Linsanity

by guest blogger Caleb

NBA point guard Jeremy Lin seemingly came out of no where a couple of weeks ago to become the "King" of the NBA it's hard to escape the buzz around this Asian American "LINSANITY" there was a skit about him on Saturday Night Live and the Daily Show as well as countless headlines in the NY media, but this rise to the top has not been without an ugly backlash. A ESPN.com headline read "A Chink in the armor" after his first lost http://www.complex.com/sports/2012/02/following-knicks-loss-espn-headline-reads-chink-in-the-armor and people have begun to make odd signs, one notable read Jeremy Lin our good fortune and then had his face pooping out of a fortune cookie. The SNL addressed some issues of race in general check it out.http://www.hulu.com/watc h/331272/saturday-night-live-cold-opening-linsanity-postgame#s-p2-sr-i1

Married Woman in Same-Sex Couple Faces Deportation to Japan

by guest blogger Patrice G.

The government continues to communicate through law the message the United States does not agree with same-sex marriage. Despite multiple states currently allowing same-sex marriage to take place, DOMA-The Defense of Marriage Act prevents the federal government from giving them any benefits. Takako Ueda from Japan faces deportation because of DOMA and her same-sex marriage. Ueda and her partner Frances Herbert are outraged at how the government is "discriminating" against them and other same-sex couples, but is it really discriminating when the government is trying to protect the value of the sanctity of male-female marriage?

Couldn't same-sex marriages taking place be considered discrimination against male-female marriages? How do you view same-sex marriage and male-female marriage? Do you think the government has a right to continue to communicate disgust with same-sex marriage, in order, to glorify male-female marriage?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion right? What are your thoughts?

Below are two links pertaining to the same couple on CNN.com:

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/us/2012/02/21/vt-lesbian-couple-faces-deportation.wcax

http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/17/update-married-woman-in-same-sex-couple-faces-deportation-to-japan/

Slurs in the NBA?

by guest blogger CFlores6

For those of you who do not follow professional sports, the hot new gossip in the NBA is Jeremy Lin, the all star rookie who is putting up amazing numbers for the New York Knicks. Unfortunately, along with his success, Lin has been faced with many racial comments and slurs directed towards him. Lin is one of the few Asian Americans in NBA history, and the first American player in the league to be of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Recently ESPN's website published a headline with the phrase "chink in the armor,“ and ESPN news anchor Max Bretos repeated the phase on air. Below I have posted an article from the LA Times that discuss the incident, and talks about Jeremy’s point of view. Jeremy simply explained to reporters that the comments were in the past and that he was not affected by them.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-jeremy-lin-espn-headline-20120220,0,3952849.story

ALSO, professional boxer Floyd Mayweather has received plenty of negative criticism for his tweet about Jeremy Lin stating, “Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he's Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don't get the same praise.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/13/floyd-mayweather-twitter-jeremy-lin-knicks-star_n_1274832.html

This news was truly upsetting to me. It is hard to believe that people can be so rude and ignorant. I feel that Jeremy Lin has received the recognition he has because he is a young, new phenomenal athlete, not because he his Asian. His race has nothing to do with his performance and people have no right to discuss it in a negative manner.

NYPD Monitoring Muslim Students across the North East United States

by guest blogger Gordon Shumway

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57381243/jury-is-out-on-nypds-muslim-students-probe/
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2107253,00.html

In John Miller's article on CBS news he states "When I was in the FBI, and in the Los Angeles Police Department, there were clear lines about what we could investigate as a potential threat, and what we could not investigate as protected as free speech... if someone says, for instance, "I hate Americans," that is protected speech. If, however, that person goes on to say "we should kill Americans," then that person has crossed a line.". However according the Time article the only thing the NYPD needs in order to be suspicious of anyone is that you're a Muslim. The article gives a few examples of how the NYPD is going out of their to target Muslim students at Universities such as Yale, Rutgers (here's an article on how they feel about it
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204909104577235723573057492.html), and the University of Pennsylvania amongst others. One of the most ridiculous stories that was in the Time article was regarding an undercover cop who accompanied a group of young Muslim men from the City College of New York on a whitewater rafting trip. The officer wrote in their report "In addition to the regularly scheduled events (Rafting), the group prayed at least four times a day, and much of the conversation was spent discussing Islam and was religious in nature,". The author of the article Chris Hawley responds stating "Praying five times a day is one of the core traditions of Islam."

It was almost a month ago that news broke about the NYPD using an Islamaphobic propaganda film for anti terror training (if it was actually made for police training then I would say it's not a very good training video, see the NYTIMES article
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/nyregion/in-police-training-a-dark-film-on-us-muslims.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=third%20jihad&st=cse),
and within the last 6 months there was growing concern over the NYPD's surveillance of Muslim Communities in NYC ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/19/nypd-surveillance-of-muslims-9-11-civil-liberties_n_1102912.html ). I guess I just wonder who's going to police the NYPD from oppressing those who just want to live their lives in peace.

Equality and the Oscars

by guest blogger Arthur Valenz

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/9092558/Oscars-voters-finally-unmasked-94pc-white-and-77pc-male.html

This articles highlights a sad trend in the Hollywood film industry. The fact that white males make up a large majority of Oscar voters is reflected in the fact that Halle Berry was the first and only African American woman to have won an Academy award. But it's just the Oscars right? Considering the pervasive nature of media products in our society, I believe this lack of equality sends quite a message to minority groups in the United States. Perhaps if we look deeper into the Hollywood film industry, we might see a trend in the portrayal of minority groups that may only serve to reinforce the cultural hegemony responsible for both the subtle and overt racism existing in American society.

Germany and Jews

by guest blogger Jenni

The article I read had to deal with a 27 year old male hockey player who is Jewish and is playing for a German hockey team. His grandfather survived the Holocaust and was able to reconnect with his sister who was in a hospital due to her leg being amputated from frost bite. Sadly Evan's great grandparents did not survive the Holocaust. Evan wears the German flag on his hockey jersey due to his great grandparents and grandfathers residency there in the past. All of the other hockey players wear their native country flag on their jersey. Evan was born in the United States. In the article there were accounts from other Jewish people whom felt that Evan is walking a thin line and that he should not be so eager to represent Germany due to his families past history and him being Jewish. What side would you take in regard to this situation?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/sports/a-jewish-american-hockey-player-at-historys-indelible-crossroad.html?pagewanted=4&ref=general&src=me

Women in Upper Management

by guest blogger Rebecca T.

http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/06/22/the-myth-of-the-queen-bee-work-and-sexism

This article talks about how women in upper management are held to a different standard when they portray similar behavior as their male counterparts. They are identified as being “queen bee” like, or diva like instead of the descriptions ascribed to the men who hold the same tags.

· In this day and age, why are “traits,” especially in the workplace, named as masculine or feminine? Why are women still labeled in a derogatory manner when they exhibit the same behavior, as men, while the men are not held to the same candle?

· How do we, as women, combat this?

Testimony Before Congress on Birth Control

Regardless of your position on the federal government requiring insurance companies to provide birth control options to women, what's wrong with this picture of people testifying at a Congressional hearing on the subject?

Collard Greens and Hot Sauce to Advertise Black History Month

by guest blogger Caleb

This week a supermarket in Philadelphia ran a weekly flyer promoting Black History Month and then had deal for seemingly Sterotypical Black foods such as hot sauce and collard greens.

http://www.complex.com/city-guide/2012/02/philadelphia-supermarkets-racist-black-history-month-special

How can we combat Hate speech that isn't even speech?

Women Oppression

by guest blogger LadyDiva21

Female oppression still exists in many of our societies today. This
ranges from tacit male dominance in religion and philosophies to the
brutal male oppression, for instance Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
that is still carried out in some communities. This article belief
gives an over view of the bible in the different forms and types of
women oppression... What do you think are women still oppressed now as
they were before, or have they moved up through the years?...

http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/01443/fo_home.html

Happy Black History Month?

By guest blogger Jess

It’s that time again. The time where people say things like “Why do we have a black history month?” or “We don’t even need it anymore” I see Black History (as well as all minority history/heritage months) as a way of making up for what's still lacking at all other times. Minority culture is more often than not has a very desolate representation in our society and clearly isn’t fully integrated into mainstream culture or education. While I do sort of see those months as a “pacifier” to larger issues, it’s a good way to start but follow up is necessary. . When I was growing up I hardly ever learned about black people in history. When we did talk about slavery or black people in general it was definitely watered down and made to seem as if it wasn't that bad or not as important as the rest. I was fortunate enough to have parents that really taught me things about my history that were not taught in class. We may be making progress in those terms (and even that's debatable), but we're just not there yet. I came across a video last week and I think this is one of the reasons that I was thinking about this particular subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XGeMy-6hnr0

I’m curious what do you think about this video? Our curriculum needs to change when our college population is this ignorant. Like I said we made a dent but we aren't there yet.

School DIstrict Bans Cross-Gender Dressing

by guest blogger Simone

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-virginia-clothing-gendertre81a0p7-20120211,0,5715335.story

Under the guise of trying to protect students and to prevent violent attacks against them because of the clothes they wear, the Virginia school district plans to put forth a vote in a few weeks to ban cross-gender dressing. In light of complaints from a school in the district about some boys dressing like girls, what is being overlooked are the student's rights to wear clothes they feel are appropriate and correspond with their gender-identity. The ACLU is watching this case as they state that the ban is vague and discriminatory.

"SUFFOLK, Va (Reuters) - A Virginia school district is considering banning cross-gender dressing in a move proponents said aims to protect students from harassment, but which civil liberties and gay rights groups said would amount to an assault on free speech.

Board members said they wanted to protect the children in the school district in Suffolk, about 20 miles from Norfolk, from the types of tragedies such as killings and suicides tied to bullying in other parts of the country.

The proposed dress code would prohibit students from wearing clothing "not in keeping with a student's gender" and that "causes a disruption and/or distracts others from the education process or poses a health or safety concern." The board opted to pursue the ban after teachers at one of the district's three high schools said some male students were dressing like girls, prompting complaints from other students, district spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw said.

Board Vice Chairwoman Thelma Hinton, in supporting the ban, cited the killing of a 15-year-old California cross-dressing student by another student in 2008 and the suicide of a 14-year-old gay student last year in New York after online bullying. "When a situation is brought up to me, I'm going to speak out if I have to speak out, and take a stand," Hinton said Thursday at a board meeting, adding that she was more concerned about the safety of the district's 14,000 students than civil rights."It has nothing to do with a person's gender -- who they are," Hinton said. "Of course I don't want anyone's rights being violated, but I have done some research."

A vote on the issue is expected in March, and a ban would take effect on July 1 if approved, Bradshaw said."

ACLU SAYS BAN IS VAGUE AND DISCRIMINATORY

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia had already called the proposed ban unconstitutionally vague and sexually discriminatory even before Thursday's meeting. After hearing board members offer general support for the ban on Thursday, the state ACLU plans to outline possible legal actions that could follow if it is adopted, Virginia ACLU Executive Director Kent Willis told Reuters.

James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia, suggested that district administrators needed education on issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

"If a girl comes to school wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, is that considered cross-gender dressing?" he told Reuters, adding that a misunderstanding of the issues could actually make the students more susceptible to bullying.

"They're calling it cross-dressing, but if that individual was wearing clothes that reflect their gender identity, that's not cross-dressing, that's appropriate gender dressing," he said. Several incidents where relentless verbal assaults and online harassment led to the suicides or murders of gay or lesbian teens over the past few years have led to tougher anti-bullying laws in some states.

New Jersey passed tougher anti-bullying laws after a gay college student killed himself after reportedly being bullied, and New York lawmakers were looking at how to stem the kind of harassment that led to the Buffalo teen's suicide.

In Suffolk, school board attorney Wendell Waller said opponents who read the proposed ban as a straight prohibition missed its intent. He also said the district would press ahead with what he described as a "very delicate" balancing act. "It is not a straight prohibition of anything, unless it ... forms a disruption of the education process," Waller said.

(Editing By Colleen Jenkins, David Bailey and Cynthia Johnston)"

Childhood Obesity Ad: Uplifting or Oppressive?

by guest blogger M. P.

An ad focusing on childhood obesity (which can be found on cnn.com or by clicking the link below) has stirred up a large debate on whether or not the verbiage as well as visuals of the ad are offensive to the children and their parents. The ad was supposed to target the minds of parents in an effort to show them that their children should be healthy, how to clearly see the signs of denial, and that obesity is a true health issue in today's society. The ad was meant to foster change in behaviors and possibly incorporate the culture of eating healthier especially at a young age. However, some feel like the article did far more harm than it did good because it depicted the children in such a negative light that was demeaning and embarrassing as well. Seeing as how the ad is straight forward and illustrates the problem but doesn't quite show any solutions what is your viewpoint does the ad advocate for change in a positive forceful manner and correctly address the problem in a way that parents can understand or does it oppress the children who are classified as being obese and leave room for them to be scrutinized by self and peers for their weight issue?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/07/health/atlanta-child-obesity-ads/index.html

Think Before You Tweet? CNN Suspends Roland Martin For Tweets

by guest blogger Purple

CNN suspended CNN political contributor, Roland Martin on February 8^th for tweets deemed homophobic by the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and other groups. Martin made comments about an H&M underwear commercial during the Super Bowl on February 5^th. The commercial is a black and white ad featuring soccer star, David Beckham. One of his tweets about the ad read:

"If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl."

Apparently, Martin also made a tweet earlier about a football player, tweeting:

“Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass”

CNN issued the following statement on their decision to suspend Martin:

“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”

Apparently Martin is set to meet with GLAAD. I’m not certain of other tweets from him that might have been involved in the outrage and his suspension, but more on the story can be found at the following links:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/cnn-suspends-roland-martin-over-offensive-super-bowl-195422269.html

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-08/politics/politics_cnn-roland-martin_1_cnn-remarks-soccer-fans?_s=PM:POLITICS

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/roland-martin-to-meet-with-glaad-after-cnn-suspension-for-homophobic-tweets/2012/02/09/gIQAJIiT2Q_story.html?tid=pm_lifestyle_pop

What do you think about the situation? Do you agree with CNN’s decision to suspend him?

Funny or Offensive?

by Guest Blogger Canonfoder:

Warning 1: This contains strong language

Warning 2: You could be offended.

If you start watching this video you MUST watch it through even if you get offended.

http://naurunappula.com/849737/tim-minchin-cont

Is it funny or offensive?

Oppressing the Voice of Sexual Victims

by guest blogger Genevieve

http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/10493611-418/rape-victim-sues-harvey-over-untested-rape-kit.html

The above link directs to an article published on February 7,
2012. The article details an on-going lawsuit between a correctional
officer and a (now adult) ward of the court. The suit alleges that
Robert Buchanan raped 11-year-old “Jane Doe” – further the victim is
charging the Harvey Police Department for gross negligence after
failing to process her rape-kit for 10 years. Jane Doe’s rape kit was
one of over 200 unprocessed rape kits found in a recent police raid.

The lack of a voice for sexual victims is an insidious oppression. The
thousands of unprocessed rape kits (in America) imply to those victims
that their body and security are not of concern.

Hoekstra Superbowl Ad

By guest blogger Arthur Valenz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrbdXUWryXk

This link is a video that was aired during the Super Bowl and was paid for by Pete Hoekstra in a campaign against Debbie Stabenow in the race for the Michigan senator. The article has already been met with a lot of criticism. Although the video is meant to target Stabenow and her fiscal policy, it also places people of Asian descent in a negative light, claiming that they (or more specifically China) benefit from a struggling American economy.

The fact that this would be aired during the Super Bowl is a little troublesome, considering that the FCC would cry out indecency when Janet Jackson bared her breast during the half-time show, yet somehow could not prevent this ad from running on Michigan stations. To be completely honest, I am not sure how much control the FCC may have had prior to the release of this ad, however, station executives need to be a bit more selective in who they accept money from to run a commercial with blatantly offensive content.

"Monique Ruffin- Gay is the New Black"

by guest blogger CFlores6

This was not the first time I heard the phrase "gay is the new black" but Monique Ruffin, from the Huffington Post, had an interesting perspective on the topic. In her article she explained that:

"The civil rights issue of our time is gay marriage, and the key players in our country's most significant civil rights movement are on the wrong side of it. The black church has taken on a new role: oppressor."

She described that it is the Black Christians who are oppressing homosexuals. She says it shocks her that the black community, who should know firsthand the impact and dehumanization of discrimination, are the ones fighting against the civil rights of gays. She concludes with:

"Many blacks have not been able to reconcile their real-life experience with their faith, and until they do this, they are oppressed people who are also practicing the oppression of others."

Monique Ruffin is a black woman. Would it make a difference if she were not, in regards to this article?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/monique-ruffin/gay-civil-rights_b_1168897.html

The Third Jihad and the NYPD

by guest blogger Gordon Shumway

Here are two articles on the NYPD using the video produced by the Clarion Fund titled “The Third Jihad” during training, which was reported to be viewed by at least 1,500 recruits. There is also a follow up article from the New York Times with two letters to the Editor, one of which is from Raphael Shore, the producer of the video.

http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/Crime%20and%20Safety/20120201/4/3678
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/nyregion/in-police-training-a-dark-film-on-us-muslims.html?_r=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/opinion/a-police-training-film-about-muslims-2-views.html

The film from the get go makes the sweeping generalization that many Islamic leaders in the U.S. support or defend “the radicals”. How is this film helping the image of Muslim and Middle Eastern communities in America? How is this film educating people on the differences between religion, culture and extremists? Considering that this video coincides with the “recent revelations about the NYPD” targeting, profiling, and surveillancing, “Law-abiding Muslim Communities” as Asim Rehman puts it in his letter to the editor in the New York Times article, I would have to say the likeliness that the video has spread positive awareness is unlikely, and is not helping. I think it keeps Islamaphobia alive, it keeps people misinformed, and keeps the Muslim and Middle Eastern communities planted firmly as the feared other in American society.

Racism on the Campaign Trail

by guest blogger Rebecca T.

referring to: "How to Listen for Racism on the Campaign Trail," Jeffrey Goldberg, Bloomberg view, Jan. 30, 2012.

This political baiting does not surprise me. While it does disgust me that persons running for positions in leadership would stoop to basic name-calling, it is however, a direct reflection of a very large part of how society thinks and feels.

When politicians can so easily tap into very typical stereotypes and get the response and blowback they desire, it is already manifested within the every day persons cognitive make up. Some very intelligent and savvy individuals are sitting behind the scenes pulling the strings and writing the speeches.

So do our politicians really believe the spew they defecate while on the campaign trail?

What type of educational background do you think these individuals are packing?

'Racist' Halloween Costumes Stir Debate

Ohio university group's 'We're a culture, not a costume' campaign goes viral

by guest blogger Patrice G.

Halloween. Any costume is okay to were right? According to an October 27, 2011 article by Marlene Habb, CBC News, Ohio University Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS) believe it's "NOT OKAY" to wear costumes, which apparently demean culture's and/or lifestyle. The students created poster's declaring "We're A Culture, Not A Costume…This Is Not Who I Am And This Is Not Okay" (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/10/26/halloween-racist-costumes.html). Caucasians in costumes posing as an terrorist, Geisha, and even blackface-Is this offensive to you or funny? When did Halloween become a day for people to have a free pass to be racist in the form of costume? Dressing up to make fun of cultures is definitely not cool, but the costumes do show how racism appears to be the norm in a lot of people's world views.

What the STARS group at Ohio University did is a great example of how language can be used to liberate. The group alone is an awesome concept and I applaud STARS for their efforts.

Is dressing up as other cultures for Halloween offensive to you or funny? Either way please explain.

What do you think about what the student group STARS did?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/10/26/halloween-racist-costumes.html

Anti-Semitic Acts in New Jersey

by guest blogger Jenni

According to CNN U.S. there has been a lot of anti-Semitic attacks in northern New Jersey recently. There was an attempt to murder a rabbi. There has also been incidences of vandalism and arson attacks against synagogues. There have also been smashed windows at five stores owned by Jewish merchants. There has been no arrests as of yet. There has been a $2,500 reward offered by the Anti-Defamation League for information to the arrest of the people or peoples involved in the attacks. Ken Jacobson the ADL's deputy national director was quoted as saying "economic insecurity and polarization create the kind of atmosphere where people act out." When I read that it made me think of what we talked about in class how when times are tough hate groups can enlist more people into their groups. People want to put the blame on others for their hardships. This is an example of what we talked about in class. The vandalism and arson, as well as the attempted murder are prime examples of people who hate others and who are willing to do anything to somehow feel that they made themselves feel better.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/12/us/new-jersey-jews-attacks/index.html

"Dog-Whistling" and Presidential Campaigns

by guest blogger Ben E

Certainly, racism isn't always overt or conspicuous. Such is the nature of the latent, racist rhetoric sprinkled throughout in this presidential primary season. Jeffrey Goldberg wrote about the underlying racist undertones in campaign messaging in a column this week for Bloomberg, calling this rhetoric "dog whistling."

Writes Goldberg: "Dog-whistling -- the use of coded, ambiguous language to appeal to the prejudices of certain subsets of voters -- is one of the darkest political arts. In this race, Newt Gingrich is streets ahead of his nearest competitor in its use. In addition to his comments about black children working as janitors, he has repeatedly referred to Obama as the country’s 'food-stamp president.'"

Take a look:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-31/how-to-listen-for-racism-on-the-campaign-trail-jeffrey-goldberg.html