The House I Live Inis a documentary about the US criminal justice system that uncovers some inhumane truths about the war on drugs and racism in this country.
The disproportionate amount of minorities incarcerated has been covered on this blog before, and the war on drugs is one major reason for the skyrocketing figures of minorities in the criminal justice system. The war on drugs and drug policy targets drugs and behaviors that certain demographics are more likely to participate in or use. In addition, certain drugs and behaviors carry much more weight. This is the case with crack and powder cocaine. Powder cocaine does not carry the same charges if you are caught as crack cocaine does, despite these drugs affecting the body similarly and being the same substance in different forms. Crack cocaine is often known as a "street" drug, ie, used more by minorities, while powder cocaine is more likely to be used by white people.
The amount of African Americans in prison for drugs is astounding and leaves major holes in communities. These communities don't have parent-figures or role models because of the mass incarceration, and the cycles of poverty are perpetuated, leading to more drugs being made and sold illegally. The underground economy of drugs largely exists due to a lack of options for minorities and the urban poor in the job market. The underground economy is only stimulated by incarceration and criminalization of drugs and drug use. With so many community members in jail, more and more of their family members must also take risks to support themselves. It is a viscious cycle.
The House I Live In is very thorough and informative. It highlights certain policies and political decisions that have created this mess of incarceration, high poverty and crime, and misunderstanding of drugs. I highly recommend it as a resource into understanding U.S. drug policy and the racism institutionalized into these policies.
The leaders of the United States often talk about America in terms of being the "best," "biggest," "special," "the greatest," or other language indicating that we are exceptional. This exceptionalism is a brainwashing tactic to keep people from thinking for themselves. We are not exceptional -- and our belief in this despite mounting evidence (lagging test scores and schools, a failing economy, huge discrepancy in income), is what is actually preventing us from improving.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, recently wrote for the NewYorkTimes, and I think he really stresses this point well:
"I would rather disagree with a case he[President Obama] made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is 'what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.' It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal."
Countries and policies are different, but by spoon-feeding exceptionalism do your citizens since early elementary school, you are not doing anyone any favors.
Today, Patriot Day, is a day we remember and honor those who gave their lives in the terrorist attack on 9/11/01. This story has been told several times, but I wanted to again share it here because it truly illustrates an American hero.
As you step back and think about the events of that day and those lives that were lost what stories do you remember? Where were you on 9/11/01?
Is it just me or is anyone else hooked on season 2 of the Newsroom. Wow. I consider myself to be pretty well versed in television and media and the Newsroom is really one of a kind. When comparing premium television networks HBO and Showtime I have always been partial Showtime. With television shows like Weeds, Dexter, The L Word and Homeland it's hard to take anything away from the programming on Showtime. But at the same HBO has had several successes as well with Sopranos, True Blood and Game of Thrones. When looking closer at the premium television and even network and cable stations it's clear that television is making waves.
As most of you have probably noticed I also am a big fan of film and going to the movies, but I have not bee excited at all about the offers on the big screen this year. Hopefully the Fall and Winter will bring in some Oscar worthy films, but right now in time I'd have to say that television is much more entertaining that film. With several A list actors choosing starring roles on the small screen television shows are becoming as dynamic and engaging as some of the best movies. This is really exciting news for those of us that enjoy a good television series. My suggestion for anyone looking for a television series to love is the Newsroom. Although in their 2nd season you can easily get caught with, Netflix, On demand and other sources.
What other television shows do you think are "must see TV"? Do you agree that big screen is lagging behind some of the top television shows?
For the opening clip of the pilot episode of the Newsroom check out the video below.
I just saw this video on television tonight. Watch and reflect upon what you see.
This video is meant as a call to stand up against the stand your ground laws prevalent in 26 states. This PSA was developed around the George Zimmerman shooting of Trayvon Martin, but as we discussed on this blog this instance is much greater than just these two individuals and Florida laws. How do you think Stand Your Ground Law incidents have racial profiling characteristics? How do such laws impact on justice system?
I just read this fantastic article about August in DC-- a month often complained about, when in fact there are so many reasons to celebrate! This article definitely got me excited about my beloved home city. Despite the near rainforest conditions that are DC in August--so humid, so hot-- there are tons of things to enjoy.
Some of the highlights the article mentions:
--amazing tomatoes, better than California (and the other farmer's market bounty! the watermelons and corn are sublime, too!)
--thinned out crowds (goodbye Congress and Hill staffers!) and thinned out traffic
-- quieter streets, running trails, and restaurant crowds
--Nats getting better (maybe?)
and what I'd like to add:
--free live music and outdoor movies everywhere you turn
--Pleasant Pops (actually a year round treat)
--free public pools for DC residents
-- a million rooftop decks and sidewalk cafes
-- warm summer nights filled with fireflies
Enjoy DC all year round--even in August! The city is unique in what it offers, and in it's political energy. It's changed a lot in the last decade or two, and continues to grow and attract new comers. Soak in this time in history. Happy summer!
What is the future of food? How can we reduce world hunger? I found this information from Washington Post "Scientists think they have found the answer to this and many other food related questions. On Monday, Scientists unveiled the world’s first lab-grown beef burger in London, frying it in a little oil and butter and serving it to volunteers in what they hope is the start of a food revolution. The development may have a big impact on the future of food, as organizations such as the United Nations struggle to develop ways of feeding the world’s growing population without significant environmental impact. Not only could it help feed the planet, but it also could help solve environmental problems stemming from conventional meat production. The volunteers pronounced the patty, developed at a cost of more than $330,000 with support from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, as tasting “almost like a burger.”"
Wow. That is my first reaction after reading the article.Science and technology have come a long way, but isn't there better use of our resources and knowledge than completely manufacturing food. I personally don't want to be eating food that has been doctored in a lab. Whenever I hear of some groundbreaking technology or system that is supposed to advanceFood companies have stakeholders to please, shareholders to satisfy, and government regulations to deal with and it is very interesting to learn how food companies lobby officials and expand sales by marketing to people in developing countries. The food industry plays politics as well as or better than other industries and this is what impacts the future of food the most.
Are you willing to try this new science burger? What is the future of food?
Many of us felt outraged or devastated when we heard the news of the George Zimmerman trial on Friday night. The news was heartbreaking--and a true indicator of our national climate.
George Zimmerman was found not guilty for the murder of a minor, a high school student, a very young black man. He was found not guilty because the murder was in self-defense.
What I think this case raises, whether or not we believe Zimmerman is guilty, whether or not Zimmerman is guilty, is what makes this a self-defense case.
Trayvon was very young, much smaller than Zimmerman, and carrying no weapon. He was no realistic threat to Zimmerman. What he was, however, was a young black male in a hoodie. This is something that plays deeply into our national psychology. We discriminate against people that fit this description daily; we ourselves might feel fear when we see someone like this in the street late at night.
Zimmerman is no monster, he is just like every American. He did an unspeakable act, but according to his case, he did it out of fear, out of self-defense. Why did he feel fear? Because he encountered a black male wearing "street clothing." We are all conditioned to this fear to a point. Our culture is based in roots of racism, misunderstanding, and bigotry. Our American way of life has taught us who to fear by physical description, and it has taught us who matters, who to believe. All by appearance.
Let's find justice for Trayvon by recognizing the poison in the very roots of our nation, and address that psychology. Zimmerman is merely one piece in a much larger game.
Overdressed is the study on our culture's new obsession with low-cost, discount clothing. Modern Americans prefer quantity over quality, and we shop at discount chains like Target, H&M, and Forever 21 for colorful outfits that are practically throw away. Some of these clothes we can tell when we purchase them won't make it through one wash cycle, but we want it for one special occasion. Shopping has become an everyday occurrence, and the trends shift rapidly to catch the frequent shopper's eye on each trip. With styles changing so frequently to appeal to consumers, it is easy to get caught up in the "now" trend.
Coming with this idea that we need more clothing options and the ability to keep up with the trends comes the idea that clothing needs to be cheap. Shoppers often brag to one another about bargains and "steals" that they get while shopping. We want our clothing to be cheap and in large quantity. This is a shift in our society--clothing used to be much more expensive and people would cherish the few items they had--reheeling shoes, patching pants, fixing hems and seams. Comparatively, clothing is cheaper now than it ever has been in history. In order to meet this consumer demand, clothing producers have to take some short cuts--making most clothing of poor quality. This practice also drives the cost of high end fashion and designers even higher. As more people covet the designer brands for their quality and their exclusive appeal, the prices skyrocket. Mid-level clothing boutiques can't compete, needing to pay for their materials and overhead, they can't discount their clothing as much as big box stores and they don't have the same fetishized appeal as notorious designers.
Finally, with so much demand for clothing quantity, there is a real environmental strain. Producing clothing has huge water costs associated with it, as well as mass amounts of energy necessary for production. The "disposable clothing" movement (buying cheap clothes that you might only wear once or twice) is an environmental dilemma and is not a sustainable practice. It is much more sustainble to buy clothing second-hand, to cherish what you own, and to pick pieces that will last, despite them costing a bit more.
I found this book culturally enlightening, and it has challenged to curb some of my own shopping habits in order to be more sustainable and live more ethically. I encourage others to read and learn about the business practices, bad working conditions, and environmental costs in cheap fashion.
A scare on the Philadelphia Benjamin Parkway in caused a human stampede on Thursday night. 30 people treated by medics, children lost, thousands terrified and many unsure of the cause of their fear and angst. Was it a gun, BB gun, firecrackers thrown at a crowd, or simply a motorcycle back fire? This was how I spent my Independence Day.
This year to celebrate the 4th of July I joined family and friends on a Philadelphia adventure. The day kicked off with an Independence Day parade and followed with a free concert on the Benjamin Parkway with the backdrop of the famous Art Museum. It was reported that over 500,000 people were in attendance. It felt like a crowd of over a million as people pushed through for a better view and disrupted family picnics. The concert starred John Mayer, Grace Potter, J-Cole, Jill Scott and Ne-Yo. To conclude the fun night was the fireworks show perfectly displayed over the illuminated art museum. My group and I headed to exit while also stopping to take pictures and view the beauty of the firework lit sky. What happened next was something right out of a movie. The best way I can describe it from my point of view was the scene in Lion King where the wild beast are stampeding which eventually lead to the death of Mufasa.
While standing in the blocked off parkway I heard screams coming from behind. Turning around I saw a crowd of at least 200 people running towards us. The look on their faces were of pure terror. I heard someone close by yell "run" and before the crowd reached us my family dispersed from the street. I saw people running off to the side up against a building and I joined them. People were yelling, crying, screaming "some one's been shot" another yelled "It was a bomb". I looked around and realized I had been separated from my party. I reached for my phone in my back pocket and it was gone. Looking forward in the street I saw the stampede of people run by. As the street cleared people near me started to clear our hiding spot and looking for their loved ones. I found my group, but not without some bumps and bruises of our own. I looked down and saw my arms were shaking.
(Below is a Youtube video filmed by individuals caught in the stampede which was featured on Fox29 Philadelphia.)
Walking back to our hotel in the Center City we saw cops gathering, firetrucks, ambulances. Everyone seemed very confused and scared. No one knew what had happened. What caused hundreds of people to run in terror. Varied reports have been released. A report form NBC10 Philadelphia state a man fired a BB gun at the crowd while Fox29 reports firecrackers thrown at the crowd. Whatever the cause, it was amplified drastically by the number of people in the area and the fear many have of being caught in a mass attack. I heard people saying "it's like the Boston marathon or"it's a mass shooting". These recent events are what I think cause the human stampede.
We live in a world today where a man opens fire on innocent moviegoers, where backpack bombers attack a historical marathon, where young children are murdered in school. I don't believe this event is related to the formers, but it is because of events like those that people were in danger. The fear of being caught in a mass attack caused a mass riot of its own. Such action could have easily left a greater physical impact. I have only read of one serious injury with most of the rest being treated at the scene. But if you watch the videos of that night you get a glimpse into what most of us felt as the panic spread through the parkway.
A culture of fear. This may very well be the real cause of the panic and the human stampede. Many would suggest that it's better to be safe than sorry, but what about when this fear has such a ripple effect that it amplifies a small incident into a truly fearful event.
What would you do right now if you learned that you were going to die in ten minutes? So take a couple of minutes to let that question settle in and decide how you would respond. This year I've made a point to really increase the number and variety of books I read. To help with this goal I've set up a Goodreads account and have been tracking my progress and finding new books to add to my list. One of my selections in June was "Stumbling on Happiness" by Daniel Gilbert. Gilbert poses the above mentioned question and many others to readers. As a scientist he also includes scientific studies and experiments throughout the book to provide context and science to support his research. When tackling the questions as to what will make one happy Gilbert has three points.
1. When we imagine our state of mind (happiness, sadness, feeling due to hypothetical events), key details may be added or missing without us realizing it. (Not unlike the blind spot.) Very often, it's those details that ultimately make us happy. 2. When we imagine the future (or recall the past), it is far less imaginative than we think. Our mental picture will be very much like the present and our "imagined" feelings will be strongly influenced by the current state of mind. 3. When events actually happen, we view it far differently than before it had happened. Our psychological "immune system" will distort our perception of major psychological events to help shield us from undesirable effects (pain, depression). In the end Gilbert proposes a solution to how one can predict what will make them happy that many would probably disagree and argue against. The solution presented by Dr. Gilbert to accurately estimate our happiness is to draw our conclusion from people with similar backgrounds and experiences. Many of us feel we are so unique that we couldn't possibly judge our own appreciation of an experience solely based on the experience of another, but this is Gilbert's argument. I rated this book a "3" out of 5 on the Goodreads rating system. I did enjoy the topic and Gilbert includes several fun pictures and experiments to try out yourself, but at times he can be very technical when discussing scientific research which can be laborious to read and comprehend quickly. Has anyone read the book yet? How would you respond to the introduction question? --Krystal (Purchase this book here on Amazon)
3 women, 1 sport, where is all of the money in women sports?
About two weeks ago Forbes released their list of the top 100 paid athletes. There were only three women present on this list and all three participate in the same sport, tennis. Maria Sharapova, Li Na and Serena Williams were the only three women to make the list.
I find this list to be very interesting. First of all, the reason these women even made the list were not because of their salary and earnings from their sport, which are comparably rather low than the other athletes on the list, but because of the endorsements they have received. It is great to see two of my favorite female athletes on this list, but disheartening that no women from any other sports were able to make the list. What about Abby Wombach & Hope Solo representing soccer, or Danika Patrick for racing. It's clear from this Forbes list and other lists of the top female athletes that the only female sport that can compete with its male counterparts is tennis. Look at this list of the top paid female athletes in the world.
Looking at this list makes you want to encourage your daughters and female friends to pick up a tennis racket rather than a softball or basketball if they're looking to receive fame and fortune. What do you think? How can more women and more female sports be represented in these types of list? These sports are not nearly as popular as basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball in grade school mainly because of the costs that can be associated in participating in these sports., but should more women be encouraged and supported to play tennis and golf?
The year is 2013 and women have made immense progress through the decades since being given the right to vote in the United States. Women continue to higher education and careers at the same rate that men do. This is all hard-earned progress in the history of women, as traditionally women were supposed to fulfill "traditional" roles.
It's interesting to think about how social media and the Internet are shaping our lives. It is happening in ways we won't fully understand for years, but we are starting to see some of the damaging effects the Internet has on society, including less face-to-face social interaction, Internet bullying, and narcissism. Among these negative effects is the objectification of women (again). Many people use the Internet to look at pornography. What Caitlin Moran, of How to Be a Woman, observed, is that most pornography that is available portrays traditional power roles and unrealistic women. Women without body hair, with enlarged breasts, and made up faces. Suddenly, people who view pornography are expecting that real life women look and act this way. It is seen as "normal" when it's actually quite the opposite.
Additionally, the Internet allows for many ads to be shown. Often women are digitally enhanced and are striking provocative poses. In ads for American Apparel for example, a company that often advertises gender-neutral clothing, a woman and a man might be outfitted in the same flannel shirt. The woman, however, won't be wearing pants with her shirt, and her buttons might not be buttoned.
The Internet is also full of sex tips, make up tips, and tips about getting the "perfect" body or the "perfect" outfit. It allows for women to worry and fuss over details and perfection that men aren't asked to do. Women feel as though these are necessary concerns in finding jobs, finding love, and just "feeling good," though the same ideas aren't imposed on men.
This is just a brief overview of the ways the Internet and media has shaped a new generation of women, a generation that hasn't had to fight for equality, and is actually allowing for the subtle backslide into oppression and male dominance.
This month I've been reading "Knowing Your Value: Women, Money and Getting What You're Worth" by Mika Brzezinski, MSNB Morning Joe's co-host. Prompted by her own experiences, Mika interviews a number of prominent women across a wide range of industries on their experience moving up in their particular industries and structuring their career paths. Mika reveals how these women, including such impresarios as White House star Valerie Jarrett, comedian Susie Essman, writer and director Nora Ephron, Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg, and broadcaster Joy Behar, navigated the inevitable roadblocks that are unique to women.
My review of this book is lukewarm. I like the idea of the book and what she is trying to get across to women and the readers, but she really just scratches the surface of the issue and in the 200 pages of this book she doesn't dig deep enough. I was very intrigued by this book and Mika's personal experience and her interviews. As the young female professional I consider myself to be this book was written for me. I identify completely with the feeling of "your lucky to have this job" which is mentioned a lot throughout this book as one of the things that holds women back from reaching their career potential.
Although this book doesn't have all of the answers it still is very relatable to many women. It raises points that we need to address as women working up the career ladder. Has anyone check out the book yet? Let me know your thoughts.
Some 37 million students and former students have college loans, totaling more than a trillion dollars. And tens of millions of parents who were required to co-sign loans for their kids are at risk of students fall behind on their payments.
That's a lot of college-educated people in their prime of life. Politicians need to hear from them. An entire generation is failing to get economic traction in a weak job market. College debt only adds to the delay young adults face in buying homes or starting families. This is not an abstract ideological proposition. It is up close and personal.
In 2010, President Obama got Congress to go partway towards reforming the student loan system. The program of federally guaranteed loans underwritten by for-profit financial companies was terminated in favor of less expensive direct federal loans. But banks and for-profit companies like Sallie Mae continued marketing non-federal loans to students. And former students carrying loans under the old programs are not able to refinance, even though rates averaging more than 7 percent are far in excess of the lenders' cost of money in a very low-interest environment.
The student loan program calls attention to the double standards of debt relief. Corporations are able to declare bankruptcy under Chapter 11 and write off old loan -- but college debt follows former students literally to the grave even if they go bankrupt. Big banks have gotten trillions of dollars of debt relief from the TARP program and the Federal Reserve's program of buying toxic assets from banks.
But there is no debt relief for students and former students. Can't we build a movement around that?
No student should have to incur debt in order to attend college. Instead, students could incur a moderate and progressively levied surcharge on their income tax, which could be phased out for people serving the public interest in one of several professions. This provision was included on a pilot basis in the 2010 reform, and could be extended to all college borrowers. What are some other ways we could reduce and alleviates the burden of college loans on the people if the future?
But something to ponder (as seen on tumblr): Do you ever think about the fact that the US has created and legitimized a system of institutionalized inequality by funding schools through property taxes? That basically a child’s education is only as good as the value of the property in their neighborhood. Funny how education is so often viewed as an equalizing factor when there is nothing equal about it. I had never really thought of education in this light before. Yes, I recognized not all school's have equal resources, but I never thought about where the funding was coming from. We get the money for our public schools from the property taxes of the neighborhoods in which they are situated. Public schools--the schools everyone has a right to attend, the schools that are open to everyone. Then we wonder why some people just couldn't "buckle down and finish" or why they weren't successful in post-secondary education courses. We think, they could have gotten "an education just like I did." Schools are only as good as the neighborhoods they are situated in--just another reason that families that have assets, money, and a history of higher education continue to achieve. Just another way that our institutions discriminate by race and class. --Megan
In one of my classes the other day we had a guest lecturer who preceded to tell us that if we are not making $100,000+ five years after graduating from our master's program then we have wasted our money on school. Not only did he make this remark to my fellow graduate students and I, but also exclaimed that he makes the same remarks to his undergraduate students.
Hearing his statement really made me think. With respect to undergraduate students, earning six figure salaries 5 years post graduation is an extremely lofty goal given the number of college graduates vying for employment and the state of our nation's economy. But what about graduate students. I did a little research on jobs secured by people with Masters Degrees and the median salary by those jobs. On PayScale.com they have several tables and charts to illustrate median salaries.
So what do you think, should an individual be earning a six-figure salary 5 years post earning their graduate level degree? How viable is it to have that earning power?
Across the District of Columbia, between 20 and 37% of adults are functionally illiterate. By Grade 4, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (2011) finds that 81% of DC children read below grade level.
Literacy is the basis for all other education. Without the ability to read and analyze information, do math, communicate effectively, and use a computer – the pillars of literacy – people struggle to take part in the world around them. Low literacy is closely correlated with low earnings, irregular employment, and poverty. Further, the fragile economic circumstances of those with limited literacy skills can resonate through entire communities and across generations.
How can we increase adult literacy in DC?
investing to ensure all 3rd grade students read at grade level.
increasing funding for Adult & Family Education to serve more adult learners and to meet higher GED standards.
assessing the demand for literacy services and the capacity to meet the city’s needs for literacy services.
ensuring high standards and accountability for all literacy programs.
Taking these steps to improve literacy of District residents ensures a better community for all. And if we work together we can accomplish these steps. But it will take work, including speaking with your council member, volunteering your time to programs or adults in need of literacy and reaching out to other elected officials including the May0r. The important thing is to make your voice and your beliefs heard.
Amidst the tragedies this month is the legislature for stricter gun control that was voted down. I am extremely disappointed in our elected officials, as it has seemed, at least since the Newtown tragedy in December, that our country has at last been crying out for change. When the bill wasn't passed, I couldn't believe it. The bill contained nothing extreme--just stricter enforcement on background checks nationwide for those that wish to purchase guns. Given the sheer number of homicides, mass tragedies, and widespread fear that legal and illegal guns alike have caused over the past few years in the US, it seems like a given that we should have tighter restrictions on who's hands guns are landing into.
I found on the Washington Post, a few different graphics and charts that better explain what might have gone wrong when passing this bill. One idea is that the urgency was gone: it is hard to keep the momentum going with the greater American public, and with the Newtown tragedy fading from memory, Americans weren't keeping the conversation going.
The second shows that many Americans perhaps really didn't care for the legislation after all. This infograph breaks down some of the different groups that were interested in the bill or not interested in the bill.
We live in a large, widespread country with people of various backgrounds and belief systems; it can be difficult to unify all these people under one legislature or even to get people to care all about the same thing. I am personally very disappointed in the American people for letting this go by, but these graphs and breakdowns simply demonstrate that truly not as many people were on board as was necessary.
Get involved with a group like The Brady Campaign to better reach others about this important issue. Let's not give up hope for a safer America!
I don't think there can be someone known as an "accidental racist." I do believe that we all make mistakes, and perhaps have grown up in a place that has not allowed for entire racial understanding and sensitivity. I think perceptions based on our backgrounds, education, and upbringing are entirely normal, and that many have not been taught about the racist institutions built into our culture and how to combat them; perhaps this makes someone a racist by choice or a racist by psyche and nurture, but there is no accident about what behaviors you choose.
Part of living in a community, living as part of a larger, interconnected society, is knowing how to live WITH community. This involves respecting one another. Racism is ingrained into American society, but that doesn't mean we need to act on it.
I heard about Brad Paisley's new song, "Accidental Racist," on The Colbert Report. While the segment was comedy gold, I am truly horrified that the song is real. The song is implicitly racist, despite the narrator singing that he wants to bridge the divide between whites and blacks. In the lyrics, it is the black man serving the white man coffee, a white man who knows the full meaning and history behind the confederate flag, but despite these implications, chooses to wear it in public because he's a "Skynyrd fan." This is not accidental. This is a choice. Bigotry and hatred is always a choice, and alienating people with uncomfortable symbols of superiority, history, etc, simply because you "like the design," for example. The lyrics are filled with assumptions about racial relations and the typical African-American lifestyle.
Even worse, LL Cool J features in the song. I can't imagine a sum of money large enough to convince him to sing the demeaning lyrics, including "if you don't judge my gold chains, I'll forgive the iron chains." As Colbert surmises, "That's a pretty good deal, Paisley. LL will forget 250 years of enslavement if you accept his taste in accessories."
The song misses the entire conversation about racial and cultural sensitivity and veers off into a racist and offensive place. Paisley claims to want an open dialogue with African-Americans and for both to be understood, but cannot give up his pride in the way he was raised, nor let go of racist generalizations and stereotypes such as black men being from the hood, wearing "saggy pants", "do-rags", and "gold chains." This song is a product of him, and, in fact, the song seems so unaware of the demeaning and one-sided dialogue, that perhaps it truly is "accidental."
Colbert changes the tone, however, and gives us something to laugh at. You can check out the whole clip here. Be sure to watch to the end to catch Colbert's spoof of "Accidental Racist," what he calls "OopsieDaisy Homophobe."
The tragedy that occurred at the 2013 Boston Marathon yesterday will always be remembered by this generation. Some people are even saying that events like this are things we just have to get use to and expect along with the shootings of Newtown, New Jersey, Aurora, Colorado and others. Do you accept that? I know I don't.
I know that disaster is living and apart of our wild, but I can hardly agree that these incidents should be accepted as just part of our culture. It is unacceptable to think that you can't enjoy a movie at a local theatre or participate in a marathon without fearing your life. And is beyond unacceptable for our children, our babies, the future of our nation to not feel safe in their neighborhood school.
It is terrible what happened in Boston on Monday, but I always feel inspired by some of the miraculous stories you hear about people putting their safety in danger in order to save or protect the life of a stranger. One man called in to a local radio station and spoke of his young song asking him whether there are more good people than bad in this world and the father responded that there are more good people. I agree with him. And I truly believe in the power of the people. And our power to have peace. Check out this picture taken of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old victim of the the Boston Marathon bombings, in class prior to Monday April 15th.
If only this sign would have reined true on Monday.
I went to see a fantastic monologue, American Utopias, at the Woolly Mammoth Theater last night. The monologue was hilarious, but also deeply insightful, smart, and provocative. American Utopias was three interwoven tales of Burning Man, Disney World, and Occupy Wall Street. The intros to all of these stories are hilarious, but as the night went on, we gained more understanding of how these "American utopias" are related.
I found particularly thought-provoking the way he demonstrated to the audience how mainstream American culture has shaped our perceptions, our imaginations, and given us a point of reference for our own thoughts and ideas about the way the world operates. He made the claim that Disney owns many of our cultural references, our images, our narratives. He said, "picture Snow White. What does she look like to you?" He is absolutely right in this case, when I think of these stories and fairy tales, my point of references is Disney. What started out as revolutionary--Disney's creative stories, images--has now become cliche. It is amazing to think about and challenging to understand just how much of what we understand and believe to be reality is shaped by a popular notion.
Daisey went on to challenge our perceptions of freedom, assembly, audience and individualism, as he wove his narratives. He challenged my ideas of reality and truth (demonstrating what Colbert calls "truthiness") and left the audience with the task of better understanding where our perceptions and notions come from and really letting go of what's not real (ie the idea this country is "free" simply because they've been telling us it is since kindergarten) and creating our own narratives and waves of thought. That is how revolution starts and with it, a new wave of thought, that will someday seem cliche.
Finally DC is feeling the beautiful weather of spring. The cherry blossoms are blooming, the Nationals are playing, outdoor bar patios are packed and festivals are kicking off..This is a great time of year. Many individuals even consider it as the best season of all because it brings new hope, a sign of rebirth and a form of renewal to plants, animals, man and even nature. For most people, the season of spring is the best season because the temperature is just adequate. It’s neither too warm nor too cold. More so, spring encourages one to encourage into playful activities and enjoy the weather and nature itself.
There are activities all over the city and surrounding areas you can get involved with throughout the spring and summer.Adult kickball, soccer and volleyball leagues. Bicycle races, tough mudders, and garden kickoffs.
What are your plans for this spring? What are you most excited about?
The modern world has made eating easy! Things are prepackaged and prepared, ready to grab, go, and eat. We reheat in the microwave, we consume what's on the shelves of our local grocery stores, or at the local restaurants and fast food chains.
We don't think much about what these things are, so long as they fill us up. We are satisfying our hunger.
The American food system is problematic in many ways, but I want to focus this post specifically on what it is we are eating and the misconceptions about eating in our country, particularly in lower income households and neighborhoods.
I read a book last week called Super Immunity by by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. The book breaks down our common ideas about food--basically, what we've been taught in school. It is common knowledge that we need a combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to ensure nutrition and stave off hunger. This combination will give us appropriate amounts of energy for our day to day lives.
This may be true, to a point, but what we are missing is what's behind that. Not all food has the same nutrient per calorie ratio. We know this, to an extent: a spinach salad is better for us then Cheetos. We are still focusing on the wrong factors, when considering consumption, however. Vegetables provide primary sources of protein and energy, whereas animal products provide merely a secondary source (as the plant life was first consumed by the animal, then consumed by us). Many of these vegetables and plants provide micronutrients that are immeasurable at this point in science. For example, the book provides examples of how berries, kale, spinach, beans, and mushrooms provide anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-disease compounds that can not be measured as a vitamin or mineral, nor carbohydrate and fat. When we eat processed foods just to get the end goal of calories and energy, we are missing the sources of these disease fighting agents, and it is apparent in American culture that we are suffering the consequences. Diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and chronic inflammation are at all time highs. Doctors are not to a point where they are looking at these issues holistically, and diets and habits are not being treated, merely symptoms.
Dr. Fuhrman provides many examples in his book about people who have changed their eating habits and have seen enormous results. His book touches on the topics of modern medicine, food as medicine, and our cultural reliance on remedies and symptom-treating, as well as the other harsh toxins we put in our bodies. I hope to further blog on these bits in future posts.
I found Super Immunity to be an eye-opening observance of our culture and habits, and how these cultural factors are literally killing us. It is not a diet book as much as it is a reflection on modern lifestyle.
In particular, I reflected on how many healthy and nutrient foods are inaccessible to lower classes and entire low-income neighborhoods. Processed food is cheap: McDonalds, chips, frozen pizzas and mac and cheese, canned goods, etc. These are not nutrient dense, and do not contain micronutrients needed to ward off disease. This is apparent in low-income individuals, who typically suffer from more diseases than others. That is food justice. I hope to reflect more in coming weeks on this aspect of social justice in our nation.
