More Tax Cuts = More Economic Suffering for America

So much is currently happening in this country I hardly know where to begin.

I guess I could try to broach the Debt Deal... though I am completely aware that I do not understand all of the technicalities of the US economy I do not understand how taking money out of the economy will improve our situation. I was under the impression that the government was encouraging Americans to spend more and promote US businesses and employment opportunities in America. If we take money out of the economy are we not also rising unemployment rates?
Secondly, I sincerely do not understand why the wealthy are so resistant to a mere 6% tax increase. They are able to contribute more to their country, and if they were willing to pay a slightly higher income tax, I believe the nation could be in a different place. The wealthy are paying less than they have in a long time and important programs driving this nation are having their funding cut as a result of it. I don't believe this is a fair trade-off. It seems as if the country as a whole is going to suffer so a small percentage of the population can enjoy a tax break.

I am scared for the economic times to come. I am not upset with Obama, simply overwhelmed with the Tea Party's willingness to hold the White House to ransom.
If this first debt-ceiling request was granted, how long will more spending cuts be made?

I found The Atlantic's 'Five Ways the Debt Crisis Changed America' simply frightening.

Sexual Objectification in Advertising

For my final paper, I wrote about the objectification of women over the course of America's history. When looking through modern advertisements I was blown away by how often women are exploited in ads. Here are some shocking examples of advertisements all from one organization alone, PeTA, the largest animal rights organization in the world. It obviously will go to great (and shamelessly sexist) lengths to send it's message. Here are some examples where women are sexually exploited or objectified (turned into sexual objects) in order to promote PeTA's message.

On PeTA's official website they explain  Why PeTA uses nudity in their campaigns.
Is the fact that PeTA must "rely on getting free "advertising" through media coverage" an excuse for their constant exploitation of women? Do their good intentions eliminate the harmful messages they are sending Americans?

Looking Back: Second Semester Blogging

I am absolutely shocked that this school year is literally days from being over and that I have been blogging for such a length of time. In less than 10 months I have recieved about 2,500 views from six continents (including Russia, Thailand, Argentina, Slovenia, South Korea and Australia).
Over the year, and semester, my posts have really covered a large range of topics. Some posts, such as Token Tiana and Donald Trump on Citizen Kane were directly inspired by class discussions while others were events/ideas I was personally passionate about or that were prevalent in the news.
I now see possible blog topics nearly everywhere. I have about 20 drafts sitting in a folder in my Blogger account. Most of these were never completed because I have a tendency to start writing a new post without completing the previous one in fear I'd forget what I was going to write about. But the posts I actually manage to publish follow a formula I've been using all year long.
In my last Meta-post I commented on the fact that each of my blogs have three main parts 1. an image 2. a link to an article or website and 3. the actual blog, usually containing a question I have regarding the topic of the post.  This past semester I experimented with inserting YouTube clips and using personal experiences in my posts. I feel like I've grown a lot as a blogger over the course of this year and it has been an extremely rewarding experience!

*** It was extremely difficult for me to choose a post to be graded for this quarter but have chosen "There's always been a little green behind the Red, White and Blue..." as my post to be graded. (Please excuse the weird formating/discoloration that I've been having trouble with)

Quadroon and Octaroon

Race has been a huge theme throughout American Studies. Even though strides seem to have been made toward equalizing races, race is still used as an identifier for many official and federal documents. For example, we are asked to identify our race when taking the ACT and when applying to colleges. However, it is becoming more and more difficult to find people of solely one race. (Hence the 'Melting Pot' of the USA). One article, titled "Black? White? Asian? More Young Americans Choose All of the Above" can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30mixed.html- this article speaks directly to how racial identification is becoming more difficult as our nation matures and more Americans are trans-racial. Mixed races have additionally been recognized since the 2000 census, in which one could report being multiple races. The author of this article, Susan Saulny reports, "Optimists say the blending of the races is a step toward transcending race." If this is true, there are high hopes for racial equality in America.

However, the different multiracial identities may be a new way to distinguish yourself as well. This article and class led me to wonder whether race will ever cease to matter. Some people choose to proudly identify themselves as black, Indian, Asian, Asian-Hispanic, Asian-black, Quadroon, mulatto or even just plain white. Others would like simply to be identified by their traits and achievements. Is it possible to be considered simply "American?"

A Day to Remember

For some Memorial Day is simply a day off school or work, in reality it is so much more. It is a day to stop, think, pray for and remember all of the brave military personnel who gave their lives while serving in the US military.
Each and every one of us has been effected by war veterans, and America would truly not be the country it is without their service. It is important we share our memories of these heroes, particularly on a day like Memorial day.
One heartbreaking story here.

Yesterday, May 28, 2011, Chicago celebrated Memorial Day with an annual parade to be thankful that we live in a country where freedom, justice and democracy are proudly defended.
A ceremony took place early in the morning, when the names of Illinoisans who have in active duty this past year (23 in total) were read.  Odierno, commander in chief of the U.S. Joint Forces Command was the Grand Marshal of this years parade and joined in commemoration of fallen soldiers, as well as their family members saying,  "Today, as we honor the memory of your family members, who sacrificed so much, we also honor and thank you.”
So this Memorial Day, before enjoying the sunshine, burgers and brats, take the time to remember those who died in service of this country, and those whose lives will never be the same without them.
-Chicago Tribune coverage of the parade.

"There's always been a little green behind the Red, White and Blue...''

As I mentioned in my previous Ireland series of posts, Obama  planned, and now has visited Ireland in his tour of Europe. When I was visiting there, months in advance to his visit, many Irish were very excited for his visit, declaring he has Irish roots. He visited May 23rd and was welcomed with open arms. During his visit, Obama traced his roots and discovered that his grandfather's grandfather originated in Moneygall, Ireland. After enjoying a pint of Guinness there, Obama made his way to Dublin to give a speech.

His speech was very positive and focused on the American Dream- which we discussed in great depth today in class. He recognized that a large perecentage of Americans have Irish ancestry, which can be credited to the inspiration the American Dream provided for Irish (as well as other) immigrants to migrate to the US.  

For a visual recording of the speech go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngwyKsUg9Ms

Obama defined the American Dream in a variety of ways saying immigrants left "behind all they knew in hopes that something better lay over the horizon" they had, "...faith in America" which was seen as "a place where you could be prosperous, you could be free, to think, and talk, and worship as you pleased, a place where you could make it if you tried." I think his definition agrees with much of what we were saying in class. This dream extends beyond material wealth to social freedoms and ultimately happiness.

 

A summary article quotes Irish Taoiseach, or prime minister, Edna Kenny. "Today, the 44th president comes home," he said "He doesn't just speak the American dream. He is the American dream."

The idea of one person representing the American Dream also relates to class discussions. Is it possible for Obama to represent the American Dream even though he grew up with wealth and did not follow the "rags to riches" trend we've highlighted in class?

P.S. If you listen to the whole speech, you'll even catch a pretty interesting Freddy D. reference!

The World is Over...Why is Everyone still Here?

Yes. We made it. We are alive...
Despite the Rapture becoming a relatively large topic of discussion this past week, the world remains pretty much as we know it (despite the news Arnold Schwarzenegger has fathered multiple love-children). Though there has been considerable hype about this event, a lot of people don't really know what it is. In fact, I heard someone call it the "Rupture" today.
Most people recognize the Rapture, May 21st, 2011- as the day the "world will end" or the day all non-Christians will die, or go to hell. Yep, admittedly some heavy stuff. All of this absurd ruckus began when Harold Camping, an admittedly adorable old man, decided to alert the world of the Rapture.
I'm just confused as to why anyone believe Camping such as one man, Steve, who believed Camping's 1994 doomsday prediction as well.

In his book "Time Has an End," Camping explains many questions I had about this day.
1. How did he determine the exact date? "The year 391 B.C. is the year when the Old Testament was finished, and 2,011 + 391 - 1 = 2,401, or 7 x 7 x 7 x 7"(Camping)
2. Why would God kill so many people? Camping says God will punish America and the rest of the world for Gay Pride and same-sex marriages.
3. Who will God save? It seems that Camping believed Jesus would descend to earth and select about 2 to 3% of the population to be raptured (yes, it is a verb as well) and the other 98% or so would be left on Earth to be crushed in an earthquake on October 21st.
For more Q&A: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/hottopics/detail?entry_id=89183#ixzz1NCaBmM00

All I can think of throughout any of this is that the media is desperate to grab onto this ridiculous claim. Or, that there were people out there willing to believe it.

To read more about Camping's reaction on the 22nd please go here, he seems legitimately confused: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/harold-camping-speaks-after-rapture-fails-to-begin-on-may-21/2011/05/23/AFxMIp9G_blog.html
For other believer's reactions: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/22/may-21-judgment-day-may-22_n_865298.html

Donald Trump on Citizen Kane

After we finished the classic movie, "Citizen Kane" in class today, I couldn't help but compare Kane to the wealthy  and influential men of today. Personally, when I think of rich men, I think of Bill Gates, professional sports players and Donald Trump. I found 'The Donald' to be most similar to Kane. He is currently the 278th richest man in the world, has his own TV show, is funding the construction of huge buildings across the country and now may be running for president. Kane was one of the most wealthy men in the world, had his own newspaper, built an opera house along with other mammoth buildings and, at one point, it seemed that he would inevitably become president. Both had immense public influence. What we don't know, is whether Trump suffers from the same hardships that Kane did.
Curiously enough, I found a clip of Trump talking about what  Citizen Kane meant to him. You can view it below:

In this expose Trump acknowledges that he can relate to Kane. He notes that Kane, "had the wealth, but he didn't have the happiness" and that he believes (most likely from personal experience) that "wealth does isolate you from other people. It's a protective mechanism..." He can relate to the way wealth can separate one from others. However, before getting too personal the interview ends.
He fails to hold Kane responsible for his selfishness or loneliness, instead he blames it on his wife, ending with advising Kane to, "Get yourself a different woman."
By blaming his unhappiness on anyone but himself gives one insight on Trump's self-righteousness and superiority complex (that I believe is similar to that of Kane).

***In the clip check out the framing of Trump and his facial expressions...at points eerily similar to Kane's.

Carl Smith

Tonight we had the opening performance for American Studies Day 2011.
Professor Carl Smith from Northwestern University spoke to a sizable crowd about the power of place, while focusing on Chicago.

For those of you who were unable to attend here are some highlights that I thought connected to our class discussions:
- Smith talked a lot about trains, and the placement of the tracks. For example, the railroads were arranged so freight traffic wouldn't go through the city (for aesthetic purposes)
- He also spent a lot of time on the "Chicago Plan" of 1921, I believe it was called. Apparently architects had hopes of Chicago developing into a new Athens or Paris... it seems these plans were not fulfilled.
- Chicago underwent something called the "City Beautiful Movement." This movement emphasized a common theme in Smith's lecture- that appearance/aesthetics was vital in the creation of Chicago, and in nearly all places
- One ideology, "a good place to live is a good place to work" relates to our investigation of the Western suburbs. One suburb, Winnetka does not seem to follow this ideology.  Winnetka seems to be primarily a residential community, and most residents travel away from their homes to go to work. Instead, this ideology seems to support the lifestyle that many people in Bellwood follow.
- An opposing ideology was, "a great place makes for a great people." This belief focuses more on the appearance and structure of a community, rather than on it's purpose as, like in Bellwood a logistic center.
-Lastly, Smith spoke about the 1921 Winnetka Plan. Evidently, this plan seemed to focus on zoning (like we spoke of in class today) as well as depressing the train tracks. This depression can be related to the "Big Ditch" completed in 1943.

Overall the presentation was extremely enlightening and really leaves one to wonder about the thought process that must be undergone when constructing a city or community such as Chicago or Winnetka. Where do you place everything? What's more important purpose or presence? It seems nearly everything was considered to create the Chicago we know and love today.

Prom on the Northshore

Yesterday was Prom for New Trier High School. Nearly everywhere I looked I was reminded of the ridiculous amount of money that was lavishly spent on this one night. Prom is a dance that takes place in all classes and communities however, the different aspects of prom is certainly indicate class.

1.  nearly all groups of 16, 17, and 18 year-olds arrived in limos, or at least party buses. Some of these limos were large enough to fit 50 people.

2. The prom was held at the Rosemont Center, where chandeliers line every ceiling.

3. Dinner was, let's just say, surprisingly extensive. There were chefs with huge roast turkeys, slabs of beef, ham, salad bars, fruit, cheeses, pasta, burgers and (to show how culturally diverse we are) kabobs and spanikopita.

3. The dance was elegantly decorated, and  we were trusted with real glass plates, metal silverware and clothe napkins.

4. There were large TV screens on the dance floor showing both music videos and live footage of the dance.

5. A professional photographer was distributing printed photos in folders for anyone who so desired.

6. Many girls were clad in designer dress, shoes and glitzy jewelry- correspondingly guys all had on nice tuxes, complete with cuff links and shiny shoes.
7. Probably a quarter of girls got their hair professionally styled.
8. At my after party, Arnold Palmers were served.

The indicators continued into the night, but my main point I guess is simply that there are indicators of class EVERYWHERE! Regardless of the fact that prom is a lavish occasion regardless of social class, the details of every prom can indicate what class the school falls into.

Obama, Credited for Death of Osama?

Osama Bin Laden is dead. As Obama stated, his death marks that "Justice has been done." Although the execution of one of the most-wanted terrorists in the world is an incredible achievement highlighting America's capabilities, terrorism is still a prevalent if not probable reality.

Ever since Osama was killed in a raid, the country has been on high-alert. Extra precautions are being taken everywhere, particularly in airports were soldiers are present, and specialists are sitting analyzing behaviors of all passengers. (details here).

It seems a new paranoia has set-in.
The globe seems to be holding its breathe for reprisal attacks by al Qaeda. In fact, many friends of mine seem positive of an attack on 9/11/11. Obama seems to be at particular risk. He will shortly depart for Ireland (in about 3 weeks), and extreme measures must be taken to ensure Obama's safety. The security in Ireland (as I experienced) is not as thorough as that in the US, and the possibility that an al Qaeda sympathizer travels to Ireland in order to find Obama there is relatively high.

That being said. Will Obama be credited for the death of Osama? Democrats are often criticized for being weak on defense. However, I believe that the fact that Osama was tracked down and executed under a democratic president definitely combats these aggressive and radical claims. I am hopeful that Obama will be given full credit, and hope that those critical of what "little process" he has made in his presidency are able to recognize the significance of this accomplishment...for the US and for the world.

Lastly and most importantly, I hope this news gives the people who's lives were directly affected by 9/11 a small sense of peace. My heart and prayers always go out to you.

***Also, anyone who has ever uttered the words "Barrack Osama" please, just think before you speak.

Ireland: "the US is just good entertainment"...

I am always interested to hear what other countries think of the US. In Ireland, people had relatively strong opinions/feelings about the US.
Long story short, the clutch went out on our rental car and we got stuck in the middle of the road in the middle of nowhere- somewhere near Ballydesmond. So we needed to call AA (no not triple A, double A). After waiting a lot longer than an Irish 5 minutes AA arrived and I ended up next to him in his truck to get to the Shannon Airport.
Once he found out I was American he starting ruffling around in his side compartment, until he pulled out a large container full of CD's. After putting in ACDC, The Dropkick Murphy's, and Kid Cudi, he found the CD he was looking for-it was recordings of talk shows criticizing Bush, Tiger Woods, Paris Hilton, and other American icons. He laughed heartily, and I must admit that I thought it was pretty good stuff. He asked me about my opinions of former President Bush (who is apparently hated by nearly all Irish, and particularly by this man) and Obama (who the Irish were generally in favor of, mostly because he was going to visit Offaly county in May).

I, in turn, asked him about his opinion of President Kennedy, who all Irish seemed to love, to the point a main square/park in the large city of Galway was named after him after he visited for less than 24 hours.
The AA man seemed to have steadfast opinions on many American presidents and celebrities. However, as he said, to the Irish "the US is just good entertainment for us here overseas, just f***ing funny stuff."

Overall, this instance and the trip in general reminded me of how brightly the global spotlight shines on America. There are many stereotypes about American politics, tourists and general ways of life.
One article further highlights what the Irish and other Europeans think of us Americans. Is there a way to improve how we are thought of by the rest of the world?

The View from the Top

I can't believe it. It's over.

At 2:16 today we turned in our junior themes....CONGRATS EVERYONE!!!!
I just had to take a post to acknowledge everyone's hard work, some sleepless nights, great teamwork and class bonding (through peer editing, interviews and late night Skype sessions). We did it, and I hope everyone's relieved, proud and finally taking some time to celebrate Passover and Easter.

(and no worries Doc Oc and Bolos, I'll write a legit post shortly!)

Ireland: Simplicity

(A continuation of my trip to Ireland...please note that this was my personal perception of the 'state of things' and is not fact or applicable to the country as a whole!)

Within a half hour of landing in Shannon, Ireland I realized that the Irish sense of time is somewhat skewed. An airport security guard warned my family and I of a "Irish 5 minutes". In reality their 5 minutes is a half and hour in reality.

Throughout the trip the "Irish 5 minutes" was applicable across the country (from Galway to Glendalough). The Irish seemed to have a much laid back attitude about life in general. My high-strung family, used to rushing around, stressed out about work, school and time was somewhat confused by the degree of relaxation that the Irish generally seemed to incorporate in their everyday life.
My sister attends the National University of Ireland in Galway. She has noted, as a very high-achieving and self-motivated student, that Irish students take school less seriously than students in America... one could definitely say they're more laid back and take time to enjoy themselves even more so than students at certain so-dubbed "party" schools in the US.
It seemed to me that the Irish follow a different lifestyle with different priorities and a different mindset.

I think that America, or at least the Northshore, could take a lesson from the Irish. We should all take a 20 minute break from our day to sit down with a cup of tea, and heck maybe even a scone!

(In major cities there were advertisements for therapy and yoga and such in many places. In fact Ireland has it's own Stress Management Institute... check it out!

Ireland: Heritage

Clonmacnoise, Ireland                                        March 29th, 2011

"May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rain fall softly on your fields
And until we meet again, May God hold
you in the hollow of his hand"

~ Traditional Irish Blessing

Ireland: Housing Boom

For my Spring Break this year, I left the US to visit Ireland for 10 days. It was a brilliant trip, and a lovely country. While I was overseas I noticed many cultural and economic differences and figured I could share some of them with you all. (Maybe a series of posts on Ireland...)

Most people are familiar with the Irish potato famine and the hardships the country and people have faced. However, what many do not know is that the economy of Ireland today is in a deep recession, like the US. Ireland fell victim to a housing boom. Contractors constructed a multitude of houses. On my trip I saw clusters of modern houses, all similar in style and size. The majority of the houses/building however were empty. Ireland spent a huge amount of money on this housing project leaving the banks in debt. For more detailed information on Irish finance news please visit http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_1015142.shtml .

The debt was substantial leaving the Irish government to look for advise from other countries. The US prompted the Irish to bail out the banks, which has now left Ireland in a deep recession.
In my opinion, the US led Ireland astray.

Above is a chart where the increase in buildings constructed corresponds with a net migration (out of the country) likely due to the bad economic times Ireland is under- likely due to the housing boom and bank bail-out.

"We Are One"

Today, April 4, 2011 marks the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This year a "We Are One" campaign is taking place in honor of MLK's dream of collective bargaining and equal rights. The event is occurring across the country where union members and their supporters are coming together to show their support for unions, the middle class, and workers rights. The decline of unions is curious, and especially prevalent today due to the events that have taken place in Wisconsin. More information about "We Are One" is available here: http://www.aflcio.org/splash_april4_live.cfm?continue=/commonspot/sync/packethandlers/do-packet-steps.cfm

Events, rallies, vigils, speeches and community meeting are taking place in every state. There is so much you can do to show your support for unions, and events are even happening in the New Trier Township. Tonight (April 4th) at 8:00PM in Wilmette at 1324 Gregory Avenue, "Teachers that believe in reducing the structural system/control of tenure (while upholding Union Rights)" are meeting for the  "Teachers of the Burbs" event as part of "We Are One."

Show your support for America's labor movement by signing the pledge to make a difference! Thanks!

HAPPY ST. PATRiCK'S DAY

Regardless of whether you're Irish or not, please take this absolutely gorgeous and warm March 17th to enjoy yourself!
I am from an extremely Irish family, and while we are of course preparing the typical corned beef and cabbage tonight, I am just finishing off a shamrock shake!

Every year I wait in eager anticipation for the return of my number one favorite treat. Now they come topped off with whipped cream and a cherry (hardly necessary but nice for you gourmets). If you've never experienced the delight of these delish minty milkshakes, I would 100% encourage you to pick on up, just for St. Patty's day! These green shakes have been around for a over 40 years, and I thought this brief history of shamrock shakes was pretty neat.

These McDonald's commercials are also pretty interesting...

They are all from the 1980's and all have a pretty different approach, it's interesting to see the difference in these commercials from the McDonald's commercials we see today advertising fancy almost "designer" lattes and frappucinos complete with whipped cream. (Notice any tokenism or advertising techniques?)

*I'll let y'all know if they have shamrock shakes in Ireland in a couple months.

Starting is the Hardest Part

On Monday, our American Studies class began Junior Theme, a research paper that is dreaded and talked about since freshman year.
The first step is picking a current issue/topic with a history in America. Wow. It doesn't seem too difficult, because there are thousands of issues and debates going on in the USA this very moment.

My initial topic list ranged from the emergence of the "Tea Party" to the bottled water industry.
Today, after three days of angst, struggling to choose a single topic, I'm still very much unsure of which direction to go in. At this moment in time, I've settled on the topic of unions. Why have unions declined?

I'm guessing that I will most likely change my topic for the umpteenth time within the next hour, however, unions are present in today's news (particularly in light of the protests in Wisconsin) and have a past. Unions grew in membership in power in the 1950's, they were challenged by many companies and government officials *cough, cough...Reagan* and continue to be part of today's economic structure despite shifts from an economy focusing on manufacturing to a service economy.

I'll keep my blog updated with any rash decisions, and hopefully will be able to report back that my research on unions is going well!

Happy Monday

Happy Monday. (sorry to those of you who regard this as an oxymoron). Regardless of how tired you may be feeling today, keep in mind that Monday's are the start to what could be an awesome week. The day is yours. Do with it what you'd like.

**I hope no one is freaking out about Junior Theme, we have plenty of time to work on it!

Token Tiana

Earlier this year I posted a positive comment regarding Disney's newest princess, Princess Tiana. I had not actually viewed this movie but recognized the token characters present in The Princess and The Frog to immediately be a positive improvement simply because they complete the racial spectrum of Disney princesses.
Since posting I have experienced Bolos and O'Connor's TV Tokenism presentation (available here) and i have also watched this new animated film.
Within seconds of beginning the movie stereotypical characters as well as tokens were apparent everywhere. The film is complete with poor, sassy, superstitious and stereotypical blacks who serve whites who are both well dressed, pompous, spoiled and wealthy. Tiana's mother is a seamstress, Tiana is working multiple low-grade jobs, and despite being black spends more than 90% of the movie as a frog! 

Token characters such as a "mystical minority" are also present in the character of Mama Odie (seen below)

Mama Odie acts as Tiana's fairy godmother and has a thick accent, and a knack for voodoo (something often associated with African Americans).

A second 'mystical minority' is seen in Dr. Facilier, the evil 'shadow man' who transforms the prince (Naveen) into a frog.

Overall, I believe that stereotypes are enforced through this new fairytale. It is true that Tiana is indeed colored, however she is merely a token. Despite all the hype regarding a "black princess", Tiana ends up marrying a prince who is extremely white-looking.

Fear

Fear is a natural emotion that seems to paralyze one of their ability to stand up for what they believe.

Fear is the one thing that stands in one's way of acheiving a dream.

Martin Luther King Jr. looked beyond the fear of arrest or mistreatment in order to acheive a larger goal. I believe that every civil liberty can be enforced if one looks past their own fears. Currently Maryland's campaign against gay marriage is being run by fear of change. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7712&MediaType=1&Category=26 Their fear is the same type of fear that rallied against equal rights for african americans and women. It is a fear that is both ridiculus and immature. If others combat those in cowardice of change, change can take place.

  Life is unpredictable, however if one does not take a chance and test the water regardless of the possible consequences one will not see the change they dream of.

You Can Make a Difference

As National Eating Disorder Awareness week ends, I would like to leave everyone with a few reminders.
1. Having an ED is not a choice and is no one's fault
2. EDs are more than skin-deep and a chronic mental disease
3. Be aware and supportive of those around you who may be struggling.
4. Show your love for others, yourself and your body. You deserve it. (NEVER let insecurities ruin a day).

This year, on March 1st, the House Bill 1530 will go before the Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee. If this bill passes, the Illinois Insurance Code will amend its guidelines by changing the definition of "serious mental illness" to include eating disorders. This bill would improve insurance coverage and benefits for victims of eating disorders in Illinois. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1432&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=30223&SessionID=51

People go untreated everyday. My friend Megan ran out of insurance and her anorexia took her life. Please send a quick e-mail or letter to your representatives to encourage them to vote "Yes" on HB 1530. This bill could be the start of helping millions of ED patients who need professional help in order to regain the freedoms of a healthy life.
***For guidelines on how to write an appropriate and effective letter to legislature please check out this awesome link.

Myths Exposed

There is a very large stigma related to eating disorders, and they are highly misunderstood. While doing research I was surprised my self that those with these diseases aren't solely focused on their physical appearance. I really appreciated the comment I received from Jenn on my last post. I would like to emphasis a point she made~ Living with an eating disorder is NOT a lifestyle choice. No one chooses to become sick with a chronic disease. These people are not simply overly obsessed with fitting into a certain size of pants or to look like a supermodel.
- Eating disorders are NOT caused by the media. Eating disorders are a complex combination of factors. There’s a big genetic component, and EDs tend to run in families.
- Also, people who are not super stick skinny could still have EDs. Eating disorders inhabit people of all shapes and sizes, and over-eating is a type of eating disorder too.

Thanks for staying open minded this week, and please stay aware!
(my friend, Megan, a victim of anorexia, would love it if she had known people were trying to understand)

Remember an ED is an illness. It is no one's fault and must be treated with seriousness.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Love Yourself, and spread your love to others.
More Information :)

It's Not Just a Girl Thing

Eating Disorders do Not Discriminate.

When one thinks of societal pressure to look a certain way, one typically thinks of a teenage girl. While it is true that the majority of teen girls do struggle with self esteem and eating problems, boys (of all ages) are also effected. In the pie charts to the right, the percentages are only shown for women. These percentages may seem shocking but the percentage of boys affected by eating disorders and low self esteem may shock you even more because of the scarcity of their publication. Many men go untreated for their eating disorders due to the public stigma that only rich white teenage girls are afflicted. This is easily disproved.

This first stat may seem accurate: 25% of men are dieting at one given time.
However, it is also true that: nearly 10% of all people with eating disorders are male.
Nearly 1 million men are affected by eating disorders today.
More number statistics can be found here.

***Eating Disorders can and do develop in males***

With that being said, eating disorders may appear differently in males than in females, however it is very important to be aware of signs and symptoms of disorders in both sexes. Read here for more information on recognizing and understanding symptoms of a male victim of these life-threatening diseases.

If you suspect a friend or family member (male or female) may be struggling with eating please look at these sites for advice on how to talk to them and help them overcome their disease:
http://www.edtreatmentcenters.com/
http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/problems/friend_eating_disorder.html
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/information-resources/family-and-friends.php

Awareness Week

This week (February 20th - 27th) marks the annual Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Eating Disorders are not a vain obsession with one's appearance and weight, but rather a danger mental disorder. Some facts to put things in perspective:
-1 in 5 women struggle with an eating disorder or disordered eating
- 90 % of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25 (SAMHSA)
-It is estimated that currently 11% of high school students have been diagnosed with an eating
disorder (ANAD)

(more shocking stats here)

NEDA is sponsoring many events, walks, contests and benefits for anyone who may be interested. Please check out their website http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

I think it is very important to take a moment to educate oneself on the dangers and prevalence of these disorders in the world. A friend of mine died from anorexia a couple of years back. Please know that eating disorders kill, and please stay tuned this week to learn more to prevent the loss of another troubled victim of the viciousness of the eating disorder.
This week I'd also like to focus on some interesting Myths/Facts I came across in my research, Prevention, and the disorder in males...(yes, boys have eating disorders too).

Diversity in Disney

In class we've been talking a lot about stereotypes as well as the role African Americans have in society today. The majority of people of this race who come to mind and whose traits are attributed to the race as a whole are performers.
Performers, however, are a small minority of African Americans, yet represent a majority that differs greatly from them. (I thought this related back to how in the post Civil War South most whites were thought to own slaves, but only a small percentage were actually wealthy enough to own slaves).
Today there are many different types of colored performers. An observation that African Americans are often cast as a "side-kick" in cinema and television was made in class. This is true in some cases, however I do not believe this to be an over prevalent pattern.
I am very familiar with Disney, and I have noticed that their movies and television shows cast a very diverse array of actors.
Some Disney productions I immediately thought of include:
-"That's So Raven," which starred a colored girl and family.
- "Sister, Sister" which also starred a colored family as well as twin girls
- Really all of the Princess movies. "The Princess and the Frog" most recently came out to round out a very politically correct profile of princesses from India to New Orleans.

It is questionable whether certain shows and movies, such as "The Princess and the Frog" are made in order to fulfill a racial quota, however, I believe efforts are being made (at least in the case of Disney) to even out the types of people they are casting.

P.S. I do not believe that African Americans are well represented by other stations and production companies, but am hopeful that they will follow the example set by Disney, and hopefully there will be more diverse Academy Award nominations next year.

Love Yourself

HAPPY VALENTiNES DAY!
I hope that everyone is enjoying a day full of warmth, hope and affection. Valentine's day is a Hallmark holiday. Regardless of the validity of this holiday, I personally believe that it represents an important sentiment. Valentine's day serves as a wonderful reminder of how blessed we all are to have others in our lives who we care about and who care about us. Protocol mandates that today one must make your loved ones valentines, chocolates  or to go out of your way to say, "I Love You" today.

However, I think it's equally important that everyone also gives themselves some love today. Treat yourself to something special today. You have the right to love yourself, and to be proud of what you've accomplished already this year. Everyone needs positivity and warmth in their life, so today, please do NOT turn up your nose at those wearing pink and red with baskets of cookies, smile and remind yourself that there is lots of love in this world.

Think About It.

Just a fun fact to get ready for Valentine's day. Apparently this study was legit and doesn't only apply to romance. Acknowledge the people in your life that you love. They make you who you are today.

Superbowl XLV...Super Salaries

The Superbowl has become a holiday of sorts, a day where everyone regardless of team affiliation or interest in sports gather around a television to watch multi-millionare athletes compete to win even more money. Others, who admittedly hate sports still watch to view the commercials, representing incredibly wealthy organizations most likely promoting a snack or car in hopes of...(you guessed it) making more money.

This year, the number of Superbowl viewers reached an all time high."Total viewership of Super Bowl XLV on Sunday topped out at 162.9 million. That includes all persons age 2 or older who saw at least part of the game." (USA Today)

The immense and absolutely insane number of viewers undoubtedly raises an incredibly large amount of  money. I have no problem with the fact that a football game can make such a profit, however, I am generally annoyed and frustrated with the outlets this money is put into.
Professional athletes undoubtedly work hard, however, so do school teachers. Yet the average salary of (for example) the quarterback Aaron Rodgers, is nearly $10 million. So much good could be done with millions of dollars. $10 million is more than enough to live on, however, the number of sports stars do not invest their money in the places that need it most. Of course, we think of exceptions such as Walter Payton, however, the money spent on advertising and professional athletics could feed, clothe, and bring millions of people out of debt.

I just think it's ironic what is valued in society. If teachers made $1 million our society would be much more substantial and in a better place, ready to compete with other countries.

Benefits of the Blizzard

The Blizzard of 2011 was absolutely record breaking.
For many it served as a reality check. Mother Nature is truly in control of our lives. Despite the extreme chaos and disarray the storm caused, I believe it had a positive effect on my community.
It is true that people were stranded, stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Lake Shore Drive, involved in accidents and hit by piercing ice and wind. More stories here.
However, the extreme wind and about two feet of snow was a reprieve at the rear-end of winter, a time when depression rates sky rocket and motivation to work is lacking. The snow day allowed many kids across the country too take a breather. As a junior in high school, a day to sleep in was more appreciated than I could have imagined, and a day to collect myself was well needed as sometimes life seems wholly focused on schoolwork and college.

I went snowshoeing today. While enjoying nature, the beauty of the snow and the blowing wind, I saw more of my neighbors out than I can ever remember. My neighbors were out helping each other: shoveling snow, sharing hot coffee, and lending each other a hand to start snow mobiles, cars and water heaters. It was unfortunate that the entire city was put on a standstill, however, my community seemed to come closer today as a result of the third largest snowfall in the history of Chicago. People seem to come together in the worst of times, and I think it's important that we all remember that it's okay to ask others for help and it's okay to relax, and take a day to take care of yourself (as well as your towed car, icy sidewalks and cold friends).

Moment of Silence

Today in advisery we were all alerted to a change in state law. A moment of silence will now be observed everyday after the pledge of allegiance is recited. More information here. In my advisery the day was like any other. Only one person stood for the pledge and even my adviser was talking during the 15 second period of "silence." Many high school students do not take the time to say the pledge, not out of disrespect, but out of habit and a view that the pledge is a waste of time, insignificant, or not a proper representation of American values. I believe the moment of silence will be regarded in a similar way.
There has not been clear instruction of how to use this quiet time. Personally, I do not think a silent pause in the morning suggests that students pray. Instead, I think it could just suggest that students take a moment for themselves to simply think/reflect on really anything they want to.

But, then again, don't we already think/reflect daily if not hourly and minutely? I don't think that a designated time period is necessary, though I certainly don't think it's a big deal. I'll stop my conversations for a few seconds in the morning if I have to, but just don't see the point.
I am curious as to whether my advisery will begin to adhere to this new law...somehow I doubt it.

Semester I: Meta Post II

I cannot believe that first semester is nearly over.
The end of this semester marks the end of a very busy, sometimes challenging and stressful but genuinely enjoyable twenty week in American Studies. Blogging has become something habitual now. I see blog posts in almost everything, and often find myself inspired at times where a keyboard is anywhere but nearby. but on occasions when I'm at my computer ready to write a post, I am generally excited and eager to get my post out on the web. It's so cool to know that people from all over can read what I am writing, I have views from many places across the globe including: Slovenia, Australia, Indonesia, and Iran.
This semester I approached blogging in a more free form sense, over winter break I blogged, not for class, but just to share some images and thoughts I thought were important and/or relevant. Each of my blogs usually follows a formula. They have a picture, a link and an opinion. I'm not sure whether this uniformity is a good thing, but I have enjoyed being able to really do what I want regarding blogging.
This semester my most viewed post was "Celebrate the things you don't like about yourself"~Lady Gaga. I was surprised by the huge number of views it got, but I am not sure whether the number of views infers the worth of the post. Body Image and society's unfortunate obsession with weight is a very important issue to me and I wrote two post on the subject this quarter. "Unbelievable Apparel" also focused on body image and really hit home for me and i really hope that readers find the subject as provocative as I do. I got the most comments on my post: "Fixin' to Die". I really enjoyed writing about music and the Vietnam War and was really excited that people had their own views on the way songs and the media can portray political opinions. I was able to bring ideas from this post into our Perilous Times presentation in terms of analyzing lyrics during wartime.
So, I guess I would like to have  "Unbelievable Apparel"  graded.
I wish everyone tons of luck on final exams and hope that nobody gets overly stressed out, they'll be over before you know it!

P.S. Just for a side-note I wanted to alert any readers of the "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign. It's extremely important that people of all ages are aware of how offensive the "r-word" can be. If you're interested please visit the site for this country-wide movement: http://www.r-word.org/

The Bliss of Boyhood

I came across this cartoon and immediately thought of American Studies. Not only did we look at another Calvin and Hobbes cartoon in class, but we have been talking about the "myths of childhood." Calvin demonstrates that even though he is a child, which can be equated with absolute bliss (such as care free afternoons, bubble gum and playgrounds) he does not possess adult freedoms and rights. Calvin doesn't even possess the authority to choose when he needs to take a bath or go to bed. Parents have control and responsibility over their children. But part of being a parent is understanding that having influence over your child is not the same as having ownership of your child.

Twain's 'Huck Finn' Does Not Support Racism: The "N" word is part of America's history

There has a large amount of controversy over the new edition of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." In order to make this Mark Twain classic more acceptable to teach in school, each "n" word was replaced with the word slave.
Is this an improvement? Is this necessary? Will this classic now be able to be read by fifth graders despite a complex storyline?

I think not. Twain wrote this book in the 1800s, a time chalked full of racism and the "n" word. By no means does his usage of this derogatory word support discrimination, but rather it accurately describes the era he was writing in.
Chapter Six of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" uses this banned word lavishly. However, it is used by Huck's father, a drunk, uneducated and disrespected man. He complains about a black man while drinking "enough whisky there for two drunks and one delirium tremens" (25). His drunken rant contained one of many telling lines such as, "if I warn't too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was a State in this country where they'd let that n***** vote, I drawed out. I says I'll never vote agin" (24). Pap's racism is clearly extreme and most readers would read this passage with disgust. This man is a drunk, who decided never to vote again because a black man was allowed to vote. Most readers do not desire to be like Pap, and therefore do not want to have characteristics of him (such as intense racism). His decision was nonsensical and ridiculous as it was evidently questionable whether this man even had the restraint to show up to the polls sober.

Readers learn to appreciate blacks and whites as equals as a large part of this book is a friendship between Jim(an African American) and Huck.
By eliminating the "n" word, one is attempting to overlook a crucial part of American history and to undermine the peaceful message this book portrays.

For more views here are some educated viewpoints on this new edition of a timeless classic:
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/05/132685293/Sanitized-Edition-Of-Huckleberry-Finn-Causes-Uproar
http://www.neatorama.com/2011/01/04/huckleberry-finn-to-be-published-without-the-n-word/
Why is Slave less Problematic?