LaToya M. Davidson-Perez

This year was the first in which Christmas had a completely different feeling. I’ve since adjusted to the “surprise me” weather that we’ve gotten over recent years. But now that the economy is weak other things have noticeably changed.

I remember Christmas in Jamaica. In my youth I used to think that the Christmas they showed on television was make-believe. I thought that a Jamaican Christmas was not like real Christmas. It was always warm, there was never snow, and there was never that cozy Christmas feeling. It wasn’t until I moved back to the US that I started to feel the way I felt Christmas should be. My youthful perception of Christmas had been molded by American television. Then again, I was still a child and that feeling of Christmas was bound to change as I became older. The only thing that was important at the time was in knowing that I’d have a mountain of gifts under the tree. As long as I had more than or equal to the number of gifts my brother received, I was generally happy. Case in point, my parents had to purchase two Teddy Ruxpin bears because I didn’t like to share. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve struggled a bit these winter months. I suffer from depression as a whole, however, the fall months are the worst. I find myself feeling very bleak this time of year. I’m often very deep in thought or cocooned in a persistent somber mood. Since right before Thanksgiving my thought processes have shifted. I’ve found myself thinking about how different Christmas is now from the way it was growing up.

Granted, I’m about to turn 32 this month I’ve discovered that with the continuous technological growth over the past twenty or so years things seem more different than they do the same. I discussed this with a former colleague of mine just recently. He too feels that there is just something very different. I find it hard to put into words but it’s as if the veneer, the nostalgia, of things once so valued has changed. To that end, Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas. Read the rest of this entry »

Surprisingly I’ve hit a bit of a patch. The past week or so I’ve found it difficult and virtually impossible to write about anything. It’s times like these that I truly feel as though I live a very insular life. At this very moment I am an oasis. If you were to ask me what I think about the fiscal cliff I could only generally discuss the topic. To be honest, if you asked me much of anything I’m not sure I’d be able to give you a matter of fact answer.I spoke to my best friend about my writer’s block. Since he’s a professional writer providing me with ideas would be easy. While he had a number of them I settled on on-screen originality. The fiscal cliff was his idea and I’d like to take a break from politics. It’s like what a friend of mine said recently posted on Facebook, no mention of the next Presidential Election until at least 2014! Read the rest of this entry »

With this election season nearing its inevitable end, I’d like to reflect upon what I consider to be our privileged civic duty, voting. As such, I agree with poet Robert Frost, “thinking isn’t agreeing or disagreeing. That’s voting.” And in the words of President John F. Kennedy, “the ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” Lastly, famous American author Louis L’Amour may have summed it up best when he stated, “to make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.”

My first Presidential Election was in 2000. To be honest, I vaguely remember the specifics of the day I voted for that or the 2004 election (Bush both times). In 2008 campaigning changed and social media dominance proved to play a big part. It was in 2008 that I truly got excited about voting. I couldn’t wait! Regardless of what you may personally think of President Obama, his 2008 campaign is more than a historical footnote. So many people, for and against, rallied at the polls and truly changed the voting landscape. Read the rest of this entry »

If only we were Ohio. I really don’t like to get into politics. It’s a sure-fire way for one’s opinion of you to change within minutes. I admit it, that’s how I feel. When I hear some of the political things people say I try desperately not to listen. I find that discussing politics often extends a conversation much longer than is tolerable and often gets my goat. I’ve reluctantly written about politics before and the one time I did it led to me writing an article about the postal service. You’ll have to look that one up. But in discussing politics, one could equate it to speaking about religion. It’s simply a line that I typically don’t like to cross.

With the presidential election less than two weeks away and the recent conclusion of the presidential and vice-presidential debates, I am reminded of how voting should be a privilege and not a right and that one person should equal one vote. Read the rest of this entry »