Essay 178

Rapid relief with MultiCultClassics Minutes…

• Do Blacks and Hispanics have higher thresholds for pain? A new study showed pharmacies in Black communities are less likely to stock adequate supplies of certain painkillers than those in White communities. Additionally, the disparities displayed little differences based on income levels; i.e., affluent and poor Black neighborhoods were equally deprived. The study appeared in the latest issue of the Journal of Pain. Most Blacks would probably insist they wrote the Journal of Pain. Meanwhile, another study showed recent immigrants from Mexico — defined as people living in the U.S. less than 10 years — were half as likely to use emergency room services as Whites. Hopefully, these folks won’t seek painkillers in Black areas.

• Conservative activists are attacking American Girl, the popular doll manufacturer. Seems the tight-asses have taken offense to the company’s contributions to a youth group favoring abortion rights and accepting lesbians. Hey, how come American Girl hasn’t let any pro-choice lesbian dolls out of the toy closet?

• Minnesota Vikings players are serious playas, based on a lurid incident involving a wild sex party. At least 17 pro athletes participated in the action that took place aboard two yachts on Lake Minnetonka recently. Sadly for Vikings fans, this may be the only scoring the team does for the rest of the season.

• The University of Illinois is fighting the NCAA for prohibiting the school from fully displaying its Chief Illiniwek mascot. The Chief has been around since 1926, and supporters argue his presence offers the “opportunity to preserve and showcase [the university’s] tradition, heritage and culture.” No better way to accomplish that than by routinely mocking Native Americans’ tradition, heritage and culture.