Some more Tea, Jeeves!

The past week was full of very powerful, um... very meaningful protests, yeah. The "Tea Parties", held across the country were a gathering of Americans protesting the increase of taxes placed on them, and the ideal of hefty government spending as a whole. In these meetings, members of young republican clubs and other concerned citizens showed their solidarity against wasteful spending by, as John Stewart criticized, "buying one million tea bags and dumping them into the sea." I thought that was an interesting way to express their position. 

This whole event made me recall what they were really protesting, higher taxes. If you are holding up a sign calling for lower taxes, then it is almost assured that you make over $200,000 a year. That is if you're not into hardcore politics and strict political alining. The reason that one would be considered "wealthy" when participating in a Tea Party, is because President Obama has created one of the largest tax cuts for average Americans making under $200,000. In the end, I think the American public is seeing the reflex action by the wealthier segment of America as they now feel the burden of proportional earning taxation and a small bite out of their pocket. In the end, the visual argument was a rather weak one. 

Visual Arguments need a foundation of sound sense and purpose, and the Tea Parties certainly did not have that, and even worse, they needed the help of Fox News to convey their message. In a Think Progress analysis, one can see how much air-time and attention was paid to the Tea Parties, which seemed much less significant and powerful than the Anti-War and Stop the Hate protests that frequent the streets of American cities. If we could get big news corporations to film the issues that really matter, then perhaps our country could begin to progress, rather than regress to the possessive nature of toddlers.

War, huh, yeah. This should tell us to stop.

I was quite excited to hear about the opening of a Holocaust Museum in Skokie Illinois. The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center is scheduled to open on April 19th. Among the speakers at the opening of the 45 million dollar museum will be former president Bill Clinton and Nobel Prize winning author Elie Wiesel. I was very proud of the North Shore having a new and interesting museum so close, and cannot wait to go there. But with the excitement that goes along with the opening comes the sadness and remembrance that the museum will present to its visitors.

Hopefully this museum will instill a spirit into all that visit it to avoid war and to learn unconditional care for all people. And tere is a tone of bitter sweetness as the museum is opening in a the town where Nazi activists marched in the late 70's. If this opening instigates anger and movement in the radical fronts across the world, I think it is an act of war worth taking. 

Modern Modernism?

I was astounded when I saw a preview for a MSNBC show titled "Future Earth, Journey to the End of the World." 

This series will detail how our world will end, and how we will change our climate into a formidable foe. 

Shows like this have been popping up on many networks, and it got me thinking if there is any 

connection to the rise in apocalyptic fervor during the literary modernist era and Great Depression, and

the fact that we are in the second largest economic downturn since the country hit rock bottom

in the 30's.

Now, the apocalypse is a hot topic and has been so in the last few years. Movies like "The Day after Tomorrow" and "The Core", tickled the viewers curiosity in how our world will react when we are close to the end. But now, MSNBC is giving us a play-by-play on how we are going to go off this planet, instead of giving us wholesome programming like "To Catch A Predator", yeah. Anyway, this county needs not shows that scare us and ponder on our apocalypse, but rather informative shows on how we can make the biggest positive impacts on our world now. Perhaps it is the despair that coincides with economic woes that makes us turn to apocalyptic subject-matter. For me, I will stick to the  one and true gospel for how to act, "The Simspons". 

The show will premiere on April 26th. I will be watching it in my bomb shelter.

Trade you a Tornado for a Mudslide

I'll trade you a Hitler for a King James.

It seems that throughout history, humans have found a way to stand up for and exhibit agency towards oppressed people that have felt a similar pain as them. Early Americans felt and voiced their oppression while they strove for independence, and ever since we have felt the glories of democracy we have not hesitated as a country to go across the planet in order to spread democracy. There is some form of unwritten solidarity between people who have experienced similar oppression and exposure to danger. 

As Kentucky was glazed over-night in a thick and slick layer of ice, something in the news headlines triggered a response from Katrina victims to give back and help those who are as fortunate than them at the current time. Operation Blessing and the Southern Louisiana Baptist Church sent a group of volunteers up to the widows' and immobile people's homes in order to help rid the debris and ice, and remove tress ad branches damaged by the storm. There reason for going up to Kentucky was to give back after receiving so much help and aide after Katrina hit their state. 

I think that this episode of helping and agency shows how much we are capable of as a community and empathetic society. Agency and solidarity has helped our nation through many rough times. As times get tougher (let's not kid), I think we will see many more examples of agency so everyone can keep their homes and strive to fulfill the American dream. 

To see the news article on the ice storm heroes from CBN news,  click here

The NFL; a lesson in romanticizing

The moment we were assigned to uncovering an aspect of American life that is romanticized, one sporting organization in particular stood out from the rest. As the NFL has quickly gained ground as America's true pastime, the NFL advertising and promotions, partnered with the sports broadcasters intense coverage, make the NFL a perfect candidate for over rating and seemingly overzealous praise. 

The half-time show at the Super Bowl alone can show any person how much money and resources are poured into the NFL, and for the length and true dramatic effect of the spectacle, it just seems too much. 

But in a way, the NFL and its actions have made it appear romanticized for a while. From its roots in youth football, being seen as a sport of discipline and bravery, the heros that appear on Monday Night Football have certainly developed credibility from the people of America as individuals that can take a hit. But the mere hour of play seems to get way too much attention and praise than it deserves. Anyone who goes to an NFL stadium and views a game live sees the sport for its true elements, without the over-thought promotions and visuals. But to the majority of Americans who can't get tickets, they are forced to view the romanticized TV NFL, and its not nearly as good as the raw one.

What is Race, now?

It was during my third period class when I heard one of the most intriguing statements of the new year. Our class, which commonly gets off topic onto more "fun and relevant" topics, was talking about race. Before we could really get our words in, my teacher claimed that there is no such thing as race. No such thing as race? While I don't believe in attributing  any contrasts or differences onto others based on race, I feel like the teacher, given his or her position of ethos and impressionability should have provided a little more citation than "researchers say...". After all, I think that the message may have stuck on some of the students, and it is tickling me discuss what race really means. 

Race, in my definition, is the key attribute that helps determine the origin of a person. There is nothing more to it. 

A more expert definition of race, seen in the previous link, seems to sum it up as a "social construct", or something invented by people in order to classify and differentiate from people. So what does that leave for people trying to get a firm grip on what race is? I think it is wise to quote the words of one of our own AS teachers, Mr. Lawler, when he said that it is bull that anyone says race is non-existent. And I agree. Race, as a tool for oppression, was one of the ugliest manipulations of human thought. But that doesn't mean that race, as a measure for individuality and identity should be phased out and labeled non-existent, because the history of race in the United States is a troubled one. 

There is one valuable thing that we all receive from our race: agency. People of one race can and always will use their agency in their race to congregate as a community in order to voice opinions and to celebrate traditions. If we were suddenly told there is no such thing as race, are we suddenly expected to dispose of our old cultural traditions that make us unique in order to move into a more harmonious and uniform world? I, and I'm sure more people, don't like that idea.

Can You be Disobedient?

Henry David Thoreau was disgusted by slavery and the Mexican American War. In prosets, he offered the idea of civil disobedience. This is the act of being unruly in order to protest the government and its actions. I really took to this idea of being able to protest and be a non-conformist if you disagree with the government. 

In class on Thursday 12/12/08, we had a speaker come in and talk about her acts of cimil disobedience. A lady who had been arrested nearly 60 times in her life, all to protest what she thought was the government's abuse of power. The most dramatic of her tales was when she was in Iraq, against strict protocol, helping families that were affected by the US invasion. She conveyed to us with her voice and expression the same emotion that she must have felt while in Iraq. I was left speechless. She believes non-violent protest and civil disobedience are the most potent way of getting your voice heard.

My main question now is, can people perform acts of civil disobedience and still be active members of society? The speaker we had, after all, doesn't pay taxes and owns not a single automobile. So how can a New Trier student or faculty aspire to live in open protest to the government if we want, without being seen as strange or outcasts? 

The answer is... he or she probable cannot. In Thoreau's day, the government was still young and ripe for protest. Now, we are so used to the governments practices that any protest besides an anti-war march seems too edgy. I wish there was a way to open forum our protests to the government without having to break the law. 

Our speaker laid it out for us. In order to live her lifestyle, she made a decision to change her normal way of life. For a high school student wanting to go on to college and beyond, I just can't see myself being able to protest in such ways. 

What We Really Need

Henry David Thoreau spent two years in solitude while according observations for his book, Walden. In these two years he determined that man has only 4 requirements he must maintain for himself in order to survive: fuel, food, shelter, and clothing. A perfectly functioning human being can exist so long as he quenches these 4 thirsts. 

With the holiday season in full swing, it is a good time to consider what the brilliant Thoreau had to offer us. When we sit down to make our holiday lists, what should we ask for so that we don't bury ourselves with "not indispensable" items. When I asked myself that question, I remembered hearing about a sponsorship charities, like the Christian Children's Fund , in which a small portion of our money goes to ensure that children in third world countries do not go without the 4 basic needs. 

It is very hard to live like a transcendentalist today, with more  and more people worry about looks and luxuries. How can we strive to be individualists, when advertisements insult us with their low brow humor-- trying to connect with the common man?Advertisements are just plain bad. 

Anyway, I hope we live conscious of Thoreau's efforts to show us that we can live happy without the luxuries. 

Does He Really Fit the Bill?

The man is in our pockets and textbooks as the seventh President of the United States. Champion of the common man, he was known as he made his way into office. Andrew Jackson also is known for his tough love attitude toward the banking system, and got his face on the twenty dollar bill, big whoop. But does his face still deserve to be on the bill? After all, "Old Hickory" was not the most kind towards the Native American people. 

In fact, his record against the Indians during the Westward Expansion was less than flattering. "Indian Removal" was one of his talking points during his first inaugural address. 

As a nation of progress (defeating slavery and equalizing rights for all), it is somewhat disturbing that Jackson is still on the bill. The fact that he accomplished so little as far as building the nation, should be enough to overcome the common man friendship he had, that keeps his face on the bill today. Are we really a progressive nation, if we cannot recognize what a travesty the Indian Removal was? 

There is no going back in time to give the rightful land pack to the native people, but we can do one thing. We can replace the face of a man who fully supported and took part in the only genocide our country as witnessed with that of a man who has some more for us. FDR would be a much better candidate, and he represented progress to the extreme, pulling our country out of depression and laying the foundation for the United States' rise to world power.

Has Progress killed Bond?

Following the release of Daniel Craig's second film as James Bond, many critics, and even Rodger Moore himself, find themselves questioning whether what has happened to Bond is good. Throughout the forty years of Bond bonanza, the gadgets and pushing of the proverbial envelope have been changing to fit the modern world. However, with this country's unquenchable thirst for violence in entertainment, these critics feel that Bond has become too violent to appropriately fit the 007 model left by Craig's predecessors. With the progression in the media being made tin the past few decades, Americans have found themselves being able to view content with more violence, sex, and drug use than in the past. Obviously, the filmmakers of the Bond films had to adjust to the changing times and in turn have lost the charm and far out espionage sequence and replaced it with more death and more destruction.

Will Columbia Pictures head the warnings of critics and try to make a more classic Bond film in the future? Or will they listen to the outstanding box office preformance that ushered in over $70 million dollars for the studio? My friends, I regret to say, they will probably give into the power of green, and the American public will be force fed more putrid garbage through films that once warmed our imagination and inspired many to believe that futurism is ideal. Should we take this as a warning that progress may not be the key to our society? Perhaps the general balance we have now (save for a few exceptions) is where we should draw the line.

Obama Ushered In, World is Pleased

Now President-Elect Barrack Obama was in many eyes a shoe-in for victory. He had pragmatists and idealists on his side, arguing that the eight years of Bush policies are outdated and would be continued by McCain, and promising the vague idea of "Change" to the country's more desperate folk. The international reaction is also a noteworthy tidbit, as most countries see Obama as a strong and favorable leader. However, as can be seen in the link above, The China Worker, obviously a socialist piece, is fearful of Obama's election claiming that he is representative of big business and he being the first African-American to be elected President will cause false security to the issue of racism in America. This is a harsh, but pragmatic response to the election, as most pundits and newspapers have been swept up in the euphoria of Obama's election. Although the bias in this article is clearly define, it is interesting to see a sharp opposing viewpoint on the election, when American's eyes are filled with the same images in news and information. This non-dominant narrative, although not proven true, could be seen as a good warning to those that are willing to throw all of their faith into this strong and charismatic leader.

Just to get it out of the way... Boo Yah!

Win for Team or League?

With the dramatic series of games versus the Tampa Bay Rays, this past week, the Philadelphia Phillies have won the World Series. But who honestly cares, that the Phillies won? This was the question I was asking myself after I sat on my couch taking in every inning, every pitch, of the five game series. To me, I was looking at the broader ideal that followed the lack luster victory. A win for the Phillies meant a win for the National League. I view sports unlike I view the real world, with an idealistic eye. And frankly, I'm sick of hearing that my favorite baseball team, the Milwaukee Brewers, is overrated because the National League, and the Central Division more specifically, is weak compared to similar divisions in the American League. To me this win will bring prominence to the National League and help me not dwell on generalizing sports columnists that interfere with my pragmatic view of every day.

What to Make of it All?

I don't see how anyone can make a wise decision in our markets with the way it been going. This bipolar ride has left investors scratching their heads and wondering whether they should take the idealist or pragmatic approach to playing Wallstreet. CBS News provided a quick and ugly wrap up of this week's economy.

Option One: Is my dollar going to help raise investor confidence around me? Of course it will. The true idealist way of riding our this market trip-up would be to invest in strong stocks and tell all of their friends to do the same. Men like Warren Buffet, who have shown their expertise in the historically unstable U.S. markets, continue to invest and urge that the Americans who can afford it do the same. 

Option Two: Make like the majority of skeptical men and women during the Great Depression and hide my cash under the mattress. The downward trends in the market are too threatening to be overcome by isolated days of immense gain. As our class saw how pragmatists like Benjamin Franklin managed to equate all chance and reasoning to a simple process of data collection. When American's eyes are seeing red, (the stock graphs, that is) the pragmatist cannot help but hold onto that extra money to help pay for the day to day amenities as gas prices rise as well as food prices. 

To me, Option Two seems to be the most realistic and economically sound way of existing in this nation strived with economic turmoil. If it gets any worse, expect to see more Americans jumping on this wagon.

Idealist Hope spurs Pragmatic Results

It is a large number of people, 50,000. That is how many men and women took to Jones Beach State Park in New York to support the cure for Breast Cancer, a disease that affect millions each year. While the outcome was outstanding, the amount of money raised can really put the results in perspective. $3 million. For a subject that requires so much hope and idealistic attitudes to get a cure, the money raised shows that pragmatic and tangible results can and will be reached soon. With most middle class families feeling the crunch of the economic burden this month, this event show that we all have some idealism in us and are willing to donate the extra money in hopes to reach a cure. Another immediate result of this march is to bring awareness to the disease. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and this was surely the climax of it all.

To many a cure seems an unattainable goal. But the people of our country have overcome so much fueled by idealism. Would any pragmatist expect that a small group of settlers scatters on the eastern shore would be able to take on and defeat the strongest military power in the world? Would any pragmatist foresee that a loosely organized group of men will conflicting viewpoints could organize the world's model for a democratic nation in one document? While pragmatic decisions were made in that effort, every hope starts with an idealist that must face his or her fair share of tribulations, but in the end the idealist and pragmatist must work together. Modern science and rallying people must band up to eradicate cancer. And the 50,000 people that marched this Sunday were a good start.

Who Profits from our Fear?

As once again the confidence in investing has plummeted in the United States, our country has entered recession and fear for our futures has gripped the nation. With so much money being spent on trying to fix the current financial market, how is this counrty supposed to pay for events like the Superbowl? And even worse yet, how will Chicago ever be able to compete with other countries top cities in the race for 2016 Summer Olympic city? Well the Olympic Committee has stated that Madrid is a safe choice for the 2016 choice. It has been stated that they are the most firm city financially as the global credit crunch has hit, the one that started in the USA.

If Chicago is ever going to get this election, the city, and Cook County as a whole will have to step up to present a budget plan that will instill confidence in the eyes of the I.O.C. (International Olympic Committee). Other than that, the residents of the area will have to put these Perilous times behind them and see that a large check is not the only factor in choosing the host city for the widely viewed Olympic Games. We must not rally to fester our suspicions or insecurities, but we must show that we as a group are ready to host this spectacle.

Palin offers Fear to the Frightened

As if American families are not already fearing their financial situation, fearing their children's safety as gun violence rises, and fearing for homeland security, Governor Palin began enlisting Fear Tactics in her speeches. In a recent rally, McCain's running mate said, "I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way that you and I see America...I’m afraid this is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to work with a former domestic terrorist who had targeted his own country." I can understand that the campaigns are becoming increasingly negative as crunch time approaches, but insinuating that Senator Obama is a threat to this nation because of his ties to a former radical is the same tactic as spreading widespread rumors of Obama's Muslim faith. The Muslim argument was blasted by critics, but this is a more subtle way of digging into that part of the mind that recalls 9/11. It is smart though. In a time of economic crisis in a country fighting an astronomically expensive war, nobody wants to hear that Obama is "friendly to terrorists" as she was also quoted saying.
My bias is not cloaked. I feel that in these times of peril, we should gather around a new model of leadership. Bush and his administration dug a hole into this countries treasury and morale, and McCain and Palin, armed with shovels, don't promise to fill it in. As the Great Depression strangled our country in the late 1920's, the country realized that it had to join together in order to correct the apathy towards the common man. FDR came into power and inspired the country to get their hands dirty. Men that once drove Mercedes were loaded into buses to build dams but McCain and even Senator Obama are forced to preach that the average man will once again have prosperity without having to lift a finger. According to Palin, all we have to do is ask ourselves if we want a terrorist friendly President like Obama and head to the poles with the "right" choice.
In times of Peril, we take so easily to the leader appearing powerful and willing to take action. But these are, like Mr Hale in "The Crucible" said, new times. In these new times we have to realize that swift action is and bold experimentation are not the keys to this country's recovery from economic disaster. We should not be shaking up when we should be bolting down and looking past partisan differences to get things done. Had partisan issues not been so strong during the 1920's perhaps the Republican Party would have look at Senator McCarthy and questioned whether he was right in the head.

Argument Assessment

I was surprised to learn it too, but artist that you hear over the radio do not get paid royalties. The writer of the song does. The anonymous columnist from the Chicago Tribune argues strongly that is the responsibility of the radio stations to pay the performers for the music they play. The columnist goes on further to say that the radio stations should take after their online, cable radio, and satellite radio brethren and start paying the bands that they play. The author also argus that new legislation proposed by several congressman in California should be passed. After all, artists don't even get paid when their music is played overseas, where over 50% of the music played on the radio is created in the United States. The author maintains a steady feeling that the radio industry is really screwing the musicians. He or she also fails to recognize the damage that this sudden change in expense would have on the radio industry. All around, I think this was a pretty easy argument for the columnist to win. I mean, who wants to know that the hard working artists aren't being awarded for their efforts as you cruise down the streets enjoying their work. 

No Regulation!... help

In a time in which capitalism should be flourishing with exciting advancements in technology and tight competition that is evident by the hundreds of adds we are berated with each day, many people are stunned at what is happening in Wallstreet. They need help from our federal government. It is no surprise really, when the government doesn't step in when billions of dollars were invested in subprime mortgages that crashed and revealed the true achilles heal of our economy: with so much money on the line, there is no way we can operate without the government stepping in and questioning the greed and foolish investments that are made with taxpayers hard earned money.

It is no surprise now, that in these economic times of peril, that the fed has agreed to bail out not one, but two multi-billion dollar corporations from the sudden bankruptcy that shook the world at its economic foundation. The combined bailout from investment firm Leeman Brothers and insurance company AIG could reach over one trillion dollars leaving one heavy bill for the American taxpayers who are still burdened with unemployment and the cost of the war on terrorism. In times of peril, we do look to authority for strength and solutions.Whether it is our AS class willing to leap off the school at our teachers words during a simple practical joke, or Wallstreet hypocritically begging for the help from the fed. 

From all of this, I think we should be thankful our government doesn't go hammer and sickle on us to prevent further collapse. We as americans rely on Wallstreet to make smart, lasting decisions that won't burden our families further and that won't merely fuel the politcal storms on Capital Hill or in the elections.

We Need a Hero

It is no secret that the residents of Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana are suffering after the recent storms drenched the area. In fact, the rain has prompted Cook County Board President Todd Stroger to declare that our county is in a state of emergency. Families living near rivers have lost their homes and communities have come together to alleviate the pressure on those most greatly affected by the raising waters. But when Times of Peril normally spur citizens to look for strength in the numbers, there are those who go above what is expected of them to show how powerful the individual can be. 

When John and Mark Thanos (father and son respectively) heard the perilous cries of two children, they rushed to the scene to find the two kids struggling to stay afloat in the               Pope-O'Conor ditch in Chesterton, Indiana. One of the boys managed to pull himself out, but the other was being sucked into a 36'' drain. John Thanos, age 74, jumped in first trying to save the boy. When he began to struggle, son Mark did his part to try and save both of them. But fate being cruel, took both John and Mark. The boy made it out safely. 

These two men have broken the mold and showed how we do not always need to look to a council or congregation to get things done in frightful times. It is men like these and also men like Preacher Hooper who spur us to question their motive. Would the Puritans look at men like Hooper or the Thanos'  as heroes? Or would they try to poke a hole in their confidence as people to purge out the sin that they are compensating for? The two minute news report did not give John and Mark Thanos the credit they deserve. The story did teach us all one thing; we shouldn't bury ourselves in the layers of fear and suspicion and panic that often coincide with Peril. 

Salutations

Hello! This is the first post in my examination of history and modern event on the Western Hemisphere... Heck, why now the whole world! Sure your local anchor man or women can tell you what happen's, but I will give provide you the news that matters to a high school student from none other than a high school student's point of view.