A True Leader

            

            “Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you,” are lyrics to a popular song portraying the essence of American competitiveness.  Americans are constantly striving to be better than each other; students trying to get the highest grade on an exam, interns fighting for a coveted job offer, or athletes trying to beat their opponents.  These are just a few examples of how our competitive culture pits us against each other.  Getting the coveted job position or winning the game not always decides who is better; not too long ago if a person was white they were considered better than a black person, some of this still lingers in society today.  The color of a persons skin is no measure of their worth.  The notion of equality has taken many different roads to get to this point we are currently at.   One very outspoken individual such as Martin Luther King Jr., did wonders for the movement.  Today, however, the game has changed to a more subtle approach: leading by example has a larger effect and a man who is doing this today is Tiger Woods. 

            When Martin Luther King Jr. gave his 1963 I Have a Dream speech he was raising awareness for civil rights.  The time for raising awareness has passed, people already know that there is a problem; it is now time to lead by example.  Very few people are leading by example, they are still trying to raise awareness.  One good example of this is Kanye West.  During a press conference to raise awareness for hurricane Katrina victims West said on national television, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”  This comment brought the issue of racism to light, but did little to further the cause; it could even support some negative stereotypes.  West is a celebrity and used his status to get his feelings across which in reality did little for civil rights.

            Oprah Winfrey has been a very influential figure in the past fifteen years, and will be for at least another fifteen. She has taken many approaches to civil rights and received countless awards for what she has done; one of which is the Freedom Award in 2005 from the National Civil Rights Museum.  Winfrey has done a lot of humanitarian work helping less fortunate children in third world countries. Winfrey brings light to the issue of civil rights by honoring past activists such as, Rosa Parks.   This strategy is similar to West’s in that she is trying to raise awareness for something that people are already aware of. 

            One person who will never receive any award or credit for what he has done for civil rights is Tiger Woods.  This could be because Woods is not an activist and does not openly support the movement.  He leads by example, he proves to those pathetic individuals who feel blacks are inferior, that they are not and that the color of a persons skin has nothing to do with their abilities.  Golf since its conception has been a sport for the rich and famous.  Country clubs due to location and price were limited to white membership, a black persons role at a country club for many years was limited to a caddie or shoe shiner.  Some of this can still be seen today.  Of the seven country clubs I have been to six of them have had a black man in the bathroom and his job was to shine shoes.  Up until the past two decades black individuals had not played on certain courses; many of these courses were the most prestigious and on the PGA Tour.  In 1996 when Tiger Woods dominated the PGA Tour during his rookie season this all changed.

            Woods showed country club owners and everyone that golf was not a rich white mans sport.  The issue of racism in golf, as in everyday society is still an issue.  Charles Barkley, former NBA basketball All-star,  accused Augusta National Golf Course, the home of the master, of racism.  He said that the managers extension of the course is to make it difficult for Woods to win the masters because they do not want a black man to win it.  This seems like a stretch but could be true.  Woods is not worried about this, he just goes out and wins tournaments, he is fourth on the all time list for PGA Tour wins, second to Jack Nicklaus of most majors won, and has been number one on the money list ten of the last thirteen years.  Barkley like Winfrey and West is trying to raise awareness of racism where Woods is just leading by example, doing more for the cause than the others. 

            Doing more is done by leading, Woods is doing this by, leading in the right way.  His medium for fame and leading has been and is sports others is music.  Many black rappers lead through music in the wrong way.  Rappers such as 50 cent and his G-unit crew are giving the wrong message.  They are giving off the image of thug life and being hood rich.  50 cent’s claim to fame is that he has been shot a seven times.  These rappers give off stereotypes of violence and degradation, they are not only making new but solidifying old stereotypes, hurting the civil rights movement.

            Civil Rights over the years has changed and adapted, the time for awareness has passed, individuals must now lead by example, in the right way.  West’s comments did little to help black rights.  Winfrey’s honoring of past activists is important but does little to advance black rights.  50 cent and rappers alike are leading by example but are giving the wrong image.  Woods has done so much for the movement by leading by example properly, showing people that past misconceptions are false and need to be abolished.  Woods is the perfect leader to take the civil rights movement into the next phase. 

Typical Crime Show

Critical Defense for class

            Crime 360  a crime show trying to pull a 360 on other crime scene shows, that has failed miserably.  Each week it follows a new actual crime investigation, seeing all the pieces of evidence not matter how bloody; then focuses on the technology used in the crime scene today. 

            “This should all ought to be compellingly gritty, but watching Crime 360 feels almost like going to a trade show, the grit eclipsed by geekieness and gloss,”  this is how Gina Bellafante describes her feelings about the show in her review, Cops Seeking a Clue, Digital Effects Aside. 

            Bellafante wrote, “Crime 360 is subliminal conformation of a growing societal fear that our reliance on technology is making us dumber.”  She also makes clear that the detectives of this show are not helping societies cause, “The officers in the premiere don’t seem like the kind who would get too much case-cracking done if forced to rely solely on their own intellectual facilities.”

            Despite the twist shows twist in focusing on the technology behind crime scenes Crime 360 is like any other crime show.  When writing about the pilot episode Bellafante wrote, “the younger detective is nervous; the older is unfazed.”

            Crime 360 does not pull a 360 on the competition it pulls a 180 in the wrong direction and probably wont be on the air for long.   

Holocaust Comic

The holocaust is and always has been a very difficult subject and even more so a difficult subject to teach.  Michael Kimmelman’s piece, No Laughs, No Thrills, And Villians All Too Real, discusses a new comic, text book being used in German high schools.  Kimmelman uses the book to discuss how difficult it has been for children and how times have changed.

            A subject such as the holocaust ignites many emotions for a lot of people.  He mention a recollection of a woman’s class in the 1970s.  She said, “students had to fight to talk freely about the war.” 

            Kimmelman started his piece with the comments of some children discussing the holocaust in the present.  The issue is a child getting a chance to leave or go to the concentration camp with their parents.  One child said, “her parents would have wanted her to hide;” another said, “it’s a question of whether you want to die alone.”

            The issue is still as real and emotional but children are able to discuss it more freely and get feelings across.  The comic book is a great way to do this and is really helping.  This open discussion of such a travesty Kimmelman feels is a step in the right direction and implementing the book is a good strategy. 

A True Leader

            “Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you.”  Lyrics to a popular song that portrays the essence of much of American culture.  Americans are constantly striving to be better than each other; students trying to get the highest grade on an exam, interns fighting for a coveted job offer, or athletes trying to beat their opponents.  These are just a few examples of how our competitive culture pits us against each other.  Getting the coveted job position or winning the game not always decides who is better; not to long ago if a person was white they were considered better than a black person, some of this still lingers in society today.  The color of a persons skin is no measure of their worth and society is beginning to realize this.  The journey of civil rights to get to the point we are currently at has taken many different roads.   One very outspoken individual such as Martin Luther King Jr., did wonders for the movement.  Today however the game has changed, a more subtle approach, one of leading by example has a larger effect; a man who is doing this today is Tiger Woods. 

            In 1963 when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his, I Have a Dream, speech he was raising awareness for civil rights.  The time for raising awareness has past, people already know that there is a problem; it is now time to lead by example.  Very few people are leading by example, they are still trying to raise awareness.  One good example of this is Kanye West.  During a press conference to raise awareness for hurricane Katrina victims West said on national television, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”  This comment brought the issue of racism to light, but did nothing to further the cause; it could even support some negative stereotypes.  West is a celebrity and used his status to get his feelings across which in reality did little for civil rights.

            Oprah Winfrey has been a very influential figure in the past fifteen years, and will be for at least another fifteen. She has taken many approaches to civil rights and received countless awards for what she has done; one of which is the Freedom Award in 2005 from the National Civil Rights Museum.  Oprah has done a lot of humanitarian work helping less fortunate children in third world countries.  On the civil rights issue of black rights Winfrey brings light to the issue by honoring past activists such as, Rosa Parks.   This strategy is similar to Wests’s in that she is trying to raise awareness for something that people are already aware of. 

            One person who will never receive any award or credit for what he has done for civil rights is Tiger Woods.  This could be because Woods is not an activist and does not openly support the movement.  He leads by example, he proves to those who feel that blacks are inferior, they are not and that the color of a persons skin has nothing to do with their abilities.  Golf since its conception has been a sport for the rich and famous.  Country clubs were limited to white membership, a black persons role at a country club was a caddie or shinning shoes.  This can still be seen today, of the 7 country clubs I have been in 6 of them have had a black man in the bathroom and his job was to shine shoes.  Up until the past two decades black individuals were not able to play on certain courses; many of these courses were the most prestigious and on the PGA Tour.  In 1996 when Tiger Woods dominated the PGA Tour during his rookie season this all changed.

            Woods showed country club owners and everyone that golf was not a rich white mans sport and that age old restrictions on race should be removed.  In many instances country clubs had to do this because they could not deny the best player in the PGA from playing on their course because he was black.  In this respect Woods lead by example.  The issue of racism in golf is still an issue according to some.  Charles Barkley accused Augusta National Golf Course the home of the master of racism.  He sys that the managers extension of the course is to make it difficult for Woods to win the masters because they do not want a black man to win it.  This seems like a stretch but could be true.  Woods is not worried about this, he just goes out and wins tournaments, he is fourth on the all time list for PGA Tour wins, second to Jack Nicklaus of most majors won, and has been number one on the money list ten of the last thirteen years.  Barkley like Winfrey and West is trying to raise awareness of racism where Woods is just leading by example, doing more for the cause than the others. 

            Civil Rights over the years has changed and adapted, the time for awareness has past, individuals must now lead by example.  West’s comments did little to help black rights.  Winfrey’s honoring of past activists is important but does little to advance black rights.  One could argue that Oprah is also leading by example and this is true; her success as a black woman has proved a lot to many people.  Her leading by example does far more for black rights than her honoring of past activists.  This is why Woods has done so much for the movement, showing people that past misconceptions are false and need to be abolished. The civil rights movement has taken many paths, could this be the final phase of its journey? 

Crouching Tiger

            Racism is and has been a large issue in American Society since it has been founded.  Over the past few decades racism has come in and out of the spotlight.  One occasion was following the Katrina hurricane.  During a TV cast to try and raise support for hurrican victims Kanye West said, “George Bush hates black people.”   Another big star in the media today campaigning for African American rights is Oprah Whinfrey.  The approach taken by both of these celebrities is to raise support by rallying people for the cause and telling them about the problem.

            Another more subtle approach is that being taken by Tiger Woods.  Woods has done more in the past 12 years for African American rights than West or Whinfrey.  One could even say that Woods is not even trying to affect African American rights, he is just doing what he loves, playing golf.  Through his play he has proved that golf is not a rich white mans sport and that black athletes can be more than just football or basketball players.

            I propose that through a profile of Tiger Woods I will discuss his unique approach to racism and the way it exists today. 

Stewart's Oscars

            The red carpet is a chance for Hollywood’s finest to tell the public what kind of dress they cannot afford.  Who was the conductor to this parade, Regis Philban, who has not aged in 20 yrs and looks as though he lives in a tanning bed. In hearing Regis Philban was hosting the red carpet one probably though, “Oh great another boring Oscars!”  However, if one was able to make it through the red carpet they were pleasantly surprised.

            John Stewart should have not only hosted the Oscars but delivered every award, and booted Philban from the red carpet.  Stewart made the Oscars fun this year with constant remarks on how long and drab it normally is. 

            He also made light on the writers strike, which gave a much needed closure.  Prior to Stewarts comments the strike seemed like a touchy subject, but with comments like, "I'm happy to say the fight is over - so tonight, welcome to the make-up sex;"  it is now just history.  He then did a clip on, the Oscars if the writers would have still been on strike, it involved a salute to binoculars and bad dreams, both were hilarious.

            Aside from Stewart’s humor the Oscars showed viewers that actors are real people.  Viewers saw George Clooney and Hilary Swank stumble on their introductions as if they had just joined the business.  On the other hand they saw Jonna Hill and Seth Rogan put on a flawless performance as if they were seasoned veterans.

            Marion Cotillard’s acceptance was as moving an experience as one can see on T.V.  She was shaking uncontrollably and choking on tears during her whole speech.  Her acceptance really captured what the Oscars still mean to many actors. 

            The best Oscar given was the honorary Oscar given to Robert Doyle.  Doyle is 98yrs. old, and has been in the movie industry for countless decades.  In a touching speech Doyle talked about the Arts in this century and that movies are the bright spot.  He said, “I have had a great fortune of being a part of films, moving pictures.”  Doyle’s speech captured the magic of the Oscars, a deep passion for movies and movie making.  Doyle is just one man who has dedicated his life to movies and made them better for all of us. 

            As usual awards went to the expected recipients with the same movies coming up in every category.  Best Picture went to, No Country for Old Men and best actor went to Daniel Day Lewis for, There Will be Blood, as expected. 

            This years Oscars was not one to miss, the four hour event seemed only to last two hours, where years passed it seemed to last two days.  John Stewart as a host was, spot on, especially with his remarks on the writers strike.  The Oscars shows that movies are an art form, and viewers only see the final product; before that final product many individuals put their countless days and weeks into making movies.  The Oscars is their night to be recognized.   

Seinfield's Mistake

The initial trailers for bee movie had Jerry Seinfield in a giant bee costume, hanging from a wire, swinging into a giant flower.  It made one wonder what in the world Seinfield was doing with his new movie career.

            Michael Hastings review of Bee Movie praises Seinfield’s achievements with TV and stand up comedy; however he questions his decision to write and act in Bee Movie.  When describing cartoon caricatures, which Seinfield is in the movie, he says, “the post-millennial refuge of the damned.”

            Hastings describes the plot of the movie as being, “so thudding and uncertain, that at any given moment it seems Bee Movie might be something else entirely.”  He is correct, when watching the movie one constatnly feels there may be a hidden plot that one cannot really understand. 

            During the movie it is very difficult to follow the constant scene changes.  Hastings mentions this when he says, “the action flashes from one location to the other.”

            Bee Movie was not a very good movie and it is very unclear what Seinfield was thinking when he decided to make this movie.  Hastings sums up the movie perfectly when he says, “he can hide behind a bee suit for only so long.”