To those who believe that Mark Twain was racist for using the "N" word- not only was he not racist in any aspect, but he also supported the Jewish people in a time where anti-semitism was very common.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
No One Understands
If you read my "Race to Extreme Lack of Sleep" post, you know that I believe kids are under so much pressure to get into college, and a good one at that, that it is detrimental to their emotional, and sometimes physical health. Well what happens to these stressed students when they actually start attending college? Does the pressure suddenly disappear because they have successfully accomplished their goal? On the front cover of the New York Times today, there is an article (link) about freshmen in college being less emotionally stable than ever. So the problem of over-worked students does not resolve itself when college begins; it only worsens.
Because of the recession, many college students must take out student loans, which piles on the stress when they start to feel that they can never pay that debt off. Another big concern for college freshmen, although they have just begun, they are already worried about jobs. In today's financially-challenged economy, college students are having a tougher time getting jobs than ever before. And some feel like they owe it to their parents, who have supported them emotionally and financially all through school, to get a stable job out of it. Because of all of these stress-inducing factors, the study on emotional health of college freshmen showed that the percentage of students who claimed to have "above-average" emotional health went from 64% in 1985 to 52% now. This means that the "race" to college is not over when college begins.
On the New York Times website, the article features a picture of a whiteboard (link) in a Stony Brook university's health facilities, in which therapists meet with overworked students. This whiteboard signifies the pain and angst students are feeling due to pressure and stress: "Hold on if you feel like letting go/ Why am I here?/ Believe/ I can.../ Love yourself/ No one understands."
Because of the recession, many college students must take out student loans, which piles on the stress when they start to feel that they can never pay that debt off. Another big concern for college freshmen, although they have just begun, they are already worried about jobs. In today's financially-challenged economy, college students are having a tougher time getting jobs than ever before. And some feel like they owe it to their parents, who have supported them emotionally and financially all through school, to get a stable job out of it. Because of all of these stress-inducing factors, the study on emotional health of college freshmen showed that the percentage of students who claimed to have "above-average" emotional health went from 64% in 1985 to 52% now. This means that the "race" to college is not over when college begins.
On the New York Times website, the article features a picture of a whiteboard (link) in a Stony Brook university's health facilities, in which therapists meet with overworked students. This whiteboard signifies the pain and angst students are feeling due to pressure and stress: "Hold on if you feel like letting go/ Why am I here?/ Believe/ I can.../ Love yourself/ No one understands."
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Meta-Blog
Bo'OC- Please assess Dancing With the Tea Party.
In my last meta-blog post, I stated that blogging is "harder than it looks." And while I think that still rings true, I also feel much more comfortable blogging now, and can enjoy it fully. I used to dread doing research because it tended to stress me out and confuse me, but this quarter I found that I actually love to do research to support my blogs. The difference between stressful researching and enjoyable researching is knowing what you're looking for. This past quarter, I provided much more context, quotes, and links in my posts to back up my mentioned current events. I was most proud of myself after writing Dancing With the Tea Party. I actually had fun going through articles online and discussing the issue with my mom, and avid watched of the show, as I mentioned in my post. True, no one commented on it, but that doesn't matter to me anymore. This quarter, I've realized that I can feel great about a piece of work I've accomplished, even if it's not getting attention. Another way I have loosened up in my blog posts this quarter is in length. I now feel free to write posts that vary from essay-long, to 6-line short (Quasi Republicans). I also blogged more often than required, not for a better grade, but because I actually had things to say.
To quote Sarah, "Semester One = survived, and completed ;)"
In my last meta-blog post, I stated that blogging is "harder than it looks." And while I think that still rings true, I also feel much more comfortable blogging now, and can enjoy it fully. I used to dread doing research because it tended to stress me out and confuse me, but this quarter I found that I actually love to do research to support my blogs. The difference between stressful researching and enjoyable researching is knowing what you're looking for. This past quarter, I provided much more context, quotes, and links in my posts to back up my mentioned current events. I was most proud of myself after writing Dancing With the Tea Party. I actually had fun going through articles online and discussing the issue with my mom, and avid watched of the show, as I mentioned in my post. True, no one commented on it, but that doesn't matter to me anymore. This quarter, I've realized that I can feel great about a piece of work I've accomplished, even if it's not getting attention. Another way I have loosened up in my blog posts this quarter is in length. I now feel free to write posts that vary from essay-long, to 6-line short (Quasi Republicans). I also blogged more often than required, not for a better grade, but because I actually had things to say.
To quote Sarah, "Semester One = survived, and completed ;)"
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Enlightened Sexism
"You're fun, you're hot, you're sexy. Who cares if you have crappy grades?" says Max to his younger girlfriend Rose, who is trying to get into Duke. Yes, this is a line on a cancelled, (but great, in my opinion), show Privileged, but teenage guys say these discouraging words everyday. Everyday girls have an internal battle between hotness and intellectuality.
We say sexism is over? Well, welcome to the new age of it- "Enlightened Sexism." Time Magazine reports this new form (link) of sexism, which is subtle but powerful, and represented mainly in media. Some TV shows feature strong, smart women in roles of leadership and power, which inspires young women to be like them. But when we watch something like Jersey Shore or Bridalplasty, the message can be confusing. Do we work hard in school, or do we run around picking up guys at bars and letting them "smush" on the first date? I have to admit that I watch Jersey Shore like it's my business. But I also take it with an extremely large grain of salt. I look at it objectively, knowing that everyone on that show is shallow and brainless, and not a role model for me or anyone else for that matter. But some girls who are younger, and not so sure of themselves as many are not as they enter high school, really can't decipher who they should be looking up to- the female surgeon or Snooki?
We say sexism is over? Well, welcome to the new age of it- "Enlightened Sexism." Time Magazine reports this new form (link) of sexism, which is subtle but powerful, and represented mainly in media. Some TV shows feature strong, smart women in roles of leadership and power, which inspires young women to be like them. But when we watch something like Jersey Shore or Bridalplasty, the message can be confusing. Do we work hard in school, or do we run around picking up guys at bars and letting them "smush" on the first date? I have to admit that I watch Jersey Shore like it's my business. But I also take it with an extremely large grain of salt. I look at it objectively, knowing that everyone on that show is shallow and brainless, and not a role model for me or anyone else for that matter. But some girls who are younger, and not so sure of themselves as many are not as they enter high school, really can't decipher who they should be looking up to- the female surgeon or Snooki?
In Enlightened Sexism (link) by Susan Douglas, she theorizes that society now feels that we have overcome sexism, so we should celebrate by being sexist! Everyday we ignore little flashes of sexism or derogatory comments because we figure that it is one person holding onto their sexist ways, and that everyone else has grown above it. We as women accept sexism by watching it, listening to it, believing it, and eventually, succumbing to the stereotypes, and proving the sexists right.
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