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