THE VILLAGER Page 2 ~ February 17, 2012 www.theaustinvillager.com EDITORIALS/COMMENTARY Africa: A Tale of Two Presidents tremendous challenges that face its emphasis on abstinence based poor countries. According to the Department of Defense and base that bears as much recog- this continent. Here is a review prevention, but on the whole this African Development Bank, as PEPFAR, supporting training nition as the Clinton of President Bush’s involvement initiative was an unprecedented of 2009 the MDRI relieved debt and testing throughout Africa. administration’s African Growth in Africa by the Africa Growth attack against the AIDS pan- for 21 African countries. In 2004, Following the format of and Opportunities Act and Glo- Initiative: demic. Bush also successfully passed Presidents Carter and Clinton, bal Health Initiative. “ “Bush’s most important Bush then targeted another reforms that converted poor Bush continues to focus on glo- On the other hand, Presi- initiatives focused on alleviating deadly disease with the launch country debt into grants. Addi- bal health beyond his two presi- dent Obama has ignored Africa. major heath challenges facing the of the President’s Malaria Initia- tionally, Bush tackled security is- dential terms. His global health He went to Ghana in 2009 and Harry C. Alford African people. In 2003, Presi- tive (PMI) in 2005. The PMI had sues. The president was one of cause célèbre is the Pink Ribbon gave a condescending speech to NNPA Columnist dent Bush launched the the initial goal of reducing ma- the first world leaders to label the Initiative, an organization formed elected African leaders talking Health and economic is- President’s Emergency Plan for laria-related deaths by 50 percent conflict in South Sudan genocide. by the George Bush Presidential about corruption. Other than that sues have never been more im- AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which in 15 focus countries. Malaria Although, Bush received criticism Center Institute in partnership he has done very little. Many Af- portant to Sub-Saharan Africa was then the largest single effort places a huge burden on Afri- for not recognizing the indictment with the U.N. and the Susan J. rican presidents voice their dis- than the last fifteen years. There by any nation targeting a specific cans—causing millions of adult of Omar al-Bashir by the Inter- Komen Foundation, to expand appointment with President has been one president who disease. The program sought to deaths every year and significant national Criminal Court, he did put access to cervical and breast Obama. According to Patrick stepped forward and made a establish and scale up HIV/ reductions in productivity. Results in place sanctions on oil coming cancer screening in Africa and Muboko, a Congolese American positive difference. There is an- AIDS prevention, care and treat- on the PMI website show that from the Republic of Sudan in Asia. Testing for cervical can- who recently protested in front other president, in contrast, that ment programs. According to the the program has major effect in order to pressure a peace deal. cer can be done easily with a of the White House,” We want has done virtually little nor shows PEPFAR program website, “dur- reducing prevalence of malaria, These sanctions currently remain drop of vinegar quickly highlight- to tell him it is over if he does not any concern for this land of over ing its first phase, PEPFAR sup- child mortality and related deaths. in place. Bush was also deter- ing cancerous tissue; however, do the right thing for Congo, for one billion human beings. Ironi- ported the provision of treatment The Bush administration’s mined to create an Africa-based screening remains unavailable in children who are crying and dy- cally, the president with purely to more than two million people, African foreign policy did not central command for U.S. many parts of Asia and Africa. ing if he does not do the right thing European bloodlines and an up- care to more than 10 million stop with health initiatives. Bush forces. However, he did not win Both Laura and George Bush for democracy, he can count that bringing from the southern part people, including more than four led the push for the G-8 nations the support of African leaders to will try to build awareness of this he has not only lost my vote, but of the United States has poured million orphans and vulnerable to demand the multi-lateral debt base the command, now called issue during their trip this week. he has lost a lot of votes,” as told his heart into Africa. The presi- children, and prevention of relief initiative (MDRI), which Africom, on the continent, with Despite the perception that Bush to VOA News.com. Thanks dent who has direct bloodlines to mother-to-child treatment ser- encouraged the IMF, World the base now resting in Germany. was only involved in President Bush for all you have Africa (Kenya) has displayed a vices.” Under President Bush, Bank and the U.S. to reduce the Africom, however, is now an counterterrorism, he built an ex- done. President Obama, it is not very laissez faire attitude to the this program was criticized for debt burden of highly indebted implementing partner for the pansive African foreign policy too late. Whitney – Gone, Too Soon foul play and unofficial reports winning soul and gospel singer sparked a flood of tributes from as the “Nothing but Love Whitney Houston was a indicated the songstress may Cissy Houston, the cousin of around the world from friends, Tour” was fraught with late singular and extraordinary tal- have accidentally drowned in R & B legend Dionne entertainers, industry execs, performances, disappointed ent who impacted the styles of the tub. The Coroner’s Office Warwick and the goddaughter celebrities and fans on main- fans and cancelled concerts, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé and has completed an autopsy, but of the “Queen of Soul” Aretha stream media and social me- Whitney continued to put her- Christine Aguilera to name a will not release its findings un- Franklin. During her spectacu- dia including blogs, Twitter, self out there. Her recent few. Her legacy lives on in the til the toxicology reports are in, lar career, Houston won 6 Facebook and other digital plat- project was as executive pro- mentoring of the young talent By Linda Tarrant-Reid which could take four to six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard forms. Her death came at a ducer and co-star of the re- that she took under her wings; Special to the NNPA from The weeks. Music Awards, 22 American time when she was trying to make of the 1976 film Sparkle, it lives on in the memories of Westchester County Press Houston, a mega-star of Music Awards and sold over turn her life around after years inspired by the Supremes, star- the students who attend the R & B legend Whitney the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, 170 million albums worldwide. of struggle. Whitney had re- ring American Idol season six Whitney E. Houston Academy Houston was found dead in whose first two albums Whitney Houston was leased her new album, I Look winner Jordin Sparks due out for Creative and Performing her bathroom at the Beverly Whitney Houston (1985) and also an actress who starred in to You in 2009 which landed at in August. Arts, an elementary school Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on Whitney (1987) delivered hit movies including: “The No. 1 on the Billboard 200, her Whitney Houston’s un- Whitney attended in East Or- Saturday, February 11. Hous- seven consecutive No. 1 chart Bodyguard” (1992) co-starring first No. 1 album since The timely death comes at a time ange, New Jersey and named ton was scheduled to attend topping hits on BillBoards Hot with Kevin Costner; “Waiting Bodyguard. Houston was when we have experienced so for her in 1997; and will live on her mentor and music producer 100 including: “Saving All My to Exhale” (1995) based on awarded a Gold Certificate by many losses of our African amongst the congregation at Clive Davis’s annual pre- Love For You,” “How Will I Terry McMillan’s bestselling the Italian Music Industry for American legends in the mu- New Hope Baptist Church in Grammys party that evening at Know,” “Greatest Love of novel about four strong Afri- selling over 50,000 CDs of the sic business in the last couple Newark, New Jersey where the very same hotel where she All,” “I Wanna Dance With can American women; and I Look to You album, it went of years. Etta James, Don as a 12-year old she held the was found unconscious in the Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996) Platinum in the U.S. after gar- Cornelius, Heavy D, Nick audience spellbound by her bathtub in her suite. She was “Didn’t We Almost Have It with Denzel Washington, a re- nering sales of over one mil- Ashford, Michael Jackson, Gil powerful voice. And her legacy pronounced dead at 3:55 pm by All,” “So Emotional,” and make of “The Bishop’s Wife” lion records and in 2010, she Scott-Heron, Abbey Lincoln, lives on in her daughter Bobbi paramedics. A spokesperson “Where Do Broken Hearts (1947) with Loretta Young, won an NAACP Image Award and Frank Foster are just some Kristina and the Houston Fam- from the L.A. Coroner’s Of- Go.” Whitney, who comes David Niven and Cary Grant. for the “Best Music Video for of the huge talent that has gone ily. fice stated that there was no from music industry royalty, Reaction to Whitney a Single” for “I Look to You.” onto glory and will leave a tre- Rest in Peace, Whitney, indication of physical trauma or was the daughter of award- Houston’s premature death Although, her world tour billed mendous void in our universe.