In my column in Thursday’s paper, I want to know why people get so riled up when you suggest that… (dramatic pause here) America provide health care for all its citizens. Michael Moore’s “Sicko” is the impetus for this column, but I fear that some of the resistance is because some (many?) people just don’t care if other people suffer. Survival of the fittest, they might argue.

<>What do you think? Do you think we have a right to be healthy? If so, why? And if not, please explain this to me.

So the Draft AC folks want Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton to run - and beat - Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton in the October mayoral race. I’m a fan of Wharton - and not just because he’s a cutie pie - but why, specifically, should I be praying that he enters the race? Just because he’s not Herenton?

Read more in my Thursday’s column  - and tell me, what - very specifically - do you want our next mayor to accomplish for the city? And how do you want he/she to do it?

Early one morning this week, I woke up to find a group of men paving the private drive my house sits on. There were probably 6-8 guys out there, but I happen to know that none of my neighbors are home, except a mom with two kids. My paper was probably sitting on my porch - the paper person has great aim - but I was afraid to go outside and get it.

Remember, the Chickasaw Gardens woman who was raped in her house was attacked by relatives of people who had done work at her house. What if one of these paving guys sees me come outside, somehow deduces that I live here alone - or, at least, are home alone here during the day, and comes back another day? Or at night?

I’ve been peeping out of my window, but I don’t want them to see me in here. And I can’t leave, because I live on a cove and they’re paving the whole thing. Plus, if I leave, then they’ll know that the house is empty. I have little in here of any value, but I’d like to keep what little I have.

I’m not freaking out, but there is a sense that I’m a prisoner in my own house.

It shouldn’t be this way. It really shouldn’t. My first thought when I see men working outside my house should not be: Are they going to come back and get me?

<>In today’s column, I lament the Supreme Court’s decision to severely restrict how race can be used to influence racial diversity in schools - but I acknowledge that our choices (where to go to school, where to live) have as much impact on the racial diversity in schools as anything else.

<> How much, if at all, does diversity matter to you? Do your children attend a diverse school - and if not, does that matter to you?

There are few things my oh-so-sweet but slightly off-the-chain mother can do to embarrass me. Except dancing. I’ll never forget when she declared, proudly, that she knew how to do the cha-cha slide. Then demonstrated it. I still haven’t processed that.

Then, I saw this new show on MTV, “Dances From Tha Hood.” As you might guess, the show teaches anyone how to do the latest dances. I pray to GOD that my mother doesn’t see this show and then announce, “Guess what? I know how to do the Lip Gloss!”

If you are under 50, not a mother of someone who would be mortified to see you do this, and have a good sense of rhythm, you can click on the link above to see the video. If you are my mom, you better not.