My Top Five Stories of October 2011

Those very close to me know I’m a news buff. CNN is my favorite TV channel, and my car radio is set to NPR most of the time. Oh yea, I’m that friend who was the first to call and tell you that Osama Bin Laden was killed, or that businessman turned presidential candidate Herman Cain just modified his “999” plan to a “909” plan. I once told one of my sisters that there is no movie more interesting to me than the events shown on the news. Yes, I know it. I’m a news geek, and I’m proud of it! The thing about being friends with a news geek is that whether you want to or not, you’re going to be informed of the good, the bad, and the ugly current events (just ask my friend Marie). So, below are my top five stories of October.

5) Wild Animals Roamed the Streets of Ohio

A man let 56 wild animals (lions, tigers, leopards, bears, monkeys, and wolves) from his private zoo out to roam the streets of Ohio and than shot himself. Can you imagine coming home from a long day of work and seeing a lion and a wolf just hanging out in front of your house? The animals were hunted down, and 48 of the 56 were shot dead on the sheriff's orders. This is a perfect example of “When deregulation goes wrong.”

4) Moammar Gadhafi Captured and Killed

Libyan president Moammar Gadhafi, one of his sons, and a top aide were captured and killed after 42 years of what many called a dictatorship. Thousands of Libyans now celebrate their libaration. The challenge now, is for the Libyan people to rebuild their country from bottom up. Many are rejoicing saying "Down with the dictator!" Reflecting on this, I say a man who made so many bad and even horrific choices, and ended up paying for them with his life. What would Libya look like post Moammar Gadhafi? We will just have to wait & see.




3) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dedication Ceremony

The late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy continues with a memorial dedication in Washington D.C. forty-eight years after his “I have a dream” speech transfixed our nation. Remembering Dr. King’s legacy in a speech at the dedication ceremony, president Barack Obama stated, "Let us remember that change has never been quick. Change has never been simple or without controversy. Change depends on persistence. Change requires determination."

2) Three Women Won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize

Peace activist Leymah Gbowee of Liberia, president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, and journalist/human rights activist Tawakel Karman of Yemen won the Nobel Peace Prize. Thorbjoern Jagland, the head of the Nobel Prize Committee said “If one fails to include the women in the revolution and the new democracies, there will be no democracy." As a Liberian American woman, this is one I relish with my daughters.

And my # one story of October…

Occupy Wall Street

An ongoing series of demonstrations in New York City based in Zuccotti Park in the Walls Street financial district brought back the old school "Let’s take it to the streets," protest to our consciousness. The “Occupy” movement is shaking up America and shining light of social and economic inequality, corporate greed, corporate power and influence over government. The movement’s slogan, “We are the 99%,” referring to the top 1% who controls 40% of the wealth, is one that my three years old daughter recites while eating her dinner. What started out as a small “Occupy Wall Street” protest has now entered its second month with thousands of protesters in several states and countries around the world.

What are some of your top stories of October 2011?