dismissing alternative therapies and chronic Lyme disease. Paul G. Auwaerter, director of infectious disease at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, cited the political controversy and high emotions as contributing to a "poisonous atmosphere" around Lyme disease, which he believes has led to doctors trying to avoid having Lyme patients in their practices. The last 15 years has proved difficult for Lyme treating doctors as the IDSA and medical board have targeted physician after physician for treating patients with persisting symptoms. While pharma and insurance companies fight over the profitability of Lyme disease and the IDSA and CDC continue to hide the scale of the epidemic, patients are suffering and research is lacking. 

What can we do? 

 The Challenge

The purpose of the Lyme Disease Challenge is to raise awareness and funding for improved Lyme Disease diagnosis and treatment.

Are you in? Great! Then follow the three easy steps below and donate $10. Prefer not to take the bite? That’s okay too! Donate $100 instead. All donations accepted by ILADEF (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society’s 501(c)(3) non-profit educational fund).

1. TAKE A BITE: Bite a lime and TAKE A PHOTO OR A  SHORT VIDEO of the act – the more sourpuss your face, the better (and funnier!).

2. SHARE A FACT: State ONE BRIEF FACT ABOUT LYME DISEASE, such as the facts provided below. You can say them in your video, write them on your photo, or include them in your post. Help us spread the true facts about Lyme Disease!

3. PASS IT ON: Keep the campaign going — CHALLENGE THREE OTHER PEOPLE – your friends, family, whomever! – to take a bite! Mention them in your video or if you do a photo tag them in your post.

 Learn more about the challenge here. Even though Lyme Disease Awareness Month is over, we still need your help. So please join the challenge and become a Change Maker! 

http://lymediseasechallenge.org/

Need a fact? Here are some great facts for your challenge! Or, if you are a Lyme Fighter, share your story! 

See where the challenge is in the media here.

http://lymediseasechallenge.org/in-the-media/


For the next few weeks I will be primarily posting on my new blog about my battle with chronic Lyme disease and the invisible illness that I am fighting. You can follow my journey at http://growingdeeperrootsinchronicillness.blogspot.com/

The Hands in Roe v. Wade

           The case of Roe v. Wade has been cited, as a landmark case in the United States Supreme Court that has be instrumental in the establishment of abortion rights for women. After the cases Eisenstadt v. Baird and Griswold v. Connecticut, the court had established the right to privacy, which had translated into the right to contraceptives. Because abortions can be considered a form of contraceptive by the state, the right to privacy had turned into the right to an abortion, which could only be regulated if there was a “compelling state interest.” However, scholars and constitutional law professors alike have agreed that the ruling was over-reaching and a heavy-handed judicial intervention that was difficult to justify and has caused more conflict than solved and to a point, I can see what they mean.

            The first problematic part of the ruling of Roe v. Wade was the use of the established “compelling interest” of the state. By using this requirement as the basis of the ruling, many fear that the court will move to act more like a super legislature. In his dissent, Justice White said “In my view, its judgment is an improvident and extravagant exercise of the power of judicial review that the Constitution extends to this Court.” As an over-sweeping ruling, Roe v. Wade gave opponents of abortion access a symbol to target. The opposition built momentum and strength after the decision and developed strong state-by-state campaigns that actually increased restrictions on the right to have an abortion in many areas of the nation.

            A common criticism of the ruling, which focused on the right to privacy, is that the foundation of the ruling did nothing for the progress of women. The right to choose has helped advance women in our society by keeping them in the work force and allowing them to have options regarding parenthood. However, the ruling itself only mentioned “the liberty protected by due process [that] covers more than those freedoms explicitly named in the Bill of Rights” in regards to the right to privacy. Without mentioning the right of a women to make reproductive decisions on her own due to the liberty of her own body, this ruling was not as helpful in the advance of women’s rights as it should, and could have been.

            Finally, the ruling of Roe v. Wade was not handled well, according to scholars, because it was not in the political will for the judicial branch to handle this question. Many scholars, judges, and professors have agreed that Roe v. Wade and the issue of abortion rights would have been handled more smoothly and effectively in the political system through legislative and executive processes. As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of my most trusted beacons in the political world, has said, “The court can put its stamp of approval on the side of change and let that change develop in the political process.” Justice Ginsburg, as many others have, advocates for “judicial restraint” as a more effective means for change than expansive, aggressive decisions. I'm not sure if the political systems would have made the necessary progress or if this step was inevitable. 

Good Mourning, Baltimore

I have a lot to say about what is happening in Baltimore this week. But I have much more to say about what has been happening in Baltimore my whole life and for decades before that. However, I do not know much about the situation because I have been lucky enough to live in a safe, middle-class neighborhood, with very little crime and great educational and economic opportunities, 45 minutes outside of Baltimore. 

I love Baltimore, I do. I'm a regular Camden Yards visitor, I love a good visit to the aquarium, and I have some great memories on 34th Street at Christmas time. But that is not the Baltimore that is up in arms. I haven't lived the systemic racism or the cyclical inequality. I am ashamed of the people who I know are bright, compassionate Maryland residents when I see them call the rioters "animals" and "savages." I am ashamed of the people undermining the movement for racial equality with opportunistic looting and rioting. I am ashamed of the sensationalism that the media is feeding the rest of the world. But most of all, I'm ashamed that it had to come to this to get people talking about the issues in Baltimore. This pain is not new. As much as we would all love to say that the Orioles and the Ravens and the Inner Harbor are the heart and soul of Baltimore, that is not true. The heart of Baltimore is a group of hardworking but painfully oppressed people who need our love and support, not just at moments such as these, but everyday.

So before you ask these PEOPLE (please, can we at least remember that they are people) to calm down and work in peace, let's keep in mind why they are hurting. Their anger is not unprovoked. We need to show them peace and love before we can expect them to return it. Prayers for ALL Baltimoreans, the guardsmen working to keep the city safe (Thank you Neil Kleczek) and everyone who has been hurting from this age-old racism and inequality, especially the family of Freddie Gray.

That's the best I can do here. I can't say much as on the topic because it deserves eloquence and prose that I am not capable of providing. So I will just let Jon Stewart finish up for me. 

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/stewart-goes-off-maybe-we-shouldve-cared-about-baltimore-before-it-was-on-fire/ 

Don't let them tell you that you are crazy

It's been over a month since my episodes started. Beginning in mid-March, I started feeling dizzy and lightheaded. After standing or moving abruptly, I would have syncope episodes, fainting without much warning. Originally it was 2-3 times a week. Now, it's 4-5 times a day. Every time I stand, every time I move, I'm afraid of fainting. Every time I stand to write something on the board in class, I worry about passing out in front of the class. Every step on a staircase is nerve-wrecking.

After seeing 3 cardiologists, I have been told that I have vasovagal syndrome, something that many young women experience for stages in their life. I was put on a blood pressure medicine that was suppose to decrease the quantity of episodes I have and lessen the lightheadedness I experience throughout the day. It has done nothing of the sort. While on the medication I have developed vertigo, nausea, blurred vision, and my episodes have increased drastically.

When I tell my doctors that I have Lyme and I'm worried that my syncope could be related to that, I get brushed off as if I tried to claim that the cause is my red hair. When I tell them that the medicine is making my episodes worse, I am told that all medications need adjustments to work to their full potential. When I tell them I am experiencing new symptoms, I am told to stop googling Lyme Disease because "you can find anything on the internet, not all of it is true."

When your symptoms are internal and heard to explain to physicians, your credibility as a patient is very low. When you're a 20 year old college student, memory loss is not taken seriously because there is a possibility of alcohol abuse based solely on your demographic. When you can't explain how you feel other than "off," you don't gain much confidence. How do you explain to someone that you can't stand without feeling dizzy and confused? How do you prove that your vision is blurred? How do you explain the brain fog you experience throughout the day?

After every frustrating appointment with doubtful physicians and every inconclusive test result, I remind myself to trust myself. "Don't let them call you crazy," I tell myself.

Sometimes I feel like I was chosen from a lottery. "God chooses his strongest soldiers for the toughest fights." Someone said that, or something like it. I've never felt like I was particularly strong. In fact, when you can't confidently walk to a bathroom alone or go upstairs without gripping a railing in fear of fainting, you begin to feel like the weakest person in the world.

Today one of my professors praised me for my resilience. Maybe that's how I'm strong. Maybe, if I keep reminding myself that I'm not crazy, I can be that strong soldier. I haven't gone to med school. I know very little about the heart. I barely know that a Lyme pathogen even looks like. But I know what I'm feeling. So I just have to keep reminding myself, "Don't let them call you crazy. They aren't feeling this."

Take a Bite of Lyme

Today was the most exhausting but inspiring days I have had at WAC. As many of you know, in my quest to treat my own Lyme disease, I have delved into a controversial and complex debate about Lyme treatment and medical rights in the state of Maryland. Today, at WAC Spring Fling, the WAC Maryland Student Legislature hosted a "Take a Bite Out of Lyme" campaign. The "Take a Bite out of Lyme" Campaign is a movement to raise awareness and money for Lyme Disease. The funds go to a program that trains physicians on how to properly identify and treat Lyme Disease. We were lucky enough to find a company to sponsor our campaign and donate $10 for every bite we take out of Lyme disease. Although the company would like to stay anonymous due to the controversy surrounding the issue, I would like to express how gracious and excited I am for their support. I haven't counted out exactly how many videos we made but based on how many limes we used I am predicting about 60-90 videos/bites. This would amount to over $750 for Lyme research and education. I want to thank the MSL team, the WAC Residence Life for hosting Spring Fling, and all the participants for helping us greatly surpass our goal. This is the momentum we need! An edited video and exact amount of funds is coming soon!

Things that made my Monday a little bit better...

Mondays are hard. And we are at that point in the semester when Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and even Sundays are hard. 

But yesterday, I found myself slightly less defeated than I do on most Mondays. Trust me, this wasn't from having a relaxing productive weekend. Nor was it from having a relaxing productive Monday. I think I just had a couple moments of inspiration, awe, and excitement that kept me running. Sometimes, that's even better than coffee. (Sometimes)First, I started my Monday with my news. Usually, that's pretty depressing. We are arguing with Iran. Boko Haram is acting like a jerk again. Basketball is monopolizing my television. But! I have started reading a news aggregate that makes everything fun! Every morning (except Saturdays and Sundays), I get a "Skimmed" email with all the big stories in the best, most sarcastic and snarky way possible. I'm seriously obsessed. Sign up! It's free! Tell all your friends! And your mom! (I think we all know that our moms need more sarcasm in their lives). http://www.theskimm.com/Enjoy! 

My Monday continued with some good 'ole bigotry and discrimination. I've never been to Indiana but I think it's the ugliest state in the US (You know, other than the other dozen states with similar laws). As heartbreaking and infuriating as it is that Indiana has prioritized "religious freedom" over discrimination and violations of basic human rights, it's moving and exhilarating to watch states, companies, and communities come together to show their disapproval and to do everything they can to ensure that the state of Indiana does not profit from discriminatory laws. Now, let's keep an eye on Arkansas and North Carolina! 

http://time.com/3763622/connecticut-state-travel-indiana-religious-freedom-law/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/yelp-ceo-response-indiana-religious-freedom-law-116454.html
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/san-francisco-travel-ban-indiana-religious-freedom-bill-116469.html

Finally, I went to work. Now, normally my job as a Phonathon caller is tolling and not very enjoyable. (if you've ever yelled at a telemarketer who was just trying to make a living, shame on you).  But last night, I called a man who went to WAC in the 1940s. About half way through the conversation I asked him what is was like to be in college during a time period that was so tumultuous in American history. That's when he told me that he was only in school for a year. In 1944 he enlisted and served in WWII in Italy. He told me that he lost his best friend but he didn't say much else about his experience. After thanking him for his service, his time, and his support of the college (yes, he gave), I ended the call and did a quick google search of this man. My 92 year old friend had not only served in the war, he was captured, tortured, and held until liberation. 

Many alumni don't even want to talk to me when I call them asking for gifts to the college. Some yell at me. Some ignore my calls. And a small percentage give. My friend gave up his college education, his best friend, and eventually his legs for our country. Still, without his own college education, he donates to a fund that supports students 65 years younger than him get an education. That's better than coffee. 

Living with Lyme

        Maryland, and many other states in the Northeast, have screwed over Lyme disease patients. Limiting treatment and trivializing the chronic illness, the medical world hasn't exactly worked in favor with Lyme patients. Luckily, there is a community that is growing stronger and smarter to help Lyme victims cope with their symptoms and live normal lives. 

         I have struggled with Lyme for 15 years. I have lost part of my hearing and I struggle daily with abnormal digestive functions. The pain varies from day to day but I have learned several ways to cope and minimize the severity of my symptoms. Although I haven't figured it all out, here are 8 tips to living with Lyme. 

1. Drink lots of water every day. In fact, don't drink anything but water. 

I drink between 2 and 4 of these (32 oz each) a day and I can feel the difference. On days when I don't meet my water target, I feel much more sluggish. Drinking more water also eases my headaches and joint pain ever so slightly. 

2. Don't eat more than one serving of dairy a day. At one point in my life a doctor put me on lactaid because they suspected that I was lactose intolerant. Taking that supplement decreased some of my IBS symptoms but eventually, it began to exasperate my irregularity. I stopped taking the supplement and limited my dairy intake to, at most, one serving a day and I felt worlds better. Find your calcium somewhere else if you have to, dairy just isn't worth it. 

Where can you get more calcium? 

3. Limit what acidic foods you eat. I love tomatoes and oranges and tea and so many foods that are just plain evil for someone with Lyme. I stopped eating marinara sauce (okay, fine. I decreased how much I ate. But give me a break, I love that stuff) and I noticed an immediate change. And I haven't had orange juice in years. I'm pretty basic. (sorry, I couldn't resist)

4. Say goodbye to red meat. It's pretty simple, red meat isn't good for anyone. And Lyme only exasperates that. 

5. Learn some vinyasas. I promise, this will change your life. I do a couple sessions of yoga a week (usually around 4 or 5) and it keeps a lot of the pain away. On days when I feel weaker or in more pain, I do simple poses that massage my body and I can feel a lot of that tension ease away. On my better days I challenge myself to more inclusive poses that get my whole body working. This is also a great way to stay in shape when running is just too tough on my joints. 

6. Stick to a steady sleep schedule. For me, it doesn't matter when I sleep (I stay up pretty late) as long as it is consistent. For some reason, sticking to a schedule has put my body on a clock that is ticking along very smoothly. When I screw up the schedule, I can count on a flare up. 

7. Find a support system. You will need to have someone to hold your hand. You'll need someone who believes you when you say you are hurting. You will need someone who will rub your back and kiss your forehead. You will also need someone to share stories with. Many towns and cities have Lyme Support Groups that provide a space for patients to share tips and stories and doctor recommendations.

  Find your support group here: http://www.lymenet.org/SupportGroups/UnitedStates/Maryland/

8. Take the right supplements. Many people suggest supplements to help ease the symptoms. I take probiotics, Vitamin B12 and B6, Vitamin C (your immune system is your new best friend), Fiber Supplements, Allertec, Omega 3s, Vitamin D, Zinc, and calcium gluconate. It's a lot, I know but it helps. You just need to make sure that you are taking quality supplements and watch the expiration dates. 

I hope my tips help you with battling the symptoms of Lyme and I wish you the best in your treatment and coping.