I feel completely unworthy of anything. Here I am, typing on a mac computer, while people around the world are engulfed in civil war and fighting for their lives. I think I have the right to complain, but then I realize just how lucky I am. There is so much out there I don't know about. There is so much insanity out there. There is pure Hell out in the world, but here I am doing absolutely nothing.
Journalist are being attacked in Egypt. I don't really know why. Wasn't it news media and journalism that inspired the protesting? Why are they being attacked? Why are people being beaten and sexually assaulted? Why does what is supposed to be good result in things that are bad? I don't get it. Not at all.
Dying to Tell the Story was a video about a journalist who died, and his sister's journey to understanding. It was sad. It was sad that people get thesmselves killed doing what they think is right and it is sad that there is so much war in anger in the world. It is sad. And I don't understand it. I don't want to understand it.
See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil.
If only it was so simple.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Journalism
There is something horrifying about journalism. I have known this all my life, I guess. Since I was little I was disgusted by animal specials where cameramen and journalist merely recorded the death of the animals instead of stepping in and saving them.
War journalism is a scary career. Photographers are forced to catch moments of disaster, and somehow not become emotionally drawn to the situation. It is terrifying. The idea that a human being has to put themselves into a dangerous and traumatizing situation and somehow survive it while simultaneously documenting it is ridiculous.
I guess as a journalist, you are forced to divide yourself. Part of you wants to save everyone and everything, but the other part of you is focusing on the lighting, the angle and the camera. This is a necessary part of the career. Otherwise, you become grief stricken.
In Egypt, journalist have been attacked. One has been killed. They are documenting the revolts, and placing themselves in danger. This is something journalist have done for ages.
I honestly don't really know how I feel about this. In someways, journalism is extremely important and has the potential to change the world. But in other ways, journalism is disgusting and puts a huge wall between emotion and occupation. It is a scary business, and it continues to be a scary business.
War journalism is a scary career. Photographers are forced to catch moments of disaster, and somehow not become emotionally drawn to the situation. It is terrifying. The idea that a human being has to put themselves into a dangerous and traumatizing situation and somehow survive it while simultaneously documenting it is ridiculous.
I guess as a journalist, you are forced to divide yourself. Part of you wants to save everyone and everything, but the other part of you is focusing on the lighting, the angle and the camera. This is a necessary part of the career. Otherwise, you become grief stricken.
In Egypt, journalist have been attacked. One has been killed. They are documenting the revolts, and placing themselves in danger. This is something journalist have done for ages.
I honestly don't really know how I feel about this. In someways, journalism is extremely important and has the potential to change the world. But in other ways, journalism is disgusting and puts a huge wall between emotion and occupation. It is a scary business, and it continues to be a scary business.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Questions of deep (because deephood isn't a word)
1) Why?
2) Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
3) Does Columbus deserve a holiday?
4) When should you draw a line between what you believe in and what you should do?
5) Where do you see yourself the world in ten years?
6) Can there ever be world peace?
7) What can we do about the 5% college ready statistic in the school district?
8) What song genre is the best?
9) Where do you go to be alone?
10) When is it time to give up?
11) Should you ever give up?
12) Why does the government force education on society, and should they?
2) Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
3) Does Columbus deserve a holiday?
4) When should you draw a line between what you believe in and what you should do?
5) Where do you see yourself the world in ten years?
6) Can there ever be world peace?
7) What can we do about the 5% college ready statistic in the school district?
8) What song genre is the best?
9) Where do you go to be alone?
10) When is it time to give up?
11) Should you ever give up?
12) Why does the government force education on society, and should they?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
It is disturbing to me that the last hour my class has been discussing the recent news about our city. Our college ready rates are the lowest in New York. This is a disturbing concept, but instead of discussing the ways we, as a community, can solve these problems, our main focus has been our school. We are a school of arts. We have dancers, artists, writers, actors and tech majors. We are a unique society, and our graduation rates are superior to the entire district.
Yes, this is great news. We are proud of ourselves. We show a direct correlation between success and art programs. We prove the point of art and progress. But so what? Congratulations. We rock. What about everyone else? Our superintendent has a problem on his hands. He needs to figure out how to create more success in our district. No, he is not focusing on this school. We already stand as a success story. We are a mission already accomplished before he arrived. He has a lot more to deal with.
Unfortunately, this frequently leads him to think budget cuts should be deducted from arts. I agree. This is terrifying. We strive off of the arts here. We have new Mac computers which aide us in our creative writing learning. We have dance studios. We have art supplies, tech supplies, stage props, etc. Our programs are constantly challenged, and frankly, it sucks.
The superintendent obviously needs to figure something out. Something that does not harm us significantly and also helps the rest of our district. Let's figure out how. Maybe we should train our teachers a new way to teach. Maybe create tutor sessions, free of cost, for struggling students. We should gather, as a community, and fix this problem. We should not be pointing fingers and whining that we are not being recognized.
Aside from how frustrated I am by the last hour of discussion, I am also frustrated by the news. I don't know how things have escalated to the point where our "college ready" percentage is 5%. That is terrifying. I remember standing on the stage in 6th grade and listening to my elementary principal tell our parents that those graduating then were extremely unlikely to ever graduate high school. Since then, the problem had only progressed.
Who knows what the solution is, or if there is one? I don't. But we have to try. Our economy is in ruins. Oil is running out. Global warming is changing the world. We need new minds to get a chance to find solutions and to aide the world around us. If they are stuck searching for scraps
of money because they couldn't get a job, then how are they ever going to make a difference?
The youth is the future. Our future isn't looking great right now. We have to find a way to help. If the administrators of the district can't do it, then maybe the students can. Someone has to take a stand. Motivate yourself. Succeed for yourself. Do what you have to. Don't let these ridiculous statistics control you.
Yes, this is great news. We are proud of ourselves. We show a direct correlation between success and art programs. We prove the point of art and progress. But so what? Congratulations. We rock. What about everyone else? Our superintendent has a problem on his hands. He needs to figure out how to create more success in our district. No, he is not focusing on this school. We already stand as a success story. We are a mission already accomplished before he arrived. He has a lot more to deal with.
Unfortunately, this frequently leads him to think budget cuts should be deducted from arts. I agree. This is terrifying. We strive off of the arts here. We have new Mac computers which aide us in our creative writing learning. We have dance studios. We have art supplies, tech supplies, stage props, etc. Our programs are constantly challenged, and frankly, it sucks.
The superintendent obviously needs to figure something out. Something that does not harm us significantly and also helps the rest of our district. Let's figure out how. Maybe we should train our teachers a new way to teach. Maybe create tutor sessions, free of cost, for struggling students. We should gather, as a community, and fix this problem. We should not be pointing fingers and whining that we are not being recognized.
Aside from how frustrated I am by the last hour of discussion, I am also frustrated by the news. I don't know how things have escalated to the point where our "college ready" percentage is 5%. That is terrifying. I remember standing on the stage in 6th grade and listening to my elementary principal tell our parents that those graduating then were extremely unlikely to ever graduate high school. Since then, the problem had only progressed.
Who knows what the solution is, or if there is one? I don't. But we have to try. Our economy is in ruins. Oil is running out. Global warming is changing the world. We need new minds to get a chance to find solutions and to aide the world around us. If they are stuck searching for scraps
of money because they couldn't get a job, then how are they ever going to make a difference?
The youth is the future. Our future isn't looking great right now. We have to find a way to help. If the administrators of the district can't do it, then maybe the students can. Someone has to take a stand. Motivate yourself. Succeed for yourself. Do what you have to. Don't let these ridiculous statistics control you.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Egypt and social networking.
A still tender topic in members of my grade in school is the death of the instrumental teacher a few years back. Many of us were in Washington D.C for the 8th grade trip. As we emerged from the Holocaust Museum, many people were crying. It took only a few minutes before half of the students were pulling out their phones, receiving or sending text messages and gathering information about the teacher's death. News we wouldn't have heard until at least the end of the trip came streaming right into our palms in moments.
It is no wonder then that the Egyptian revolt emerged through the communication of technology. Twitter, Facebook and even texting were great ways for them to gather together against their president. Unlike other revolts like the French or American revolutions, there is no specific group of leaders. You cannot name off those who sparked these ideas. Instead, the internet and other social technologies have opened the rebellion to everyone. There is a constant flow of ideas, a sharing of concepts and news. This is modern history, happening right now, and of course what else should aid it but the social networking society has engulfed itself with?
Interestingly enough, journalist are being put in severe danger in Egypt. Conflict and tensions, as well as blame pointed at them for unneeded chaos has caused the endangerment of the journalist. Some journalist have been injured, while others have been arrested. Ayman Mohyeldin, a journalist who was arrested has been released. A mob sort of mentality has turned against journalism, leaving any safe news feed once more to the social networking.
I believe that by the time I'm thirty I will be an old cat lady who rejects technology and its improvements. Even at my young age, I grow frustrated with advancements I see as unnecessary and a waste of money. It is times like these I realize how obviously idiotic I am in those opinions. If technology can inspire a mass of people who have been silenced for over thirty years, who am I or anyone else to try to prevent it? Technology has an amazing way of uniting people, whether through common interest or social networks.
What began has an idea in the back of everyone's mind spread to a couple of post on twitter. These posts have fueled an outright revolt. Although I believe these people would have spoken up eventually, I am grateful to live in a time where technology can help free those who have been otherwise ignored.
Whether this uproar in Egypt is a good thing or bad, I'm not sure. It is probably somewhere in between. Either way, I believe the innovative response to the technologies is a truly remarkable step into modern times.
It is no wonder then that the Egyptian revolt emerged through the communication of technology. Twitter, Facebook and even texting were great ways for them to gather together against their president. Unlike other revolts like the French or American revolutions, there is no specific group of leaders. You cannot name off those who sparked these ideas. Instead, the internet and other social technologies have opened the rebellion to everyone. There is a constant flow of ideas, a sharing of concepts and news. This is modern history, happening right now, and of course what else should aid it but the social networking society has engulfed itself with?
Interestingly enough, journalist are being put in severe danger in Egypt. Conflict and tensions, as well as blame pointed at them for unneeded chaos has caused the endangerment of the journalist. Some journalist have been injured, while others have been arrested. Ayman Mohyeldin, a journalist who was arrested has been released. A mob sort of mentality has turned against journalism, leaving any safe news feed once more to the social networking.
I believe that by the time I'm thirty I will be an old cat lady who rejects technology and its improvements. Even at my young age, I grow frustrated with advancements I see as unnecessary and a waste of money. It is times like these I realize how obviously idiotic I am in those opinions. If technology can inspire a mass of people who have been silenced for over thirty years, who am I or anyone else to try to prevent it? Technology has an amazing way of uniting people, whether through common interest or social networks.
What began has an idea in the back of everyone's mind spread to a couple of post on twitter. These posts have fueled an outright revolt. Although I believe these people would have spoken up eventually, I am grateful to live in a time where technology can help free those who have been otherwise ignored.
Whether this uproar in Egypt is a good thing or bad, I'm not sure. It is probably somewhere in between. Either way, I believe the innovative response to the technologies is a truly remarkable step into modern times.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
How Much Do Your Parents Know About Your Life Online?
In response to:
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/how-much-do-your-parents-know-about-your-life-online/
It has been a growing problem that bullying can be done anonymously and straight to your home. This is because of the internet and the growing number of websites that allow anonymous conversation between users. Although it has become a fad to "troll" on these various websites, it also has created detrimental effects. Countless times cyber-bullying has led to suicidal cases.
An arising question is what parents should do about these cyber bullies. Should they observe everything their child does on the internet? Should they somehow control it? Or should they continue to live in ignorance to the torture endured by their offspring?
Obviously there needs to be some sort of action, but non stop supervision may not be the right answer. In fact, it could lead to rebellion. Therefore parents should limit their child's access to the computer and warn them of possible offenses. There should be a relationship of trust and understanding between the parents and the children.
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/how-much-do-your-parents-know-about-your-life-online/
It has been a growing problem that bullying can be done anonymously and straight to your home. This is because of the internet and the growing number of websites that allow anonymous conversation between users. Although it has become a fad to "troll" on these various websites, it also has created detrimental effects. Countless times cyber-bullying has led to suicidal cases.
An arising question is what parents should do about these cyber bullies. Should they observe everything their child does on the internet? Should they somehow control it? Or should they continue to live in ignorance to the torture endured by their offspring?
Obviously there needs to be some sort of action, but non stop supervision may not be the right answer. In fact, it could lead to rebellion. Therefore parents should limit their child's access to the computer and warn them of possible offenses. There should be a relationship of trust and understanding between the parents and the children.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)