Sharline Nabulime's blog

The Race For Governor

A Campus Forum hosted by Emerson College recently brought the Gubernatorial debate to its students and faculty. It attracted college students from all around the Commonwealth. For a while politics merged with technology as Journalism and Communication majors fired tweets, blogs and podcasts live from the Semel Theater. 

Fox News Anchor Maria Stephanos who moderated the debate started by commenting on the drama surrounding the race for Governor.

Mr. Patrick made it clear that this race is not about the candidates but about the students and the people of Massachusetts. When asked about the attack ads out there, he dismissed them as politics of opportunism, tailored to winning at any cost. Governor Patrick, who is running for re-election declared, “My vision is about the public…building a stronger community” 

On the other hand Tim Cahill, an Independent, playing on words, joked he never took drama in college.“Notwithstanding he said, I would like to get back to the drama surrounding the economy”In a somber mood however, he said the loss of his running mate a few weeks earlier took him by surprise and was a great setback. 

Jill Stein, the Green/Rainbow candidate complained that the election was not engaging the public adequately but was more focused on the candidates themselves and their records.

Charlie Baker, The GOP candidate, cited the importance of Education but noted that there were some more pressing issues at stake. He said he was convinced that the top priority in the minds of voters was Jobs.After 10 years as CEO at Harvard Pilgrim Baker said he had no idea what sort of drama he was getting into.

The first question from the student panel was what each candidate planned do to engage the voters once again. 

Cahill seemed to dodge the question and so did Stein. At this point, the student panel redirected the candidates to the question of re-engaging voters.

Patrick cited the need for more level headed interaction between candidate and voters, where the candidates don’t talk down to the voters but talk with the voters.  “We also need to use the social media tools like Twitter etc” he said. Patrick proposed longer school days and a longer school year as part of the solution to curb crime and making Massachusetts safer. He also defended his position on giving children of illegal aliens in-state tuition as a matter of fairness, citing that they didn’t choose to come here but their parents brought them. He pointed out how the system lets them get into a public college straight from high school but then require them to pay out-of-state rates. 

Stein agrees that all students deserve an in-state tuition and that the alternative creates a backlash against foreigners and people against each other. 

Cahill rejected in-state tuition and so did Baker. Baker said that the longer we go without addressing that issue, the worse it will get. 

A question to Baker about what he considers cost efficient when it comes to alternative energy was his opportunity to take a stub at Patrick saying that he doesn’t think the current state policies on green technology are smart. He suggested that we go after proven sources like Hydro Quebec vs Cape Wind. There were chuckles in the audience because Massachusetts is leading the country in green technology. 

Patrick’s rebuttal was that for the past three and a half years, he his administration has been negotiating with Hydro Quebec, a government -owned company that distributes electricity in Quebec, to bring their Hydro Electricity to Massachusetts. “For 3 1/2yrs they said we’ll do it if your rate payers pay for the transmission…we said no, that’s not how it’s done…this year they entered into an agreement with Nstar, and they are paying for the transmission” Patrick disclosed.

The last question, by panelist Taylor Gearhart “If you could be any living politician, who would you be?”

Cahill chose former President George H.W. Bush, citing his ability to work across party lines.

Baker chose former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, commending him on his handling of the 911 attacks. 

Stein chose Founder of the Institute for Community Building Mel King, saying she wants to emulate his community organizational skills.

Patrick said he doesn’t want to be another politician but stated that what he admires is political courage and so he chose New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, for his courage to stand up to political and public pressure especially about the Muslim center. 

The debate was a joint collaboration between Boston Herald, Fox News and Emerson College. 

The Stimulus is working...Nancy Pelosi visited a greentech Co. in Watertown to highlight the success

Nancy Pelosi was in my hometown today at A123 Systems, a battery manufacturer & 'greentech battery' proof that the Stimulus is working. 

The Watertown, Mass based company was a recipient of a $249 million federal stimulus grant and wasted no time in putting the money to good use. It kicked off a ream of IPO fillings with it's $371 million offering. Through its green-tech manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, the company has created more than 50 corporate, research and development jobs. It plans on adding 250 more jobs with the expansion of its Michigan plant. This undertaking has a $5 million forgivable loan, an incentive that has already been approved by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, hanging in the balance.  

Earlier last month,  A123 Systems CEO David Vieau said that their batteries, which are made for plug-in hybrids and electric cars, are being considered on a larger scale. This statement followed the announcement that the company struck a hybrid plug-in deal with Eaton Corporation, making their target of 250 more jobs is not too far-fetched. 

Speaker Pelosi toured the clean energy company with Vieau and U.S. Rep Ed Mackey to highlight one of the many success stories of the stimulus program. 

So the next time you are wondering what the stimulus money is doing, check out your backyard, there are many A123 Systems' if you just look.

First African Town Hall Meeting with Governor Patrick

The Governor’s African Council, an independent community initiative to strengthen the African voice in Massachusetts organized the first African Town Hall meeting with Governor Deval Patrick to talk about the issues unique to the African community. The Governor was ushered into the meeting by Ugandan dancers accompanied by Ugandan drummers. The same welcome is given to Kings and dignitaries. The Governor was undoubtedly overwhelmed by the love and support in the room. He spoke about education, healthcare, unemployment, immigration and the census. He took numerous questions from the floor and assured the Africans that he wasn’t running for a second term but he was campaigning to finish what he started. He urged them to be informed about what his administration has done thus far, talk to neighbors, especially those who do not agree with him, and lastly to believe in the values of his administration and the Democratic Party. Those values are outlined in the policies implemented by his administration. The policy he is most proud of is education reform, which touches all African immigrants. Patrick has been quoted before, “Policy only matters at the point at which it touches people.” He has the people of Massachusetts on his mind because he yet again addressed the issue of him going to Washington. He said he is only interested in finishing what he started in Massachusetts.
Research shows that there are 76,000 eligible African voters in Mass and the goal of the GAC is to mobilize the African vote in the Governor’s favor. During the earlier part of the meeting, Patrick said, “I am here to earn your vote,” and that he did because at the end, the multitude made it almost impossible for him to leave. ” I came here to hear what he had to say and to find out if he care about us… and when he said that he sees us, that’s when he got my vote,” said an elderly attendee. “I didn’t know he lived and worked in all those African countries…my goodness! he is African and he has my vote, “said Maria.

The only thing I was disappointed with was that not a single network covered the event. I guess the Africans were not as important as the Republican convention.

Let's honor the Lion of the Senate; Vote for Martha Coakley!

Ted Kennedy summed up his life's work in these words: "This is the cause of my life, new hope, that we will end the old gridlock and guarantee that every American, North, South, East, West, Young, Old, will have decent quality health-care as a fundamental right not privilege.” We all know that Ted Kennedy’s work transcended health care but if he could sum it up in health care, then this bill must be as important to us as it was to him.
Martha Coakley will, unlike her opponent Scott Brown, carry-on Ted Kennedy's work. She will fight for us on that Senate floor just as passionately as he did. And that is why she needs our vote on Tuesday. Scott Brown is one of the
"If we can stop him at health-care that will be his Waterloo" crusaders. See to them, it is not about our well being as it is about a personal attack at the President. Do you honestly think Scott Brown will fight for you and me? Heck NO.
So let's honor the Lion of the senate and his life's work by voting for MARTHA COAKLEY on Tuesday.

Reminiscing on where I was last year today.

Reminiscing on where I was last year today. Think of three million new friends. It is indeed one of those moments when we came together as one Nation. Too bad it only lasted for about two days. As I passed by the Obama haters I stood there chanting Obama, Obama, Obama, and then remembered what my dad used to say, "Never argue with a fool because passers-by won't notice the difference." So I moved on. Also, on this day last year, I was volunteering at the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium. Today, I am making calls to Massachusetts voters in support of Martha Coakley. I am thrilled that the resounding anthem is-"Martha has my vote tomorrow." Yeah!

"Everyone has the power for greatness-not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by service"- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

How I canvassed NH for Obama

UNTIL a year ago, I considered myself a republican; a born-again conservative. That, however, changed the day my daughter, then 10 years old, was told to write about an influential person and she chose Obama. 

I was surprised at her choice because she goes to a Christian school where the hallways were, during the campaigns, lined with posters of both candidates and their differences highlighted in bold letters. Well, she said she found him interesting and wanted to write about him. 

So I began listening and researching on this man who had my daughter’s attention. The rest is history. I spoke to my friends and family candidly about why I supported Obama. I made more than 100 phone calls to battleground states like Ohio and Virginia. I donated money to the movement, wrote to the people in my community and urged them to vote for change. 

During my stay in the US, I have worked in various industries. Currently I part time as a nurse’s aide because it fits into my daughter’s schedule. Everything revolves around her. Together with another Ugandan friend, Judith Nabagereka, my partner in crime, we canvassed New Hampshire. 

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Campaigning door to door
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The day began with a short prayer, dedicating our work to God on that brisk New England morning. I then dubbed my daughter an Obamamite, to which she chuckled and shook her head in bemusement. 

Thank God for the organising committee because our Obama-Biden sweatshirts arrived in the nick of time to protect us from the cold New Hampshire air, where we were going to spend the day. 

The group of volunteers met at Porter Square in Cambridge, MA. No sooner had we assembled than we were paired and teamed up for car pools to the campaign office in Southern New Hampshire. The army of volunteers comprised children, the youngest being six months old, Harvard professors and students, moms, dads, couples, singles and immigrants. 

They had all come out to canvass New Hampshire votes on behalf of Obama. My friend, whom I hadn’t seen in almost four years, my daughter and I made up a team. Our ride there was reminiscent of all the amazing speeches Obama had given thus far, but expectant of what was about to break forth: Change. 

At the headquarters of the Obama campaign for change were many more volunteers. Some were making calls, others were hunched over computers sending emails, some were giving impromptu training sessions on how to canvass votes and others were handing out packets of campaign material. 

We received our canvass packet from a young lady who had quit her job in New York to volunteer in New Hampshire. My friend wondered why I wasn’t keen on the training session and impatient to get going on our route. I told her that I’d had a lot of practice knocking on doors with my church. 

The path down the campaign trail was interesting, to say the least. One elderly lady confided: “I can’t even say his name right, but as long as it’s not Bush, I am voting for him.” She asked us for an absentee ballot which we were more than happy to provide. 

In another household, the father dismissed the whole thing, but light-heartedly informed us that an Obama supporter, his son, was on his way home and he’d love to talk to us. The son pulled into the driveway a few minutes later and when he saw our Obama attire, he smiled real big. He greeted us warmly and showed off his Obama-Biden bumper sticker and talked to us for a while. When asked what we could do to change his father’s mind, he sadly said: “Believe me, I’ve tried, but dad is tired and has given up. But don’t worry… my sister and I are voting for Obama.” 

“I am tired” and “Enough is enough” were the resounding anthems that graced our ears that day. So for the dimwits that would make this a “racial” race to the White house, I duly report that none of the Obama supporters we spoke to were black. 

In some neighbourhoods, one’s neighbour was close enough to be called neighbour, but far away to give unprecedented privacy. With vast acres of land, one cannot know what is going on next door. Such was the case on the property of one home. As we ascended halfway up the hill towards the front door of the unique architecture, three guard dogs came at us from the nearby woods. We didn’t see them coming. Their charge was fierce and calculated as though someone had said to them: “Go fetch”. I quietly prayed, “Lord! This is when you show up” and held tightly onto my friend’s hand as my daughter was on the other side of her. “Don’t run,” I said to her quietly as she cried “mommy, mommy”. 

“Don’t move… breathe slowly,” I whispered. The dogs circled us and simultaneously moved forward as though to attack. One was at my daughter’s leg. Suddenly they took two steps backwards. We turned around and moved very slowly downhill. They also followed. God protected us and made me a firmer believer in angelic protection. At some point, they stopped and my daughter sighed with relief and informed us that the dogs couldn’t go any further. 

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Husband for McCain, wife wanted change 

At one door we knocked on, a handsome distinguished gentleman in his 50s opened the door and stated: “Well, I have good news and bad news. There is one Obama supporter and one McCain supporter in this household.” 

“We’ll take the split,” my friend retorted with a smile. 

“What can we do to convince her to vote for change?” I inquired after telling him why I support Obama. 

“Oh! You have got the wrong person sweetheart. It is she that I am having trouble with,” he confessed. She is voting for Obama.” We all burst out laughing. We thanked him for his time. He bid us farewell and off to our next homestead we trod. 

The home we found most amusing was a duplex that had Obama, Shaheen and Sununu yard signs. When we first passed the home, the yard signs were a yard apart, but on our way back, they were head to head in a heated argument that screamed: “I’ve got change on the agenda… what have you got?” My daughter found those most amusing. I was exhausted, but she was laughing uncontrollably.

As we approached our last row of houses, she sent my mother a text message that read: “We are on our way to our final destination. The three Obamamites are on the loose.” When my mother called me later that day to reiterate what she had written, I could not help laughing. 

The following day was Sunday and I don’t recall ever missing church for an “I don’t want to go to church today” reason. You see my daughter had had the awesome privilege of rubbing shoulders with great people and I couldn’t stand for it if her hard work was undermined by simple-mindedness. 

Prior to our canvassing trip, while at church, a girl in her age range saw my Obama pin and in an accusatory tone asked my daughter: “How can your mother vote for Obama?” 

“Why don’t you ask her?” was my daughter’s rebuttal. “I bet it is because of race” the girl added mockingly. 

I’ve always told my daughter: “If you ask a twit (shallow) question, you get a twit answer, but in this case, even a twit answer wouldn’t suffice. “Mommy, her comment didn’t even deserve a response so I walked away.” 

I felt so proud of her. I reminded her of my favourite quotes: “Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by service” — Martin Luther King Jr. “Yes We Can” — Barack Obama. 

I’m so grateful for the opportunity I had to canvass New Hampshire. It was not just about Obama. It was about all of us as a nation, our future and our children’s future.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

Despite your political views, supporting our troops all over the world should not be a political issue. It should be a human rights issue. Whether or not you support the war and our causes all over the world, our men and women are stationed overseas fighting for your right to agree or disagree with the war.  In support of our troops, we set up a table awhile back and collected money to send care packages to our troops. Over two days, my daughter and I collected $265.00. I then wrote to areas banks asking them to add to our collection. I received a letter from Watertown Savings Bank stating that they do not give money to individuals. It was a no from bank Of America and area stores like CVS and Target. I recently learned that if my community were a non profit organization, then the sky would be the limit to their support. I have researched starting a nonprofit organization but the amount of work that goes into it, would have to take a few community members to pull off. But since my neighbors are not inclined to join me on this endeavour, I think it would be too much work for me just to get donations. I also believe in a reasonable amount of progress in a reasonable amount of time. I am going shopping with the $265.00 and the lucky soldiers receiving the care package are a Major stationed in PRT, Farah whom we know and his fellow soldiers.

Below is relica of our original set up.

 

A replica of our display

 

 

Support our Troops

Inside the home of a hoarder

I didn't know what to expect when I walked into my neighbor's home. The first feeling that gripped me was that of utter fear. "What if I can't help her. Lord! What have I gotten myself into?" But I was pleasantly surprised that despite the fact that she is a hoarder, there is light, fresh air and living space left in her home. She is very clean so for me there was an immediate disconnect. I kept wondering how a person who has a cleaning lady is unable to throw away stuff. She explained that she simply cannot throw away anything. She must have noticed the puzzled look on my face. As we went through the house, there were neat piles everywhere. The finished basement had piles of anything and  everything you can think of. Beautiful household items that has bought and collected over the years. The hallways had beautiful artwork by none other but her. I was very impressed. She is very talented. Her children's rooms had more stuff. Her children are grown and have moved out since, which gives her more room to collect things. When the tour was over, she asked me if I was still up to it and with great enthusiasm, I said yes. The ball is in her court. I am waiting on a date to embark on what I believe is going to be a remarkable journey of not just de-cluttering a house but building a friendship and making a difference in someone's life. Thats what life should be all about. She is so lovely, so sincere, and so welcoming that it is my pleasure to do this. I have no doubt in my mind that she would do the same for me. By the way, don't let her age fool you. She is extremely active, voluteers and is involved in so many activities that you wouldn't know she is 68. I have actually started riding my bike to keep up with her. She is a force to be reckoned with but I am up for the challenge :)

Mothers' Day!!!

As we celebrate our mothers and rightly so, nothing however, compares to the feeling you get when your own child looks you teary eyed in the face and says, "You are the best mom I could ever have." I have the best kid in the world. To all the mothers out there who do not see the fruit of your labor, keep at it and you will reap your reward in the moments that no one else notices but you. Moments when your child writes you a poem or a letter from their heart that tugs at the core of your heart, when they wink at you from across a crowded room to let you know you are the apple of their eye and they run off to play, when they call you the best "cooker" in the world and then help you with the dishes without you asking or moments spent in total silence but each of you recognizing that it is not so much the words spoken but the love shared that matters. Happy Mothers' Day!

Hey Neighbor! Lets have tea...

Tea with my neighbor had been 'brewing' for quite awhile. For those of you who followed my Clean Start challenge, you will remember a neighbor who was thrilled that I reached out to her, but before she could enlist my good services, she wanted to get to know me and my daughter over tea and crumpets.
So a week ago today, after picking up my daughter from school, we rushed to get those last minutes tidbits and hurried home to welcome our guest. I was so nervous because I was throwing a tea party without a tea pot. I know what you are thinking... my grandmother and my mother would be flabbergasted and find it quite appalling as well. They would probably say..."Have we taught you child nothing?" Here is my dilemma. I grew up with a mother who knew how to throw a tea party like you had never had one before. She didn't lift a finger because we had three cooks, the English china was so beautiful that I thought it had been made just for her, and here I was in my apartment with no tea pot. My motto is: It is either the best or nothing at all.
I apologised for my nontraditional tea but we were so ecstatic over meeting each other that my tea pot worries vanished in the moment.
My neighbor is a 68 year old married woman with two children. She has lived in Watertown for 36 years, 30 of which have been in my neighborhood. The adage: Age is just a number, holds true in her case. She is vibrant, witty, energetic, adventurous, funny and a joy to be around. We talked about our lives, our families and brainstormed about the launch of a neighborhood committee and upcoming block party. We covered a lot of ground and knew that we were off to a great start. She took interest in my daughter's studies and marveled at her maturity, eloquence and poise. What touched me the most about their interaction was her encouragement of my daughter's dream of becoming a doctor.
When the evening wound down, she informed me that she doesn't normally have people over her house but since she had met such "wonderful and gracious neighbors," I was welcome into her home. "I would never have told anyone about this but after watching an Oprah show about the lives of hoarders, I realised that I am a hoarder. So when you reached out to me, I felt that for the first time, I could share this with someone" was an earlier confession of hers.
Our next task is to de-clutter her home. 
As I walked her home, I couldn't help but smile at the thought that our tea party had evolved into a kinship of sorts. It transcended cultural, racial and religious divides. She is Caucasian and Jewish. I am African and a born again Christian. Never under estimate what something as small as tea can do to make a difference in someone's life. So, the next time you bump into your neighbor, you might want to say, "Hey Neighbor! Lets have tea."