Streaming Saturdays 12/11/2010

It is Saturday once again and that means we are coming to you LIVE with some great interviews and DNA's take on the week's news and events. On deck this week: Obama's Tax Deal with the GOP, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Julian Assange and the Hactivists, plus some great convos about Bullying and Facebook Cheating. We have a great LIVE show lined up for today.  We're live at noon ET (9am PT)! C ya online!

Words Matter

Last Saturday on the Derrick Ashong Experience we had a conversation about the value of "words."  As I wrote yesterday in my post about the Mosque Controversy in NY, a lot of people who claim that certain words are sacred (like those of our Constitution), apparently only believe so when it's convenient to.  This has become increasingly apparent in the Republican Party, which claims often and vociferously that the Constitution is sacrosanct, but is willing to sideline fundamental protections afforded by it when it suits their narrow political interests.

Our country can't afford to play politics wiith our core principles.  The video above is a brief argument on why words matter, and a defense of the First Amendment & Freedom of Religion.  Check out past shows on my Oprah Radio page, and Tune In Saturday's from noon-3pm for more of The Experience!

Streaming Saturdays

Live Videos by Ustream

It's SATURDAY! If you don't know, this is when I do the live weekly broadcast of my Oprah Radio show "The Derrick Ashong Experience".  Every week from noon-3pm ET (9am-noon PT) we cover the issues of the day, along with subjects you care about in Art, Society, Biz & Politics.  Unlike most radio shows you can actually watch this one Live on Ustream. You can also watch on Facebook if that's your preferred turf.  Today we're talking about Dr. Laura, the 9/11 Mosque, education, net-neutrality, we're hanging with Social Media Superstar Shira Lazar & more.  You can give us a buzz at 866-677-2496 or join the chat in the box below.  See you online!

Immigration Nation

So on July 31st I had a convo w/ Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County Arizona about the ongoing immigration saga down there.  He gave us some very interesting insights into the situation on the ground, including a refutation of the claims of rising crime & violence in the state.  According to him, in recent years AZ has not only seen a drop in violent crime, but also in illegal border crossings.  Given that, I asked him what he thought was behind all the controversy & he took it back to the "old school."  Check out the clip above and peep the full interview on my Oprah Radio page.

Mission Malaria

It's World Cup time and for all my tweeps you know I've been tweeting like a madman for the love of the world's most popular sport.  The video above exemplifies the intersection of both the love of sport & the love of life and raises another issue I've been thinking a lot about lately.  For the past few months I've had the honor to join an amazing group of social media envoys who have committed to leveraging their networks to help end the scourge of malaria in Africa and across the globe.  Thus far the group has managed to raise worldwide attention and helped to inspire significant support towards it's mission, including the April announcement from the World Bank that it would commit $200 million to purchase 25 million of the remaining 50 million bed nets being sought by UN Special Envoy for Malaria Ray Chambers.

I had a chance to interview Mr. Chambers for my show on Oprah Radio back in May and we discussed the malaria campaign, as well as the roots of his broader commitment to philanthropy.  I'm always struck by how the circumstances of peoples lives can have such a profound impact on what we place value on.  Many of you who know me, know that I've had significant personal experience with malaria.  It's inspiring to see so many people taking a stand to address this issue.  By eradicating the socially & economically debilitating effects of malaria, we help people in developing nations to better help themselves.  As an African I want to see people on the continent empowered to solve our own problems, to leverage the massive human & material resources of our homelands, and to break the cycles of poverty and misperception that continue to challenge us.

The video above is another example of how each of us can have a positive impact on our world, if only by deciding that something matters enough to speak out about.  In the midst of this global celebration of sport, here's to all the people doing their part to make a difference for millions of others irrespective of the flag they fly.  The hosting of the World Cup in S. Africa is just the tip of a profound and powerful continental iceberg.  Africa's best days are yet ahead of us, and I'm proud to be a part of ushering them in. I have a feeling the world will be stunned at just how much we will be bringing to the table in the coming years.

Click here to help support the cause. Vive l'Afrique!