June 24, 2005
VH1's 'Totally Gay'
Well, here is a direct link to VH1's Totally Gay show, as you know they have many specials like I love the 80's and such :)
So I'm watching this, and I'm totally into it. I just learned about the whole GLBT Movement in my last history class, so it was kind of educational too (see! This is why I love history, you can tie everything to everything). The special emphasizes the growing acceptance and even popularity of homosexuality in this generation. It's kind of amazing to see that yeah, straight men are in a way, trying to be gay but not gay in order to appeal to women whether it be shaving below! Dressing better or what have you. And in the media, take for example Will & Grace, or Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Queer as Folk. I mean, women watch these too! How men are objectified the way that women are objectified in advertisements, too. It's awesome.
On a more depressing note, the special also pays a bit of tribute to Matthew Shepard/homophobia/hate crimes. It's a sad reality that hate crimes exist like this. It's a tragedy to me.
I don't mean to put you on a roller coaster here, but there is this quote I think is great, concerning the whole Gay Marriage ordeal: "If you let us marry eachother, we'll stop marrying you" from a Gay comedien, sorry, I don't know who.
My freshman year of college, I made a speech about Gay Rights in my speech class, I just remembered this.
Lastly, as a personal opinion I think homophobics are people who are way too insecure about their own sexuality.
Posted by thao0226 at 10:27 PM | Comments (0) | Reflections
June 09, 2005
Apartment Hunting Thread
I have a different "blog" that usually update every one or two days. Usually something very simple --- or not so simple! Either way, as I was writing my Apartment HuntingApartment Hunting post, I decided I hadn't updated My Mindsay Blog so I copied and pasted the same thing, seeming that it does relate to my own life. About 3 minutes later, I have 2 replies already! It's my friend Andy, I just wanted to share this with you I guess. It's not bad, just someone's opinion:
Andy:Yes, there are some very horrible neighborhoods in Minneapolis.. But honestly what can we REALLY do about it? These neighborhoods are so trashy they literally need to be completely leveled out and rebuilt from the bottom up. These houses in north and south minneapolis were places our grandparents lived back when Minneapolis was the Maple Grove of their time. I'm sure you'll be upset at this comment I am about to make, but a lot of these people also CHOOSE their lifestyle. Yeah, they wanna live a good life and they wanna have a nice house, but a lot of these people are drug addicts and alcoholics with no jobs living off welfare. I could understand a single mom with several kids being in a situation like that, but in the end it comes down to choices. There are so many of them in America and most people don't do their research on any of it to get themselves out of poverty.
Andy:I should add on something I saw on TV as well. Did you see True Life.. I'm Dead Broke? Those guys on there were ALL struggling very BADLY. To the point where they were pumping water out of a well because they didn't have running water. But at the end of the episode they all ended up getting along just fine. One poor couple got approved for a decent apartment after they both got semi-decent jobs. Another guy on parole was to live at home for 2 years then he planned on joining the army. And the last girl ended up moving back home with her mother because she moved out on her own too young.. was doing drugs and eventually lost her job. My point is, it all comes down to decisions and there is no reason people need to live in poverty in the United States.
Sylvie:Thank you Andy for your input. I know that there is some truth to what you ar saying but at the same time, you cant help but just feel bad for those kids who can't have what we did or you know...and I feel so selfish thinking what kind of carpet color I prefer. Note also, "no one can argue that children have brought their poverty on themselves" said by Peter Singer. Another thing I wanted to mention was ..oh I forgot..when I remember I guess!
Sylvie:I didn't see True Life: I'm Dead Broke but it seemed interesting. Also, I'm not "upset" about your comments at all
Andy:Oh don't get me wrong I feel real bad for them. Even though everyone has their situation or reason for being in that situation, no one should have to live their life in those shitholes. I think instead of spending millions on a new football / baseball stadium the Vikings should just stick with what they got and that 300mill should go towards ridding poverty. Ya know? Theres a lot of things they COULD do. But they don't. THAT'S what's frustrating.
Andy:I guess the situations I was referring to are kind of like the homeless panhandlers who have signs begging for money for food, but the next day they're on that same corner with the same sign and a brown bag with a bottle inside of it...
The thing I forgot in the midst of that is this thing called "institutionalized racism" which I think one of the most powerful sources dividing the line between race and class. Defined as the process of purposely discriminating against certain groups of people through the use of biased laws or practices. Often, institutionalized racism is subtle and manifests itself in seemingly innocuous ways, but its effects are anything but subtle. An example of this type of racism is the redlining of districts to keep certain people from moving in to a new neighborhood, pervasive in the financial industry in the 1950s and 60s
I don't know if there is a word for it or if it is considered institutionalized racism, but it's the fact that many, if not all, do want out of poverty, and maybe no matter how hard they try, they are stuck being cab drivers, cashiers, cooks, attendants, etc, who simply cannot provide enough for their families or for their children to go to college. Hence, the children never goes to college and repeats the same cycle all over.
So, how do we propose a solution that will work?
Posted by thao0226 at 02:29 PM | Comments (2) | Reflections
Cedar-Riverside
Last day of my history class today! If it is offered again (and mostly likely will be) I highly, highly recommend this class and this professor: Topics in U.S. History: Exploring the Twin Cities Past taught by Professor David Chang.
For our last site visit, we walked around the whole entire Cedar-Riverside neighborhood this morning. You know that Riverside Plaza building with the funky not-so-bright-anymore colors on the sides on the west bank? Pretty much that whole neighborhood, its shops and community centers. My professor talked about the predominant Somali population in this area. I think many people noticed the influx of the Somalian population, but I don't believe that people have ever stopped to really learn the roots of why or how they got here. I would have taken notes and I would be sharing that with you but it was the last day, would you? For the tour, we even had 2 tour guides, 1 of which was involved in Americorps. The other girl has grown up around in Minneapolis her whole life and has dedicated the past 5 years to research the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and help with other community center services. The passion that these girls share for this community is amazing! And they filled me up with more information than I could handle. Some things that stuck out: Many of these refugees are unable to learn because of Post Traumatic Stress due to malnutrition or having witness the murder of their own family back in their country. Also, did you know that alcohol is against Muslim religion? Somalia does not have an official government so it's difficult to prove marriage, birth or seek asylum.
The same neighborhood and buildings that these refugees and immigrants reside in used to house the first wave of Vietnamese refugees, many Korean immigrants and especially Danes, Fins, Nordics, Germans, Russians, etc. As the second generation of those immigrants became more succesful they moved out and away from the city and a new wave a immigrants moved in. This is what we have today. It's more in depth than that, but it's very interesting.
Posted by thao0226 at 01:56 PM | Comments (2) | You should know...
June 08, 2005
Apartment Hunting
I'm currently in the process of looking for an apartment. I know it's June--- peak times for students to be searching and also a little late. My parents have always provided for our family pretty well and when I moved into the dorms my freshmen year, it was like, meh, this is cool... And for my 2nd year, a couple girls on my floor and I found this house just a couple blocks from our dorm. This house is literally brand new inside and out, with the exception of the original frame of the house. One of the girls' parents bought the house we now rent the rooms through them. Now, however, my lease will be up at the end of July (I'm just choosing not to live here next year) and I have been so busy with school that I haven't had a real chance to look for an apartment. Basically, anywhere I live after July will be a downgrade from this house. There are so many elements to a new place; price, what utilities are paid for, laundry, etc. So I had the oppurtunity to get a showing on one of the apartments this evening. Location? Great! Inside? Not so great! I also got a chance to see an apartment across the street from my house now. Outside? Not so great. Inside? Awesome! Location? Not good. Granted, I have only seen 2 apartments so far, I'm getting pretty discouraged here. Feeling crummy, I came home and went for a run in hopes of finding a nice apartment building with a "renting" sign on it. No such luck. Jogging as I am, I think to myself that I am being really ridiculous right now.
In the last two weeks, my history class has taken a few site visits to some of the poorest neighborhoods in Minneapolis. Some of these places, I can't even imagine living in. Although they have strong ties within the community and strong historical ties to the Twin Cities, they're not necessarily places I would like to call home. About 30% of the population of these neighborhoods are living below poverty, unemployment rate is more than twice that of Minneapolis as a whole, and 40% of the children are living in poverty.
And then here I am, so ungrateful. Way to make myself feel even crummier, huh? I just feel like, here I am, a college student who is getting an education and will eventually (and hopefully) attain a pretty good living and comfortable lifestyle (hopefully), and here I am growing troublesome about what my apartment may look like on the inside or outside, what it should smell like, carpeted or hardwood, ground window or not?
I propose that Thanksgiving Day come around about 4 times a year.
Days off school: YES!
Gratefulness: BOOSTED!
Posted by thao0226 at 08:46 PM | Comments (5) | Reflections
How to Save the World Part. 2
Howyoucanchangetheworld.com, is an interesting website educating visitors on the "8 Pillars of Wisdom." That would be:
Equality
Democracy
Justice
Peace
Feminism
Freedom
Anti-Fascism
Altruism
This website has a more socialistic view than my own, and the solutions proposed are a little bit on the unrealistic side. We can't just disperse wealth in all parts of the world equally nor is democracy attainable in all parts of the world, as we have learned in the past. Cultural practices run so deep that it's not possible to simply "abolish" gender inequality and expect people to abide by them. Violence is not the answer but we simply cannot ask for change by threatning to fast ourselves to death. Alright, so I am a little bit extreme here. I believe that change will come, slowly but surely. I also realize we can't change everything, and we can't help everyone. When I went through this website, I wondered if this is what most readers of this blog thinks of me; unrealistic, unlogical. Their proposed solution to poverty made me think of Team America, the whole basis of the story is that Kim Jong I of Korea wants to bomb every big city in the world so that every place on earth will be a 3rd world country. As the movie quotes:
Kim Jong I: It will be 911 times 2356.
Chris: My god, that's... I don't even know what that is!
Kim Jong I: Nobody does!
Not really a time to joke...but at least it shows you the severity of what he was trying to achieve. It's basically the solution that I think Howyoucanchangetheworld.com proposes minus the mass destruction. Just a little bit absurd.
Posted by thao0226 at 05:10 PM | Comments (1) | How to Save the World
For the Children
Upon a reader's suggestion (thanks Tim. M), I decided to read the article, The Singer Solution to World Poverty. Yes, he does make a good point that "no one can argue that children have brought their poverty on themselves." The whole article places a certain responsibilty on your hands. Singer offers two links; first to UNICEF and then to OXFAM, both dedicated to the injustice, education, poverty, and hunger of children in developing and third world countries. How smart, as he follows that with, "Now you, too, have the information you need to save a child's life. How should you judge yourself if you don't do it?"
But the truth is that you and I would love to give money. Maybe we already do. Okay, if we do, we would love to give more. But singer suggests we spend all of the money that we do not spend on necessities to help other people. Well, we would love to do that too, wouldn't we? It drives me crazy that yes, yes, yes I have a heart for the world, I want to help everyone, but... I can't. I can't even give 50 cents a day? Or $1 a day, or anything? For the most part, it's a little inconvenient. Or the organization would like $30+ in advance it seems or you are just cynical about where that money is actually going.... and when you see the images of children on T.V. you...turn the channel? I confess, I do! It's hard to watch, it's easier to turn away, in my head I'm saying "I'm sorry", and I literally just can't watch it. Forgive me if I am just confusing you.
Basically, I intend on giving more to these charitable organizations as I get older and maybe have a career. During this time, I have to allow myself to be a little selfish because I have other dues as a college student such as utilities, food, clothes, rent, etc. When financially able, these organizations will definitely have a place in my pocket. Til then! Although, if you are able to and want to, they are wonderful organizations to support, so I encourage that too.
Posted by thao0226 at 03:32 PM | Comments (2) | How to Save the World
Don't Support This Market!
Silly me, I thought slavery was abolished 140 years ago. The Thirteenth Amendment states that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction" and yet, human and sexual trafficking (which is the equivalent of modern day slavery) still goes on in this country and across international borders. There are an abundance of websites you can click on to learn more about this matter.
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Many of those who are trafficked are women and children who are promised food, safety, work, education, etc. What happens essentially is that they end up being forced into prostitution, forced to work in sweatshops, farms, involuntary servitude, the list goes on. Globally, human trafficking is the 3rd most profitable criminal activity after drug and arms trafficking. An estimated number for the generated annual revenue is an astounding $9.5 BILLION. So I have given you International facts, let's try the United States. An estimated 14,500-17,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year.
First of all, how is this possible? Why is it so profitable? Because there is a market for it! Let me tell you, this makes me so sick that there are people out there like this and it makes me just as sick to know it is supported and profited in this country by who-knows-who. The United States government have taken steps to address it and try to help the situation with many protection acts, but it's not enough. I'm not blaming them, I don't know the the solution is either. The fact is, there are a lot of sick people out there and they hang real low. The numbers I provided are more or less, who knows! This activity is such an underground crime against human rights and is sadly really hard to detect.
Remember the sad fact that there is such a market here in the United States for this activity to thrive on. Don't support this market! This is one subject I am quite hopeless about, any ideas?
Posted by thao0226 at 02:58 PM | Comments (0) | How to Save the World
June 07, 2005
Justice Part 2
Talk about being screwed over! Here is the article written last year. This particular story takes place in London, where essentially, a man is convicted guilty of a crime he did not commit for 25 years in prison. After 25 years, they realize, "oh....you're innocent after all!" so instead of "sorry, our bad," they charge him, yes, yes, charge him for food and lodging! Thier logic? "The logic is that the innocent man shouldn’t have been in prison eating free porridge and sleeping for nothing under regulation grey blankets." I think this is so absurd, it would make me go mad if I had to spend years in prison and lose everything, only to be released with an "oops" and then billed for the food I consumed and the board. This story is too good to pass up. I at least have to copy/paste part of it!
Blunkett charges miscarriage of justice victims ‘food and lodgings’
By Neil Mackay, Home Affairs Editor
WHAT do you give someone who’s been proved innocent after spending the best part of their life behind bars, wrongfully convicted of a crime they didn’t commit?
An apology, maybe? Counselling? Champagne? Compensation? Well, if you’re David Blunkett, the Labour Home Secretary, the choice is simple: you give them a big, fat bill for the cost of board and lodgings for the time they spent freeloading at Her Majesty’s Pleasure in British prisons.
On Tuesday, Blunkett will fight in the Royal Courts of Justice in London for the right to charge victims of miscarriages of justice more than £3000 for every year they spent in jail while wrongly convicted. The logic is that the innocent man shouldn’t have been in prison eating free porridge and sleeping for nothing under regulation grey blankets.
Blunkett’s fight has been described as “outrageous”, “morally repugnant” and the “sickest of sick jokes”, but his spokesmen in the Home Office say it’s a completely “reasonable course of action” as the innocent men and women would have spent the money anyway on food and lodgings if they weren’t in prison. The government deems the claw-back ‘Saved Living Expenses’.
Paddy Hill was one of the Birmingham Six. He spent 16 years behind bars for the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings by the IRA. Hill now lives on a farm with his wife and children near Beith in Scotland. He has been charged £50,000 for living expenses by the Home Office.
It wasn’t until two years ago that Hill was finally awarded £960,000 in compensation. However, during the years since his release, while waiting for the pay-out, the government had given him advances of around £300,000. When his compensation came through, the £300,000 was taken back along with interest on the interim payments charged at 23% – that cost him a further £70,000.
"The whole system is absurd,” Hill said. “I’m so angry about what has happened to me. I try and tell people about being charged for bed and board in jail and they can’t believe it.When I left prison I was given no training for freedom – no counselling or psychological preparation. Yet the guilty get that when they are released. To charge me for the food I ate and the cell I slept in is almost as big an injustice as fitting me up in the first place.While I was in prison, my family lost their home, yet they get no compensation. But the state wants its money back. It’s like being kicked in the head when someone has beat you already."
For full article, go here.
Posted by thao0226 at 04:20 PM | Comments (2)
...With Liberty and Justice for All
I'm not necessarily interested in law. But I believe in justice. I do believe that people are wrongfully convicted and prosecuted every single day. Of course, I have nothing to back this up, it's just something I know that goes on. Some readings in the history class that I am taking talks about police brutality in mid-late 1900's; how they targeted American Indians, Black people, and Homosexuals. Police brutality is an ugly reality that is still in the air today, but a lot less of it going on for sure. I love history, but the more I read about the past, and the "past" as in less than 100 years ago, it just boggles me that people were just so ignorant and selfish and ....where were their brains?! Did they have any?! What kind of people even thinks of such things as segregation, slavery, "killing a Sioux as initiation," etc.... Wow, I got totally sidetracked. I was trying to introduce you to this website which is a petition to "Help Exonerate the Wrongfully Convicted" here. On an episode of CSI: Criminal Scene Investigation, one of the prisoners sends Grisom a video tape pleading he didn't do it, you're the only one that can help me. Jim Brass, the Captain says "that's what they all say."
But seriously, do you wonder how many innocent men and women are on death row or sentenced to life? Convicted by false testimonies, poor investigation, bad lawyers, and DNA yes, have often times showed up in the news that were mistaken! Of course there are creeps out there who molest, murders, and what have you, and they should be jail. But at this petition site, a man, Bruce Higgins says it best, "Our oxymoronic "criminal justice" system repeatedly convicts the innocent and frees the guilty. The federal Justice for All Act must be fully funded, and all states must adopt similar laws to protect the innocent so that any citizen will get a fair trial before being declared guilty or not guilty--and can be exonerated if wrongfully convicted."
So I encourage you to sign this petition. I know only 29 have signed so far and it may in fact never make an impact. But many of us will have a try at a jury chair one day, take that into consideration. But don't cause fights, I've heard of those too :)
Posted by thao0226 at 03:27 PM | Comments (0) | How to Save the World
Americorps
Upon Tim's suggestion, I started looking into what Americorps was about. It's a little bit less appealing to me, personally, but for anyone who is interested, here is a little bit more information. First of all, I gathered my information from Americorps.gov, the official website of the Americorps. It is basically like the Peace Corps except all of its assignments and projects are here in America. It is also tied to 2,000 other organizations in the U.S. Unlike the Peace Corps, however, Americorps does not requier a 2 year commitment. Instead, commitment to Americorps is about 10 months to 1 year, and memebers often commit themselves again. Assignments vary, but the include tutoring, mentoring, disaster relief, cleaning up inner cities or trails, building affordable housing or teaching computer skills.
Although Americorps has the element of being close to home, it doesn't really appeal to me and I am not sure why. I think that there is something less exciting about being here. But it definitely sounds like a good alternative so I will keep digging into it.
America is so vast that some parts of the U.S is the complete opposite of another. There has to be a reason why churches have all of these "mission trips" that my best friend used to go to each summer. She would tell me stories about how poor they were and how different it was. I guess I will have to figure this out for myself!
Posted by thao0226 at 02:46 PM | Comments (0) | How to Save the World