How Can We Raise Awareness In Darfur Of How Much We're Doing For Them?

I thought this was great Onion News Network Video Clip. Find it at: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/how_can_we_raise_awareness_in

It seems like almost everyday I encounter people (at work, on campus, on the "real" news, etc) that do charity work or speak out for a cause just to make themselves feel good. Every person wants to feel like they matter, especially in the grand scheme of things. In reality, online petitions and small town rallies have little to no effect, but it allows individuals to attach themselves to a cause, feel like they are making a difference and have evidence that they are good people.

I love this fake news show's discussion, suggesting that it may be the people of Darfur's responsibility to spread the news of how much America cares. They suggest dropping press releases, putting up billboards, relying on African storytellers, and even hosting charity events in Darfur - in transparent tents, so that the people of Darfur can see just how much work caring Americans (like Clooney & Damon) are doing for them.

One of my favorite quotes is, "I think we're doing a terrific job." It sums up the entire idea behind this satirical video clip. Many people will say they support a charity or sign a petition and then pat themselves on the back for their extrordinary effort.

Another great part of the clip is when they debate what an appropriate "thank you" would be from the people of Darfur. A card perhaps, with a child's handprint, signed by elders, or even a clay pot- they make those in Darfur, right?

Then, not surprisingly, the entire team of newscasters is distracted by mention of the new batman movie. The worst part of watching this "spoof" news show debate is that at times, it was easy to forget that it was satirical and not a true news report.

I tried to find one of my favorite Onion articles ever, but I could not track it down in the archive. It was the story of a group of college-age roomates that all lived together and shared resources (food, alcohol, toilet paper, etc.). This story served as the latest evidence that communism does not work. Obviously, the roomates began fighting over distribution of goods and responsibilities. At the time that I first read it, I was living with 5 guys and the article basically described our house to a T!

The Colored Museum: Discomfort & Reflection

The Colored Museum is intended to make the audience uncomfortable. As readers or viewers, we are not sure how exactly we should respond to such a light-hearted, stereotyped re-telling of the trials, cruelties and expectations put on black Americans. I felt especially uncomfortable when I began reading this play. Not only from the content of the play, but I had brought it with me to read while waiting at the Secretary of State. As I began reading, I realized I was sitting very close to several black Americans, close enough for them to see my book and then I realized that several pages basically had very loaded racial terms in bold face print. At that point, I put the book away to read it later.
When I actually sat down again to finish reading the book, I not only felt uncomfortable from the content of the play, but also because of my experience at the S.O.S., hoping not to offend those around me. I think that the discomfort that comes from reading/watching this play is deliberate. When we are no longer comfortable in a situation, it makes us re-evaluate and reflect on our own thoughts and feelings. It makes us consider what our thoughts and feelings are vs. what they should be.
At the time that we were reading this play, I was also studying and discussing the use of African American Vernacular English in my American Dialects class. Many of the same issues and struggles were presented in both classes. To sum up the main issue: How do you find a way to move forward and at the same time, never forget where you came from.
There are many debates over AAVE, whether it is best to allow students to use it in the classroom, whether to require them to learn"standard" English, or to teach them that both are okay depending on the setting.
Language is not the only place where we can see the struggle between pride in your heritage and moving forward with every possible advantage. Ideally, no one should have to deal with the stereotypes and stigmatization of certain cultures, but we do not live in an ideal world and it is unlikely that we will any time soon. That leaves us without an answer to the struggles that non-mainstream America faces and no answer for the educators who must determine their own ways to approach cultural differences.
I do think our discussion may have been more interesting if we had a bit more diversity within our classroom.
Oh- I also think that the clip we watched in class, really ruined the whole play for me. A lot of times when I read things, I create what the characters look like and act like in my head, so to see that version - well, it was bad.

Big Boy from Me Talk Pretty One Day

This is a horrifying story, but funny and completely relatable. In this essay, Sedaris tells of a time that he and his sister Amy went to a friend's house in Chicago for Easter Sunday. He excused himself to go to the bathroom and upon entering the bathroom, encountered an extremely large, solid matter looking back at him from the bowl. He attempts to flush it several times, but it is more than the toilet could handle. He doesn't want to leave it and be blamed for it, but someone begins knocking on the door. In desperation, he finds the plunger and "breaks it up" so that it will finally flush.

He panics that the other guests will blame him for the giant poop, but tries to remind himself of the talk his mother had with him as a child; Everybody poops. This does nothing to calm him down. To think of other people, friends, family, etc pooping grosses out the average person. We all assume that other people feel the same way and don't want to acknowledge that we poop.

At the end, he concludes that the real pooper didn't care, so why should he? I think that people should care, just because it is a natural thing that everyone must do does not make it appropriate publicly, the act, the view or discussion of the topic. It doesn't stand alone, most matters of personal hygiene, grooming and bodily functions should all be kept private.

My aunt told a very similar story to Sedaris and I'm still not sure if it was true, half true, or completely fiction. The only difference is that she knew exactly who it was, since he had called her in to witness it (he also took pictures, that they still have) and in that situation, they ended the day with one less kitchen utensil. BTW, I now use an electric mixer to make mashed potatos because I just can't bear to think about using a potato masher.

At several of my past jobs, there would only be one bathroom and 1-3 people working at any given time. This led to quite a few situations similar to "Big Boy." If someone left something, you were pretty sure you knew who it was and that is a disturbing, intrusive thought to have while trying to work and chat with that person. On the other hand, if someone else just left the place stinky, or on the rare occasions we might let a customer use the bathroom and stink it up - you're left wondering whether the smell might be blamed on you and even if you are lucky enough for the existance of air freshner in that bathroom - sometimes all that means is that the room will smell like well-fertilized flowers. Of course, you might think of a third option of embarrassing bathroom situations, but I'm a girl and everyone knows girls don't poop.