How to Dig a Hole

There is one thing that the gangster films of the thirties and forties share in common with Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary. In both, the protagonist goes to extreme and terrible ends to dig themselves out of a hole, yet merely end up deeper in it. Like George Raft, Humphrey Bogart, Paul Muni or James Cagney, Madame Bovary is simply a moral lacking, yet very human flunk. Wife to a boring doctor, Mistress to a boring clerk, debtor to a sketchy merchant, and mother to an ignored daughter. What is interesting about this is that she, more than almost anyone, wants the glamorous life she has read about in her Parisian magazines.
To achieve these high standards of life and social grace upon which she has set herself she looks to affairs. They leave her nothing but grief and a poor conscience. She seeks an abundance of material luxuries. They leave her hopelessly in debt. She wants a comfortable home life, yet she isolates her good husband and daughter with her web of lies and misplaced loves. She slowly digs her hole so deep that there is but one level remaining. In the final parallel with the Warner Bros. Gangster films, the conflicted protagonist dies and long and dramatic death, the only way that justice could be served. Swimin with the Fishies.

respond to guest speaker

well the best people i like that came in to resopnd about what they had in life was the one game with the posters. the reason why i picked him is because he stood up and wanted to change the world after 9/11. so what he did was, he made a metting and they marched though a wh0ole bunch of country and cities. he had a poste rthat he had and he got a lot of people to sign it to show that they cared on what happend on 9/11.

what i feel strongly about

what i mostly feel strongly about is the government. the reason why i feel strongly about that is because they lie and do a whole bunch of other things that they say they would do but really dont.i think it is brcause of gorge bush for being such a bad president. so when i hear Obama saying that he will change alot of things to make the the govenment better i was thinking that it was going to be a good idea.

Satire

I missed the satire presentation on Monday, but I watched some on my own on YouTube, and looked up some information about them. I thought that they were entertaining, and probably a good way to reach out to younger people, but I also questioned their effectiveness. A lot of people probably don't understand the point of satires, and some people might feel offended or like they were being made fun of by them.

If you're trying to reach the majority of people, I wouldn't recommend this approach.

Yesterday's Speaker

The speaker yesterday talked about his service in Vietnam and his life afterward. He also talked about the letter he wrote in 2004 about John Kerry's service controversy. I admire him for his courage to go out against the public and get the truth out there. I also admire him because he was in the war. I'm not saying i like the war or anything but to go out there and see all the horrible things that happened in Vietnam, and to fight for your country, really says something to me.

10/14/08s GuEsT SpEaKeR

So yesterday we had this man come in (i forgot his name, my bad :( ) and he spoke to us of his accounts on the 60's and 70's and all of the different protests he was in. He was in the Navy during Nam and that when he went to Japan for the war and came back, everything changed in a year. There was an uprising (the african-americans) and alot of different protests about the war. He then joined many protests about Vietnam Veterans and whatnot. I think that it takes alot of courage to stand up to a government that you served for. I think he's a great man that should be paid for what he did for our country, even though it wasn't worth it, he still protected this country. I just think he needs to work on his speaking skills because he repeated himself and was pretty stumped. It was pretty....insightful.

satire

the things that satire talks about is very true which i find very sad. i just think that some of the stuff the people believe is sad and my question for them is, how can you possibly belive that it just does not make any sense.

Reaction to satire videos

I found the satire videos pretty harsh and critical. However, they are getting there point across quite perceptibly. Before hand, I didn’t really quite understand the full extent of Satire. Therefore, these videos I felt were a great representation and allowed me to understand the full meaning intended in satire. I especially like the “Vote or Die” video used in a South Park video. This video was pretty funny, but at the same time got the point across. Overall, I thought these videos were pretty severe in showing their view points, but at the same time sends a powerful message.

Satire

The piece of satire we watched this morning about our education system really hit me. To think that we are one of the leading countries in opportunities and educational resources now seems false. Education has been slowly destroyed and deformed by external influences such as technology. The use of computers, ipods, and cell phones in a classroom has become normal. The distraction of site such as Facebook or music on an ipod is ignored. These issues need attention. Teachers should take care to make sure that children are affected by what they are teaching that they are taking advantage of what the teacher has to offer. I don’t think it’s that these issues are simply ignored it’s just that the teachers don’t know what to do about it. They have become accustomed to having technology influence life in the classroom. In some cases, yes it is alright, but not knowing when to limit their use of items such as computers needs to be helped. This form of satire was very direct with the large amount of touching facts. Satire in general, whether meant to be funny or not, is always influential. Whether you believe in it or not it makes you think, and sometimes the reality the humor portrays is scary. These issues that our society is not willing to accept or acknowledge unless it is displayed through crude humor. What has our world come to? The youth of this country, of this world, are learning to laugh at our issues. Yes, it may be a way for these messages to come across but in some forms these issues need to be directly addressed, not simply circumvented around time and time again.

Vietnam and Activism

Ok well on Friday we had many guest speakers, most discussing the turbulent era in American history where the Vietnam War was the most pressing issue in America. They discussed what THEY were doing, not what HAPPENED, and this was a much more interesting point. I knew about Kent State, I knew about the MLK walks and speeches. But I didn't know what these people were doing. I didn't know that David Oyster, being a Vietnam veteran, was also protesting the war. It was things like this that made me break past the generalizations that are too often made and even more often accepted.

Also we had Mrs. Holstrom come in and discuss what protest meant to her. This was intriguing because she came to the conclusion in her own life, and was trying to encourage us to realize the same, that to be a successful "protestor" one must move past protest and move on into ACTIVISM. This was a very interesting discussion that posed probably the most pertinent question I have heard in this class "What do you want to come of your protest?" To me this was the right question that now has me writing my protest in such a way where I am trying to determine what the OUTCOME will be, not just the protest.

guaest spekers

Kris Holstrum talked to us about making people hear what you have to say. it gave me a lot to think about when i make my presentation. such as you have to use their emotions to make them think about what you are presenting. Or make people unconquerable and feel something when you are talking.

Presidental Debate

My feeling about the presidential debate satire video is that it is very funny, but in a way incredibly scary because it is so true. The reason that I think it is very humorous is because Tina Fey does a great job at portraying Sarah Palin. They are almost identical and the way Tina Fey twists Sarah Palin’s original words into something much more naïve and clueless is fantastic. The reason this video scared me is because it is so true. The reason it is so true is that Palin says such similar things to her comedic counterpart, Fey. Although Fey works Palin’s words into something funnier they are pretty much still the same. Also, Biden’s counterpart portrayed him rather well. This video was hilarious and scary at the same time because of these things.

Satire-Essential but Frustrating

Satire is amazing. It brings much needed light and attention to serious issues in a way that is appealing to a mass audience. It is in human nature to make fun of everything, of course only to a point, but it can sometimes lighten the mood, and sometimes be very provacative and insightful. Humor is the spice of life, and without it, many of us could not survive in a sane state.
Being such a cynic, however, I have to express negative feelings about satire occasionally. It is funny, and educational, but it is inactive. Almost everything seems to be inactive these days. All of the people who do make fun of politicians, or who do bring a lighthearted tone to extremely somber issues never seem to take physical action against what they clearly don't believe in.
Educating the masses is essential of course, but to have anything come of it, you have to "get involved", you have to do something to counteract the thing that you are complaining about.

Sarah Palin SNL

While watching the SNL parody of Sarah Palin, I was terrified by the similarities of the actual clips and the SNL clips. This scares me because if our possible future vice president is saying things like this, I don't think we are safe. For example, when Sarah Palin was describing the foreign relationship with Alaska and Russia, it was almost the exact same thing. She couldn't come up with a good reason for why she said this, and wasn't at all convincing that she knew what she was talking about. I definitely think that it is good to watch videos like this because you actually realize how stupid some of these people are. If Sarah Palin ends up bein gour vice president, hopefully she will get it together and have some idea of what she is talking about.

Satire

I greatly enjoyed the satires that we watched this morning. I believe that satire is one of the most effective methods of conveying a message. The reason for this is satires use of humor. Humor makes a situation less serious and intense and makes it more fun and easier going. And when this happens people can get the message easily and not have to worry about opinions or seriously offending others. Plus, laughter is always good.

Satire

The satire videos we watched today may have been offensive in some ways, but I believe they are the best ways to get points across, especially to the youth. First of all, they are not dreadfully boring, having comic parts. This enables easy listening for all. Also, the satires bring extremely important issues into everyone’s eyes because of how they play out. Not every high school student is going to sit down and watch presidential debates or even the news, but with shows such as “South Park” touching on all the issues going on in the world, it is easier to get the message out.

Calvin and Hobbes

Though I have always been exposed to political satire, the first one that i exposed myself too was the comics of Calvin and Hobbes. These cartoons were a very important part of my early philosophical and politic education. All of the major moral issues are discussed in the strip, including family values, theft, education, environmentalism, war, and human fallibility. But unlike the many other ways that we are exposed to them daily Bill Waterson (the author) gives them too us through the eyes of a eccentric six year old. This important detail made Calvin the translator for putting earth 's many problems into a lingo that was approachable to my young mind. Yet the brilliance of Calvin and Hobbes does not stop at teenagedom. I still find myself enlightened as well as entertained when I come across one or Waterson's strips. I don't doubt that there is an issue dark and complex enough for Calvin and Hobbes to humanize, explain, and mock.

political satire

Today we looked at many you tube videos on satire over politics, i personaly found some plane degrating twards women. like the vote or die one with south park. they were mentioning women and horible more embaresing things that they would do to women for them to vote that just plane discusted me. imagine some kid in some oother country looking at this what would they think of us american women. it makes no sence to me why they would do that.

Political Satire

Political jokes are just...pure brilliance. I mean, honestly, if you think about it, how does one best get across a point: by making it funny!
I think my favorite political satire I've seen is Earth to America. It was a two hour special on global warming, discussed by some of the best comedians out there. But it wasn't just comedians: the captain of Apollo 13, Robert Kennedy Jr, Blue Man Group, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw...they were all there, discussing global warming and our failing economy. It was hilarious! But not only that, it totally put things into perspective. They would vary it too: Cedric the Entertainer would come on, talking about how, instead of cars, we should use horse and buggy...but then again, how would that possibly work with our cellphone use? I think I sat their cracking up for a good twenty minutes, imagining, for example, my mom riding her horse to work while attempting to talk on her cellphone. But then the mood completely changed: the lighting dimmed down to a dark, opaque blue...and Leonardo Di Caprio came on. Images of the earth taken from space began to flood the screen, with surreal music and quotes from astronauts from all over the world; he then introduced the captain of the Apollo 13 mission, who talked, only for five minutes, but still, about his own experience in space. That part....seeing pictures of our Earth, our Mother...with no visible scars of war or of division of people, was so beautiful that I almost started to cry. Of course, I couldn't sit there and cry the whole time, because then Steve Martian, Tom Hanks, and that guy who does Monty Python came on and off I went again into fits of hysterical laughter.
I think it has to be a mix: the good half of it should be comedy...but then a teaspoon of music, a dash of tears...and there you have it: the perfect recipe for a good point.

Guest Speakers!

I found our guest speakers very interesting. The information on protest form and knowing how to get your point across in a logical and forth right manner was very helpful for me. Learning how to convey your emotions in a powerful manner, and understanding what your protesting to the full extent I viewed as the two most valuable factors when on is to protest. I especially loved Sandy McLaughlin’s tangent on the peace protest against the war with President Nixon. There was much valuable information that I learned, that I had absolutely no knowledge about previously. I found this information sad and enlightening. Is this movement hushed, or am I just ignorant? I found it very appalled that no charges were against those of the Nation Guard who killed the college student’s this is down right unjust to me. There is no justification against killing student, especially those who are no at threat, other than vocal protest. I wish I could have been a part of such a movement, most of all impacting with the music protest such as John Lennon and the Beatles did. However, I didn’t agree with the actions against eh burning o the ROTC building. This act of violence seemed quite unnecessary measure in my mind. To protect peace let there be peace, not burning of building, thus violence. Other than this contradiction, overall this movement seemed so powerful and enlightening, regardless of peoples different view points.

satyrical

i think that vote or die thing was reel funy. i feel that comedy is a great way to get your idea's about what needs to be changed out there. everybody likes comedy, and even if they dont it will probably leave an impresiion on them. also the use of symbols is a good technique. the whole i thing with the i phone and the irack and the iran. not only was it funny but the man also found a way to symbolise the war with all these different appliances. he would overload the irack and keep adding things and spending money on it.

IRack

While I was watching the Mad TV youtube video I was laughing at how funny it was. The actors and actresses were very creative and it was unique and cool how they thought of that topic. It was also cool how all the IRack and the IRan had to do with what was is really happening in Iraq and Iran. For example when they were talking about how the man doing the demonstration should stop putting everything on the rack because it wasn't stable. And also how all the thigs on the rack didn't seem like they were getting a long and in Iraq that is true. So I just found that video rather funny but true.

Political Satire

Today we looked at many forms of political satire. We found a different way to look at things i watched "Vote or Die" and while some of the images were degrading towards women the point was still made that in order for an ideal president to be elected we must get off our asses and vote. Do you realize that if every eighteen year old to twenty-three year olds to vote we could pick the next president and the one after that? We have the ability to change the world to the way we want it and yet no one can see the possibilities. So lets get and make a F***ing difference!

responce to Satire

After watching satire videos off youtube for an hour, i truly believe that on average they are a weak form of protest. I personally felt and got nothing out of the videos we just watched. I had already seen the SNL one many times and think that is one of the few unsuccessful satire videos i have seen. I feel many are weak and un-managed. The point can be lost while trying to create a professional busy video. Many of the videos tried to hard to be funny and entertaining and really just fell flat. I feel there a many more ways to protest that are much more stronger and leave a deeper impact. There is more to protest than just making fun of something. I believe creating jokes can be successful when done right, as in the case of SNL. I found the rest of the videos dull and un-inspired.

Satire

After watching the satire videos, many of them stood out to me, especially the video about student life. Students spend a decent amount of money throughout their college years on their required books that they need for the classes they take. Some students don't even use their books. Also, most of the things they learn will not help them through life, and they will not use that information ever again. The students spend the majority of their time away from class studying for exams and assigned doing homework. Even after spending so much money on the necessary supplies, some students go on facebook during class and when they are studying. It seems to me like it is a waste of time for the students, and even for the teachers who teach the classes where the students slack off in. This sounds ridiculous to me, that someone would put so much effort into something and not have it shown through, or even cared about.

Satire

To me the most moving, important piece of political "satire" was the speech from Boston Legal that we watched this morning. This was just so powerful, so moving that it made me realize just how screwed up this administration is. I mean I've always realized that Bush was a dumb president, but aside from the Terri Schiavo case I thought he had been opposed enough on the topic of taking away rights. Yet, apparently he hasn't. He has DESTROYED all that was good in this country; our economy, our world image, our rights all went down the drain with his administration. Whoever wins the next election, I just want them to fix what has been destroyed. Pick up the dust (not even the pieces) of our once proud America and bring it back. There is too much wrong with the world. We need to pull ourselves together to help the rest of the world as well.

Response

I really liked the I-pod video about the I-rack and the I-ran. That adresses most of the issues on the war today. I also liked the SNL bit on Sarah Paline that was funny. I like this approach to the issues because it makes a topic that could other wise be very boaring to listen to very entertaining. This also is a great way to let people know your veiws on an issue, even if is its offending. for things that are offending I think people should instead of getting offeneded right away should just listen to what people are trying to say cause some times making some thing offeding is the only way to get some ones attention.

Vote Or Die

In the video of south park, they talked about how you should vote, while they are talking about the video that were using cuss words and disgracing women. For example while the black guys are rapping ( P.Diddy) they were saying that you should vote and make fun of women or you can just die

The iRack

This piece wasn't just funny but it was so true at the same time. I think that's what makes all of these pieces funny because of the truth that's in them. For example, when they were talking about how unstable the "iRack", it relates to Iraq and how unstable it is right now. The truth about things can sometimes turn out to be funny.

Active Protesters

I was amazed by the things that happened at Kent University to the semi-peaceful protesters on May 4, 1970. There were 4 people who were killed and 9 who were injured by the National Guard. The National Guard was called by the Governor who was called Mayor and so forth. I thought this action was a little extreme even considering that the students burnt down the school’s military building. While listening to this talk I wanted to say let’s not sit here and talk about helping and changing the world lets get out and do something about it. I am very proud of those protestors on May 4th because they tried so hard and did as much as they could to help their cause, like I would want to do. These students should be talked about much more today and remembered even thought they are gone now. Because of these students that were active protesters and strong considering what happened, I think protesting is a very good way to get other people fired up about the cause that you are.

response to guest speakers

the guest speakers were very informative and interesting. listening to them gave me a better understanding of what went down back then and a better understanding of why they did what they did. the guy from the netherlands was obviously an active protester and he put together many protests that changed the world for the better. he gave me a better understanding of how to protest when to protest and why to protest.when rick silverman j-holstrum and the other guy came in it gave me a better understanding of why they protested so much in america in the 60's. one reaszon was the press, which is exactly what we dont have now, which is a great reason that more protest isnt happening, and what little protest is happening isnt quite making the news. the guest speaker that brought in all the banners gave me a better understanding of different ways to protest and things you can do to make people more aware. i dont think the crosses for the soldiers that died in the war is a protest, i think that it is supposed to spark protest amungst the people that see the display. chris holstrum gave me a better understanding of what was happening in ohio and some protests that happened at kent state.

My Reaction

To me, the United States of America is really weak when it comes to our own problems and issues in our own country.  After hearing and watching the video about the Vietnam war protest, I feel very angry and confused about our countries choices. I understand why they called in the National Guard but I don't understand why they were poorly trained on how to deal with protests. What made it okay to shoot into a crowd of UNARMED people who were just putting flowers in their guns? 4 people killed, 9 injured, and no one was put to jail, in fact some said that they were happy about what happened. 

Back then there were about 250,000 people fighting to bring the troops home, but today there were about 1,000,000 people in D.C. fighting to stop the Iraq war. In comparison the protest on the Vietnam was more effective because it was on the news, it was radical, etc., ut the best thing about the protests today is, NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THEM! Our government doesn't want us to know about it, which makes me question if we should trust them or not. 

Drop Acid NOT Bombs

Sunday Bloody Sunday. A great protest song about the events that occured in Kent University reffering to the time that the National Guard pretty much invaded the university and killed 4 students. Just because they didn't belive that people should die for no reason. The funny thing about that is that there is a simmilar war occuring today in the sense that there's alot of people that are against it but there's almost nothing being done. Maybe people are scared that the same thing will happen again but on a higher scale since there's more people that don't agree with it. I don't know man, this country/world is just tearing itself apart until we all just kill every body. Nothing makes sense these days but music. Fuck everything else, it's all corrupted by the fascist pigs that rule this country and we're going to end up being repressed. It's so easy yet so difficult.

Youth In Charge

Our world today continues to maintain a fear of speaking out. Of course, protest exists and change happens (gradually), but is it every really heard? Are thoughts that are being expressed ever shared across the world? It’s scary the reality of what are world has become, what our future could possibly be. Can we do anything about it? Can we, as students with opinions and rights, speak out about how we feel and make a difference? We seem to think so…but with a slight fear of what they will say. Our ideas are never fully accepted. As “children” our voices are quiet, and don’t even seem to be heard. This feel of public ignorance is degrading when trying to place an opinion in our world. Shared thoughts, protests, activists movements by the youth in the past has been so much easier, heard through the public. How do we attempt to make a difference? We all want to do something about what we know, about what we believe in. The public, are they scared of what we could do? Are out ideas tarnished as “childish thoughts” because we CAN make a difference, because they are afraid of what we could do? They are destroying our future, why not just hand it over now? Imagine what the youth of our world could do if we were in charge. Our charged ideas would come across as new, fresh, something for a new start. This freedom and acceptance of youth in society would make a tremendous influence on the future, out future, that these people who believe they are doing the right thing are DESTROYING!

Kent State Massacre

Learning about the Kent State massacre amazed me. On May 4, 1970 a protest broke out at the University. Soon the National Guard's were called in by the governor of Ohio. It was reported that the students were throwing rocks, even though none were really seen being thrown, and tear gas. Everything quickly got out of hands and the National Guard's fired their guns at the students. When all of the damage was done, four students were dead and nine were left wounded. I think that it is sickening that this could happen in a small town. It was great that all of those students were protesting against something they felt was wrong, the invasion of Cambodia. It is important that they are expressing their feelings and thoughts for their generation. The Kent State massacre spread quickly around the country and evoked an uproar throughout the nation. Also, many musicians like Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, who wrote Ohio and released it to the public at one day after the shooting. This event impacted many peoples lives throughout the world and will live on through the history of protest for many, many years to come. 

The Black Panther

In the short paragraph of Tupac Shakur it talks about the black people can say what they want, like James Brown said in one of his songs “say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud”. In one of Tupac’s song called changes talks about the government, and our history from the past. Basically he took off where Black Panther stopped. The Black Panther’s song “Panther Power” they talk about how this was supposed to be the American dream but it all scheme so they can put us back in chains. Isn’t the lady liberty supposed to be giving people freedom, education, and equality? Should we try and change the government?
Panther Power is a strong song because it tells people who they are. Just because the Ku Klux Klan had a sign that said “no blacks allowed” doesn’t mean that you can’t do what you do. Look back on what your mom taught you on your black history, how they never changed so why should you change who you are but, at the same time you have to see that you are not free. If you open up your eyes you will see that you are in chains.

I don't exactly know what to think about what we've talked about today, it seems so smiler to what is happening today but different. we have had many protests against the war that's happening now and so many people standing up for it to end. for me it seems like we haven't made as a big of a difference as the Vietnam war. i wounder why this is? is it because we aren't seeing as much of the war on t.v. is it because they are concealing so much from us that we should know about. it also makes me think do we need to seriously tare our selves apart to make our OWN country realize what we r doing. we don't need to have students at schools dieing or being shot down. we are already tearing another country apart i don't see why we should need to tear more of our country apart so our government will Finlay realize its wrong!

Activism and Protest!

Today we listened to Sandy talk about a riot that happened at Kent State University during the Vietnam war. It was a protest gone terribly wrong. Four STUDENTS killed and eight injured. And no one to blame for their unjustified deaths. The national guard were called in because of an "unruly protest." When a rock was thrown the national guard opened fire upon the students outside the college. This scares the shit out of me because i go off to college in about a year and a half. With this election as it is how are we to know if there will be another Kent State riot? And how are we to know when a protest is about to be put to rest? As long as we stand back and watch these things occur we have to ask ourselves why we aren't doing a thing to stop it!

Response to Guest Speakers

Hmm...protest is a bit more complicated then I thought it would be. Kris Holstrom came in today, and gave us the "How to Protest 101". She's mostly an advocate for the environment, but her ideas are interesting and probably very effective.
She said that is important to play on peoples' emotions: negative ones can work the best, but positives could work too. In relation to my own protest, guilt would probably be the main emotion to play on. I mean, there is nothing positive about killing animals the way we do. Perhaps compassion could be used....but very few people have compassion for what they eat.
She also said to make connections for people. She also brought up another great point: how can you make it make sense to others? Well...in the case of what we eat, in our self-absorbed, body-image-freak society, telling them the effects of eating chickens that probably have multiple diseases or pigs made to sleep in unclean crates....yeah, that could work.
She makes me feel even more excited, really, about what I'm going to do. Because I'm so passionate about animal rights...just as she cares about the environment; maybe, if I work at it hard enough...then I can protest just as she does.

The Exaggeration of Despair

Sherman Alexie shows how horrendous circumstances are for the Native Americans. “The United States is the freedom-loving country where Americans fought each other over the right to own slaves! Ha!” Obviously, Sherman has deep ill feelings towards the “land of the free”. Finding it controversial (in our past U.S. history) Alexie expels his feelings of sarcasm within his poem, by telling of the atrocities done to the Native Americans. This poem is directed to the present day Native Americans, and the ruthless reality that they are treated seemingly of nothing less than animals. Sherman allows his readers to realize the actuality of Native Americans situation, who are stripped of there rights, and left with abuse.
I view this article and poem very disturbing. It is a very harsh and cruel representation of the Native Americans but sadly, I deem are true. Sherman’s technique of humor and being so straight forward in his writing, leaves me shocked, even still when already having some knowledge of the Native Americans hardships. “And this Indian man tells us that back in boarding school; five priests took him into a back room and raped him repeatedly”. This passage is an instance of how harsh and straight forward his writings are. I also found his technique of using more of a comical tone was very interesting. This factor could very well make anyone listen to what he is trying to convey, but I wonder if it sticks to the readers as much as a tragic tone would. However, either way, his point is strongly conveyed regarding the harsh and unjust treatment of the Native Americas

May 4th 1970

As I listened to Ms. McLaughlin and looked at pictures of the tragic event on May 4th I was shocked. I find it hard to believe that the national guards were called in because kids were protesting something. They should have the right to make a point. But what I find even harder to believe is that the national guards felt threatened because the kids were throwing flowers. Also the national guards shooting 4 kids, leading to their deaths is terrible and then hearing that they don't even regret it is even worse. You would never think that after sending your child off to college they would end up getting murdered and you would never get to see them again. Also hearing that the national guards who shoot and killed the kids never and will never have charges against them. The thought is so terrible and then all the pictures of the event just shook me and it just doesn't seem right that that should happen. The day must of seemed so terrible for all those that witnessed the murder and the carelessness the national guards had towards the young adults. It is really cool that those kids were compassionate enough about what they thought was right that they were willing to do what it took to fight against it.

May 4th, 1970

While looking at the pictures and listening to Ms. McLaughlin's story, I was surprised and hurt by this tragic event. It was hard to believe that something like this happened, and could still easily happen today. Having the National Guard come to the campus because a couple of protesting students seems a little unnessesary, at least to me. Especially since student were hurt and even murdered. People should have a right to speak their mind and show their opinion without problems. These students were obviously passionate about something and wanted to have an effect. What parent would have thought that sending their child to college would end up in them being killed and gone forever. No one wants to hear about that. It is especially scary because I will be going to college in a few years, and an event like this could happen, and I definitely don't want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That would be quite unfortunate. I hope that while I'm in college, I will get the opportunity to speak my mind without being hurt. I'm sure there will be obstacles, but hopefully none that are quite as serious. I have great respect for those involved in the May 4th event, and I look up to them for what they were trying to say and do.

Responce to Sandy's Talk

Today while listening to Sandy's talk, I wanted to be anywhere but there. I wanted to be out there, doing what she was talking about. I wanted to rally with my peers to try and make a difference in something I believed in. I wanted to try to change the world, make a memory I could look back and be proud of. Rather then sitting in a dark room staring at a computer screen, I want to go make a difference, create change, and make people think. There is so much going on in the world that needs attention. From the war crimes and fighting in Africa, to the War in Iraq, and then to our addiction to oil. I feel sitting around learning about it is useless, action needs to be taken. I for one don't want to sit by and let other people take that action for me. I hope that the art creation that we are making will truly help alert people, and hopefully i can continue fighting for my cause. I hope to one day make a difference. I want to go to Africa, i want to experience whats going on around the world and ultimately help make change. One person can make so much of a difference, and I want to be that one person.

Reflection on Guest Speakers

First of all I wanted to thank Kris Holstrum and Sandy for speaking. What Kris was saying really got to me. She was talking about how us as kids can do just as much as adults can do. I know for me personally I am very into my topic and it is some thing that really gets me mad so I want to change it. But the problem is i dont know where to begin. I have e-mailed a few organizations asking them what to do but i still have no idea on where to start. I want to make a difference. Then the things that Sandy was saying, it so great that all of these college kids got together and protested what they beleive in---the war. These kids made a difference in history and thats what I want to do. Its great that Sandy is aslo still so passonite about what happened these are they things that gets other people involved and gets other people to make a difference. Another thing is, I really do like this protest isp. It has gotten me involved and pissed off to make a difference in the world. I hope every one else is taking this as serious as I am please dont take this as just a away to get passed these 2 weeks really try to do something that will change even just one persons view on a subject.

Kent/Holstrom Reaction

Through both of the talks today there has been a common strand, be active and fight for what you believe in. It is not good enough to just protest something. You must be passionate and knowledgeable enough about your topic so you can truly care about it and offer solutions and alternatives. If you are successful in getting people to care and think about your subject, that is only half of the battle. The rest is all about getting that person to care enough to act themselves. You have to give them options and methods of how to change or better the situation; and hopefully, if you have convinced them and they care enough, they will.

Vietnam Protest

It is always inspiring to see and hear stories of student uprisings. To witness evidence that America has not always been asleep kindles the hope that it may be so once again. The Kent state shootings were a tragedy on a grand scale. Never the less I feel more sympathy for the National Guardsmen than many people do. I do not condone their actions, yet it is important not to forget that they were scared kids, as in many ways the protectors were.
Think about the Boston massacre. In it a group of disorganized and frightened soldiers fired on a mob, without being ordered to. We are often taught a very single minded version of this event. What we do not hear is that the Patriot leader John Adams, then one of the best lawyers in Boston, choose to defend them. He felt sympathy and understanding as well as anger for their horrible mistakes. We should take our lesson form Adams and see that through a good and non-partisan investigation we can leave the bloody scene feeling condemnation, yet no hate at all.

Kent

I think it's so cool to see how much people cared for back then. These kids at the this school were willing to give their lifes in order to prove a point. I really admire people with that much passion about something. Things like this encourage me to stand up for what I believe in. I bet if people were as passionate and devoted towards protesting like they were back in the 60's, there would be a lot more change in the government. I can understand how Sandy would feel about a day like that. That was a huge crisis that happened and 4 innocent students were murdered and May 4th is a time to mourn for these young people.

What Happened?

This post is directed to the adults who were alive at all during the tumultous times that Sandy talked about.

The Sixties and Seventies was clearly an amazing time of youth empowerment and activism. Many horrors occured of course, as they must, most specifically the events of Kent State, as Sandy has just shared with us. Progress was being made. People were starting to listen. I don't think that the people who started this movement planned it out or thought it through at all. It was such an amazing idea, and it worked for a large period of time. The protests, "hippies", acid, love and peace, community; all of the things that people find positive about that time are totally feasable. But did it just get to big? This is the kind of movement that should have totally changed our society, restructured it into a more positive entity. But where did it go? Some attribute it to rising too fast, like the thousands of people who flocked to the Haight Ashbury and San Fransico, the thousands that marched in the streets, the structures ofour society could not handle that, but wasn't that the point? Wasn't that what you were trying to do? Couldn't you have had a little more patience and really changed things. So after the "Death of A Hippie" march and all of that, we just went back almost to the way it was before you cared, in fact we went back in a much worse way. How can you just give up? Did the government just become to powerful and you all backed down. How did that amazing time end? And most importantly Why the fuck aren't you fighting now? Things are so much worse now and what are you doing? Being a housewife? A teacher? Did you go and get a 9 to 5 job and just bury all of your ideals deep in your brain only to be reminsed on later? Seriously? Leave it to the young generation, we did it, so they can too? Please help me understand why this isn't happening right now, everyday?!

Protest Speakers

The guest speakers that were brought in this morning got me started on thinking, just in very different ways.

Kris helped me with my own protest, brining up good points. To begin with, it is not just enough to have a problem, but it is also necessary to make people care about the problem. You can do this by instilling many different emotions in people, but the bottom line is to make your protest powerful. Another thing she brought up is to have the solution handy when people ask for one. With out a solution, you will have brought up anger, fear, guilt, or any number of emotions and then offer the people nothing to work off of, leaving them helpless.

Sandy's presentation touched me on a more personal level. I enjoyed hearing about the Vietnam protests from someone who actually lived during that era, and had a first hand look at them. Once we got to the Ohio shooting on May 4, 1970, I felt something for the students that had lost their lives, though this was many years ago, and I never knew them. Seeing Sandy tear up about it and explain that things that hit you as a teen seem to be more powerful, staying with you throughout your life. I believe I know exactly what she is talking about, having a wound in my own mental that will forever bleed, though I was only in the seventh grade when it happened. The night of March 24 will stay with me forever, every image from sitting in the medical center up until the moment I had to call a friend and inform them of what had happened.

Guthrie

The song Tom Joed by Woody Guthrie is about a young mans sad adventures in the dust bowl and depression hit west. It deals with family, the law, samaratinism and even religion. The song starts off with Joed getting out of prison on a homicide charge. “There he got his parole.” The first man he meets is not kind, and somewhat frightened of him, hinting at the sad future he has in front of himself. He finds his family living in poverty, and they decide to head west. But his grandfather refused to leave; “I’m staying with the farm till I die.” He does the first casualty of their desperate situation. His grandma dies soon after. In California they come across a “promises land”, appearing fertile and pleasant. Yet there hardships are brought upon them as well, not by the earth, but by humans. This signifies that cruelty is universal, and knows no boundaries. Even the good Preacher Casey is sent to prison and later killed. Clearly, there is no god in this land. This is the last straw for Joed, for he leaves. He goes off to fight for good in a land of evil. “Wherever men are fighting for their rights, that’s where Im gonna be, Ma.” He has had virtually everything taken form him, and so he goes off to fight those who have done it, and aide their other victims.

From Lakota Woman

"You have to make your own legends now. It isn't easy." People are always in a constant state of crisis. It seems they have to be. A culture is always at risk of being eradicated, a species is on the brink of extinction, a society is on the verge of collapse, a human is perpetually on the verge of change. The other day, when I was feeling slightly overwhelmed by the shit I have to deal with over the next generation, someone said to me, "Every generation has these seemingly cataclysmic problems to overcome." Really? Is no one of the same mindset that this is worse than ever? Ah, that is for another time. Occasionally, something shifts from crisis to actual destruction. It's happenening more and more every day now, but that is what this article was half about. It was half about how totally fucked up white people(especially men, sorry but so far it's been true)are. I wish my ancestors had a little better track record, even more so when I have to be compared to Native Americans, Africans, indigenous Central/South American peoples, Ancient Mongols and the like in Asia. So far, we suck. We've got Columbus, Hitler, Bush, and many other evil men who always exploit and destroy. But lately, with globolization and extremely cheap and convinient forms of migration and transportation, the lines of race and culture are blurring more and more. This is both a blessing and a curse. In the instance of this article, when the white people came into this land, they destroyed everything in a brutal, almost unspeakable manner. Of course the people who were already here are going to hold a grudge, but they're much too good for that. They really are a much better people than we are. But after many years of our injustice, they finally decided no more. Then they participated in such a ritual that repaired all that we had raped. The amount of resilience that is present there is utterly amazing. Basically all other cultures in the world are much better than our white supremist narcissitic etc. etc. culture. But now, I know many caucasion folks who have been drawn strongly toward an alternative form of living, and of course, they are accepted. So in that way it is a blessing that we are now able to respectfully assimilate into higher cultures than we are stuck in now. I feel horribly about being a product of many years of negativeness on my predecesors part, but at the same time, I know that I am much better than they were. If I had been a contemporary of them, I might not have been, but I am now. Now we have the opportunity to cleanse our genetic predispostion of it's bad rep. Can we do it?

My Morning Jacket

As I was reading this article in "Under the Radar," I was pleased to read and learn about what the band My Morning Jacket had in store for me. They described how they wanted to do something different and out of the ordinary with their new album. They weren't looking for any crazy over-credited guitar solos that made your head hurt, or something that was so calm and slow that it bored you. My Morning Jacket wanted to incorporate what they already had, and add in other things to really bring them together. Some of them, are very musically inclined and experienced, others not so much, like the vocalist and songwriter- Jim James, but he knows what he wants, and of course what he doesn't want. He really didn't want to have anything stereotypical. He wanted to have a more soul-like effect with this album. Also, many of their songs were written on a drum machine, which ended up in a sound that made you want to move and dance, but James wanted a real band. He eventually had bassist ("Two-Tone Tommy") and drummer (Patrick Hallahan) play together, which worked out well, and he got his "special sound." They were thrilled when this soulful sound, but they still kept a lot of rock and roll in it to keep some of the same stuff as what they had before. My Morning Jacket created an album that will hopefully make rock fans move on to something a little more soft, and people who don’t think they enjoy soul music will hopefully listen to their form of it and enjoy it. I was really pleased to hear all about what My Morning Jacket had planned and I am looking forward to listening to their individual and lovely sound.

Malcolm X

In school we learn much about the civil rights movement, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the major leaders. For me, Malcolm X is a man who has only briefly been touched on as a leader who decided to take the violent approach during this time period. Although I didn't find all of the things he did the proper way of handling things, in his speech The Ballot or the Bullet, he says a few things that I agree with very much.

To begin with, Malcolm X says, "The same government that you go abroad to fight for and die for is the government that is in a conspiracy to deprive you of your voting rights, deprive you of your economic opportunities, deprive you of your decent housing, deprive you of decent education." I also find that unjust, but sadly true, as you look back at the time period, and even today. Black soldiers fight and die for America, the same America that has been depriving them of their rights for so long. "You don't need to go to the employer alone, it is the government itself, the government of America, that is responsible of the oppression and exploitation and degradation of black people in this country." Another topic Malcolm X touches on in his speech is how America is only a rich nation, and became so quick, because of slavery and black oppression. "Your and my mother and father, who didn't work an eight-hour shift, but worked from "can't see" in the morning until "can't see" at night, and worked for nothing, making the white man rich, making Uncle Sam rich." Once this fact is brought to your attention, you can see that it is true, and America is a country built on the hard, no pay work of our slaves, not a group of free white men. "Uncle Sam's hands are dripping with blood, dripping with the blood of the black man in this country."

When looking at things in this prospective it is easier for one to see why Malcolm X and his young supporters who were sick of how long it was taking for things to change, becoming impatient with Martin Luther King Jr.'s approach. Malcolm X said that he was "nonviolent with those who were nonviolent with me," and with that as his approach, I believe history is doing him wrong in not glorifying him as much as the peaceful Dr. King.

My Brightest Diamond

While I was searching throught this magazine I found this article. It was about a this girl named Shara Worden and her composing life. She has a very creative way of writing her songs and putting all her music together on an album. She thinks about it as a drawing or a painting and how all the colors flow. She thinks about what colors she wants (or words and music as she puts it). They way she debates her choices are very interesting and very creative. She gives herself time to think and if something does not seem right she tries to make a new way of it so it can work. After she writes she goes through her songs trying to recognize mayeb the smae meaning or words in all the songs written so she can find the meaning of the album created. I think her way of wrting music and creating it is very unique. She has her own way and sticks wiht it visually picturing how she wants it to sound and feel in her mind and the listeners minds. It was also good that in the end after changing it up a couple times she came to a conclusion that she liked how it had turned out and it was worth all the troubles of getting it perfect.

From Lakota Woman...a reflection...

After reading the clipping from Mary Dog Crow, I feel slightly awestruck…not by anything in particular either; only by the power with which this woman writes about her culture. In the article, Mary Dog Crow describes a resurrection of an ancient tradition of the Plains Indians: the Ghost Dance.
The Ghost Dance and its accompanying songs developed in the 1890’s. When the Native Americans were going through their hardest time on reservations, a new religion began to circulate; something like a combination of Christianity and the Native American Paganism. Wovoka, who was a Paiute Indian, said he had been sent from heaven with a prophecy. The prophecy stated that, if all Plains Indians preformed the sacred Ghost Dance, then they would be removed from the Earth while it was remodeled. The white men would be buried under fresh soil, and the Indians would be returned to the land they used to have. This caused the agents in charge of the reservations to panic which, in turn, led to the Wounded Knee Massacre in December 1890.
She says that you can’t live off of the legends of others like a parasite…at least not forever. At some point, you need to make your own. She and her husband returned to Cankpe Opi, a hollow close to where Wounded Knee occurred, and danced with others in a final Ghost Dance in 1970. They still had to do it in secret, afraid if the “feds” found them, but they did it…that is so powerful to me. It isn’t like they expected the prophecy of Wovoka to come true; but by doing this ancient ritual, they brought themselves closer to the Earth and to Her spirit. I can feel the power ebbing in and out of the words she types, and also feel the pain she must have felt to watch. A mixture, really, of pain and joy: joy that her people (even those of different tribes) were united again…but pain that so many had to die in order to accomplish it. How much strength she and her husband have; it is amazing, primal almost, to feel that spiritual energy, even from a paper dotted with the tears of a pen.
I hope that, by doing this, they found what they were looking for.

Recycling

http://earth911.org/recycling/

Heres what ticks me off everyday. Recycling is one of the three R's that also includes reuse and reduse. It is used to make more material or other products out of what has already been used. People in the world don't seem to care for our planet as much as they should. They don't pay attention to what they throw away or how it could one day effect us and others. To make the products and materials that we need in our everyday life they are made in factories. These factories are very pollutant and can effect our human health. Also when we make products from the recycled material it takes less energy and helps us conserve the energy for things more important to us. It is very upsetting to watch everyday, people not recycled things that could easily be recycled. People have become very careless and just throw away those things that take only seconds more to recycle. Recycling is important and I think that we need to pay more attention to it.

The Black Ghosts

I was reading through this article and thought these guys have a pretty good album. The guys names are Theo Keating and Simon Lord and they both came together to make a CD. This was interesting because both of these guys weren't used to eachother's music. I think that its cool that 2 different types of music were combined to make a protest CD. I also liked there picture they have in this article. They're called the Black Ghosts and they're both dressed in black and looks like they're hovering over you from a ceiling. All of these artists in this magazine sound like they have good albums coming out. I think thats great that all of these different people express there feelings and opinions through the art of music. Its hard to find one article to blog about when there's so many in this single magazine issue. I hope that ill be able to hear this album when it comes out along with the many other albums.

Pleased To Meet You: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

After reading all of the Pleased to Meet You Section in the Under the Radar Magazine, I learn what each band brings different to the table, and with each I learn their background in music. As usually, when I skimmed over the page I looked at the pictures each band had. The picture of Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson  gave me the impression that he is a 'normal' guy, down to earth, looking for a good time, and never taking things to seriously. As I read about him and his introduction to the music business as a solo artist, I see that he is just as his picture shows him to be. Although he is living his dream now, he didn't always have this kind of life. When he started college he got into drugs and was homeless. He then hopped from one band to the next, until he found the right one, where he started writing his own music. Now he is working on his third solo album and says that he feels extremely lucky. This article really opened my eyes to a lot of things, and most of all is that if your life is  not moving towards where you want it to, then you can always change its direction. Also, it made me feel even stronger towards following my dreams in life. Even though it seems unlikely to become famous or anything like that, Robinson's story told me that I should just do what I love to do, and if you do want fame then your passion will lead you to your fame.

Lykke Li

I was amazed when reading the article about Lykke Li in the magazine “Under the Radar.” This article described how amazingly hard it was for people (men and women) to become more than just an average citizen and branch out into the music business. We all know people who are incredibly talented and if you think about it, probably none of them will become famous. By saying this I am not trying to be rude or say that my friends will not succeed, but it feels like in order to get anywhere in the world of Hollywood, people must know people who are famous or come from famous parents. She even admitted to how hard it was to become famous even having connections from her photographer mom and singer dad. Her lyrics are also are what they are because of where she grew up and having to be sort of in locked up. Because of her struggles in the music business and wanting to be somewhere she wasn’t, her story is incredibly relatable and helped me to realize how hard it really is for shining stars these days.

Singing for Your Party

After reading the Protest Issue article in Under the Radar magazine, I have a new found respect for bands. I mean, it must be really hard to intergrate politics into your music. Think about it: music is the place where you don't have to think about the real world-only the world that exists in your own mind. These guys have done something pretty powerful and kind of brave in a sense. They've taken a deep breath and started getting fired up about reality that isn't in their own heads. Modest Mouse, OK Go, My Brightest Diamond-you guys rock!
But think how difficult it is...especially for these bands. OK Go, Modest Mouse, R.E.M.-these are all bands favored by a younger generation, who, save for the select few, do not want to hear about why Obama would make a good president in the middle of a rock concert. There is definetly a fine line between speaking your mind subtly and preaching. Justin Townes Earle, whose dad is super active in politics musically, says some people will tell him, "We love your dad's stuff, but we wish he'd just shut the f*** up."
Ouch.
But they're right. No one really wants to go to a rock concert dressed up in fan attire and hear them suddenly start going on and on about why you need to vote. Makes you feel like your back in school....or sitting with your parents or something. Don't we go to concerts to relax and let go? Sure, but these places, full of possible voters who could change the country, are great places to bring elections up....if only for a short amount of time, and subtly. So, piece of advice to those wanting to do such things: if you write your oppinion in a song, make it real-sounding. If you say something, say it quick and to the point. And....well, you get the picture.

rap and hip- hop

When I was reading the article Reclaiming the Mic Hip-Hop and Protest I started thinking about what hip- hop now is rely about. Now a days it’s all about money and sex. Is just all talk and about pride, but it use to be about hardship and things that matter to people. Talking about actually going some were in your life. There is still some that talk about that important things in life. The people that just talk about money and sex are making the world think that that’s how the black community rely is. The music that is talking about something meaningful is the good kind of music and there should be more that actually say something in all the words.

Under the Radar-Spititualized

Jason Pierce was very unhappy with his album called Spiritualized. So unhappy that he in fact changed they entire way it was written. He decided to make it more about fictional characters so as to deviate from his own views. However to his surprise he found that these songs were even closer to home then the original. He needed to find a way to express himself without it being obvious, so instead he decided to just work on the melodies and music before the lyrics. Only after doing this did he truely find the album that he wanted and dreamed about.

Democracy and Activism

I read the article about musical artists on campaign trails across America. In it there were some very interesting views brought up. One that struck me as very confusing was whether or not it is worth the effort to promote change as a musical artist. To me this is a stupid, for lack of a better term, question. Michael Stipe said that to him the political songs of Dylan were open for interpretation, but because of the time they were determined to be political, and while I understand this statement, I am very much of the belief that people mean to write politically. An example from the same period as Dylan is the song Monster/Suicide/America by Steppenwolf. This was a clearly political song, but is available to interpretation if you want it to be. Yet, along with many other songs and bands who spoke up, this helped bring about an attitude of the people that eventually ended the Vietnam War.

Other issues that were brought up were the abolishing of the electoral college and citizen participation. The artists quoted such instances as Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who stood up and spoke about the injustices that were being proliferated. In my opinion this is the very essence of democracy, and our electoral college, while noble in intentions, prevents the vox populi from being heard in most cases.

"Musicians and Politics in 2008 Can it Work?"

Before actually reading this article in Under the Radar, I skimmed briefly through it and looked at all the photos. They were really thought provoking and insightful. It seems to me that a large majority of the people in the United States, who are still termed the minority, want basically the same things. They may differ in the proposed means or the finite details, but many issues are alike and are wanted by almost everyone. However, I then read the article, and got a radically different idea of what people want. The article basically addresses the issue from multiple sides. Some people are saying that musicians involvement in political issues is moot, and others say it is the quintessiential factor. Clearly, the United States has reason to be critized and frowned-down upon by the entire world, and much more so, by it's own people. Music seems to always be the general outlet for any passionate feelings that the masses seem to have.
I actually have no idea what I'm saying really right now. Reading this article sorta pissed me off because it was just too divided. On one hand people were saying We, as musicians, shouldn't get involved because it really doesn't do anything. It doesn't help people change their mind, and people listen to music for the fun of it, not because they want to hear about the World's problems, or how "every person makes a difference". I can sorta understand that. Sometimes, when I go to concerts, or listen to music, I don't want to think at all. I just want to zone out and enjoy the soundwaves that are washing my brain. This however is not an option. Ya, I understand how, if the world was perfect and in a stagnant state, then it would be totally fine to just chill out. BUT THAT"S NOT THE CASE! The world will never be ok. To the people who inhabit it, it will perpetually be in a state of crisis. That's just the way it is. Sorry, Get used to it. You can never just make music for the sake of making music. It is such an interpretable and applicible art that even if you are trying to be ojective and not take a stance, almost all of the people who listen to your music will take your music and twist/interprete it to make sense to them. It makes no sense to try and not take a stance. Now of course I sometimes get overwhelmed and greatly need a release. Many times I'll just put on some chill music and relax. That's fine, in fact it's healthy, but that is the individual removing their preconcieved impression of the song and just listening to it. It has nothing to do with the artist. The song is still the same.
What is most critical f0r anyone who creates something creative, is to make it have a point. Sometimes(only sometimes) it's ok for the point to be not having a point, but very rarely is this possible. So it is imperative that everything has a defined political stance in this day and age. If at some point in the future, politics no longer are the defining factor in one's life, then sure, everything is open. But now, you are ruled by politics, and if you don't give a shit, then don't dare complain when things don't work out the way you feel they should. You cannot always expect your government to act in your stead. That's what it was designed to do, but if you don't put forth your opinion, then your government has no fucking idea what you want. So do something.

Issues Around The World: Africa

In this article they interview the hip-hop artist Emmanuel Jal. He was taken from his family to be trained as a child soldier for the Sudan People's Liberation Army at age 7. His younger sister was raped, and his older sister was taken by a warlord to be made his wife. His family had to let her go to insure their safety, but she was beaten and was giving birth to kids. He couldn't help her and that temepted him to pick up and AK-47 but told himself "I am not going to do that anymore. I am going to use my music." He was rescued at age 14 and educated in Kenya where he discovered American Hip-hop. He is now releasing a highly political brand of hip-hop.

I thought it was really inspiring how he refused to use violence and decided that he would change things using his music instead. It's even more inspiring that he went out and did just that. His music has helped many people to understand just how far hes gone and where hes been. Jal also protested the Olympics in Beijing. "China is taking oil from Sudan and bringing in guns." He wanted to stand up to the world and say ''China is also responsible for genocide in Sudan.''

Africa

While reading about Africa in the Radar magazine, I begin to realize how much of an impact we could really make if we chose to do so. Yes some people are realizing the crisis and helping, but just imagine if we all helped. The article talked of music speaking against Darfur, and I think that is probably the most influence aspect in protest of Darfur. I feel that real life accounts sung within the music would create such an impact on common people that they would understand the conflict better. Perhaps if this was done, such ignorance in Africa would be lessened, thus more people would protest or make some contribution to help.

In the article, Emmanuel Jal shows protest in his music, and the amazing factor about it is because it is his personal story. Also, one of his protests includes the trade of oil for guns between Africa and China (I do not know if this is shown through his music). Before reading this I had absolute no idea of such trades between these countries. If such actions were publically known, I believe things would change even more. But how do we give this knowledge to all of the common people of countries? I find it sad I had no idea about this, and I feel very ignorant. However, I wish there were more impactful ways to show these acts, not only by reading articles. I would love to see some kind of personal accounts and stories of the people in Africa living in those situations. Not only by stories in the news paper, but rallies of the actually people telling there stories through there art and music. Those two components I believe are going to impact the world the most. Then people could take a stand, gain more knowledge of the world, and help the victims of Darfur. Ignorance is our downfall, and knowledge is our hope…so let’s kindle that and make an impact in Darfur through what we are gifted with!

Under the Radar- Article Tiltled Africa

I read an article about the suffering in Africa. Dont know much about it? Figures not many people do. there is so much war, and suffering in Africa but no one knows any thing about it! The United States is so wrapped up in our own pitty problems and not thinking about the GREATER PICTURE! In the article it talks about how a few people a few musicians started blogging about the sufferage and people started responding and donating money. the five dollars that they donated helped in every way. Now if we could get the media and the government to take there heads out of there ass and give a crap about people in this suffering country we could make a difference!

Portishead

If you have ever listened to the band Portishead you would know that they are not your typical musical trio. They mix hip hop beats, eerie noises, odd vocals, and any other kind of instruments and noises you can think of. Their opinions were like their music: odd. two of them don;t like playing live. That is something I can not understand. If you love music, and love playing music, wouldn't you like to share it with your fans? The best part of being a musician is the live shows. There is nothing better.

"Reclaiming the Mic: Hip-Hop and Protest"

As I read this article in Under the Radar, I was pleased to find that people are starting to push just how much hip-hop has changed into the limelight. Back in the golden age of hip-hop Public Enemy’s album, A Nation of Millions, sold 500,00 records, but back then it wasn't about those kinds of sales, but rather about sending a message to people buy using music as a tool for "prying open the eyes of an American culture that had dismissed hip-hop as a quasimuisical fad," as Matt Fink writes. Today, hip-hop has lost its original purpose as the "Black CNN," no longer sending lessons to the people, but going on about "get money and fuck bitches." There are artists that are on the underground scene that do still philosophizes about the problems in all the different levels of the world, but the majority of artists that are getting the publicity and money are blabbering mindlessly. This is because a "real" rap song contains a large volume of words and is intimidating to most of our population. The thing is though, if you're going to use all those words, you better have something to say, and everyone, from MosDef, to Immortal Technique, to Jedi Mind Tricks definitely has something to say. "Music has as much power as a war chant," and with more articles like this, I'm sure we can bring back the real hip-hop, and exile the main steam shit forever.

Energy Waste

One issue in the wold that makes me mad is that fast consumption of energy. I personally think that there is nothing wrong with using energy, but you have to use it for the right things. For instance, leaving lights on while nobody is using that room is just a waste of energy. Even when an appliance is plugged into the wall outlet, but not being used, it is still using energy, not using as much energy as it does when it is being used, but it is still using energy. This is a very important issue that everyone faces, but there are ways to make the problem better. There are alternative energy sources, such as solar energy and geothermal energy, that are better for the Earth. With these alternatives, we are using what we have with out extracting it from the ground or polluting the Earth. 

environmental issues

http://www.willyoujoinus.com/commitment/
On this web site it talks about all the problems in the environment, all of them. but then it also talks about solutions to the problems. solutions as simple as unplugging your electrical appliances when you arent useing them to save energy, or recycleing and many easy tasks just like that. What i dont understand is people are handing us the solution to what is killing our environment and we still cant do it!!!!!!!! it is purely because of the lazyness of the world. if ten people in America unplugged there cell phone chargers when they werent useing them it would save 30% of engery used. it is so simple! so come on people do simple things around your house and RECYCLE IT ISNT THAT HARD. I just dont understand why people dont do it!

debajo del radar

the article i red in under the radar was disgruntling. i read the one about war. it makes me physically sick that we are still fighting the war, i go home and vomit beacuse of it, not really but it really infuriates me. we are fighting against the nation that didnt do anything at all to blow up the towers that we partially went to war over. we are fighting for no reason at all. the fact that some of americas own young men can be paralyzed for life and put in a wheel chair over an unjust cause is deteriorating my trust and loyalty to our government. the fact that there are veterans that come back and start protesting means that war is good in no whay.

Responce to article " We Sometimes Overcome"

The Article I read is about a number of musicians who were censored, imprisoned, and sometimes exiled for their music. The group of musicians sang and make music about things their government did not seem fit to let the public hear. I find censorship awful and ultimately against human rights. I find the freedom of speech to be a natural law. No matter how damaging to the government a song can be, it's someone's art, someone's creative work. Though I'm not a musician, I feel i can understand the feeling of your work being banned from the ear's of your country folk. To be forced to leave your country because the government does not agree with your ideas is ludicrous. Reading this article it was inspiring to hear to the musicians fight back. Like in Czechoslovakia, how they rose up to fight for what they believed in and eventually became the government. I feel in that nature protest is truly powerful. To gather together to achieve your goal, and then peacefully obtain it. It inspires not only me, but probably the whole world to believe that we can make a difference.

The "From Rock to Revolution" arcticle

This article deals with the Czech band Plastic People of the Universe. The arose during the Velvet Revolution, yet when the Soviets invaded several of them were arrested. They unwittingly became a symbol of the freedom movement led by Vaclav Havel, and were freed when hundreds of thousands of protesters assembled in the capital in 1989 (This was also when the government stepped down and Havel was elected President). This is a fabulous example of how symbolic and powerfully music can be. Even a not particularly political band, such as PPU represent freedom of expression and creativeness. This shows that by doing art, everyone is adding a little more freedom into this world.

OOOHHHHH Canada, eh?

The North American Green movement. Something that should be carried out properly. It's like a fashion that IS starting to pick up and must be first started in the streets. If the "cool" and "hip" people accept this idea, others will fallow. That is why pro-green musicians are starting to make songs and promoting these ideas so that maybe others will catch on. IDK, i just think instead of throwing the cup out of the window and kill everything, i would rather get my car a little dirty.

Why?

It seems to me that unless you have something we want, the American government could not care less for you. We (the government) will completely ignore genocide, race wars, corrupt government tyranny's, and any other atrocity unless the country where that is happening has oil, diamonds, or any other valuable resources. The genocide, ethnic wars, and all of the other terrible things happening in Africa are being ignored. And why is this? They have practically nothing of value to us; and the things they do have the western world buys up, thus pumping more money into the hands of their corrupt leaders, and therefore keeping these wars and genocide going. We need to change our policies on these issues. No more should we allow mass killing based on race. After the Holocaust many said never again. Well now we are faced with the challenge of actually making a true difference in our world. I am not exactly sure of how to do this yet, but hopefully we will soon find a way.

Ignorance of Feelings -- Under the Radar

Tomas Young, an Iraqi veteran, has worked hard to stand up for the rights of soldiers traveling to Iraq. The amount of mixed feelings that come across from being thrown in with the reality of the war seem more than overwhelming. "I joined to fight...we all did. In our faith and free will," says Young. Joining the army was not about fighting the war, it was about doing something they thought was right. Their preconceptions of war and battle were proved wrong quickly when death and fear surrounded them. The lives and reality of these soldiers is something that is not greatly recognized. At home, here in the United States we act like this war is not a part of our life...it is. It is a part of so many people's lives. So many families, every day, fear to wake up to a phone call or a doorbell reporting the death of their loved one. The impact of this war that is taking place so far away seems minute to those who are not involved in the fear and estranged feelings of it all. Young's group, Iraq Veterans Against the War tries to show through music and protest the reality of the war. They try and make visible to the world what they experiencing...they also try to make it clear that they do not want to be there...they want to come home.
Music has been a large part of Young's protest, and with the help of many musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, Bright Eyes, and Public Enemy, he has created 2 full CD's of music that portray reality beyond what the media covers. It is terrifying and real. Young's hope of spreading the beliefs about war through music has come true. "I heard that guys had been inspired by it. They knew they could get by on their own, they knew they could make it." Young's plan to bring recognition to world about reality and also comfort to soldiers that they are not alone, has been strong and intimate. This reality that he was "forced into" should be recognized but never experienced.

Slavery!!!

I will be protesting slavery. I feel this act is a violation as a right of human beings. Owning another human being is unacceptable in my mind, especially when no one knows the full extent of how horrible it is. Even now people are still being sold into slavery within this country. However, in America slavery is quite secretive and no one knows the full extent of it. This tickes me off, and I will stand against it.

'Bipolar Soars'

Suicide, Depression, Bipolar Disease, and ADHD rates have been on a constant rise.

"In the UK, Government statistics indicate 1 in 8 adolescents have depression."
"In the US, the number of children diagnosed as being bipolar increased from 20,000 to and astonishing 800,000 in 10 years."
"number of adolescents under the age of 19 who committed suicide increased by 14% in just one year"
"bewteen 2001 and 2006, the number of prescriptions for ADHD rose 74% for girls, 34% for boys....Study in the Journal of Neuroscience showed that Ritalin casued addiction, stress and social problems in developing minds"

It's not so much a pet peeve, or something that grids my gears, but rather a great concern. One of the reasons this particualr subject struck home for me is that i am in this age group, this is happening right now, to my friends, and my famil. Something is happening to today's youth, something is wrong.


-information from Adbusters No. 75

My Pet Peeve

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

By: Jayleen Troutwin

An issue that currently frustrates me is the misuse and non-use of recycling. Almost everyday I see people throw things in the trash that could be recycled, for example, plastic water bottles. Why throw something away that could be re-used a couple more times, and then recycled? People are very lazy in America, and because of this, our world is being destroyed. I really believe that people need to pay better attention to what is going on in the world, and need to contribute to the fight to stop global warming, and one thing that will help this, is recycling. Plastic is one of the worst things on this planet, it isn’t natural at all, it’s takes forever to break down, but it is a high demand. Plastic water bottles aren’t the only problem though; there are many others, like plastic grocery bags. Though grocery bags are bad, people have a better knowledge about them and their harm to the Earth. Nowadays, you have to pay for grocery bags, bring re-usable bags, or sometimes, you can’t even get them. I think this is a very good solution to this waste problem, because people can really suffer from no grocery bags. These may seem like small problems, but they can be very harmful to our environment. There are easy solutions, like putting a plastic bottle in the recycling bin, or using canvas bags for your groceries. Hopefully people will take these into consideration, and start contributing to making our world a better place!

The "American" Ego

Leave it to me to wait till the last minute to finish said assignment. Many issues face our generation. Colossal issues that have not even been fully understood and are already affecting people everywhere. It's another matter that humans, especially in the United States, not so much in the Eastern hemisphere, refuse to look deeply into a problem and asses the true foundation of the problem. A good example is in medicine. If you go to the doctor, you report the symptoms and you recieve a drug for that symptom. It matters not if this only covers and suppresses the issue for a small amount of time; their only motive seems to be money. Whether their motivations are good intentioned or not, the result is the same. THIS FIXES NOTHING. It only causes larger, more untreatable problems later. The world has taken such a stance on numerous issues, such as climate change, mass extiction, world wide poverty, genocide, disease, etc. all of which are human caused. But addressing these issues takes a bit more than two weeks, a bit more than one concerned citizen. We shall see.
This enigma, is not however, what I intended to write about as my protest issue. There is one imposing plight, specifically in this nation that I feel must be addressed before any steps can be taken whatsoever.
As I'm sure many of you have heard, and occasionally may have said, many people seem still believe "America #1!". Nationalism, to the extreme is really the only way to term this. As horribly ignorant and short-sighted as it is, people still cling desperately to the notion of "my country, right or wrong". Really? Seriously, United Stateseans are so dumb that they think this is at all logical? If anyone still thinks that the United States is a super-power of the world, a beacon of hope in anyway, I challenge you to a debate. We have failed. There's no other way to put it. At one very brief point in history, right after WWII, The United States was seen as something to be sought after. We are so far behind in technology, innovation, and economic values, that in the very near future, we will become obsolete. Spreading democracy because it's our God-given right to "free" you from the horrible dictators and the primitive situation in which you live. You'll be free if we have to kill you all. Does this make sense to anybody? Can someone please explain it to me? Seriously, if you share this idea at all, talk to me so I can maybe recieve some inkling of the logic (if it exsists) behind it. I could get very specific with this and go into detail about the "as dumb as we want to be" frame of mind that afflicts too many people. I could talk in length about the prime manifestation of this, terming everything concerning the United States as AMERICAN. Looked at a map lately guys? We're not the only ones, and very soon that will become increasingly obvious. But it's late and I'm tired. So it's basically moot at this point. Meh, I didn't find any sites cuz I didn't look. If it's still necessary, I'll post it later this week. Otherwise, 'night.
P.S. We're f***ed. Hopefully the like minded souls can move the masses quick enough.
Can you say cynic?

Hey Gang,

I just finished reading the posts, yes it took me until Sunday morning to find the time:)

I'm even more excited for this ISP!!! You all provided meaningful issues to get worked up about and address some of the problems that we face not just as Telluride babies or even Americans, but as part of the human race! Good job thus far, and keep thinking of ways to protest.

My peeve

Ok it took me a while to figure out exactly how do word this. What most bothers me the most in this world is organized religion. I'm not the only one who has a problem with this, comedian Bill Maher has recently made a documentary(1) in which he challenges organized religious beliefs and even states in an interview that he doesn't believe in "organized religion"(2). Also, if one were to go into any catholic church, you would more likely than not be exposed to a form of money collection, most often the passing of a basket around. This to me is both sacreligious and ludicrous. This is much to easy a target, but I have to point it out. The doctrine of Christianity reccomends living within your means and being a good caring person, and yet from the pope of rome to the priests of the many churches, the "servants" of god are adorned in the fanciest attire imaginable. Other things that come from organized religion include discriminatory hatred which sparked things like the crusades(2). I do not mean to single out christianity, however, because any form of organized religion is horrid, it is just the most well-known religion. More and more extremist groups seem to pop up from the monotheistic religions but some are completely new and "original" such as the most famously controversial one Scientology. We have even given them their own title "cults."

25 Signs of Cult Behavior
1. The Guru is always right.*

2. You are always wrong.*

3. No Humor.*

4. The End Justifies The Means.*

5. Cult-speak.*

6. Group-think, Suppression of Dissent, and Enforced Conformity in Thinking*

7. Irrationality.*

8. Suspension of disbelief.*

9. Denigration of competing sects, cults, religions…*

10. Personal attacks on critics.*

11. Insistence that the cult is THE ONLY WAY.*

12. The cult and its members are special.*

13. Induction of guilt, and the use of guilt to manipulate cult members.*

14. Unquestionable Dogma, Sacred Science, and Infallible Ideology.*

15. Indoctrination of members.*

16. Appeals to “holy” or “wise” authorities.*

17. Instant Community.*

18. Instant Intimacy.*

19. Surrender To The Cult.*

20. Create a sense of powerlessness, covert fear, guilt, and dependency.*

21. Ideology Over Experience, Observation, and Logic*

22. Grandiose existence. Bombastic, Grandiose Claims.*

23. Enemy-making and Devaluing the Outsider*

24. True Believers*

25. We Have The Panacea.

Such famous cult leaders include Charles Manson, Jim Jones, and many other horrid men and women who would go on to commit horrible crimes. Also, people tend to use religion they have been taught to justify their actions; the most famous of which would be Adolf Hitler. Once again I am not attacking belief, but I am questioning and even attacking the validity of organized religion, particularly in this day and age.

http://disbeliefnet.com/
(1) http://www.religulousmovie.net/index2.html
(2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYW2xXxFVtU
(3) http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/cru1.htm

Lead Paint

What ticks me off is lead paint in various children’s toys. The first thing that makes me really mad about lead paint in children’s toys is that they lead to serious injury and death of poor, innocent young children. I don’t like this particularly because I babysit and I see how much it would affect the parents if something happened to their dearest treasure. Another thing that makes me mad about this situation is that something can be done about it, but nothing ever is. This is really stupid because while The United States is under real pressure to do something about it, China just sits around and watches like it’s the Olympics. The last problem I have with this is that none of the companies tell you if hey used lead paint in what toy. Of course they wouldn’t do this (as it would make their sales plummet intensively), but it would be nice to have an idea of what not to buy if oyu don’t want your child to die. As you can see it is really frustrating to be under attack of lead paint in the most popular form and I think we could, and should do something about this.

Unequal Disperssion of Migrant Work Visas

Illegal immigration in the United States, especially over the Arizona/Mexico border has become a heated issue over the last few years. The amount of illegal immigrants has not increased or decreased by a dramatic amount, but has stayed consistent. This fact may be surprising, but there are also factors that could be altered to effect these circumstances. A major factor that plays into illegal immigration is the small amount of work visas that are available to people from Mexico. The United States offers thousands of work visas to countries all over the world, the problem is their method of distribution. The same amount of work visas are available to a small country like Poland as to Mexico. The amount of immigrants coming from Mexico is obviously greater. This problem could be solved by offering more work visas to countries such as Mexico where more immigrants are coming from and less to other, smaller countries. This would work in the favor of the immigrants as well. Immigrants from Mexico are coming to work and better their daily lives, but not as many of them as we think wish to become full time citizens of the country. This process is long and tedious, plus they also want to stay home with family and friends. The work visa offers an opportunity to simply come to the US and work, and then return home. If more visas were offered to a country such as Mexico, the possibility of decreasing illegal immigration rates across the deadly Arizona/Mexico border might be in the future. If course, the easy accessibility to these visas would still have to be possible, otherwise not many immigrants would take the chance to apply for them.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art43271.asp

Created equal?

Sense the constitution was documented we have been created "equal" . Now this is something i don't understand if women didn't have the right to vote until 1920 and black men got the right to vote after the Civil war then how were we actually created equal. Even in these days, society can see that we are still not created equal. For instance until just recently Colorado state law did not prohibit discrimination against sexual orientation in the hiring of jobs. Now if all man is indeed created equal then why would it matter if someone had a different sexual preference then you do? Why should that determine weather or not you obtain a job? For years we have stood by and let our constitution be forgotten but no more! now everyone is getting ticked off!

linjk

forgot to put my link
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/envFacts/facts/deforestation.htm

Animal Testing

Animals have been used for years to test new drugs, to test make-up, to test soaps...they even test bio-chemicals of war on dogs.
Locked in chambers.
Left to die.
Now, forgive me for sounding very hateful right now, but that just isn't right. Who gave us permission to test our drugs on animals? If they are our drugs, then TEST IT ON US!!!! Does it sound like rocket science to anyone? Obviously just saying that isn't going to persuade anyone, but who can give better results to tests of vaccines and such, then our own species?
So, I stand here protesting: no more testing the color of eyeshadow on a rabbit, no tests of stem cell research on rats, no cancer surgeries on apes. No tests of military bio-weapons on dogs that could be rehabilitated back into suitable pets.....no more.