Sunday, April 5, 2009
Article on the Language of the GOP
This is an article by this guy Charles Blow. He write every saturday i think, maybe friday, for the NEw York Times. Very eclectic writer. You should look out for him.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
California Politics
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Obligation of Athletes
I think this is extremely interesting. Should athletes speak about issues such as Darfur? The olympics is about cross cultural cooperation and peace so isn't kind of antithetical to the idea of the games to ignore issues of international importance? In 1980 the US boycotted the games due to protest of a war, which I think shows that politics and human rights should be part of the olympics. For those of you that know me, you know that I also think that American athletes should also address issues of inequality because they are such public figures and carry weight in communities that are often oppressed. Do you think that there is a difference between the olympics and regular American sports in terms of having an obligation to discuss and bring fourth important societal issues? Or do you think they are the same? My friend had an essay question on the GRE which asked whether athletes have an obligation to give back to their communities- she said they were looking for you to say no, looks like I'm going to fail my GRE's.
I will respond to Coos's post soon.
Monday, August 4, 2008
To Label
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
More Election
College Tuition
Monday, July 21, 2008
On The Election
McCain is old. Hes really old. He would be the oldest president ever. He has had every known skin cancer, which on the outside doesn't seem like something that is working against him but in reality the American people are voting for their president, not vice-president (in the case of death). Hes a Neo-Con on foreign policy. He has claimed to not really understand the economy in the past. He doesn't know how to operate a computer. He has great admiration for one of the most unpopular presidents in America's history. In his one area of expertise, foreign policy, he displays both rigidity and his age; where we need a new era of world politics that combines fluidity with poise. A great example of this is his recent insistence on calling the Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, basically ignoring the 1980's and 1990's and the fall of the Soviet Union. He has a widely known anger problem that will pop up in the next couple months. And this is all before the questions of Iraq, taxation, the "War on Terror" (god am I sick of this phrase), the woman's right to choose and other issues that the American public has trouble with.
And yet hes only 4 points down, when he should be at least double digits. A big question has to be why?
I think a lot of people will jump to racism against Obama, but it is my firm belief that while this may exist, a big reason for the small gap lies at the feet of the Media. The Media, in a large sense, and 24 hour news in a specific sense seem to have given McCain a protective bubble to hide in, in his title as a "Maverick". John McCain, the "Maverick" is a straight-talker. He doesn't play the Washington political game, he doesn't seem wishy-washy on any position, he always comes down on one-side. He also is the most dedicated champion for the American military.
It's odd how McCain gained this credibility with the Media, because as we've seen in the past and recently its not true. The most recent version of the GI Bill, sponsored by Virgina Congressman Jim Webb, McCain voted against. McCain pointed to ability for the serviceman to have full funding towards college after they serve as a reason, because they would be inclined to leave the military and not reenlist. Webb, also a decorated war veteran, called McCain "full of it" (I think he was missing the sh in front of the -it).
In my opinion the Media does this to hype the election, that every non-partisan expert believes Obama should win. They need ratings. It feeds their power. And personally it pisses me off. So my response is that in the fall I will be campaigning for Obama hard, not because I think it will be very close but because I want to kick the media in the metaphorical nuts.
Friday, July 18, 2008
The "G" Word?
In the July 4th, 2008 issue of the “Belmar Summer Rental News,” published by the Borough of Belmar, NJ, several derogatory comments were included amidst the usual corny and cheeky jabs that the newsletter is known for. At least two articles
used the slurs ‘guido’ and ‘guidette,’ and included offensive descriptions of summer renters.
The newsletter includes among its articles a list of houses that have received noise complaints or other “quality of life summonses” that week, and is decidedly a humor rag meant to entertain the year-round residents and those summer visitors with a sense of humor. However, the particular issue in question may have gone too far.
In distributing this newsletter, is Mayor Ken Pringle accidentally making a stupid mistake which will force down revenue due to a boycott? Probably not.
Belmar has become more well-known for its party-style atmosphere than some of its neighbors on the shoreline, such as the family-oriented
Wealthier vacationers, turned off by the partying in Belmar, may now consider the Borough when making their beach plans for the summer. Mayor Pringle may be thinking that wealthier vacationers will spend more money and be less abrasive. The mayor and other year-round residents may think this is a good thing, justifiable by any means.
However, the insults thrown by Pringle are reprehensible on two levels. First, there is the human level. Should a middle-aged white male, graduate of
Then, there is the political level. According to an NYTimes.com reader, Pringle is an investor in property along the Shark River Inlet in Belmar, and would reap substantial monetary gains should Belmar property values be driven up to meet demand from wealthier buyers. He title places him in a position to artificially raise property values by creating town laws and ordinances that serve his own purposes.
In short, the misguided use of derogatory words in a printed medium by a government official is bad. However, the intentional use of those same terms by a government official for potential personal gain is simply appalling. And I find it hard to believe that a man living on the
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
This Blog
Nas' New Album
Here are some highlights from the article:
"With a host of racial issues -- the Jena Six, Don Imus, nooses -- fresh on America's mind, naming an album "Nigger" seems ill-advised. Nas, however, said his goal wasn't to upset; it was to upend a society that focuses more on pejoratives than the racial plights that spawn them."
"There's still so much wrong in the whole world with people -- poor people, people of color -- I just felt like a nice watch couldn't take that away, make me forget about that. A nice day on a yacht with rich friends couldn't make me forget about reality, what's going on," he said. "That's why I named the album that -- not just that the word is horrible, but the history behind the word, and how it relates to me, how it's affected me, offended me."
After reading this article, I wondered if I could even be able to discuss this issue in a constructive manner without sounding paternalistic or ignorant. I can't relate to the n-word and its effect on my identity or my community.
I was wondering if anyone else shared my sentiment? While this article was in the Entertainment section of CNN.com, it evidently is a complicated issue.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/16/music.nas/index.html
Monday, July 14, 2008
First Post
Well I finally made the blog. A lot of us have been sharing thoughts about politics, race, class and education for years. We have sent emails and talked for hours, but I think it would be great to get some of this in written form, so we can get more of an audience involved in the dialogue. I only invited a few people, but it is open and you should invite people you think may be interested.
I love you all,
Fam