White Girls More Important?

After seeing a commercial for a lifetime movie on the missing girl Natalie Holloway I recalled how many girls are missing and the constant news stories on them that have become like a nation wide soap opera. Over the years girls like Elizabeth Smart, JonBenét Ramsey, Madeline McCann and countless others have broken hearts across America due to their disappearances. I researched that around 800,000 children go missing every year so I wonder what makes these children get the national media spotlight as opposed to the 100,000’s of others. Throughout my life I do not remember seeing a missing black little girl’s face being plastered all over the national news. The message the media sends when they forget to cover a missing black girl from Harlem and instead spend all their attention on a missing white girl from an upper middle class family is that the white girl’s life has more value. It is distressing to see that missing minorities do not get as much media coverage as they deserve when in reality there are more missing minorities than Caucasians. The identity unit in class reminds me to ask if “there is any part of who I am that seems to be in conflict with society and its dominant narrative?” The answer for most students at New Trier could quite possibly be no, because the Caucasian narrative is common in the media. There is a different answer for minorities because the lives of their young don’t even seem to be recognized by American mainstream culture.

Propaganda and Half Truths?

Vietnam similar to Iraq had beginnings of getting public provocation based in fear. With Vietnam it was the terror of communism spreading and how it was imperative for it to be totally stopped in all destructiveness. In the public’s eye the reason hundreds of thousands of soldiers were dispatched was to stop the domino effect of communism. When in reality after reading Zinn’s chapter on Vietnam the situation was much more intricate than revealed in the media at that time. In the minds of the majority they had every right in agitating a war with civilians they were justified in defeating the ‘evils of communism’ or something like that. Similar to the public around six years ago when weapons of mass destruction was their main motivator for supporting the war when in reality the situation was far more complicated than it was being portrayed in mainstream media. The calculated propagated fear that led the majorities at both these times to support our government’s agendas was followed by many because their televisions were feeding them terror. This connection came together for me when watching the news this evening and seeing the Swine flu reported in the scariest of ways. The report was filled with pictures of hospital beds, huge letters on the screen, and words like immediate and vicious being used. This is obviously creating fear in people as seen by my little brother who after sneezing a bit and watching the report on T.V came into my room convinced he has the Swine Flu. It makes an attention-grabbing news story and the panic in viewers wouldn’t cause them to change the channel, but all together only 150 cases have been reported world wide! When people think they are in danger they follow what they hear and think they should do such as people in down town Chicago deciding to wear face masks or starting wars with countries. The coverage of Swine Flu undoubtedly parallels the wars of our past and a proven idea: fear is the catalyst for support and an awfully helpful tool in bending citizens.

Facebook Following Gatsby

The life of Gatsby was cut short due to his untimely death, though during his life he made strides in succeeding and putting on a show. Readers learn that the way he acted was all a front and his motivation behind a lot of what he was doing was to impress people around him. The story of Gatsby rendered a familiar story in my mind of creating a facade and why many consume so much of their time creating a face book profile for themselves.
The online image we create for ourselves when constantly changing our quotes and profile pictures ultimately doesn’t amount to more than narcissism and trying hard to show the world the very best version of us.For some, the images we hoard have special meaning as memories to be re-visited and the perfect picture of your best friends and you which is amazing that we can share these memories with others. Honestly though the majority of the motivation as to why people have 41 albums plus sometimes have no meaning beyond “I look pretty from this angle”... “look at me I’m having so much fun.” Visiting and revamping the repetitive images of ourselves turn us into people who care too much about what others think that we end up spending our precious time in constructing the person we want to be seen as. We can all learn a lesson from Gatsby who put on front and was visibly unhappy at the end by not spending so much energy for the sake of others views.

Kids Today

We can’t help but be flooded with the information everyday about the recession and comparisons to the Great Depression. There is no doubt that our country is at an economic crisis and has been in one for some time. The affects of the economy are apparent as home prices fall and luxuries are not given much thought by many. We know the current affects and what is happening now, but it makes me think how will this influence people in the future? Not in terms of when the economy will rebound, but how will the development of people growing up in this recession will contribute the future society. We studied in class the baggage that many of our grandparents still carry from their struggles in the great depression. The need to save every penny and the stinginess in buying items has followed many who lived through the great depression until now. Many kids now are dealing with issues of self-esteem and confidence arising from their insolvency compared to their peers. Is the recession creating a generation of self-doubting people? If so how will this affect the work force of the future? The test of time will be the only thing that will tell us how the recession affects the kids of today and grown-ups of tomorrow.

Maury Povich = Saint?

Flipping through the channels the other day I caught an episode of the Maury Povich show and it brought an idea that I remembered reading from Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson . Ralph writes that “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” This makes obvious sense that you cannot trick yourself into believing that you are doing good when in reality you know you are doing wrong, only principles will bring you peace. Then I started wondering how Maury Povich sleeps at night.
Maury calls is show a talk show, but in reality is filled with ‘who the daddy’ results, confrontations, and basically pain for many that appear on the show. Here Maury exploits a girl that has severe issues and making it a dilema on national televison, but acts like he is doing a great deed in 'helping' this girl.
A similar show is Jerry Springer where girls are seen lifting their tops in between commercials, physical fights, and audience interferences. In essence both shows are the same, they both exploit the people on the show. Maury Povich seems like he has the best intentions when he comforts the fourteen year old prostitute or the pregnant twelve year old, but in reality he is taking advantage of their state for ratings and topics on his show. This could make him feel better, but like Emerson says in reality ‘nothing will bring him peace but the triumph of principles.' He is hiding behind the destruction he is really causing.
Jerry Springer on the other hand is more obvious when exploiting people with his coverings on very similar topics, because he does not hide under a façade of lies like Maury. Here on the Jerry Springer show fights are being played out revealing the true nature of the show. Maury pretends to be such a saint with his calming voice, the comfy sofas, and home like environment on his stage. While Jerry captures the vulgarity of his show with rowdy audience members, insulting guests, cheap single chairs and brick walls. A T.V show that showcases the world the pain they are causing in confrontations and revelations cannot possibly have good intentions. So why pretend to be a salvation for these people when in reality you are using them? Springer does not hide behind a front and would never be caught saying that he is helping people with his show. Jerry Springer is attacked for being tasteless, while Maury Povich had is own news show on MSNBC! Although both shows are inherently wrong the one that doesn’t pretend it is saving lives is surprisingly more morally sound in my opinion.

Economy Destroys Pride That Destroys…

I came across an article on CNN.com that reported working professionals heading to food banks in the San Francisco area. The article goes on to describe how many came to get food that ‘broke down in tears of embarrassment.’ The feeling of accomplishment and worth in ones self can be described as pride. According to pride studies done by the University of California Davis pride enhances creativity and productivity. Once pride is gone it seems that creativity and productivity will suffer. Pride is disappearing because those who have been working hard all their lives suddenly find themselves in a situation where they can’t support their families and have to turn to food banks. When self-conscious emotions arise in a nation of people then destruction of their productivity is bound to occur. They now believe they have no self worth and are in a state of distress. The altered perceptions in ones self-esteem developed by lack of pride caused by the recession can potentially cause a dearth of creativity and a state of sadness in many Americans.

For Real?

Satire in political cartoons or obvious plots on TV shows are entertaining to the observer while making a point. The use of satire is attacking something the author thinks is immoral, using wit. Unrealized satire can serve an even greater purpose when not known it is occurring by the viewers. For those who misread Twain’s use of satire in The Adventures of Huckle Berry Finn could be lost and offended by the plot while Twain laughs as his point gets pushed further.
Twain tackled human nature in his satirical writings of The King and Duke. They were frauds who ripped people off and Twain satirizes the civilization of people through the town’s brutal reaction. The town’s people seem like civilized good people, but they stoop to the level of the King and Duke and tar and feather them. Twain shows that crooks are not the only ones who can be evil and the hypocrisy that lurks within us. There are countless other examples that Twain writes that shows the idiocy of and malice of people. For example when the man with Packard watches another man drown and thinks it is vastly different from killing him to justify just watching. Satire is not only present in books written long ago, but sometimes can be caught today.


While staying up and catching the David Letterman show I saw one of the strangest interviews. Every night Letterman interviews guests that are promoting their newest movie or TV shows. The interview is usually light and humorous. Days before Joaquin phoenix went on the David Letterman show he publicized ditching his acting career to become a rap star. He revealed that Diddy would produce his music and the director Casey Affleck began filming a documentary on his journey. Many people that watched this interview were baffled when a disheveled Joaquin was muttering and incoherent. Most comments on the Youtube video are speaking of how strange and sad it is that Joaquin has gotten himself lost and on drugs. When I first saw this I was also mystified if this was real or an elaborate joke, so I furthered researched it. It seems that it is more than a joke, Joaquin is commenting on actors who take themselves too seriously. He is doing this through the expense of the media and people who don’t catch on. Joaquin follows Twain’s steps and becomes a satirist, and his point on actors and the media taking themselves too seriously are revealed through their reaction to his new found career.

I Do or DON'T

The power of a lifetime guaranteed with ‘happiness’ and companionship has fueled most individuals to decide and go against the odds. The little girl playing with her Ken and Barbie marriage set doesn’t act out an unsightly custody battle or child support payment fights with her dolls. The idea of marriage lasting till the end of time is not seen as idealistic in America. If you were to take the plunge in any endeavor knowing that there was a fifty percent chance that it would fail people would warn you, you would think twice, be considered and optimist, even crazy. As a society knowing that the divorce rate in the U.S is around fifty percent, we throw you parties, buy you presents, and marvel at you.
Do we as a society choose to ignore the fact that marriages end? Do individuals think they can transcend the statistics that many of them eventually become? Easy to say that one can’t go a week without spotting the carbon copy, picture perfect bride on that wedding magazine that smiles at you while making your purchases or be channel surfing only to find yourself an hour later weeping at the final scene of The Notebook. The ideals of love and marriage are always around us making us go for it weather in the media or Aunt Sally pressuring you to ‘get married already’.
We are also shown the other end. From reading about the ugly divorces of celebrities, listening to the complaints of our single parent friends, and watching T.V shows like Desperate Housewives where divorces are what the main characters deal with. We are as much exposed to the matching bride dresses we see to the realities of friends’ divorces.
We see what we want to see and close our eyes to the rest making ourselves blissfully unaware.

The people at Barbie will go on selling their Ken and Barbie marriage sets for generations to come, insinuating the stance that an everlasting marriage is inevitable. While the girls will continue to play and cling to the idea that a faultless matrimony is obtainable for all, while temporarily shutting their ears to the yells they hear in the background.

They are Coming...

We all have that picture of an over dramatized mob running through the streets burning down buildings and causing destruction thanks to the movies and books that we have all have seen like in chapter 22 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. A mob started out after Sherburn shoots a rowdy drunk man in front of the drunk’s daughter. A crowd gathers and turns into a livid mob that encompasses the streets. The people keep gathering and in fury become one and knock down Sherburn’s front fence. They approach Sherburn to hear his speech about the mob mentality compared to the average person’s scared ways. After this speech the crowd separates. This scenario of a mob being overly controlling have been evident through history like the relatively recent Rodney King riots.

When I think about a mob mentality only massive groups of people developing in far off places come to mind. The power of being faceless in a large group gives the people in the group a prospect of not being judged by society’s norms, because they are all anonymous. They could never be blamed for it just being their fault, because behind others they all become one blameless entity. The other day when I was walking back from gym class there was a group of ten or so kids all yelling bad-mannered things at every single person walking by. I couldn’t help but think how many people would do that if they were by themselves. Zero. The power that they all felt could only be possible in a group of people hidden behind others. I thought giant mobs were the only kinds that developed and would only happen far away in a land of exaggeration brought on by movies and T.V shows. I discovered that this universal human sensation can start anywhere, like the halls of New Trier.