http://mediamatters.org/items/200608080001
I almost feel like I'm being redundant by looking at this in particular, simply because it was a case of fraud found by bloggers. However, I'm hopefully going to be able to tie these incidents into a larger picture.
The above link is to a website reporting on fraud in the media. It focuses on two examples; the documents dealing with President Bush's service in the Coast Guard, and an obviously photoshoped image from Iraq. These two items bring up a larger question. If these things are frauds or at least suspect, then what about other images and articles in the media? In fact, what can you trust?
Our whole country is educated on national affairs via the media. ABC, CNN, MSNBC, and FOX are everywhere, telling us what is going on in far away places or at home. Either way, the events they describe are usually things that he cannot verify though personal experience. We take their information at face value, believing that if the news reports it, then it obviously must be true. So what happens when the news becomes something we must scrutinize? If other fakes are out there, then how much of the news should we believe? These questions are serious and very dangerous. If people cannot trust the news then their knowledge will once again be limited to what they have personally seen and heard. Much depends on knowledge that we do not gain first hand. Politicians, defense policy, economics, immigration, and a host of other important issues are explained to us via the media. How will we decide what to do in these areas if we are not informed correctly of the current situation with each? We must do something about this. What exactly, is a question I hope to find the answer to.
(304)
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Northern Racism and Prejeduce
The article I am basing this off of is included at the bottom of this post to keep from interfering with the text.
How often do you hear people talk about southern racists? All the time, right? It’s on the news, in the movies, and in the gossip. After all, that’s what the Civil War was fought over, right? In fact it almost seems like folks for the north brace for contact with a racist when they speak with someone from the south. Did it ever occur to anyone that the only reason there are more problems down south is because there are more diverse people and therefore more opportunities to be prejudiced against each other?
This issue was brought back to my mind recently, when a friend of mine who lives in Washington made a comment about not caring if her son had a black dog and a black car as long as he didn't have a black wife. As you can imagine, the conversation suddenly died. I was outraged to think that a friend of mine, much less a northern friend of mine, would make such a comment. It reminded me of the fact that, despite all the comments you hear about the south having problems with racism, it's very rampant up here as well; it’s just not as obvious.
The article I picked out is one about a little town called Rainy River in Minnesota. You really can't get much farther north in the continental US, but this little town was having a problem. The football coach from the local community college was recruiting a bunch of boys from Tennessee and Arkansas for the football team. The town was having problems with it because a large portion of these recruits were African American. As a result of this recruiting, the coach's contract wasn't renewed. How do I know this? The coach was a man named David Ward, my brother.
You see, about half my family is from the south, and though I am an Air Force Brat and have never lived anywhere very long, I am more southern than northern or eastern. Yes, I have family members who are ardent racists, much to my dismay, but as time goes on their numbers are shrinking, largely from the influence of the younger members of my family. Furthermore, my brother, the David Ward who got in trouble for bringing African Americans north, is a southern boy through and through, and he is completely color-blind socially speaking. My mother (southern) was about ready to slap our friend when she made her little comment, and one of the best friends I had when I was younger was an African American girl who lived next door, we lived in North Carolina at the time, in the south.
It seems so strange to me, hearing all the derogatory comments about racist southerners, to see and hear direct evidence of northern racism. It's here; it just doesn’t show itself as often because the north doesn't tend to be as diverse. Even more frustrating, is the fact that, not only is there racism in the north, but there is also unfair prejudice against the south due to racism. (533)
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Section&s_dispstring=allfields(Rainy%20River%20Football)%20AND%20date(2004:2003:2002:2001:2000:1999)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=2004:2003:2002:2001:2000:1999&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=("Rainy%20River%20Football")&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no
How often do you hear people talk about southern racists? All the time, right? It’s on the news, in the movies, and in the gossip. After all, that’s what the Civil War was fought over, right? In fact it almost seems like folks for the north brace for contact with a racist when they speak with someone from the south. Did it ever occur to anyone that the only reason there are more problems down south is because there are more diverse people and therefore more opportunities to be prejudiced against each other?
This issue was brought back to my mind recently, when a friend of mine who lives in Washington made a comment about not caring if her son had a black dog and a black car as long as he didn't have a black wife. As you can imagine, the conversation suddenly died. I was outraged to think that a friend of mine, much less a northern friend of mine, would make such a comment. It reminded me of the fact that, despite all the comments you hear about the south having problems with racism, it's very rampant up here as well; it’s just not as obvious.
The article I picked out is one about a little town called Rainy River in Minnesota. You really can't get much farther north in the continental US, but this little town was having a problem. The football coach from the local community college was recruiting a bunch of boys from Tennessee and Arkansas for the football team. The town was having problems with it because a large portion of these recruits were African American. As a result of this recruiting, the coach's contract wasn't renewed. How do I know this? The coach was a man named David Ward, my brother.
You see, about half my family is from the south, and though I am an Air Force Brat and have never lived anywhere very long, I am more southern than northern or eastern. Yes, I have family members who are ardent racists, much to my dismay, but as time goes on their numbers are shrinking, largely from the influence of the younger members of my family. Furthermore, my brother, the David Ward who got in trouble for bringing African Americans north, is a southern boy through and through, and he is completely color-blind socially speaking. My mother (southern) was about ready to slap our friend when she made her little comment, and one of the best friends I had when I was younger was an African American girl who lived next door, we lived in North Carolina at the time, in the south.
It seems so strange to me, hearing all the derogatory comments about racist southerners, to see and hear direct evidence of northern racism. It's here; it just doesn’t show itself as often because the north doesn't tend to be as diverse. Even more frustrating, is the fact that, not only is there racism in the north, but there is also unfair prejudice against the south due to racism. (533)
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Section&s_dispstring=allfields(Rainy%20River%20Football)%20AND%20date(2004:2003:2002:2001:2000:1999)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=2004:2003:2002:2001:2000:1999&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=("Rainy%20River%20Football")&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Music and Cultural Identity
http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/MIE/Part2_chapter03.shtml
This article talks about the relationship between music and cultural groups. Mainly focusing on the rock of the 50's and 60's, it explains how music can be used as a means for youth to rebel against the older generation. Furthermore, it claims that people with certain levels of education tend to belong to certain music subcultures, such as classical music for those with higher education.
However, they failed to explain how music can also reinforce the values of the older generation in the younger one. One example of this is found in the fact that music from the 50's and 60's just doesn't seem to go away. Ask just about any kid on the street, and they can at least tell you the name of one Beetle's song. In fact, many of the songs appearing in movies and CD's are simply remakes of the 'classics'. This can easily be explained by a desire of the older generation to share their values and beliefs with their children. Civil rights and peace were issues of their day, and now that they are the politicians, teachers, and such, we see these ideals being upheld, not only in government policy, but also into the mind of the youth.
Another example of traditional identities being passed through music is found in Country music. While this genre is often hailed as being corny or fake by listeners of other kinds of music, it quite clearly instills traditions and values into its listeners, and those who identify with it see it as being at least as 'real' as other kinds. This type of music focuses more on the family and the national identity of its listeners. Also, as stated in a song sung by Trace Atkins, they include strong references to “loving and living...family and God."
(300)
This article talks about the relationship between music and cultural groups. Mainly focusing on the rock of the 50's and 60's, it explains how music can be used as a means for youth to rebel against the older generation. Furthermore, it claims that people with certain levels of education tend to belong to certain music subcultures, such as classical music for those with higher education.
However, they failed to explain how music can also reinforce the values of the older generation in the younger one. One example of this is found in the fact that music from the 50's and 60's just doesn't seem to go away. Ask just about any kid on the street, and they can at least tell you the name of one Beetle's song. In fact, many of the songs appearing in movies and CD's are simply remakes of the 'classics'. This can easily be explained by a desire of the older generation to share their values and beliefs with their children. Civil rights and peace were issues of their day, and now that they are the politicians, teachers, and such, we see these ideals being upheld, not only in government policy, but also into the mind of the youth.
Another example of traditional identities being passed through music is found in Country music. While this genre is often hailed as being corny or fake by listeners of other kinds of music, it quite clearly instills traditions and values into its listeners, and those who identify with it see it as being at least as 'real' as other kinds. This type of music focuses more on the family and the national identity of its listeners. Also, as stated in a song sung by Trace Atkins, they include strong references to “loving and living...family and God."
(300)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Is the Military Culture a True Culture?
This article discusses the existence of military culture, what roles it plays in war, and the differences between the different branches. It also explains the positive and negative sides of each. Mostly, this article discusses the role of history in each culture.
http://www.fpri.org/fpriwire/0702.199901.murray.militaryculturedoesmatter.html
Note: I’m using the following websites to back up some of my statements. http://anthro.palomar.edu/culture/culture_1.htm
http://www.ocs.usmc.mil/New_Web_Format/Candidate_Information/Candidate%20Regulations.pdf
I choose this topic because I felt it was very different from what most of my peers would choose to discuss, and it interests me. I have long known that the United States Military had its own culture, but I never looked at it in the same sense as cultures that are derived from nationality or religion. I believe it can truly stand among these.
According to Edward B. Tylor, culture is defined by certain rules which he lists. He says that any culture must have a verbal language. While the United States Military largely uses English, they are well known for having a language all their own and English is regulated by many rules. When addressing an officer of higher rank, there are rules such as saying “Sir” or “Ma’am” before and after a formal statement. There is also the wide variety of acronyms and other words to consider. Other rules that the Military Culture conforms to easily include: dividing tasks according to sex, regulations concerning procreation, firm laws drawing a line between good and bad behavior, having body ornamentation (in the form of uniforms), games and jokes, art, and leadership positions.
Aspects of culture that have to do with family are somewhat lacking in the military, as would be expected. This may cause people to dismiss it, but after some scrutiny, traces of these can be found as well. As for using age and gender to classify, gender is used, and while age isn’t used directly, ranks are and their purpose is to show seniority. Classifying people within the military by marriage doesn’t happen, but there is a different kind of relationship that is very important. Soldiers are divided into groups such as firing squads and platoons, and they are regularly classified by these relationships. While there are no specific rules for the raising of children, they tend to be raised within the military community. Rules for privacy are probably the sketchiest, but information could possibly be found to support their existence as well.
All in all, the military has its own culture.
http://www.fpri.org/fpriwire/0702.199901.murray.militaryculturedoesmatter.html
Note: I’m using the following websites to back up some of my statements. http://anthro.palomar.edu/culture/culture_1.htm
http://www.ocs.usmc.mil/New_Web_Format/Candidate_Information/Candidate%20Regulations.pdf
I choose this topic because I felt it was very different from what most of my peers would choose to discuss, and it interests me. I have long known that the United States Military had its own culture, but I never looked at it in the same sense as cultures that are derived from nationality or religion. I believe it can truly stand among these.
According to Edward B. Tylor, culture is defined by certain rules which he lists. He says that any culture must have a verbal language. While the United States Military largely uses English, they are well known for having a language all their own and English is regulated by many rules. When addressing an officer of higher rank, there are rules such as saying “Sir” or “Ma’am” before and after a formal statement. There is also the wide variety of acronyms and other words to consider. Other rules that the Military Culture conforms to easily include: dividing tasks according to sex, regulations concerning procreation, firm laws drawing a line between good and bad behavior, having body ornamentation (in the form of uniforms), games and jokes, art, and leadership positions.
Aspects of culture that have to do with family are somewhat lacking in the military, as would be expected. This may cause people to dismiss it, but after some scrutiny, traces of these can be found as well. As for using age and gender to classify, gender is used, and while age isn’t used directly, ranks are and their purpose is to show seniority. Classifying people within the military by marriage doesn’t happen, but there is a different kind of relationship that is very important. Soldiers are divided into groups such as firing squads and platoons, and they are regularly classified by these relationships. While there are no specific rules for the raising of children, they tend to be raised within the military community. Rules for privacy are probably the sketchiest, but information could possibly be found to support their existence as well.
All in all, the military has its own culture.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
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