Author Archives: Merdies Hayes

The murders in 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado generally brought the heinous nature of mass killings into the American mainstream. There had been previous mass murders prior to that—perpetrated largely by young, so-called “disaffected” White teens and young adults—but now these horrific incidents are matched almost monthly by the strings of killings taking place in America’s inner cities.

The resurgent economy, extended tax cuts for the wealthiest residents, and even Pope Francis’ appeals for a more egalitarian spirit of giving have yet to entice more Los Angeles County residents to dig into their pockets to assist the less fortunate.

Pope Francis this morning is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly to help the organization celebrate its 70th anniversary. After hosting a non-denominational service at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, he’ll visit Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, lead a procession through Central Park and then conduct Mass tonight at Madison Square Garden. After that he’s on to Philadelphia—including a special visit to Independence Hall—and will conclude his American visit with a Mass and comments before the World Meeting of Families.

In January 2011, a deranged man shot and killed six people in an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords. Media pundits on the left tried to connect the murders and the wounding of the liberal Democrat to the Tea Party. A few years earlier upon the election of President Barack Obama, some liberal commentators believed that the ascension of the Tea Party was driven largely by secret racism. There were reports about racist signs at Tea Party rallies which allegedly gave more proof that the movement was only there to diminish one of America’s greatest socio-political triumphs, rather than advance the group’s ultimate goal of reigning in big government.

Practically every part of Southern California is prone to a natural disaster. Earthquakes aside, raging brush fires, devastating high surf, mud slides and, in the upper elevations, powerful snow storms can bring daily life to a sudden halt. The newest fear stems from the impending El Nino set to strike sometime in early January. And while the rain will bring welcome relief to the on-going drought, there is a strong possibility that there will be severe flooding, particularly in parts of the High Desert.

The Palmdale Junior Ballet and Theatre Dance Company will offer a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 6 featuring “Hansel and Gretel” and “For the Love of Christmas.” The famous children’s story by The Brothers Grimm will be presented as a one-act dance fantasy featuring forest creatures, angels, gingerbread children and, of course, the evil witch who lures the children through the forest, then onto her gingerbread house and eventually into her wicked kitchen. As their parents search the woods for their lost children, the kids conspire to escape the witch’s giant oven and to free the gingerbread children from her evil spell. Immediately after the show, the dance company will perform to holiday-inspired tunes featuring “We Wish You the Merriest” by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, “Sound of Christmas” by Ramsey Lewis and “Zat You Santa Claus?” by Louis Armstrong.