American Indians Then and Now

http://www.facebook.com/ashleyjeanette?v=app_2392950137#!/video/video.php?v=333552560701 I have a bit of Cherokee ancestry and the Native Americans have always held a special place in my heart. The readings and discussion on the Indians last week have really stuck with me and in lots of ways bugged me as well. The above video is a project I did for my Dance History class a couple of semesters ago. These natives were once a beautiful simple-life people who knew how to live, etc.... I just randomly searched on youtube "native american" and this next video was one of the first to come up. I'll warn you that the language is very dirty but you don't have to watch the whole thing to get the point..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teq8-3Xitxc Is this what the once beautiful culture of American Indians have come to? Is this what we "Americans" think of them? Is it really necessary? I don't understand making fun of them in this way when we "Americans" were the ones who did this to them. I don't believe their history to be understood well enough to make comments like those..... Thoughts......?

German multiculturalism has 'failed,' Merkel says

Berlin, Germany (CNN) -- Multiculturalism in Germany has "absolutely failed," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told her party's youth wing at a conference Saturday.

"The approach of saying, 'Well, let's just go for a multicultural society, let's coexist and enjoy each other,' this very approach has failed, absolutely failed," she said in a speech.

The remarks echo a comment she made to CNN last month in response to a question from Becky Anderson about Germany's Muslim population.

"We've all understood now that immigrants are a part of our country, (but) they have to speak our language, they have receive an education here," Merkel told CNN's "Connect the World" program September 27.

Germany's population is about 5 percent Muslim, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life estimated last year. Its roughly 4 million Muslims make up the largest Muslim population in western Europe.

This story of multiculturalism in another country caught my eye.  Sounds all too familiar.

The Church's response to the HRC campaign

Due to the recent petitions against the church regarding Elder Packer's talk, this statement was released by Michael Otterson.

http://beta-newsroom.lds.org/article/church-mormon-responds-to-human-rights-campaign-petition-same-sex-attraction

BYUtv - Live Broadcast

BYUtv - Live Broadcast

Reconsidering Columbus day

How do we celebrate today? Do we walk inside somebody's house and tell them that we live there now?

I'm all for getting rid of Columbus Day, mainly for different reasons. Thoughts on this issue?

What Image are Pop Stars Portraying?

If I could pick one thing that Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift have in common, it would be that neither one is a great singer. Even so, they have managed to live their dreams of being in the music industry.

In my opinion, both started out as very sweet innocent girls. Here are two clips from a few years ago that I believe display what I mean:





Both girls have had much success and popularity since the time of these performances. Fame can be a dangerous thing though. Look at pop stars such as Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. Disagree all you want, but I’m sure the majority feel that Miley Cyrus is following down their path.






This makes me very disappointed. Other popular artists such as Ke$ha, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga have rather outrageous performances, most of which I (as well as I’m sure many others) feel uncomfortable watching. However, these pop stars are the ones who are getting positive attention and drawing in fans. Perhaps that has influenced Miley to have rather risqué performances as well. It seems that these artists have lost a love for music and, rather, have gained a love for attention and fame. If you don’t agree then take a look back at the video and look at Miley’s eyes. I think if one was truly happy and loving what they were doing then there would be a light shining in their eyes. To me, it seems Miley no longer has that light.

Yes, I will admit I don’t think Taylor Swift is a great singer. I think one of the reasons people like her so much is because she is still a sweet, innocent, down-to-earth individual. She’s a very likable person and even if people aren’t a fan of her music, I think they have at least a little bit of an appreciation for her. I feel that she sings with her heart and that it shows in her performances. I admire that she actually writes her own songs. You can tell that it’s her passion and that’s why she’s in the music industry.





I don’t mean to come across as disliking Miley and loving Taylor (which may or may not be true), but I think it is interesting how, despite not being the greatest of singers, both have been able to become successful and popular. Unlike many other pop stars, Taylor has done it without changing her character (and essentially losing herself) to please her audience.

Eighth Arrest Made in Alleged Hate Crime

Here is another sad tale of people being attacked merely for being gay.

Public Official blogs about Gay Student Body President

WoW!

Racism in humor on the internet

I had been debating whether or not to post this due to the fact that I go to BYU. This being said, with our culture, many people will not appreciate the tastelessness of these videos. I would just like to post a disclaimer that there is offensive material in this post. Please approach this with an open mind and leave comments with your opinions on the subject.  I'm not trying to raise controversy, I promise.

My friends had recently shown my some videos on Youtube, at first I chuckled at the first video, then further along I was very offended that my friends could laugh at things so horrendous. After a heated debate with them, they had  left me with a serious question, how could I laugh at one of the videos and get offended at the others?

Now before you view these, I have to warn you that this content IS offensive in many ways. The only reason I'm posting this is to ask, what makes racist humor appropriate? Why do people find these things funny? Where can and do we draw the line and just say "This is inappropriate."

While I do have my own opinion, I'll do my best to withhold it. I'll let you decide the level of racism in each.

I would like to state a warning for you to watch at your own risk. If you do watch these videos, make sure you do so with a critical mind and please comment on what you think makes people find that they can joke about things like this.

First I was shown this video from the onion.

Warning: May be offensive



Afterwards, they had started to shown the more offensive videos. I'm not going to lie....these are downright racist and stupid. How can BYU students laugh at videos like these?

Warning: ARE offensive!



Do not watch this one if you are offended by foul language! I avoided embedding this video for a reason.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5JMuemI9fM

Again, where do we draw the line and why do people laugh at racism?

Waiting until the clock strikes Midnight

The recession has been over for almost a year now and it is still affecting people all over the country. This specific article from MSNBC discusses how people go to the stores late at night, stock up and hit the lines to check out just before midnight when their food stamps are replenished. It's not only people who are in the lower classes in the United States that are using food stamps anymore. Read this article and you will discover that this is really a large problem across the country for not only the people in these situations, but also the stores. 


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39542375/ns/business-us_business/

Somos Republican Leader petitions LDS Church President to act on SB 1070 in Arizona...drawing comparisons btw Hispanics and Mormons in 1830 Missouri

Arizona Republic

Sunday October 3, 2010

Arizona Politics, B3

Political Insider

“Somos Republicans, a Hispanic Republican group, copied the media on a letter it sent to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Thomas Monson this week comparing Senate Bill 1070 to an order signed by the governor of Missouri in 1830 calling for the extermination of Mormons.

‘Just as Mormon families were driven out of the state of Missouri in early American history, we are now witnessing Arizona families being driven out and ripped apart,’ Somos founder Dee-Dee Blase wrote.

She goes on to connect the events by noting that SB 1070 sponsor Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, is Mormon, and Kris Kobach, the lawyer who helped write it, is ‘out of Missouri.’

(Kobach is actually from Kansas; he was a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City on the Missouri side.)

Blase in her letter challenged the church to oppose SB 1070 and Pearce.

‘Just as the Missouri governor had no regard for the Mormon families being driven out in 1838, and just as the Arizona governor had no regard for the families being driven out…we have to wonder if the Mormon leadership will have the courage to communicate to the people of Mesa, Arizona, that Russell Pearce’s stance and treatment towards Hispanic immigrants is evil,’ Blase wrote.”

Compiled by Republic reporters Mary Jo Pitzl, Alia Beard Rau, and Art Thomason.

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor

Is it strange to think that the abortionist had to sign her birth
certificate? Gianna Jessen should not have been born alive, but
she survived the abortion. Why are there so many abortions?
What side are you on? Until 2002 in her country, survivors of
abortion were to be suffocated or thrown away. Is it ethical to
get an abortion? Or is it killing a living and innocent baby?
A line should be drawn, especially when pregnant women are
aborting disabled children. A line should be drawn...