I've only recently heard of the disturbing news coming out of Connecticut, where a lone gunman seems to have killed 27 people including 18 kindergartners. This is heartbreaking, of course, and as details emerge I will be reading every one of them, just like many of you. There will be much made about trends, about gun control, about motives, and about much else to satisfy a public need to understand and learn more about something so tragic.
I would like to suggest to the media that there is a way that you can help.
I don't want to learn the gunman's name. I know that this is asking a lot, but I think the name and picture of the gunman should not be make the rounds like they always do. Spreading around the name and the picture perpetuates the celebrity of mass killings and at least when that comes to the killings of children, this should be denied the killer. I know that there is plenty of justification for letting this information into the public, but I feel that if we want to stop trends, this is the place where the most effort can yield the greatest reward.
I don't want to know the killer's motive. There's always a need to make sense out of these killings. But I want to make something very, very clear: there is never any sense to be made of the slaughter of children. It doesn't make any sense. Finding a motive and explaining to the public why someone would do something like this. Seeking and explaining a motive sends this message: that there are a number of conditions that rationally leads up to the need to go and kill a bunch of kids at once. There's not. Why did he do it? Because he was batshit insane. End of story. There is no logic behind it. It's never logical. Stop seeking motive. It's an illusion.
I don't want to read a statement that the gunman wrote. The most terrifying thing that came out of the Virginia Tech killings was when the press ran the killer's senseless rant in its entirety. Great idea. Let the nutjobs out there know that if they have a gripe and no one is listening, there's a direct path to getting an audience. Kill everyone. Right? If you find a statement by this bozo, burry it silently. Give it off to psychologists. Whatever. Don't make the public slog through the bullshit so that the killer gets to make his point after all.
There is no reason to kill so many innocents. Reason suggests rational thought. It's not there. There is no justification based on job condition, socioeconomic condition, or psychological state of mind. Report--objectively--that this was a total fuck that doesn't deserve to share the planet with us. Focus on what we can do to help each other through a time like this. If anything. And know that we are all so, so sorry.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
On Learning and Compromise
Howdy folks! This week I have an essay appearing on the awesome website http://greatmomentsinparenting.com/.
Check it out by clicking right here.
As always, thanks for reading!
Check it out by clicking right here.
As always, thanks for reading!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Mr. Rogers vs. Blues Clues: A Case for PBS
In my classes, we talk a lot about popular culture and the influences that its had on how we see ourselves and who we are. This is no small subject and it produces a lot of really interesting and really accomplished writing. A subject came up in the recent presidential election that has come up before--what is the purpose of public television? Certainly the answers to that question are many and more complex than I will offer here, and the factors that go into the funding of PBS and NPR are questionable at times--these things should be looked into--but I have a defense that holds some water right here.
I grew up watching Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. From there, PBS ushered me through amazing documentaries about the Civil War, Jazz, the National Parks, and quantum physics. So I see a great value in them. I want to talk directly, however, about Mr. Rogers. If you're not familiar with Mr. Rogers, please cut your teeth here by watching a bit of an episode:
You will notice a few things about the show, whether you just watched some of that or not. One thing that always gets me about Mr. Rogers is the pacing. It's slow. He talks to you--talks through the camera--and waits for the kids to respond. He's not talking down, really, but he's being sweet and kind and patient. And though this is a television set talking to you, isn't it nice to be a kid and have a grown up pay this kind of attention to you?
One question that I encounter a lot when talking about Mr. Rogers is, was he an asshole in real life? Wasn't he a Navy Seal or something? No.There are always going to be legions of urban legends about kids show hosts. They're almost always untrue. The guy was authentic. This wasn't a job for him, it was a calling. He made the show, wrote the scripts (thousands and thousands of them!) wrote the music, made the puppets, voiced the puppets, designed the messages--all himself. He did it all. It was is passion.
Want proof? Let's take a look at him when he's not hosting a show. Let's see how he behaves when he's addressing Congress. In 1969, Mr. Rogers had to go before the senate--and the president--to defend PBS. Mr. Nixon (seen here sitting next to Fred) wanted to take away the 20 million dollar grant that funded PBS and his show in part. Let's watch and see how he carries himself:
Look at that! The guy pulls no punches, doesn't change his tone, just sits there next to the most powerful man in the world who wants to end his show and makes his case. He brings this committee to a halt. To a halt! His defense is stirring and conclusive and his dedication is real. You can't just open up an artist like this to commercial companies and ask them to fund it for profit. You've got to give this guy license. And it worked.
Now, let's look at Blues Clues.I'm not against this show, but I think it worth mentioning that this is a kids show that borrows many of the tactics of Mr. Rogers. Only, instead of being calm and personal and emotionally dramatic like Fred's show, it's hyper and stimulating and animated. Steve, the host of the show, is certainly charismatic and he talks to kids and makes them feel like he's their friend. Check out this very short clip as an example:
This is what Mr. Roger's calls bombardment. It's stimulating and distracting and kids can't look away. It's carefully planned by child psychologists and anthropologists to harness a kid's attentions. This way, when they see a Blues Clues product in the store, they feel like it's a part of them already.
Was Steve some kind of Fred Rogers? In his words, no. He was an actor. He was a tool of the machine. Let's look at this video from 8 years after he left the show. It's 17 minutes long, but if you're a fan of Blues Clues or Storytelling in general, I promise you that every minute is worth watching:
See? Mr. Rogers didn't have to wonder who he was. He didn't have this kind of crisis. He wasn't using his show to date Playboy models. Steve had a job. He did his job well. But he wasn't the right person for that job. He knew this and we probably should too.
When thinking about the programming that your kids watch, it's worth asking what is authentic. Authenticity rings through with people Fred Rogers was--for lack of a better term--a saint. A genius and a passionate man who spent his entire life trying to instill self-confidence in children.He's someone worth watching. Blues Clues, while a fun show, doesn't share those values. It's values are profit, plain and simple. Each member of that show was a cog in a machine, helping to make MTV money.
Look at what they're watching. Watch art. Watch expression and emotion. Don't watch products.
I grew up watching Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street. From there, PBS ushered me through amazing documentaries about the Civil War, Jazz, the National Parks, and quantum physics. So I see a great value in them. I want to talk directly, however, about Mr. Rogers. If you're not familiar with Mr. Rogers, please cut your teeth here by watching a bit of an episode:
You will notice a few things about the show, whether you just watched some of that or not. One thing that always gets me about Mr. Rogers is the pacing. It's slow. He talks to you--talks through the camera--and waits for the kids to respond. He's not talking down, really, but he's being sweet and kind and patient. And though this is a television set talking to you, isn't it nice to be a kid and have a grown up pay this kind of attention to you?
One question that I encounter a lot when talking about Mr. Rogers is, was he an asshole in real life? Wasn't he a Navy Seal or something? No.There are always going to be legions of urban legends about kids show hosts. They're almost always untrue. The guy was authentic. This wasn't a job for him, it was a calling. He made the show, wrote the scripts (thousands and thousands of them!) wrote the music, made the puppets, voiced the puppets, designed the messages--all himself. He did it all. It was is passion.
Want proof? Let's take a look at him when he's not hosting a show. Let's see how he behaves when he's addressing Congress. In 1969, Mr. Rogers had to go before the senate--and the president--to defend PBS. Mr. Nixon (seen here sitting next to Fred) wanted to take away the 20 million dollar grant that funded PBS and his show in part. Let's watch and see how he carries himself:
Look at that! The guy pulls no punches, doesn't change his tone, just sits there next to the most powerful man in the world who wants to end his show and makes his case. He brings this committee to a halt. To a halt! His defense is stirring and conclusive and his dedication is real. You can't just open up an artist like this to commercial companies and ask them to fund it for profit. You've got to give this guy license. And it worked.
Now, let's look at Blues Clues.I'm not against this show, but I think it worth mentioning that this is a kids show that borrows many of the tactics of Mr. Rogers. Only, instead of being calm and personal and emotionally dramatic like Fred's show, it's hyper and stimulating and animated. Steve, the host of the show, is certainly charismatic and he talks to kids and makes them feel like he's their friend. Check out this very short clip as an example:
This is what Mr. Roger's calls bombardment. It's stimulating and distracting and kids can't look away. It's carefully planned by child psychologists and anthropologists to harness a kid's attentions. This way, when they see a Blues Clues product in the store, they feel like it's a part of them already.
Was Steve some kind of Fred Rogers? In his words, no. He was an actor. He was a tool of the machine. Let's look at this video from 8 years after he left the show. It's 17 minutes long, but if you're a fan of Blues Clues or Storytelling in general, I promise you that every minute is worth watching:
When thinking about the programming that your kids watch, it's worth asking what is authentic. Authenticity rings through with people Fred Rogers was--for lack of a better term--a saint. A genius and a passionate man who spent his entire life trying to instill self-confidence in children.He's someone worth watching. Blues Clues, while a fun show, doesn't share those values. It's values are profit, plain and simple. Each member of that show was a cog in a machine, helping to make MTV money.
Look at what they're watching. Watch art. Watch expression and emotion. Don't watch products.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Top 10 Banned Books Worth Reading
In honor of the 30th annual Banned Books Week, I would like to give you a short list of often banned books that I really think are worth reading. It's always a good time to pick up some great reading material--but this week highlights books that are controversial for different reasons--making them valuable to read in a totally different light. So, here we go!
10: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
This, the most modern book on my list, is often banned for teenage violence. It's an amazing story and well worth reading even if you've seen the movie. The themes of sacrifice, shared beliefs, and obedience to authority are put in a very modern context in this dystopian story.
9: Lolita, by Vladmir Nabokov
This book is often banned for it's abundant and age-inappropriate sexuality. But let me tell you that the poetry of this book alone makes it worth reading. It's not often that you get to be inside the head of someone who is so absolutely twisted and fantastically gifted with words.
8: A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
Burgess, I've been told, is upset that he is so known for this book and not his others. Dude, you should be so lucky. This book is another verbal pleasure to read. With an overly violent protagonist, the antagonist turns out to be society itself. The language takes some getting used to, but after you've read it, you keep thinking in the very bizarre slang.
7.: Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
War has never been shown in a brighter, more washed-out light than in this tragic tale. Billy Pilgrim is forced to live his life asynchronously and the story unfolds in a very unique and engaging way.
6. The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway
My favorite Hemingway book, his often visited themes of bravery and male-female communications are presented in vivid splendor.
5. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Of all the books on the list, this is the one that I have read the longest ago. Harper Lee only had one contribution to literature, and this was a real home run. The story gives a real sense of what a childhood was like many years ago and a unique look at racial relationships and justice through the mind of a child.
4. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
I read this when I was really young and was titillated by the language. First book I ever read that made me cry. This is, without a doubt, the shortest book on my list and one of the most stark. The friendship between the two main characters is palpable, which makes the finale of the story all the more crushing.
3.The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Why in the world is this banned? Satanism. That's right, it's banned on the grounds that it's satanic. Is that not exciting enough for you? Tolkien invented the fantasy genre, he invented our modern idea of what a dragon is, he invented excitement.
2. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
This one made me cry as a full grown adult. If you read this in high school and were bored by it, I'm sorry for you. Pick it up again, erase your memory, and watch this family struggle through the lens of your modern life and struggles within your own world. It's an amazing work.
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
This is the granddaddy of American Literature and the great-granddaddy of banned books. I can't say enough positive about this book. The vivid reality of a world that actually existed right where you stand is put in front of you. The language, the characters, the setting, the plot--everything works perfectly. If you think you like reading or you think you like writing and you haven't read this book, you're only fooling yourself.
10: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
This, the most modern book on my list, is often banned for teenage violence. It's an amazing story and well worth reading even if you've seen the movie. The themes of sacrifice, shared beliefs, and obedience to authority are put in a very modern context in this dystopian story.
9: Lolita, by Vladmir Nabokov
This book is often banned for it's abundant and age-inappropriate sexuality. But let me tell you that the poetry of this book alone makes it worth reading. It's not often that you get to be inside the head of someone who is so absolutely twisted and fantastically gifted with words.
8: A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
Burgess, I've been told, is upset that he is so known for this book and not his others. Dude, you should be so lucky. This book is another verbal pleasure to read. With an overly violent protagonist, the antagonist turns out to be society itself. The language takes some getting used to, but after you've read it, you keep thinking in the very bizarre slang.
7.: Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
War has never been shown in a brighter, more washed-out light than in this tragic tale. Billy Pilgrim is forced to live his life asynchronously and the story unfolds in a very unique and engaging way.
6. The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway
My favorite Hemingway book, his often visited themes of bravery and male-female communications are presented in vivid splendor.
5. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Of all the books on the list, this is the one that I have read the longest ago. Harper Lee only had one contribution to literature, and this was a real home run. The story gives a real sense of what a childhood was like many years ago and a unique look at racial relationships and justice through the mind of a child.
4. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
I read this when I was really young and was titillated by the language. First book I ever read that made me cry. This is, without a doubt, the shortest book on my list and one of the most stark. The friendship between the two main characters is palpable, which makes the finale of the story all the more crushing.
3.The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Why in the world is this banned? Satanism. That's right, it's banned on the grounds that it's satanic. Is that not exciting enough for you? Tolkien invented the fantasy genre, he invented our modern idea of what a dragon is, he invented excitement.
2. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
This one made me cry as a full grown adult. If you read this in high school and were bored by it, I'm sorry for you. Pick it up again, erase your memory, and watch this family struggle through the lens of your modern life and struggles within your own world. It's an amazing work.
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
This is the granddaddy of American Literature and the great-granddaddy of banned books. I can't say enough positive about this book. The vivid reality of a world that actually existed right where you stand is put in front of you. The language, the characters, the setting, the plot--everything works perfectly. If you think you like reading or you think you like writing and you haven't read this book, you're only fooling yourself.
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