News from Mr. Chip's Side of the World

This column was really hard this week. I experienced so many things. And with your permission I'd like to share them. And I am mindful with great respect to my editor that I must limit the power of the word for space(smile). So let me start with the story of the young lady in South Hampton Virginia. Mina Johnson. Who had to sit the bench. Why? Because the opposing side did not want to play against a girl. Worst of all it was a double insult of being a female and being black. The latter had absolutely nothing to do with Mina's situation. But still lets face it folks. It's hard enough to make the highschool football team as a girl and now others who perhaps don't want to see this young lady play anyway. Makes this such a really sad story. To see more on this story just GOOGLE Mina Johnson girl football player. Good luck Mina and keep your head up. My next story is literally out of this world. In fact this writer actually wanted to be a part of this story but I have not been contacted thus far. On with this exciting story. Astronauts have walked on the moon. African-Americans have journeyed to the moon to name a few Ron McNair ,Charles Bolden and May Jemison ( I was fortunate to have indirectly met General Bolden when his USMC C130 Gunship landed at my Air Base in Kuwait in 2001). And Astronauts have made a historic "golf" swing on the surface of this cold planet. Until now nobody has thought about running across the surface of the moon. Enter Mr. Jonathan Prince who may become the first African-American space traveler to run a mile on the moon. That's right he wants to carry out his feat in the year 2016. And he is training right now. Prince is being trained by a private astronaut training facility called NASTAR. I went to the website and it is fascinating. Though it might set you back a little bit of money…who am I kidding a lot of money. The trade-off you could become famous like Mr. Prince. Before he rockets off to the cold planet. And this is from information I read on the NASTAR website. Prince will learn about space first of all. He will learn how to fly his space vehicle, to carry out duties on board, to navigate, to check the vehicles systems, to egress in the event of an emergency. Let's just say he will "Be Prepared" ( my Boy Scout motto) for just about any and all situations when he heads into space and lands on the moon. Let's wish him well!!! So from space and back to earth. I was going down the sidewalk towards the Vista going to my car. When I spotted a young African-American man playing a violin. Not far from RUST (one of hotspots for some killer live Jazz ). His name is Brian McCollough. In a state and in a towne with such luminaries as the famous Skipp Pearson who I have frequently seen. Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish and the Legendary "Dizzy" Gillespie. I was not surprised that another great musician may be making his debut. McCollough has already starting paving that way. With a track record over 15 years of playing a vast repertoire of both old and new music. He played "I Wish" from world musical giant the genius Stevie Wonder when I passed by him Friday night. And as I listened with people mostly Gamecock football types hurrying by. Others nearby intently listened as McCollough deftly played his violin. Some not knowing they were listening to a young man who has toured with Angie Stone. Has played his violin both in the states and overseas. He participated in the inaugural Dorothy Delay symposium held at Juillard. And here's the kicker this young man is a double -major at Midlands Technical College studying Business and Marketing. Stay tuned. From local news to national events. For me that would be firstly the President of the United States. Who seems can do no right in the eyes of Republicans. Is it because he's African-American (black ) and one of the smartest , well heeled and just all around best Commander and Chiefs that this nation has had since former President Carter, Clinton and JFK? President Obama did in his administration what two of his predecessor could not and one former President George Bush Jr. would not. President Obama brought the financial terrorist Mastermind Osama Bin Laden to final justice. Even with some so-called "Birthers" still questioning the President on his birth certificate. If Bush Jr. had done what the President did the Republicans and the like perhaps would have tried to put another face on Mount Rushmore. And Rush Limbaugh and the right wing talkies would done back-flips for him. But no matter what the President does most of it is never good enough or never enough to appease the GOP, the right or most conservatives. Currently he tried to cross partisan lines to improve healthcare. The opposition is fond of calling it "Obama Care" in the spirit of meaness. The latest headlines are the Presidents healthcare overhaul law for a long term care insurance plan called CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Support) was cut and not enough votes could pass it. Even the President's Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius does not see a viable path for the Presidents law at this time. Hopefully, though he has lost this battle with the failure of one phase of his healthcare reform law. He will manage to re-group and get other aspects of it passed without the discord of the just say "no" GOP. And speaking of the GOP, who… lets be real most of the wealth of our nation is in the hands of the Republicans and so is corporate power such as the Koch Brothers and Rupert Murdoch. Which has led to the most phenomenal event since the advent of the "TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party. Is the "Occupy" groups which have sprung up all over the nation in major cities. Such as New York (Occupy Wall Street), WA (Occupy Seattle), California (Occupy L.A.) and all over. Including our own towne her in Columbia South Carolina. As I close out my column today. I have a special mention to make in regards to our own Midlands. We lost one of our bright lights. Eleven year old Devonte Owens was hit by a car when he was walking home. Devonte attended Dent Middle school in Columbia South Carolina. He will be greatly missed. His parents ask that in lieu of flowers that donations in his memory be sent to the Dent Middle school PTO. My deepest condolences and condolences from we at The Black News Inc. and our Editor and Chief.