The other day I was driving in my car listening to the radio. THAT WAS MY BIGGEST MISTAKE!! My ride was plagued by Christmas music, no matter the station it seemed to have the same music over and over again... (I found my safe haven in WZLX, but the reception was crap :(. Anywho, while listening to the radio the DJ came on the air and started talking about black friday and all the shopping that was done. I do not remember the exact numbers but I remember him saying the amount of money that was spent nation wide throughout the day is several million dollars more than last year and obviously more than the year before that. He then went on to say its a sign of a changing economy that is improving (naturally a homeless man with a shopping carriage full of whatever walked by my car). What, because more people are spending money on foolish gifts...whether cheapened or not for that specific day, its still foolish (to me). I don't care what people do in the end, I won't be shopping on any black friday, I guess I don't want to get trampled on. But I think this is a horrible way to measure the economy. If anything the only thing to be measured is peoples judgement. But like I said, if they want to shop, let them shop.
Earlier today I saw Bill Clinton speak and he was then followed by President Obama. They spoke about the new energy efficient bill and how it will save money as well as create jobs. The speech was given at a construction sight of course. Either way, according to the plan, loads of money will be saved. In the building they were giving the conference in, it would save $200,000 a year alone. With this being said, people would be put to work, "full time" in order to create these energy efficient buildings and other creations. I don't know what will come of this, I obviously hope it works. I am in full support of energy efficiency as well as, saving money, and putting people to work. This will help the economy, this is also a good way to measure the economy. ... The fact that it needs to change. I hope everything goes to plan with the energy efficiency, other countries are beyond us in this category, we need to catch up and hopefully we will.
Either way, the DJ just didn't make sense, it was annoying to hear him speak. If the amount of money spent did go up, the statistic could be skewed either way. Perhaps more rich people went shopping, I don't know?-I don't know what goes on in general on black friday... in the end I'd rather hear about the economy from the President and the past President, thats judgement. Energy efficient.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Short Stories, with Big meanings.
The short stories were very interesting as well as entertaining. They each were different, telling of different situations they had been in the past. Either way they described there working class experiences and how they coped with it.
A great story, "The Catholic Leg", did a great job of conveying what it meant to live on the edge. The family consisted of a mother and father as well as ten children. Unless rich, this situation creates a hard living for any family and an especially harder living for a working class family. The father had a job, but it of course wasn't enough to support the family. With this life style, the family would never be able to travel, take vacations, have disposable income, buy important material goods, etc. Essentially, they were living on the edge, one false move and everything could have been lost. Yet, the mother had the gift of God apparently, in terms of writing jingles. These jingles led to the winning of contests thus money and other goods. For example, when the family hadn't paid the bills for the house, they were going to be foreclosed, yet the mother won a contest in time to pay the bills and keep the house... almost as if it never was a problem. Amongst money, the mother also won washer/dryer machines, trips around the country and Europe, and other things. Not only did the winning of contests keep this family of ten from extreme poverty, it gave them social and cultural capital. For example, the mother and father were able to travel and go on vacations, learning about different peoples and cultures. Basically, this family was extremely lucky, for without the contests, they would definitely slip beneath the cracks, tumble off the edge, what have you not. Instead of suffering, these ten children were able to grow up in a family setting, making life more enjoyable and worth it.
The other short story I liked was "The Poet and the Pauper." Instead of going along with the typical trend of poetry, the aspiring/in time successful poet wrote about her childhood experiences of being poor. She wanted to write about her experiences but also the experience of poor in general, representing all poor. She wanted to get her point across to the people that were fortunate enough to not experience poverty/poorness. She was told she had a beautiful pen, yet her content was not what the people were looking for. Nobody wanted to read about poor people and what they experience...instead they would rather read about trees (blehh). However through determination the poet was able to get published, thus being able to reach people through her writing. Instead of giving up, the poet tried harder. She never forgot her roots, which in the end was her inspiration. She felt no shame in explaining her tough life and how she was able to overcome-yet not forget it. Speaking at colleges, going on tours, getting her works published were all ways of her trying the explain the reality of being poor, the fact that it is a concept which should not be overlooked by trees.
These stories were inspirational as well as informing, in terms of how people needed to live in order to get by.
A great story, "The Catholic Leg", did a great job of conveying what it meant to live on the edge. The family consisted of a mother and father as well as ten children. Unless rich, this situation creates a hard living for any family and an especially harder living for a working class family. The father had a job, but it of course wasn't enough to support the family. With this life style, the family would never be able to travel, take vacations, have disposable income, buy important material goods, etc. Essentially, they were living on the edge, one false move and everything could have been lost. Yet, the mother had the gift of God apparently, in terms of writing jingles. These jingles led to the winning of contests thus money and other goods. For example, when the family hadn't paid the bills for the house, they were going to be foreclosed, yet the mother won a contest in time to pay the bills and keep the house... almost as if it never was a problem. Amongst money, the mother also won washer/dryer machines, trips around the country and Europe, and other things. Not only did the winning of contests keep this family of ten from extreme poverty, it gave them social and cultural capital. For example, the mother and father were able to travel and go on vacations, learning about different peoples and cultures. Basically, this family was extremely lucky, for without the contests, they would definitely slip beneath the cracks, tumble off the edge, what have you not. Instead of suffering, these ten children were able to grow up in a family setting, making life more enjoyable and worth it.
The other short story I liked was "The Poet and the Pauper." Instead of going along with the typical trend of poetry, the aspiring/in time successful poet wrote about her childhood experiences of being poor. She wanted to write about her experiences but also the experience of poor in general, representing all poor. She wanted to get her point across to the people that were fortunate enough to not experience poverty/poorness. She was told she had a beautiful pen, yet her content was not what the people were looking for. Nobody wanted to read about poor people and what they experience...instead they would rather read about trees (blehh). However through determination the poet was able to get published, thus being able to reach people through her writing. Instead of giving up, the poet tried harder. She never forgot her roots, which in the end was her inspiration. She felt no shame in explaining her tough life and how she was able to overcome-yet not forget it. Speaking at colleges, going on tours, getting her works published were all ways of her trying the explain the reality of being poor, the fact that it is a concept which should not be overlooked by trees.
These stories were inspirational as well as informing, in terms of how people needed to live in order to get by.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Diary II
Dear Diary...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeHsl_owrAk
This song "Factory", by Bruce Springsteen speaks perfectly about the working man. It certainly parallels the Michael Moore/ Roger Moore (one of the best James Bonds of all time) "Roger and Me." Yes, the Bruce Song that Moore chose to actually be in the film "My Home Town" is more of a perfect fit, for the song describes the closing down of shops, big stores, and factories that once thrived in New Jersey. However, the Factory is a specifically designed song for a specifically designed purpose, to portray the factory life of a "working...a working... JUST a working man." Also, going along with the robotic theme, that Bruce displays, he very well could have been afraid of becoming the working man as well, class reproduction. Not caring about school, not even being eligible to go to Vietnam (due to not passing the physical), Bruce very well could have been the next of many working men in New Jersey. Like father...like son is an extremely robotic sequence, luckily Bruce's music rescued him from this situation.
The song portrays a robotic sense of life that Bruce witnessed his own father living/as well as others while working at a factory. He would wake up every morning, go to work, wait for the whistle, the gate opens, and the work begins. Once the whistle finally went off again it was time to go home, only to repeat this process everyday throughout the work week. There are intense lyrics in this short song. One being "factory takes his hearing, but he understands, he's a working, a working, just a working man." Obviously, we observe that at this factory people were losing there hearing. However this could just be a piece of what else they lost, physically. Working in a factory is a very dangerous job, due to the loud noise, heavy machinery, and of course perhaps peoples inexperience. None the less Bruce did a great job portraying a certain aspect of factory torture... that just comes with the territory.
The most powerful however "end of the day, factory whistle cries, Men walk through these gates with death in their eyes. And you just better believe, boy, somebody's gonna get hurt tonight." I interpret this as the factory men going home then strait to the bar... or perhaps just going strait to the bar. They hate their job and perhaps what the job has done to their life and now drinking their sorrows away is the best option. Thus, continuing the robotic sense of life. Another way to interpret it is simply somebody being laid off. The "hurt" meaning perhaps a worker just got fired/laid off and is now jobless? With these two lyrics I chose to expand upon comes the beauty of poetry, in the way that they can be interpreted anyway possible. There is no true correct interpretation and meaning. Bruce may have his meaning for the song, but I very well could interpret the song my own way and create my own meaning.
I am a fan of Bruce Springsteen (and the E Street Band). He writes a great number of songs about life in America, throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's and so forth. He always sings with a voice of the people in mind (no matter how rich he may be... we know your rich Bruce give up the act...joke). Yet, it's for these reasons that makes his songs so bone chilling, true, and very much relatable. I know for myself, I can relate to this song in a different context of a factory however. My father is" JUST a working man" and I hate seeing him live that life. With that being said-it is why he sent me to a good high school and then off to college, so I could hopefully dodge that way of life... which I plan on doing.
If anyone would like a referral to other great Bruce Songs describing this way of life please let me know. I love discussing music and I love discussing song meanings and how they relate to life in general. Bruce Springsteen is one of the best about portraying lower and middle class America. He lived through it at one point in his life... and still finds it necessary and important to continue relating to this way of life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeHsl_owrAk
This song "Factory", by Bruce Springsteen speaks perfectly about the working man. It certainly parallels the Michael Moore/ Roger Moore (one of the best James Bonds of all time) "Roger and Me." Yes, the Bruce Song that Moore chose to actually be in the film "My Home Town" is more of a perfect fit, for the song describes the closing down of shops, big stores, and factories that once thrived in New Jersey. However, the Factory is a specifically designed song for a specifically designed purpose, to portray the factory life of a "working...a working... JUST a working man." Also, going along with the robotic theme, that Bruce displays, he very well could have been afraid of becoming the working man as well, class reproduction. Not caring about school, not even being eligible to go to Vietnam (due to not passing the physical), Bruce very well could have been the next of many working men in New Jersey. Like father...like son is an extremely robotic sequence, luckily Bruce's music rescued him from this situation.
The song portrays a robotic sense of life that Bruce witnessed his own father living/as well as others while working at a factory. He would wake up every morning, go to work, wait for the whistle, the gate opens, and the work begins. Once the whistle finally went off again it was time to go home, only to repeat this process everyday throughout the work week. There are intense lyrics in this short song. One being "factory takes his hearing, but he understands, he's a working, a working, just a working man." Obviously, we observe that at this factory people were losing there hearing. However this could just be a piece of what else they lost, physically. Working in a factory is a very dangerous job, due to the loud noise, heavy machinery, and of course perhaps peoples inexperience. None the less Bruce did a great job portraying a certain aspect of factory torture... that just comes with the territory.
The most powerful however "end of the day, factory whistle cries, Men walk through these gates with death in their eyes. And you just better believe, boy, somebody's gonna get hurt tonight." I interpret this as the factory men going home then strait to the bar... or perhaps just going strait to the bar. They hate their job and perhaps what the job has done to their life and now drinking their sorrows away is the best option. Thus, continuing the robotic sense of life. Another way to interpret it is simply somebody being laid off. The "hurt" meaning perhaps a worker just got fired/laid off and is now jobless? With these two lyrics I chose to expand upon comes the beauty of poetry, in the way that they can be interpreted anyway possible. There is no true correct interpretation and meaning. Bruce may have his meaning for the song, but I very well could interpret the song my own way and create my own meaning.
I am a fan of Bruce Springsteen (and the E Street Band). He writes a great number of songs about life in America, throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's and so forth. He always sings with a voice of the people in mind (no matter how rich he may be... we know your rich Bruce give up the act...joke). Yet, it's for these reasons that makes his songs so bone chilling, true, and very much relatable. I know for myself, I can relate to this song in a different context of a factory however. My father is" JUST a working man" and I hate seeing him live that life. With that being said-it is why he sent me to a good high school and then off to college, so I could hopefully dodge that way of life... which I plan on doing.
If anyone would like a referral to other great Bruce Songs describing this way of life please let me know. I love discussing music and I love discussing song meanings and how they relate to life in general. Bruce Springsteen is one of the best about portraying lower and middle class America. He lived through it at one point in his life... and still finds it necessary and important to continue relating to this way of life.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
The Evolution of Wall Street
Throughout the past spring and summer I kept watching, anxiously, as countries in Northern Africa, as well as others, began to rebel against the government. Granted the protests and eventual riots were acted out due the type of government in place of that particular country. Either way, I was in awe and in defense of these protestors. I believed in what they were doing and still do. I remember thinking though if I would ever be involved in protests or riots amongst other things. I wondered if I would ever have to protest here in the United States against the massively large government that I ever so disagree with. I wondered if I would ever be able to protest against the unequal/unfair economy that this country has to offer. Well a few months later I was one of the people walking through the streets of Providence, marching up the State House steps, and voicing my true opinion about this countries major issues.
Occupy Wall Street started off small but grew into something very special. Perhaps the best part about this is the fact that it is still growing. More and more protestors began to gather at Wall Street, creating a more bigger solid force of individuals whom all believed in one thing... Greed is Bad... the exact opposite of the line, made famous by Michael Douglas in the movie Wall Street "Greed is Good." Either way Occupy Wall Street is no joke, rather a snow ball effect. It seems as if since the incident on the Brooklyn Bridge, people have finally become aware of the protests. from this point on people all over began to respond to the protests.
Social medians such as facebook, twitter, etc have served as an excellent way of spreading the word of Occupy wall Street. People have responded through writing about it on there facebook, protesting in there closest cities, as well as traveling to New York to protest. The use of technology has helped this protest in so many ways. For example, there are certain parts of Zuccottii park that are designed by the protestors that have computers, cell phones, and other forms of technology that are devoted to streaming footage captured-not from the media- but from the protestors themselves. This then gives another perspective of the story. For example, I saw police men, literally punching protestors, spraying women and men in the eyes with maize, a police officer kneeling on a protestors throat, a man being dragged away by his feet, leaving a trail of blood behind him, as well as much more. Its this footage that captures the other side of the protest-granted violence is wrong either way- but it shows how they were/are being treated by the police force, and this is very much indisputable.
Another topic of Occupy Wall Street that has been present in the media is how organized the protest is. Some protests have leaders or don't have leaders, yet either way end up disgruntled and barely planned. However occupy wall street-with its communal leadership- is still alive and well due to its organization. For example, there are sleeping bags, and tent donations everyday. These are divided amongst the people whom need them in order to live and stay well enough to protest. There is also a communal food bank. People arrive with food for the bank. The food is distributed throughout the camp, making sure everyone is fed. There are plenty of meanings pertaining to each protest, but also meetings in general. Perhaps dealing with non-violence and other things. This organization has spread throughout the nation to other protests and was definitely visible in the Providence Protest.
To such a massive protest that has spread throughout the country (and now world), there is of course an exact opposite perspective. Naturally people like Bill O'Reilly have these opposite perspectives. We, the protestors, are lazy, stinky, not smart, not determined, etc. and these are all reasons as to why we don't have jobs. Obviously this is the most hard headed, dim witted perspective a person could have on such a subject. With this being said, I don't understand how people can still think like this. So many people in the media, that I've watch these past few weeks have stated the same things along the lines listed above. With all these statistics and facts that exist today about the economy and the unequal distribution of wealth how can one blame it on us for not being determined? ... either way, Billy O and other people like him are wrong. Yes there are uneducated people in the protests but there are also a lot of educated people...higher education. Am I lazy, stinky, not determined, and a problem then? No. What these people need to realize is that many of the educated are protesting too. We are protesting because it is wrong, what is happening to the country, but also because we fall into the 99%. Just because we very well could get a job (whether it is high paying or not is another topic for discussion), this does not count us out of the 99%. A lot of the anti-wall street people believe it is our fault we are jobless-yet is it our fault if we have jobs, but they do not pay enough to support us?
The best part about following the news of Occupy Wall Street was watching it spread all over the nation. There was an Occupy Boston, Austin, Providence, Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, and more. These have all served to be affective and show that this is a movement spreading all over the country. This spread then led to websites such as "we are the 99%" as well as rebuttal websites "we are the 53%" and "we are the 1%." One of the best things I saw on the news was how there was an Occupy London as well as other protests held in China, Greece, and Italy. This is all an extension from the Arab Spring, to the Occupy Wall Street, to just boiling points of each countries citizens. Either way, this went from a national movement to a world-wide movement and that will always be significant.
People doubt that anything will come of these protests. They will simply whither away and die. Well, I hope the exact opposite and I feel as if this is very much a snowball affect. People just have to believe. Either way, if it dies or moves on and becomes stronger I plan on saying proudly I attended Occupy Providence. I was there, marching through the streets looking at the financial buildings, walking on the Providence Mall side, distracting people from eating, I was there chanting on the steps of the state house for equality. I plan on telling my children that during this protest I felt a stronger presence of my opinion than I ever had through voting. I protested because this is something I am passionate about. I can not come up with all these different economic ways of fixing this or doing that, simply because I hate numbers, math, and anything else that comes with it. But I am still dedicated to protesting and fixing this current economy. I am not saying there shouldn't be rich people, there sure as hell should be. But the difference between rich and poor should be way less, thats a given. I am not saying I want a check at the end of every month from the rich... I don't need there money directly. I am saying there money (through plausible, valid taxation of the rich) could trickle down into the systems, such as banking, business, road works, school systems, agricultural areas, parks and rec., etc. This money will be experienced indirectly by the 99% thus in time canceling that obscene percentage as a whole!
Either way, I am proud to say my generation is on the move and I am apart of it. I feel my voice is being heard, I feel a change coming on, no matter the time it takes, there will be a change.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15326561 Italy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15324901 England
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UILvHyvCkAg Bill O'Reilly knckin' the protest...not the video I was hoping to fine but the Turkish TV does a good job commenting on Bill and his problems
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/wall-street-protests-cross-the-pond/?ref=occupywallstreet England again
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/police-department-to-examine-pepper-spray-incident/?ref=occupywallstreet abuse of protestors
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/occupying-and-now-publishing-too/?ref=occupywallstreet Organization of Protestors as well as the strength of Community
http://the53.tumblr.com/ "We are the 53%"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15320416 spread across the world
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/abundant-menu-at-occupy-wall-street/?scp=10&sq=occupy%20wall%20street&st=cse food for protestors
Occupy Wall Street started off small but grew into something very special. Perhaps the best part about this is the fact that it is still growing. More and more protestors began to gather at Wall Street, creating a more bigger solid force of individuals whom all believed in one thing... Greed is Bad... the exact opposite of the line, made famous by Michael Douglas in the movie Wall Street "Greed is Good." Either way Occupy Wall Street is no joke, rather a snow ball effect. It seems as if since the incident on the Brooklyn Bridge, people have finally become aware of the protests. from this point on people all over began to respond to the protests.
Social medians such as facebook, twitter, etc have served as an excellent way of spreading the word of Occupy wall Street. People have responded through writing about it on there facebook, protesting in there closest cities, as well as traveling to New York to protest. The use of technology has helped this protest in so many ways. For example, there are certain parts of Zuccottii park that are designed by the protestors that have computers, cell phones, and other forms of technology that are devoted to streaming footage captured-not from the media- but from the protestors themselves. This then gives another perspective of the story. For example, I saw police men, literally punching protestors, spraying women and men in the eyes with maize, a police officer kneeling on a protestors throat, a man being dragged away by his feet, leaving a trail of blood behind him, as well as much more. Its this footage that captures the other side of the protest-granted violence is wrong either way- but it shows how they were/are being treated by the police force, and this is very much indisputable.
Another topic of Occupy Wall Street that has been present in the media is how organized the protest is. Some protests have leaders or don't have leaders, yet either way end up disgruntled and barely planned. However occupy wall street-with its communal leadership- is still alive and well due to its organization. For example, there are sleeping bags, and tent donations everyday. These are divided amongst the people whom need them in order to live and stay well enough to protest. There is also a communal food bank. People arrive with food for the bank. The food is distributed throughout the camp, making sure everyone is fed. There are plenty of meanings pertaining to each protest, but also meetings in general. Perhaps dealing with non-violence and other things. This organization has spread throughout the nation to other protests and was definitely visible in the Providence Protest.
To such a massive protest that has spread throughout the country (and now world), there is of course an exact opposite perspective. Naturally people like Bill O'Reilly have these opposite perspectives. We, the protestors, are lazy, stinky, not smart, not determined, etc. and these are all reasons as to why we don't have jobs. Obviously this is the most hard headed, dim witted perspective a person could have on such a subject. With this being said, I don't understand how people can still think like this. So many people in the media, that I've watch these past few weeks have stated the same things along the lines listed above. With all these statistics and facts that exist today about the economy and the unequal distribution of wealth how can one blame it on us for not being determined? ... either way, Billy O and other people like him are wrong. Yes there are uneducated people in the protests but there are also a lot of educated people...higher education. Am I lazy, stinky, not determined, and a problem then? No. What these people need to realize is that many of the educated are protesting too. We are protesting because it is wrong, what is happening to the country, but also because we fall into the 99%. Just because we very well could get a job (whether it is high paying or not is another topic for discussion), this does not count us out of the 99%. A lot of the anti-wall street people believe it is our fault we are jobless-yet is it our fault if we have jobs, but they do not pay enough to support us?
The best part about following the news of Occupy Wall Street was watching it spread all over the nation. There was an Occupy Boston, Austin, Providence, Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, and more. These have all served to be affective and show that this is a movement spreading all over the country. This spread then led to websites such as "we are the 99%" as well as rebuttal websites "we are the 53%" and "we are the 1%." One of the best things I saw on the news was how there was an Occupy London as well as other protests held in China, Greece, and Italy. This is all an extension from the Arab Spring, to the Occupy Wall Street, to just boiling points of each countries citizens. Either way, this went from a national movement to a world-wide movement and that will always be significant.
People doubt that anything will come of these protests. They will simply whither away and die. Well, I hope the exact opposite and I feel as if this is very much a snowball affect. People just have to believe. Either way, if it dies or moves on and becomes stronger I plan on saying proudly I attended Occupy Providence. I was there, marching through the streets looking at the financial buildings, walking on the Providence Mall side, distracting people from eating, I was there chanting on the steps of the state house for equality. I plan on telling my children that during this protest I felt a stronger presence of my opinion than I ever had through voting. I protested because this is something I am passionate about. I can not come up with all these different economic ways of fixing this or doing that, simply because I hate numbers, math, and anything else that comes with it. But I am still dedicated to protesting and fixing this current economy. I am not saying there shouldn't be rich people, there sure as hell should be. But the difference between rich and poor should be way less, thats a given. I am not saying I want a check at the end of every month from the rich... I don't need there money directly. I am saying there money (through plausible, valid taxation of the rich) could trickle down into the systems, such as banking, business, road works, school systems, agricultural areas, parks and rec., etc. This money will be experienced indirectly by the 99% thus in time canceling that obscene percentage as a whole!
Either way, I am proud to say my generation is on the move and I am apart of it. I feel my voice is being heard, I feel a change coming on, no matter the time it takes, there will be a change.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15326561 Italy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15324901 England
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UILvHyvCkAg Bill O'Reilly knckin' the protest...not the video I was hoping to fine but the Turkish TV does a good job commenting on Bill and his problems
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/wall-street-protests-cross-the-pond/?ref=occupywallstreet England again
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/police-department-to-examine-pepper-spray-incident/?ref=occupywallstreet abuse of protestors
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/occupying-and-now-publishing-too/?ref=occupywallstreet Organization of Protestors as well as the strength of Community
http://the53.tumblr.com/ "We are the 53%"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15320416 spread across the world
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/abundant-menu-at-occupy-wall-street/?scp=10&sq=occupy%20wall%20street&st=cse food for protestors
Monday, October 10, 2011
Diary
Dear Diary...
I thought this was a well conducted interview.http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/occupy-wall-street-fordham-professor-explains-movement-14676529
The man in the interview is a teacher at Fordham University, in the Bronx. I actually have heard of him before because my friend goes to Fordham and apparently the teacher is sponsoring my friends research, so he is a chill guy too!
But I really appreciated his narrative of the wall street protests. When he stated how this isn't exactly a hippy movement rather educated individuals (whom fall into my generation), it made me think of Egypt. The huge riots and protests that had just taken place in Egypt was very much an educated movement as well. Many of the students were protesting for a less corrupt government (not what we are aiming for), but also protesting for a stronger economy that will support the college graduates and solidify them getting a job. Here in America we are protesting for a more equal economy, in terms of distribution of wealth. I am proud to witness this happening and am also proud to say that this is my generation sparking the torch. I also hope to get involved in the protests. I was not able to today (Occupy Providence), due to being overwhelmed with school work and such. However I am really passionate about this protest, because it is a true, valid protest. The people protesting aren't uneducated stink hippies (not that there is a problem with it), but seeing how the people are young, educated, and the future of America it gives a more complete feeling to the protests. It's tough to describe... basically instead of arguing on just morals, which it seems hippies do (which again, there is nothing wrong with that), the protestors are arguing with facts and statistics on our side. I hope this will culminate into something bigger and will lead to the change that this nation needs... I just felt it necessary to write about how "we" the future of tomorrow, the educated, are leading the way for a more promising future for America. We are not only thinking of ourselves but for the other 99 percent as well. I believe this being an educated protest will make it more successful, hopefully.
I thought this was a well conducted interview.http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/occupy-wall-street-fordham-professor-explains-movement-14676529
The man in the interview is a teacher at Fordham University, in the Bronx. I actually have heard of him before because my friend goes to Fordham and apparently the teacher is sponsoring my friends research, so he is a chill guy too!
But I really appreciated his narrative of the wall street protests. When he stated how this isn't exactly a hippy movement rather educated individuals (whom fall into my generation), it made me think of Egypt. The huge riots and protests that had just taken place in Egypt was very much an educated movement as well. Many of the students were protesting for a less corrupt government (not what we are aiming for), but also protesting for a stronger economy that will support the college graduates and solidify them getting a job. Here in America we are protesting for a more equal economy, in terms of distribution of wealth. I am proud to witness this happening and am also proud to say that this is my generation sparking the torch. I also hope to get involved in the protests. I was not able to today (Occupy Providence), due to being overwhelmed with school work and such. However I am really passionate about this protest, because it is a true, valid protest. The people protesting aren't uneducated stink hippies (not that there is a problem with it), but seeing how the people are young, educated, and the future of America it gives a more complete feeling to the protests. It's tough to describe... basically instead of arguing on just morals, which it seems hippies do (which again, there is nothing wrong with that), the protestors are arguing with facts and statistics on our side. I hope this will culminate into something bigger and will lead to the change that this nation needs... I just felt it necessary to write about how "we" the future of tomorrow, the educated, are leading the way for a more promising future for America. We are not only thinking of ourselves but for the other 99 percent as well. I believe this being an educated protest will make it more successful, hopefully.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Education, or the lack of...
These past readings were by far some of the best. They dealt with the importance of the educational system and how that ties into the class system in the United States. An impressive article was the Anyon article in the fact about how be displayed a hierarchy in the school structure as well. Students from a working class background were taught working class things. "A working class job is characterized by work that is routine and mechanical and that is a small, fragmented process with which workers are not usually acquainted." With this being her description of working class jobs it paralleled her description of the working class school structure. Essentially, students were told how to do division, they were not taught. So, just like the worker in the assembly line who puts together a small certain piece of machinery, which is ultimately part of a bigger picture, the student whom is told how to divide is missing the bigger picture. The student doesn't know why dividing is important, what its used for, the different terms, basically, they just don't see the big picture. At such a young age, students should be lured into critical, analytical, and rhetorical thinking. They cannot just "listen" to the teacher, interpret it as truth and not go any further into the subject. Reading about how neglectful these teachers were when compared to the "Affluent" schools was simply sad. At such a young age children are already being molded into working class robots- due to not being introduced to individuality, freedom, critical, analytical, and rhetorical thinking, these students are already a step behind the middle class school and above students.
Teachers need to perform better. If students are being neglected and are being trained to operate within the social background that they are currently in, then there is no room for class mobility, which relays to the fact that the gap between rich and poor does not shrink. The lack of a strong education leads to a lack of social and cultural capital, and most likely a lack of economic capital. A way of fixing this is to start at the administration. To simply put it, there are many people whom are teaching that don't belong teaching at all. THis is by part the teachers fault, but mostly the person that hired them. The administration all the way up to the superintendent needs to do a better job constructing its school particular education system/guidelines, and needs to make sure teachers abide by those guidelines. Now, I am not saying all students need to have creative writing time- and freedom throughout the classroom, etc.-but students need to at least be taught how to think and ask questions, which they will soon realize is another way to learn.
On a more bigger level-than the immediate administration- I believe this countries education system is horrid. More money should be invested into the education system because by doing so, money is being invested into the future of America. People put a lot of time and effort and of course money, into raising and training a racing horse. The success of that horse on race day is a reflection of the amount of money that was spent on it throughout its years of training (along with other technicalities in the sport). More money should be invested into the school system/the students, so on "race day" we are successful. That race day being when statistics are drawn up, there is an increase of children graduating from inner city schools, due to the fact that more money was put into that school from the federal government. "Federal aid to elementary and secondary education was $41 billion in 2003, a paltry 2% of the entire federal budget (Engel)." More money needs to be spent on education. We see these statistics of other countries passing us on mathematics, sciences, and children graduating in general and we complain about them. Well, in order to stop the complaining this country needs to get a better grip on the education system.
School can be the difference between a working class student remaining working class for all his or her life or moving up a step in class-thus having more than what he or she was born into.
Teachers need to perform better. If students are being neglected and are being trained to operate within the social background that they are currently in, then there is no room for class mobility, which relays to the fact that the gap between rich and poor does not shrink. The lack of a strong education leads to a lack of social and cultural capital, and most likely a lack of economic capital. A way of fixing this is to start at the administration. To simply put it, there are many people whom are teaching that don't belong teaching at all. THis is by part the teachers fault, but mostly the person that hired them. The administration all the way up to the superintendent needs to do a better job constructing its school particular education system/guidelines, and needs to make sure teachers abide by those guidelines. Now, I am not saying all students need to have creative writing time- and freedom throughout the classroom, etc.-but students need to at least be taught how to think and ask questions, which they will soon realize is another way to learn.
On a more bigger level-than the immediate administration- I believe this countries education system is horrid. More money should be invested into the education system because by doing so, money is being invested into the future of America. People put a lot of time and effort and of course money, into raising and training a racing horse. The success of that horse on race day is a reflection of the amount of money that was spent on it throughout its years of training (along with other technicalities in the sport). More money should be invested into the school system/the students, so on "race day" we are successful. That race day being when statistics are drawn up, there is an increase of children graduating from inner city schools, due to the fact that more money was put into that school from the federal government. "Federal aid to elementary and secondary education was $41 billion in 2003, a paltry 2% of the entire federal budget (Engel)." More money needs to be spent on education. We see these statistics of other countries passing us on mathematics, sciences, and children graduating in general and we complain about them. Well, in order to stop the complaining this country needs to get a better grip on the education system.
School can be the difference between a working class student remaining working class for all his or her life or moving up a step in class-thus having more than what he or she was born into.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
If this law is made, then surly only the rich will benefit, LETS DO IT :/
Personally, I do believe that there are social structures, economic structures, and other man made structures that do limit people in todays America. Anything from racism to a flimsy social safety affects a persons job decision as well as his or her pay, along with many other things. Already, when the person wakes up one is faced with a disadvantage due to the laws of the land. Certain structures in place definitely limit people, which in turn limit class mobility and upward progression. An issue with a social structure that I have always disapproved of is the "Social Safety Net": "The U.S. safety net has historically been much thinner than those in other industrialized nations." America is one of the most developed countries in the world, yet it has a horrible social safety net system. If one is fishing with a net that has, big, wide netting, and all the fish can pass through it, then what's the point of that net? If thousands of people can fall through Americas social safety net and be left behind, then what's the point of it? Other systems used by other countries are better at solidifying people, in terms of staying afloat. Other countries poverty rates are much lower than the U.S.'s.
Another issue is the fact that there is a massive gap between the rich and poor and the fact that its growing is proof itself that the system in place doesn't work. Another issue that Collins draws upon is how during the 1990's "executive compensation grew to more than 500 times average worker pay." It is the current system that allows such a person to make so much money. It is also the current system that allows such a person to make so much money and not be taxed sufficiently. No doubt the CEO of a company should take home the majority of his or her earned money, but as Warren states "take a hunk of that and pay forward to the next kid that comes along." In other words, the government should tax the rich much more than they do now, this then will lead to more money being shared and distributed. In time the gap will lessen and perhaps the economy as a whole will be more healthy.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
natural disaster, yes...natural carnage, no
"New Orleans wasn't built just on a swamp. It was built, too, on the backs of black laborers. White supremacy helped make New Orleans an important place. In recent decades it has become a curiosity of little real import. If the city never recovers, it won't be just because of the natural environment. It will be because long ago the whites of New Orleans, and whites in Washington and around the nation, made a bargain with the devil of white supremacy, and now they, we, will have now lost it all."
A situation like Katrina could have been limited in terms of disaster. Through the reading of this article and the reading of the other Katrina article, along with #3 on the Zweig "Six Points on Class" I can't help but think this true. I feel as if through the centuries of greed and then the years of neglect, New Orleans became a horror story over a stormy night. Having only poor black folk, taking up the majority of the city, of a state that does not contribute much to the function of this country gives clear reason as to why they did not receive flood and water control over the years of asking for it. I really do believe that if it was a white state asking for it, they would have received the help long ago.
Of course class and race play a significant factor as well. Most of the black people being poor made them easy targets for Katrina. How can someone, renting out a space to live in with there family, whom has no disposable income and no means of transportation,evacuate that area. Its an extremely troubling thing to imagine. One of the reasons as to why they are so poor is because they live in an extremely poor part of the country. Which again goes along with the same level of how there state was termed as not important enough to build a levee that could potentially protect hundreds of thousands of people, homes, and centuries of culture.
It's just sad to read about how much damage that happened due to Katrina could have been alleviated. Louisiana was in good hands when the rich white people were present, but once they left, it all ended. Instead black people were neglected and the state was neglected as a whole... except with the common tourist of course. Perhaps what is more disgusting is the fact that certain people of high privilege think that the African Americans standard of living was so low in Louisiana that:“So many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this—this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them.” Sorry, but that is false. Granted I am assuming something... but I'm sure many of the "underprivileged" would have rathered been in there respective homes, sleeping on there own bed, being dirt poor-but alive and healthy-rather than sharing a bathroom with 100,000 other people going through the same tragedy as the next...
A situation like Katrina could have been limited in terms of disaster. Through the reading of this article and the reading of the other Katrina article, along with #3 on the Zweig "Six Points on Class" I can't help but think this true. I feel as if through the centuries of greed and then the years of neglect, New Orleans became a horror story over a stormy night. Having only poor black folk, taking up the majority of the city, of a state that does not contribute much to the function of this country gives clear reason as to why they did not receive flood and water control over the years of asking for it. I really do believe that if it was a white state asking for it, they would have received the help long ago.
Of course class and race play a significant factor as well. Most of the black people being poor made them easy targets for Katrina. How can someone, renting out a space to live in with there family, whom has no disposable income and no means of transportation,evacuate that area. Its an extremely troubling thing to imagine. One of the reasons as to why they are so poor is because they live in an extremely poor part of the country. Which again goes along with the same level of how there state was termed as not important enough to build a levee that could potentially protect hundreds of thousands of people, homes, and centuries of culture.
It's just sad to read about how much damage that happened due to Katrina could have been alleviated. Louisiana was in good hands when the rich white people were present, but once they left, it all ended. Instead black people were neglected and the state was neglected as a whole... except with the common tourist of course. Perhaps what is more disgusting is the fact that certain people of high privilege think that the African Americans standard of living was so low in Louisiana that:“So many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this—this (she chuckles slightly) is working very well for them.” Sorry, but that is false. Granted I am assuming something... but I'm sure many of the "underprivileged" would have rathered been in there respective homes, sleeping on there own bed, being dirt poor-but alive and healthy-rather than sharing a bathroom with 100,000 other people going through the same tragedy as the next...
Monday, September 12, 2011
What Century do we live in Again?
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/09/nc-house-votes-to-put-gay-marriage-ban-on-ballot/1?csp=34news
Ok, it always came off as if people in the south were a bit old fashion and behind on, well...everything. This just goes alone with what seems to be a northern perception of the south. They are making it law that people who love each other can't marry each other. We live in the 21st century people...to each there own. Although a short article, I picked this one because it made me think if the homosexuals who want to marry, and can't, face any kind of inequality other than sexual (and to me LOVE INEQUALITY). Perhaps one of the couples would have qualified for a special program through there work where the pay is higher and the benefits are better if they are married? Or if they had a kid, would things be different for them economically as well? Or perhaps if the couple married they would have been able to set up a more solid retirement plan, or savings plan, yet because they aren't married they are limited to certain things by law? If issues like this do arise then this means they are being screwed out of money and perhaps a better lifestyle? Instead of singing "finally got a piece of the pie" they are stuck in the same position as usual. I personally don't know much about things along these lines but I would not doubt there being some form of inequality along the points I just made above. The article does hint at people receiving a lack of benefits.
Ok, it always came off as if people in the south were a bit old fashion and behind on, well...everything. This just goes alone with what seems to be a northern perception of the south. They are making it law that people who love each other can't marry each other. We live in the 21st century people...to each there own. Although a short article, I picked this one because it made me think if the homosexuals who want to marry, and can't, face any kind of inequality other than sexual (and to me LOVE INEQUALITY). Perhaps one of the couples would have qualified for a special program through there work where the pay is higher and the benefits are better if they are married? Or if they had a kid, would things be different for them economically as well? Or perhaps if the couple married they would have been able to set up a more solid retirement plan, or savings plan, yet because they aren't married they are limited to certain things by law? If issues like this do arise then this means they are being screwed out of money and perhaps a better lifestyle? Instead of singing "finally got a piece of the pie" they are stuck in the same position as usual. I personally don't know much about things along these lines but I would not doubt there being some form of inequality along the points I just made above. The article does hint at people receiving a lack of benefits.
Monday, September 5, 2011
The First
I've never kept a blog before and the reason was because I did not know if I would like it. I am going to give it a try, seeing how it is a class requirement and perhaps I may enjoy it? I am looking forward to this class.
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