Everyone's a Little Bit Racist

When I read this excerpt from bell hook's Teaching to Transgress, a song from the popular musical, Avenue Q, came to mind. The title of the song is Everyone's a Little Bit Racist and in my opinion, that couldn't be more true. In reality, it is more than being racist. Instead I find that everyone is stereotypical and judges people right on the spot, which is where racist attitudes derive from. Whenever a person laughs at a joke which degrades a person of a different race, religion, hair color, etcetera, they are contributing to continuation of various stereotypes. When I first heard the song I immediately thought it wasn't true, I thought I was above racism. But when I listened to it a few more times, I had to agree because I am guilty of judging people based on what they look like. For me, the truest dialogue from the song is "Well, sure, Gary, but lots of people tell black jokes. I don't. Well, of course you don't - you're black...But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right? Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!" Everyone has these feelings, but as the ending line in the song goes, "If we all could just admit that we are racist a little bit, and everyone stopped being so PC, maybe we could live in harmony!" I have openly admitted to people that I judge them no matter what they do, and if they don't like it I believe they need to realize that they judge everything as well, just not openly. As long as people have different faiths, different appearances, and are different in anyway stereotypes will continue to exist in the world. I would like to see this change, but I do not think it will happen in my lifetime.

Metatext

Metatext

Over this past semester I have written about the various perspectives of literacy. I first wrote about my own experience in literacy as I figured out who I was as a writer and a person through my musical career.  Then I took an item I wear almost every week and broke it down into all of its components and explained the meaning behind it and showed why it is important to the culture. I never would have thought that the United States Men’s National Team kit had so much symbolism behind its inception. As I gained competency in media literacy, I choose to write about the identity of the “hero” as developed by the media after the 9/11 tragedies occurred. From that essay, I went on to research the politics and philosophies that lay behind popular films and video games. Overall, I think that my two papers about the concept of “heroes” were the most interesting and had the most to talk about. I am sure there is plenty more that I could go into with various philosophies and politics, but I think that what I have written about is able to get the message across. After this class, I plan to keep posting on my blog, providing my own personal account on various social, political, and pop-culture motifs so my voice in the open for people to hear. I think the most important thing that I have learned from this class is that I have something to say and although I am used to being in the dark, I want my ideas to be heard.

“I may not believe in what you say, but I will die for your right to do so”

            ~Voltaire

Assassin's Creed

            The Assassin’s Creed collection of video games created by Ubisoft is one of the most popular in the 21^st century. I think the most interesting things about the series of games aren’t the fun killing opponents or scaling buildings and free running. It’s the history, politics, and philosophies that go into the games and how the characters struggle with these concepts. Especially since a majority of these ideas are still relevant in today’s modern society. I choose this video because it gives a background to the first game in the Assassin’s Creed series and show the basic premise of the game. One of the big questions that the game poses is whether or not it is justifiable to use violence and assassinations in order to promote peace and stability. This appears to be counter-productive but I believe this is a viable option. Also it shows some history of a turbulent time in the Holy Lands, with the Crusades occurring and thus may inspire the game players to learn more about the time period. I think that this game does more than just provide some violent entertainment for people to enjoy. Rather it allows certain ideas to be presented to people who may never get the chance to think about these various concepts on their own. Acting as a vigilante, the gamer is able to fight his/her way through this political period of time and discover ideas that need to be acknowledged.

Politics, Morals, and Philosophies of Assassin’s Creed, The Dark Knight, and V for Vendetta

            I have already illustrated how the media has attempted to solidify the concept of the “hero” through film, television, and other ways. But how do these identities, especially the fictional ones become what they are. I have continued my pursuit of the “hero” idea and delved deep into the realm of philosophy, politics, and morality of three very different, fictional heroes. I used Batman from the hit film The Dark Knight, V from the film V for Vendetta, and finally Altaïr from the video game Assassin’s Creed. Beyond the great entertainment value of each of these titles, they also contain many political and philosophical motifs which sometimes are dilemmas which people face in their everyday lives. Is terrorism a legitimate way to fight against a government? After 9/11 most Americans would never agree to it, but V for Vendetta makes a strong case in favor of it. In Assassin’s Creed the player is faced with the idea whether violence is a viable way to create peace and stability in a region. And in The Dark Knight, Batman struggles with maintaining his moral ideals whilst fighting the constant crime in Gotham City. On another side, all of these titles contain political motifs which mirror reality. The fascist regime in V for Vendetta is similar to the Third Reich in Germany. The Dark Knight has many parallels to the Bush administration. And Assassin’s Creed the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden is imitated by Altaïr’s quests to end the lives of various political figures. Video games and films often contain much more than simple good versus evil plots. They explore complex philosophies and politics which have importance in reality.

“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”

“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”

 ― Brodi Ashton, Everneath

Heroes are a part of everyone’s lives. Whether it is someone you look up to, or if they are in the background just doing their job keeping you safe, they are present. While I was working on this paper about the media’s portrayal of heroes since the 9/11 tragedies, I looked up quotes about heroes, simply because I am kind of a quote junkie. This quote from Brodi Ashton really stood out to me and it embodies the ideas which I illustrated in my essay. Even though I did talk about superheroes and people with extraordinary powers, they are only looked at in this manner because of what they chose to do. They never had to fight crime, stand up to terrorists, or evil dictators. It was a choice to do what they thought was right. Pat Tillman’s story goes along with this quote perfectly because he was just another football player, yet he decided to go into the armed service in order to protect his country. In my opinion, it is people like Tillman who deserve all the praise in the world. The people who give up their livelihoods in order to let others keep theirs are the ones who, in my mind, are the purist form of a hero. Even on a local scale, it’s the men and women who are in the police and fire departments who keep people in towns safe from harm that deserve to be known. Not the fictional superheroes, the genuine, real life examples.

The Media's Pressentation of the Hero Post 9/11

            The media that surrounds us dictates our lives. It influences how we dress, what we buy, what we eat, and how we think. In a culture which is increasingly becoming driven by the media, many rely on the media to create an identity. The “hero” has always been a concept in stories and in times of duress, they come to the rescue. The tragedies of 9/11 rocked the United States psyche after one of the largest terrorist attacks on US soil. The media after this assault grabbed the “hero” identity and created a whirlwind of creation around this idea. From television shows, to movies, to actual people, the media in the 21^st century uses this identity to help rebuild the American psyche. Many of the superhero films that were created in the latter part of the first decade presents heroes that the masses would like to turn to when times are troubled. Sure, most people when the watch the shows and movies don’t think about these ideas on a conscience level, but they are present nonetheless. Batman and Captain America are two of the most well-known superheroes who had movies recently made and they both parallel the American society and are used to promote this “hero” characteristic. And the fictitious patriot Jack Bauer fights against all odds in a “do or die” situation in order to save the country. Even amongst all these extraordinary identities, there is still a place for men and women like Pat Tillman, a person in real life who fights for what they believe in and try to protect their country. In a society where people want a definite answer for everything, the idea of a hero is in flux. It changes in order to suit the needs of a generation and is now more than ever driven by the media.

The Game of Nations

        This video shows some of the best highlights from the United States Men’s National Team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. They went into the tournament placed in a group with England, one of the tournament favorites, Slovenia, and Algeria. Sometimes words cannot do a justice in showing the emotion of people and this video illustrates why. Soccer players across the globe often share the dream about the day that they may be chosen to represent their country in the grandest of all sporting tournaments. The chance to be able to put on the national team kit is the honor of a life time and this is able to be seen on the faces of the players. The joy, the agony, the passion. These are all emotions that players and fans alike share. The players on the USMNT in the 2010 FIFA World Cup represent the entire nation and they show why I and many others are proud to be American. Faced against England, the US started the tournament by upsetting the Brits by tying thanks to a mistake by the England keeper. The team showed grit and determination in their match against Slovenia, in which they came back from a 2-0 first half deficit and tied 2-2. For their final match, the USMNT had to win in order to progress to the knockout stage of the tournament. In the end, after giving the game all they had for 90 minutes, their perseverance paid off and Landon Donovan scored and the emotions poured from everyone. The players, coaches, and fans went crazy; there were tears of joy and passion. The love they have for the game and their country illustrates the traditions from the inception of the country.

Special thanks to kmill1010 for creating this video

USA Soccer Kit Defines a Nation

            I am extremely proud that I am an American. In my opinion, few people actually ever say that and believe what they are saying. Many people nowadays have little to no trust in the government, the economy is taking a very long time to recover, and the United States has been involved militarily in the Middle East for the past decade. One of the few things that transcend barriers between national pride and personal feelings across the globe is soccer. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, more Americans than ever tuned in to see the national team play, soccer got a record amount of press coverage in the United States, and the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) demonstrated what it should mean to be an American. The jerseys that the players put on before each match are symbolic representations of traditional American values as well as illustrating current beliefs. I was able to take a simple soccer jersey and I pulled as many meanings out of it as I could. I never imagined all that could go into each and every stitch of the jersey. It was very interesting to analyze the design, the technology, the colors, and the tradition that went into the creation of the jerseys that the USMNT wore for the 2010 World Cup and the following couple of years. In my opinion, the most fascinating part about the kit is not on the outside, but rather is hidden to most people (you’ll have to read on to find out). The kit that the USMNT wears exemplifies many of the attitudes on which the United States of America were founded on in the 18^th Century and ideas that have developed as the country has grown to be the powerhouse that it is known to the world today.

Oseh Shalom

Oseh shalom bimromav
hu ya'aseh shalom aleynu
v'al kol yisrael
vimru amen

Translation: 
He who makes peace in his high places
he shall make peace upon us
and upon all of Israel
and say amen

The song, “Oseh Shalom”, is a Hebrew song has become a traditional for the Northport High School Tour Choir. Hebrew is one of the oldest languages in history and this song is often heard at the conclusion of the Jewish liturgy. The English translation of the lyrics is: “May he who makes peace in high places, make peace for us and for all Israel, and let us say, amen”. The universal meaning of these words can be spoken in any language, for nearly every religion, and can be shared by all. I have sung this song numerous times, but the true power of music was shown to me when I sung this song as a tribute to those who died at the Nazi Concentration Camps in Auschwitz, Poland. We (the Tour Choir) were about half way through our European tour of the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany, when we visited the camps that were established in Auschwitz. The choir sang all the Hebrew songs in our repertoire in honor of those who were put to death in these terrible camps. We sang in between the crumbled remains of two of the largest crematorium on a cloudy, depressing morning. We sang in memoriam millions of lives that were unjustly taken. We sang for the group of Jewish students who were paying homage to those who share their faith. They knew what we were singing. We brought tears to their eyes and showed how even through all the atrocities that might have occurred, it can all end up well. It is instances such as that when I realize how intertwined everything is with each other. What happened that day opened my eyes and has showed me how music means more than what it appears to be. It is a day in my life that I will never forget and has inspired me to use music whenever I am in doubt.

The Transcending Power of Music

            I have considered myself to be a modern day renaissance man, except for the glaring fact that my artistic abilities aren't up to par. There are an enormous number of stories which can illustrate who I have become as a person. My abilities have developed over all the years in my life, every experience affecting the next. The books I've read changed my view of the world; my soccer career has shown me all the clichés about being a team player, leader, etcetera; and my musical aspirations have enabled me to go to places I never thought I would. To me, music is the best medium for the expression of ideas and music can be found everywhere. Music has grown to be one of the biggest influences of who I am as a person, and who I am as a writer. I have been involved with music groups since third grade and I have had countless experiences through these groups. I've learned about language, history, math, music, and culture. Both band and choir have presented me with opportunities that have made me a better person and a better writer. The language of music, whether it is written for a solo voice, a symphonic orchestra, or a choir, can be shared by everyone around the world. Music can break cultural, language, ethnic, racial, and gender barriers which might prevent certain people from ever meeting and learning about each other. It has taught me to incorporate these ideas into my writing to make it more universal, rather than directed to a narrow audience. I now want to share my views with the world and let people everywhere know what and how I think as a member of society. This paper has allowed me to plot my journey as a musician as relate it to my views and how it affects how I write and think. Music is omnipresent and one simply needs to lend an open ear to experience the universal human language.